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Chapter 5 – Love Story

"My good opinion once lost, is lost forever." – Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

We enter the parlor room. It was similar to my guest room; however, boasted golden velvet lined walls. I touch the velvet with my hand under Darcy's scrutinizing stare. I turn away from the wall and see that all are looking at me.

"Miss Elizabeth," Caroline smiles saccharinely, "will you do us the honor of beginning our little concert?"

"I," I nervously look down, "I don't know what to sing."

"Sing whatever you like," Caroline presses. "We are all friends here."

What is with this woman?! I mean, when I say I cannot sing well I sure as bloody hell mean it!

"Perhaps," Darcy suggests, "Miss Caroline should accompany her."

"Is that a challenge," I think to myself. "Mr. Darcy," I smile, "that will not be necessary."

I begin to sing as I stand in front of the pianoforte (which is just a fancier name for a piano).

We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts:
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air.

Caroline whispers to her brother, "I thought that she said that she could not sing."

Bingley whispers back, "She said that she could not sing well."

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd
and say hello;

I look at Darcy as I sing this song and for some strange reason, I find myself compelled to never look away. Our eyes lock as I continue singing.

Little did I know
That you were Romeo; you were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
And I was crying on the staircase,
begging you, 'Please, don't go.'"

Darcy's normally expressionless face seems pleasantly surprised as he and Bingley exchange smiles. Caroline, however, seems on the verge of tears. I suppose her little experiment has gone awry.

And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'"

My eyes lock with Darcy's once again. He smiles at me; almost tenderly, but, I fear that I may be reading too much into things.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew.
So close your eyes; escape this town for a little while.
'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said "Stay away from Juliet,"
But you were everything to me; I was begging you, 'Please, don't go,'"

And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'
Romeo save me - they're tryin' to tell me how to feel;
This love is difficult, but it's real.
Don't be afraid; we'll make it out of this mess.
It's a love story - baby just say "Yes.'"

Darcy looks away as if he is guilty of something. But, I cannot tell if he is trying to hide something or if he is angered that the lyrics are about love (which is probably an unexplained theory to Darcy).

Oh, oh.
I got tired of waiting,
Wondering if you were ever comin' around.
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town,
And I said,
"Romeo save me - I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting for you but you never come.
Is this in thy head? I don't know what to think-"
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said,
"Marry me, Juliet - you'll never have to be alone.
I love you and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad - go pick out a white dress;
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'"
Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
'Cause we were both young when I first saw you...

I curtsy and humbly reply, "That's all."

Bingley, Darcy, and Jane stand up and clap jovially. Caroline sits still in the background; her face seeming a little shell-shocked. Bingley comes up to me, "I hope you find your Romeo." Darcy steps closer and smiles, "I believe she shall."

Smolder alert number 3!

"What a humble songstress you have turned out to be," Caroline smiles smugly as she walks towards me.

I look over at Darcy, but, he looks at Caroline and says, "Will you be gracing us with your singing as well?"

Caroline laughs, "Not when we have a far superior singer in our midst."

"Oh no," I look at Caroline, "I'm not-"

Darcy and Bingley walks towards the middle of the room where there is a decanter holding red wine. Jane watches Bingley with a shy smile upon her delicate features.

"I know what you are," Caroline pulls me away as the men fill their glasses with wine.

I jerk my arm away, "And what am I?"

"You are a mere diversion." She shakes her head with a sly smile and she sizes me up, "But, no man is diverted for long."

"What are you talking about?"

"The fortune that you aspire," Caroline sends me a smug look, "may not look your way. But, your talents may bring you some benefits."

"With 27,000 a year," I counterattack, "I don't think I will need benefits from any man."

I walk away; leaving Caroline in even more shock. I think I can get used to life here. I walk towards the wine decanter and Mr. Darcy turns, "Pray, would you like a glass?"

"Oh no," I smile, "I believe Jane and I should turn in for the night and get our beauty rest."

"Beauty rest," Bingley laughs, "is something that you and Miss Jane do not need. Do you not agree," Bingley turns towards Darcy. Darcy sends Mr. Bingley a look that could possibly burn coal.

