Update ch 15
Darcy had been pacing the perfectly manicured lane for half an hour when an impulse made him turn onto another path that led further from the house. When he passed the row of lilacs, he paused. He had smelled that scent in London. Miss Bennet must have been using lilac water. While he appreciated the scent, he preferred the wilder orange scent he had often noticed around Elizabeth. Taking a few deep breaths, he began to smell hints of that orange scent. Before he could think he was conjuring the smell, he heard Elizabeth's laugh on the other side of the bushes.
Eager to see her, Mr. Darcy hastened down the path he knew would turn into the path that would lead him to her. He was almost upon her when he realized he must look like a charging bull in his haste, so he slowed his steps before she noticed and looked up. She was reading Miss Bennet's letter, though this was unlikely to be the first perusal, so he need not worry about importuning her.
"I trust Miss Bennet's letter is satisfactory."
Elizabeth laughed, "Oh, yes, Mr. Darcy. Jane's letter is everything I had hoped it would be. She writes mostly of her time with our nieces and nephews." She scooted to the side of the bench to make room for him to join her.
Pleased at the invitation, he sat beside her and listened to her regale the events of the letter, blushing when she described his own behavior in the house. "Henry is a fine young man," was all the reply he could think of.
"Henry is precocious and eager, that is certain. I have a feeling he will be much like his father in time. Mr. Gardiner is one of the best men I know." Elizabeth spoke with such feeling, Mr. Darcy could not help wishing he could be counted in that list. Unable to think of what to say, he waited for her to return to her letter. "That is all she says. I really cannot thank you enough. Having this connection to my family restored has given me relief." Tears formed in Elizabeth's eyes, and he watched as she smiled before she took a deep breath. "I accused you wrongly of misconduct. I know you acted in the service of a friend. My behavior was unpardonably rude, and I hope you will forgive me in time."
Mr. Darcy had to look away. "What did you say that I did not deserve? Your accusations were well founded, even in anger. It was not my place to be the judge of your sister's affection. If I had tempered my words, Bingley might have told me his own impressions, and this could have all been avoided. Bingley was quite vexed with me for my part in the decision to keep Miss Bennet's presence in London from him. He would have called on her months ago if he had known. Perhaps they might even have married by now. I went to sleep worrying that I might have lost a very dear friendship. However, by morning he was so eager to see your sister he had forgiven me instantly. I do not deserve it, and I am grateful."
He paused to observe her again and found her looking at him attentively. "You are completely forgiven, Miss Bennet, if you can forgive me of the pain I had inflicted on you and your sister by judging her too harshly."
Elizabeth smiled and waved the letter in front of him. "I must, for Jane would wish it if nothing else. Jane can never stay mad at anyone and always believes the very best. She was proud of Miss Bingley when she thought Miss Bingley had acted to make Bingley remember how much he loved your," she paused and looked up in horror. "Will your sister be upset if Jane and Mr. Bingley come to an understanding?"
Mr. Darcy looked at her in alarm. "Why would my sister be upset?" Observing her closely, his mind reeled to make sense of it. "Do you imagine her to love Bingley?"
Elizabeth's eyes averted to her hands which were busily wrestling in her lap. She was relieved that Miss Bingley had lied and upset at herself for believing the lie in the first place. "It was hinted that they would come to an understanding over the winter."
Darcy scoffed and rose immediately to pace around the lilacs. Eventually, he returned to his seat. "I am sorry for my rudeness, Miss Bennet. I was simply overcome. My sister is sixteen and far too young to consider marriage, though I suppose I would have liked her to marry someone so friendly and easygoing as Mr. Bingley. Some of my actions might even be attributed to the end goal of Bingley becoming my brother, however, that is a very distant goal. They barely know each other currently."
Elizabeth dropped the letter to her lap, looking pensive. "I had assumed Miss Bingley had written this to purposefully dash Jane's hopes, and it seems I was right. If they do marry, I hope Jane does not regret being connected to such a…," Elizabeth paused in frustration before apologizing for allowing her temper to get the better of her.
Mr. Darcy chuckled as he resumed his seat. "It is perfectly understandable, I assure you. I have known Miss Bingley for years and you have sketched her character quite accurately."
Elizabeth looked up at him in shock. He was always a perfect gentlemen, and a gentlemen would never speak so of a lady. "Mr. Darcy, you should not be so unkind to your friend's sister."
He chuckled again. "It cannot be helped. I have spent too much of my time avoiding her presence."
Elizabeth laughed with him before changing the subject. Jane would hate to know she had laughed at Miss Bingley for too long. "You took quite the journey for what would appear to be the sole purpose of correcting your mistake and bringing me Jane's letter. Thank you."
Mr. Darcy looked around awkwardly. "Yes, well, I could not rest until I had fixed my error. I have never been an idle gentleman."
Elizabeth smiled at this confession. She would have thanked him for the honest confession, and perhaps laughed at his idea of himself, but she was distracted by a light shining from a window and pointed it out to him.
Mr. Darcy turned to observe the light and sighed. "That is the reflection of a candle on a mirror from my valet. If I do not return to the house now, I shall not have enough time to make myself presentable before Lady Catherine notices my tardiness."
With a smile, Elizabeth responded, "then I shall not keep you and make you late. Your aunt and valet shall have no reason to complain."
He wished she would keep him, but he knew she was not prepared to admire him yet. "I would be more forgiving of my aunt's follies if she were not so annoying." He cursed himself for only being able to speak nonsense. Why could he not be more intelligent around her? Instead, he followed her lead back to Rosings.
Elizabeth allowed a few steps to pass in silence before she added, "No indeed, I should not wish her wrath upon me. I would never hear the end of it from her or Mrs. Collins." She paused and enjoyed the silence for a few minutes before adding, "Jane would never say such things, nor would she do anything to make anyone angry. She is perfection itself. I do strive to be more like her at times. If she were here now, she would politely scold me for my statements and then explain why I must be forgiven at once. Such is her nature."
"She is good to forgive as a Christian ought." He replied hoping his statement made sense. He had momentarily lost the conversation as her arm sat lightly on his arm.
"It is more than that though. She really believes there is more good in everyone than really exists. She cannot bear to think ill of anyone. That is why she was so hurt when Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst cut the connection with her. She believed it was she that was wanting and forgave those pernicious sisters for wishing their brother to marry someone more like Miss Darcy."
"And I had to cast my lot with them. I see why you hated me so much."
Elizabeth looked up at Mr. Darcy thoughtfully. He looked quite distraught. "No, I never hated you. Anger I shall admit to, especially since I have already stated that I was wrong. Anger is not so terrible as hate. I believe we are becoming friends at this rate." She squeezed his arm as they began ascending the stairs leading to the side entrance.
Mr. Darcy nearly tripped. The footman who opened the door for them pretended to ignore his blushing appearance, and Mr. Darcy was thankful Elizabeth did not think to look up before they reached the stairs and he had regained his normal color.
"Your anger was well placed, and it had the desired effect. I shall not regret the moment." Mr. Darcy led them upstairs quickly and bade Elizabeth farewell, and Elizabeth offered to play for Mr. Darcy after dinner as a show of friendship.
The elation felt in Mr. Darcy's breast as he bowed over Elizabeth's hand and kissed her gloved knuckles kept him distracted throughout dinner.
AN: Thanks for reading!
