Somewhat stumped, she said, “Jane?”
“Yes, I am on a given name basis with your sisters. They all wrote letters for you. Jane has them. I believe you also know that Jane has forgiven my officious interference, little though I deserved it. Even Lydia wrote something, though Jane describes it as mostly a diatribe against my general lunkheadedness.”
Elizabeth let out an exasperated sigh. “You are the most confusing man!”
“I know,” he said with a chuckle. “I apologise, but my purpose here is to let you resolve the confusion, and I hope you like the man your family has helped me become better than the evil twin you knew before.”
“Evil twin?”
“A term Jane dreamed up: a bit hyperbolic, but accurate. I quite despise the man.”
Even more confused, Elizabeth’s mind and emotions swirled in a mad dash. One minute she was running from him as fastas she could, and the next she was wishing he would be less gentlemanlike with the hands still on her waist.
In an attempt to order her thoughts, she said, “Mr Darcy… well… I… we need to—”
Darcy, either wisely or timidly, said nothing, but kept his gaze on hers.
Needingsomethingshe could resolve, if only to prove to herself that she was still capable of resolution, Elizabeth said, “This will sound incongruous, but… but—”
Darcy nodded kindly. “How may I help?”
“I… well… I cannot call you Mr Darcy. It muddles my thinking, and forgive me for saying this, but it may be some time before I associate ‘Mr Darcy’ with anything other than your evil twin.”
Darcy chuckled—a deep rumble Elizabeth was no longer so averse to. “Almost everyone calls me Darcy. Georgiana calls me Brother or occasionally William. Anne usually calls me ‘Lunkhead, Muttonhead, or similar.’”
“Almost everyone calls me Lizzy or occasionally Eliza. I do not know why, but… I want something of my own—withoutattaching any more meaning to it.”
“We could prove ourselves radicals, upend all family tradition, and call each other Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth.”
“I would like that.”
“Once again, how may I help you, Elizabeth? I see you are nervous… as am I.”
“We have so much… so much… so much—”
“Confusion? Misunderstanding? Expectations? Desires?”
“All those and more. I imagine first things first. Do I have any reputation left? Am Iobligedto anything to protect my sisters?”
Fitzwilliam gasped, nearly shouting, “No!I will not allow it. I lumbered around like a bull in a china shop for a month, but your family and I worked diligently and carefully to ensureyour reputation is sterling. I am resolved that you shall act in that manner, which will, in your own opinion, constitute your happiness, without reference to me, or to any person presently unconnected with you.”
Elizabeth studied him intently, and he gently squeezed her waist. “I will protect you, Elizabeth, regardless of what you choose. I will protectyour choice.I swear this to you.”
“Thank you… Fitzwilliam. I… well… I imagine if you are on a given name basis with Jane and Lydia you know how close I came to saying things that could not be unsaid in Hunsford?”
With a chuckle, Darcy replied, “I can tell you that Darcys are perhaps more resilient than you might think. I have been taken down several pegs by Anne, Jane, Lady Matlock, Lydia, Mary, Ellen… well, you get the idea. And yet, here I am.”
Quite confusedly, Elizabeth asked, “Jane… my sister, Jane?”
“I see twenty-one years were insufficient for you to get on her bad side. I do not recommend it.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Jane?Jane Bennet!”
“The same. We have much to discuss about her, but she is happy. She is formidable. She has a new best friend. She has a purpose. You need not concern yourself with Jane.”
Elizabeth stared in confusion. “Jane!”
Darcy nodded.
