Since I've decided to collect all my 'Rejections' in this compilation I brought this one in from 'Remember you wanted this'
I will post a new chapter a little later today
~50~
What if Elizabeth did not get angry about Darcy's abysmal proposal.
I hope you enjoy it. 😉
~OD~
Oh Dear
Miss Elizabeth Bennet was sitting in the parlour of the Hunsford Parsonage, reading a book when she had a most unexpected visitor, who proceeded to give a most unexpected speech.
'In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you,' Mr Darcy cried with great feeling and continued on to express in great detail why he should not marry Elizabeth.
He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which in spite of all his endeavours he had found impossible to conquer; and with expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand. As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favourable answer. He spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security.
Elizabeth waited with bated breath until the gentleman stopped speaking.
At last, she clasped her hands together and raised them to her chin in an attitude of prayer. 'Oh, Mr Darcy,' she gushed. 'You do me too much honour. I cannot possibly accept such an eloquent offer. You are quite correct; it would indeed be a degradation to have a person of such lowly antecedents as myself pollute the shades of Pemberley.'
Darcy, who had been leaning against the mantlepiece in an attitude of arrogant confidence, felt a change come over his haughty but condescending expression as he grasped the meaning of the lady's words. Strange as it seemed, Miss Elizabeth was rejecting his gracious offer of marriage.
Her words confused him so much that he was dumbstruck as she continued her speech.
'Indeed, you must not go against all the dictates of your conscience and propriety. It simply would not do for you to be associated with a family where many members are of such uncertain behaviour.'
She was agreeing with his assessment of all the obstacles he had to overcome, but it seemed that she was saying that he should not do so.
'I can quite see that having a mother-in-law who is concerned with seeing her daughters well married to honourable gentlemen must be quite mortifying to someone as decorous as yourself, especially as you have such a wonderful example of a lady's behaviour as your aunt… Lady Catherine, who would never push her daughter at any man.'
Wait… did she just compare her mother to Lady Catherine?
'I am but a simple country maiden and not worthy to be raised to such exalted heights as your wife. I am sure that I should cause you the greatest embarrassment due to my unspeakable relations.'
While Darcy agreed with her assessment, had he not mentioned the same things to her in his speech, he felt bad that she would feel the sting of her inferiority so badly.
'Mr Darcy, there was truly no need to fear that you would be related to Miss Bingley via a marriage to me, and you did not need to separate a most loving couple such as my dearest sister and Mr Bingley, despite their great mutual attachment.'
No, it could not be. Was Miss Bennet truly in love with his friend? Did he unconsciously occasion pain to them both in an attempt to keep Miss Elizabeth out of his life?
'Although I can see why you would have done so, as I am certain that you would also have wished me to distance myself from those relations in trade who were responsible for teaching manners and deportment to my dearest sister and myself. Yes, I can see why being related to my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner would cause such mortification to someone of as an exalted rank as yourself.'
She did have a point. Now that he was not overcome by passion, he had no wish to acknowledge her relations in trade.
'But as I said before, I am simply the daughter of a gentlemen and therefore was brought up to love my family and a simple country life and I am not suited to high society. For all those reason, I simply cannot subject you to the embarrassment of accepting your proposal.'
With those words, Elizabeth curtsied and opened the parlour door in an unmistakeable gesture,
Darcy, being completely shaken and discombobulated by the self-sacrificing nature of his lady-love stumbled from the cottage without a further word, only a brief nod of utmost respect.
The lady had just saved him from himself.
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As the front door closed behind the gentleman, Elizabeth raised her eyes to the ceiling and muttered, 'Idiot,' and then went back to reading her book.
~OD~ ~OD~ ~OD~ ~OD~ ~OD~ ~OD~ ~OD~ ~OD~
Darcy had been back in London for a week.
He and his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam had departed the morning after his ill-fated proposal to Elizabeth Bennet. On the journey he had pretended to have a headache rather than an aching heart to avoid explaining himself to his cousin.
In the days since his return, Darcy had spent most of his time at home coming to terms with his rejection. He was torn whether to be glad or sorry for the outcome, but he was certain that he admired the modesty of Miss Elizabeth who must be determined to remain in the sphere to which she was born.
His moping was interrupted when he received a note from Colonel Fitzwilliam, urging Darcy to join him at his club where he was meeting with a mutual friend whom they had not seen in some time as he had been in mourning for his father, the Earl of Denton. Darcy had always liked Alexander Harrington, whom he and Richard had met at school. Alex had been an excellent student like Darcy, but he also had a mischievous streak like Richard. As a result, both had felt comfortable in his company.
When Darcy arrived at the club, he was happy when he was led to a private room, avoiding many of the members for whom he did not care.
