A/n - I can't remember who asked me, but someone wanted to know which actors I picture for my Elizabeth and Darcy. I have to admit that I don't, I actually have my very own version of them in my head. I think a long time ago I could not imagine anyone else but Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, but they have since morphed and when I read the book I have a different couple in my head and they are the ones I use in my story. Interestingly enough, Elizabeth has grown to look more and more like myself :)

Chapter 26

Elizabeth sat perfectly still, her face buried in her hands, the rock beneath her jagged and painful. She took no notice but only tried to make herself as small and as imperceptible as possible. She had no desire to speak to anyone, but to hide from them for all eternity, or at least until supper time.

She had been so happy when she had returned home, and everyone had been so happy with her. Even her mother, though still scheming and chattering as always, seemed quite joyful to be around. She was glad to be with her family, a feeling she had forgotten she knew how to feel. She did not even mind when her mother and sisters probed her for more stories about her time away from them. She merely blushed, but smiled broadly to herself, the day her mother realized that she had truly been alone with Mr. Darcy all those weeks and "surly he must be made to marry her when he returns!" The laughter and the harmony amongst chaos brought on thoughts of that depressing time before she left and Elizabeth, for the first time, questioned her reasons for leaving in the first place.

The only distress in her home life was the response to her return by her father. He barely spoke and hardly looked at her. He was civil and smiled lightly when she addressed him, but his answers were short and had none of the sarcasm and teasing of the past. He never invited her into his study for a private talk after her homecoming to discuss her reasons for leaving or what had occurred while she was gone. He never addressed her first or sought out her conversation, and, if possible, he was even more distant with her mother and sisters. It was painful to think on, but Elizabeth knew she had disappointed him and when she tried to speak of it, he waved his hand at her, frowned, and walked out of the room.

Jane tried to be of some comfort by explaining that he treated them all the same, that he was not singling her out with his behavior, but Elizabeth could not agree. He had always singled her out before and now she was merely like the others, another flighty and overly-dramatic woman, she had proven that with her actions. She was not his favorite anymore.

Despite all that, she found much happiness with her home life. Mr. Bingley arrived almost everyday and an announcement was expected soon. Elizabeth found his presence quite diverting and enjoyed teasing him and her sister by making sly implications.

The three of them were walking together through a wooded path one day speaking of the curious mating patterns of geese, when Bingley suddenly paused in his step and turned to Elizabeth.

"Well, Miss Elizabeth, you may be interested to know that I have received word that our friend Mr. Darcy has returned to England!"

Elizabeth dearly wished she could have been less affected by his words, but she colored deeply and tried intensely to think of something witty as a response. She thought on it too long, however, and was saved from further embarrassment by her sister.

"That is wonderful news! Do you know if he is well?"

"Oh, I do not know the particulars, but I do not believe Darcy capable of being ill. My sister, Caroline, heard of his return last week in London. Apparently, he returned and traveled straight to Pemberley, much to the dissatisfaction of many in London. I received a peculiarly short note from him yesterday, indicating that he was alive and home and was not receiving any visitors. Not a four syllable word within it, quite vexing. I shall write to him and insist he come to Hertfordshire! Do you think that a good plan, Miss Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth was momentarily stunned by all that was said and did not notice that she was being addressed. She looked up into the quizzical eyes of Mr. Bingley and blinked unnaturally several times before muttering, "Yes… yes, of course." The pair before her stared at her pale face with concerned expressions.

"Lizzy, are you alright, would you like to return home?"

"No! Jane, no. I would like to sit though, I am afraid I am not up to much walking today." She was led to a nearby fallen tree. "I will only sit here for a few moments, you go on without me. I shall recover soon." She tried to smile sweetly, but Jane was not convinced by it. Bingley, however, was quite happy to continue on alone with Miss Bennet and he took her arm and led her down the path, around the corner, and soon out of sight. Elizabeth sat alone and smiled to herself. "He will come soon!"

Later that evening, the Bennet house was all shrieks of joy and tears of happiness. Even Elizabeth was shaken from her unusual bout of faintness to join in on the celebration, her mother the most exultant.

"Oh! my dear, dear Jane, I am so happy! I am sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it would be. I always said it must be so, at last. I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as soon as ever I saw him, when he first came into Hertfordshire last year, I thought how likely it was that you should come together. Oh! he is the handsomest young man that ever was seen!"

Even Mr. Bennet joined them, and when he emerged from his study, he had a small yet sincere smile on his lips. "Jane, I congratulate you. You will be a very happy woman." He then endured a kiss from his eldest daughter before turning back and returning to his solitude.

The family separated for the night and Jane drew Elizabeth to her bed, speaking only of her dear Bingley and of all the particulars of his declarations of love.

"I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!" cried Jane. "Oh! Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed above them all! If I could but see you as happy!" She took her sister's hands, "I have spoken to Mr. Bingley on the matter." She noted her sisters concern, "Oh, do not worry, I did not mention your particular reason for wanting to see him. I only mentioned that Mr. Darcy would be a welcome addition to our circle if he wished to visit and that Mr. Bingley should write to him straight away. He took me quite seriously and promised to write this evening. See now, he shall be here soon. I am certain of it."

