Update ch 22
The gentlemen were sitting together in Mr. Darcy's chamber as they ate.
"Five minutes in the rain!" The colonel huffed. "Five blasted minutes, and we must remain in our chambers for 3 days. Aunt Catherine is insufferable."
Mr. Darcy felt equally distressed, however, years of not showing his emotions on his sleeve made him only look bored. He had no intentions of following his aunt's edicts, and he very much doubted Mrs. Collins or Elizabeth would either. He wished he could have enjoyed dinner with Elizabeth and prevailed on her to sing and play the pianoforte after. He also knew there was no way the colonel would listen to their aunt either.
"How are you so calm?" The colonel nearly shouted, earning a half smile from his cousin.
Mr. Darcy took another bite of their aunt's soup before responding, "I had a chance to speak with Miss Bennet today."
"Yes!" The colonel clapped Mr. Darcy on his shoulder. "I knew you only needed time together. I hope she did not get too wet, though walking to Rosings had been her idea. When is the wedding?" He finished with a merry chuckle.
"You are as hasty as Miss Bingley." He let a small chuckle escape as he remembered Miss Bingley chiding him for liking Miss Elizabeth's fine eyes in Meryton.
The colonel acted wounded for a full minute before turning serious. "There is talk among the villagers."
"How bad is the talk?" Mr. Darcy closed his eyes. Elizabeth would hate him if he had caused rumors to fly. He would insist that they marry, and she would despise him for the rest of their lives. He wanted her love. When he had first thought of marrying her, he had assumed she would be grateful for his consideration. He knew her much better now, and he wanted to marry her even more. How arrogant he had been! He would have been refused if he had proposed.
"Are you even listening?" The colonel shouted this time.
Mr. Darcy moved to look out the dark window. "I am preoccupied, cousin. Forgive me. How bad is the talk?" This time he turned to watch the colonel explain what he had heard. His face turned white as he listened.
When the colonel finished, he watched a myriad of emotions play over Mr. Darcy's face. "This is what you want, is it not Darcy? You must speak with Miss Bennet."
"This is not what I want at all!" Darcy turned to the window in anguish. "How can she learn to love me when I am forcing myself upon her? My care for her during the fire gave rise to expectations. What if we were seen today entering the cottage together?"
"Do you not wish to marry her?" The colonel asked.
A strangled cry escaped Mr. Darcy as he began pacing. After a few minutes lost in contemplation, he explained that he did not wish Miss Bennet to be forced to marry him. At the end of his rant, he fell upon the couch.
"Perhaps being confined to the house will be a good thing then. Allow the talk to die down. You must court her properly and gain her heart so that she will accept you on your own merit. I knew I liked her. That your property and income is unlikely to sway her is a point in her favor."
The colonel let his cousin sit quietly for some time before he deemed it important to intervene. "All this pent-up frustration is not good for you, come with me to the billiards room and best me a few times." The colonel rose and watched his cousin quietly rise also. "Things will look better in the morning."
The halls were quiet. Even the servants had been told to isolate after their duties were completed. They made their way quietly, wondering if Lady Catherine would hear their steps and leave her chambers to chastise them for disobeying her, but she never materialized. As they neared the billiard room, Elizabeth's laugh from the library drew their notice.
Mr. Darcy looked questioningly at his cousin, partially wondering if he had imagined hearing the most beautiful sound in the world. At his cousin's nod, Mr. Darcy moved to the library and opened the door just enough to peek inside.
Elizabeth sat next to a roaring fire, reading aloud Twelfth Night. He had not dreamt of her, though she looked lovely in a simple gown, propped against a large cushion with her feet tucked under her. He was about to leave her be when the colonel reached around him to open the door more, causing it to creak and startle Elizabeth.
At Elizabeth's shocked expression and hurried move to make herself presentable, the gentlemen did not hear Anne's voice telling Elizabeth not to let them know she could hear. Elizabeth glanced at the fireplace with consternation, but the look was lost on the gentlemen who each claimed a seat opposite her.
"You enjoy reading aloud? That is singular." The colonel stated. "You even laugh at your own jokes."
Elizabeth blushed as she responded, "I only speak to myself when I wish for expert advice."
The gentlemen chuckled appreciatively, and the subject dropped. Thankfully, their laugh was louder than Anne's, causing Elizabeth to roll her eyes.
