Update ch. 11
After a long, hard ride, Mr. Darcy returned to the house. After a quick wash in his room, he decided to search for Elizabeth because he needed to speak with her. Hoping she would be alone, he made his way to the library. He paused before the door as he heard Elizabeth speak.
"How was he the person best suited to decide how two people would be happy together?"
Elizabeth sounded upset. Wondering whom they could be talking about, he opened the door. Elizabeth had moved to the window and was staring out blankly. She was apparently struggling to contain her ire.
The colonel rose from his seat and followed her. "Remember I know nothing of the particulars. I only suppose it was Bingley from knowing that my cousin had stayed with him the previous autumn."
Mr. Darcy felt unsure how to announce himself, so he coughed awkwardly. Both participants turned to him immediately.
"Cousin! I was just attempting to tell Miss Bennet how you saved your friend from -." He was cut off by Elizabeth.
"You separated Jane from Mr. Bingley!" She clearly had lost her temper and came to him, stopping a mere few inches from him. He almost expected her to stick her finger out and poke at his chest, but her sense of propriety would not allow it.
Wishing to calm her ire, he defended his actions, saying, "I could not perceive any attachment on her side and I wished to spare my friend a lifetime of a loveless marriage."
"Who made you the best judge of her character?"
"I observed her closely and could not perceive any real regard. She smiled at him as much as she smiled at everyone at the ball. I thought she would have agreed to marry him because her mother clearly wished it."
"Would you have respected her more if she had fawned on him and simpered as Miss Bingley behaves towards you?"
Mr. Darcy stepped back, but she had not finished. "You have met our mother. Can you imagine how she would behave if she knew how much Jane admired your friend? How would your aunt behave if you even smiled at Miss de Bourgh more than once after dinner?"
Mr. Darcy turned away. He had not been berated so well before. He did not feel master enough of his emotions to speak.
After a long pause, she huffed in annoyance and turned to leave.
Desperate for her to stay so he could defend himself, he blurted out, "I acted in his best interest at the time." As he had hoped, she turned, but she was not pleased with his response. "I may have acted in error, but I have seen many women make fools of Bingley in the past and wished to spare him heartache. He…" Mr. Darcy paused, not sure how to explain his motives. "I am sorry if I hurt your sister."
"If!" Elizabeth nearly shouted. She stormed at him again and this time was even closer to his face when she declared, "She has been heartbroken these months, wishing for him to come to her. She has lived in London all this time, wondering how she had misread his easy demeanor. Miss Bingley cut their connection to Jane, all in a ploy to keep her brother away from Jane. Who are the Bingleys that they would see Jane as a poor choice? Their fortune is from trade. Our estate has been in the family for generations. You have separated a pair that loved each other. Their love was clearly expressed every time they were together. How could you be so cruel?"
His jaw dropped as he saw her face crumble in pain. Unable to think straight, he watched her run out of the room. He stared after her until his cousin reminded him that he was not alone.
"If I had known you were speaking of her sister, I would not have mentioned the circumstance to her. My goal had been to speak well of your ability to help others. I thought it admirable that you would selflessly act to protect your friend from a fortune hunter. Now, I wonder at the story you told me." The colonel stood to face his cousin, who had finally closed his mouth. "Is Miss Bennet really so objectionable, or did you wish to keep them apart so you would not be tempted to lower yourself to offer for her sister?"
"I could not perceive their affection. I am not so selfish that I would injure a lady for my gain. Bingley is my friend. Mrs. Bennet is crass and uncouth." Even Mr. Darcy could hear that he was grasping at straws.
The colonel knew to give his cousin some time to think about his words. After a lengthy pause, he asked, "Is Mrs. Bennet any worse than Lady Catherine?"
Mr. Darcy began to defend their aunt, but the colonel stopped him. "If our aunt were a poor gentleman's widow, would she be allowed to dictate as she does now? Would anyone pay her heed? Would you ignore her demands to marry her daughter instead of outright refusing as you ought to do?"
"Lady Catherine deserves respect as our aunt." Mr. Darcy attempted to justify his thoughts.
"As does Mrs. Bennet as Miss Bennet's mother. That does not mean they might be ridiculous at times. Which one would you prefer to be stuck with for an evening?"
"Lady Catherine, of course."
"You say that because you know how to act around her. Miss Bennet would undoubtedly prefer her own mother to Lady Catherine's ways, I imagine for much the same reason. Yet, here she is being perfectly polite with our aunt who would likely throw her out if she knew your heart." The colonel moved forward to stand before his cousin who was deflating rapidly. "If you wish to win the heart of your fair maiden, you must come to terms with your pride. Amongst company you are comfortable with, like the Bingleys, you are amiable and no one would notice your pride or reticence. Among strangers, you stink of pride and conceit. If Miss Bennet were part of the first circles, you would woo her without question, but since she has seen your behavior amongst strangers, you must prove yourself to be better than the man she has known."
Mr. Darcy furrowed his brows in thought. "What do you suggest? I cannot woo her in my aunt's parlor."
The colonel chuckled at the thought. "No, you must not do that." He paused as another wave of laughter came over him. "Explain yourself in this matter with Bingley. It was poor form for you to split a couple that held affection for one another, but you did have your reasons, shoddy as they are. Perhaps you ought to meet her on her walks. You do better when you can exercise your muscles as you talk."
With a look at his watch, Mr. Darcy said, "If I leave now, I could meet Bingley in London tonight and fix the mistake I had made. He has been downcast ever since I interfered, thinking Miss Bennet did not return his affection." He paused. "If he does not manage to rekindle his attachment with Miss Bennet, he might not welcome my friendship again. It is still the right course."
"You must do what is right." The colonel replied. "Shall I tell her where you have gone?"
Mr. Darcy looked at his cousin as though he had sprouted two heads. "No. I will fix this because it is the right thing to do. I cannot behave only for her sake."
"You are beginning to deserve her." The colonel winked. "Off with you, now! I will make your excuses to our aunt. Perhaps I will imply that you are returning with an engagement ring."
"Do so and I will meet you at dawn, Rich. You know I am the better shot."
The door shut behind Mr. Darcy, blocking out his cousin's peals of laughter. On his way to his room, he heard voices coming from a sitting room. Elizabeth was stating that she wished she had a letter from her sister. From the sound of her voice, she had been crying. She would miss her favorite sister. Turning away to give her privacy, he hurried to his room. Elizabeth wished for news from Jane. That was his way in.
Mrs. Hurst would give him the address, as she had visited with Miss Bennet months ago. He knew better than to speak to Miss Bingley about it. He and Bingley would visit on the pretense of asking after the Bennets' health for Elizabeth's sake. It was a paltry excuse, but it would bring the couple together again, and afterwards, perhaps he could deliver a letter to Elizabeth for Jane. Eager to put his plan into action, he quickly spoke with valet so that he could get changed for riding as quickly as possible.
AN: Thanks for reading!
