Chapter 4 : To Please a Woman Worthy of Being Pleased

Evie looked as if she was on the verge of running, looked as if she were wishing to be anywhere else but where she currently stood. Swallowing, her eyes darted to Alexander and answered in a small voice.

"Hello, Alex."

"H-how have you been?" Alexander held a guarded look, but strove to talk to Evie, as if proving to himself that he could.

Evie opened her mouth in reply but seemed unable to find the words. "G-good, I've been doing good." She stammered.

Elizabeth caught Darcy's eye. He saw the movement of her lips.

She is the one.

After a moment of continued silence, both Alexander and Evie launched into speech so suddenly that one spoke over the other.

"I-I didn't expect you to be home I thought you'd still be…"

"Miranda left a while ago to pick up some items…"

Then both stopping just as abruptly, the awkward silence resumed. Darcy and Elizabeth stared at each other, both remembering that fateful day when they unexpectedly met once again at Pemberley. Both saw the parallels between that day and the current situation that Alexander and Evie were now in. That meeting had been the catalyst to their second chance, might this then be fate giving the other couple their second chance?

Darcy nodded imperceptibly at Elizabeth who nodded back. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"Might you perhaps step inside? You might fare better in the house while waiting for Miranda."

Alexander shot Darcy a thankful look. "Yes, she won't be long. Come in, please." He said with such an earnest look that Evie blushed.

Indecision was etched on Evie's face, she tucked her dark hair behind her ears. Embarrassment clearly made her hesitant to accept the invitation.

Elizabeth walked forward and beamed at her, without waiting for an answer, she turned to Alexander.

"Come, Alexander. I shall see to tea for our guest, but you must show me where the tea things are."

Raising her hand to Alexander, he stared at it for a moment, before realizing that he was meant to take it. With a swift glance at Evie, he took Elizabeth's hand and escorted her to the kitchen.

Darcy bowed to Evie and with a smile that was very similar to his wife's, he extended his arm to show her inside. As he helped her with her coat, Evie looked at him. He saw surprise register in her eyes. She sees the resemblance. He smiled to himself. They walked to the living room, Darcy noted how all the while Evie looked as if she were in a trance.

"Forgive me, but we have not been properly introduced." Darcy smiled, "I am afraid my cousin lapsed in his manners in his eagerness to receive you." With yet another bow, Darcy continued. "I am Fitzwilliam Darcy, Alexander's cousin from England. My wife is Elizabeth, whom you have met but a moment ago." The pride in his voice as he referred to Elizabeth brought a genuine smile to Evie's lips.

"It's nice to meet you, Fitzwilliam. I'm Evie, Alex's…" Here her smile faltered. "…I'm his—we're friends." Darcy felt once again her discomfiture.

He invited her to sit, and as she did, Darcy pondered how to proceed. Social discourse was not his strongest suit. He might have fared better at preparing tea, where was Elizabeth?

Thinking fast, he recalled Elizabeth's own reactions when they met again in Pemberley, she told him after they had finally become engaged how she felt such mortification at being found by him in his home. She had said how she thought her visit to be so ill-judged, to be such an intrusion. He had of course told her how he had thought the complete opposite, how he had seen it as an answered prayer. Recalling the look on Alexander's face upon first seeing Evie, he knew that the other man must be feeling the same way he felt at that time; he knew Alexander wanted Evie to stay.

He was about to make conversation when Evie abruptly stood.

"I'm so sorry, this was a mistake." She wrung her hands, "I-I can't stay."

Rising as well, Darcy spoke, trying not to sound alarmed. "I would, of course, not wish to keep you from leaving, but allow me to inform Alexander first. I am sure he would not wish you to leave so soon after your arrival."

Of all the reactions Darcy expected, hysterical laughter was the last of them.

"Oh, I don't think that's what he wishes." Evie shook her head, her agitation seemed to increased. "You don't understand–I can't, I shouldn't be here!"

"You are not well, surely you must not leave in such a state." Darcy moved to the side of the room where a side table stood holding glasses and a pitcher of water. "Might I offer you some water? A glass of wine?" He fervently hoped that there was still wine in this century.

"No, I—" To Darcy's surprise, Evie's voice broke. She turned from him, hurrying to the foyer. Darcy hastily followed her, thinking how Elizabeth would frown at him for letting Evie leave, then more seriously, thinking how disappointed Alexander would be to discover her gone.

