Chapter 36
The Holidays, usually a time of joy, was a time of despair for Elizabeth. Mrs. Gardiner had tried to get Elizabeth to tell her what was bothering her, but she refused. In the end Elizabeth left London with her son, earlier than planned, leaving no note for Mr. Hines.
"There is Young Master Will!" Declared Mrs. Bennet as he burst into the front parlor at Longbourn.
Little Will, in his babbling way, told his Grandmother and Aunts all that had happened while he was in London; meeting his cousins, going to parks, lighting the tree on Christmas Morning. After refreshing herself from the grime of her journey, Elizabeth joined her family and told them of the dinners and parties she had attended. Mrs. Bennet desired to know about Mr. Hines, but Elizabeth's answers were short. She kept his proposal to herself, desiring the time to reflect on her own emotions and whether she should marry a man she had not yet come to love, but whom she was confident love could grow.
Bitter cold winds swarmed Longbourn for the next few days keeping its inhabitants indoors at all time. Lydia had a cold and kept to her room, while the other ladies of the house spent most of the time in the sitting room with a warm fire blazing, doing either needle work or listening to each other read. Elizabeth had spent this time in quiet reflection, mentally listing the pros and cons of a marriage to Mr. Hines but every time she tried to bring his image to mind, Mr. Darcy's face loomed.
There was yet a small smoldering ember that was her love for Mr. Darcy, deep within her heart. She felt sure given the proper fuel it would blaze to life, more so than before. But should that flame consume her. That inferno had already branded her an adulteress, something she had grown to be very ashamed about. Could it this time finish her? Oh, how her heart heaved within her chest whenever she thought of him. Could it be possible that their love could grow untainted from their past?
Mr. Darcy had said they had been given a second chance at their love. Had she also been given a second chance with Mr. Hines? Was this God's way of testing her mettle? She had vowed to never share relations with Mr. Darcy again, and she had kept true to that vow. Would she be breaking it if she were to marry him? And what of Mr. Hines? What would he think of her should she drop him in favor of Mr. Darcy, a man five times his consequence?
"Well," Elizabeth thought, mentally shaking herself, "it doesn't signify whether I still love Mr. Darcy or not. I have already given him my answer."
With that settled, she was determined to accept Mr. Hines when he came to Hertfordshire and ask for her hand. That night she spent crying into her pillowcase.
s-S-s
Mrs. Bennet had had enough of being cooped up within the confines of Longbourn, Lydia's sniffling finally driving her out of the house. She had taken Kitty with her to Lucas Lodge to call on the Lucas', leaving Mary and Elizabeth to help care for Lydia, who, although her nose was red, and she still coughed, showed great improvement in her health.
The house was quiet, Little Will taking his nap above stairs, Mary and Elizabeth quietly sewing, while Lydia sipped tea, a heavy shawl over her shoulders, staring out the window.
"There is a man come," Lydia said in a nasally voice, turning to her sisters.
"It must be Mr. Hines," Elizabeth informed them. "Mary, he will wish to have a private conference with me. I shall take him to the parlor. Will you please come in in ten minutes time?"
Mary looked at the clock, then nodded her head. Elizabeth stood, brushed the wrinkles from her dress, and walked out to greet Mr. Hines, her future husband. As she was crossing the foyer she told Mrs. Hill to lead her guest to the parlor, then she continued on her way.
The fire in the grate had gone out and Elizabeth bent to stir up the coals and add another log to the fire. She had just finished her task when Hill entered the room and announced, "Mr. Darcy, mum."
Elizabeth stood erect, turning to Mr. Darcy, her eyes going wide with surprise. "Mr. Darcy!"
Hill had left the room leaving the door slightly ajar. Darcy entered the room, closing the distance between himself and Elizabeth in two long strides. "Elizabeth, I came because I had to try one last chance. Please, allow me to speak."
Elizabeth nodded her head, then Darcy led her to the seat next to the fire.
"Let me start by saying I do not regret ever loving you. I am sorry I did not come to that realization earlier, in fact I had tried to talk myself out of admiring you all the time I spent at Netherfield. When I saw that you cared for me as well I took whatever scraps of your love I could get, even if it meant ruining your marriage, and even your sensibilities. I regret the shameful way in which I have treated you and ask your forgiveness."
Elizabeth could not speak, could only see the pleading in his eyes and feel the warmth and pressure of his hands on her own.
