He was in his element and enjoying himself. Elizabeth was repulsed and left the room and fled upstairs to her room. She threw herself on the bed wondering what her next move should be. She had so enjoyed the afternoon with two remarkable young ladies but there was no doubt in her mind that in the days to come she would be thrown into the company of the men at Rosing's Park and she truly didn't think she was up to it. Lady Catherine planned to marry off her daughter to Fitzwilliam Darcy and knowing how much family meant to the wealthy the chances were great that she would succeed eventually. Then there was her odious cousin. After two days her tolerance for his stupidity had reached it's limit. But there was even more to consider. She had to think of Mary. Mary was content with her situation and Elizabeth did not want to make life difficult for her sister.
Anne had described her mother as kinder than she appeared but she was a mother set on a course and after years of seeing her own mother set on a course when it came to marrying her daughters, she knew how tenacious Lady Catherine might prove. If she thought for a moment that Elizabeth might interfere with her plans, she would not hesitate to dismiss Mr. Collins and where would that leave Mary? Elizabeth could not take a chance on destroying her sister's comfortable life. Elizabeth thought the best thing she could do would be to return to Longbourn. That she would never see Darcy again gave her pause but she knew that the vast chasm that separated them could only lead to her own heartbreak and she was depressed enough without that added burden.
After a short nap Elizabeth bathed then dressed leisurely in a demure yellow muslin and donned the matching slippers that Mary had given her for her birthday so many months ago. At that moment Mary slipped into her room and nodded appreciatively, "you look lovely, Lizzie. May I help you with your hair?" At Lizzie's nod Mary pulled down several strands of hair to lessen the severity that Elizabeth had fashioned. She then expertly wove various colored ribbons through her soft curly tresses. When she was finally satisfied she gazed into the mirror watching Lizzie's expression. "How do you like it, Lizzie?"
Elizabeth smiled at her sister's reflection, "I like it very well. Thank you Mary."
"Lizzie, you mustn't worry about what Mr. Collins says. He really means no harm."
"He's cruel and without feeling."
"No, Lizzie. He's not vicious."
Stunned, Elizabeth stared at her sister. Was it possible that she was sharing the house with not one, but two imbeciles? This uncharitable thought made her lower her eyes in remorse. "How can you say that, Mary? He treats me with disdain! His condescension towards me is insufferable. Mary, I've decided to return to Longbourn. I'm sure this will be good news to your husband. I beg of you to arrange my transport back to London."
"Lizzie, I am with child."
Elizabeth felt her heart stop, then break and go cold. Tears sprang to her eyes. "No, no, it can't be!"
"Please, sister, be happy for me. I have everything I want."
First Charlotte now Mary locked in lives of quiet desperation. Selfishly she could only wonder what her own fate would be. She stood up and embraced Mary. "Forgive me, Mary. It was the shock. If you you are happy then I am happy for you," she lied. Elizabeth's misery was now complete.
In the library at Rosing's Park Darcy and Richard were sipping wine and deep in their own thoughts.
"We should not have spied on the ladies," Darcy said.
Richard snorted, "three ladies dressed in colorful muslins twirling their parasols and laughing so joyously. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I wish I had a painting of the scene. I'd take it into battle with me."
"We are no longer children, Richard."
"We are not old men, either, Darcy. Where's your spirit?"
"We are no longer inquisitive boys getting a thrill out of the sight of our cousin removing her shoes and stockings to splash through the creek. What if they had seen us lurking in the woods?"
"But they didn't! And it isn't as if we had planned it."
Darcy eyed his cousin, "we know these woods like the back of our hands. We both knew what we were about."
"And you joined me happily enough. Now you have to spoil your pleasure by feeling guilty. What was the harm? If they had spotted us they would have invited us to their picnic. But they didn't and that's the end of it. You've forgotten how to have fun, Darcy."
Darcy sighed heavily, "I suppose I have."
"We used to have such great fun when we were lads. Now you're always so serious. It's time you find yourself a wife who will give you some liveliness and if you marry prudently your wife will teach you to laugh at yourself." Richard stood up and refilled their glasses. "Now tonight Miss Elizabeth Bennet will be gracing our table once more. Why don't you practice on her. Act charming and if you must stare at her try to speak occasionally so she doesn't think you mentally deficient. Flirt with her. Smile at her. Beguile her with your intelligence and wit. Don't snarl or glare at anyone."
Despite himself Darcy began to laugh. "You would have me play the fool for your amusement, Cousin? Adopt some of your quaint expressions? Aunt Catherine would have my head on a stick."
"It would end your supposed engagement to Anne."