God, I know what's coming! He will say that I am tolerable, but, just barely. He will say that I am not enough to tempt him.

But, Darcy says nothing and just nods in agreement with Bingley. It is probably better that he has not said anything and has spared my pride the torture of being wounded.

Jane blushes and quietly says, "Thank you."

"Good night gentleman," I say as Darcy smiles at me.

As we walk upstairs arm in arm, Jane whispers to me, "Mr. Darcy though rough on the outside is a good match for you."

"I suppose he is," I look behind and see that Mr. Darcy is watching me as I walk upstairs. My heart stops for a moment. No one is looking as he watches me until Caroline walks behind him and whispers something. I look away and continue my walk upstairs.

***

At the breakfast table, Jane and I announce that we are feeling much better and will leave in the afternoon. "So soon," Mr. Darcy asks quietly.

"Not a moment too soon as far as I am concerned," Caroline smiles tempestuously at me.

Jane looks down; feeling embarrassed as I send Caroline a reproachful look, "We are very sorry to have overstayed our welcome. Instead of leaving this afternoon, I believe it is better to leave this morning."

Jane and I stand up from our seats and I curtsy, "We shall retire to packing our belongings."

Just before we exit the room, I hear Mr. Darcy scold Caroline, "That was badly done, Caroline. Very badly done."

Mr. Bingley meets us on the stairs and smiles, "Have you two already had your nourishment for the morning?"

"Yes, we have," Jane smiles at him.

"Ah!" Mr. Bingley smiles, "That is very important. First meal of the day and all."

What an awkward man!

"We will be leaving this morning for Longbourn."

"So soon," Mr. Bingley mirrors Darcy's words as he looks at Jane.

"In Caroline's words," I roll my eyes, "Not a moment too soon."

"Did she say that," asks a shocked Bingley.

"Are you at all surprised?"

"Not really. No," Mr. Bingley smiles. "Sometimes, I think she has a romance with her own voice and wants to hear nothing but that. Other times, I think she has a grand scheme of using her own words as a tool to manipulate and raise her own status."

"Probably both," I say as I continue to walk up the stairs.

Jane goes into her room and I go into my guestroom. But, once I go into my room, Mr. Darcy walks in and shuts the door behind him.

I look at him, "What are you doing in here?"

"Forgive my impropriety," he awkwardly nods towards me, "But, I came -"

"Into a ladies room unannounced?"

Mr. Darcy stands in front of me speechless for a moment. "I shall finish what I came in here to say," he continues; looking away.

"Yes," I look up at him, "But, please do so with the door open or do you actually want people to get the wrong idea about me. God knows Caroline would love that!"

Flushed with what seems to be a mix of anger and frustration, Mr. Darcy opens the door and says, "Your carriage is waiting for you, Miss Elizabeth."

I guiltily look down, "Mr. Darcy, I -"

He cuts me off, "Good-bye Miss Bennet."

He slams the door shut; causing an ornamental picture to fall onto the floor and shatter. I cringe at his temper and think, "I shall be cross if I dream of him tonight."

Insufferable sod!

Even though I am stuck in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, I know that a proper gentleman ought not to walk into the bedroom of a lady without a proper explanation. What will people say once they find out?! My ex, Michael, would say "Let them say what they want." My mother would say, "Why did you turn him away?!" And I would say, "Because he walked into my bloody bedroom!"

***

Jane and I say our farewells to Caroline, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy. But, before we leave, Jane goes to Mr. Bingley and I go to Mr. Darcy.

Jane tells Mr. Bingley, "Do not be a stranger. Do call on us more often."

"I will be over every day if it be allowed."

Jane blushes, "If not, then we shall see each other at the Netherfield Ball next week."

"Yes," Bingley smiles.

I smile to myself as I hear them talk and go towards Darcy. He looks down at me as I curtsy, "Farewell Mr. Darcy."

He bows rather curtly and turns away; walking towards the mansion. Awkwardly, I look away and bite my lip to hold back any tears. The least he could have done was said the word 'Farewell' and he couldn't even manage that.

My mind reels to a quote in Pride and Prejudice: "No," said Darcy, "I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world.I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever."

"Oh dear," I say to myself, "have I messed up the book already?"

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