Elizabeth did not call on Mr. Darcy again, and for a week and a half, he did not call on her. She missed his voice and his touch and she wondered if her marriage to him was falling apart. But did they ever really have a marriage? They had a wedding, yes, and it was indeed consummated and Elizabeth was once with child, but there had been no intimacy since. The first intimacy since their wedding night was the kiss they had shared at Netherfield that Miss Bingley had walked in on, but that was it. Was Elizabeth's marriage to Mr. Darcy real? She did not feel that it was. She felt that she would have to expect him to propose living apart forever.
It was very late November when Elizabeth next saw Mr. Darcy and she saw him riding his horse as she was walking along the path. The ground was white with a small dusting and she was dressed in her cloak, bonnet and and boots, but she had forgotten her gloves, so her hands were freezing. She crossed her arms in hopes to protect them from the biting cold. Mr. Darcy stopped his horse and looked at her from beneath his top hat. Elizabeth spared him once glance before continuing on her way, and she heard Mr. Darcy dismount his house behind her. "Elizabeth," he called, and she stopped. "Elizabeth, forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth, and she felt him grab her arm and turn her to face him.
"There is much to forgive. Our marriage has been a living Hell and it is all because of me," he said to her.
"Mr. Darcy, none of this is your fault."
"It was I who kissed you."
"It was I who did not stop you." He stopped and looked at her and let out a sigh.
"Will you come for dinner tonight at Netherfield? You may, of course, bring your sister."
"Jane is not feeling well and I must sit at her side as she did for me." Mr. Darcy let go of her and removed his top hat.
"Of course... I shall see you again soon." He climbed onto his horse again, gave her one last look, placed his top hat on his head and rode off, leaving Elizabeth standing and staring after him.
Another week passed before any sign of Mr. Darcy found Elizabeth, and when it did, it found her in the form of Georgiana. She had called on Elizabeth and wished to speak to her in private, and Elizabeth led her into the parlor. "My brother is very upset," she said.
"Georgiana, I do not think that either of us are well balanced," said Elizabeth.
"I have not seen much of Fitzwilliam in the past week... He is clearly bothered by whatever it is that has happened between you."
"I must apologize. It is my fault that your brother is the way he is."
"I know. I want you and your sisters to come to the ball at Netherfield on Thursday."
"Would Mr. Darcy be all right with you inviting me?"
"He might be upset for a little while, but he shall forgive me soon enough. Please, Lizzie... You must come and cheer him up. I am sure that he thinks of nothing but you."
"Of course! I will try anything to see his smile again and share his company."
"Would you perhaps join him at Netherfield?" Elizabeth was silent for a moment.
"I shall run to him the moment he calls me to his side."
Elizabeth made sure to wear her prettiest gown for the ball for her Mr. Darcy and hoped that he would keep his promise of dancing with her at the ball. He had said he would and she hoped he would keep that word, despite recent events, and she hoped that her presence at Netherfield might cheer him up. She waited for her sisters to dress in the carriage and could not stop glancing at her wedding band. It was a most beautiful one, and it had an inscription on the inside that Elizabeth had never noticed before. When she had felt it rub against her finger as she was toying with it, she could not help her curiosity. She removed it and read the inscription, smiling to herself. The inscription said: 'You shall have my heart forever.'