Chapter 8
As the group stopped for luncheon, Elizabeth decided to make good on her vow to question Darcy on Mr. Bingley's intended return to the neighborhood. She knew she would have to wait to hear word for Jane to write to Aunt Maddy and then for Aunt Maddy to enclose a missive for her within her letters to Lady Matlock. Questioning Darcy would be a quicker route to learning more regarding Bingley, she knew. With this in mind, Elizabeth looked toward Darcy and said, "Mr. Darcy, do you know when your friend plans to return to the neighborhood? He indicated a short time away before we departed Netherfield after the ball, but his sister's letter indicated otherwise."
"It is as Miss Bingley says, Bingley does not intend a return to the neighborhood anytime soon," Darcy said stiffly.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him and said cooly, "Oh? I had thought Miss Bingley's letter to be filled with desires of her own design."
"Miss Bingley I would expect to be an authority on her brother's affairs in this case," Darcy said shifting uneasily. The look in Elizabeth's eye concerned him. It called to mind the same look in his aunt's eye when she had angrily defended her friends to him Friday. Elizabeth had certainly sparred with him, and reflection had revealed she had looked at him with disdain but this was the first time he could recall her looking at him with true anger in her eyes, not just a passionate defense as she debated with him. This was anger of a different stamp.
"Such as the upcoming engagement between her brother and Miss Darcy, given her hopes in the direction of yourself," Elizabeth responded raising her eyebrow and fighting to reign in her temper trying to be mindful of the fact that no matter how at ease she felt with the Fitzwilliams, they had been previously unknown to her and her line of questioning was improper enough without her losing her temper in company.
"What's this? Her designs on the Darcy family are just that, designs of her own making. I can assure you, Miss Elizabeth, she wrote complete colldswope," Sutton said grimly.
"I suggest, William, you tell Bingley to take that gossiping harpy he calls a sister in hand, before she continues to spread such rumors thst risk a young girl, not even out yet, reputation," Lady Matlock said icily to her nephew. To Elizabeth she said, her tone warming considerably, "Georgie is not out, let alone on the brink of an engagement."
"May I speak frankly?" Elizabeth asked tightly.
"Please do," Darcy said stiffly.
"My concern is for my sister. It is no secret you and Mr. Bingley's sisters view the Bennets as inferior to the descendents of a tradesman. Mr. Bingley though did not seem to find himself above my sister. As for myself and the rest of my family, we could care less about such a thing as where the Bingleys descend from. If it is true you do not believe Mr. Bingley will be returning to the neighborhood, I would like to know why? From my observations of him, I had thought his intentions quite serious in regards to his future in the neighborhood," Elizabeth said her mind racing to what this new evidence indicated.
Elizabeth was dimly aware of Darcy speaking stiffly about how Bingley was at a time in his life where he made many friends and had plans for the Christmas season in London, how he likely would not return to the environs of Meryton. If Bingley's sisters had convinced him not to return to the neighborhood, could she convince Mr. Darcy to refute their arguments? His own words as he spoke indicated he supported Bingley's sisters, no suprise, the hateful man, she thought angrily. Since it was unlikely her would listen to her, what did this mean for Jane? For her own situation? Would Mr. Bingley's continued absence and her own disappearance cause Mr. Collins to turn his attention back to Jane, who had been his first choice? Jane, who was obliging and to sweet for her own good. Her father had supported her, but it wad unlikely he would put forth the effort a second time for a second daughter. If her mother pressed her, Jane would give in, believing it her duty to the family to do so. Elizabeth could not allow her sister to sacrifice herself, Elizabeth thought to herself, her agitation growing. She would marry that monster before she would allow sweet gentle Jane to be sacrificed.
"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said gently seeing her increasing agitation and inattention to his words.
Her eyes clouded with pain, Elizabeth turned towards Lady Matlock and said softly, "I am sorry to inconvenience you, my Lady, but I believe I need to turn back. I cannot do this."
"Do what?" Darcy asked in alarm, a sinking feeling in him.
"Put Jane in a position where she will feel obligated to sacrifice herself to, to that, that, to Mr. Collins," Elizabeth said attempting to stay calm and not flinch in revulsion and fear at the thought of Mr. Collins.
"Miss Elizabeth, Darcy's friend Bingley is known to fall in and out of love easily. Was your sister very attached to him?" Sutton asked gently.
Elizabeth nodded, tears leaking out. Tears that to Darcy felt like knife points to his chest.
"And you believe your sister is so beautiful that your cousin will decide that she has to take your place with you gone. From what Maddy has told me of her, she would believe it her duty to do so?" Lady Matlock questioned her gently.
"Yes," Elizabeth said softly. "I cannot allow her to be put in a position to sacrifice herself. With her heart bruised by Mr. Bingley's defection she wll be vulnerable. I know Jane. If she believes her opportunity to marry for love is lost to her, she will allow herself to be sacrificed. Jane deserves to be loved."
"You to deserve to be loved," Lady Matlock said as Darcy paled, the import of Elizabeth's words registering.
