Elizabeth observed Darcy as he wound his way back amongst the guests to his aunt, pulled out the chair, and aided her in sitting down at their table. From her own seat with her family, she watched covertly. Several times during breakfast, people came over to address his aunt or himself, and each time, he seemed pleasant and civil. He even smiled! Not at all the Darcy she thought she knew. Elizabeth tried to account for the difference in him and found it could not be reconciled. Had she been so wrong about him? She barely knew what to think.
Her mother was less conflicted.
"If that blackguard Darcy thinks he can wheedle his way into our good graces at his aunt's side, he is sorely mistaken," she said to her girls. "He may be in a more civil mood, but we still know his character!"
Lydia looked up between bites. "Who cares about Mr. Darcy? If anything, he is more boring than usual. Everything's so dull with the militia gone."
"Lizzy, did you see much of Darcy at Rosings? You did not speak much of him," Jane asked. Elizabeth felt her face warm and fidgeted with her fork.
"He was at Rosings for dinner on a few occasions," Elizabeth said. She meant to tell Jane about his proposal but had neglected to as she wished not to tell her of how Darcy's influence contributed to her heartache. "His cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, joined him there. He was a most amiable man."
"Oh, a colonel! Now he sounds interesting," Lydia said, biting into another finger cake.
"He was not quite as dashing as you prefer, I think. But he was very good company. His aunt less so."
The breakfast went quickly, although Elizabeth was scarcely aware of the celebratory words that were spoken around her. Her mind instead traveled back over all her experiences with Mr. Darcy in the early days of her acquaintance, and she sat in the chair wondering if, in fact, he had been the same person at all, he seemed so changed.
Fortunately, only Jane seemed to notice.
"Are you well, Lizzy?'
Elizabeth nodded.
"You seem...preoccupied."
Elizabeth's eyes darted unwittingly back to Mr. Darcy. Jane followed her gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Lizzy, what did Mr. Darcy say?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all," Elizabeth said. As breakfast ended, guests began milling around again. Mrs. Bennet received a matron who spoke to her in low tones, passing on the gossip of the day.
After the woman left, Mrs. Bennet clutched her napkin to her breast.
"Girls! I have been informed of something interesting."
"Hopefully it's not about boring Darcy." Lydia said.
Mrs. Bennet grasped Lydia's arm across the table. "It is about that odious man, but it may bode well for dear Jane." She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Mr. Darcy and his aunt are staying at Netherfield. Perhaps Mr. Bingley may soon return?"
Elizabeth sighed. "Mama, Mr. Darcy is not odious. I fear we have been mistaken about many of his qualities."
"Oh, tosh, Lizzy. Don't you start singing his praises. We all know what sort of man he is."
Kitty sneezed loudly. "Pardon me."
Elizabeth, suddenly restless, stood. "I think I will get some air."
She pushed past the guests and the outrageous arrangements of flowers to the door, hurrying down the steps of Lucas lodge. It was bad enough Charlotte was marrying Mr. Collins. Now she felt everything she thought she knew to be true was unraveling. She tried to pinpoint when she had become so foolish.
The sun shone down brightly and Elizabeth sought shade next to one of the large shrubs near the house. Birds chirped loudly from the bush, but it was preferable to her Mama repeating gossip and half-truths she did not understand. Guests had begun to stroll on the wide, green lawn. She was relieved to hang back near the shrubs when she was not easily noticed.
Charlotte and Mr. Collins-now Mr. And Mrs. Collins-ambled onto the lawn as servants carried lemonade and other refreshments among the guests. Mr. Collins glanced her way briefly, but looked past her and made his way to Charlotte, where he kissed her hand.
Maybe her mother was correct. She'd had two perfectly good proposals in a few months time and now she would likely end up alone. Hopefully Jane might take her in and allow her a room in her husband's home-whomever he might be. Or she and Jane could take rooms in a Meryton boarding house together as spinster sisters.
A tall shadow fell across the sun, blocking her view.
"I did not mean to startle you," Mr. Darcy said, his hands clasped behind him. "Who or what are you hiding from? If it is me, that is unfortunate for both of us."
"Not at all, Mr. Darcy," she said as she caught her breath. "I was only lost in my thoughts."
"Might I inquire as to what thoughts ensnared you? You may also tell me if it is none of my business. More people should feel free to tell others that."
She looked down at her feet and smiled. "The usual thoughts at events such as these. Weddings, family and friends."
Mr. Darcy half-smiled. "That sounds very serious indeed."
She shook her head. "Not at all. Just foolishness. I must tell you that I read the letter you left at Rosings for me. I fear my judgment may not have served me this spring, and I have been mistaken about many things, I'm finding."