"There is that. However, if I perform like a fuzzy wuzzy wabbit as you once described Charles, and prance about with a silly smile on my face Aunt Catherine would have me committed."
"Either way, you must speak with our esteemed aunt. It isn't fair to Anne or yourself to allow her to continue on with this delusion. Unless of course you are now considering marriage to Anne. Are you?"
Darcy shifted uncomfortably and hesitated before replying. So many years searching for a woman who would please him and who would be pleased by him. So many discouraging years when he actually considered marrying Anne in his darkest moments. If he had ever come close to asking Anne for her hand the knowledge that Richard was the one she truly loved stopped him. It would have been bad enough to marry a woman who didn't love him, but to marry a woman who loved his cousin would have been suicidal and might eventually lead to a tragedy he dared not contemplate. No, Anne was out of the question.
Unbidden, his mind cast back to the night at the theatre when he first laid eyes on Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Why she had enchanted him he knew not. Something in her eyes, perhaps. She'd been so taken with the farce taking place on the stage. Her beautiful eyes glowed in unfeigned delight. Every once in a while she had turned to the couple with her just to share her laughter. So unlike the ladies of his acquaintance whose public conduct seemed so practiced. But what struck him forcefully was that never once had she turned her eyes towards him. The moment he entered the box he had heard the whispers and from long practice refrained from squirming. He hated drawing attention to himself and usually came late and didn't enter his box until most of the candles had been snuffed out. With Georgianna with him, that would have been impossible. Hearing her soft laughter had finally drawn him to stand at the back of the box to watch Elizabeth. Never once had she laughed, then looked at his box to see if he was watching her.
Darcy had never been in love so had no standard by which he could compare what he felt towards her. She simply enchanted him and he couldn't keep his eyes off her. It was most annoying.
"Where have you gone, Darcy? I can see a look on your face that I've never seen before."
With difficulty Darcy returned his attention to his cousin. "What do you suppose the family would say if I chose a bride that was beneath my station?"
Richard choked on his wine and stared at his favorite cousin. "Not Caroline Bingley!"
Darcy groaned, "do be serious, Richard. I'm asking you a hypothetical question. What trouble could I expect?"
After a moment Richard shrugged, "A loud talking to by my father, hysterics from Lady Catherine and weeping and wailing from the mothers of the Ton. Who do you have in mind?"
"No one in particular. Just wondering."
"Darcy, you are your own man, wealthy and well respected. You can do whatever you wish. What do you care what the rest of the world thinks of you? If you find the right woman you'd be a fool not to marry her."
Darcy knew it wasn't that easy. He supposed that his cousin looked at life differently, being in the military. When you weren't sure you'd live through the next battle it was easy to think only of survival and living to a ripe old age with the woman of your choice by your side. Darcy's family had so many expectations. They wanted to expand the family's wealth and joining Rosing's Park to Pemberley was a step in the right direction. Then there was Georgianna to think of. He wanted her to marry well and that meant that he should marry well. He stood and began to pace restlessly before finally approaching the window that looked down at the path that led to the parsonage. Mr. Collins was heading towards Rosing's Park, leading his wife and her sister. As usual he was animated, no doubt enumerating all the splendors before him. Darcy fastened his eyes on Elizabeth. She looked bored which brought a smile to his face. When he turned to announce their guest's arrival, he was startled at the amused look in Richard's eyes. "What amuses you, cousin?"
"You," Richard replied.
When the party from Hunsford entered the drawing room at Rosing's Park the first thing Darcy noticed was that Elizabeth looked so very beautiful in her plain yellow muslin. The second thing he noticed was that she had been weeping. He approached her and bowed, "you look lovely this evening, Miss Bennet. I trust you are well," he added with concern.
Elizabeth was shocked. It was the first time Mr. Darcy had ever spoken to her beyond mumbling her name in greeting. "I'm very well, thank you for asking."
"And your family? They are well I hope."
"Yes sir. I believe they are."
Pleased with how well his first conversation with Miss Bennet had gone, Darcy turned away and returned to the window to stare at nothing.
Across the room Richard rolled his eyes at Anne. "I told him to beguile her with his intelligence and wit. He's either a fast worker or she thinks he's dim-witted."
Anne and Georgianna had delayed their greeting of Elizabeth to give Darcy some time alone with her. It had taken all of two seconds. The girls weren't sure whether they should be amused or dismayed. They both hurried to Elizabeth and noted the bemused look on her face. "It was such a lovely afternoon, Lizzie," Anne said. "My cousin Richard is quite put out. He insists that he and Darcy be invited to our next outing."
"I'm not sure Mr. Collins would approve," Elizabeth said. "He's given precise instructions to me. I am not allowed to use my arts and allurements on Mr. Darcy for he is to be married to you, Anne."
