Chapter 15
"Cousin Elizabeth, I hope your mother and sisters have found a place to live. In less than two months, I shall assume control of my estate. Besides, I have been so generous in allowing them to stay there while they mourn your illustrious father," Mr. Collins said with pretend compassion.
"Do not concern yourself, Mr. Collins. My uncle is buying a house in Meryton, and at the end of the following month, my mother and sisters will be moving there," Elizabeth explained.
"And you, cousin Elizabeth, where will you live?" Mr. Collins asked disdainfully.
"I plan to live with Jane."
"Will you work for the same family?"
"No, I shall live with my sister and her family. Jane got married, and her husband invited me to live with them on their estate in Somerset," Elizabeth replied with a triumphant smile.
Mr. Collins was stunned by the news and had many questions. He needed all the details about that unexpected wedding and to know why no one had notified him.
"My dear, remember that Lady Catherine does not like to wait," Charlotte added so that her husband would not continue pestering Elizabeth with impertinent questions.
"You are right, my dear wife. I had better go because Lady Catherine wishes to review my Sunday sermon." Mr. Collins took the last sip of his tea and rose from the table. He planned to interrogate Elizabeth after he had listened to his beloved patroness' wise advice and fulfilled all his obligations.
"I am sorry, Eliza, if my husband upset you with his bold comments," Charlotte said.
"Do not worry, dear friend, I am used to your husband's remarks."
"Eliza, I would rather you not tell Mr. Collins that Jane's husband is a Baron. I shall tell him when you return to London."
"Of course, but is there any particular reason why you would rather not tell him?"
"If he knows he is related to a Baron, he will tell Lady Catherine immediately. You see, she can be…"
"Overbearing? Prying? Do not worry; Georgiana told me what her aunt was like. Charlotte, if you do not need me, I want to go for a walk before I go to Rosings to see Georgiana."
"I do not need you here, and I know how much you like to walk. Rosings has beautiful landscapes that I am sure you enjoy."
Elizabeth finished breakfast and said goodbye to her friend. Then, she took her favorite path and walked for several minutes until she reached a small hill surrounded by a forest. The view from there was beautiful, and the day was clear. Unfortunately, Elizabeth's happiness disappeared when she saw Mr. Darcy walking in her direction. 'What will this man want now?'
Mr. Darcy had gone for a walk to find Elizabeth. In the previous days, they had not had the opportunity to converse. He had noticed how she looked much happier and more relaxed, how she smiled, and how her eyes lit up with each smile.
"Good morning, Miss Bennet; I hope you are enjoying the view that Rosings has to offer," Mr. Darcy said to start a conversation.
"Good morning, Mr. Darcy. The truth is that these forests are beautiful, and you can fully appreciate spring and all its colors," Elizabeth replied. She expected to curtsy and continue walking, but Mr. Darcy seemed to have other plans.
"Spring is just as beautiful, if not more so, in Pemberley. Very soon, you will be able to see it for yourself."
Upon hearing that statement, Elizabeth realized that Georgiana had not spoken to her brother yet. Although she would have liked to clarify everything right there, she understood that perhaps Georgiana preferred not to discuss that subject at her aunt's house. Lady Catherine was very domineering and intrusive, and perhaps her friend preferred that her aunt not interfere in their affairs. "If you will excuse me, Mr. Darcy, I plan to walk in that direction for another hour and then meet Georgiana in the garden at Rosings."
"If you do not mind, I would like to accompany you. When I am at Rosings, I usually ride in the mornings. But I still feel some consequences of my silly accident, and for now, I prefer to walk."
Mr. Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth, but she had no choice but to accept it. Although he had asked her permission to accompany her, he assumed she would not say no, so he did not wait for her response. Elizabeth had no choice but to accept and resign herself to having an hour of awkward conversation.
While they walked, Mr. Darcy made occasional comments about the landscape of Kent and the history of Rosings. Elizabeth asked a few questions, but Mr. Darcy answered briefly. It seemed like he was not interested in conversing with her and preferred to walk in silence. Elizabeth could not understand why he wanted to walk with her if he would ignore her. Although she tried to start a conversation, after several minutes, she preferred not to say anything else and enjoy the scenery.
