Chapter Fifteen:
Mr. Darcys knocked on the parsonage front door and Darcy handed his calling card to the maid who answered, he reminded her manners and advised her that would be meeting his old friends the Earl and Countess of Ashbrook, and the countess family the Bennets of Longbourne.
The maid returned and gestured for them to enter, she told Darcy that only the Earl, Countess, and Miss Bennet were home as the rest of the family had taken a day trip and would be gone for the rest of the day. This uneased Darcy he was hoping for safety in numbers, hoping he would be able to speak to Elizabeth unnoticed among the crush.
There she stood in the flesh the woman he had spent the last four years dreaming off, she curtseyed, but she kept her eyes low, ow how he wanted her to raise her eyes and look at him. Those fine eyes, he had fallen for her through her eyes and he yearned to see the sparkle in them again. As much as he wanted to be angry with her he found to himself he couldn't, he had left her in an impossible situation, and at the time he was sure she had done what she thought was best for them all, his chest pounded as blood rushed to his ears, had she not relied he would have married her he would marry her today if it was possible. she alone made his heartbeat the way no one else could.
The maid made the announcements, "My Lord, Mr and Miss Darcy."
Her legs shook and her stomach churned she lowered her eyes when she peaked up she saw him she couldn't form words, she stood frozen to the spot as his blue eyes pierced her soul, the shock on his face said it all, surprised by the emotion she felt upon seeing him again all those emotions he had locked away flood her, tears filled his eyes she bit her lip to stop tears from falling. To his right, there was movement and there stood a young girl she recognized, she gasped. Miss Cathy was his daughter.
"Lizzie" Shouted Catherine Anne.
Lizzie looked at the girl and smile, "Why Miss Cathy, how pleasant to see you again, I do hope you are well"
It took Darcy, a moment to realize that Catherine's friends were his Lizzie her mother, his heart sored to realize how quickly their child had become attached to her. Darcy looked at his daughter, Catherine quickly bobbed into a lob-sided curtsy before turning and grinning at her father who returned a warm smile. Jane noticed this and how it reminded her of Lizzie as a child when they were presented to her mother's friends, her eyes began to well.
"Darcy it is good to see you this morning, my I reacquaint my wife and sister with you"
He could not bear to take his eyes off her she was even more beautiful than he remembered she appeared mature, sophisticated she was dressed in London high society fashions her beautiful chestnut hair pilled into an exquisite conifer.
"Of course, it's a pleasure to see you again, Lady Ashbrook, Miss Bennet" before the ladies could return the greeting the conversation was interrupted by an excited Catherine Anne.
"Papa, you know Lizzie"
They looked at each other and then at the child. With Darcy and Elizabeth both in the same room, Jane was now more sure than ever, especially seeing the child face to face with her parents there was no doubt, this little girl was her niece, it was true that the child favored her father looks, with black curly hair, noble cheekbones and the Darcy nose she was also tall for a child of three, but then eyes. There were not mistaken her eyes they were the eyes that her sister shared with her father they were Bennet's eyes that sparkled with flecks of gold.
"Yes, we know your Papa" Jane answered the child, "we had the pleasure to meet him many years ago in Hertfordshire we shared a mutual friend."
Lizzie was grateful her sister was there to answer these questions, she was caught off guard by the child that was Mr. Darcys, she ached for her own child, she needed to face the man and find her daughter, but there was something about Miss Cathy, that drew her in.
"Darcy, will you introduce us to this fine young Lady," said Jasper
"Lord and Lady Ashbrook, Miss Bennet this is my daughter Miss Catherine Anne Darcy" he replied
Jane rang for tea and they all sat, there was an awkward pause, happily little Cathy filled the emptiness she was a happy delightful child who clearly happy and loved.
The maid finally arrived with the tea, Elizabeth stood to pour, Japer and Darcy sat together while Jane entertained Miss Darcy, Darcy rose and approached her, automatically she made him tea, one sugar and a dash of Milk. It shocked him that she remembered how he took his tea, but he gratefully accepted it.
"Miss Darcy is a very Beautiful child" she spoke first, "Lady Catherine told us her mother was also very beautiful, my condolences for your loss, Mr. Darcy"
he was thrown by this information, did she believe Catherine Anne to be Anne's child could she not see her own eyes nestled in the girl's face could she not see how their personalities mirrored each other.
At this moment, Jane asked if Catherine Anne would like to join the young viscount and his nurse in the makeshift nursery for some games the child was delighted to join them and be in the company of another child the children were introduced to each other Darcy wondered if the sisters realized their children were happily playing together, the adults were lefts alone.
The parsonage parlor become stifled as the man, made small talk, it was decided that they should all go for a walk and benefit from the outdoors, again her sister was gifting her with the opportunity of privacy. It was time to face Mr. Darcy.
As they set off on there walk around the park, Mr. Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm, which she accepted as soon as he touched her she felt like she had been struck by lightning, her body pulsed it ached for him, and his alone she was sure he could feel it too, why did it feel so right to be in his arms, she needed to remind herself that this man did not want her she had a task to complete.
Darcy was delighted when she took his arm he thought his heart would leap from his chest, he never thought he would ever find her again but he knew they needed to talk there were things that needed to be said.
Jane and Jasper soon outstretched them, allowing them the privacy they needed to talk.
"Lizzie" he whispered
Her head spun towards him her eyes wide.
"It is very pleasant to see you again, it has been ever so long, I hadn't realized you were related to Lady Catherine" she politely said
"Elizabeth If I had known it was you visiting your sister I would have come sooner when my aunt said your father with visiting his daughter I presumed she meant your younger sister, Elizabeth it has been too long, I have missed you. I owe you an apology to explain everything ... I need to explain my actions. I need to know why you left as well.." she just looked at him her eyes still wide "can you not call me William like you use to, I was always William to you when we were alone"
Her heart broke she wanted to call her William her dearest Willaim but she couldn't go there again she could not suffer another broken heart.
"I don't think it would be appropriate, do you,?"
"Appropriate, Miss Bennet, do we not share a daughter does that not put us on intimate terms?" he questioned his temper had gotten the better of him.
She stopped dead on the spot and spun around to face him her anger was also rising.
"I left my daughter! With you in good faith of your character sir! yet I find she doesn't seem to exist did you cast her aside. The way you did with me, once you had had me, once I had given everything. When you married rather quickly, you clearly didn't have a need for her. I hadn't realized what a rake you are Sir " she spat at him as tears fell down her cheeks. "I just need to know where you have placed her, that she is still alive!"
He took a deep breath, he was a rational man, he knew their emotions were getting the best of both of them, he stared at her and she held her glare, she was as feisty as he remembered, it made him chuckle. He needed to explain to her.
Darcy's tone was menacing "Your child Madam" he took a deep breath " Is currently in the Hunsford Parsonage, playing with her cousin... I believe you know my daughter as Clara Anne"