A/N
Chapter 7. ODC interaction, finally:)) I do hope you all enjoy especially after all the delay!
This chapter took me quite some time to write as I was trying to tread the line between unethical and ethical that at least one of the readers is continually upset about. Frankly I tried because an immoral, unethical Darcy is an anathema to me as well : )). Having said that let me put a disclaimer β this is a story where Darcy has attained a magical power and he listens to people's thoughts - sometimes even deliberately and will continue to do so till he continues to have this power. Frankly that was the purpose of this little bit of magic. If I stop him listening to these thoughts, I might as well stop writing this story here and now :( As I mentioned earlier, I usually dabble in low angst fluff only to try and bring a few smiles to your faces, but if this is causing too much annoyance or irritation will request you to take an informed decision as that defeats my purpose altogether...
As usual will appreciate your thoughts on this instalment, and thank you so very much for all the feedback, suggestions, and interactions - keeps me going π
To Lisa β As always, thank you so much for the kind help!
A Little Magic Chapter 7A bemused Elizabeth watched as Mr Collins, and Mary walked beside her discussing a verse from the Bible, oblivious to her presence. Apart from throwing a vague smile at her, Mr Collins had not bothered her at all. And here she had been preparing herself to repulse his unwanted advances with all her might! She felt strangely letdown. 'Perhaps that is how a soldier might feel when the enemy surrenders without even an engagement! Great relief accompanied by a puzzling sense of anticlimax,' she decided wryly. She had been so thankful yesterday that both Mama and Mr Collins had left her alone, that she had not paused to think about his strange behaviour. However, Mr Collins' altered attitude started to puzzle her now. Mama's change of heart she could understand β Mr Darcy and his peculiar behaviour were responsible for it... but... what about Mr Collins? Mama had told her that he was eager to make a proposal. He had the opportunity to propose to her many times since yesterday β he had not. And now instead of pestering her with compliments as he usually did, he had not even bothered to exchange a word! 'Does it mean he is no longer interested in marrying me? she thought hopefully. 'But... what could be the reason for Mr Collins' change of heart? He came out of his tΓͺte-Γ -tΓͺte with Mr Darcy almost like a changed man. Is Mr Darcy responsible for that too? What could Mr Darcy have said to Mr Collins, and more importantly, why would he? Anyhow, Mr Collins' behaviour changed yesterday itself.'
Elizabeth was so busy with her confounding thoughts that she was not alert to it when Darcy caught up with her and started walking by her side once again. "Oh, Lord... Papa, Mama, Mr Darcy, Mr Collins... almost everyone is acting so strangely since yesterday, that I do not know what to think anymore. What if... Mr Collins changes his mind once again?" She thought worriedly. "If only I could be sure that I am now out of the wood... This... this uncertainty since yesterday is a torment... and..."
Darcy turned his head away from her, feeling uncomfortable and helpless at the same time. This inadvertent listening into someone's thought as soon as they came into his line of sight β whether he wanted to or not β was beginning to jar. It also galled him that with her, he found it difficult to glance away and grant her the privacy he should. If she was hurting β he wanted to know what was troubling her - and comfort her. If she was being witty β he wanted to smile along with her. Dash it all, he found it difficult to look away even when she was being hurtful to him! At this very moment he wanted to hold her hand and tell her that she no longer be afraid of being tied to Collins β but of course, he could not. So, he did what he thought was best in the circumstances - he cleared his throat to make her aware of his presence. Elizabeth gave a start at the sudden interruption to her thoughts and glanced at him in surprise. When she saw Mr Darcy by her side, her doubts about him somehow being responsible for Mr Collins' transformation came rushing in, and before she could prevent herself, she found herself angling for some information. "I did not know you were on such intimate terms with our cousin, Mr Darcy. Did you know him from before Meryton?"
Darcy looked at her, his brow raised in surprise. "I did not, Miss Elizabeth, and I thought you knew that - for I was sure that I saw you nearby when Mr Collins introduced himself to me on the night of the ball." He had been unable to stop himself for rubbing it in, but as he saw the quick embarrassed look on her face, he added hurriedly, "Perhaps I remembered wrongly."
Although, the expression of knowing amusement on his face was fleeting, Elizabeth had managed to observe it. Feeling embarrassed at being caught dissembling, she could not help but confess, "No... you remembered correctly... Mr Darcy. It is just that... that your interactions with my cousin between that evening and today were so... so contrasting in nature that I... I found myself wondering about them..." Elizabeth's voice petered off. "If only there was a way to discover whether Mr Collins has truly suffered a change of heart... and if so, will it last? " she thought glumly, and sighed.
Darcy looked at her woebegone face and, for a moment, wondered a little wildly what it was about this woman that kept him behaving contrary to his nature and sometimes... even his character? For he knew that just to give her some solace, he would find a way to let her know that she need not fear Collins again. Especially when he was the one who had delayed Collins from declaring himself to Miss Mary. But it was unthinkable to reveal the contents of his private conversation with Collins... even if the other man had not sworn him to secrecy. 'Then how...' Suddenly he remembered that yesterday Collins had declared quite openly in the Longbourn parlour that he was going to offer for one of his cousins on the advice of Aunt Catherine... 'Perhaps...'
