“There is still a chance that no one will discover who I am.”
“But what if they do?” said her uncle. “I will be frank with you, Lizzy. It is only a matter of time.”
She did not have an answer.
The worried expression on the Gardiners’ faces twisted at Elizabeth’s heart. Was she doing something she was going to regret for the rest of her life? She could not give in to society’s pressure, for Mr. Darcy’s sake. She had to stand firm.
“We cannot reward Mr. Darcy for his good deed by trapping him into a marriage he does not want.”
Mr. Gardiner shook his head and rubbed his hand against the stubble on his cheek. “Lizzy—”
Elizabeth lifted her chin defiantly. “You know that I am right, Uncle.”
Silence greeted her words.
The three of them eyed each other gloomily.
“In any case,” she said. “I do not understand why we are even having this discussion. I have driven Mr. Darcy away. I have told him I will not marry him. It cannot be undone.”
The words brought a chill to her heart, filling her with a terrible sense of loss.
Mr. Gardiner left for work a few moments later, promising Elizabeth he would think of something. Elizabeth moved with her aunt to the parlor. A short time later, Maggie came downstairs, carrying her slate.
“Look what I drew, Mama!” she said to Mrs. Gardiner, proudly. “It is a drawing of me in the water with the eels and Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy saved me from the water, you know. When will we see Mr. Darcy and his sister again?”
Eels. Elizabeth had joked about eels, just before Mr. Darcy had offered to marry her.
Elizabeth stared at the chalk drawing. It was very basic, but, in a childish way, it seemed to capture who Mr. Darcy was.
“This is a very good drawing, Maggie,” said Elizabeth, embracing her little cousin. “May I keep it?”
“You cannot keep it, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “Maggie needs the slate to learn how to spell and do her sums.”
“I know, but this is a very precious memory for her.”
“I see,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “Just for her?”
Elizabeth blushed and looked away. “I will buy Maggie a new slate tomorrow.”
Maggie, pleased to be spared her lessons for today, ran upstairs to tell her brothers.
Mrs. Gardiner ordered tea to be brought, then poured Elizabeth a cup.
“Lizzy, my dear, we need to talk.”
“There is nothing left to say,” said Elizabeth. “I have explained my position clearly. I have nothing to add.
“I just want to make sure. Remember that Mr. Darcy possesses a fortune, and has the means to keep you in style. I have seen Pemberley. It is a beautiful estate. You may not care for Mr.Darcy, but are you certain you want to turn down such an estate?”
“Perhaps if I saw the estate, I might reconsider.” Elizabeth’s lips twitched, but she quickly turned serious. It was not the estate that might tempt her. It was Mr. Darcy himself.
“Think carefully, Lizzy. If you marry Mr. Darcy, your position in society will be assured. The Darcys are very well regarded, and they have very fine connections.”
“I am not looking for fine connections. I am looking for love. In any case, I have already told you why I cannot marry Mr. Darcy.”
“Yes, I know. But it is such a pity.”
Thatwas the understatement of the century, thought Lizzy. “You think I do not know that?” she said, sourly.
