The Young Man, The Older Man and The Letter
Chapter 2: The Older Man and The Letter
Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Note: If you notice anything wrong, please tell me, and I will see what I can do, if possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later John galloped off to find Mr. Darcy. After asking around and inquiring of his sources, he finally was able to find the man. It took more time to get into him, it turns out that Darcy's servants were extremely protective of him, "They must love him very much." He thought absently. As soon as Darcy had the letter in his hand he forgot the dirty rider who had brought it. Darcy's world had narrowed down to that single letter, the letter that would bring him utter hope, or utter failure. This was well for John, he could see Darcy's reactions for Elizabeth.
Darcy tore open the letter and quickly flipped open the single sheet of paper. As he read it despair and hope warred on his face. Hope came, his face almost glowed heavenly with the joy of her introduction, then he read some then despair came to the helm. Then, "Oh, Elizabeth, could I but grant you a thousand pardons!" He cried desperately, as if to call though time and space to her. Then his face furrowed in puzzlement and consternation as he read on, "Lady Catherine de Bourgh?" Darcy paced up and down in front of a great fireplace in his room, still reading. His moods swung again, and he exclaimed, "My dear Elizabeth, there are none wiser than you!" his face spoke of all he wanted to tell her and give to her, but could not. His face fell again as he plummeted down as he read on. "I forgive you, I forgive you." his face showed his thoughtfulness and pain and he sank onto the edge of his bed.
John was fascinated to see a single tear, almost as pure as a single diamond balance on Darcy's cheek. John felt that this whole crazy relationship was balanced as delicately as this little teardrop. Perfect in its purity and the emotions it contained, yet only hanging on by a single thread. The light shimmered around the drop and made it seem to shine for a second, before it fell and splattered onto the letter Darcy held to his bosom.
John heard Darcy whisper "God bless you, dear lady," then John stepped forward. Darcy was immediately aware of him and his current state and posture. Darcy cleared his face to neutrality and put he letter down on his lap. "You are the messenger?" he asked his voice steady now. John had intended to see Darcy's reactions then leave, but now that he saw the strength of his feelings he couldn't help but want to help him. "It was no wonder now how this man inspires such loyalty." John thought wonderingly. "Yes Sir, I am a friend of Liz- Elizabeth Bennet's." Darcy had obviously caught this accidental drop of information. "Anyone who is on a nickname term basis with Elizabeth is a friend of mine. Please sit down," he pointed to a chair opposite where he sat on the bed.
John sat down and a silence fell, both studied each other. Finally John snapped out a question, "You really love her don't you? I never would have believed it if I had not seen you read that letter." Darcy blushed slightly, bit answered softly, "Yes, I am." Then it was Darcy's turn, "Do you love her?" and immediately looked like he wanted to take the question back but wanted desperately to know. John answered truthfully and thoughtfully, "At one point I loved her as you love her now, but she did not return my affections, we were separated for some time and next time I saw her, I realized my love had turned down a different path, no less intense, but in a different way. I love her as a brother loves a favored sister." He glanced up his mind jerked from the past to the present.
He answered Darcy's unstated question "You need to be gentle, Darcy. She is scared, I don't think she has ever felt this or been through this before. You need be friendly and attentive; she does not want an aloof gentleman, but a friendly, informative, and kind friend who just happens to be a perfect gentleman. A man who will descend to any level to be with her, who will transgress any level, plain, or passage to bring her and her friends and family happiness, health, and prosperity. She wants an equal, not a tyrant." John leaned forward and sat up straight, his arms flailing, now fully into his lecture. Darcy simply sat there and listened, only his keen and bright, perhaps over bright, eyes showed his thoughts. John continued, "Show your love and respect for her, Darcy, not your money or majesty. She has glimpsed the man behind the mask and has had hints in dozens of him; show her that man. Other girls may want the money, or majesty, or prestige that comes with you. But she only wants happiness and a true love with whom she can be an equal with a learn from and always be friends with until the end of both their days." He stopped suddenly and grimaced, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you." he trailed off, and glanced hurriedly up at Darcy.
