A/N

HLW - Chapter 7 for your perusal, hope you enjoy. Posting two chapters (7 and 8 )today.

Please Note – Basic blocks of the story are done. The story is approx 14 chapters, sans epilogue and I will be posting it full in the coming week and remove it quickly after the complete story is posted (by October End.) So request you to please keep track of the postings

As always, thank you for all the engagement, kind words and feedback. Do write if you have any feedback, suggestions, or corrections.

Her Last WordsChapter 7

The same morning Elizabeth had woken up feeling restless. Her conversation with Jane last night had given her a lot to think about. As had the letter from her aunt that she had nearly forgotten to read until retiring. To calm her mind, she decided to go out for a walk in the gardens. Unfortunately, her reflections accompanied her outside.

Last night when she and Jane had sat down for a chat, all she had been hoping to hear was confirmation that her sister and Mr Bingley had cleared the air between them. It had then come as a shock to know that Jane had not even let Mr Bingley broach any topic of a personal nature, and still more surprising was the reason behind her actions. For Elizabeth, it was quite incomprehensible that Jane had started doubting the strength of her own attachment to Mr Bingley and his constancy, all because she was comparing his behaviour to that of Mr Darcy! Elizabeth would have laughed had she not been so stunned.

Now as she walked past a row of sweetly fragrant, pink rose bushes, her mind dwelt on a snippet of their conversation just after Jane had confessed the reason for her reluctance.

"I hope you remember that Mr Bingley did not know that you were in London all this time, Jane. His sisters never told him about your visit," Elizabeth had protested, very much puzzled by Jane's point of view.

"I know that Lizzy, but did he also not know the way to Longbourn? A place situated a mere three miles from a residence he still rents. Do you not think that if he had cared for me – as much as I had hoped at one time – then he would have somehow found way to cover the paltry distance of four and twenty miles between London and Meryton. At least once in the past five months? But he did not. He chose not to... does that not tell you something?"

Elizabeth had felt compelled to counter. "I think I did tell you that he was... misled about your feelings by his sisters and... even his..." She was interrupted before she could work herself up to elaborate Mr Darcy's role in the matter.

"You know, Lizzy, Mr Bingley had shown me some partiality from the very day we met at the assembly. Despite that I never believed mama's claims or hopes regarding us... until the day of the Netherfield ball. That evening I could feel a special regard from his behaviour... and although we did not say anything explicitly, I thought... I believed that both of us revealed to the other... our hopes for a future together."

"Oh!"

"But... Mr Bingley allowed himself to be convinced otherwise by others. To me it suggests that he had little faith in his own feelings or mine, and I have become more convinced of it ever since you told me about Mr Darcy's proposal."

"But..."

"Just be patient for a moment more, Lizzy." Jane raised her hand placatingly and continued, "Mr Darcy ran away from Netherfield and you... He was reluctant to acknowledge his feelings for you as he believed that too many obstacles existed against your union – in his mind at least. However, he managed to set all of that aside just because he believed that a life with you was more important to him." Jane had paused to take a deep breath and then asked quietly, "Now tell me honestly, who do you think has shown the courage of his convictions and a greater depth of feelings?

Jane's words rang in Elizabeth's ears once again and... when expressed like that... there was nothing left to decide, really. She pulled distractedly at her lower lip as she walked along, for the moment, quite oblivious to her surroundings. The arguments Jane had put forth had finally made Elizabeth realize that when she had put all the blame of separating Mr Bingley and Jane on Mr Darcy's shoulders, she had taken away all the agency from Mr Bingley. He was equally culpable in the decision to stay away from Jane, if not more.

She sighed as she remembered the angry words she had thrown at Mr Darcy that fateful day in the parsonage. She owed him an apology for accusing him of cheating Lieutenant Wickham out of his inheritance if nothing else.

From the moment she had read Mr Darcy's letter and accepted the truth about the slimy Wickham, she had started to regret the vicious manner in which she had rejected Mr Darcy. However, her anger at him for separating Jane and Mr Bingley had continued to simmer despite his kindness after Mrs Bennet's accident.

But now that Jane had forced her to look at Mr Darcy with a different eye, she hardly had anything left to hold against him.