Mr. Darcy was happy; it seemed that there was such a great connection between him and Elizabeth that they did not need to talk to feel comfortable being together. In the last few days, he had thought about what he should do but was still uneasy. Sometimes, he was happy to know that in a few more weeks, he would return to Pemberley with Georgiana and Elizabeth, and they could have a beautiful summer together. He was planning to visit the stunning countryside of the Peak District because he knew Elizabeth would love it. However, at other times, he felt sad and discouraged, thinking he should stay in the city until the end of the season and participate in London's social life. He thought he was deceiving himself, enjoying a happiness that did not belong to him, and unnecessarily prolonging his final decision.
Mr. Darcy knew that if he were not willing to share his life with Elizabeth as they both deserved, it would be best to let her go. But he knew she needed the position and would never accept his assistance. Furthermore, Georgiana was so fond of her that separating them would also create problems. He knew that the best thing he could do was enjoy his remaining days in Kent because everything would change when they arrived in London.
"I thank you very much for accompanying me, Mr. Darcy. Now, I shall take the path to the parsonage, and in another half hour, I shall visit Georgiana," Elizabeth explained, trying not to demonstrate her frustration.
"I understand; if you want, I can accompany you until you get to your friend's house."
"It is not necessary, but I appreciate your generous gesture. Again, thank you very much for your company."
"It was a pleasure… I know you like to walk a lot, but you should learn to ride. During the spring and summer months, there are many places you can visit around Pemberley that are not so easy to walk to."
"I prefer to walk. When I was a child, I once rode a horse, but it always scared me."
"Did you have an accident?"
"No, but I felt insecure… The animal was so big, and I was so small, I do not know, I did not like the experience. Plus, we did not have many horses, so riding was not an option either."
"I understand, but let me tell you, Miss Bennet, that if you dare to ride, I personally offer to teach you. Despite my recent accident, I assure you that I am an excellent rider and can teach you everything you need to know to feel safe while riding. Also, this summer, I plan to buy some new horses. You and Georgiana can accompany me, and you can choose a mare that you like and makes you feel comfortable."
Mr. Darcy could not stop talking, and Elizabeth could not help but smile. That man made plans without even consulting her opinion. She had told him that she did not like riding, yet he continued planning how to teach her to ride.
For his part, Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth smile and thought he knew what she was feeling. Indeed, she was happy thinking that he had finally made a decision and that her situation would change abruptly. She had assumed that he would soon declare his love and give her the place she deserved in his life. Although his reason told him that was impossible, his heart beat vigorously, making him immensely happy.
Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth's gloved hand and kissed it. "It was a pleasure sharing this morning with you, Miss Bennet."
Elizabeth became very nervous to see Mr. Darcy so close and looking at her in such an intense manner. She had always recognized that he was handsome, and it was difficult for her to understand why he was still single. He was indeed rather reserved, but he had money and excellent connections. Undoubtedly, he was an excellent match for any young lady looking for a husband.
"I shall see you later, sir," Elizabeth replied, unable to help but blush at the gentleman's proximity. There was something about him that she was very attracted to, although she was not willing to admit it.
When Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth blush, he came back to reality. He could not behave like a scoundrel and make her believe that something was possible between them, not because he did not want to, but because he had not made a decision yet.
"I am sorry, Miss Bennet, but I shall spend the rest of the day working," Mr. Darcy replied curtly. I hope you enjoy the rest of the day," he said, walking away as fast as he could.
'What a strange man! At one moment, it seems like he wants to be my friend, and at the next, he hates me. Well, Mr. Wickham warned me what Mr. Darcy was like. Fortunately, I shall only have to endure his presence for a few more days,' Elizabeth thought as she walked towards the parsonage.
P&P
"Caroline, you will not believe the good news I have for you," Louisa said, entering the room.
"You do not know how much I need to hear good news, Louisa. This house is getting more gloomy and boring every day," Caroline replied, looking at her brother Charles.
Mr. Bingley was unhappy and disappointed. His solicitor still had no news, and he could not stop thinking about how much she must be suffering working and away from her family. He also wondered why he had listened to his friend and sisters and not his heart. If he had stayed in Hertfordshire, he could have supported his beautiful angel when she needed him most.
"Edith Brown invited us to a social gathering her mother organized to raise money for an orphanage or something like that," Louisa explained. She noticed how her brother had a newspaper in his hands but was not reading it. She felt very sorry to see him so sad, but she was convinced it was the best for him.
"Louisa, you know very well that that woman's father made his fortune in trade, and everyone knows he is still in charge of his business. I would rather not go, and you should not go either," Caroline said dismissively.
