Hello! Welcome back to another chapter. Thank you for all the kind reviews. I tried to answer most of them but to all the guests who left reviews I am very grateful. A warning for this chapter. There is behaviour in this chapter that would be horrendously inappropriate for the actual time period. I know this but it is intentional. It might not have happened in regency England but are we really sure what happened behind closed doors? Anyway, this is fanfiction, my fanfiction so I am happy with the choices I have made here. The intention with this story was to make Mr Darcy less shy and 'proper' and explore how that would affect his relationship with Lizzie early on in the story. I never claimed to be historically accurate. So without further ado, I present chapter 12! (sorry if this seemed ranty, I just wanted to address this honestly)
Lizzie frowned as she looked down at the fabric in her hand. The linen was puckered and the stitches were uneven and messy. It was not her finest piece of work to say the least although it was her own fault for not paying much attention to the stitching. She had, as usual, been daydreaming when she should had been focussing on what was in front of her. She tucked the embroidery away out of the sight of her mother; heaven forbid Mrs Bennet saw the offending attempt at embroidery. Lizzie had no intention of listening to her mother's cries about how she would become an old maid if she did not focus more on her accomplishments. Mrs Bennet was in a particularly fragile state since her father's announcement over breakfast that morning. Their dear cousin Mr Collins would be visiting Longbourn for a short period of time. Poor, sweet Jane had unfortunately shouldered the weight of Mrs Bennet's panic and displeasure at Mr Collins' visit. Mrs Bennet would always return to the fact "At least Mr Bingley will be kind enough to take us in when your dear father is dead." Mr Bennet had quickly retreated to the study following his announcement and Lizzie had been sorely tempted to join him but for Jane's sake she'd stayed nearby.
"He's here! Girls! Mr Bennet! Mr Collins has arrived!" Mrs Bennet shrilled from her bedroom.
Lizzie shared a look with Jane. They both wished they could be anywhere but at Longbourn, preferably in the presence of two fine young gentleman currently residing at Netherfield. Alas, that was not the case and so they Bennet family assembled outside their house to greet their guest. Mr Collins was a plain young man. He held himself with pride and bowed deeply as he descended from his carriage. He greeted Mr Bennet enthusiastically and gazed over Loungbourn house causing Mrs Bennet to bristle next to her.
"Mr Bennet, Mrs Bennet. You have a truly wonderful home, it is not nearly as grand and exquisite as Rosings but that cannot be expected but of course, that is to say, I hope my presence here has not cause you any distress." He bowed again as he spoke. Lizzie could barely hold back a laugh. What a ridiculous man! She thought to herself.
"Oh Mr Collins, it is such a grievous affair. My poor girls! Mourning the loss of their father, will have to move out of their home!" Mrs Bennet cried.
"Mama! Perhaps we should invite Mr Collins inside before we discuss such topics." Jane soothed their mother and started to lead them inside.
"Mr Collins, my wife often forgets that I am not dead yet, and I hope not to be for many more years. Forgive her silly outburst" Mr Bennet shook Mr Collins hand and gestured for him to follow them inside the house.
"But of course. It is quite understandable. Lady Catherine de Bourgh often tells me I must be sensitive to the woes of others around me." Mr Collins responded with a grave nod. Lydia guffawed behind them and whispered to Kitty. Lizzie shot her youngest sisters a warning look and wondered if she had been quite as boisterous as a young girl. Her father often said she was but had been guided by her gentle elder sister.
"Sorry Lizzie!" Kitty hissed and Lizzie just rolled her eyes as she followed her parents into the house.
Once inside Mr Collins delighted in comparing every detail of Longbourn house to that of Rosings in Kent; the grand home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. They had been in Mr Collins' company for all of ten minutes and Lizzie was quite sure she never wanted to hear the name Catherine again; suddenly very grateful that her younger sister went by the name of Kitty. Within an hour, Lizzie thought she could probably make her way around Rosings without getting lost.
"You must be wondering, dear cousins, why I have deigned to visit your fine home here in Hertfordshire?" Mr Collins asked once they had completed the tour of the house.
