Chapter 2:
Mr. Darcy found himself in his study with an even stronger cup of brandy in his hand. He had carried Elizabeth up the stairs to the nearest room on the guest quarters and forced himself out of the room—before his emotions would make a fool out of him in front of the servants.
He felt as if a ghost had materialized in front of him—he still did not know if she was real. He had so many questions but he could not process any of them, for the passion he thought was deeply buried was now bursting forth at having seen her without warning...
He closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath, and remembered the last time he had seen her. It was at the gardens at Rosings, in his disastrous proposal and now, a year later, to have her in his home, asking for a renewal of he offer he had once made with his entire heart, was too much indeed.
He took a strong gulp and at least thanked the heavens that it was not winter, for Elizabeth would have surely fallen gravely ill. However, even in the summer months the rainy nights could be cold and he worried for her health. He knew the doctor had arrived soon after he had left Miss Elizabeth's room.
He had wanted to stay there, to make sure the doctor gave her the proper attention, and if he were speaking honestly, to hold her hand. But alas, he could not. Darcy knew Mrs. Reynolds would let him know how Miss Elizabeth was faring. He could not go to her room and had not even notified his wife that they had a visitor. A very complicated visitor.
What could have induced Miss Elizabeth to come all this way? Alone and unaccompanied?
He had heard from Mr. Bingley that Miss Lydia had run away with that scoundrel, George Wickham, and had been left at her parents' doorstep, pregnant and humiliated. Mr. Bingley had confided this to Darcy when they had met in town that Fall but it was too late. Mr. Darcy would have acted with alacrity had he heard of it when it occurred, but George had already left the country, Miss Lydia was already pregnant, and the Bennets were already ruined. By now, Miss Lydia's baby must have been born. Even if he could have hastened a marriage then, it meant nothing once a baby was born out of wedlock. She was ruined, and by association, her family.
Darcy had never told Mr. Bingley of his interference and felt it imprudent at that moment, when any chance of connection with that family was now fully over. Mr. Bingley left Netherfields for good and the Bennets were not heard of in his circle of friends again. His mind wondered to Elizabeth very often, more often than he dared to admit, but having come to the conclusion that she despised him, he decided to do the honorable thing and let the idea of her go. He intend to honor her by coming a gentleman, a word she had helped him redefine and understand, and someone worthy of a lady's hand.
His thoughts were interrupted by a slight knock on the door.
"Doctor Hughes" said Mr. Darcy, "How is she?" he asked, clearly deeply concerned. The doctor gave him a quizzical look but quickly masked it.
"She has a slight cold, nothing to worry about. She does need rest for a couple of days and should be ready for travel in a week's time" said the doctor.
"Travel?"
"Miss Bennet awoke and informed me that her family is staying at Lambton and she had come walking here to call on Miss Darcy, clearly she miscalculated the weather and the distance" said the doctor hesitantly, as if not fully believing the story.
Mr. Darcy simply nodded.
"I believe it is prudent for her to remain here for a few days, until she is fully recovered. It is but a mere cold, but she does has a fever. She seems very anxious, I feel it is to her best interest to rest." the doctor offered.
"Of course" said Mr. Darcy, clearing his throat, "My sister would not have any other way" he added, playing along with the tale that Elizabeth had spun. Whether true or not, he did not know but he knew her intelligent enough to know when it was prudent to play along.
"When may she receive visitors?" Mr. Darcy inquired.
"I believe tomorrow morning, if the fever has abated, she should be ready to receive visitors. I am sure her family would like to call on her" the doctor said.
"Of course. I thank you for coming at this house, doctor, my steward will pay you and see you out" said Mr. Darcy formally.
"Thank you" said Doctor Hughes, tipped his hat lightly, and left.
"Mrs. Reynolds" said Mr. Darcy, once the doctor was out of earshot, for she had accompanied the doctor into the study. "May you accompany me to see Miss Elizabeth?"
"Of course" said Mrs. Reynolds, masking any thoughts or emotions of her own. Even though she knew him since he was a child, he was, afterall, the master of Pemberley.
They went up the stairs to the guest quarters and Mrs. Reynolds knocked on the door, when she did not hear any response, she opened it slightly and to her surprise, Miss Elizabeth was up, holding on to one shoe, and looking around the room for what seemed to be her other one.