She held her coat and was almost at the door when Darcy saw her stop. From the reflection in the mirror, he saw her press at her eyes, saw her draw a deep breath. Calming down, Evie faced him again.

"I'm so sorry, you must think I'm crazy."

Darcy shook his head, moving slowly towards her as he spoke. "Not at all."

"I don't usually act like this. It's just that…" Her voice faltered.

The patient way Darcy stood, the way understanding reflected in his eyes, seemed to be Evie's undoing.

"You look so much alike, your eyes... Alex never mentioned you before." She almost smiled.

Darcy's mind raced, he considered what to say to convince her to stay. He closed his eyes briefly and evoked his own past feelings as he watched Elizabeth leave him after their surprise encounter. He decided to be forthright. Speaking as earnestly as he could, Darcy prayed he said the right words.

"I am not privy to everything that has come to pass between you and Alexander, but this I ask you to consider." Evie stood rooted. "Would you listen no longer had he something to say? Would an entreaty from him matter so little?"

"I thought we already said everything there was to be said."

Darcy studied her, in her face he saw a sadness to match his kin's. He shook his head. "I think that Alexander shall disagree with you." Then gently he added. "Might you consider listening?"

Biting her lip, Evie looked down. She took a deep breath and answered him.

"Please tell Alexander; okay." Then smiling softly at Darcy, she said goodbye and proceeded to go out the door.

The sound of approaching voices had Darcy turning around. With a defeated look, he shook his head. Elizabeth rushed to him.

"What happened? Has Evie gone?"

"Of course she left, no one can blame her." Alexander rubbed his face with his hand. "I'm a fool, an absolute spanner."

Elizabeth took Alexander's hand. "You are not a fool, nor a-a spanner, whatever that means."

"I've made a mess of things, I don't know how I…" Alexander closed his eyes.

"She bade me tell you oh-kay." Darcy said quietly. His face conveyed regret. "I apologize, Alexander, for failing to convince Evie to—"

Alexander's eyes snapped to Darcy. "She said what? What did you tell her?"

Slightly taken aback by Alexander's urgent tone, Darcy continued uncertainly. "When I told her if she might consider listening to what you had to say, she replied oh-kay."

The widening of Alexander's eyes, the appearance in them of sudden hope, revealed to Darcy and Elizabeth that the message was a positive one. Darcy let out a relieved breath. "I gather that is an agreeable answer?"

Alexander grinned. "Yes, it means yes."

Elizabeth clasped her hands together, herself likewise grinning at her husband.

"Okay. Okay." Alexander let out a breath. He turned to Darcy. "How did you know? How did you know what I wanted to do?"

Here, Darcy smiled. "You are not the only Darcy to have been an absolute spanner."

Alexander's responding smile changed his face. "Thanks, Grandad."

They sat around the kitchen table, the tea grown cold, the clock ticking quietly on the wall. Alexander told them of all that transpired between Evie and himself.

Alexander had met Evie at a fund-raiser, a charity event—he had explained to the other two—that his great-uncle had always supported. She was a kindergarten teacher—this he explained as well—who had been part of the committee for the event. They had dated—another explanation, one that completely fascinated Elizabeth and confounded Darcy—for a few weeks before finally deciding to commit to a relationship.

"So it is similar to courtship! Did you become engaged then?" Elizabeth asked, smiling dreamily.

"No, we were just boyfriend and girlfriend."

"So you were just very good friends?" Darcy asked confused.

"No, we were in a relationship. It was about a year after that I proposed and she accepted."

Darcy and Elizabeth looked at each other. The dynamics of romantic relationships of this time absolutely confused them.

Alexander continued, smiling amused at the couple, before a frown marred his expression.

"Everything was going well, at least I thought so. We got to know each other's families. I brought her to Pemberley, introduced her to my family. We made plans for the wedding."

Alexander stopped, a deep sigh emanated from him. "As I said, I thought everything was proceeding quite well."

When he remained silent, Elizabeth gently prodded him. "What had gone wrong?"

Another deep sigh came from Alexander. "I realize it now, too late. Too late." He ran his hand across his eyes. "I was arrogant, insensitive, careless. I didn't see what I held in my hands."

