Chapter 8. Other Revelations.

"What are you doing, my darling?" said Mr. Darcy as he approached to his wife.

"Reading a love poem you have composed for me." Said a tearful Elizabeth.

Darcy, perplexed, took the paper and read:

I search, I search I search and then I found

You with your beautiful eyes

You with your heartbreaking smile

I search, I search and then I found

You waiting to be admired

You waiting to be loved

I search, I search and then I found

Amidst the imposing but unattractive trees

A small but blossoming flower

I search, I search, and then I found

You with your fine curl

You with your bewitching beauty

Queen of the roses, Princess among princesses

Thine heart is all I want and need.

"…Thine heart is all I want and need." Darcy read the last verse again. He frowned. "Believe me, my darling, I have written nothing beautiful in my entire life. I have but a rough knowledge of literature, especially poetry. When did you receive this?"

"Two weeks after your first proposal. Are you sure that you weren't inspired by your own passionate love for me, felt so keenly at that time?" Elizabeth asked, herself growing more and more confused.

"How did you know how I felt at that time? It was hidden in the bottom of my heart, and I never told anybody else." Darcy said, surprised.

"If you didn't tell me, then who did?" Elizabeth thought out loud.

"Charles Bingley, perhaps, wrote this poem and other love letters, that were meant for Jane and that have fallen into your hands." Darcy suggested.

"Let's go ask him." Elizabeth said. Darcy nodded and they went to the Bingleys.

At the Bingleys household.

"Darcy, man it's been so long." Bingley said, grinning and shaking hands with his old friend.

"Charles," said Darcy, who, characteristically, got straight to the topic. "Tell me, friend, have you written any love letter that was meant to be for Jane and fell into my wife's hand? And a poem titled 'I Searched I Searched and then I found?'."

"Of course not Darcy, what are you thinking about?" Charles replied, surprised.

"Mr. Collins is most certainly not the author of this poem; he's too practical for that." Elizabeth said thoughtfully.

At that moment, somebody else knocked on the door. Jane went to open it. It was Nancy Li.

"Hi Jane, how's it going?" The young girl said casually.

"I'm fine Nancy. You?"

"Just alright. So Charlie how's the book?" She asked Bingley.

"One of the best I've read. Such an extraordinary adventure." Bingley said enthusiastically.

"Nancy," Darcy said, "Recite the first love letter an anonymous admirer wrote to my wife."

Nancy closed her eyes and began:

"I have never met any woman even half as beautiful as you are, my queen, only love of my life. Every moment passed with you was as wonderful and joyful as a day passed in Paradise. A single look from you sent me into the sky I love you so much that the genius of Despair and Pain dominated me as you, o queen, and o beauty, refused my proposal. Jealousy, this treacherous feeling, was making my heart burn like fire as I saw you with another. I love you passionately crazily, even desperately. I love you, I love you, and I love you!!! How could you be so cruel to me, how could you, o joy of my heart, o idol of my soul, how could you!!!"

Nancy stopped her recitation.

"You are the author of the letter…" Darcy said, shocked.

"I am." Nancy said simply. "I wrote the poem, the letters, etc, to make herb understand your love for her. I wanted to help you, since you needed me."

"Are there any other things you want to tell us?" Darcy inquired.

"I left all behind me while coming to England. All. Family. Friends. Education. I left everything behind to follow my own destiny, my dream and my friendship. True that I liked you, but I also wanted to change certain parts of the human history, prevent atrocious things from happening, and thus, change the world. They can take as much time as they like to ponder on my so-called eccentric choice, I shall not regret it." Nancy said calmly.

"Nothing else?" Darcy asked.

"Nothing. I've being honest with you and told you everything." Nancy replied simply.

Darcy nodded and, stretching out his hand, he shook hands with Nancy again. This time, he felt more than pleased at Nancy's revelations. He admired her courage and loyalty.