I think I should point out this is not the final chapter. Enjoy ...
Chapter Twenty-Two
A union between companies? It wasn't love, it was just what she had said; a pre- arranged marriage, that he probably wasn't even aware of, less in agreement with. I square my shoulders. "If that is the case, and Nicholas is promised to someone else, why do you suspect he has proposed to me?"
Lady Catherine hesitates for a moment, and then replies, "The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. Upon the death of his parents Nicholas has been under my care, as his god mother I have made decisions that were in his best interest whether or not he understands that. They have been intended for each other for a great number of years and I will not have such a deal scuppered by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world. Do you think so little of him that you would see his chance of such a future destroyed?"
Deal? We are talking about matters of the heart and she is referring to it all as a deal. I smile to myself. Nick would go mad if he knew what he aunt was proposing. "No. But, if there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his god mother has arranged a marriage that, reading between the lines, he doesn't even have any knowledge of. The union between him and this associates daughter, is your choice and the choice of her parents. It is not Mr. Darcy's choice. He did not propose to her and is therefore not obliged to participate in such a merger. If he chooses to propose to someone else, then it is just that, his choice, and if that choice should be me, why should I not accept?"
"Because, Miss Bennet, should you choose to force my nephew to participate in this ridiculous plan of yours, everyone around you will know why. They will all know you have entranced him as far as to thinking he is in love with you. That you are only after the wealth and status that the name of Darcy ensues. You will be despised by everyone connected with him. Your relationship will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us. Nicholas would be disowned by his own family and friends. If his future is with you, then there will be no future for him."
"I agree the thought of never being acknowledged by yourself or those in agreement with you is very … unfortunate. However I would think that the wife of Mr Darcy would have such extraordinary happiness that would ultimately come with her situation, that she could, upon the whole, live with that." I smile.
"Why you obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my gracious generosity? You have been given a position in my company, one which you have squandered and used to your own advantage. Let me make this abundantly clear Miss Bennet, I shall not be leaving here today disappointed. I came here to have you either refute the rumour or to admit you started it and that it has not an ounce of truth to back it up. Either way the result is the same. You will not marry my nephew."
"Then I'm afraid I feel sorry for you Lady Catherine, it seems either way you shall leave here disappointed."
"I will not be interrupted! You remain silent until I have finished. Did your parents fail to teach you any manners?" I shut my mouth more out of shock than instruction. "My nephew will marry as arranged. They are both descended from a noble, respectable and honourable line, though untitled on their side, the family is well known throughout our circles and their wealth matched. They are destined for each other, I will not allow the upstart pretensions of a young woman without title, connections, or fortune divide them. This notion you have will end today." She rises to her feet once more and straightens her impeccable designer suit, picking at invisible bit of lint. "You would not survive in our world Miss Bennet, I have no idea why you should think you could quit the one in which you have been brought up."
I stand to my feet and move in front of her preventing her from walking away. "In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that world. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal."
"You maybe a gentleman's daughter. He is a doctor of good reputation I am assured, but what about your mother? Do not imagine me ignorant of her reputation."
I can only guess what she had heard. My mum is embarrassing and at times down right ridiculous, but she is mine, and I won't have them dragged into this. "My parents have nothing to do with this. If your nephew does not object to them, neither can you." I leave her pondering that thought while I began walking back to the house.
I can hear her as she quickened her step to catch up with me. In no time at all she was at my heels, her unrelenting voice in my ear. "Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?"
I halt immediately, tears are building in my eyes that had nothing to do with the way I which she was speaking to me. "I am not." I confessed sadly. It is the truth. We are not engaged, nor did I ever think that was even a possibility at this point.
Lady Catherine seems pleased. "And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?"
"I most certainly will not!" the sadness forgotten, I continue walking.
"Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. When I travelled here today I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. My beliefs and opinions will never change, and I shall not leave here until you given the assurance I require."
