I'm back! Wow, you guys are amazing- thanks so much to everyone who's favourited, followed or reviewed up to this point, it honestly makes my day!
Jansfamily4- I realised that it made no sense and so I changed the last sentence of the last chapter and kinda completely re-wrote this chapter to make it make sense canonically. Thanks for the feedback and enjoy the chapter!
Carol- thanks for your kind review!
On with the story...
By the way, I only own the plot!
The next day dawned bright and clear. Elizabeth glanced at the letter which sat on her dressing table, confusion still filling her when she thought about the content of the letter. With one last fleeting glance, Elizabeth made her way down the stairs in order to join her friend and cousin at the breakfast table. Charlotte smiled when she saw Elizabeth and Mr Collins glanced up from his plate, his cheeks stuffed with food, causing Elizabeth to liken him to a squirrel.
"Good morning, Lizzy. I hope you are well this morning?" Charlotte asked as her friend sat down.
Nodding, Elizabeth replied, "I am well. The headache has well and truly passed."
At that moment, Mr Collins spoke, having swallowed his mouthful of breakfast, "My dear cousin, we have been invited to take tea at Rosings. Will you join us?"
Elizabeth started for a moment, shocked that she would be forced into Mr Darcy's presence before she replied, "I shall be able to attend. Will you excuse me?"
With that, Elizabeth hurried out of the room and out the door. Walking had always been Elizabeth's solace and this time was no different. She could not tell Charlotte of what had transpired the previous evening for she would not believe Mr Darcy capable of penning such a letter. Elizabeth herself could barely comprehend the contents, however she had believed the truthfulness of them the moment that she read them.
Sometime during her walk, she found herself in the gardens of Rosings Park. From a distance, she saw the profile of a man and started. The man walked towards her, raising his hand in greeting. Elizabeth smiled when she recognised the man as Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Miss Bennet. I trust you are well this morning?" Richard asked, smiling at the young woman.
"Thank you, Colonel. Forgive me for not attending dinner." Elizabeth responded with a shallow curtsey.
Richard smiled, amused that the polite woman before him could cause his cousin so much pain.
"Miss Bennet, was my cousin well when you last saw him?" Richard asked, curious as to what the young woman would say, if she would indeed divulge any details of the failed proposal for Mr Darcy had not breathed a word on the matter.
"I believe so. We did not part well, however." Elizabeth said, careful to avoid the details of the failed proposal to the cousin of the man that she had refused.
Sighing, Richard nodded before he said, "A shame. Shall we see you at tea this afternoon?"
"You shall. Until then, colonel." Elizabeth said with a curtsey. She then turned and went back in the direction of the parsonage.
When Richard finally made his way back to Rosings, he was beyond curious as to what had transpired between his cousin and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He thought it honourable that she refused to share such information with him however this did nothing to satisfy his curiosity on the matter.
As he was walking to his study, he caught sight of Fitzwilliam Darcy.
"Fitz! I must speak to you." Richard called urgently.
Raising his eyebrow in confusion and intrigue, Mr Darcy asked, "What is this about? Perhaps we should retire to the study?"
Nodding in agreement, Richard and Mr Darcy made their way to the study. Once in the study, the two gentlemen sat in the chairs by the fireplace before Richard spoke.
"Fitz, I met Miss Elizabeth in the gardens just now for she was out walking alone." Richard declared, quickly gaining the interest of Mr Darcy despite the fact that he tried desperately to hide it.
"Oh? Is she well?" Mr Darcy asked, with apparent interest.
"Yes. She said you did not part well when you last met. What happened?" Richard asked, curious as to what his cousin was hiding from him.
Mr Darcy rubbed his face with his hands as he loudly exhaled. He had wished to avoid telling his cousin of his failure, however it would not do to lie outright to his closest friend.
With a sigh, Mr Darcy replied, "I...proposed."
Richard stared at his cousin in shock, unsure how to react to such a declaration. He believed his cousin was in earnest however he could not believe that he would declare himself without serious thought as to how his sister would react. The woman in question had seemed nice when she spoke to him which begged the question, what had gone wrong?
"What happened? She did not accept?" Richard asked, encouraging his cousin to continue his tale.
"She did not." Mr Darcy said with a shake of his head.
"But why?" Richard exclaimed.