"Edith is pleasant, and you know very well that her maternal grandfather is an influential judge and her mother has many important friends. In fact, Lady Margaret will attend that social gathering. Edith told me that Lady Matlock is sponsoring a new lady, and she wishes to introduce her to society and will attend with her."
"Well, if Countess Matlock will be there, it would not be a bad idea for us to attend. We are part of her nephew Darcy's close circle," Caroline added happily.
Caroline had not had the chance to meet Lady Matlock and would not miss this opportunity. If she managed to befriend the Countess, perhaps she could help her achieve what she most desired, to be the new Mrs. Darcy.
"And who is the lady the Countess is sponsoring?" Caroline asked, concerned. "Is she a single woman, someone who is looking for a husband?"
"No, in fact, it is someone who recently got married. It is the new Baroness, Lady Norton. Edith says that she is a good friend of Beatrice White and that they met through her."
Louisa continued to describe everything she knew about the relationship between the Countess and the new Baroness. Apparently, she was a rather discreet young lady who did not usually spend the season in London. Furthermore, it was rumored that she was beautiful and that the young Baron Norton had fallen in love with her at first sight. While Caroline was listening to her sister, she had an idea. She would do everything possible to befriend the new Baroness Norton; that way, she would gain direct access to Lady Margaret.
"Charles, do you want to attend the social gathering with us?" Louisa asked her brother to try to animate him.
"No, Louisa, I am not in the mood to socialize with people I barely know."
"It is for a good cause. Mrs. Brown and her group of friends sponsor an orphanage. If you attend, it will be for a good cause. At least think about it," Louisa insisted.
"Alright, I promise I shall think about it, but if I decide not to go, I hope you respect my opinion," Mr. Bingley replied.
Louisa took her brother's hand and smiled. She tried to talk to him about other things to cheer him up, but nothing worked. For her part, Caroline was so happy making plans that she did not notice anything happening around her. She was confident that thanks to the friendship of the new Baroness Norton, she would finally enter and be accepted into the first circles.
P&P
Elizabeth was sitting playing the piano and singing while the Colonel turned the sheet music. She was very grateful for how much Georgiana had helped her improve her technique. Otherwise, she was certain Lady Catherine would not have wasted a second in criticizing her. Furthermore, being close to the Colonel was always a pleasure. He was cheerful and always had an exciting conversation, unlike his aunt or cousin.
When Lady Catherine asked Elizabeth to play the piano and sing, she thought she might criticize her. But she was very disappointed when she realized that she played pretty well. So, she decided to ignore her for the rest of the evening and focus on conversing with Mr. Darcy and Georgiana. She would not give any importance to a woman doing everything she could to outshine her and her daughter Anne.
"Georgiana, you must convince your brother to stay for two more weeks. That way, he will have enough time to recover and spend more time with me and Anne."
"Aunt, I…" Georgiana always got very nervous when her aunt spoke to her in that overbearing manner.
"Lady Catherine, I will ask you not to insist on that. At the end of this week, we shall leave for London. My accident was insignificant, and there is no reason to postpone my return to London," Mr. Darcy explained, annoyed.
"Of course, there is a reason to postpone your return to London. Anne always enjoys your company and hardly sees you. It is not possible that you only see each other for two weeks in a year." Lady Catherine continued to talk and make all kinds of insinuations, but the only one who listened to her was Mr. Collins.
Anne looked at her cousin Darcy and felt furious with him for not telling her mother that he would never marry her. But he always chose the easiest way. Furthermore, she had noticed how her cousin looked at Elizabeth with a ridiculous face.
'Indeed, my pompous and conceited cousin must believe she is in love with him. What a punishment for his ego when he learns Miss Bennet does not like him. He must be sure that we both want to be Mrs. Darcy, but he does not know how wrong he is,' thought Anne, unable to help but smile.
"Anne, why are you smiling? I have not said anything humorous," Lady Catherine said angrily.
"I am sorry, Mother," Anne replied and looked down.
Mr. Darcy took advantage of his aunt's distraction and approached the piano. Elizabeth was beautiful that evening, and he wanted to be close to her. Besides, he did not wish Colonel Fitzwilliam to have Elizabeth's attention and smile that night.
"Miss Bennet, allow me to congratulate you. Your piano playing has been excellent," Mr. Darcy said politely.
"Thank you very much, sir. Thanks to Georgiana, I have improved my technique and have the discipline to practice. She has taught me to value music much more," Elizabeth explained.
