"Friendship is like a glass ornament. Once it is broken, it can rarely be put back together exactly the same way." - Charles Kingsley

Chapter 24

Elizabeth slowly circled the garden alongside the Parsonage. She came to a stop besides the lavender bush that was just beginning to come to life after the cold winter months. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply trying to calm the turmoil within her mind. Try as she might, sleep had not found her last night and she was greatly fatigued this morning. Opening her eyes and looking towards the glimmer of light on the horizon, she hoped that normalcy would return yet again once she was home. Hearing the sound of the garden gate latch, she turned to glance over her shoulder and her breath caught. All of the anger and hurt from their last meeting resurfaced as she watched Mr. Darcy slowly approach. Once he was near, he bowed but she only turned her back to him once again.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet." He said quietly.

Elizabeth remained silent and refused to acknowledge his greeting.

"I wanted to take my leave of you since I have only now found that you will be departing for home today." He tried again.

Still, no response.

Desperation caused Darcy to speak louder with urgency.

"Will you not even speak to me, Elizabeth? Before you run away!"

Finally, this brought about a reaction from the lady.

Elizabeth turned with narrowed eyes.

"I would thank you to keep your voice down, Mr. Darcy! There are servants about and I would not wish to incite any gossip. Also, I do not recall giving you leave to use my Christian name; although, you have continually done so over the course of our…shall we call it acquaintance?"

Darcy was struck by her harsh tone even though he knew that he deserved no less. Taking a deep breath, he tried again lowering his voice.

"You are quite right, Miss Bennet. I arrived early hoping to have a moment with you to apologize for my reprehensible behavior yesterday."

"Oh? What an incredible impact a night's slumber has affected upon you, sir. Then you have come to the conclusion that I am not the type of woman whom befriends innocent young women for material gain? Or plots to entrap those she considered a friend?"

"Miss Bennet, please allow me to explain…" Darcy implored.

Elizabeth could not stop the flow of vitriol from her mouth.

"What explanation could there be for such accusations, sir? You accuse me to plotting to entrap you and, yet, there have been numerous occasions since I made your acquaintance that could have been used towards such an end. Why would I have waiting to capitalize if entrapment was my goal? I might also ask why you have constantly met me quite alone during my visit here, sir? Did you not realize the threat to my reputation? Yet, you blame me for orchestrating some elaborate scheme with a philanderer of the worst kind!"

Elizabeth could not control the tears that threatened to spill so she turned her back on the gentleman again.

Darcy stepped closer to her as he spoke softly.

"You are absolutely, correct. I am at a loss of where to begin to apologize for my behavior towards you."

"Why? Why did you do such a thing?" She whispered.

"I wish I could defend my actions but I have come to realize that I was influenced by others to doubt my own feelings. A fool in love…"

Elizabeth gasped as she turned around to face him once again.

"Love? You would speak to me of love? After you believed the worst of me and spoke so callously of my family? You must desist at once." Elizabeth's usual composure disappeared before his eyes. He reached for her hand but she quickly moved away.

"Please leave, sir. I can take no more of your cruel games. I spent the night mourning the loss of a true friend who I believed to respect me as I respected him. I cannot bear to hear…" She stopped speaking as the tears trailed down her cheeks.

Darcy's own heart was breaking all over as he watch what his actions had done to Elizabeth. He was desperate to make this right.

"Please, please tell me what to do, Miss Bennet? How can I make amends?" He pleaded.

She would not look at his face as she walked past him towards the garden gate. Before she passed through, she spoke once more staring at the ground between them.

"I do not know, sir, but I cannot bear to be in your presence a moment longer. Good-bye, Mr. Darcy."

Elizabeth lifted her eyes to his face for a brief moment before passing through the gate towards Mrs. Collins. Mr. Darcy remained in the garden, rooted to the place that she left him until he saw the coach carry her away.

A/N: We all knew Elizabeth would not just welcome him back with open arms, right?