"I imagine that Lady Catherine de Bourgh instructed you to do so." Lizzie replied dryly and even Jane turned away to hide her smile. Her mother glared at her for the impertinent comment but thankfully Mr Collins took no notice of the malice behind it.
"Why quite right cousin Elizabeth!" Lizzie scowled at his familiar greeting but it went unnoticed. "Lady Catherine, quite wisely, suggested that it would be a great benefit to my parish and my own happiness if I were to find a wife!" Mr Collins gestured to the five Bennet daughter who stared at him in great dismay. Lizzie could not believe her ears. This strange ridiculous stranger intended to marry one of them, and he seemed to think they should be grateful for his offer!
"Were you unable to find a wife suitable in Kent Mr Collins?" She spluttered, still shocked by his revelation.
"Lizzie Bennet! Hold your tongue!" Her mother scolded firmly. Lizzie grinned mischievously she caught Jane's eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I only wondered why such an esteemed gentleman, favoured by Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself, would make the journey to Hertfordshire just to find a wife." Mr Collins nodded solemnly.
"Quite right, quite right cousin Elizabeth. Lady Catherine is kind enough to take an interest in those living by Rosings. She knows all about the entailment of Longbourn and that I will eventually have to leave her side to take up residence in Hertfordshire. It was she that suggested, quite generously, that I find a wife from the family that I will be throwing from their home. As a way of expressing my sincerest apologies for this unfortunate situation." Mrs Bennet shrieked with delight at Mr Collins' words. Lizzie looked to Jane in horror, the thought of marrying this odious man was enough to make Lizzie feel quite sick. Jane squeezed her hand in comfort but looked just as shocked at his revelation.
"Oh Mr Collins! How kind of you! We are most grateful. I am sure the girls will be most accommodating."
Lizzie opened her mouth to protest but she was interrupted by Hill calling them for dinner. Her mother went into a frenzy as she tried to work out who should be placed next to Mr Collins. Mr Collins himself was gently pushing towards Jane but her mother was unrelenting on that matter. Eventually, to Lizzie's dismay, he ended up sat between Mr Bennet and herself.
"Miss Jane Bennet, I must say when I heard of the Bennet sisters' beauty I could not imagine that an angel lived among them" Mr Collins stared simperingly at Lizzie's eldest sister.
"You are too bold sir." Jane rebuffed his advances with an embarrassed blush.
"Why Mr Collins, you are quite right. My dear Jane is indeed an angel, in fact one of the gentleman, Mr Bingley is quite taken with her. I imagine there shall be an announcement any day now!" Mrs Bennet shrilled, Lizzie could not work out whether she was grateful for her mother's intervention or embarrassed. Jane decided on the latter option.
"Mama!" Jane looked like she wanted to run from the room but dear kind Jane would never behave as such.
"Mama, we cannot be certain of Mr Bingley's intentions towards Jane. Although I dare say he is rather fond of you Jane." Lizzie took her sister's hand across the table causing her to smile shyly.
"Yes well I dare say I am rather fond of him too, Lizzie." She replied quietly.
Unfortunately for Lizzie, this admission by Jane only turned Mr Collins' attention onto her as the second eldest Bennet daughter. Lizzie desperately wanted to mention Mr Darcy but somehow nobody, apart from Jane, had even noticed the budding friendship between them. Jane, dear intelligent Jane, was the first to notice her discomfort at Mr Collins' attention.
"Say Lizzie. Do you think Mr Bingley will hold a ball at Netherfield soon?" She interrupted her cousin's ongoing speech about how the dinner at Rosings was to die for and how the place settings were always done 'just so' as to highlight Lady Catherine's 'humility and grace'.
"Oh yes Lizzie! I should love for Mr Bingley to have a ball! I do so love to dance." Lydia cried with excitement.
"Maybe Mr Darcy will dance with us twice this time instead of you Lizzie!" Kitty joined in, happy that the conversation had taken a more interesting turn.
"Oh no, I am sure Mr Darcy only has eyes for Lizzie. Caroline Bingley could not stop telling me how he admires you Lizzie, although I do not think she was quite as happy as I was with the news." Lizzie blushed deeply, struggling to keep the smile off her face.