As if on cue, the bird's chattering promptly rose several levels. Mr. Darcy spoke, but she couldn't make out the words. "I'm sorry, pardon?"
He smiled, offered his arm and walked her several feet away. His arm was warm and comfortable.
He paused, blinked and looked at her. "I fear I, too, have misjudged circumstances and proven myself wrong as well."
Her heart thumped loud at his words. "I heard you and your Aunt are staying at Netherfield?"
He nodded. "Yes, the inns at Meryton were not grand enough for my aunt. It is silly, but Bingley obliged us."
Elizabeth smiled faintly. "Mr. Bingley is a kind man."
Darcy paused and looked at her thoughtfully. "Yes, he is. Our stay has brought up several memories of last autumn. I am afraid I now owe him for the favor." He cleared his throat.
"How shall you repay him?"
Mr. Darcy squinted out at the people on the lawn. "This will be a complicated endeavor. I think firstly, I must undo a misapprehension I imparted to him that families in Hertfordshire might be less deserving of his attention than I first apprehended. Tell me, who does your sister, Miss Jane Bennet, fare?"
Elizabeth's heart beat harder.
"She is well, as you may see for yourself," Elizabeth said as Jane, her mother and sisters spilled out on the lawn, the girls laughing. Mrs. Bennet's gaze flew to her. "Lizzy, there you are! Do stop tarrying!" She shrilled as her sisters chattered.
Elizabeth momentarily cringed at the picture her family again portrayed. But then the ridiculousness of it rose in her and she couldn't help but laugh. She put her hand to her mouth, unable to help herself, her shoulders shaking.
Lady Catherine appeared in the doorway, frowning at her nephew. "Darcy, do come. I am fatigued and must rest."
Darcy momentarily glanced heavenward. "We both are being summoned by family. It has been a pleasure seeing you again, Miss Elizabeth."
"When do you leave Hertfordshire?"
"Tomorrow. My aunt is eager to return to Rosings."
Elizabeth nodded, disappointed. She wanted to say more, but found she could not begin to voice her ideas. "Do travel safely," she said, groaning inwardly. What insipid words.
"Good evening, Miss Bennet."
"Good evening." Elizabeth turned toward the house, forcing herself to step forward as something crashed in her chest.
"Charlotte? Are you here?"
Elizabeth peered inside an empty sitting room at Lucas lodge, wondering where her friend had disappeared. She wished to speak to her one last time before she and Mr. Collins traveled to Hunsford.
She approached the back parlor and conservatory. "Charlotte?"
Lady Catherine stood at the window as though she were waiting for her.
"Miss Bennet. Do come in. I was hoping to speak with you."
Elizabeth's heart raced.
"I am sorry. I was seeking Miss-, I mean Mrs. Collins."
Lady Catherine smiled mirthlessly. "I wish to speak to you regarding alarming reports."
There was no civil way to avoid her now. "Yes, Lady Catherine?"
"Do I seem like a fool?"
Elizabeth was now very confused. "Pardon me?"
"Do I seem like a foolish woman to be trifled with?"
"Not at all, ma'am."
"Then I must ask you once and for all to be candid. I have heard rumors of a most distressing nature about my own kin-my nephew. I was told that you, would, in all likelihood, be soon united to my nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood. I instantly resolved on setting off that I might make my sentiments known to you.''
Elizabeth stood, shocked at this speech, both the content and the indelicate way it was spoken."If you believed it impossible to be true,'' she said, pinkening with astonishment and disdain, "I wonder you took the trouble of coming to me."
"I wanted to hear the falsehood contradicted by your person," the older lady said curtly. "Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Or has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves?"
"I'd not heard this before," Elizabeth said, thinking of Darcy's proposal at Hunsford.
Lady Catherine sniffed. "So there is no foundation for this?"
Elizabeth looked back at the woman's face and felt her deep disapproval. That she would come only to her to squelch the rumor provided the full insult.
Elizabeth looked down and said nothing.
"This is not to be borne, Miss Bennet. Has he-has my nephew-made you an offer of marriage?"
"Your ladyship has declared it impossible."
"It ought to be so, but your allurements may have drawn him in and made him forget his familial duties," she said and clasped her hands together tightly at her waist.
"If I had, why would I confess it?"
"Miss, do you know who I am? I will not be spoken to thusly. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?"
"Only that if that is true, I wonder why you think he'd make me an offer."
Lady Catherine sniffed, turned to walk a few steps, and then wheeled around again in anger. "Darcy and my daughter have been engaged since infancy. And now, to think that marriage might be challenged by a woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world? Honour, decorum, prudence, nay-interest-forbid it. You will be censured, slighted, and despised by every person connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace."