"What do you mean, Miss Bennet?" the Colonel asked.
"Before I met Georgiana, music was not so important to me. I played the piano only when I felt like it or at social gatherings. I recently discovered that music could help when you feel sad or lonely. From now on, I shall continue practicing to give myself time to think and analyze what I want and desire to do."
"I am pleased to know that Georgiana has helped you to discover that music can be good company. You have also helped Georgiana, so I think the time you have spent together has benefited both of you," Mr. Darcy added.
"Without a doubt, sit," Elizabeth replied.
"If you will excuse me, I feel I must once again go rescue my cousin from the clutches of Lady Catherine," Colonel Fitzwilliam explained.
Elizabeth would play a tune she knew by heart, so she would not need help with sheet music. She did not want Lady Catherine to pressure Georgiana to play the piano, so she was willing to continue playing until it was time to retire. When Elizabeth was ready to start a new piece, Mr. Darcy told her something that made her think.
"You and Georgiana have gotten along well because you complement each other perfectly. She is rather reserved, and you have a more outgoing personality. It is a little harder for her to express her feelings, while you are always so eloquent. You know, Miss Bennet, my sister and I are very similar… and maybe we need someone cheerful to make us enjoy life, do you not think?"
"It is possible; people say opposites attract," Elizabeth replied without having much more to say. Then, she began to perform the piece she had planned.
Mr. Darcy was delighted to hear Elizabeth sing his favorite song, the one he had asked her on more than one occasion to sing after dinner at Pemberley.
He would have stayed by the piano all evening listening to her, but he knew it was better to sit next to Georgiana. His aunt and cousin were discussing something about Lady Margaret, but Mr. Darcy was not listening. His heart was pounding, and his full attention was on the beautiful song Elizabeth was singing for him.
P&P
Like every night, Jane read stories to her beloved nieces until they fell asleep. Then, she wrapped them up lovingly and kissed them on the forehead. Clara and Matilda had become an important part of her life, and she only wanted to protect them and, above all, give them love so that they would forget everything sad that had happened to them in their short lives.
When she left the girls' room, she headed to her husband's study. A servant told her that he was there, and she wanted to talk to him. Jane enjoyed her husband's company more and more every day and wanted to spend as much time as she could with him. She was not ashamed to talk to him and greatly trusted his intellect and good judgment.
Andrew was in his study, drinking brandy and thinking about what he thought about every night: his beautiful wife. After many years, he finally felt like he had a home and someone who was always by his side to support and help him.
"Andrew, if I do not interrupt you, I would like to talk to you about something before I go to sleep," Jane said from the doorway of her husband's study.
"Of course, dear, please come in and let us sit by the fire," Andrew replied.
Once they settled into two comfortable armchairs, Jane explained to Andrew Beatrice and Countess Matlock's plans to help her. "I know you do not enjoy these types of events, but I promise you that you will not have to participate in many."
"Do not worry. Now that I am married, I think I shall enjoy socializing with these people a lot more. I shall be able to chat with the gentlemen without them trying to introduce me to their daughters," Andrew said, laughing.
"I am glad to be of help," Jane replied, also laughing. "Andrew, I want you to know I am doing all this for my sister Lizzy. I want her to have the chance to meet a gentleman who can see how wonderful she is and offer her a home. Once I have accomplished that, I want to dedicate myself to the girls and you," Jane said, unable to help but blush.
Andrew took her hand and kissed it, "You do not know how much I want to go back to Parkland, but I never want to see Agnes again. I prefer to wait here in London for that woman to vacate our home forever. Also, I feel glad and honored to be able to help Lizzy. I know many honorable men looking for a good and honest woman."
"Thank you very much. You do not know how excited I am to see my sister content."
"Are you happy, Jane?" Andrew asked very nervously.
"Yes, I am very happy," Jane replied, blushing again. Jane felt her heart beating very fast, a happiness she had never experienced.
Andrew was also very nervous. Although he was pleased to see Jane comfortable, he did not want to ruin their beautiful relationship by saying or doing something that could make her uneasy.
"As soon as Lizzy returns to London, I shall talk to Darcy, and perhaps he can help us, just as the Countess has done. Well, it is time to rest. We promised the girls that we would take them to the botanical garden. I assure you that they will wake up very early."
"I imagine they were very excited at the idea of seeing so many beautiful flowers of different colors," Jane replied.