He was smiling. John stared, Darcy answered his questioning look, "No wonder you two are friends, you two are like two peas in a pod. Both of you get carried away in eloquence and your beliefs. But Elizabeth holds herself in better." He grinned. John smiled a rueful small smile, but there was sadness in there too as he pondered Liza's outburst earlier. Darcy caught onto his mood and sobered, "What is it?" he asked. John hesitated before answering weighing his words carefully. "Liza, Elizabeth to you, isn't as strong as you and the rest of the world make her out to be. She puts up a shield, it is a tight fitting one and she lets just enough of herself to shine through to make it natural. I have only seen it let down on rare times. One was when I told here that I loved her," he shuddered remembering the look in her eyes, it was as if he, her best friend had died, and it could never go back to being the same thing ever again. Seeing that look he quickly turned it into a joke and she regained her wits and her shield. He had hid from her all feelings, and when the love he felt for her turned down a different road, it was almost as if both felt the change and welcomed it.
"The other time was today-" John broke off. Darcy leaned forward eagerly, John stood up, he had not meant to say anything of Elizabeth's feelings only scope out Darcy's. Darcy realized this and just barely concealed his disappointment, but he could fit just enough together to piece together what it was about. "I really must be going, I am sorry, but I really must." John started to leave, but Darcy cried out, "Wait, let me write a letter to her!" he hurried to his desk and started to rip out supplies.
A sound rap echoed from the large ornate doors. Darcy cursed, one of the rare times he ever had. "Come in!" he yelled to the door. A manservant came in. He started to tell Darcy the message, but stopped when he saw John. "Just say it Mathews, he's a friend." The man continued, "Sir, you have a verbal message from Mrs. Reynolds." Darcy frowned and said "later" to John and motioned for the man to continue. "Miss Georgiana has taken ill with the fever, and Mrs. Reynolds requests that you come home right away. Darcy stood stunned for a second before telling the man to go. He turned to John, "Mrs. Reynolds, is my housekeeper and as dear to me as you are to Elizabeth, close in all but blood."
Both realized that this meant he would have to leave immediately; there was no time for letters now. Darcy started and said, "Can you take a verbal message to Elizabeth? Tell her I love her and-," but John interrupted him saying, "Darcy, do you really want to do it this way? I know Elizabeth, and it will be better for her to have no message. She will forget the good and exploit the bad. She will believe you made it all up, that I convinced you to do it to ease her poor ego. She'll need proof, proof that you really are who you really are, I wouldn't advise it, I'll deal with her and I'll tell her that I could only get it to you by sending it though an inside source and they got caught and so they couldn't watch your reaction. That wil satisfy her. But meet her sometime Darcy, and when you do, be kind." With a bow and a farewell wave Jonathan Brown, a good friend and almost brother to Elizabeth Bennet, a good friend to Jane and the Gardiners, and a new friend of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, left the room. But he paused at the doorway and turned his head slightly and said in almost a whisper to Darcy, "Make her happy in the way I never could," and he left.
As Darcy sat next to his frail sister back at Pemberly, he thought about and read Elizabeth's letter a lot. He even told and read the letter to Georgiana, though she was having fevered dreams at the time so it would be highly doubtful if she remembered any of it. All she remembered was to wake up and see her dear brother sitting there holding her hand or sleeping, his head on the bed, seated on a chair next to the bed. Even in sleep he would not let go of her hand. She would gently stroke Darcy's face and hair, then curl up next to him and hold his hand tightly and go to sleep. The servants would remember looking in on the brother and sister and seeing the two lying there asleep, and they would think of what a wonderful young master and mistress they had. If only the right women and man would come along to make them happy. Most even thought of the young women that Darcy was so infatuated with, others wouldn't. But when Darcy slept or woke, or dreamt, the same thing that happened to Elizabeth happened to him, Elizabeth Bennet wandered in his thoughts, her eyes, her hair, her smile, her laugh, her witty remarks, the way she walked, the way she looked, everything. Yet the time for the two to meet was not yet ripe, but it would be, it would be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well that's it. I hope you liked it. John Brown was made up. I got the idea for him when I read the part in the book (p.159) where Elizabeth mentions that her uncle is to send a servant for them, and Lady Catherine was pleased that Mr. Gardiner had a man-servant.
I also wanted Elizabeth (or Liza) to have a friend. Women aren't known for hiding their feelings well or for long. They usually burst out at some point, and having a friend there, not a boyfriend, lover, or something like that, sounded like a good idea to me. You can only have one lover, but you can have a thousand friends. I also wanted John to be a friend who was almost a brother to Liza.
Any improvements, criticisms (No Flames!), or compliments would be great! Just review, please!!!!