Mr Darcy admired her, a county girl with little money. She was sure he could have any of the ladies of the ton but for some brilliant reason he had seen something better in her. She thought back to the day in the woods when she had first encountered the brilliant man. It was a moment she had relived many times over the last couple of weeks since she'd last seen Mr Darcy. Of course, when she relived it she did not assume he was Mr Bingley. She liked to imagine his soft chocolate coloured eyes staring back into hers, his hand resting against her cheek as he leant down to kiss her. She flushed brightly as Mrs Bennet's voice pulled her from her daydream.
"Why Lizzie! You sly thing. I had no idea! Mr Darcy… oh my. Ten Thousand a year… oh yes Lizzie he will do nicely!" Lizzie resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her mother. It had been for this exact reason that she had hidden her feelings behind Jane's budding romance with Mr Bingley.
"Mr Darcy you say?" Mr Collins interrupted her mother's joyous wittering about how fine the wedding would be. "Of Pemberley?"
"The very same." Lizzie muttered. Oh how she longed to be back at Netherfield with Mr Darcy. She would even prefer Miss Bingley's company over this strange, talkative, inappropriate man.
"Why it is a small world!" Mr Collins cheered "Mr Darcy is the dear nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh! I have not had the pleasure to meet him myself but she does talk of him so fondly. I heard that he was betrothed to her daughter Anne so surely Mr Darcy cannot have any intentions towards you Cousin Elizabeth." Lizzie's heart sank.
He was betrothed to another, one of much finer standings. She had been foolish to think that Mr Darcy would ever look at her and yet her heart protested. She had seen the way he looked at her and she always looked forward to their easy conversations about horses and dancing and Derbyshire. She had been certain that he had sought out her company whilst she stayed at Netherfield, he had cared enough that he asked her to stay for dinner when she so desperately wanted to see her sister. He had defended her and her family against Caroline Bingley. She blushed as she remembered he had almost called her Elizabeth on several occasions and even Mr Bingley had given them space to be alone as they walked through the grounds of Netherfield. Yet Mr Collins swore he was betrothed.
"You must excuse me. I am afraid I have the most dreadful headache." She stammered out and she almost ran from the room ignoring her mother's cries behind her.
She had meant to go straight to her room but her feet led her in another direction. She fled the house and found herself deep within the woods between Longbourn. She blinked the tears from her eyes as she glanced around, it was the same spot that she had first met Mr Darcy. She let out a heavy sigh as she sat down on the damp grass. She breathed in the fresh scents of the forest and relished the feeling of the cool winters breeze on her face. She had not realised how trapped she had felt in the house. Mr Collins' presence had been almost unbearable even though he been with them for less than a day. She wondered how she would ever make it through two weeks with the man in their house especially if he had decided that she would be his wife.
"What a ridiculous man!" She yelled at the top of her voice, comforted by the isolation of the trees.
"Miss Elizabeth?" Mr Darcy's deep voice startled her. She blushed and quickly pulled herself up from the ground, brushing off the damp grass. She had been alone, she could have sworn it and yet here was the handsome man that had caused her so much pain. She wanted to hate him so leading her heart on but looking at his face, so full of concern, she could not. He was standing at the edge of the glade with the reins of his horse in his hands; his brown hair tussled and windswept.
"Mr Darcy." She curtsied and stared down at the ground, unable to make eye contact less her heart betrayed her. "I am sorry. I did not know you were there."
"Are you alright Elizabeth?" His voice was soft and her heart fluttered in her chest. Her eyes met his and suddenly everything seemed alright. She was hurt but for some reason when he looked at her like he was now everything seemed to melt away. His eyes were a soft chocolate brown and full of kindness, dare she say even love. She could not bring herself to tear her gaze away from him and felt herself step closer; her heart pounding in her chest.
"I…yes… I am" She said dumbly unable to think with him standing so close to her. He chuckled as he took her hand, bringing it up to his lips. Lizzie felt like her whole world was spinning.
