Chapter two
i"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death."/i (-Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
Alex, Diana and Abby were walking down to the lake while Elizabeth read the letter and thus unaware of the news. The young couple walked arm in arm with Abby in front of them trying to catch a butterfly. "How do you like my parents, my love?" Alex queried enjoying his fiancé's company. Diana hesitated for a moment and, walking on, smiled rather blandly at this old question. "Well, I met them only yesterday and I'm pleased by them. They're good people and seem to care about you very much." Satisfied with her answer Alex walked on. "Have you tried to win over Abby yet? Why not play hide and seek with her as soon as we've reached the lake?" Diana's face fell for an instant but she regained her composure quickly. "Well, I'm sure that I'd enjoy that. The lake surely offers a lot of places to hide." The smile gracing her response was smug, her eyes were telling a different story.
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The feeling of her limp body in his arms was terrifying, he took two steps at once to carry her upstairs to their bedroom. A frightened Mrs. Reynolds followed him carrying the opened letter. While gently laying her on their bed he sent Mrs. Reynolds to fetch some water and a sponge plus his wife's rarely used smelling salts. So much did he worry for his wife that he didn't even read the letter that upset her so. When Mrs. Reynolds brought him the things he had asked for he begged her to go downstairs to prepare some chicken broth. "Lizzy, my love, I'm so sorry I hurt you so. I didn't mean it, I don't know what possessed me to treat you like this! Please wake up! Come back to me, I need you so!" His voice was breaking with fear. Finally the sponging and the smelling salts did the trick to revive her, her cheeks had regained their colour slowly as she opened her eyes. William hushed her tenderly as she attempted to speak but her gaze was adamant. "William, did you read the letter?" she asked weakly. "No, I was far too worried about you to read it. Do you want me to read it now?" "No, just hold me for a while." Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she beheld the letter. Without a response he wrapped her body in a strong embrace, the smell of his cologne and his pounding heart calmed her somewhat. Feeling his lips in on her forehead she tilted back her head to claim his lips in a desperate kiss, expressing her need for closeness and the safety only his arms could give her. "Please, Lizzy, I can't bear this!" he pleaded between kisses. "Neither can I!" Her voice was quivering. His hands slowly pulled the pins out of her hair letting it flow down her back in cascades of glossy curls. "Elizabeth, I need to know. Please, I beg you!" Despite his growing desire he moved away from her but he kept her hands in his. "Please, tell me what's troubling you. What is in this letter? I promise I'll do anything to fix it, just tell me what it is." Elizabeth's eyes watered at this moving speech. Slowly she shook her head and wiped away her tears with one hand, Darcy could feel the moisture in his own hands as she reclaimed them. "Not even you can fix it this time." she gulped. He waited for her to continue holding her hands patiently. "It's... It's father...." she finally managed to say.
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"Aunt Jane! Aunt Jane!" Dominic Darcy called for his aunt, waving three fishes he had caught previously. Jane, despite her feeling rather sick, had accompanied them outside to watch the children and her own daughter. "Here I am!" she called back from the flower-field where she was cutting flowers with her maid Bess. "Watch this! I caught our dinner!" Dominic raved. The sight of the fish and their smell turned her stomach and she vomited on the ground. Bess, knowing her mistress for over fifteen years held her head and kept her hair out of the way. "Aunt Jane, I'm sorry!" Dominic apologized. "No, my dear, it's nothing. You did nothing wrong. It was my fault to come outside feeling sick. Congratulations on your success." "You sure don't look well. Do you want me to fetch Uncle Charles?" He supported her by holding her hand and carrying the fresh flowers. "Yes, please do!" Her voice trailed off as another wave of nausea forced itself upon her. Tears were stinging in her eyes as she wiped away the sweat and the rest, she hoped that Lizzy had received her letter in time. Finally she saw Charles approaching her, carrying a letter. Jane hoped with all her might that it was her sister's response even though it was unlikely.
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"Alright, little sister! Since you found us in no time it's your turn to hide now. Make sure that it won't be too easy!" Abby bounced up and down in excitement. "Count now, Alex. I hide far away!" With that she dashed off towards the lake. "Be careful!" Alex cried after her while Diana bit her nails in frustration at this childish game.
