A/N: Okay, a bit of an aside, I saw Pride, Prejudice and Zombies this morning. It was awful but the proposal scene was hysterically funny. It is worth watching just for that five minutes. I laughed so hard. It was awesome to hear Jane Austen's beautiful language combined with books flying at Darcy's head and karate kicks!
Now back to our favorite couple. From the reviews I have received, you are almost equally divided between being Darcy haters and Elizabeth haters. Today we break through one of our biggest barriers but do not worry, things will not be totally resolved for quite a long time. I hate it when things are too easy.
Elizabeth walked past the parlor to see Mr. Darcy sitting on the settee staring at the Persian carpet like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Her father was lurking a little further down the hallway looking at her strangely.
"What did you do to the man Elizabeth?" Mr. Bennet asked.
"We argued again, which should come as no surprise ." she answered.
"It seems to be more than that. Mr. Darcy looks very out of sorts." Mr. Bennet replied.
"He wrote me a letter after he proposed the first time and wanted to know my feelings regarding the contents thereof. I told him that I destroyed the letter without reading it. He was very disappointed to say the least. It has something to do with his sister I believe but I cannot be certain." she answered.
"I have heard of this infamous letter. Mr. Darcy mentioned it to me when he came to ask for my consent. It must contain something very important to Mr. Darcy or he would not be so bereft at present. Perhaps you should inquire." he suggested.
"I admit I am curious but I will not ask him at this point. It could make no difference to our situation." Elizabeth said.
"It may, please do not be so stubborn my dear. You never know what he may divulge I would take advantage of the relative privacy we are now experiencing and ask him to explain." her father counseled.
"Father it will be an exercise in futility as all of our conversations are. Where have the rest of our guests gone?" she asked.
"Your uncle just received a new shipment of rarities from China and Miss Darcy expressed an interest in seeing them. They have all walked to your uncle's warehouse." he replied.
"Oh, I see, I hope they are not gone too long. Mr. Darcy will surely wait for them before leaving himself." She replied with a groan.
"Daughter, you are not usually so indifferent to others when they are in pain. I know you have no kind feelings towards the man but the Elizabeth I know would at least make an attempt to be fair. Perhaps your request could even lead to a discussion that will allow you sort out some of your differences."
"Father I do not want to sort out any of our differences." Elizabeth replied.
"Elizabeth, perhaps I am guilty of over indulging you. I have always allowed you to come to your own decisions with little guidance. Your determination and intelligence are qualities of which I have been proud. In this matter, however, you have let your emotions overwhelm your good sense. Your behavior these past weeks, though oft times diverting, is closer to that of your sister Lydia's than your own. I have never before seen you completely disregard the opinions of those you respect. Your sister Jane and your aunt and uncle have tried to get you to see that Mr. Darcy does have some admirable traits. He may not be perfect but he is no Mr. Collins."
"Father, how could you take his side? He took away my choice!" Elizabeth hissed.
"My child, many women never have any kind of choice regarding whom they marry. You have had your voice heard and valued more than most of your sex. This is gone beyond taking sides. You have both behaved badly and if this type of behavior continues, it may soon be too late for amelioration. There is a very good chance that his marriage may happen Elizabeth and you will have to learn to compromise. Think about what I have said, it is for your own good." Mr. Bennet replied as he made his way to the library.
Elizabeth was unhappy but took her father's words to heart. She had heard similar things from Jane and the Gardiners regarding her inflexibility of late. Perhaps it was in her best interest to let him explain the contents of the letter to her. Hearing a brief explanation regarding his missive did not mean she was giving in to him. It would also appease those in her family who did not appreciate her battle tactics.
With some trepidation, Elizabeth entered the parlor and took a seat across from Mr. Darcy. He did not even look up from the floor. He appeared to be deep in thought.
"Mr. Darcy, my father believes I was ungenerous in not reading your correspondence. He feels I should hear you out regarding the contents of your letter. I will listen if you wish to tell me what you wrote." Elizabeth said grudgingly.
Mr. Darcy was not impressed with her attitude. "Perhaps your father should ask me himself if he desires to know what I wrote. Do you actually wish to know or are you just placating Mr. Bennet?"
"Both I suppose, he did suggest I approach you and ask because you appear discontented. I told him that it would have no bearing on our disagreements but I can admit to a degree of curiosity." She replied coldly.
"You have had the nerve to call me unfeeling Miss Elizabeth? That was quite a callous speech on your part. Maybe you are not the woman I thought you were. I never imagined you would be so insensitive. Your kindness to your own sister is one of the things that first drew my attention to you. I guess the same kindness does not apply to my sister. " he said with bitterness.
"Mr. Darcy you refer to your sister once again. I told you I did not expect Miss Darcy to be such an unassuming young girl. I was informed that she was more similar to Miss Bingley in nature. I would certainly have taken a different tact if I knew then what I do now. What did your letter have to do with Miss Darcy?" said an exasperated Elizabeth.
"Who was your source of information regarding my sister?" he asked pointedly.
"That is not your concern but my source was a reliable one. I have much faith in his judgement and honesty even if his perception is not in keeping with Miss Darcy's current mode of behavior. He knew your sister years ago." Elizabeth replied with much confidence.
"He? His? Who is this paragon of virtue who gave you insights into Georgiana's personality?" Darcy demanded.
"I do not wish to share the information with you." Elizabeth said stoically.
"Why not?" Darcy asked.
"That is my prerogative," she answered.
