AN: One reviewer said they thought Anne was spreading the rumors. She is not. The rumors had started chapters ago and have blown out of proportion. Just letting you know, in case you forgot that. This Anne is not evil or working against ODC.
Update ch 30
"Miss Bennet, I am glad to see you here." Mr. Darcy groaned silently that this was the best he could come up with under the circumstances.
Elizabeth folded her arms in front of her as she eyed his silhouette. The light from the ballroom was behind him, so she could not see his face. "Yes, I believe we have an important discussion ahead of us."
Mr. Darcy smiled. She always did know what to say and was always ready to be blunt and to the purpose. "We must marry."
"Must we?" Elizabeth faltered slightly and leaned against the railing. Mr. Darcy sounded distraught, and she thought that he must be if he was giving up his choice of bride. Marriage is forever.
"Surely, you see that. I had heard the rumors before, but I hoped they would dissipate. I suppose the village has been too quiet otherwise for that to happen."
"I had heard the rumors too and hoped the same. We must marry. How detestable that it should come to this." Elizabeth nearly spat out the last sentence. She turned to look out over the balcony at the dark night, illuminated by the growing quarter moon.
"Does this trouble you? Society will not be kind." Mr. Darcy cautiously walked to her side and joined her in looking out over the perfectly manicured yard, barely visible in the moonlight.
Elizabeth watched his nonchalant attitude, and it caused her eyes to water. She pushed the tears away as she responded, "I do not care what society thinks of me. Why should I marry a man to save my reputation and spend the rest of my life with a husband who will resent and despise me?"
Mr. Darcy turned to her in alarm. "Why would I despise you?" He could barely breathe as he waited for her reply. She should be happy to be marrying him. He was a very eligible match.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, confused by the hurt in his eyes. "Perhaps you would not despise me, but the situation. I have no notion but that you were destined to marry some great lady with fortune, connections, and beauty. Despite your admirable attitude at present, you will likely grow to resent the situation. I cannot marry someone without mutual love and respect."
She was allowing him to walk away. She was refusing him. He swallowed and took a few breaths. Now was not the time to say the wrong phrase. "You believe that I do not love you and that I do not wish to marry you." He watched her carefully as she nodded. Tears were now streaming down her face, and he itched to be the one to wipe them away.
Elizabeth had to look away. She could not trust what she saw in his expression. He was hurt by her refusal. "If you do, then you have hid it well. I have watched you carefully, hoping the rumors would pass. You tolerate my company, you have even looked at me with some affection, but it is also clear that you had no intentions to follow through with a courtship or any other means of securing my affection. I have no doubt you thought you would marry someone more worthy of you."
"You say that I should not marry for affection." Mr. Darcy tensed and watched her carefully. He desperately wished to shake her to make her see his love, but he knew that would not be wise.
"I vowed with my sister that only the deepest love would induce me into matrimony." Elizabeth bit her lip to hold her composure. She could not let him see how much this conversation was hurting her. She loved him. She knew that now. He would be the man she would compare every other to for the rest of her life. But she could not force him or allow him to be forced into marrying her.
"I love you, Elizabeth." Elizabeth turned to him, not quite believing his words. He continued, "Wish for love and respect, and I can give you that. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire, respect, and love you.
"I have watched you as you have watched me. In Hertfordshire and here in Kent as well, you conversed with everyone from farmer to peer with delight. You are welcomed wherever you go because everyone knows you will be honest, kind, and thoughtful. Your wit is unparalleled. You are not intimidated by high society, nor do you snub the lower classes. You know and value your own self-worth.
"There are many considerations I have thought of when I marry. My wife must be a good mistress of all my homes, assist with tenant troubles, escort my sister when she comes out, endure my affection during the long winter nights." He paused and stepped closer to her, taking her hand gently and squeezing it affectionately. "You will not only meet but likely exceed my expectations in every regard." He coughed as his emotions were overpowering him. He needed her to understand him. "If you cannot accept me, then I shall live the rest of my life alone. I had hoped to find the perfect bride amongst the ton, but you are not there, yet."
"I shall not pretend I always felt this way about you. I left Netherfield determined to forget you, but I could not. I thought I could do better than you and looked for your superiors amongst the landed gentry in London. I attended numerous balls and soirees during the season, and everyone fell short of your perfections."
"I am not perfect." Elizabeth pleaded. She could not believe her ears. Did he truly love her?
"You are perfect for me, Elizabeth." He paused to kiss her knuckles. "You temper my harsh view of the world. You lift my spirits. You make me laugh, think, and love. You best me at billiards." They laughed quietly at that. Elizabeth seemed about to speak, but he interrupted her. "I do not wish to go to another ball, society function, or family dinner without you by my side. I know I do not deserve your affections. I have fallen short of an ideal suitor many times, I am sure. But I know my heart, and I hope you could grow to love me too. I do not wish to marry you because of the scandal, but because you are the only woman whom I can love. Please say you will accept my hand and make me the happiest of men."
