Chapter 4
There was still at least an hour until she could go home, and since she had rejected Mr. Thompson, Elizabeth could not dance with anyone else that night. So she decided to sit, watch the other couples dance, and enjoy her time there. Aunt Agatha seemed entertained chatting with two old friends, and Elizabeth did not want to interrupt such an interesting conversation. Also, her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner were dancing, and Uncle Archibald was also chatting animatedly with a gentleman who met that evening and wanted to buy some antiquities.
Unfortunately, she noticed Mr. Thompson was observing her, which made her feel a mixture of anger and nervousness. What was that man up to? Because if he wanted to get on her nerves, he was succeeding again.
Mr. Darcy still could not forget the humiliation of Miss Bennet's rejection. She had preferred to sit the rest of the night to dance with him. If she had intended to enrage him, she had undoubtedly achieved it. But he decided he would not make it that easy for her, so when he saw the person sitting next to her stand up, he immediately walked over there and sat beside her. "Do you not like to dance, Miss Bennet? Or is it that you dance two sets and get tired?" Mr. Darcy asked sarcastically. "A young lady like you should have more stamina."
Elizabeth could not believe the nerve of that man. He was like a nightmare, undauntedly, he had decided to ruin her evening. "I love to dance and can dance all night in the right company. But, you see, I do not enjoy dancing when my partner is not friendly."
"Are you implying that my company is not pleasant enough for you?" Mr. Darcy asked furiously. That woman insisted on treating him as if he were an insignificant person and more than ever; he wished he could tell who he really was. He was sure she would immediately regret treating him disdainfully if she knew he was a wealthy gentleman.
"If you were confident your company is pleasant, you would not doubt your charms, least of all from what a woman like me says," Elizabeth replied without looking at him and feigning interest in the dancing couples.
"Now I understand what your problem is, Miss Bennet. You are still upset about the incident at your uncle's shop. I remember apologizing to you, so you should have forgotten it by now." Mr. Darcy thought that this young lady, as well as being stubborn, was quite spiteful and wondered why he was wasting his time talking to her.
"Mr. Thompson, I still do not know which is more offensive, your insults or your apologies," Elizabeth replied, looking around and avoiding him. Deep down, she recognized that she was entertained putting that man in his place.
"You see, I also feel at a permanent conflict about you, Miss Bennet, because I still do not know which is more irritating, your stubbornness or your impertinence," said Mr. Darcy emphatically.
"Indeed? The pot calling the kettle black!" replied Elizabeth, and this time, she looked at him.
"Are you calling me stubborn, Madam?"
"No, I am calling you stubborn and impertinent, Mr. Thompson. It seems you think that just because you ask someone to dance, that person should be grateful and immediately comply."
"That is because I grew up in a place where people usually have good manners."
"Indeed? And that well-behaved people usually insult and accuse people without knowing them?"
"Miss Bennet, you do not even know me and..." Mr. Darcy continued arguing with Elizabeth, using all his best logic to convince her she was wrong and not him.
Elizabeth could not believe the absurdity of the conversation. She had refused to dance with Mr. Thompson, and he sat next to her to argue and fight with her. He even dared to tell her she was stubborn and impertinent when nothing but insolent words came from his mouth.
But realizing how ridiculous the conversation was, she could not help but laugh. At first, she controlled her laughter, but seeing that he had come to a similar conclusion and was laughing too, the controlled laughter gave way to a burst of open and spontaneous laughter so contagious that Mr. Darcy could not stop laughing, too.
After laughing for more than five minutes and getting the attention of everyone around them, they both managed to control themselves a bit, and Mr. Darcy decided to start the conversation again. "If my first apology did not sound like a real apology, let me say again that I am sorry if I hurt your feelings that day in your Uncle's shop."
"Well, I guess it was not that bad or offensive after all. How about we start from scratch like we have never met before?" Elizabeth said with a smile. "My name is Elizabeth Bennet. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir."
Mr. Darcy looked at the floor for a few seconds and replied, "Delighted, Miss Bennet, I am William... Thompson." At that time, he felt like a scoundrel for not saying his real name, but sadly he could not do it. His family's prestige and legacy were at risk if anyone learned about his father's double life.
He fetched a glass of punch and brought another for Elizabeth to pass the awkward moment. Then, while the others danced, they talked, and Elizabeth told him that her uncle Archibald was actually the uncle of her uncle's wife and that she was spending time with them while Aunt Agatha was recovering from an accident. But, of course, she did not tell him why she had left her house.