I sigh to prevent from screaming. Turning to face her I snap. "Then her ladyship shall have a long wait!" The look of total astonishment on her face is one worthy of laughter but I am too angry at this point. "I am not intimidated by who you are. You seem to be under the impression that if a proposal takes place and I refuse him, he will be in complete agreeance with your plan and partake in the arranged marriage. Suppose we are engaged and I call it off, do you really think he will just go running to you begging you to make the choice for him? From what I know of Mr Darcy, he is a very proud and opinionated man. I do not believe anyone could force such an important decision on him. Do you?" I stare at her. She doesn't answer but her lips contort and twist like she is tasting something very unpleasant. "Lady Catherine if you think that any of the arguments you have put forward today would persuade me to take your advice above my own judgement you are very much mistaken. I wonder what your nephew would make of your interference in his business. I do know that no right to concern yourself in mine. I must ask that we end this conversation now."
"Not so hasty, if you please. I am by no means done." She holds my arm firmly preventing me from moving without causing damage to one or both of us. "I have one further objection to add to the already long list. I am aware of your youngest sister's recent behaviour and involvement with a member of Rosings Staff. Her appearance at the Rosings Christmas party was embarrassment enough. To think my nephew would be related to such a family. And to have this family wandering around the Darcy estate, the shades of Pemberley polluted to such a degree?"
"You can now have nothing farther to say," I shrug my arm out of her hold the best I could until she finally let go. "You have insulted me in every way possible. I am going home." I walk quickly away.
"This unfeeling selfish attitude is exactly what I was afraid of. You would rather be with him and cause him to become a disgrace." She calls after me.
I am almost at the driveway when I pause and turn to face her. "Lady Catherine, I have nothing else to say to you, I have made my feelings clear. Please leave."
"You still mean to have him?"
"I have said no such thing. I will say this; any decisions I make will be in my own opinion, that which will make me and those closest to me happy. I do not need, nor ask for your advice, and shall certainly never take it."
"I can see it is pointless for me to continue, I shall leave, Miss Bennet. But know that I am most seriously displeased."
As I watch her drive away I sit on the front door step to gather myself together. I hadn't lied, Nick and I are not engaged. Yet. Maybe we never would be, oh god I hoped we would. Thinking of him I pull my phone out and fire it up. As soon as the screen came to life it fills with missed calls, voicemails and texts all from him. I scroll to the texts first.
Nick: Lizzie we need to talk, please answer your phone.
Nick: God Lizzie, Rich just told me Catherine's there, do you need me to come over? Please call me.
Nick: Lizzie I'm going mad here! Richard won't let me come to you, he says I have to leave this one to you, I'm not sure what he means, but know I'm thinking of you. Please call me.
Nick: Lizzie, please call. Even if it's just to say goodbye.
The last one tears at my heart. Goodbye? Does he really think that's how this is going to go, after everything he did? I swiftly type out a message, not ready to speak to him.
Me: C gone, I'm still standing. Don't think I'll be welcome back at the New Years' Eve party though! I'm fine, please stop worrying. I'm not ready to say the 'G' word yet. X
I wake up feeling groggy after a restless night's sleep. Not entirely but in the most part due to the insane heat wave that has decided to fall upon us, despite it being late September. The weathermen are calling it an Indian summer. My mum calls it an excuse for one more BBQ. All the family are invited, including the Gardner's. And the Collins'. I am looking forward to seeing Charlotte at last, I missed her. It's my last weekend before I go back to my flat and to Rosings. If I in fact still have a job to go back to. With all her insults and suspicions Lady Catherine had never actually fired me. I have a feeling mum definitely hasn't brought enough wine to get me through the next twenty four hours. After a shower I trudge downstairs to see if anything needed setting up and to grab some left over breakfast.
"Good morning Lizzie." Dads voice makes me jump. I must be more tired than I thought. I didn't notice him sat at the table, wait something's different? No paper.
"Where's your paper?"
"I need a little chat with my favourite daughter, there's no need for a paper."