~Kit ;)
Chapter 2: The Older Man and The Letter
Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Note: If you notice anything wrong, please tell me, and I will see what I can do, if possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later John galloped off to find Mr. Darcy. After asking around and inquiring of his sources, he finally was able to find the man. It took more time to get into him, it turns out that Darcy's servants were extremely protective of him, "They must love him very much." He thought absently. As soon as Darcy had the letter in his hand he forgot the dirty rider who had brought it. Darcy's world had narrowed down to that single letter, the letter that would bring him utter hope, or utter failure. This was well for John, he could see Darcy's reactions for Elizabeth.
Darcy tore open the letter and quickly flipped open the single sheet of paper. As he read it despair and hope warred on his face. Hope came, his face almost glowed heavenly with the joy of her introduction, then he read some then despair came to the helm. Then, "Oh, Elizabeth, could I but grant you a thousand pardons!" He cried desperately, as if to call though time and space to her. Then his face furrowed in puzzlement and consternation as he read on, "Lady Catherine de Bourgh?" Darcy paced up and down in front of a great fireplace in his room, still reading. His moods swung again, and he exclaimed, "My dear Elizabeth, there are none wiser than you!" his face spoke of all he wanted to tell her and give to her, but could not. His face fell again as he plummeted down as he read on. "I forgive you, I forgive you." his face showed his thoughtfulness and pain and he sank onto the edge of his bed.
John was fascinated to see a single tear, almost as pure as a single diamond balance on Darcy's cheek. John felt that this whole crazy relationship was balanced as delicately as this little teardrop. Perfect in its purity and the emotions it contained, yet only hanging on by a single thread. The light shimmered around the drop and made it seem to shine for a second, before it fell and splattered onto the letter Darcy held to his bosom.
John heard Darcy whisper "God bless you, dear lady," then John stepped forward. Darcy was immediately aware of him and his current state and posture. Darcy cleared his face to neutrality and put he letter down on his lap. "You are the messenger?" he asked his voice steady now. John had intended to see Darcy's reactions then leave, but now that he saw the strength of his feelings he couldn't help but want to help him. "It was no wonder now how this man inspires such loyalty." John thought wonderingly. "Yes Sir, I am a friend of Liz- Elizabeth Bennet's." Darcy had obviously caught this accidental drop of information. "Anyone who is on a nickname term basis with Elizabeth is a friend of mine. Please sit down," he pointed to a chair opposite where he sat on the bed.
John sat down and a silence fell, both studied each other. Finally John snapped out a question, "You really love her don't you? I never would have believed it if I had not seen you read that letter." Darcy blushed slightly, bit answered softly, "Yes, I am." Then it was Darcy's turn, "Do you love her?" and immediately looked like he wanted to take the question back but wanted desperately to know. John answered truthfully and thoughtfully, "At one point I loved her as you love her now, but she did not return my affections, we were separated for some time and next time I saw her, I realized my love had turned down a different path, no less intense, but in a different way. I love her as a brother loves a favored sister." He glanced up his mind jerked from the past to the present.
He answered Darcy's unstated question "You need to be gentle, Darcy. She is scared, I don't think she has ever felt this or been through this before. You need be friendly and attentive; she does not want an aloof gentleman, but a friendly, informative, and kind friend who just happens to be a perfect gentleman. A man who will descend to any level to be with her, who will transgress any level, plain, or passage to bring her and her friends and family happiness, health, and prosperity. She wants an equal, not a tyrant." John leaned forward and sat up straight, his arms flailing, now fully into his lecture. Darcy simply sat there and listened, only his keen and bright, perhaps over bright, eyes showed his thoughts. John continued, "Show your love and respect for her, Darcy, not your money or majesty. She has glimpsed the man behind the mask and has had hints in dozens of him; show her that man. Other girls may want the money, or majesty, or prestige that comes with you. But she only wants happiness and a true love with whom she can be an equal with a learn from and always be friends with until the end of both their days." He stopped suddenly and grimaced, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you." he trailed off, and glanced hurriedly up at Darcy.
