Chapter 23
“He must be in love with your Eliza,” Charlotte said. Mr Darcy having left the parsonage not five minutes hence. Elizabeth beseeched her to be serious.
“Or he would never have called on us in this familiar way,” Charlotte explained her reasoning.
“You know he is not meaning to call on us,” Elizabeth said, her tone exasperated. “It is merely as I am going every day to Rosings to play the pianoforte. He seems to feel it is his duty to see me safe back to parsonage,” she said, shaking her head. “Vexing man. I have told him and continue to tell him every day that it is unnecessary. I mean what is going to happen to me between the parsonage and Rosings?”
As much as Elizabeth did not relish Mr Darcy’s company. She had to admit that the grounds of Rosings Park were most beautiful. Laid out with formal gardens close to the house. These lead to meandering walkways through lightly landscaped grounds. A short path through a wilderness walk, which owned nothing to nature and everything to design, released the traveller to the entrance to the park. The parsonage stood almost as a sentry at the side of Rosings grounds.
Elizabeth had visited Rosings every day for the last two weeks. Playing the piano. She was most often left alone to practice in peace. But three times Lady Catherine had appeared. Elizabeth knew that meant that she must performfor the Lady. Mr Darcy had accompanied Lady Catherine on those occasions. But where or not Lady Catherine arrived. Mr Darcy was always waiting for her when she finished. Insisting on walking with her to parsonage.
He often accompanied her into the parsonage. Sitting and taking tea with herself and Charlotte. Surprisingly, Mr Darcy was chatty enough during their walks. Canvasing her opinions on diverse topics. From enquiring after her family. To asking her about her enjoyment of nature and walking. To her attachment to Longbourn. They even discoursed on politics and books. Until Elizabeth proclaimed she could not thinks on such things while surrounded by nature. And those topics would be better suited for the drawing room. But once with Charlotte in the drawing room the silent taciturn Mr Darcy returned.
She had now only three days left in Hunsford. Her father had confirmed that he would send a carriage, with a footman and maid. Who would bring her home on the morning of the fourth day.
In addition, the Hunsford party dined twice more at Rosings. And Elizabeth had to own that Mr Darcy had made a concerted effort to engage with her. She had to suppose the reason for this was there was little in the way of distraction in Rosings.
Miss Anne De Bourgh was sickly and quiet. She faded in to the background. And other than the initial introduction had not spoken to any of visitors again. Elizabeth thought she was overpowered by her domineering mother. Although, Mrs Bennet was loud and demanding of attention. None of her daughters cowed in fear of her. Elizabeth had to own that she felt sorry for the heiress of Rosings.
Mr Darcy again waiting to accompany her back to the parsonage. There was only one more full day before she wouldleave Hunsford, and this strange ritual would end. When he stopped suddenly and turned to her, Elizabeth looked around wondering what had occurred.
“In vain have I struggled,” Mr Darcy’s said, his face flushed with colour. “It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed.”
Elizabeth did not immediately comprehend him; such was the unexpected nature of his next words.
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently admire and love you.”
Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her immediately followed.
Having made such an opening declaration. His purpose would seem to be clear. But as he continued to speak of his sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, of the family obstacles. Elizabeth thought even had she been decided in his favour. This recitation was unlikely to recommend his suit.
She was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive; till roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost all compassion in anger. He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which in spite of all his endeavours he had found impossible to conquer; and with expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand. As he said this she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favourable answer. Hespokeof apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security.
When he ceased the colour rose into her cheeks and she, finally given an opportunity replied.
“In such cases as this,” she said, “it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation forthe sentiments avowed, however unequally they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I couldfeelgratitude, I would now thank you. But I cannot—I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly. I am sorry to have occasioned pain to anyone. It has been most unconsciously done, however, and I hope will be of short duration. The feelings which you tell me have long prevented the acknowledgment of your regard can have little difficulty in overcoming it after this explanation.”
Mr. Darcy, who was standing fixed in place, with his eyes fixed on her face, seemed to catch her words with no less resentment than surprise. His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance of his mind was visible in every feature. He was struggling for the appearance of composure and would not open his lips till he believed himself to have attained it. The pause was to Elizabeth’s feelings dreadful. At length, in a voice of forced calmness, he said.
“And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting! I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so littleendeavourat civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance. It is well we are away from Hertfordshire, as your mother would never allow you to refuse a man of my consequences.”
“I beg to differ Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “My mother owned to detesting you after you displayed your lack of manners at the Meryton assembly. Indeed, your behaviour so degusted the neighbourhood. That my mother gave me leave to refuse to dance with you, if you should offer in the future. When you asked for my hand at the Netherfield ball, I hesitated. But if I had refused a dance with you so early in the evening I would have had to sit out the rest of the ball. Mymother questioned me as to why I had assented to the dance. But when I explained my reasoning she quite understood.”
Mr Darcy’s eyes went wide at this confession but his proud demeanor did not disappear for long. “A dance is of little consequence. I had heard your mother’s plans on marrying your eldest sister to my friend.”
Elizabeth frowned, failing to comprehend of what he spoke, “My mother’s plans?”
“I did not hear the whole of it, but I distinctly heard your mother say, “when Jane marries Mr Bingley and then she when on to say that will throw the girls into the path of other rich men. Given her plans for your family based on Mr Bingley’s wealth and connections. I wonder not what her strategy would be on the back of my own.”
Elizabeth knew well that was not what her mother had said at all. But she choose not to correct Mr Darcy. For she did not think he deserved an explanation. Instead she merely shrugged and continued. “I knew from almost our first occasion that you were the last man I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.”
“It seems clear to me that your view of my family is such,” she said, her voice now calm as she continued. “That you can only be relieved at my refusal.”
And seeing that this was the only explanation he was to received. Mr Darcy gave her a stiff bow and left her standing in the park.
If Charlotte wondered why Mr Darcy had not accompanied her home that day. She did not ask any questions of Elizabeth. Elizabeth was glad of that, as she knew not how she would reply!