Darcy wondered if it was a curse, he fervently hoped that it was not in every generation that one could claim this same mistake.

"You see, Evie loves her work, she loves teaching. But I wanted—expected—her to give that up after we were married. There were more things, even before we were engaged, we fought. But that was the last straw for her. She couldn't do it anymore, she said she was tired of always being dismissed, of how I always expected her to drop everything for me. She couldn't commit to an unequal marriage she said."

Alexander stared blankly in front of him. His mind went back to that night as they sat in his car, that night that seemed so long ago and yet felt like yesterday, and he told them.

"I can't do this anymore, Alex."

"You're tired, Evie, you don't mean what you're saying. I'll take you home."

"Alex."

"It's just a row, Evie, we've had worse fights before." He said in an exasperated voice.

"Alex." It was her voice, the low but tired tone of it that suddenly troubled him.

"You think because I am ordinary, because what I love is ordinary, that I am not important enough to warrant your respect, to warrant being seen?"

"Why do you keep saying that? I have never thought you ordinary, and of course I respect you! Of course I see you!"

"No, Alex. If you really do, you would know what matters to me. You would respect what matters to me."

Alexander's hands tightened on the wheel, a terrible feeling settled in his stomach just as fear and anger filled him.

"I do!" He almost shouted. "You're angry at me because I have the nerve to want to make your life easier, because I have the nerve to want to bring you up into my world. I can't help being wealthy, why do you resent me for that?"

Evie had merely shaken her head. A tear rolled down her cheek. "There it is." She said quietly. "You say that you see me, but can't you see that I don't need my life to be easier? What I need is for you to understand that my life is every bit as good as yours. What I have is every bit as important as what you have. I love my life. And yes, I love you." Here, Alexander saw her finally cry in earnest. "But Alex, if I have to spend it convincing you that I am good enough, that I am of value, then my life—our life together—will be unbearable."

Blinking his eyes, he looked at Darcy and Elizabeth. He saw how they touched each other, small gestures that spoke of security, trust and welcome. Sitting with them now, he could only envy them what they had.

"I learned too late, I realized too late that Evie was right. I thought myself better than her, more important. I saw my own conceit, my own arrogance and what that had cost me. She made me know myself and what I was wanting." Shaking his head, he played with the teaspoon beside his cup. He continued. "I don't expect you to fully understand, the times have changed so much from what you know. But take my word for it, I don't deserve her."

Elizabeth blinked back tears. She recalled her own words aimed at Darcy, realizing now, more than ever, how much heartache she had caused her own beloved. She took Darcy's hand and squeezed it.

I love you. He mouthed. Elizabeth's eyes returned the words.

Then recalling Alexander, she spoke. "I suspect that love is still love, respect still respect." Elizabeth ventured gently. "And understanding one's faults, acknowledging one's mistakes, and endeavoring to be a better person shall always be a positive human trait, no matter the year or century."

Alexander smiled at her. Sunlight poured from the window, their three forms casting shadows on the table.

"Grandparents are supposed to be wise after all." After a pause, he continued. "How old are you again?"

"Well since it is the year 2020…"

Alexander and Darcy laughed. Eyes twinkling, Elizabeth smiled.

"'Tis simple enough, I daresay." Darcy spoke after they quieted down, his words firm. "You must show Evie this change in you. Words will never be enough. I know of what I speak, your actions must stand for you." Then looking at Elizabeth, he continued. "You must show her your realizations, how insufficient were your pretensions in pleasing a woman worthy of being pleased."

Once again, Alexander stared at them. Indeed, he believed that they both knew exactly of what they spoke.

"Okay." He said wistfully. He took a drink of his cold tea. He dared not hope, but after all else, he wanted Evie to know that she had changed him. He strove to be a better man because of her.

"Okay."

A/N:

I actually had fun searching up British slang alternatives for fool, I didn't want anything too vivid so in the end an absolute spanner hooked me. I hope I used it appropriately!

In this chapter, I purposefully withheld Evie's thoughts, thus I wrote just the others' impressions of her feelings. But not to worry, in the next chapters, we will all be privy to those as well.

Please let me know how you found this chapter, I'm trying to build the momentum now, hopefully more very soon! Thank you for sticking with this story!

A bit late, but; Happy New Year, everyone! :D