By encouraging Mr Bingley to come back to Netherfield, he had tried to make amends for the only offence she could still hold against him – of keeping Mr Bingley in the dark about Jane's presence in London.

Aunt Madeline's assertion that he had visited Gracechurch Street only for the purpose of collecting a letter for her, had unsettled her further. Why was he suddenly being so nice? And it was not something limited to her... he had shown such sensitivity for Lydia also. Was there another side to his arrogant personality? All her reflections suggested that it was so. She also realized that yesterday she had rather liked him... and enjoyed his company very much.

But where did that leave her?

"In Longbourn, Lizzy," she muttered. A sneaky thought rose in her mind. 'Do I now regret rejecting his suit?'

Of course not. Just because Mr Darcy was much nicer than she had earlier supposed, it did not mean she considered him anything other than an acquaintance. After all, she wanted to marry only for the deepest love, did she not?

"And anyhow these musings are futile. After my cruel insults he is hardly likely to ever renew his offer," she mumbled to herself. For some reason the thought left her feeling vaguely dissatisfied. Suddenly, she heard Kitty calling her, "Lizzy, the officers have come visiting. They are waiting in the parlour."

"Very well, I will be there in a few moments."

~§§§~

Reluctant to meet the hateful Mr Wickham, Elizabeth paused for a moment at the door of the parlour. She had managed to avoid him when he had visited last time with other officers to offer his sympathies. 'I am sure I can manage it this time as well,' she thought, bracing herself.

"Miss Elizabeth is away from home?" Elizabeth's lips tightened as she heard Mr Wickham's voice.

"Oh, no, Elizabeth is very much at home, Mr Wickham. She was out in the gardens when you arrived. I have already informed her about your visit and she should be here any moment." Elizabeth sighed as she heard Kitty's helpful explanation. There was nothing for it but to go inside.

Very fortuitously, there were no empty seats beside Mr Wickham, and, once the greetings had been exchanged Elizabeth settled herself on a settee near Captain Carter. She was a little disappointed that her father was not present in the room, but then remembered that he had a meeting scheduled with Mr Stevens, their steward.

"Do you know who has come back to the neighbourhood, Mr Wickham?" Predictably it was Lydia who – intent on some gossip – brought up the subject of the gentlemen from Netherfield.

"I cannot say that I do, Miss Lydia. Please enlighten us. I hope it is someone interesting."

"I am not sure that you would be very pleased to hear about them, or shall I say at least one of them." Lydia waited teasingly for a moment to create suspense, and then with an air of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, revealed , "It is Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy!"

"Ah!" Mr Wickham did not say anything else for a while and this time Elizabeth could easily read the uneasiness that flitted across his face and disappeared.

After a moment, he said, "Well, I am never displeased to hear about old friends, even if they have nothing good to say about me, Miss Lydia." His smugness grated on Elizabeth. Unfortunately, Mr Wickham had not finished displaying his piety.

"In the particular case that you mentioned, I am forever trying to repair the relationship because of the respect I hold in my heart for my revered godfather."

"You could have fooled me," muttered a livid Elizabeth sotto voce, but both Jane and Captain Carter appeared to have heard her remark. Captain Carter's eyebrows rose a little even as Jane hurriedly turned an inadvertent chuckle into a cough.

"You are very good to say so, Mr Wickham, but had I been in your place, very honestly, I could never be as forgiving as you, even if I tried."

Elizabeth watched in disgust as Mr Wickham preened at Lydia's gushing words.

"I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to shake the arrogant Mr Darcy and ask him how he could be so wicked as to ruin the life of a childhood friend - a friend who was also his father's godson?" Anger was palpable in Lydia's voice.

It infuriated Elizabeth to see Mr Wickham attempt his 'I am hurt but I will be brave' expression all over again. She wondered angrily what the scoundrel would do if she shook him until his teeth rattled.

Surprisingly, when the attack came, it was from an entirely unexpected source. "Lydia, I think you ought to do just that."

"Eh? Did you say something, Jane?" Lydia turned a perplexed face to her eldest sister.