As he entered the room, he found Richard and Alex convulsed in laughter.
'Darcy, I am glad that you could join us,' cried Richard. 'Alex has a tale which will cheer even you.' The Colonel had noticed that his cousin had been even more quiet than usual.
Darcy greeted his friends and accepted a glass of wine, as he took a seat in one of the comfortable leather chairs.
'Alex, what have you been doing with yourself? Are you settling into your new role as an Earl?'
'I am getting on quite well since father spent long enough training me and I expect that soon things will become even easier,' Alex grinned.
'Would you believe, Alex is going to be married,' exclaimed Fitzwilliam with a grin. 'Now that Darcy is here, tell us, how did you meet the love of your life.'
'A few months ago, just after the end of my mourning period, I visited an old friend of my father's to return some books. As it happened, I met his daughter, and I could not help but fall in love with her. She is beautiful, intelligent, educated and witty. Yet she is kind and considerate.' Alex smiled as he shrugged. 'In February she came to town, and I had a chance to court her. We have a great deal in common and we thoroughly enjoy our debates. Eventually I proposed and she accepted.'
'Congratulations, that is wonderful news,' replied Darcy, feeling somewhat envious of his friend.
'Thank you.'
Not wanting to be reminded of his own failed attempt at a felicitous marriage, Darcy changed the subject. 'But tell me, what caused all the hilarity I observed when I arrived?'
'Would you believe that while Alex's intended was visiting a friend for a few weeks, she received yet another proposal.'
'I would have expected anger from you, Alex, rather than such mirth.'
Alex grinned. 'Under normal circumstances I would agree with you, but it seems that my beloved received the worst and most ridiculous proposal in history.'
He fortified himself with a sip of wine. 'Would you believe the idiot who proposed to her thought that she was eagerly awaiting his addresses and that he could win her hand by insulting her. Instead of seeing what a wonderful lady he was addressing, he told her that marrying her was a degradation of his own lofty family while he insulted her family and claimed her presence would pollute the shades of his ancestral home.'
As Alex related that choice piece of information, Darcy was in the process of swallowing a sip of wine. The shock of hearing words very similar to those he had said to Miss Elizabeth made him gasp and the wine went down the wrong way, causing a fit of coughing.
'Sorry, Darcy. I should have warned you not to drink while I tell you about this, considering Richard's reaction.'
The Colonel was indeed laughing again and prompted, 'Tell Darcy about the mother and the aunt. I thought the contradiction was hilarious.'
Alex chuckled and shook his head at Richard's antics but complied. 'Lizzy has several unmarried sisters and naturally their mother is anxious for the girls to find good husbands. Can you believe that idiot objected to her mother and called her mercenary and yet he has a wealthy aunt who keeps pushing her only daughter at a man with an income of then thousand a year.'
Darcy had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was simply not possible for two men to have had such similar experiences. And Alex had called her Lizzy. Could it be?
But what was that about the mother and the aunt. He distinctly remembered that Miss Elizabeth agreed with him when he called her mother mercenary and she even cited Lady Catherine as a role model. But the way Alex related the story, it took on a completely different aspect. Had Miss Elizabeth been sarcastic? If she was mocking about Lady Catherine… Darcy had to know. 'Why do you call that man the idiot?'
'Lizzy refused to give his name to protect his identity as well as his reputation and she had to call him something. Considering how he went on about loving her against his wishes, his reason and even his character, he must be a complete nodcock.' Alex shrugged again and shook his head. 'But she is a kind woman and went along with his delusions while she gently rejected his offer.'
Darcy took a large gulp of wine before he said, 'It seems that you have truly found a paragon, but why have we not heard of this engagement?'
Alex sighed. 'I had to deal with an emergency at home while Lizzy visited her friend, and only had a chance to ask for her father's approval yesterday. Since we both arrived back in London today, the announcement will be in the papers tomorrow.'
The Colonel had calmed down enough from his hilarity to ask, 'You still have not yet told us the name of the lady who has captured one of the most elusive bachelors in the land.'
'Her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet,' the Earl of Denton said full of pride.
Even though Darcy was already expecting this answer, it still was a blow, although he was uncertain whether the pain was greater to his heart or his inflated pride.
Still, his pride caused him to maintain a stiff upper lip, and despite the suspicious glances from his cousin, was able to survive the evening.
~OD~
One lady was furious when she saw the notice in the papers, because she realised if she had not interfered in the courtship of her brother, she could be related to an Earl by marriage.
When Miss Bingley went to visit Jane Bennet at Gracechurch Street to rebuild bridges, the lady refused to receive her.
~OD~
~OD~
~OD~
Btw 'Rising from the Ashes' is now live on Kindle and KU.
~OD~
50 ways to reject a proposal (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2023