Elizabeth lifted her chin and met her gaze. "If these circumstances are of no importance to Mr. Darcy, why should they be of concern to you?"
"Obstinate, headstrong girl! I care not if everyone knows he pays for your father's physician's care." Her ladyship's eyes glittered at her. "You think I didn't know how much your family has leached out of him, but I do. Tell me once and for all. Are you engaged?"
Elizabeth blinked and schooled her face not to look as surprised as she felt. Her lips pressed together, tempted not to answer, but she finally spoke. "No, we are not."
Lady Catherine sighed in relief. "And will you promise not enter into any such engagement?"
"I certainly will not. You have mistaken my character if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. You have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to the party."
Elizabeth turned and left the room, fighting the tears that pricked behind her eyes. Darcy had paid for her father's physician?
Out on the front lawn, she saw Mr. Collins and Charlotte enter the carriage bound for Hunsford surrounded by the party revelers. For a moment, Charlotte's gaze went to her and she waved as Elizabeth stood on the outskirts of the guests.
Then the carriage trundled away.
A Succession of Rain
It rained for three days straight, and Elizabeth felt trapped inside, damp and restless, cut off from the haven solitary walks provided her.
Finally, on the fourth morning, the skies ceased raining and a mist hugged the ground.
"Dash it, more bleary weather," Lydia pronounced.
"At least it is not still raining," Kitty said.
Elizabeth dressed quickly so that she could go outside.
"I am going out to the stables," she said to her sisters. She did not wish to be followed.
The mist was already burning off as she made her way to Longbourn's stables. Three days of rain had made the Longbourn's flora swell into fat green leaves. She held her skirts as she walked, but the grass soaked her hem with dew and fresh mud. She was wearing boots, but she could see they were already filthy, for it was nearly impossible to step without walking in a puddle. Still, it was her first chance outside in days, and she was pleased. Movement felt good.
Inside the stables she nodded hello to the groom and inhaled the fragrance of sweet hay and warm horseflesh. She went to each stall, visiting each horse, patting their necks and scratching their forelocks. "How are you ladies this morning?" she asked, rubbing a soft muzzle. Even though she rarely rode, she'd always loved horses. The large, warm animals knew her and stood calm while she patted and talked to them, knowing from experience she was generous with sugar lumps.
Darcy spent a day at Netherfield hearing a series of tirades from his aunt about familial duty, while he covertly sent express messages to and from the Bingley townhome in London. Finally it seemed as though all might fall into place. He had let his aunt speak her piece and calmly refuted her claims at each turn until she huffed away in an angry snit. According to her, Darcy would not lay claim to a single penny in her will if he married "that girl." He decided immediately that was a fair bargain.
Despite her anger, he had still set her off in a luxurious coach with a second full carriage of his best servants and two hired strongmen. Darcy decided letting her stew over time was his best strategy. Besides, as Miss Bennet had not yet accepted his offer, there was no reason to push the boundaries of his aunt's love until he had to.
He'd had a secret weapon: one Mr. Charles Bingely. Now that he better understood the nature of Miss Jane's affections (and his misapprehensions that sprang from them) he could see his best path. If Miss Elizabeth disliked him because he had discouraged Bingley's connection with Jane, that was simple enough to restore. He knew his friend still held a candle for her. It seemed as though Miss Jane still pined as well. It was easy enough to put them together to see what sparks flew or failed to. Besides, he felt it was the least he could do after reading the situation wrong in such an unfair way. It was so easy, he almost laughed. He needed only to get Bingley to Netherfield. Then to get Bingley and Miss Jane together in the same room. And, then, finally, to speak with Miss Elizabeth alone.
Would she reconsider his proposal? He still wasn't sure. But, he was beginning to understand that his desire to see Elizabeth happy was important, maybe even more important than his own. It was a rule, he realized-his rule to a contented life: make Elizabeth Bennet happy no matter what the costs. He began to see that if her happiness was secure, his own might be as well.
His nature still allowed him to fret. He knew that he couldn't necessarily predict Elizabeth's reaction, or the Bennet family's ability to surprise him. He knew he could not rest until every last was settled.
But his aunt was safely off, and Bingley had arrived at Netherfield. Darcy had only to ride to Longbourn to make his offer. He was so close, he could almost taste victory. But he still had to chance riding accidents, weather phantasms, stray highwaymen, furious Mrs. Bennet, and anything else that might go wrong. Deuced Shakespeare was correct. True love's course never did run smooth.