Jane nodded and took Mr. Collins’s arm. Charlotte trailed behind him, casting a glance at Elizabeth that she acknowledged with a nod. The door closed, and she retired to the sitting room. The quiet house soothed her aching head, and she reclined on the settee, contemplating all she had learned that day.
After a half an hour in that attitude, Elizabeth heard the bell and wondered who could possibly be visiting the parsonage at that hour. If it was a parishioner, they would be redirected to Rosings Park. She heard the door open and Martha’s voice greeting whoever stood on the stoop.
She stood when she heard footsteps approaching and brushed the wrinkles from the front of her gown. The door opened and Martha stepped in.
“Mr. Darcy, ma’am,” she said. She curtseyed and left the room.
“Sir.” Her cool greeting might have been attributed to her aching head, but she knew it stemmed from his cruel actions.
“Forgive me for troubling you. I heard you were ill and wished to see for myself how you fared. Are you feeling any better?” His concern did not seem feigned.
How very officious you are, sir. My health is none of your concern.“I am well enough. A little rest and I shall be returned to myself.” She paused and unwillingly said, “Will you not sit down?” Her manners would not fail, even in the face of his unwanted company.
He sat but did not remain in that position long before he stood and began pacing. At last, he turned to her and said passionately, “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
She blinked in surprise, examining his countenance for signs he was not in his right mind. Surely, she must be hearing things.Mr. Darcy had said what? Before she could gather her now flustered thoughts, he continued.
“In offering myself to you, I am aware I go against my family’s wishes and indeed, against my own better judgment. Such an alliance will be seen as a degradation to the Darcy name. To connect myself so irrevocably to relations so decidedly beneath my own will doubtlessly earn me the censure of my peers and the derision of my neighbors, but I cannot do without you. You have impressed me from the beginning as a compassionate, caring, confident lady, one with intelligence, wit, and no guile. And so, I come before you, begging you to end my agony and consent to become my wife.”
Elizabeth’s shock and anger grew with each word. She choked down her rage and mentally prepared to politely refuse him. She hoped that in doing so, he would depart, ego bruised but no worse for wear. She opened her mouth to reply, but the door to the room, partially open to maintain propriety, flew open and Charlotte entered.
“Oh, Lizzy! My best wishes. Married to Mr. Darcy; how marvelous!” She threw her arms around Elizabeth, holding her close and then whispering, “Think,”before pulling away.
She still had hopes of quelling Charlotte’s declaration when she noted Sir Andrew and Martha in the doorway. Sir Andrew looked pleased, and Martha looked smug. The latter would doubtlessly make for Rosings Park as soon as she could.
The pain in Elizabeth’s head flared and she did the only thing she could in the situation she found herself: she swooned.
Charlotte
Charlotte trailed behind Jane and Mr. Collins. She worried for Elizabeth. Something had upset her. A headache could explain her friend’s lack of zeal that evening, but something more must have occurred. Elizabeth seemed disquieted. She had stared at Jane far too hard when ensuring her sister of her wellbeing.
They entered the sitting room at Rosings Park. Lady Catherine immediately commandeered Jane’s company, and Mr. Collins trailed after. Sir Andrew came to join Charlotte, but Lady de Bourgh had not yet appeared.
“My grandmother will be down shortly. She is with Anne; Lady Catherine tries to keep her daughter away from her mother-in-law, but Lady de Bourgh will not be deterred.” He glanced at the door. “Where is Miss Bennet?”
“She claims a headache.” Charlotte shook her head. “She is prevaricating, I know it.”
Mr. Darcy and the colonel entered. One glance about the room and Mr. Darcy’s face creased with concern.
“Miss Bennet’s headache is to be lamented,” Lady Catherine said loudly.
“Mrs. Collins has informed Aunt Catty of her guest’s whereabouts.” Sir Andrew spoke quietly in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “Darcy will leave within five minutes, I guarantee it. Shall we follow?”
Charlotte bit her lip. She had had much time to consider what to do if Mr. Darcy did propose to Elizabeth. She knew she would need to be present to prevent anything stupid happening. If Mr. Darcy took this time to propose…
“There he goes.” Mr. Darcy strode out the door the moment Lady Catherine had turned away. “Let us follow.”
Sir Andrew took her hand and tugged her out. They kept pace behind Mr. Darcy, walking quietly so as to be undetected. He entered the parsonage first and they waited before following.Immediately upon entering, she could hear him speaking to Elizabeth in the parlor. His words were hardly romantic.
“…To connect myself so irrevocably to relations so decidedly beneath my own will doubtlessly earn me the censure of my peers and the derision of my neighbors, but I cannot do without you. You have impressed me from the beginning as a compassionate, caring, confident lady, one with intelligence, wit, and no guile. And so, I come before you, begging you to end my agony and consent to become my wife.”
“Now, Charlotte.” Sir Andrew pushed her and she bumped the door, causing it to swiftly open.
She hurried forward and cried, “Oh, Lizzy! My best wishes. Married to Mr. Darcy; how marvelous!” She threw her arms around the younger lady and pulled her as close as she could, whispering, “Think,”before pulling away. She prayed Elizabeth would stay any reply until they could speak privately.
Elizabeth looked truly pale now, and as she swooned, Charlotte caught her before she hit the ground.
“Elizabeth!” Mr. Darcy hurried forward, assisting Charlotte and scooping the lady into his arms.