Mr. Darcy suddenly looked at her as if she had sprouted horns. "Miss Bennet I have a feeling I know who your source may be. If I am correct, it is the same upstanding person who nearly ruined my sister's life. I believe your fascination with Mr. Wickham's charming persona has blinded you from seeing that he is truly a snake in the grass."
"You have always hated him and consequently ruined him by denying him the promised living." Elizabeth retorted viciously.
"RUINED HIM!" Darcy roared. "He was nearly the means of ruining Georgiana when he tried to elope with her when she was but fifteen years old! He wanted her dowry! The money I paid him for that blasted living was not enough to satisfy him. Your delightful Wickham gambled away four thousand pounds in three years and then had the gall to ask me again for the living. When I refused he tried to revenge himself upon me using my sister as his device!"
"You are lying!" Elizabeth shouted back at Darcy. "George Wickham would never behave in such a depraved manner. You have no decency to create such a falsehood about a good man and the sister you claim to love so much!"
"My brother does not tell falsehoods Miss Elizabeth." a quiet voice said from the doorway. "Fitzwilliam is telling you the truth."
Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam had entered the parlor during their argument. The rest of the family thankfully had not yet followed. The Colonel quickly closed the parlor door and said in a very stern voice, "Miss Elizabeth you have been misled by a practiced deceiver. Your anger with my cousin is misdirected."
"Miss Elizabeth I cannot let you blame my brother for something that was not his fault. Will you please listen to my explanation?" Georgiana asked her.
Elizabeth was too overcome to reply. She merely nodded in Miss Darcy's direction.
"Georgiana this is not necessary. Miss Elizabeth does not deserve your condescension. I have already give her a truthful explanation that she refuses to accept." a sullen Darcy interjected.
"Cousin I think it is necessary." Colonel Fitzwilliam disagreed. "Georgiana please continue."
"I was permitted to visit Ramsgate almost a year ago with my former companion, a Mrs. Younge. We came across Mr. Wickham supposedly by chance and began to spend time with him on our walks. I later found out that our chance meeting was by design. He flattered me and paid me a great deal of attention. This behavior went on for weeks. My inexperience and immaturity led me to believe I was in love. Mr. Wickham had always been kind to me in my childhood. Fitzwilliam meant to protect me by not revealing his true nature. He proposed to me and I gladly accepted. Mrs. Younge, his actual paramour, encouraged me to believe in his love without question. They both played on my naïve fantasies. I felt like I was playing the part of a heroine in a novel. I wanted to tell my brother at once of our joy but they convinced me to wait and surprise him as a wedded woman." Georgiana was barely holding herself together as she spoke. He voice was shaky and her complexion ashen.
"Georgiana, that is enough. You do not need to go on and cause yourself more pain. Miss Elizabeth is not worthy of your distress. She gave up the right to know our family's intimate concerns when she destroyed my letter." Mr. Darcy said resentfully.
"I do not know the letter you speak of but I wish to finish." Georgiana replied. "Miss Elizabeth, the night before the elopement my brother arrived unexpectedly. I told him everything. I did not want to marry without him to give me away. When I explained the circumstances of my engagement he was furious but not with me. He interrogated Mrs. Younge thoroughly. She soon admitted the entire sordid plot. After the elopement took place, they were planning to abandon me as soon as Mr. Wickham could obtain my dowry. I would have been disgraced and lost to all good society forever if not for my good brother. I do not know how Mr. Wickham came to your attention Miss Elizabeth but please do not give any of his utterances credence. His every word is a lie. My brother sent them both away and I hope never to lay eyes on either of them again. I just ask you never to share this information with anyone else. I would not want to hurt my family any more than I have already done." Georgiana cried.
Elizabeth was beside herself. Mr. Darcy had not lied. The girl was too sincere and upset to be doubted. It was no wonder that she was so emotional and sensitive. The poor child had been taken advantage of by two people she trusted. Elizabeth was deeply ashamed of her own horrible judgement. She had believed Mr. Wickham so readily with no second thoughts. What was wrong with her? She sat down beside Miss Darcy and pulled her into an embrace.
"Miss Darcy please forgive me for causing you to relive your anguish. You have my solemn vow never to breathe a word of your situation." Elizabeth promised.
"Do you now acquit my brother of any cruelty to Mr. Wickham?" Miss Darcy asked.
"I do." she whispered in the young girl's ear.
"I am afraid I did not hear your response Miss Elizabeth." Darcy said sarcastically.
"In light of your sister's disclosure, I am afraid I must believe you." Elizabeth replied unable to look at him.
"Afraid you must, what a dilemma for you!" Darcy exclaimed. "You would not have believed me at all if my sister did not tell you her story! Is it your opinion that I am a liar and a reprobate?"
"Yes! No! I do not know. This is too much for me to comprehend. I was so convinced that you were the villain in this drama. I have always felt myself to be a good judge of character and now I see I was wholly mistaken for trusting in Mr. Wickham's integrity. But I find myself still not wanting to believe you even after all the evidence that has been presented in your favor." Elizabeth said.
"Well at least that is an honest response. I know not to expect more from you. Whenever I do so, I am heartily disappointed. Just think Miss Elizabeth of all the angst that could have been avoided if you had read my letter that day in Hunsford." Darcy lectured.
"Cousin, I believe that Miss Elizabeth needs some time to think about all she has learned today. Perhaps we can continue this discussion at different time when all of our emotions are under better regulation." Colonel Fitzwilliam suggested with a meaningful look at his cousin. The Colonel was a man who knew the value of a timely retreat if one wants to stand strong and fight again on another day.