"And your father, what kind of business does he have?" asked Mr. Darcy, intrigued. He had assumed that she was the daughter of some merchant in the area.
"My father is not a tradesman, Mr. Thompson. He has an estate in Hertfordshire that has been in his family for seven generations," Elizabeth clarified.
"So you are a gentleman's daughter?" asked Mr. Darcy, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, I am Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn, the prettiest place in all of England," she replied.
He felt like telling her there was nowhere prettier than Pemberley, but he had to keep his opinion to himself. Knowing that Elizabeth was the daughter of a gentleman had made him relax. He could not deny that he liked the young lady, but he had realized from everything she told him that her father was probably a minor country squire whose wife came from a family of tradesmen.
Despite all that, she would probably never notice a merchant like him. In fact, at that moment, he understood why she had ignored him so many times and rejected dancing with him, or at least he believed that for a few moments. In her eyes, he was socially inferior to her.
"Mr. Thompson, one more set is left before the assembly ends. If you still wish to dance…." Elizabeth said tentatively.
"Thank you, yes, I think I want to dance," said Mr. Darcy happily and went to the dance floor with her.
Usually, when he danced, he rarely spoke for fear of the looks of gossipy people who could spread rumors that could compromise his reputation. Also, the women he danced with always talked about the same thing, fashion, and other people's lives. But no one knew him in that place, so it did not matter if they watched him. Besides, Miss Bennet had such a peculiar way of speaking that even the most trivial subjects she made entertaining.
When the assembly ended, he accompanied the Stones and their niece to the carriage. He gladly accepted an invitation to tea the following day, forgetting that he had intended to leave that place a few hours before and never returned.
Two weeks after the ball, Mr. Thompson was a regular guest at the Stones. He attended Archibald's literary club and enjoyed the pleasant conversation and the company of Elizabeth Bennet.
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"I am happy to find you all gathered here. I have to give you some important news…."
"Charles, I hope you do not insist we go to the Grants' ball because I already told you we shall not attend. That man indeed has a lot of money, but he is still no more than a tradesman and actively working in trade," Caroline sneered.
"I can accompany you, Charles. In that house, you eat almost as well as in Pemberley," added Mr. Hurst. He hated that his sister-in-law always spoke for him and his wife.
"Please, Henry, how dare you compare the Grant house to Pemberley. That is practically sacrilege…."
"Can you leave this discussion for later, please? What I have to tell you has nothing to do with the Grants' ball. The truth is that this is fantastic news; I have already found a perfect estate to lease."
"In Derbyshire?" Caroline asked immediately.
"No, in Hertfordshire, quite close to London. It is called Netherfield, and they offer me a two-year lease at a fairly reasonable price. That way, I can learn the work of an estate, and if we like the area, I can buy it and fulfill our father's dream. Do you not think that is fantastic news?" Mr. Bingley asked excitedly.
Caroline and Louisa looked at each other, not knowing what to say, for several seconds until Louisa asked. "And what does Mr. Darcy think of all this? I suppose before deciding this, you consulted with him."
"No, I have not talked to Darcy yet, but I plan to do it so soon. It is just impossible to find him these days at Darcy House. He is always busy lately," Mr. Bingley explained to his sisters.
Caroline did not like that Mr. Darcy did not have time for them. So when she discovered that he would spend part of the season in London, she renovated her wardrobe and hoped to find him at more than one ball or social gathering. She also had planned to invite him home for dinner and socialize with him. But she had seen him only once so far and could barely talk to him.
"And where is Mr. Darcy? Because we all know he works more than he should and always likes to have everything in order. But I assume he can manage his matters from his magnificent study at Darcy House." Caroline wanted to get as much information as she could about Mr. Darcy. But she did not ask her silly brother directly because she knew he would not tell her anything if he found out she was trying to get information about Mr. Darcy's whereabouts.
"Caroline, Darcy is my friend, not my son, so I do not have to keep an eye on him all the time. However, the other day I went to his house, his butler told me he was not there, so I left a note and still have not heard back from him," Mr. Bingley explained.
Mr. Hurst realized that Caroline would question her brother for hours if she could, so he interrupted the insipid interrogatory. "Charles, tell us about the estate you leased. I am curious to know more about it."
Mr. Bingley immediately changed the topic of the conversation and began to explain the features of the mansion and the grounds with great enthusiasm.
Mr. Hurst and Louisa listened with genuine interest, but Caroline kept thinking about Mr. Darcy. She knew he was an honorable gentleman with morals far superior to most men of his social standing. She was afraid that he was having a clandestine affair with some woman or that he had some hidden mistress. Or worse still, he was courting a woman and would announce his engagement any moment.