Anne threw her head back and laughed hard. "He didn't really say that!"
Elizabeth managed a wry smile, "indeed he did. Not only that, but I am not to forward my acquaintance with you or Georgianna"
This information did not sit well with Anne but before she had a chance to speak Lady Catherine demanded to know what was so amusing."
"Stupidity, mother."
"Well, I'm an expert on stupidity. You must share."
Elizabeth dared a glance at Darcy who had turned from the window and was now staring at his aunt in disbelief.
Georgianna had started to giggle and Mr. Collins was glaring at Elizabeth. Anne looked at Richard who had a bemused look on his freckled face and her face softened staring at the love of her life. When she finally looked at her mother, Lady Catherine was regarding her daughter with narrowed eyes. Anne held her mother's eyes for a long moment before turning away.
When dinner was announced Richard approached his aunt and Anne joined them. It was left to Darcy to escort Georgianna and Elizabeth into the dining room.
When he'd settled both ladies he took his own seat and stared around almost as if he had never been in the room before. The light touch of Elizabeth hand on his arm had made him feel weak and he wondered if he was having an out of the body experience he's heard others talk of. He was desperate to look at her but was just as determined not to look at her. Beside him, Georgianna whispered, "are you well, brother?" He nodded and did not look at her so missed the sweet but knowing smile on her face. Lady Catherine, however, did see it and frowned.
Dinner began on an interesting note for Lady Catherine had absolutely nothing to say, a fact so remarkable it unnerved all her guests except for Mr. Collins who as the clergyman and in his own small mind the only person of any real significance, took the conversational lead. Absurdity and idiocy accompanied an excellent first course.
They were well into the second course when Lady Catherine finally waved her cleric to silence and addressed Elizabeth. "You are very quiet this evening, Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"I have instructed my dear cousin," Mr. Collins said with an oily smile, "that pride and stubbornness and in short all manner of wickedness, is the greatest folly we can be possessed of, and constantly turns on the head of that foolish person who does not conquer and get the better of all inclination to such weakness."
In the silence that followed this pronouncement, Darcy spoke quietly, "I too have been instructed by my dear cousin on how deport myself this evening. I'm not to glare or growl, but really, Mr. Collins, I've never heard such a heap of tripe in my life. How long did it take you to memorize such rubbish? And to what end?"
Mr. Collins looked confused and turned to his patroness for assistance. Lady Catherine chose to ignore him but instead addressed Elizabeth once more. "I understand Miss Bennet that you feel great distress over the loss of your friend Miss Lucas."
Once more Mr. Collins answered for Elizabeth, "I'm afraid my dear cousin does not know a woman's place. A woman should accept her lot in life and never complain about what she sees as an injustice for we know that women have no true understanding of anything."
Darcy signaled a servant to remove his plate. "You see no good in a woman mourning the companionship of a friend?"
Mr. Collins had puffed himself up by being in conversation with such an esteemed gentleman as Darcy and didn't see the danger looming ahead of him. "I fear she reads too many novels, Mr. Darcy. What shall we say of certain books, which we are assured (for we have not read them) are in their nature so shameful, in their tendency so pestiferous, and contain such rank treason against the rightful role of a women who should always be subservient. They are such a horrible violation of all decorum, that she who can bear to peruse them must in her soul be a prostitute which must be my cousin's only excuse."
Georgianna gasped and Elizabeth reached her hand across the table and patted her hand in comfort. Richard and Anne reacted like they'd been shot as they stared at Mr. Collins who once more looked confused. In her own shock and disbelief Elizabeth saw a half-smile on Darcy's face as he stared off into space. He looked positively pleased with himself.
Lady Catherine De Bourgh had turned an icy look on her cleric and watched him shrink in terror as he realized his error. "Next Sunday your sermon will be about a woman's place, Mr. Collins. And I would much enjoy your thoughts on just how lacking in understanding we women are. I will see you in my study at ten o'clock on the morrow. Do not disappoint me."
Darcy turned to his aunt, "I suggest you also instruct him on the way to address his dear cousin, reminding him that he is but a servant of the Lord while Miss Elizabeth is a gentleman's daughter." He turned to Mr. Collins, "perhaps you should return to the seminary and take a refresher course on empathy."
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Before they adjourned to the drawing room for coffee, Lady Catherine addressed Elizabeth once more. "It would please me, Miss Bennet, to hear you play again. This time perhaps you might entertain us with some Mozart and Bach...just as long as it sounds like Beethoven. A sonata, perhaps?" When Elizabeth nodded Lady Catherine allowed a smile. "Splendid," she said and led her guests from the room.