Chapter 2

Lawrence Clark was in his office trying to complete some work, unable to stop thinking about the beautiful Miss Bennet. He knew well that she was not for him. A woman as beautiful as her certainly had better options than him. As the rational man he was, he knew that he could not overpower his feelings and growing admiration for the lovely and sweet Miss Bennet. Something about her provoked an irrational desire to protect her. Maybe it was her melancholic demeanor or her coy smile. He knew he was utterly lost and couldn't stop thinking and dreaming about Miss Jane Bennet.

Mrs. Rose Clark, Lawrence's mother, came to let him know that dinner would be ready very soon, but her son didn't even notice his mother watching him from the door. She knew very well what was happening to her son. A few days ago, they had attended a small social gathering at the home of Mr. Gardiner, one of her son's friends and business associate. She had noticed Lawrence restless, nervous, and more concerned than ever with his appearance. As she entered the Gardiners' drawing room and saw the beautiful Miss Bennet, she knew what was occurring to her son.

Throughout the night, Lawrence observed Jane without being able to hide his admiration, and when she took the time to talk to him, Mrs. Clark could see the joy on her son's countenance. She only prayed that Miss Bennet would not play on her son's feelings, who, along with her late husband, were the best men she had ever known.

Lawrence had started working in his father's business when he was fourteen. Although he was always an intelligent boy, he had not had the opportunity to study formally because he needed to help the company. But although he couldn't attend university, Lawrence always read everything he could and was more cultured than many who had a formal education. His father had inherited an emporium from his father and turned it into a large company that exported and imported products from several places in England and around the globe.

Lawrence was twenty years old when his father died, and he took over the family inheritance. Then, with the help of his uncle, he expanded the business even further, which now included two vessels. He was 32, and the only thing he had done in recent years was work and protect his sister and mother. He was not classically handsome, but he could be considered attractive. He was tall and athletic and had piercing blue eyes that revealed his sharp intelligence.

Seeing him so absorbed in his thoughts, his mother decided to leave him alone. She didn't want to disturb him, let alone interrupt his reflections.

Lawrence, after much thinking, decided that the next day he would visit his friend Mr. Gardiner so that he could see Miss Bennet and enjoy her company and dream that she might want to know him better.

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Elizabeth suddenly came to herself and realized that Mr. Darcy was holding her tightly, kissing and caressing her. Her first reaction was to ask him to release her and leave her alone, but she remembered that he had just asked her to marry him, and the current circumstances of her family made her doubt. She was so confused, hurt, and pondering his sudden declaration of love when she heard Mr. Darcy speak.

"Miss Bennet, I am very sorry for what happened to your father. As soon as I am sure you are feeling better, I shall talk to my driver and valet so they can prepare everything for tomorrow so that we can travel first thing in the morning to Hertfordshire. I will personally take care of taking you to your house so you can be with your family as soon as possible." Mr. Darcy murmured in Elizabeth's ear, whom he still held tightly.

Mr. Darcy knew that he should leave immediately to prepare everything for the next day's trip, but he did not have the willpower to stop hugging Elizabeth, who, at that moment, needed him more than ever.

After a minute, it was Elizabeth who broke her embrace. She took the handkerchief offered her, wiped her tears, and tried to fix her hair as best she could. Finally, after taking a deep breath and turning her back to him so as not to look at his face, she said, "Mr. Darcy, I think we should postpone today's conversation due to the recent events that have happened in my family, there are too many situations that I should…."

Elizabeth couldn't finish speaking because Mr. Darcy wanted her to know he understood her predicament. "Miss Bennet, please don't worry; I comprehend that you have other important matters to resolve now. So do not be concerned, as you said we would have the opportunity to talk about ourselves later after you have spoken with your family. I shall prepare everything for tomorrow's trip; please try to rest. I shall be here tomorrow at dawn to take you to Hertfordshire."

Elizabeth had never liked the man in front of her, but at that instant, she could not refuse the help he kindly offered her, so she sincerely expressed her gratitude. "Thank you very much, Mr. Darcy; I appreciate your help in this horrible situation."

Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth's hand and gently kissed it, saying a few more words to comfort her. Finally, Mr. Darcy left the parsonage worried about his betrothed. For her part, Elizabeth went to her room to prepare everything for the trip.

Unfortunately, they understood the nature of their future conversation differently. For Elizabeth, it would be to explain to him the reasons why she had never liked him and why she was stunned by his unexpected proposal.

For Mr. Darcy, the conversation would be to discuss the details of their engagement and the future wedding.

Elizabeth was unsure if she could accept him; she knew that if the circumstances had been different, she would have rejected it immediately. But now she was even considering conversing with him about the details of his proposal. She needed to protect the family, and Mr. Darcy could be the solution.

Mr. Darcy was convinced that she had accepted him, that they were engaged, and that she was as in love with him as he was with her.

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In Longbourn, everything was very gloomy. At dinner, practically nobody had eaten, and now everyone was getting ready to sleep, although they knew they would sleep little.

