Anger was an insufficient word for what she felt. Rage, embarrassment, and utter disgust were all among the emotions swirling in her chest. “What gives you the right to call any nation or people ‘savage’, sir? You are a man of the cloth, called to love and lead all people, not only those you deem fit.” She stood from the bench, and he stepped back, stumbling and nearly falling in his haste. “I cannot accept you, Mr Collins.”
He seemed taken aback for a moment. Then, horribly, a self-satisfied smile spread over his face. “Surely you jest, Miss Elizabeth. I know you are possessed of a sense of humour. It would be just like you to refuse me in jest, only to accept me in a day or two. I understand if you need some time to think on the matter. Indeed, it has only deepened my admiration to see that you have put on this display for me, as elegant females are wont to do in such situations.”
“Elegant females?” she asked. “I have no notion of what you could possibly mean.”
“I am told it is the practice for gentlewomen, such as yourself, to refuse a man at first, for a lady naturally would not wish to seem too eager. You are humility itself, I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, but this is not necessary. I promise I will not think any less of you for accepting me right off.”
With an effort, Elizabeth restrained herself from smacking her forehead in frustration. “I have not accepted you, Mr Collins. Quite the contrary. And I am not in the practice of tormenting respectable gentlemen. No sensible woman would count that as an appropriate means of securing someone’s love.” She held her ground, although his face had become quite flushed as she had gone on. “Forgive me, Mr Collins, but I cannot and will not accept your proposal. Good day.” She hurried away, sohe could not refuse her refusal again, and quickly turned the corner of the house.
“Miss Elizabeth!” Mr Collins cried out. To Elizabeth’s despair, she could hear him coming after her. She increased her pace from a brisk walk nearly to a run in her desperation to escape him. “I will inform your mother of the good news of our betrothal!” he called after her.
She gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Insufferable man!” she said under her breath. As Elizabeth turned the corner to the front of the house, she came face to face with Mr Darcy.
Elizabeth could not stop in time. In the shock of bumping into him, Elizabeth would have fallen if he had not reached out to support her. She looked up at him, speechless in her surprise and mortification. Had he heard what Mr Collins had blurted out as she had been making her escape?
His hands still on her arms, Mr Darcy frowned down at her in what seemed to be a mixture of surprise and concern as she tried to right herself. “Forgive me for calling so late in the day, Miss Elizabeth,” he said. She righted herself and smoothed down her skirts, looking over her shoulder to be sure that Mr Collins had not followed her.
Mr Darcy looked at her with increasing concern. “Are you well? You seemed as if you were running from something.”
“I suppose you could say that I am running from a horrid beast, in a way,” Elizabeth said dryly. She glanced at the front door, then back at him. “Forgive my abruptness, Mr Darcy.”
“Not at all. I have come to speak with you, but if now is not a good time…”
“No! I mean, yes, now is the perfect time. I strongly suggest we take a walk in the woods on the other side of the house.” Elizabeth could hear Mr Collins crashing about in the underbrush, coming ever closer.
There was no more time. Elizabeth took Mr Darcy’s arm, tugging it lightly to show him where she wished to go. As they strode away, Elizabeth knew she was acting with unladylike boldness, and knew also that she did not care. Though it was unseemly of her to take a gentleman’s arm and run off with him, desperate times called for desperate measures.
Chapter 26
Of all the ways Darcy had envisioned proposing to Elizabeth, having their meeting begin with her seizing his arm and hurrying away with him had played not even the smallest role. Had he been asked, he would have said that he found such a degree of forwardness in a woman unpleasing, but in the event, it turned out to be anything but. Wherever Elizabeth might lead him, he would gladly follow.
But of course, Elizabeth would not have acted so boldly without a good reason. She looked flushed and ill at ease. More unnerving still, she hurried as if something was chasing her. From time to time, she glanced over her shoulder, as though she feared what she might see there. Had something happened, in fact?
When they came to the edge of the wood, he made her slow and took his arm from around hers. He held her away from him at arm’s length and studied her eyes. They did not look fear-crazed, only worried. But something was clearly wrong. “Are you well, Miss Elizabeth?”
She touched his hands, and he realised he should let her go. It would not do for someone to happen upon them and see them in such an intimate embrace. “I am well. It is just that Iam rattled.” She gave a wry smile. “Mr Collins has just finished proposing to me, and it has left me shaken.”
Darcy reluctantly let her go and took a step back. “Mr Collins?” he asked, horrified that such a ridiculous man would have the gall to propose marriage to Elizabeth —hisElizabeth. Then another mortifying thought entered his mind. “Did you accept him?” Darcy asked, his voice strained. The thought was almost too disgusting to consider.
“Of course not!” she said, appalled at the very suggestion. “He did not want to accept my refusal, which has caused my distress. But I will keep repeating my refusal until he can be made to understand.”
Relief washed over him. He took a deep breath, then reached for her hand. “Perhaps there is another way for Mr Collins to be forced to accept that you will not marry him.”
“And what is that?” Elizabeth asked softly.
“Marry me instead,” Darcy said.
She stared at him for a long pause, then blinked slowly, as if trying to figure out if she had heard him correctly. “Are you proposing, Mr Darcy?”
“I am,” he assured her.
Elizabeth frowned slightly, and he let go of her hand, wondering if the gesture was too much for her. Or had he misread her all along?
“Are you only proposing to save me from Mr Collins?” Elizabeth asked steadily.
“Certainly not.” Darcy tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear, then took a steadying breath before he began.“Each day of our acquaintance has rooted my esteem for you more and more deeply. You are so lovely, Elizabeth, and so witty, but you have other qualities that I prize even more deeply. I shall be grateful to the end of my days for the opportunity of seeing your intelligence and your character at Strathalt House. There, I saw your loyalty as a friend and the ease with which you converse with others. Station and wealth — or the lack thereof — do not matter to you. You treat everyone the same, as fellow travellers on the earth.
“Not least, I saw how you helped Georgiana, and I am not only beholden to you, but I am most ardently in love with you. My feelings have only grown since leaving Scotland, and I can only hope you might share my feelings in some small way.” He looked down at their clasped hands for a moment. “I must tell you I love you, Elizabeth, and I never wish to be parted from you again from this day forward.”