He was smiling. John stared, Darcy answered his questioning look, "No wonder you two are friends, you two are like two peas in a pod. Both of you get carried away in eloquence and your beliefs. But Elizabeth holds herself in better." He grinned. John smiled a rueful small smile, but there was sadness in there too as he pondered Liza's outburst earlier. Darcy caught onto his mood and sobered, "What is it?" he asked. John hesitated before answering weighing his words carefully. "Liza, Elizabeth to you, isn't as strong as you and the rest of the world make her out to be. She puts up a shield, it is a tight fitting one and she lets just enough of herself to shine through to make it natural. I have only seen it let down on rare times. One was when I told here that I loved her," he shuddered remembering the look in her eyes, it was as if he, her best friend had died, and it could never go back to being the same thing ever again. Seeing that look he quickly turned it into a joke and she regained her wits and her shield. He had hid from her all feelings, and when the love he felt for her turned down a different road, it was almost as if both felt the change and welcomed it.
"The other time was today-" John broke off. Darcy leaned forward eagerly, John stood up, he had not meant to say anything of Elizabeth's feelings only scope out Darcy's. Darcy realized this and just barely concealed his disappointment, but he could fit just enough together to piece together what it was about. "I really must be going, I am sorry, but I really must." John started to leave, but Darcy cried out, "Wait, let me write a letter to her!" he hurried to his desk and started to rip out supplies.
A sound rap echoed from the large ornate doors. Darcy cursed, one of the rare times he ever had. "Come in!" he yelled to the door. A manservant came in. He started to tell Darcy the message, but stopped when he saw John. "Just say it Mathews, he's a friend." The man continued, "Sir, you have a verbal message from Mrs. Reynolds." Darcy frowned and said "later" to John and motioned for the man to continue. "Miss Georgiana has taken ill with the fever, and Mrs. Reynolds requests that you come home right away. Darcy stood stunned for a second before telling the man to go. He turned to John, "Mrs. Reynolds, is my housekeeper and as dear to me as you are to Elizabeth, close in all but blood."
Both realized that this meant he would have to leave immediately; there was no time for letters now. Darcy started and said, "Can you take a verbal message to Elizabeth? Tell her I love her and-," but John interrupted him saying, "Darcy, do you really want to do it this way? I know Elizabeth, and it will be better for her to have no message. She will forget the good and exploit the bad. She will believe you made it all up, that I convinced you to do it to ease her poor ego. She'll need proof, proof that you really are who you really are, I wouldn't advise it, I'll deal with her and I'll tell her that I could only get it to you by sending it though an inside source and they got caught and so they couldn't watch your reaction. That wil satisfy her. But meet her sometime Darcy, and when you do, be kind." With a bow and a farewell wave Jonathan Brown, a good friend and almost brother to Elizabeth Bennet, a good friend to Jane and the Gardiners, and a new friend of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, left the room. But he paused at the doorway and turned his head slightly and said in almost a whisper to Darcy, "Make her happy in the way I never could," and he left.
As Darcy sat next to his frail sister back at Pemberly, he thought about and read Elizabeth's letter a lot. He even told and read the letter to Georgiana, though she was having fevered dreams at the time so it would be highly doubtful if she remembered any of it. All she remembered was to wake up and see her dear brother sitting there holding her hand or sleeping, his head on the bed, seated on a chair next to the bed. Even in sleep he would not let go of her hand. She would gently stroke Darcy's face and hair, then curl up next to him and hold his hand tightly and go to sleep. The servants would remember looking in on the brother and sister and seeing the two lying there asleep, and they would think of what a wonderful young master and mistress they had. If only the right women and man would come along to make them happy. Most even thought of the young women that Darcy was so infatuated with, others wouldn't. But when Darcy slept or woke, or dreamt, the same thing that happened to Elizabeth happened to him, Elizabeth Bennet wandered in his thoughts, her eyes, her hair, her smile, her laugh, her witty remarks, the way she walked, the way she looked, everything. Yet the time for the two to meet was not yet ripe, but it would be, it would be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well that's it. I hope you liked it. John Brown was made up. I got the idea for him when I read the part in the book (p.159) where Elizabeth mentions that her uncle is to send a servant for them, and Lady Catherine was pleased that Mr. Gardiner had a man-servant.
I also wanted Elizabeth (or Liza) to have a friend. Women aren't known for hiding their feelings well or for long. They usually burst out at some point, and having a friend there, not a boyfriend, lover, or something like that, sounded like a good idea to me. You can only have one lover, but you can have a thousand friends. I also wanted John to be a friend who was almost a brother to Liza.
Any improvements, criticisms (No Flames!), or compliments would be great! Just review, please!!!!
~Kit ;)