Darcy could see how much it cost her to tell him everything and decided that it was best just to be there and give her strength while she struggled with herself. "Father had a heart attack. It was three days ago and the entire house is in confusion. He... H-he asks for me and wrote this letter while he was feeling better. Please... take a look." She handed him the letter. Darcy's experienced eyes noticed the ill writing immediately. Having received many letters from his father in law in the past the change was all the more drastic. The writing had lost its boldness and strength, it appeared like the scribbling of a young child. Mr. Bennet was reasonable enough to tell his daughter the truth. He was lying on his deathbed, there was no doubt. The heart attack was followed by pneumonia, a disease that was fatal most of the times it hit. "You must go there, I'll accompany you." As usual he had read her thoughts. "Oh William, would you? There is so much to do here... And our guest..." He silenced her with a tender kiss. "I'm sure that Miss Diana will understand. And as for my business, it'll have to wait." He sounded resolute. "You're sure?" She had to be certain. He grasped her hand and kissed each of her fingers softly. "No need to ask, you know me for so long. You'll wait here and I'll have Mrs. Reynolds pack your things." She made a move to protest. "No, please trust me. You need to rest. We'll leave Pemberley this afternoon after you've rested." He helped her into her nightgown and pulled the covers over her. "Elizabeth, do you trust me?" "With my life!" Her response was ardent. He kissed her once more. "Sleep now, there is a lot in store for you." He turned to leave. "William!" "Yes?" He answered from the door. "Thank you for loving me." "Mine is the blessing." He closed the door slowly and went downstairs, not ready to give in to his own hurt as yet.
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In the meanwhile Alex and Diana were searching for Abby. They had checked all her favourite hiding places and still there was no sign of the little girl. "Where can she be? Mama will be scared to death if we return without Abby!" Alex sounded dreadfully worried. Diana shrugged it off curtly. "If you had paid more attention to me instead of playing with that little tramp we might never have lost her!" Her voice was whiny and hard at the same time. Alex froze on the spot at her words. "Diana, I never meant to hurt you, I only wanted you and Abby to get along. Please, I'm sorry if I neglected you. Will you help me to find her now?" Diana's face softened at his pleading tone for she was sure now that she still held the first place in Alex's heart. She smiled and patted his arm gently. "We'll find her. I couldn't bear to disappoint your...", she hesitated for a moment and then continued, "..parents by returning without their little darling."
i"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death."/i (-Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
Alex, Diana and Abby were walking down to the lake while Elizabeth read the letter and thus unaware of the news. The young couple walked arm in arm with Abby in front of them trying to catch a butterfly. "How do you like my parents, my love?" Alex queried enjoying his fiancé's company. Diana hesitated for a moment and, walking on, smiled rather blandly at this old question. "Well, I met them only yesterday and I'm pleased by them. They're good people and seem to care about you very much." Satisfied with her answer Alex walked on. "Have you tried to win over Abby yet? Why not play hide and seek with her as soon as we've reached the lake?" Diana's face fell for an instant but she regained her composure quickly. "Well, I'm sure that I'd enjoy that. The lake surely offers a lot of places to hide." The smile gracing her response was smug, her eyes were telling a different story.
________________________________________________________________________
The feeling of her limp body in his arms was terrifying, he took two steps at once to carry her upstairs to their bedroom. A frightened Mrs. Reynolds followed him carrying the opened letter. While gently laying her on their bed he sent Mrs. Reynolds to fetch some water and a sponge plus his wife's rarely used smelling salts. So much did he worry for his wife that he didn't even read the letter that upset her so. When Mrs. Reynolds brought him the things he had asked for he begged her to go downstairs to prepare some chicken broth. "Lizzy, my love, I'm so sorry I hurt you so. I didn't mean it, I don't know what possessed me to treat you like this! Please wake up! Come back to me, I need you so!" His voice was breaking with fear. Finally the sponging and the smelling salts did the trick to revive her, her cheeks had regained their colour slowly as she opened her eyes. William hushed her tenderly as she attempted to speak but her gaze was adamant. "William, did you read the letter?" she asked weakly. "No, I was far too worried about you to read it. Do you want me to read it now?" "No, just hold me for a while." Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she beheld the letter. Without a response he wrapped her body in a strong embrace, the smell of his cologne and his pounding heart calmed her somewhat. Feeling his lips in on her forehead she tilted back her head to claim his lips in a desperate kiss, expressing her need for closeness and the safety only his arms could give her. "Please, Lizzy, I can't bear this!" he pleaded between kisses. "Neither can I!" Her voice was quivering. His hands slowly pulled the pins out of her hair letting it flow down her back in cascades of glossy curls. "Elizabeth, I need to know. Please, I beg you!" Despite his growing desire he moved away from her but he kept her hands in his. "Please, tell me what's troubling you. What is in this letter? I promise I'll do anything to fix it, just tell me what it is." Elizabeth's eyes watered at this moving speech. Slowly she shook her head and wiped away her tears with one hand, Darcy could feel the moisture in his own hands as she reclaimed them. "Not even you can fix it this time." she gulped. He waited for her to continue holding her hands patiently. "It's... It's father...." she finally managed to say.