Andrew offered his arm to his wife and walked her to the door of their room. He had planned to say goodnight and go to his room, but without knowing how, he took Jane's face in his hands and kissed her on her lips. It was a soft and brief kiss, but when he saw how she responded, he could not help but make it deeper and more passionate.
After several minutes of kissing his wife, Andrew decided to say something. "Thank you for letting me kiss you, Jane. You are so beautiful, and I…"
"Andrew, I enjoy your company and really liked how you kissed me… it makes me very happy that you were the first man to kiss me…" Jane knew she was saying things that did not make sense, but she was so excited and nervous.
"Do you want to come to my room with me, my dear Jane?" Andrew asked. The seconds it took Jane to respond were the longest of his life.
"I do, my dear husband," replied Jane, smiling.
Andrew hugged her for several seconds, and then, without saying anything, he took her in his arms, causing a series of nervous giggles. Then, he opened the door to his room and entered with his wife in his arms, smiling and delighted.
P&P
"What do you think, Darcy?"
"About what?"
"About what I just told you."
"Fitzwilliam, I still do not understand. Please explain better," said Mr. Darcy, a little annoyed. After breakfast, he went for a walk in the garden, hoping to meet Elizabeth. As he looked down the road to the parsonage, his cousin would not stop talking, and he had not been paying attention.
"Georgiana explained that Miss Bennet plans to move in with her sister but keep her friendship with Georgie."
"And why is Miss Bennet planning to go live with her sister? With which sister?" Mr. Darcy asked, a little puzzled. "She has a contract with me; I assure you I shall not allow her to break it so easily."
Anne had gone out into the garden and sat in her favorite secret place, on a bench behind some bushes where her mother could not find her. She was entertained listening to her cousin's conversation when she saw Elizabeth approaching. Then, she hid even further behind the bushes so Elizabeth would not see her. But Anne noticed that when Elizabeth heard they were talking about her, she stopped walking and remained hidden behind a hedge bordering the garden, on the opposite side where she was hidden.
'I do not remember ever having so much merriment in my life,' thought Anne, thrilled.
"Miss Jane Bennet's employer offered Miss Elizabeth a position? What kind of position? I can assure you that she is pleased with Georgiana, and I do not think she wants to leave us... her."
"I cannot explain more, Darcy. Georgie was explaining the situation but Lady Catherine interrupted us, and Mrs. Collins started talking to Georgie. From what I understood, Miss Bennet's older sister misses her very much and wants her to live with her."
"I know that Miss Jane Bennet works for a widow of a wealthy merchant. Maybe that lady wants to hire Miss Elizabeth so the sisters can be together. Unfortunately, for that lady's plans, Miss Elizabeth Bennet has a contract with my family, and I shall not allow her to abandon Georgiana abruptly. Fitzwilliam, I pay her an exceptional salary, and we also treat her with great respect and deference. I sincerely doubt that she wants to abandon us…" Mr. Darcy was distraught and did not know what else to say.
The Colonel noticed his cousin said, abandon us, and felt a little sorry for him. "Perhaps if while you are in London, you allow them to visit each other, that would help. On the days Miss Bennet's sister has a day off, she can spend time with her sister in Darcy House."
"Impossible. I do not wish that young lady to meet Bingley. It would not be good for any of them."
"Bingley is a man, not a child. He can take care of himself, do you not think?"
"Unfortunately, Bingley is very innocent. He believed he was in love with Miss Jane Bennet, and given the circumstances, it is possible that upon seeing her again, he would feel guilty and make the worst mistake of his life... Fitzwilliam, We already discussed this, and you know my opinion. I do not want to talk about this matter again."
Elizabeth could not continue listening to that conversation and ran back to the parsonage. She loved Georgiana very much but could not spend even a minute closer to her brother. As she ran, she could not help but shed a few tears.
'Why does that man always have the power to make me cry? But this is over, I never want to see him again,' Elizabeth thought.
Once her cousins entered Rosings, Anne came out of hiding and went to her room.
'I shall not miss this opportunity,' thought Anne, smiling.
P&P
Many thanks to everyone who leaves supportive comments and follows the story with enthusiasm. We are close to the end of the second part. I think there are two more chapters left, and then comes the third and final part.
In the next chapter, Anne will set up a little intrigue and Caroline will have the pleasure of meeting the new Baroness Norton.
See you soon!
Saludos,
Yo