"Dear Jane, we are very sorry to leave you alone when you need us, but you already know that your uncle cannot stay away from his business for several days and that I cannot leave the children alone just with the servants for so long. I hope Lizzy arrives tomorrow to support you. We will leave in the afternoon after Dr. Miller examines your father for the last time and tells the apothecary what he should do in the following days," said Mrs. Gardiner with a voice broken by sadness. "But we will be back as soon as we can." She took Jane's hand to comfort her.

"Don't worry, aunt, you and my uncle have already helped us enough. In addition, I have the support of Mary; she has been strong and mature to face this tragedy. I hope Lizzy arrives promptly, but I want her to travel safely," said Jane to her aunt with a slight smile.

"We'd better try to sleep," Mrs. Gardiner added.

Afterward, they both went to their rooms, hoping the next day would bring better news.

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"Darcy, where were you? Lady Catherine questioned me for more than an hour about your whereabouts. I told her that since yesterday you had not felt well and that you surely had retired to your room to rest. Now, you owe me an explanation! I had to put up with our aunt's anger by myself," explained the colonel with his usual good humor.

Mr. Darcy got a little nervous but didn't avoid the question. "I went to see Miss Bennet; I was concerned when Mrs. Collins said she was ill ... Also, I asked her to marry me, and she accepted."

"WHAT?"

Richard was speechless for a moment until he finally added, "It surprises me, and it does not surprise me at the same time."

Then, seeing the questioning face of his cousin, he explained. "It doesn't surprise me because every time you're close to her, you act like an idiot, you don't talk, or you engage her in verbal battles, by the way, a curious ritual of wooing a woman," he added laughing. "But it surprises me because I never thought you would dare to propose to a poor and socially unconnected woman. So you'll forgive me, cousin, but you've always believed in the separation of classes." After saying that, the colonel laughed again.

"The truth is that it was not easy for me to decide to make her an offer, Fitzwilliam. I had many doubts, not for her but for her family. But I know that she will understand that to occupy the social place she will rise to by becoming my wife, she will have to keep her distance from them all. Her family will be Georgiana and me, and that's all that matters."

The colonel was a little worried when he heard what his cousin was saying but decided not to add anything for the moment. Mr. Darcy had begun to tell him what had happened with Elizabeth's father and that he would leave the next day at dawn with her for Hertfordshire.

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When the Hunsford party returned home, they found Elizabeth packing her belongings. She explained that she had received a message from her family asking her to return as soon as possible due to a family emergency.

Mr. Collins tried, at all costs, to find out what that family emergency was. Still, Elizabeth did not give him any direct answer, so he immediately went to his office to write a letter to his father-in-law. Sir William Lucas would provide all the information about what was happening in Longbourn.

Elizabeth told Charlotte what the situation was, and she promised she would not say anything to Mr. Collins. Still, she warned her that Mr. Collins would learn everything from her parents sooner or later. Elizabeth told Charlotte that Mr. Darcy had offered to take her home, but she did not tell her about the marriage proposal, not because she wanted to hide something from her friend, but because she was too tired to talk about it.

Besides, Elizabeth told Charlotte that she had gone out for a walk to calm down and found Mr. Darcy while walking.

"When he saw me so nervous, he asked me what was happening, and I told him everything. After that, he was very kind and offered his help, and I accepted."

"Certainly, it has been a very generous gesture to offer you his help." Charlotte accepted what Elizabeth told her but was convinced something else was behind it. She had observed Mr. Darcy very closely recently and saw how nervous he had left Rosings' drawing room a few hours before.

"I shall go rest, Charlotte. Thank you for understanding," Elizabeth said sincerely.

"Eliza, try to sleep because tomorrow you will have a very long day." Elizabeth retired to her room, and Charlotte was left thinking about the problematic situation in which her friend was.

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"Claire, can I talk to you for a moment?" Charlotte asked the maid.

"Yes, Mrs. Collins," Claire said as she followed Charlotte into her private room.

"I need you to tell me everything that happened with Miss Bennet when we were not here." Then, when she saw the maid hesitating, she looked at her firmly and demanded the truth.

Claire told her everything she knew, from when the message arrived until she saw Mr. Darcy hugging Elizabeth. "That's it all, Mrs. Collins."

"I see... Thank you for telling me the truth, but I want you to know that you cannot discuss this with anyone else. I will be very disappointed if you betray my trust."

"I promise, Mrs. Collins, I shall not tell anyone," said Claire and left the room.

A few minutes later, Charlotte went to her husband's study to wish him good night. But, seeing him busy, she couldn't help asking him.

"My dear, what are you doing?"

"I am writing a letter to my excellent father-in-law to tell him how well we are and to ask him some questions," explained Mr. Collins. He continued saying many other things that Charlotte could not understand because she was focused on her own thoughts.

"Oh good, I shall write a letter to my mother so we can send both letters together."

"Such a splendid idea, my dear," said Mr. Collins effusively. He tried to prolong the conversation, but Charlotte went to her sitting room to write her letter immediately. When she finished it, she sealed it and was content with her decision.

"If you don't know what is best for you, my dear Eliza, I will help you find it."

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