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"Martha, you have to help me with this. You are the perfect person for this position. Once I marry Georgiana, I shall receive thirty thousand pounds, and I promise to give you a handsome reward if you support me," Wickham pleaded to his mother's friend.
Martha Younge was a widow, and since she lost her late husband when she was very young, she had worked as a companion or governess for several wealthy families. She was in her early forties and wished she could retire. But she still had not managed to save enough to live comfortably without working, so Wickham's offer was somewhat tempting.
Martha thought her friend's son was very much like his mother and was nothing like his father. Agnes Wickham had always spent more than she had; her dream had always been to live in a big mansion surrounded by servants, but she was the wife of a steward. But still, she made her son believe he was special and deserved all the best. Unfortunately, she never taught him that everything comes with effort, and George Wickham was convinced that his estate of poverty was the product of life's injustices and not his own decisions.
"How are you so convinced your plan will work, George?" asked Martha, still unconvinced.
"Because I have a friend who works at Darcy House, and she told me that she overheard Darcy and Fitzwilliam talking about how convenient it would be to hire a companion so Georgiana could have a little more freedom. You have the perfect profile for that position, and I shall tell you everything to do and say when Darcy interviews you," Wickham explained.
"And when am I supposed to be ready for that position? Miss Robinson is getting married at the end of the following month, and I have to be with her until then. Besides, I am very fond of her and do not want to leave until her wedding day." Martha wanted time to think and did not want to answer without considering all her options.
"Do not worry, Martha; Darcy will not need you before spring. Remember, if you help me, five percent of Georgiana's dowry will be yours." Wickham would not give Martha more than two hundred pounds, but he needed to persuade her.
"I shall only help you if you give me ten percent of Miss Darcy's dowry. I am not like you, George, and I do have scruples. I am pretty sure if you manage to marry her, you will ruin her life. I need a good amount of money to live in peace with myself, knowing that at least I do not have to work for the rest of my life." Martha had a house that she inherited from her husband and some savings. With the three thousand pounds she would receive placed in some investment fund, she could stay home and not have to work another day of her life.
"Alright, ten percent, then. I shall let you know when you must contact Darcy. Thank you for everything, Martha; I promise you will not regret it," Wickham said happily.
At last, he could somehow regain everything that Darcy had practically stolen from him. He was sure his godfather would have bequeathed his immense fortune to him if he could have done it.
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That evening, Elizabeth was not as animated as on other occasions. Nevertheless, the literary gathering was as enjoyable as ever. Uncle Archibald talked about some articles he was restoring. They were from the Roman conquest and were in perfect condition. The problem was that Mr. Thompson sent a note apologizing that he could not attend due to an unexpected situation at the last minute. Elizabeth could not deny that she missed him.
A little over a month passed since that day when they danced and talked so animatedly after that absurd argument. Afterward, whenever Mr. Thompson visited Uncle Archibald's house, they talked for hours about different topics. He knew a lot, and she could tell he was a great reader. But she was intrigued about how he acted sometimes; he seemed like a confident man in complete control of everything, while at other times, he appeared shy and afraid of something.
She did not quite understand what she felt for him, but almost every night, she fell asleep thinking about the enigmatic Mr. Thompson.
Also, it seemed that he was everywhere. Every time she went for a walk down the main avenue, whether to visit her friend Sylvie or buy something in a shop, she almost always ran into him, and they spent a lot of time conversing about books, art, music, and many other topics.
But Elizabeth could not deny that as much as she enjoyed Mr. Thompson's friendship and enigmatic personality, she was equally attracted to his appearance. He was the most handsome man she had ever met; he had such a manly face with beautiful dark blue eyes. But besides, he was tall, and she was sure his physique must be very similar to those Greek statues in museums.
"Lizzy, can you sing for us," Aunt Agatha requested, interrupting Elizabeth's not-so-appropriate thoughts.
She blushed a little as she imagined that her aunt had guessed what she was thinking and interrupted her. "Of course, Aunt. I prepared a new song for this evening; I hope you like it," Elizabeth said and went to the corner where the piano was to prepare to sing.
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Without a doubt, Mrs. Evans had a lovely voice and played the piano very well. Evidently, she received an excellent education and could be considered an accomplished woman who had learned everything a high society lady should know. But he could not help but notice that her voice lacked passion, and her piano playing seemed rather mechanical and without emotion, so different from Miss Bennet.
