Sorry for major delay. Life happened and confidence needed to be cultivated. I was also having major problems with pacing. I didn't intend for this story to be this long but...Thank you for reading. Forgive me if this chapter was a bit wordy.
Mr. Darcy finally made his escape once he could no longer hear anyone in his vicinity. He exited through the front of the church. Relieved that the wedding crowd was already well on their way to Lucas Lodge, but can still see the end of it. It was his perfect opportunity to blend in. He found a break in a hedge and jogged until he caught up. He then broke through the hedge joining the rest. No one found it surprising. Mrs. Long thought perhaps the gentleman had just relieved himself and was now heading for the wedding breakfast. Fortunately the priest has yet to reach Lucas Lodge. He picked up his pace pretending to look for Mr. Bingley. He was told that the gentleman was on the front end of the crowd and likely already at the lodge.
Thanks to his long legs. He arrived at the party before Elizabeth, but not much of a time difference. He spotted her discreetly entering the backdoor with her hair slightly mussed and a few leaves clung to her person. "Oh my beautiful wood nymph has arrived," he thought. He watched her surreptitiously as she mingled and gradually made it beside her best friend Mrs. Collins.
Miss Elizabeth did not escape, Mr. Collins noticed. He was pleased at her proximity, so he could admire his beautiful cousin one last time before leaving for Huntsford. Mr. Darcy did not like the way the parson looked at his Elizabeth, and made to block his view by engaging him on some mindless drivel. A small price to pay to distract the toad.
Elizabeth hugged and expressed her heartfelt felicitation on her marriage. Charlotte was slightly tearful knowing that her life will never be the same from this day forward, but cheered herself up at the prospect of Elizabeth's visit once she was well settled.
The intimate conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the militia. They were a little late for the party, but not late enough for Mr. Darcy's taste. Only because Mr. Wickham was amongst them. The reprobate didn't waste time ingratiating himself on everyone specially on Miss Elizabeth. She thanked him for his charming compliments.
Mr. Collins started at his cousin's mention of Mr. Wickham's name. He went around Mr. Darcy so fast. Commanded him to release his cousin's hand while simultaneously giving Wickham a facer. The gentleman found himself sprawled on the floor reeling in shock. He tried to stem the blood flow from his nose, when he felt weight upon him. All he could do was to try and shield his handsome face from being pummeled, but it was futile. The rage in Mr. Collins made him unstoppable and unbelievably strong. Finally his militia comrade came to his rescue and relieved him of the raging maniac. His trouble was far from over, and his carefully practised lies began to unravel as the parson proclaimed to all in attendance his past sins.
"That was for importuning three of my parishioners. Two of which you made with child. Those girls were barely out of the schoolroom! You sir are a scoundrel of the worst sort. Oh, I've been watching you lurk around Rosing hoping to compromise its heiress. I've even seen Lady Catherine de Bourg pay you to leave. Of course, instead of paying off your accumulated debts around Huntsford you disappeared into the night. Now here you are no doubt plying your trade. I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of maidens have already fallen into your practised charm," said Mr. Collins
Mr. Wickham held a blood soaked handkerchief to his nose, but that was the least of his worries. He grew increasingly pale as each accusation we proclaimed to all. He had no way of knowing that this would be the day of reckoning. The guests were looking at him with disdain. There were murmurs of speculation of when his debt would be paid. Families gathered their daughters in show of protection. Now held between two soldiers. He faced Col. Forster. The militia were called to return to camp with Mr. Wickham in tow. The colonel apologised to the newly wed for disturbing such a happy occasion. He did promise to the crowd that he will get to the bottom of this issue.
The Bennet family quickly gathered and bid the Collinses goodbye after Wickham was hauled out of the premises. Upon arriving home, Elizabeth was barely holding it together. She couldn't believe she ever fell for that wretch. "What for, because Mr. Darcy did not pamper her vanity?" She quickly divested her party dress and donned on her walking dress and boots. She needs space. Her body craves to expend the rage within her. A nice long walk was just what's needed.
She walked out of the house before anyone could have a word with her. She reached the summit of Oakham Mount faster than it normally took her and wasted no time in untying her bonnet and tossed to the ground out of sheer frustration. "Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure in making friends-whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is less certain." She recalled with such shame. She began to review every interaction she had between three gentlemen. Mr. Collins obsequious behaviour towards his patroness and his legalistic attitudes to all things moral. Stupid as he may be, still managed to find a position as a parson. Mr. Wickham had all the advantages of education yet blamed all of his shortcomings on Mr. Darcy. Not only that, he was much too eager to ruin a man's good name despite promising to himself that he would do no such thing as his way of honouring his godfather. got on the wrong foot by his rude comment addressing her looks and desirability as a dancer. A comment probably not meant for her to hear, but took his words and ran with it to all her friends and acquaintances. Nothing said or did would have acquitted him in her sight. Oh how blind has she been!
Tears rolled down her cheeks as her pride tumbled without any sign of slowing. She came to a realisation that she never knew herself and yelled in frustration. Suddenly a handkerchief appeared before her. She looked up and there before her stood Mr. Darcy with his eyes full of tenderness and perhaps pain, something she had never seen. Her face turned red in embarrassment. She wiped her face with her own handkerchief and made to leave, but he gently tugged at her arm as a gesture to stay.