Darcy continued, "I had thought to take you away from your life and steal away with you, but now I see that I would have been wrong. When I saw that you were resolute in refusing any more of my attentions I had vowed to save myself for you. I knew I could never love another woman as much as I did you and resolved to stay single until such a time as we could be together again. A cruel twist of fate prevented me from keeping that promise, but when I married I took your words to heart and tried to nourish my marriage. Felicia knew I did not love her but I tried to be a good husband to her. When I heard that your husband had died I felt as if I had died as well. I am ashamed to say when Felicia passed I felt as if I had been freed. It was my plan to go to Rosings next Spring and ask Miss de Bourgh to invite you to Rosings as well where we could begin anew, the way it was meant to be, but when I saw you in London I knew I could wait no longer."
"You were going to woo me at Rosings?" Elizabeth asked.
Darcy smiled, "Yes, that was my plan."
Elizabeth laughed, "Instead you used your sister to lure me to you."
"Yes," Darcy laughed as well, "Georgianna knew I cared for you, and she was more than willing to participate in any endeavor if it meant our eventual marriage. She may be young, but she was not blind to my loveless marriage with Felicia. She had higher hopes for us."
Elizabeth was about to say something when the door opened and Mary walked in, looking expectantly at Elizabeth, then surprise at Mr. Darcy.
"Excuse me, Elizabeth, you are needed..." Mary trailed off, unable to come up with any excuse.
"I shall be there directly," Elizabeth said, waiting for Mary to leave before turning back to Mr. Darcy. "Mr. Darcy, my youngest sister is sick and needs my attention." She rose from her seat, Darcy following her.
"Elizabeth," he whispered, gently placing his hand on her arm, "please, consider my proposal."
Laughing, Elizabeth looked up at him, "Why Mr. Darcy, is that what that was?"
Darcy looked down, smiling, "Yes, Mrs. Collins, in a round about way."
"Well, in that case, my answer is yes."
Darcy's head shot up, mouth agape and eyes wide. "Yes?"
"Yes, Mr. Darcy, I shall marry you, now I must go see to my sister."
Elizabeth left the room, feeling as though she were floating on air, feeling as though the world could end at that moment and she would be satisfied.
s-S-s
Mrs. Bennet, upon hearing the news of her daughter's betrothal to Mr. Darcy was at once shocked into silence.
"But I thought you did not like him." Lydia had said, voicing her Mother's thoughts.
"No," Elizabeth assured, "I confess our first meeting was disastrous, but upon a better acquaintance we had both grown to care for the other."
Without giving too much away she spoke of their meetings at Rosings and how a friendship had grown during their walks. Then, when they both met in London, unattached, they were free to declare their love for the other.
"What of Mr. Hines?" Mrs. Bennet demanded, looking out the window as if to see the man himself. "Is he not to call on you soon?"
Elizabeth looked sheepish, "Yes, he said he would, but last I saw him in London I gave him no firm answer to a courtship. I do not think his heart would break were he to learn of my betrothal."
"Well," Mrs. Bennet declared, as if it were all settled, "I suppose that is that." She took up her needlework she had let slip, and as she worked on her piece she said, "Ten thousand a year. My, my, Lizzy, you certainly are fortunate in your marriages."
Elizabeth pursed her lips and gave no reply. Mrs. Bennet had the pretense to stay at Longbourn for a short duration before she announced she was expected at her sister's and asked if Lydia and Kitty would care to accompany her. Elizabeth was not fooled, she knew her Mother was itching to spread the news far and wide of her betrothal.
Mr. Darcy remained in Meryton for a short duration, allowing the neighborhood to get a glimpse of him and Elizabeth together. He returned to London to be with his sister, Elizabeth staying behind to prepare for their wedding. Mrs. Bennet had wanted Elizabeth to be married in London with a special license, but Elizabeth was firm in his desire to be married from Longbourn. This time as she walked the path from her home to the chapel she would be marrying a man she loved.
And so, one Spring Morning, Mrs. Collins was married to Mr. Darcy, who once he beheld his bride enter the building the warmest smile spread across his face, a site that had been talked of for weeks. Once the couple were married Little Will came running to his Mother, and looking up at Mr. Darcy asked, "Are you my Papa now?"
Taking the boy into his arms he declared, "Yes, I am your Papa now."
Elizabeth's eyes pooled with tears as her husband embraced her child. A small mewing could be heard next to her and she turned to see Georgiana bearing Darcy's little girl in her arms, her eyes wide, staring up at Elizabeth. "I suppose I am your Mama," she said, placing her finger within the babes little grasp.
The marriage of Mr. Darcy to Mrs. Darcy was talked about often over the next few months, no one quite remembering seeing a couple more in love than those two, and how happy they looked as a family. It was said Mr. Darcy kept his bride's hand within his own during the entire morning, often gazing at her in wonder. Mrs. Darcy would blush prettily, gravitating to her husband like a moth to candle flame. It was agreed, by all, that their marriage was an affair of the heart.
The End