He did not want to be there at that moment. He wanted to be at the literary gathering with his friend Archibald Stone. There, friends sought to share knowledge and camaraderie, not show who was better or had more money and power. Besides, the book they were reading and the meetings to discuss it were fascinating.
But he also missed Miss Elizabeth Bennet's company. She was so different from all the women he had met. Unlike society ladies, she decidedly gave her opinion and had no difficulties letting him know when she thought diametrically different from him. It was refreshing to converse with her and hear her pert opinions and her playful voice when she teased him when she thought he was wrong.
But he could not deny that he was not interested only in her personality but also in something else. Elizabeth Bennet was a beautiful woman with a lovely face adorned with the most beautiful dark green eyes he had ever seen and a slim but voluptuous tempting body.
Since the day they danced at the assembly, he had frequently visited his uncle's house. But not content with that, he looked for every chance he could to talk to her. He usually sat down to read or study documents next to the window at the Thompson's house, and the moment he saw her appear on the main avenue, he would immediately leave the house and look for any excuse to talk to her.
He knew that everything would be over very soon because he should return to Pemberley at the end of the season. Nonetheless, he was determined to sell that house so he would have no excuse to return there ever again. The only thing that reassured him was knowing Miss Bennet would never have a romantic interest in him. She was a gentleman's daughter and would never marry a tradesman, so it was most likely that her feelings towards him were only friendship. Also, he knew asking for more was unfair since he hid his true identity.
"Darcy, let me introduce you to my wife," said Mr. Evans, an important gentleman who owned one of the most prosperous estates in Kent.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Evans replied. She was a pretty woman several years younger than her husband, who married her after being widowed by his first wife for years.
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Evans," Mr. Darcy said with a coquettish smile.
Until then, the meeting at the Evans' house had been quite dull, but Mr. Darcy had turned down so many invitations, and he did not want rumors to start circulating about him, so he decided to attend. Also, his uncle would be there, so he would not have any excuse to go to his house to say he was worried for him since he had not accepted the invitation. Besides, he was very fond of Adam Evans, an honorable and intelligent man.
After dinner, he excused himself to his host and planned to return home. Unfortunately, it was too late to visit Mr. Stone. But he thought the next day, he would return there and stay for a few days to enjoy his new friend's company. As he was asking the butler for his coat, gloves, and hat, Mrs. Evans appeared in the foyer. "Mr. Darcy, please give me a few minutes of your time before you go. I need to discuss something important with you."
Mr. Darcy was usually suspicious of young ladies, but he had drunk more than he was used to that night, and Mrs. Evans seemed troubled, so he agreed to talk to her.
She asked him to accompany her to the small room, and when they entered, she closed the door and embraced and kissed him in a rather inappropriate manner while her hands touched his torso and arms.
"You do not know how much I have desired you since I first saw you. Tell me where and when we can meet, Darcy, and I shall be yours."
Mr. Darcy had just kissed one girl when he was fifteen, and once, a widow-seeking company had kissed him. But even though he was twenty-six, no one had ever kissed him like that. The woman was undoubtedly handsome, but he felt disgusted by how she spoke and acted even more so because she was doing it in her husband's house. "Madam, I shall ask you never again to take this kind of liberties with me. You are a married woman, and if you do not respect your husband, I do."
"What a waste that such an exquisite gentleman does not like women," Mrs. Evans said with a sneer and spite in her voice.
"I like women, madam, but not women like you," replied Mr. Darcy. He left the room to prevent Mrs. Evan from trying to compromise him even further.
But she was not about to let him go so quickly, and as he put on his coat, she asked him defiantly, "Do you like ugly women then?"
Before leaving the house, Mr. Darcy answered her, "No, I like a woman who is not only beautiful but also decent, has a good heart, and would never do anything like what you just did. Good night, madam."
The next day, he went to the Thompson house very early in the morning. He told his valet that he would be away from home for a week and that they would go to Pemberley when he returned, so he must have everything ready to travel north.
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Ten minutes from the Stone house was a small park that bordered the river. The morning was sunny, and Elizabeth loved going there for a walk and seeing the sun's reflection on the water. But that day, she woke up a little unhappy and missed her family.
Mr. Darcy had gone for a walk, hoping to meet Elizabeth. He knew a sunny day like that would be a great temptation for her. That is why he followed her when he saw her heading towards the park. He obviously took a different route to make the meeting seem casual so she would not realize he had followed her there. He still had the image of the brazen woman he had had to endure the day before, so he wanted to talk to someone completely opposite and thus regain his trust in the fair sex.