"I think we can lay the blame for all this on my Aunt Catherine..." Darcy replied lightly.
Elizabeth looked at him in confusion. "Blame your aunt... for... for what?" she asked finally.
"Well... for whatever contrasting and confusing interactions you have been witnessing, Miss Elizabeth." Darcy smiled at her.
"Whatever is he blabbing about?" "I... I am sorry but I do not understand, sir. I wish you will stop talking in riddles."
"Ah... I am referring to the interactions between Collins and myself that you mentioned just now. He introduced himself to me that night because of my aunt or... rather because I am her nephew. While it would not really be politic to say that I responded the way I did because I am my aunt's nephew... suffice to say that my civility could not bear the assault of Mr Collin's verbosity," Darcy added wryly.
Elizabeth felt a twinge of guilt at his words. That day she had tried hard to dissuade Mr Collins from approaching Mr Darcy without an introduction, because she knew it was against the established forms of ceremony. But he had chosen to ignore her. "If I am to be fair, I have to acknowledge that initially Mr Darcy heard Mr Collins out with civility. It was only when the longwinded and obsequious speechifying continued that his contempt started to show. And I was so quick blame Mr Darcy's arrogance for the embarrassment Mr Collins caused me..." She sighed and said lamely, "I suppose Mr Collins was very eager to meet the nephew of his noble patroness."
Darcy nodded "Yes... my aunt, Lady Catherine. Yesterday also Mr Collins revealed that my aunt's advice was one of the reasons he was going to offer marriage to... to one of his cousins."
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open at that. "He ... he said that?"
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth, he did β you can confirm with Miss Bennet if you like."
"No... no, there is no need for that, Mr Darcy, of course, I take your word for it. I suppose, I was just surprised at the intelligence," she replied quickly, feeling extremely annoyed with Mr Collins and his tendency to blab. "Of all the people in Meryton, Mr Collins could find only Mr Darcy to share his marital aspirations with!"
Darcy suppressed a grin. "As was I, Miss Elizabeth... as was I. That was the reason I got involved in a discussion with him about it. After all my aunt's advice could be responsible for a life changing decision for Mr Collins and you... you all, that is. Unfortunately, we could not finish our discussion before I left yesterday, and Mr Collins came to me just now for its continuation. Of course, I was happy to help," he finished airily.
Elizabeth stopped walking and stared at him in stupefaction for a long moment. Perforce Darcy stopped with her. "I think I am in a dream or some such... it really cannot be that Mr Darcy is dispensing advice to Mr Collins, and... and... on matrimony of all things!" "I did not know you were such great authority on marital prospects of parsons, Mr Darcy," she finally managed to say dryly.
He smiled at her and shook his head. "Of course, I am not, Miss Elizabeth, but where advice to Mr Collins is concerned, I am a great authority on something else. Or should I say... someone else?"
"Oh? Of course, your aunt - Lady Catherine de Bourgh."
"Exactly!" He gave her a broad approving smile.
Elizabeth blinked at him. "Oh, for heaven's sake! Does... does he really have to keep smiling in that distracting manner? I cannot believe he is the same Mr Darcy who was always staring at me so disapprovingly across various chambers of Netherfield." she thought irritably, and Darcy could not help himself β his smile widened into a pleased grin.
"God!" Elizabeth dragged her gaze away from the impossibly attractive face in front of her and cleared her throat. "Ah... I am sorry, but I do not understand how that particular expertise comes in handy in this case, Mr Darcy?" she asked.
"That is because you have not met my aunt, Miss Elizabeth. Had you met her and then seen the kind of... of ser... umm... reverence, Mr Collins holds for her, you would not have asked this question."
"Servility does describe it best even if it is less politic," she thought with a sigh.
"Usually when two people decide to marry, they hope for compatibility β a meeting of minds - between themselves. But if a young lady ever considers marrying Mr Collins β a Mr Collins who has been awarded a living by Lady Catherine of Rosings Park β then for a contented life, she will also need some sort of compatibility with my dear aunt."
Elizabeth could not prevent an involuntarily chuckle from escaping. "You are jesting, of course!"
He shrugged. "No, I am not, Miss Elizabeth."
As she listened to his odd claims, suddenly, she started to feel scared as she did not know what the result of Mr Darcy's meddling would be. The uncertainty and the fear made her blindingly angry. "Who does he think he is that he can interfere in our lives in this manner? If his aunt is as high-handed as he, it is no wonder he thinks that any wife of Mr Collins would need to compatible with the old termagant!" She opened her mouth to let him know just what she thought of his unsolicited interference, when she looked into his eyes. Eyes that were gazing at her with kindness β the same kindness he had shown her yesterday when he had told her to keep faith. Very surprisingly, as she continued to gaze at him, she found her anger draining away. "I might not like Mr Darcy's interference, but it is not unsolicited. Mr Collins had sought it, who is well within his rights to seek anyone's advice as he deems fit." She sighed as she finally accepted that fact.
"So, what is this advice you gave Mr Collins?" she asked.