" . I had no idea you were here. Please forgive me for interrupting your solitude," said she.
"Your interruption is most welcome and I desire it," he replied
"I don't understand. I thought perhaps I would be the last person you would have around."
"On the contrary. It is your company I find most desirable. You might not know this, but with all my worldly education. It is my shyness that held me back from social interactions. Don't get me wrong. I do long for it, but the subjects often discussed were rather tedious weather, money, dowry, estate... Nothing as intellectually stimulating as I had with you. I have never met anyone with your intelligence, wit, and beauty. Not to mention my equal in the game of chess. I came to this place to reflect on my behaviour in general. Mr. Collins action and speech had me thinking how close an enemy can get to me without my detection. Today it was revealed to be my aunt Lady Catherine de Bourg." he related.
Astonished at his comment she replied,"How so?".
"Mr. Collins surprised me. He did something that I should have done years ago, but was I too loyal to my father's legacy or perhaps cowardly. I'm not sure which. You see. I kept silent about Mr. Wickham's perfidy largely because he could ruin my sister whom he tried to persuade to elope last summer. It was a divine intervention that I paid a surprise visit to her in Ramsgate one day sooner than the impending elopement. She was fifteen years old with a dowry of 30,000 pounds. When Wickham learned that he would not see a penny of it. He abandoned her. My sister was heartbroken and has not recovered. I reluctantly gave her some space and came here to Hertfordshire to be of assistance to Bingley. Today a betrayal was revealed to me via Mr. Collins. The fact that Lady Catherine was seen paying Mr. Wickham led me to believe that the scoundrel was working for her to ruin my sister in order to force me to marry her daughter, which I had no intention of doing. As to Mr. Wickham's misfortune. It was his own dissolute ways that caused him to lose his 4,000 pounds which he lost in gambling in four short years. That was the compensation he received upon turning down the living and 1000 for the bequest. I am so sorry for not alerting this town. I will see to compensating the merchants for their losses," he said.
\He turned his head quickly away from her. Trying to hide the tears that rolled down his cheeks. The harrowing tale affected Elizabeth so much that she slumped on a fallen log and began to sob. She couldn't believe so much evil could exist in one person. That she could be so blind as to believe him unreservedly. She was a vain simpleton and was overcome with shame. once again offered his handkerchief, which she willingly accepted.
She looked up to and found him barely holding his composure. Her sisterly instinct prompted her to embrace and comfort him. This act of compassion caused the dam to break in him and he allowed the tears to flow. She rubbed his back while thinking how lonely his life must be to have no one to share his burden. The magnitude of his responsibilities weighing him down while raising a sister. A role of a father rather than a brother. She felt pity towards the sister with no one to confide in unlike her with four siblings to choose from. Suddenly aware of her position she withdrew, but Mr. Darcy held her still. She thanked him for trusting her with his secret, and assured him that it will go no further than between them.
She apologised to him for misjudging his character. That she was thoroughly ashamed of believing Mr. Wickham. He told her that there was nothing to apologise for. Even his father was blinded to his true nature. As to sketching his character, he gave her no reason to believe otherwise since his behaviour was found wanting. They looked at each other intensely. At that moment she recognized the same look she'd seen at Netherfield. Now it holds a different meaning. It was not to find fault but rather…. Her face turned pink and she could not hide her feelings of admiration for this man, but she couldn't voice it either. Instead, she turned away from him. He pulled away from her, but begged her to look at him.
"I would like to ask the greatest favour I have ever asked in my whole life," he said.
"What would that be , " Miss Elizabeth said with a hint of mischief in her eyes to mask the nervous pounding of her heart.
"Would you do me the honour of courting you?" said Mr. Darcy
Miss Elizabeth was stunned by his request. She looked at him and asked, "Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure in my life. I would marry you tomorrow if you would allow me, but I believe you deserve to be courted properly. This will also give you a better way to sketch my character." he said.
Yes was all she could utter, causing Mr. Darcy to display the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen in a man. It made him look so much younger. She answered it with a shy smile of her own. Caught up in his happiness he grabbed Elizabeth by her waist and twirled her around. She wrapped her arms around his neck in return. In her excitement she inhaled his scent and suddenly stopped holding him. Her face was flaming red. She put her hands to her cheeks.
Mr. Darcy released her with a look of surprise and asked her what was the matter.
"It was you!" As she backed away a little bit.
"Whatever do you mean?" his reply.
"You…you…you were there…in the confessional. It was the same scent I smelled when I pressed my face on the screen. It was sandalwood with a hint of citrus. Reverend Madison never smelled like that for as long as I can remember." she said.
Mr. Darcy's face turned red in embarrassment revealing his guilt. Likewise, Elizabeth could only look away in silence. He apologised for not letting his presence known.
Elizabeth was furiously pacing and muttering. "You heard everything! Stupid me. I should cut out my tongue. Ugh! This is so embarrassing."
"I'm sorry. I hid there in a hurry trying to hide from the crowd, especially Miss Bingley. It was a spur of the moment. I heard the back of the church door latch and made for the confession. Shortly there after you arrived. Please forgive me." he said imploringly.
"I was there hiding from my mother," she replied
They looked at each other for a few seconds and burst out laughing.