But when he finally got to the park, he did not want to interrupt Elizabeth's musing. He saw her so focused, looking towards the river, and noticed a hint of sadness in her posture. So, after watching her for a few minutes, he approached to see if she needed anything.
"Miss Bennet, are you alright?" Mr. Darcy was a little worried when he saw tears in her eyes.
Elizabeth quickly wiped away her tears and answered as casually as she could. "Mr. Thompson, it is nice to see you. Please, do not worry; I miss my family, that is all."
"I do not want to be intrusive, but is there any reason you cannot return to your home?" Mr. Darcy asked curiously.
"Do you have time? Because mine is quite a long story," Elizabeth said teasingly.
"As much as you need," Mr. Darcy replied. He noticed that Elizabeth was jesting, but deep down, she was doing it to hide her sadness.
They sat on a bench overlooking the river, and while some children ran around them, she told him her story. First, she explained that her father's estate was entailed to the male line and that her father had only daughters. Then, she told him about Mr. Collins and how her mother wanted to force her to marry him, so her Aunt Gardiner helped her out of her house, and the Stones had taken her in lovingly. "Mr. Thompson, I hope you will not laugh at what I am about to tell you, but I have often thought how much easier my life would have been if I had been a man, even if it had been a second son. You men can do whatever you want with your lives."
Mr. Darcy was taken aback. Elizabeth had preferred facing a life of uncertainty to marrying a man who would have helped her maintain her social status. Without a doubt, she was an admirable woman.
"Believe me when I tell you that we men are not as free as you think. We also have obligations to fulfill that do not always make us happy but that we must do because it is what is expected of us."
"Would you marry someone you do not love just because your family demands it?" Elizabeth saw how uncomfortable Mr. Thompson was and immediately apologized. "I am sorry if my question was too impertinent; you do not have to answer it."
"Do not worry, honestly; I have never thought much about it. My father passed away when I turned twenty-one, and I had to take care of all my family affairs. I have been so busy working these last five years that I guess I never had time to think about marriage." The truth was that Mr. Darcy had always thought he should make a marriage of convenience and had never even imagined what a love match would be like.
Elizabeth noticed Mr. Thompson's despair and brought the conversation to more agreeable topics. She told him a little more about her family. Mr. Darcy could not help but laugh heartily at her description of each member of the Bennet family. "And Jane, my older sister, is the most wonderful person in the world, and she is also beautiful; she must be the most beautiful woman in all of Hertfordshire." Mr. Darcy could not believe Elizabeth had a sister who was even prettier than her. He seriously doubted that was possible.
"And you, do you have siblings?" Elizabeth asked. She knew his father and mother had passed away, and she was sad to think he was so alone.
"I have a sister, but she is the opposite of your younger sisters. She is a rather lonely girl, shy and afraid of almost everyone. That is why she has difficulty making friends, and I cannot always be close to her due to all my responsibilities and obligations."
Elizabeth looked at Mr. Thompson and was ashamed of everything she had felt a few minutes ago. Her family was not perfect, but at least she had grown up surrounded by sisters and her parents. On the other hand, her friend was practically alone in the world. Not knowing why, she took his hand and said, "I imagine you are right, and we all have challenges to face throughout our lives, whether we are a man or a woman."
Mr. Darcy was comforted when Elizabeth took his hand. That simple gesture made him feel esteemed as if she cared about his well-being. With that gesture so insignificant but so significant at the same time, she erased all the sorrow and loneliness that haunted him.
He looked both ways and seeing no one around them, first kissed her hand. Then, he caressed her cheek and finally kissed her lips. It was a soft and brief kiss but wonderful at the same time.
Elizabeth could hardly breathe when Mr. Thompson kissed her hand, but when he caressed her cheek, she felt like she was under a spell, and she could not stop looking at that handsome man. Then, she closed her eyes and felt his lips touch hers for a few seconds.
Until he broke the spell and told her, "I am sorry, I should not…."
Elizabeth widened her eyes and, thoroughly flushed, stood and replied, "Do not worry… Ahh, well, I… Good morning, Mr. Thompson." After saying that, she ran towards the Stones' house with a mixture of happiness and fear.
Mr. Darcy watched her run away like a child who had done something wrong and was afraid of being punished. "I am nothing but a foolish coward. Please, forgive me, Elizabeth Bennet."
Then, he returned to the Thompson house without understanding what was happening in his life and why so many things had changed in such a short time.
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Thanks to everyone who leaves supportive comments and enthusiastically follows the story.
In the next chapter, Mr. Darcy must make a hard decision!
See you soon!
Saludos,
Yo