"Favourite? You know you're not supposed to have favourites don't you dad? It doesn't exactly encourage sisterly affection?" I sit at the table smothering a piece of toast with jam before stuffing it in my mouth.
"Mr Darcy."
I choke and splutter, shooting bits of toast and jam all over the place. I pull the rest out of my mouth as swallowing is out of the question right now. My throat is constricted. "Excuse me, went down the wrong hole! What about Mr Darcy?"
"I hear things Lizzie, like Mr Darcy knocking seven bells out of George Wickham because he insulted one of my daughters, and I see things. Like Lady Catherine De Burgh at our house last night."
I gulp, I totally forgot about dad's friend who works at Rosings, the one who had got me the job, of course he would tell him. "Dad it's not what you think." It's not? What was it actually?
"Oh really, so it's not that he's in love with you and would do about anything to prove it. And that wasn't his aunt coming round here warning you off him then?"
"I … um… I-" I look around the kitchen searching for an answer, Dad knows everything.
"Lizzie, you are the most sensible person under this roof, including me, and I have every faith you know exactly what you are doing, so whatever decision you make I will support you a hundred percent. We know him to be a bit of an arrogant sort of fellow, but with what he did regarding Lydia, that could easily be over looked. Even more; should you love him too." He admits.
I can't lie to my dad, I never could. "I do love him dad, I love him so much." I break down. Dad's eyes water, he hated to see any of us upset. "He's not arrogant, he's proud, and stubborn but then so am I."
"Well it sounds like you already have everything worked out then." He sits back.
"Dad how can you say that? We have nothing worked out! We come from such different backgrounds, he has this huge amount of money. He has a lake dad, a lake!"
"Lizzie, you love him, he loves you. There is nothing else to it." With that he picks up his paper and disappears behind it. I blow out an infuriated breath and turn to leave when he stops me placing a hand on my arm, I look down in to his brown eyes. "I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy."
The scorching sun beats down on our garden, full with all the people who we love most. Almost. The BBQ is in full swing and the drinks are flowing. Mum is having a great time, trying to convince Jane and Charlie she needs a grandchild before the Lucas's. Mary has put down her ipod and is helping keep some of the younger kids occupied. I have spent time with Charlotte and learned that despite his faults she is happy with Dr Collins. I look at him as he follows her around. I had asked her if she thought marrying him had been a mistake if she was being foolish for accepting such a man, her reply had been "We are all fools in love." I thought about her words and how true they were. We have all acted so foolishly in our pursuit of happiness. At least, for the most part, people have found theirs. Jane and Charlie have made their way to the love seat at the bottom of the garden where they are holding hands and gazing into each-others' eyes. Even my dad has his arms around my mum making her giggle. In amongst all this, I never felt more alone. I miss him.
"LIZZIE! LIZZIE!"
I can hear his voice, it's calling mine, I'm dreaming. I don't remember falling asleep but I must have, because this can't be Nick Darcy striding across my parents garden in his damn white shirt- sleeves rolled up to his elbows, no tie- black trousers. Not exactly BBQ attire. No this must be a dream. A very good dream. I sit down screwing my eyes shut. "Lizzie." His hands are touching mine, it seems so real. "Lizzie please open your eyes, I need to speak to you."
"No you can't speak, I'm dreaming." He chuckles, then the git pinches me. "Ouch!"
I open my eyes. He smiles at me. "See? You're not dreaming. Now listen to me. Firstly," his eyes soften, "you look beautiful." He brings my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles, I'm suddenly aware everyone in the garden is silent and looking at us, dad is physically restraining mum from coming over here. I notice Richard is here too, with a big silly grin on his face. "Secondly, I need to apologise for my Aunt."
"No you don't. I told you, you never need to apologise for other people. They're not you." I tell him.
He kneels down in front of me sitting back on his heels, looking at me like I'm the only one he sees.