He swallowed hard as he waited. Her tears were flowing, but then she smiled. Taking a deep breath, she nearly shouted, "Yes!" Overcome with emotion, she pulled her hand out of his and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He returned the embrace with equal passion, turning his head so that he could kiss her delectable neck and breathe deeply of her scent. Even muffled by his embrace, he heard her say a quiet, "I love you, too!"
"Thank you, Elizabeth." Slowly, he pulled away from her. As her arms loosened, he gripped her hands to keep her close. "You have made me very happy." Unable to resist, he released one hand to cup her cheek and pulled her close for a kiss.
Elizabeth responded in kind, placing her hand on his chest for support. They forgot about the ball entirely until the colonel poked his head out the door and coughed.
"I hate to break up what must be a delightful exchange, but Darcy is needed inside. There is a pressing matter of business that must be attended to immediately."
Elizabeth blushed at his words. They would announce their engagement, even though her father had not given his consent. She knew he would, and if he did not, she would be 21 in less than six months.
Mr. Darcy pulled away from Elizabeth reluctantly but placed her hand on his arm before turning to his cousin. "I believe I know what is happening that requires our attention."
"I congratulate you, cousin, on making such an advantageous match, but that is not my concern. Anne asked me to give you this quickly so that you would be able to act in a manner to secure her future as well as yours."
Mr. Darcy took the letter the colonel was waving and placed it in his jacket pocket. "But first I shall begin to quash the rumors. My dearest Elizabeth, will you do me the honor of dancing the rest of this set with me?"
"I would be delighted, but should we not first attend to Anne's correspondence. What did the letter say?" Elizabeth asked the colonel.
"There was a two on it, and that was all I saw, Miss Bennet. Do you know what that means?"
Elizabeth laughed lightly, stating, "she said she was not sure which letters she would need, so she wrote many versions. Apparently, with the rumors, she thought this one was the most relevant considering the rumors that are circulating." She paused to look around the room. "Where is Anne?"
"Likely resting. She was dancing with Mr. Warden when you and Fitzwilliam left the room."
Mr. Darcy interrupted the conversation, "We have rumors to tend to. We shall read Anne's letter after we dance. Come, my dear. As much as I have no wish to share your company with others, I find that I am eager for our dance to begin."
"Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, eager to dance! Miss Bennet, you have been a good influence on him. Very well, Darcy, I shall expect you in the hall with your betrothed in a quarter hour when the dance ends. I hope Miss Bennet's swollen lips will not hinder your announcement."
Elizabeth blushed and pursed her lips. It would not do for her to look wanton.
The colonel laughed. "You look fine, Miss Bennet. Go enjoy your dance." He turned and walked away, still laughing.
Mr. Darcy leaned closer to Elizabeth. "He wishes to discombobulate you. Do not let him win. Come, my love, we have a dance that is not waiting for us."
The second dance of the set had begun, so Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy stood at the back of the line. As they waited, Mr. Darcy turned to the gentleman on his left and leaned in, though he spoke loud enough for the closest couples to hear him clearly. "Is not my future bride the most beautiful person here tonight. I hope there is an exhibition later, for I should love to watch her play the pianoforte, and her voice is something to behold."
Instantly, the ladies around Elizabeth began tittering behind their fans. Elizabeth simply watched Mr. Darcy's smug look. Finally, it was their turn to move through the set. Delighted by every smile Mr. Darcy directed her way, Elizabeth floated through the dance. Every time they looked at each other, they smiled. The comments around the room grew in intensity, and Elizabeth began to wonder when they would hear from Lady Catherine. Surely, she would be most displeased with the news. She could not do anything to stop them, but she could make their engagement more difficult.
Then she remembered Anne's letter. Anne must have known something would happen. Could she have known about the rumors. Had Mr. Warden written to her? Suddenly, she became anxious. Perhaps she should have insisted on reading Anne's letter first. The noise in the hall grew to such proportions, she almost wondered if her mother were in attendance. The thought made her laugh, and her nerves calmed a bit.
"You seem nervous. Tell me you are not having second thoughts, my dearest." Mr. Darcy said as they came together in the dance.
"Of course not, but I worry that your aunt could make things difficult and wonder what Anne has written."
"We can go read her letter, if it would make you feel better, but you must promise me another dance later. I find I quite enjoy dancing with my betrothed."
Elizabeth laughed openly, causing quite a few titters around her. "I can well believe it. With how well you dance, it would be odd if you did not enjoy it, at least some of the time."
The dance ended, and they found their way to the colonel in the hall. His face was white. Elizabeth grew concerned, but Mr. Darcy seemed to only have eyes for Elizabeth.