"I said...things. No woman in her right mind would have said yes unless they purely wanted my money." Mr Darcy responded.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy, I demand the whole of it. Now." Richard demanded, staring at his cousin as if daring him to refuse such a request.
"I told her how unsuitable her family was and how I had separated her sister from Bingley. I truly believed every word at the time, but now..."
"My God, no wonder she refused."Richard said, barely able to look at his cousin such was his anger in that moment.
When Richard's anger had simmered, he glanced at his cousin. Never had he seen a man more heart-broken. He could not fault his cousin for being honest, however in this case he wished that he had been less honest in his proposal for if he had, Miss Elizabeth may have been his by now.
"Fitz, Miss Elizabeth is to take tea with us this afternoon." Richard said, hoping that this news would raise his cousin's spirits.
"Truly? I am not sure it is good for me to be there." Mr Darcy responded.
"Nonsense, she seemed pleased at the prospect of taking tea with us today." Richard responded. Mr Darcy relaxed slightly before once again tensing.
"But what shall I say to her?" Mr Darcy asked, looking at Richard with sincerity.
"Practice civility and everything will be fine." Richard said, patting Mr Darcy on the shoulder reassuringly.
That afternoon, Elizabeth made her way to Rosings, accompanied by her cousin and friend. In her mind, she was rehearsing what she could say to Mr Darcy if he should wish to speak to her. She was glad, however that Colonel Fitzwilliam would be joining them along with Lady Catherine for then she could make conversation with them and have as little to do with Mr Darcy as possible, for she still felt the indignity of being slighted in such a way.
At last, they reached the imposing building and were admitted by a butler. They were then shown into the drawing room where Lady Catherine, Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were seated. The gentlemen rose when Elizabeth entered the room and she curtsied in response.
"Miss Elizabeth, you shall sit beside my nephew." Lady Catherine instructed, pointing in the direction of Colonel Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth nodded and made her way to where he sat.
"Miss Elizabeth, you are well?" Richard enquired politely, glancing at his cousin as he spoke. Mr Darcy stared impassively at the wall.
"Thank you, colonel, I am." Elizabeth replied with a smile.
"I am glad to hear it. Are you glad to hear it, too, Mr Darcy?" Richard asked with a smirk, as he looked at his cousin to gauge his response.
Elizabeth's eyes widened as Mr Darcy turned to look at her and nodded in agreement. She blushed as he cast his impassive stare over her face before resuming his previous position of staring at the wall.
"I hope that you have enjoyed your time with us, Miss Elizabeth." Lady Catherine declared loudly, effectively interrupting any further conversation between Elizabeth and the colonel.
"I have, thank you." Elizabeth replied with a nod.
Mr Collins then chose that precise moment to begin a speech about Lady Catherine's great hospitality and kindness towards his cousin. Elizabeth appeared interested for a few moments when she heard a new voice beside her.
"I hope, Miss Elizabeth, that you will allow me to apologise for my behaviour towards you during you time here and accept my wishes that you arrive safely home." Mr Darcy said, speaking quietly so as to avoid detection by his aunt.
Surprised, Elizabeth turned to face Mr Darcy before she said in response, "Thank you for your kind words sir. I accept and wish you the same."
Silence reigned for a few moments as Mr Darcy debated his next words before stating, "I have thought of your accusations often and must confer upon you knowledge of my dealings with Wickham. I hope that I will not be judged as harshly as I have been once I have told you of them."
"Mr Darcy..." Elizabeth started, however she was cut off as Mr Darcy continued to speak.
"Wickham eloped with my sister and had nearly managed to marry her before I found them. I rescued my sister from him and compensated him handsomely. In response, he gambled away the money and came to ask for more. I refused and told him to leave and never return. To this day, I am reminded of my failure as a brother. These are all of my dealings with Wickham." Mr Darcy declared. He glanced at Elizabeth, only to find her wiping away silent tears however she stopped when she felt Mr Darcy's eyes trained on her face.
"Forgive me, I have said too much. I have burdened you with my problems. I will leave you now." Mr Darcy apologised.
"Mr Darcy, forgive me for accusing you of acting cruelly towards Mr Wickham. It is I who was wrong to judge you." Elizabeth responded quietly.
Richard smirked as he watched his cousin and Miss Elizabeth converse. He knew that one day his cousin would confess his love for the young woman once more.