Mr Collins' words came back to her like ice water over her body.
.
betrothed to her daughter Anne
Lizzie gasped as she came back to her senses and pulled her hand away; blushing furiously. She took several steps back to ensure a proper distance between them.
"Mr Darcy. You should not be so bold!" She scolded him. Mr Darcy's eyes were quickly filled with pain at her sudden change of emotion.
"I am sorry Miss Bennet. I will leave you now." His voice was cold and unyielding and he started to make his way from the clearing, his horse had other ideas. Hermes stood still, refusing to follow his master. Mr Darcy groaned. "Hermes, please not now. We cannot stay any longer." Lizzie could not contain the laugh that escaped her lips at the stubborn horse's antics.
"It appear Hermes is just as bold and stubborn as his master" Mr Darcy blushed at her words and gave her a sheepish smile.
"My apologies Miss Bennet" He said with a quick bow and tugged harder at the horses reins. The horse just stomped his hooves and whinnied loudly. Lizzie giggled and moved to pet the horse on its muzzle.
"Hermes, you really should go with Mr Darcy. It is not proper for us to be here alone. I am not ready to return to the house." She spoke quietly as Hermes nosed her hand fondly.
"Is something the matter at Longbourn Miss Bennet?" Mr Darcy asked her again. Lizzie sighed and tucked a stray piece of her behind her ear.
"I was not honest with you before Mr Darcy. I admit I was caught off guard by your presence." She blushed furiously and his eyes twinkled happily as he smiled down at her.
"You were not the only one I assure you." His cheeks flushed pink and Lizzie felt a rush of warmth flood her body.
"My cousin is staying at Longbourn" She started.
He looked confused so Lizzie explained the entailment of Longbourn and Mr Collins' wish to find a wife within the Bennet sisters. She avoided his gaze when she spoke of Jane's fondness of Mr Bingley as she remember their first conversation but Mr Darcy only laughed as he heard that the wedding plans were still very much ongoing. She skimmed passed Jane's suggestion that Mr Darcy admired her, she was not ready to confront that just yet.
"Mr Collins is rather enamoured by your aunt." She said with giggle as she remember how much the man fawned over the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
"My Aunt?" Mr Darcy replied looking very confused.
"Oh yes. He speaks very highly of Lady Catherine de Bourgh." She laughed.
Darcy groaned and ran his hands threw his hair. "What has he told you about that woman? She is quite despicable; a dragon of a lady."
"Well, he did mention that there was a certain arrangement between you and Miss Anne de Bourgh." Lizzie raised her eyebrow as Mr Darcy buried his head in his hands. He had gone bright red in embarrassment.
"Miss Bennet -" He started.
"Elizabeth" Lizzie interrupted before she could even realise what she was saying. His eyes brightened as he processed her words.
"Elizabeth, you must know, I have absolutely no intention of marrying Anne. I promised my mother that I would not marry her unless I truly loved her" Darcy took her hands once more and Lizzie's heart pounded in her chest. It was improper and vastly inappropriate for them to be alone like this. If her mother saw her now she would be insisting they get married by morning but Lizzie just could not tear herself away from this handsome, funny and caring man that she'd begun to get to know. She thought she could spend a whole life time getting to know him and still never reach the bottom.
"I should go…" She whispered through the heavy silence that had fallen between them. Her voice was embarrassingly breathless.
"Yes I suppose you should." Mr Darcy gazed at her with dark eyes and Lizzie felt warmth pool in her stomach. "Elizabeth" He breathed as though her name was the only thing that mattered.
With a deep breath she pulled her hands from his and turned from him. It was easier to breathe without the weight of his brown eyes staring deep into her soul. She heard Hermes whinny behind her and she laughed, with a final glance back she left the clearing to return to Longbourn.
"Goodbye Mr Darcy." She called as she ran back home.
So I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews are welcome, it's always interesting to hear what people think. Please don't be unnecessarily unkind though. I am only human. I hope the end wasn't too bad. I know not everyone has liked how I've pushed the boundaries of propriety in this fic. Until next time - AvengersBarnes (previously Hollibella_Short)