"No. No, they're not me." He speaks softly. "She told me what you said. I have to say it had the opposite effect to the one she had intended. It gave me hope. Hope that there may still be a future for us." A breeze blows a strand of hair across my face, he reaches up and pushes it behind my ear. I gasp at the touch of his hand on my face. He holds it there and I take his hand in mine so now we're holding both hands.
"Well yes, I suppose if I felt nothing for you, I wouldn't have hesitated in telling your aunt that."
He smiles his Lizzy smile and I feel my body relax. "About the other night." He begins.
"Oh please don't let us talk about it, I'm ashamed of some of the things I said."
"You were right." He glances over his shoulder and frowns at the audience we have. I place a hand gently under his chin and bring his attention back to me, silently begging him to continue, I want to hear what he had come here to say. I need to hear it. He squeezes my hand and looking in to my eyes continues his speech. "I have been selfish all of my life. It may not have appeared so on the outside but I was. As a child I was taught what was right but I was also spoiled. As an only child for so long and even after, an only son. My parents, although good people, my father especially, allowed, encouraged me to be this way. I was made to only see those outside of our close family circle as people to be judged of their standing and their self-worth, to only compare it with my own. I have been this way my whole life, and expect I would have stayed that way, if it hadn't been for you my darling Elizabeth."
"How can I believe you could be so selfish when you have done so much for my family? You saved Jane from heartbreak and Lydia from disgracing herself entirely. My family are forever in your debt."
He shook his head. "If you will thank me," he replies, "let it be for yourself alone. Your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you." He pauses looking down at our joined hands and then back at me with such passion it takes my breath away. "Lizzie I need to know. If your feelings are still what they were the other night, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you and I will leave your life for ever."
I take a breath in, and whisper "you proved it."
"What?" He looks at me bewildered.
"You proved it." I repeat.
He smiles my smile. The Lizzie smile. God I love him.
"Elizabeth Bennet I choose you. I choose you over everything and everyone. I love you. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun. I'll tell anyone and everyone you want me to. I'll hold hands with you wherever I can. I'll kiss you whenever I can. And when I make you my wife I want everyone there to see it." He moves into position of on one knee and holds out a little red box.
A tear runs down my cheek. I glance round at the friends and family waiting with baited breath. I prevent a laugh from escaping at how the garden appears spilt between those that knew and those that didn't. Richard and my dad both have big grins on their faces. Jane has her hands up to her mouth like she's about to cry. Charlie stands beside her completely baffled. My aunt Gardner is the one that surprises me the most, she has a look on her face that says 'at last.' I bring my gaze back to the face of the man in front of me. My proud, stubborn, arrogant, loving, warm and gorgeous man. I take his little finger and link it with mine. "I love you Mr Darcy. I want nothing more than to be yours forever."
He slides the ring on to my finger and the box falls to the floor forgotten as he gathers me to him and claims me in an emotion filled embrace that only leads to another ardent kiss. The garden erupts around us. It's difficult to tell who is most pleased, but I'd like to think it was Nick and I. He whispers words of love and endearments in my ear and I laugh between the happy tears. My friends and family flock toward us offering their congratulations and to hear first-hand the story of our complicated courtship. Nick and I break apart reluctantly to accept the well wishes. My mother pulls me to her ranting on about her sneaky daughter and keeping things from her and how she knew all along I wouldn't be single for long. I look over at my fiancé to find him locked in a serious conversation with my father. Surely dad isn't making him ask for his permission. After the conversation we had this morning he knew how I felt. I look again and find Nick beaming at something dad has said to him and I immediately relax. Richard is the next to seize my attention. Pulling me in for a kiss and welcoming me to the family, I thank him and confess how I wish Georgiana could be here. He kisses me again and turns revealing Nick with a stony expression on his face, I cock an eyebrow at him and he glances at Richard and then back to me. I roll my eyes at his jealously and hold my hand up to him to remind him of the ring he had just placed on my finger. There is no more hiding, no more miss-understandings, I am his and he is mine, with no one to separate us.