But Jane's assurances and Elizabeth's hopes proved all for naught. He did not come. Several weeks passed and their only intelligence on the matter came from Bingley, who mentioned in passing that Darcy was determined to stay where he was and not to expect him.

Elizabeth was devastated. She was confused and hurt and a thousand questions and nonsensical explanations constantly penetrated through her mind. She strived to remain composed in the presence of others, but it was a struggle and she continuously sought seclusion within the woods of Longbourn. The only one to notice her unhappiness and try to comfort her was Jane, but she was not a constant supporter for while her lover was present, Jane had no attention to bestow on any one else. When Bingley was gone, Jane continuously sought means of relief from Elizabeth by speaking of little else but him. Elizabeth thought it best not to be a course of distress to his sister in such times of happiness, and spoke none of her true feelings.

Thus she found herself often sitting on a jagged rock in the healthy forest surrounding her home, tears on her cheeks, her handkerchiefs stained. It was in this state she was heard and discovered by a dark figure curiously roaming the wood.

"Are those tears for me?" came a deep voice from behind her. Elizabeth's breath ceased and she quickly rose and turned to confirm her suspicions.

"I have been gone for some time, I would have thought you had moved on," said the man, a smile forming in one corner of his mouth.

"You would be accurate in that assessment, Mr. Wickham." Elizabeth back away slightly and harshly wiped the tears from her face.

Wickham's expression softened as he reached out a hand. "Come now, Elizabeth, you must not blame me, it was a misunderstanding. But now that I have returned, I will prove to you my devotion; I am determined to be an exemplary husband."

"Husband? You cannot possibly expect me to marry now, most certainly not!" cried Elizabeth, her sorrow now forgotten for the rage in her heart.

"Dear, now be reasonable." He smiled derisively, "I see now that you expect me to speak of regret and flatter you with delicacy." He lowered himself to his knees and brought his hands together in front of him in an absurdly mocking pose. "Elizabeth Bennet, do forgive me for my deplorable behavior. Elizabeth, the most beautiful women I have ever beheld, will you forgive me and take my hand, making me the happiest of men?"

Elizabeth's mouth hung open in astonishment. "What can you mean by coming here with this display?"

He rose, now slightly agitated. "I wish to hold you to your promise from the spring. I wish to have you as my wife."

"I believe that promise was broken, sir, the day you left Hertfordshire. The day, I might add, before we were to be wed!" She turned away from him, not wishing to look into his dishonest eyes.

"Elizabeth, you must understand it was impossible for us to wed in the spring. We would have been most unhappy, neither of us with any money to speak of. I thought I had made it perfectly clear in my letter that I thought it best to hold off the wedding until I had the proper funds to make you a suitable husband. Did you not comprehend that?"

"No! I most certainly did not!" She stormed towards him. "I thought your letter made it perfectly clear that my lack of funds made it impossible for us to marry at any time. You, sir, are a liar and I will not bind myself to you. Leave me!"

Wickham's continence changed at the mention of her accusations and he brutally reached for her wrist. Grabbing it, he pulled her towards him, ignoring her disgusted remarks. "Miss Bennet, I am afraid that if you do not cooperate with me, I will be forced to take desperate measures."

"And what could they possibly be?" She struggled to free herself.

He brought his face very close to hers. "I know where you were and whom you were with. You would have everyone believe that you lived alone on that island with Darcy and nothing happened. I am not so daft, you forget I know Darcy, and I know how he feels about you." He tightened his grip. "I saw the way he looked at you last fall, and I recognized that look in his eye, I know when his heart is touched."

"What are you saying?"

"Despite what occurred last spring, I still have quite a few friends here in Meryton and I have already mentioned to them my thoughts on you and Darcy's time together. They already thought very little of him and it did not take much to convince them that he had taken advantage of you and that I, the man you truly love, have to come to rescue you."

Elizabeth was silent for a moment and thought herself trapped once again, but she was not forsaken in ideas for long. "And what sort of friends could you have left, sir? You owe much money in this area, and my father thought it not necessary to pay off your debts after you removed yourself. I cannot fathom that any 'gallant' words of yours would be taken seriously by the people of Meryton. And how dare you threaten me with gossip and slander, you forget I have already endured that and I shall again, I do not need your protection."

"Yes, you endured it so well that you chose to run away. You are quite the formidable woman, are you not?"

"My reasons for leaving are none of your concern. Now release me!" Seeing his scheme was not achieving the desired result, Wickham reluctantly set her free, and rubbing her wrist, Elizabeth stared with penetrating eyes at the frustrated man before her.

"I believe I understand you completely now." She spoke with a confident tone that jarred Wickham slightly. "You have no friends or money to speak of, and you have become desperate. You heard of my sister's engagement to Mr. Bingley and thought you could convince me to marry you and then live in the constant support of his generous nature." She paused and Wickham looked away while fidgeting with his cuff. "I see I am correct. Well, Mr. Wickham, that shall never occur. You shall remain friendless and alone forever. You, sir, are a deplorable man. I will pray that someday you will learn to be a true gentleman."

And with one final shake of the head, Elizabeth left him alone in the forest, hoping to never see or hear from him again.