"Miss Elizabeth!" said Mr. Darcy, surprising her. As he walked in, she dropped the shoe that she was holding and looked at him, her face flush with embarrassment.
"I must go" she said, turning away from him, hiding a sob. What was I thinking? She thought to herself. Coming all this way?
"Mrs. Reynolds, could you give us a moment, please?" asked Mr. Darcy, looking at his most trusted servant meaningfully.
"Of course, Mr. Darcy. I shall be right outside" she said, leaving the room at once and closing the door lightly.
"I must go" said Elizabeth again, this time looking at him with such vulnerability that all he wanted was to close the distance between them.
"No, you must stay" he said, reaching for her hand. I lost you once, he silently whispered to her heart. She turned her head up towards him, looked at their hands held and then at his eyes, and felt...miserable. She pursed her lips, shook her head, and pulled her hand away.
"I have been such a fool, Mr. Darcy. You were right about Wickham, I misjudged you, and clearly you were right about my family" she said, pouring out the apology she had wanted to say for months. "I may have hated you when I first read your letter but it has been now many months, nay over a year, since I have wanted to apologize. I fear I did not know you and was too cruel when...you proposed...when I...when we...at Rosings..." she said, now at a loss for words.
"Yes" he said, understanding, "But I did not behave like a gentleman, there was nothing that you said that I did not deserve. I have since tried to mend my ways and be worthy of you...of someone like you" he added quickly.
"Stay" he said, again, this time with the tone of the master of Pemberley. "You told the doctor your family is at Lambton and that you were visiting Georgiana. Georgiana is here, she is in her room at the moment, we could keep the tale. I imagine your family is not at Lambton?"
Elizabeth shook her head in response, "No, no they are at Longbourn."
"I see. Well the doctor recommend you rest for a few days. Why do you not stay here for a week, say you are visiting an old friend and then I will see that you are returned to Longbourn safely" said Mr. Darcy, now softening his tone.
"I am sorry" she said again. "I am not usually weepy, perhaps it is the fever" she added weakly, hoping to make light of the situation, and embarrassed at her behavior that whole night. "Oh, its all been so dreadful" she added. "What will Mrs. Darcy think of me staying here?" asked Lizzy, now looking up at him, her deep brown eyes still watery.
"She will be glad to see you again" he responded calmly.
"Again?" asked Lizzy, raising an eyebrow.
"Anne, Anne de Bourgh, is my wife" he said, his tone solemn and rough, as if finally coming to terms with it. "I shall now bid you a good night, Miss Elizabeth. Please do stay and though I do not think of you as foolish, please do not do anything foolish, stay the full week. I know about Miss Lydia" he said, not sure how to phrase it, "But I do not see a need to tarnish your reputation."
"I thank you, Mr. Darcy" said Elizabeth, wrapping her robe closer to her body. "For everything."
Mr. Darcy nodded and looking down towards the floor, exited the room, his heart and soul full of emotions he did not think he would ever feel again.
PNPNPNPNP
Wow I am so moved and touched by all the reviews and interest in this story. It really has been in my head for far too long and I am happy you are enjoying it thus far. First of all, do not be alarmed, there is 100% a happily ever after. When I started writing stories it was because I wanted to write the stories that I wanted to read. So yes, the set up is a bit complicated, but they will end happily together. Sometimes its not the end that truly matters, as much as the journey...
In terms of explaining the timeline. So Lizzy went to Pemberley last summer and its now the end of this summer, a full year later. They have not seen each other in a year. I hope this chapter will clarify that better.
When in the original P&P they discuss what mr. darcy thought of seeing lizzy at pemberley, he says he was surprised, he did not expect her there and its not clear that he would have sought her out again. i think seeing her gave him a second chance and he took it. the bennets do not travel in the same circles as darcy and they do not go into town, so it would make sense for him to not have heard much about her and then finding out many months later of their ruin, there was nothing he could do and its not like the original where she confided in him and they had already shared a few moments that gave him hope.
Anywho, thank you to everyone that took the time to write a review for chapter 1 and I look forward to hearing what you think of chapter 2...I was so touched that I finished this chapter and posted it tonight for you :)