"Yes, I said that you should do exactly what you suggested. Naturally, I do not mean for you to shake Mr Darcy, but I think you should ask him why he treated poor Mr Wickham so unfairly, preferably in front of Mr Wickham."

"Do you... truly believe that, Jane?" Lydia asked doubtfully, at the same time as Wickham protested, "Oh... but... there is no need for that, Miss Bennet. I would not want to humiliate poor Darcy in front of his friends for his father's sake. Especially since I do not think confronting him on the subject would help. He is unlikely to mend his ways."

Despite his bracing words, Mr. Wickham appeared very much like a frightened rabbit, and Elizabeth would have laughed if she had not been so angry at his continued charade to malign Mr. Darcy. She looked searchingly at Jane, trying to figure out her strategy, but her sister was too busy smiling guilelessly at Mr Wickham.

"There I think you are incorrect, Mr Wickham. We have had a few occasions to meet Mr Darcy recently. Lizzy saw him frequently at Rosings when staying with the Collinses, and then we ran into him again in London after... mama had that accident."

Jane's face turned sorrowful for a brief moment, but she shook it off quickly and continued, "Mr Darcy was extremely kind to us at the time. For some reason, he has changed for the better. So... I think we should talk to him jointly and remind him of his father's desires for you. I am sure he will be willing to make up for his error and might even offer you some restitution."

"Oh... no... I do not believe it for a..." Wickham began to object, but Jane Bennet cut him off with a quick smile.

"Why are you so pessimistic, Mr Wickham? You are hardly a black sheep who stole the family jewels or eloped with someone Mr Darcy cares about, now are you? So why would he refuse to make amends? Nor are you charlatan who conveniently forgets that he has already been recompensed. So..."

Wickham listened in disbelief as Jane Bennet listed his transgressions as if she had been a part of their lives all along.

Was it a coincidence? Most likely. There was no way on earth she could know all this unless Darcy had told her the truth. That, however, was impossible! Why would Darcy endanger Georgiana's reputation?

Wickham might have concluded that it was all a strange coincidence if had he not glanced at Elizabeth while pondering feverishly. He was alarmed by the appalled expression on her face. However, her face cleared as soon as she noticed him staring at her, and he wondered if he had imagined the whole thing. He was also unsure of Miss Bennet's motivation.

He had no way of knowing that, after listening to Elizabeth's story, Jane had decided that Mr Darcy and Lizzy belonged together. She had decided to help the beleaguered couple by swatting away threats like Wickham and creating opportunities to them to resolve their disagreements.

Unaware of these machinations, Wickham decided to wait and watch the events. However, he wanted to express his unequivocal disapproval of Miss Bennet's suggestion. He was having a good time in the neighbourhood – had almost married into a minor fortune. Colonel Forster's wife Harriet was also on the verge of falling in his hands like a ripe fruit. He had no desire to provoke Darcy into revealing his reality to the good people of Meryton.

"Usually, I hate to disagree with a beautiful woman, Miss Bennet, but I am afraid I will have to make an exception this time. I have known Darcy for my entire life and I know he would never admit his mistake, especially where I am concerned. Talking to him on the subject can only create further bad blood, and I would request that you not bring up the matter with him. If for nothing else, then for the sake of my godfather."

As she listened to Mr Wickham, Elizabeth's lips tightened. The man was incorrigible. Even now, he had not stopped his evil posturing!

"Of course, Mr Wickham, whatever you say. Although I continue to believe that you are wrong in your assessment of Mr Darcy. Do let us know if you ever decide to change your position. We will be more than happy to speak to him," Jane replied with a smile.

"How generous of you," Wickham said with a tight smile. He was not sure if it was paranoia that made him perceive the implicit threat in her words. Feeling too agitated to stay there any longer, he got up to leave. "I suddenly remembered that I have a meeting in a little while, so I will take my leave now."

As Captain Carter and Chamberlain did not make any move to accompany him, he bade a hasty farewell to all in the room. The puppy like expression on Miss Lydia's face told him that whatever information was available to the elder two Miss Bennets, the youngest was definitely not a party to it. Perhaps he could use her infatuation for him to good use and enlist her help in finding out the intentions of her sisters.

~§§§~

Her Last Words

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