"Surely, you are not asking me to reveal the details of a private conversation, Miss Elizabeth?" Darcy assumed a shocked expression.
She flushed, but held his gaze challengingly, "And why not, sir? Not ten minutes ago, I heard someone say that their aunt's advice could well be life changing for us all. Is the nephew's any less so?"
"TouchΓ©, Miss Elizabeth," Darcy murmured, smiling appreciatively. "While I still believe that it would not be correct in me to divulge any details about my conversation with Collins, I see no harm in telling you that he seems to have taken my suggestions very much to heart," he added.
Elizabeth gazed at him uncomprehendingly for a moment. "What an irritating man! Forever talking in riddles. What does he ..." That was when it struck her, and she turned her head sharply to stare at Mr Collins and Mary? As she continued to gaze, the other two walked on - talking busily. "Mary and Mr Collins? So that is why I did not merit even a glance today. Oh... oh... but that means I am saved!" Elizabeth's face broke out in a broad grin as a giant wave of relief flooded her. However, before she could truly feel happy about the situation, doubts assailed her. "But... what about Mary? Will she be happy with Mr Collins and... and can she really tackle the old termagant? Oh, how could I have been so selfish?"
For a moment, Darcy stood gazing at the changing expressions on her face, and then looked away, smiling to himself. He had known that she had a kind heart, for she had been so caring and protective of Miss Bennet when they both had stayed at Netherfield. But then, he had also noticed that the elder Miss Bennets seemed to share a stronger bond with each other than with the rest of their sisters. It was therefore heartening to see her equally caring of Miss Mary. 'I am sure that when the time comes, she will treat Georgie similarly,' the thought came unbidden. 'All right... Darcy, it will do you good to hold your horses for the time being!' he chided himself and glanced at her once again β only to find her staring at him with a raised brow.
"I... I am sorry, did you say something, Miss Elizabeth?"
"Yes, sir, I did. I asked you how you can be sure that the advice you offered Mr Collins is a sound one? We have already agreed that it can be a life altering decision for many, including your aunt!"
His lips quirked; it was good to see her fighting spirits back in action. He could hardly tell her the truth - that he was confident about his advice because he could hear everyone else's musings! So, he tried his hand at some flippancy, "It would appear, Miss Elizabeth, that you are not the only studier of character in this neighbourhood."
"I suppose Mr Darcy is being facetious as he does not know how precarious my self-control is after all the anxiety I have undergone since yesterday," she thought exasperatedly as she exhorted him to be serious. Darcy hurriedly moved away from her a little, and decided to end her misery, for more reasons than one. "I was being completely serious, Miss Elizabeth. All right, please look at Mr Collins and Miss Mary carefully, and tell me what you see?"
Elizabeth gave him a suspicious look, then turned to gaze once again at Mary and her cousin. At first the only thing she noticed was what she had done moments ago - Mr Collins was making a point and Mary was listening to him. "So, what is so special here, Mr Collins does like to air his views to anyone and everyone," she thought with a huff, but then she observed her sister a little more minutely and realized what in fact was special. When Mr Collins expounded his views in Longbourn, it generated mostly predictable reaction in his audience. Lydia and Kitty giggled, Jane put on a sweet smile and pretended to listen, and Elizabeth herself vacillated between amusement and boredom. But now she was surprised to note that Mary was listening to him very keenly. "From the way she is pulling at her left earlobe, I can tell Mary is very much interested in whatever he is saying," Elizabeth realized as she observed her sister wonderingly. "And... now that I have come to think, Mary did use to talk to him most evenings when we had our after-supper tea. I... never paid much attention at the time beyond experiencing a feeling of relief at being spared Mr Collins' homilies..." Elizabeth realized with a sudden feeling of unease. Even as she continued to watch the couple absentmindedly, Mr Collins stopped speaking for a moment and slowly, almost shyly, extended his arm towards Mary. Even from the distance Elizabeth could see her sister freeze momentarily, and then as she watched with bated breath, Mary raised her hand hesitantly and placed it on Mr Collins' elbow. Their postures appeared awkward β even a little stiff - but not so their smiles. Elizabeth swallowed hard to clear the lump that had suddenly lodged itself in her throat. "Mr Collins paid me exaggerated compliments, pestered me daily - almost beyond endurance, but he never did offer me that arm!" she realized in amusement.
Elizabeth slowly turned her head towards Mr Darcy and found him regarding her with an amused expression and a brow raised at her challengingly. She found she had to clear her throat before she could speak. "I have to admit, sir, that you are in fact a far better studier of character than I," she said finally and was dismayed to note how husky her voice sounded. His amusement gentled, and the smile she had begun to dread and long for in equal measure, made an appearance. "Sometimes it does happen, Miss Elizabeth, that a veteran misses a chance which a novice uses to his advantage, " he teased. As she stared in his smiling eyes - dark, warm, and fathomless β she had the strangest sensation that she was drowning in them even as her feet remain planted firmly on the ground.
"Hey, Darce!" as Mr Bingley's voice interrupted them, it was difficult to tell who of the two was more disappointed.
~~~Β§~~~
A Little Magic
Copyright Β© 2022 by S. Neha
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