Chapter eighteen: An unexpected confession

"And i hope that i dont fall in love with you

Now the night does funny things inside a man

These old tom cat feelings you dont understand

I turn around a look at you you light a cigarette

I wish i had the guts to bum one but we've never met" -Marc Cohn

For days, Georgiana tried to persuade Darcy to take her to London, because she wanted to buy some new pieces for the pianoforte and she was in need of new gowns. And that day, was finally when Darcy was convinced to take her to London. But, Elizabeth, who did not care to be moved away from comfort, she decided to stay at Pemberley and the Colonel stayed with her. They were seated in thr garden, reading poetry together and from time to time, when they stopped reading, they talked about the places the gentleman had visited or their interests.

Elizabeth had not enjoyed breakfast, the truth was that she had not eaten at all. She was very anxious and could not calm herself. After the Darcys return, this afternoon, they were expected in Rosings and the big announcement was about to happen. Se was afraid in a way, of what his aunt behavior would be and if Anne would be affected too much. But, she did not have to wait long, in a few hours she would know.

"Miss Elizabeth?" Colonel almost yelled. "Are you here?"

Elizabeth got alarmed, because her thoughts have driven her away from reality. "Yes, indeed. I am sorry. What you were saying?"

"I was just wondering when the wedding of your sister would occur"

"Less than a month" she paused to calculate the weeks "In about three weeks."

"Splendid. They were very lucky in love, finding one another"

"Yes, indeed. And if you imagine that they were people who tried to apart them"

"What do you mean?" He asked conserned.

"You still do not know.." she said in amazement. "Do not you remember what you had told me months ago? Mr. Darcy, who helped his friend getting out of the most unpleasant bond." she paused and looked down on her lap. "It was my sister.".

Col. Fitzwilliam froze and after couple of seconds, he touched her hand "I am sincerely sorry" he paused "I did not know."

"It is alright. Afterall, you were the one, who enlighten me and they helped them in a way of finding each other again."

He smiled a little. "Are you still bitter? I mean, are you still angry at Darcy?"

She paused to think a little. "No, I think I have overcome it."

"I see" he said and looked at her. "You know, there is something I've been meaning to ask you couple of days now, and the reason I am doing this now, it is because maybe I do not get the chance of doing it ever again. You are leaving tomorrow, and.." He paused to calm himself.

"Tell me" she said, trying to give him courage.

"When I arrived, you asked me about war and I replied to you that If I ever got the chance of quitting, I would happily do so. And I think the reason I've been searching is you."

Elizabeth froze. No, he could not possibly feel that way about her. "I do not understand"

Colonel took his hands in hers and approached her a little. "What I am trying to say and obviously I do not so efficiently is that I have come to feel for you a passion, an admiration and regard that I never thought that I could be able to feel." he paused to meet her eyes "I had feel the same things when I first met you, but they were weak and I was not so sure If they were strong enough, but I believe that all this time we spend together here, have made completely certain that those things survived and they are real."

"What are you trying to say?" she asked, frightened.

"I love you, Miss Elizabeth. And if you feel the same things about me, I will promise you that I will make my life purpose to accomplish every wish you might have. I will never go to battle field again and maybe I am not so wealthy as others are, but that does not mean I cannot make you happy." he took a deep breath. "Will you marry me?"

For a minute everything went black. She could not hear any longer the singing of the birds, nor his voice, she could not see his face, or the sunlight. Everything was blur. She closed her eyes for one second, trying to calm to her senses and when she did open them, the Colonel was still there, in front of her. Making her realize that this was not s bad dream at all. She took some deep breaths and trying to think what she was supposed to answer.

"I cannot" she finally replied. "I cannot marry you". Colonel took his hands away from her and he looked away, when Elizabeth touched his arm, making him look at her. "Because I cannot marry you, does not mean that I do not have strong feelings for you, you are a great man and if the circumstances were different, I would accept you. But they are not."

"Do you love someone else?" he asked in bitterness.

"Yes."

"So, I do not have any chance, do I?" he asked rhetoricaly, of course he had not.

Btw, take some time to listen to that amazing song, which makes me everytime shed a tear. What do you say about this? Do you like how things have turned out? Review and tell me your thoughts, I really do appreciate each one of it. Do you want me to continue, do you even keep reading my story?