"There are seeds of self-destruction in all of us that will bear only unhappiness if allowed to grow." - Dorothea Brande

Chapter 22

Darcy walked the grounds of Rosings trying to make sense of the chaos in his mind. He knew Elizabeth to be well-mannered and a faithful friend. Georgiana seemed to blossom in her company. However, he could not help but acknowledge that many ladies had attempted to find their way into his personal life by using Georgiana. Wasn't that exactly the reason Georgie was uncomfortable with Miss Bingley? Could it be possible that he was falling prey to a fortune hunter without realizing it? So caught up in his thoughts, Darcy did not realize that he had arrived at the very idyll from his dreams until he heard a laugh.

"I would say good morning to you, sir; however, I fear that this morning has not proven to be good to you at all. What has placed that scowl so firmly on your brow?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.

"Forgive me, I did not realize that my countenance was so distasteful." Darcy responded grumpily, while still moving to stand near where Elizabeth was perched atop a fallen tree trunk.

Elizabeth was surprised that her friendly jab was received so seriously. She stood and touched his arm.

"No, forgive me, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps you have reason to be ill-tempered and I, in my usual manner, spoke with too much levity. Are you well, sir?"

Darcy stared at the young lady before him trying to discern if she was earnest in her concern. Was he only seeing what he hoped to find? His lack of response did not go unnoticed by Miss Bennet.

"Truly, Mr. Darcy, your silence is disconcerting. Have you heard from Miss Darcy? I hope that she is not unwell?"

"My sister is quite well. Thank you for your concern." Darcy said in clipped tones.

Elizabeth merely nodded and decided to resume her seat upon a fallen tree trunk.

Darcy could see that his sharp responses were upsetting Miss Bennet; however, the thought that she might not feel for him as he did for her would not stop pounding in his head.

A silence fell between them that was as yet unknown in the history of their friendship. Darcy wanted to ease the tension but knew not how to achieve it. He merely stood stupidly while she sat watching the stream. After some moments, Elizabeth spoke.

"I have enjoyed my time at Hunsford…certainly, more than I had anticipated."

"You did not anticipate enjoying time with your childhood friend?" He questioned.

"Oh, yes, of course Charlotte is very dear to me. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate if I had said that I anticipated enjoying only my friend's company? I was pleasantly surprised to find a friend as well as an entertaining new acquaintance at Rosings during my stay."

She smiled brilliantly at Darcy and it almost took his breath away. Unfortunately, the feeling was short-lived as he recalled his earlier conversation with his aunt. Could this flattery of both Darcy as well as his cousin by part of the arts employed to gain favor?

"My cousin is quite affable, especially when in company with handsome women. However, he is well aware that his lifestyle will require a practical eye when he chooses a partner in matrimony. The second son of an Earl may not go where his heart leads."

Elizabeth's cheeks pinked at his response and the implication.

"Well, how lucky for your cousin that a second son's eye is so frequently drawn to the beauty of an heiress. Fear not, with Colonel Fitzwilliam's charm, I do not believe he will have a shortage of suitable young ladies within the Ton." Elizabeth response with a light chuckle.

The instant the compliment registered, Darcy was consumed with jealousy.

"That may be true; however, your own prospects have grown significantly now that your sister married Mr. Bingley. I'm sure that your mother would be quite happy that you have found yourself at a country estate among two eligible gentlemen."

Darcy could see the sting of his words upon her face, which at once dropped the smile and reflected the hurt that he had caused.

"What could you hope to accomplish from saying such a thing to me? Do you mean to humiliate or offend, sir?"

"Neither, I'm merely well aware that many women would be of such a mind to find themselves in your circumstance. As well as men, for that matter. Wickham would certainly use such a situation to his every advantage…"

At the mention of Wickham, Elizabeth looked up sharply. Darcy saw the recognition in her eyes. If possible, his world stopped. Given the state of his thoughts, only one conclusion was found. Elizabeth was working with Wickham just as Mrs. Younge had at Ramsgate only, this time, Darcy was the prize. Every hope that Darcy had for happiness faded in that moment.

"No…no, you cannot be acquainted with that scoundrel? It is impossible! That I could be so completely deceived again by a woman with no morals."

Elizabeth's gasp made him stop speaking. Even as Darcy's face paled at the thought of such deception, Elizabeth's own face became red with anger.

"So, this is what you think of me! Thank you for explaining so fully. To think that I held you in such high regard while you believed me capable of such deceit."

"Do you deny it then? Do you deny that you are familiar with the name Wickham?" Darcy demanded.

"I do not deny that I know of Wickham; however, it was…" Elizabeth attempted but her reply was cut short by Darcy's outrage.

"I am a fool! My aunt had the right of it all along." Darcy was pacing back and forth feverishly but did not stop his tirade.

"What a complete fool to think…and I was prepared to offer…everything! For what? A woman who would befriend my innocent sister in order to forward a match with me. A woman with a family who show no decorum, with relatives in trade!"

"You have said quite enough, sir!" Elizabeth yelled as she stood.

Darcy was stopped short by the pure anger in those words. When he finally looked at Elizabeth, he saw such anger and hurt in her face that he was stunned silent.

Elizabeth slowly made her way forward until she was standing directly in front of Darcy. She was shaking as she spoke again in a controlled yet biting tone.

"And those are the words of a gentleman? You have insulted me in every way possible and now can have nothing further to say. I have only to be ashamed of my own feelings…"

At this, Elizabeth's voice broke slightly and countenance deflated. It was such a sight that Darcy reached out a hand towards her but she quickly stepped out of reach and looked up at him. Then she continued in a soft, broken voice.

"…It is no matter, I shall overcome these feelings. For the man who was my friend, who I greatly admired, does not exist." With that, she could no longer stop her tears and quickly ran away towards the parsonage.

Darcy did not follow her. He could not. He sat heavily upon the same tree that she had been sitting up at his arrival and put his head in his hands with only one thought in his mind. What have I done?

A/N: I hope that you're still with me after this chapter!