____________________________________________________________________________ _____
"Aunt Jane! Aunt Jane!" Dominic Darcy called for his aunt, waving three fishes he had caught previously. Jane, despite her feeling rather sick, had accompanied them outside to watch the children and her own daughter. "Here I am!" she called back from the flower-field where she was cutting flowers with her maid Bess. "Watch this! I caught our dinner!" Dominic raved. The sight of the fish and their smell turned her stomach and she vomited on the ground. Bess, knowing her mistress for over fifteen years held her head and kept her hair out of the way. "Aunt Jane, I'm sorry!" Dominic apologized. "No, my dear, it's nothing. You did nothing wrong. It was my fault to come outside feeling sick. Congratulations on your success." "You sure don't look well. Do you want me to fetch Uncle Charles?" He supported her by holding her hand and carrying the fresh flowers. "Yes, please do!" Her voice trailed off as another wave of nausea forced itself upon her. Tears were stinging in her eyes as she wiped away the sweat and the rest, she hoped that Lizzy had received her letter in time. Finally she saw Charles approaching her, carrying a letter. Jane hoped with all her might that it was her sister's response even though it was unlikely.
____________________________________________________________________________ _______________
"Alright, little sister! Since you found us in no time it's your turn to hide now. Make sure that it won't be too easy!" Abby bounced up and down in excitement. "Count now, Alex. I hide far away!" With that she dashed off towards the lake. "Be careful!" Alex cried after her while Diana bit her nails in frustration at this childish game.
Darcy could see how much it cost her to tell him everything and decided that it was best just to be there and give her strength while she struggled with herself. "Father had a heart attack. It was three days ago and the entire house is in confusion. He... H-he asks for me and wrote this letter while he was feeling better. Please... take a look." She handed him the letter. Darcy's experienced eyes noticed the ill writing immediately. Having received many letters from his father in law in the past the change was all the more drastic. The writing had lost its boldness and strength, it appeared like the scribbling of a young child. Mr. Bennet was reasonable enough to tell his daughter the truth. He was lying on his deathbed, there was no doubt. The heart attack was followed by pneumonia, a disease that was fatal most of the times it hit. "You must go there, I'll accompany you." As usual he had read her thoughts. "Oh William, would you? There is so much to do here... And our guest..." He silenced her with a tender kiss. "I'm sure that Miss Diana will understand. And as for my business, it'll have to wait." He sounded resolute. "You're sure?" She had to be certain. He grasped her hand and kissed each of her fingers softly. "No need to ask, you know me for so long. You'll wait here and I'll have Mrs. Reynolds pack your things." She made a move to protest. "No, please trust me. You need to rest. We'll leave Pemberley this afternoon after you've rested." He helped her into her nightgown and pulled the covers over her. "Elizabeth, do you trust me?" "With my life!" Her response was ardent. He kissed her once more. "Sleep now, there is a lot in store for you." He turned to leave. "William!" "Yes?" He answered from the door. "Thank you for loving me." "Mine is the blessing." He closed the door slowly and went downstairs, not ready to give in to his own hurt as yet.
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In the meanwhile Alex and Diana were searching for Abby. They had checked all her favourite hiding places and still there was no sign of the little girl. "Where can she be? Mama will be scared to death if we return without Abby!" Alex sounded dreadfully worried. Diana shrugged it off curtly. "If you had paid more attention to me instead of playing with that little tramp we might never have lost her!" Her voice was whiny and hard at the same time. Alex froze on the spot at her words. "Diana, I never meant to hurt you, I only wanted you and Abby to get along. Please, I'm sorry if I neglected you. Will you help me to find her now?" Diana's face softened at his pleading tone for she was sure now that she still held the first place in Alex's heart. She smiled and patted his arm gently. "We'll find her. I couldn't bear to disappoint your...", she hesitated for a moment and then continued, "..parents by returning without their little darling."