Chapter Forty

"Darcy. This is an unexpected pleasure." Colonel Fitzwilliam descended the last few steps of Kenwell Hall, the Fitzwilliam family home, as Mr. Darcy dismounted from his horse. "Father will be pleased to see you. He was complaining only the other day, it was a long time since you paid us a visit."

"Fitzwilliam, please tell your father I apologise for my tardiness, but I am here on urgent business."

Colonel Fitzwilliam looked carefully at his cousin. "Darcy, is something troubling you?"

"Yes. If you can spare the time, I need to talk to you."

"This way."

Darcy handed over his horse to the waiting groom and followed his cousin.

The two men set off towards the gardens where they could talk undisturbed. Darcy told him of his engagement to Miss Bennet.

Colonel Fitzwilliam clapped him on the back. "But that is such wonderful news. I am so delighted. I always said you should marry Miss Bennet."

"Fitzwilliam, this is real. I love and admire Miss Bennet."

"But then why are you sometso troubled?"

Mr. Darcy handed him Elizabeth's letter. The colonel scanned it quickly.

"This cannot be right," he said, looking up.

"It is clear enough. She does not feel enough to marry me."

Colonel Fitzwilliam looked puzzled. "Darcy, there is more to it than that."

"Is there? She says there is someone else."

"Well, it is not true," said the colonel quickly. "I would not believe it to be true. Darcy, think how Miss Bennet helped you. This is not a woman who would trifle with your feelings. She is a good woman."

Darcy sighed. "I know it…"

"You must go to her and talk to her."

"She has asked me not to Fitzwilliam, and as much as it grieves me, I have no wish to cause her pain."

"Darcy, you cannot just walk away. There is too much at stake. Without a wedding, you will lose Pemberley."

"I did not ask her to marry me because of Pemberley. Without Miss Bennet, Pemberley will mean nothing."

"Then go to her… talk to her… Darcy, throw caution to the wind. Fight for her."

Mr. Darcy looked at his cousin as if to argue.

"Go home and make preparations to go to Hertfordshire. Darcy, you will find no better wife. Do not lose this chance… now!"

Mr. Darcy smiled at his cousin. "Fitzwilliam, I had no idea you were so sentimental."

"Nor did I?" said his cousin grinning.

Mr. Darcy rode back to Pemberley, his thoughts full of Elizabeth. He knew his cousin was right. He should fight for her, but he was beset with doubts.

As he arrived home Mrs. Reynolds came running down the steps to greet him. "Sir, you have an express."

Mr. Darcy went cold. He took it from his housekeeper, broke the seal and quickly read it. He started to shake. "Tell them to get my carriage ready," he said. "I leave within the hour."

Elizabeth was walking along the lanes of Longbourn. It was the day she had decided she would have to tell Jane and Mama the truth. How else would she be able to explain Mr. Darcy's absence if she did not tell them? She dreaded her mother's reaction. Mrs. Bennet would be upset and worried how she was going to lose face among her friends. She only hoped that she would put all her energy into Jane's wedding.

Elizabeth climbed through a stone wall in the field and started to walk across. Her foot immediately sunk into some mud. Her shoes would be ruined and Mrs. Hill would not be happy when she saw the state of her dress. There was nothing she could do. She carried on, keeping close to the wall. She was uncertain whether there were any cattle around. Normally she would have run and skipped, but her mood was so low, she merely walked along. After weeks of good weather it had been grey with rain over the last few days and it matched her mood. She had tried to banish Mr. Darcy from her thoughts but she could not. She really mourned her loss. She had not even written to Georgiana. If she was not marrying her brother it did not seem appropriate for her to write. Georgiana would be very unhappy when she found out there was no longer going to be a wedding.

Elizabeth started to sing. It wasn't one of the normal cheerful songs she liked to sing. It was a lament which suited her miserable mood. She was so busy singing she did not notice she was not alone in the field. Suddenly she was aware of a cow staring at her… No it wasn't just a cow, it was a bull. Elizabeth looked around. He was not alone. She carefully turned around, and started to walk back towards where she had entered the field. She kept looking back over her shoulder. The bulls were lumbering down towards her. Elizabeth knew that she must not run, but she was tempted. Her heart was thumping hard. The bulls started moving towards her more quickly and Elizabeth picked up her skirts and ran. She only just made through the gap back into the lane…

"Look out!" bellowed a voice.

Elizabeth screamed as two horses reared up in front of her. The man pulled hard and she fell to the ground. The carriage moved forward and she rolled out of the way as the man brought the carriage to a halt. She was shocked as she saw the carriage door open and Mr. Darcy dismount.

Are you hurt?"

Elizabeth did not immediately say anything and in a few long strides he was by her side.

"Are you hurt Miss Bennet?"

No, she wasn't hurt, but she did feel foolish.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I might ask you the same thing…"

She looked at her dress. It was ruined. Mr. Darcy offered her a hand and she reluctantly took it. He helped her to her feet.

"Thank you…" she said.

"Let me take you home," he said.

"No… you cannot…" she said, trying to tuck a loose piece of hair back in place.

"But if you're hurt…"

"I am not hurt. It was kind of you to stop."

"Miss Bennet, you almost caused an accident."

Elizabeth felt guilty. "Are your horses, your driver, the carriage—are they alright?"

Mr. Darcy looked towards his driver and the man nodded.

"Everything is fine. Please let me take you home. I wish to talk to you."

Elizabeth blushed. "You should not have come."

"Did you really expect me to stay away?"

"Yes," she snapped. "I did. I cannot be your wife."

"Because there is madness in your family?"

Elizabeth stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"I have talked to Lady Catherine," he said quietly.

"Well, she is right. You could not have madness in your family. Look at me. This is the sort of strange things I do, singing in fields."

Mr. Darcy smiled. "There are many at Pemberley you can sing in. I think there are even some trees you can climb.."

"I did not climb a tree," she said crossly.

"Do you really think I would care if there was madness in your family?" he asked. "I want to marry you, Elizabeth Bennet."

Elizabeth was shocked by his tone. "You cannot. Lady Catherine…"

Mr. Darcy took her hand.

"Mr. Darcy…"

He guided her back to his carriage and the driver opened the door for them. Elizabeth was tempted to scream, but she had made enough of a fool of herself. She got in and Mr. Darcy followed and took up the seat opposite her.

"Lady Catherine has nothing to do with you and I. I love you and I want to marry you. "

"But the madness?"

"Was an intervention to stop you marrying Mr. Collins."

Elizabeth blushed. "Aunt Gardiner."

"Your uncle sent me an express telling me of Lady Catherine's visit and I went to talk to them. They care very much about you."

Elizabeth tried to make light of it. She did not want to cry. "Well, perhaps there is madness in my family, look at me." She pointed out her spoiled dress and shoes.

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I love you and you will make a perfect mistress of Pemberley."

Elizabeth looked into his dark eyes and she could see they were filled with love. She could stop the tears no longer. She really was the luckiest woman in Hertfordshire.