Chapter 7:

Mr. Darcy stood there, in utter and complete silence. He had never felt silenced by a woman before—not in this way. He leaned against the mantelpiece in utter disbelief. It had never occurred to him that she would not be dancing with joy at his proposal—anxiously awaiting for him to propose! For it was everything any woman ought to want.

This is not how he had wanted it to go. He found his balance and closed his eyes, walking in place, his knuckles white with anger. Are those the words of a gentleman? Rang in his ears. Had he insulted her while proposing? Those few moments of silence felt like an eternity—there was a lot to process but there was really only one question he wanted to ask.

"Do you love me?" he asked, his voice pleading. He had never thought that Elizabeth, his Elizabeth, did not reciprocate his feelings. They had enjoyed intimate walks in the park, banter and laughter, surely she must care for him.

Elizabeth looked pained at being asked the question but answered with composure. Those few moments of silence allowed both of them to replay their conversation and to let the passions cool.

"I do not know you, Mr. Darcy" she answered honestly, "I was not the one listening in to your conversations" she teased. He gave her a sideways smile, feeling himself relax. That was the magic she had over him.

"I love you" he blurted as if that explained everything. It explained his outburst, the offensive way he proposed, which he now shuddered to think about, and everything in between.

"And I hope to one day love whom I marry. But I need to know you first. I have so many questions..." she said, answering honestly. He took a deep breath and walked closer to her, sitting down in the chair next to her.

"You wish me to court you?" he asked, reaching for her hand. She hesitated for a moment but then gave him her hand. She had never been this close to him and though a part of her still loathed him, she could not deny the attraction she felt for him. He was rather handsome indeed and to him thus infront of her, made her feel good, if that was how she could describe it.

"Yes" she answered hesitantly, aware of his hand in his and more distracted by them touching than y by anything else. She was unsure if this was a proper answer. Was this the equivalent of her asking him to court her?

"I am sorry" he said, a few moments after her answer, still holding on to her hand. He was staring at her hand, caressing it softly. "I should have not humiliated you while proposing. I had not planned how I would propose and certainly did not doubt that you would have said yes. Why do you want a courtship if you do not think highly of me?"

"Pray tell Mr Darcy, what gave you that impression?" asked Lizzy, raising an eyebrow and an enchanting smirk on her face.

"I believe any recipient of that horrid proposal would have a hard time respecting me" he teased, Lizzy flashed him a smile.

"In all honesty, I do not know why I did not say no. You have offended me from the first moment we met, 'not tolerable enough to tempt me'" she said, adding humor to hide the pain his comment had caused.

"Elizabeth, surely you must know that it has been some time now that I find you one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance" he said with such feeling that she felt her knees go weak.

"One of them?" she teased, finding her balance and laughing, "I am flattered"

"I said that out of frustration. I do not perform well among strangers" he said, speaking honestly.

"I know. You have not won the people of Meryton, many, including myself, have accused you of being filled with pride" she began, "My sister Jane and Mrs. Collins told me from the beginning to not judge you that there must be more to the story. Specifically one story which I must inquire about, that of Mr. Wickham."

He let go of his hand and his features tensed immediately.

"What of him?" he said harshly, the soft manner he had been speaking disappearing.

"Of your treatment of him" said Lizzy, wanting to know the truth. She was giving him the chance to explain the misunderstandings and though Charlotte had pointed out that it was rather odd and untoward for Mr. Wichkham to share as much, Lizzy still wanted Mr. Darcy to tell her his side of the story.

"You seem to take an interest in that gentleman" he answered, his voice hard and curt.

"Am I not taking an interest in you? Please Mr. Darcy, explain" said Lizzy, in a soft tone.

Fitzwilliam Darcy could not believe that during his ill-timed proposal he had managed to insult who he would hope would be his fiancé and now had to discuss Wickham. He took a deep sigh and told Elizabeth the truth. He trusted her completely and even suggested she could speak with Colonel Fitzwilliam, whom Darcy was sure had made a better impression on Elizabeth than he had. Elizabeth listened and was aghast with horror—could it be true? Mr. Wickham, impose on Miss Darcy? As Mr. Darcy was speaking, memories flooded in. Suddenly, Mr. Wickham's willingness to tell a complete stranger the story, avoiding Netherfield Ball, disparaging Mr. Darcy after he had left town all fit into place.

"I am sorry if this revelation has caused you pain" he said at the end, seeing her mortified reaction.

"No, not personally, but yes for Miss Darcy and for everyone who believed him. He is a danger!" she exclaimed. Mr. Darcy nodded gravely.

"Did you separate Mr. Bingley and my sister?" asked Lizzy, surprising him. They were talking honestly so she felt now was a good time to ask all her questions.

"Yes, I did. I will not deny it" he said, "Though I received a very angry letter from him a day ago that he had seen her in London and was trying to make amends"

"Yes, I did too. You were mistaken in interfering—my sister had a genuine regard for him" said Elizabeth, though she was glad Jane would not settle for Mr. Bingley, she also wanted him to know that his behavior was wrong. "I know your arguments against my family were true. I have been and continue to be mortified by their behavior at times but they are still my family and I love them. I will not lose them"

"Of course" he said. "And I am sorry for the pain my accusations may have provided"

Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked around the room. How long had it been since he got here? Her entire perception had been turned upside down. He was a just man. A good man. And though he needed refinement, a gentleman.

"Mr. Darcy, I apologize for judging you. It seems we both did not perform as strangers" said Lizzy, and then she reached out for his hand and said, "I hope we will do better as friends"

"Friends?" asked Mr. Darcy, surprised that she had touched him and perhaps mesmerized at the same time.

"Friendship is the basis for any relationship, Mr. Darcy" she teased, "Let us see how we do as friends"

"Do friends call each other by their name? For I have longed to call you Elizabeth" he said, her name sounding like butter in his lips. My dear, loveliest Elizabeth, he wanted to whisper in her ear.

"You may call me that—in private" she said, blushing when she realized she had suggested they would be together in private.

"Please call me Fitzwilliam" he said. "I looked forward to getting to you know, Elizabeth"

"Me too, Fitzwilliam" she said, blushing as she said his name. Hearing his name on her lips was too much and he leaned in and kissed her hand.

"Till tomorrow" he whispered, sitting up straight and reluctantly standing up.

"Good night" she said, shaken by his touch. He left the room and she sunk into the chair—what had just happened?

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