"We were about to play billiards," the colonel commenced. "Would you join us? You have yet to best me."
Elizabeth looked oddly at the fireplace for a moment before she agreed that she could read later. She placed a letter in the book to mark her place and followed the gentlemen from the room slowly. The colonel missed her whispering goodnight to the fireplace, while Mr. Darcy wondered at her behavior, though he chose not to remark about it.
They left the door open in the billiards room and called for a maid to attend them. Once the maid was quietly sitting in the corner, Mr. Darcy set up the game before sitting in the window to watch.
Elizabeth's skill matched his own, but she seemed to temper her excitement as the colonel played rather poorly. The two laughed over each missed strike, while Mr. Darcy contemplated how he could properly woo the most engaging woman he had ever met. Once Elizabeth was announced to be the winner, Mr. Darcy stood to take his cousin's cue stick.
Elizabeth watched him with a twinkle in her eye. She had decided to do her best to appear normal, and that meant not attempting to read into his every move. "Is it fair if you have been studying my skill, sir?"
"Of course, it is fair. Games are meant to be watched. Your form is excellent, and I look forward to beating you." He smiled broadly to show that he meant his words.
Elizabeth's breath hitched slightly, but she quickly regrouped and moved to put the balls in place. She let him make the first move, and she blushed again as she noticed his muscles through his shirtsleeves. Only then did she realize the gentlemen were not formally attired. Taking a deep breath, she turned her attention to the game. He scored three shots easily enough. As he lined up his fourth shot, she walked around him to get a better view. Her scent filled his senses, causing his eyes to turn just enough to keep her in view. He missed the shot.
"A drink!" The colonel shouted.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy turned to see that Colonel Fitzwilliam had pulled out the brandy.
Delighted to have their attention, he explained his motives. "You are too well matched, so every time you miss, you must take at least a sip of your brandy. Should make things more fun."
"You appear to have had two glasses already." Mr. Darcy stated.
"Well, I missed a number of shots, didn't I?" He laughed at his own joke.
Elizabeth held her lips tightly closed to keep from bursting with laughter, but it was no use. Her laugh was clearly visible as her eyes danced and entranced Mr. Darcy.
Shaking his head, Mr. Darcy acquiesced and took his proffered drink from his cousin. The next time it was his turn to shoot, Elizabeth had leaned forward over the table to get a better view. Mr. Darcy's view was no longer on his shot, and he had to take another drink without scoring a single point. He would have been upset, but he could not force himself to resent her innocent behavior.
The colonel, who drank the most, ensured the conversation was light and teasing. Having known his cousin so well and for so long, he could recognize when Mr. Darcy's thoughts would turn melancholy, and he quickly changed the subject. They shared stories about their childhood, compared favorite poets, and spoke of anything and nothing while the maid watched with a hand over her mouth to hide her silent laughter.
Five games and one bottle down, they were a very merry party. The colonel laughed merrily and became more boisterous in telling his stories. Mr. Darcy relaxed and laughed, though he was still more content, when he was not focusing on the game, to watch Elizabeth. When he was attempting to play, he was easily distracted by Elizabeth who seemed more likely to wrap her fingers around the tendrils of her hair that had escaped, completely distracting him. Elizabeth was having more fun than she could remember having with her sisters at Longbourn around her father's billiards table. Perhaps this was because she was the only one who took to her father's training and built his skill.
At midnight, Elizabeth had the sense to declare it was time to retire, and the gentlemen allowed her to leave. Mr. Darcy attempted to kiss her hand but missed and kissed her wrist instead. The colonel laughed loud enough for the maid to not notice Elizabeth's blush. When Mr. Darcy stood up again, he looked deeply into Elizabeth's eyes and wished her a very heartfelt goodnight.
As Elizabeth readied for bed with the help of the maid who had watched her play, she thought over the evening and decided that if Mr. Darcy would propose, she would not be opposed to marrying him. In private, the taciturn scowl did not exist. It was one thing that Wickham had declared truthfully. Mr. Darcy could please amongst those he thought his equals and she seemed to be joining those ranks. Drinking a large glass of water, she wished the maid a pleasant rest and blew out the last of the candles in her room. She slept very well, even though she could not remember her dreams the next morning.
AN: Thanks for reading!