Before Elizabeth could respond, Darcy said harshly, "You are not sacrificing yourself to that man for your sister. I won't allow it."
"There will be no sacrificing," Lady Matlock said with authority. "Darcy, did Mr. Bingley genuinely care for Miss Bennet? If Miss Bingley felt compelled to fabricate an attachment to Georgiana, it implies she was worried that he truly did care for her. And I for one can think of one glaringly obvious reason that has nothing to do with the wealth or status of the Bennets that would cause Miss Bingley to wish to keep her brother and the others in his party out of Hertfordshire."
Darcy, aware his aunt ment his own attachment to Elizabeth, thoughtfully said, "I did notice that he seemed more in love with her than I had ever previously wittnessed with any of his previous attachments while at the Netherfield ball. I did not notice any particular attachment on Miss Bennet's part though, and advised him against returning. His previous attachments never lasted more than a fortnight and I believed he would quickly find a new attachment once he was convinced of her indifference."
"My sister is shy," Elizabeth hissed out angrily. "What would you have her do? Court him as asidously as Miss Bingley courts you? Throw herself at him? She is a proper gentlewoman. It might suprise you to know that one can feel affection for another while concealing it! As a gentlewoman it is up to her to await a declaration from the gentleman before declaring her own feelings, you hateful arrogant man!" Elizabeth finished loudly, scrambling to her feet and making as composed of a dash as her emotions would allow out of the private dinning room they sat in, her goal being the outdoors.
"You have really put your foot in it this time," Sutton said cheerfully as ignoring him, Darcy with angry determination strode out the door after Elizabeth.
"Benjamin!" Lady Matlock said in rebuke. "Now is not the time to tease your cousin. Now escort me outside so that I may provide proper chaperonage for Lizzy and so that you may be on hand to restrain your cousin. That girl will surely try his control."
"I think you mistake me for Richard, mother. I haven't bested Darcy in anything physical since we were children, if even then. How exactly do you expect me to restrain him? And why?" Sutton said as he rose as well.
"Becuase you idiot," Lady Matlock snapped grabbing his arm, "he is in love with Elizabeth and used to getting his own way. While he would never impose himself on a woman, I can guarantee he will not let her run from him. Clap your hand over his mouth if you have too. Just keep him from making matter worse. He is more likely to demand she marry him right now then offer a heartfelt proposal."
As Sutton and Lady Matlock emerged from the inn they saw that Darcy had indeed caught up to Miss Elizabeth. He stood towering over her his hands clenched in fists at his side while Elizabeth stood toe to toe with him, glaring angrily up at him.
Eyes widening, grateful for the deserted yard, Sutton called out loudly to gain the two combatants attention, "Darcy, Miss Elizabeth!" but neither acknowledged him so he tried again calling, "Fitzwilliam! Lizzy!" Both turned towards him at this. Seeing they had their attention as him and his mother neared them he said, "There is a simple solution to this. William was clearly wrong, something he realizes now. Rather then berate him further at this moment, I believe an express to Bingley, correcting his faulty advice is in order."
"Lizzy, I suggest a walk with me around the perimeter to help cool your temper. William, you may adjorn to the inn with Ben to see to your missive, before you say or do anything unwisely," Lady Matlock said firmly.
"I can do one better, Elizabeth," Darcy said tightly. "I will mention not only your sister holds him in tender regard but that you fear your cousin will have intentions toward her with Bingley gone. That should send him scampering to Netherfield despite anything his sisters may say or do." If Elizabeth did not accept this peace offering, and still insisted on returning to Longbourn, Darcy would follow her, personally with no subtly see to resolving whatever mess one of the younger Bennets was in and present himself daily at Longbourn until his stubborn love realized she was his and he was hers. Even if Jane Bennet did not care for Bingley, Darcy thought grimly, he would advise Bingley to return if it kept Elizabeth away from Mr. Collins. He wished Bingley every happiness in life, but would not put Bingley's happiness over Elizabeth's safety and happiness. It was as he had just told Elizabeth, he would not countance her engaging in some hairbrained scheme to sacrifice her self to spare her sister. The fact that she had challenged him that he had no right to order her about, had caused his blood to boil. If his aunt and cousin had not of arrived to diffuse the situation he suspected he would have informed Elizabeth he had every right since she was marrying him, an order that would not have been well thought out, given her independence, he wryly thought. As the older, wiser, more worldly one, it was up to him to keep a clear head and not react without thinking, doing so could push Elizabeth further away when what he wanted to do was bring her closer.
Elizabeth gave a jerky nod, and said, "Very well." Then composing herself, she flushed red and said, " I should not have called you what I called you in the inn, Mr. Darcy. I, I did not expect that you would listen to me and I lashed out in anger. I am sorry. My behavior was unacceptable. "
"I will always listen to you, Elizabeth," Darcy said huskily, wanting badly to pull her into his arms and truly make up with her, in a way that she could not misunderstood how he felt about her. "Before I send my missive, perhaps you can read over it to make sure it meets with your approval. "
"That is not necessary," Elizabeth said quietly. "I trust you to do as you say."