Page 19 of Elizabeth’s Choice

“I will be at your service, my love. I always knew you were wild and perhaps why I fell in love with you,” he laughed loudly. “I wish I can claim all your sets at the ball but am pleased that we will have the supper. I will show no doubt to every one of my intent to woo the handsomest lady of my acquaintance. You have practiced diligently and proved that even the most savage woman I know can dance!” He laughed at his own jest but stopped abruptly when he saw that there was someone he had not expected standing inside the music room.

Richard Fitzwilliam, who had been merrily speaking with Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley, turned to hear Darcy insulting Elizabeth and immediately glared at him in anger. “William, I demand a duel. How dare you call her a savage when I warned you not to denigrate Miss Elizabeth…”

Elizabeth stepped forward to curtsy prettily and interrupted him, “Colonel, I assure you that Mr. Darcy was not denigrating me. It is good to see you and if you do not mind, let us take a stroll in the gardens so I can tell you what has been happening during the past months.”

The colonel continued to shoot daggers at his cousin but proffered his arm to walk outside while Darcy adjusted his cravat nervously, wondering if Richard would forgive him with however Elizabeth explained the latest development.

“How was the assignment in Portsmouth?” Elizabeth enquired. “I know your arrival was delayed by a fortnight but you look very well. Were you able to find at least a few hopeful archers who might be able to beat me in competition?”

Richard smiled as he shook his head, “No, there were several who showed some potential but they will never come close to your skills. It seems your time at Pemberley has been an interesting one. You look very beautiful in your dress and appear comfortable in it, but if William has forced you to change your mode of dress, I will give him a piece of my mind. How dare he call you a savage?” His ire arose again after remembering Darcy’s rude insult.

Elizabeth laughed in amusement, “We were sharing a jest and he did not offend me, Colonel.” She stopped walking and turned to face him, “I love him. I fell in love with him somehow and although I still stand steadfast about my decision on not marrying, he wants to marry me after he breaks off the understanding with Miss Bingley. I am not good enough for him and my family is completely unsuitable for a gentleman of his rank, and of course, there is the matter of his vow to follow his father’s last wish, but nonetheless, we have been enjoying our peace here at Pemberley and are waiting to see what the future might hold for us.”

Richard stepped closer to look her in the eyes and said, “Does he make you happy? Is there anything I can do to win you, Elizabeth? You know I would do anything for you. You need not fear for your future and I will accept you and your family without a moment of hesitation. You must know how much I love you.”

“I know, and I am indebted to you for what you and your family have done for me,” she replied. “I do not know if I will ever marry. Even with my heart the way it is for Mr. Darcy, all the things I wish to do, my independence that I have worked so long and hard to achieve, I know not if I can give them up and I worry. I worry that he does not know me well-enough, and although ardour may burn bright now, after he sees my family and realises how unfit I am within his station, I fear he will regret and despise me for his poor choice. The same reasons I gave you, I have for him as well.”

Richard rubbed her arms, "You know you have no reason to fear it, Elizabeth. You are beautiful and intelligent and independently wealthy. What man in his right mind would regret such a lady? I thought it possible that you might consider William because I saw that he was in love with you in Ramsgate but hoped that you would wait for me. He is a good man but I did not think you would fall for him after only three months.” He sighed as he stepped back, “I suppose the allurement of his wealth is unavoidable. Pemberley tends to have such an effect on ladies."

“Do you truly believe me capable of being so mercenary? Do you not know me by now?” she gently rebuked him. “Pemberley is truly a paradise I had never imagined to exist, but I have been searching for my own place to belong and have even looked at houses near Matlock. If I should ever marry, I would have to give up my rights to the house and my family is depending on me… I am responsible to keep my mother and sisters secure and what husband in his right mind would accept my mother? She is infuriating and the reason why I left home five years ago, but I made a promise to my father to be the son he needed to provide for his family.”

“You have no need to worry for your family. I told you I would never…” he began to respond but was not allowed to continue.

“My family should not be your burden nor any man’s, Richard, and I must carry it alone. And although I have yet to meet Miss Bingley, I know William thought her beautiful and accomplished enough to consider settling her here at Pemberley. He carries a tremendous guilt for arguing with his father before his passing and when he sees her again, what feelings he has for me now might fade away and he will be able to choose the path that has been set for him long ago instead. I have also learned that a very lovely lady has been in love with you for ages and I think she is perfect for you. You know who I mean by it, do you not?”

“Who?” he furrowed his brows, “I know not who… Oh, do you mean Miss Grey? Has William told you about her? She is just someone from a long time ago…” he flustered.

“Yes, Miss Grey! She is back in Derbyshire and has become a dear friend. I initially thought William liked her and became jealous of her but once I learned that she was in love with you, I found her amiable and she is one of my best archery students.” She wrapped her arm around his as they began to return to the house, “She is perfect for you and I want you to open up your heart to seeing her with fresh eyes, Richard. You are like a dear brother to me and I truly wish for your happiness. Whether I marry your cousin or not, you know he is a good man and it will be some time until I can sort out my life. Be happy - for yourself as well as for your cousin and me. I did not tell you before but I actually met William ten years ago in town…” and she began to tell the colonel of her history with Mr. Darcy.

~*~

“A word, William,” Richard commanded after his return from the gardens with Elizabeth.

Darcy gulped and walked to him, “In my study?”

The colonel nodded and they entered the room and took their seats, and Darcy nervously played with his pocket watch chain while Richard remained silent and only glared at him. After another long minute, Darcy began first, “I know not what Elizabeth said to you but I love her and want to marry her. She may be unconventional but I only want to make her happy. I hope you will forgive me…”

Richard shook his head and smiled a little, “I told you Miss Elizabeth has such an effect on people… She has changed you and you have changed her. It is clear that she is in love with you and I have not seen her so content before. You make her happy and I must concede that since all I also want is her happiness, how could I not accept your… I do not know what to call it. You are nearly engaged to another woman and are courting Miss Elizabeth… What are you going to do?”

Darcy rubbed his eyes with his hands, “I have two regrets — first, for not controlling my temper when my father told me about the arrangement he wished before his passing; and the second, being unable to hold my tongue in telling Bingley last Spring about Father’s desire for me to marry Caroline Bingley. I found her pretty and thought her pleasant enough to marry but it was not a week later that the ton gossiped that we were nearly betrothed. We were seen together a few times during the last season but I am certain she is the one who spread the gossip. I capitulated to the idea of marrying her and thought to propose this autumn if she had improved in her skills as a mistress but then I met Elizabeth. She is witty and considerate and I found out that she has taken tea with Mrs. Reynolds weekly since her arrival. She is lovely and is a natural mistress here and I cannot envision life without her now. She is accomplished in everything that matters to me and is incredibly intelligent but has a temper to match mine and chastises me like no one has done before. I love her and even if she decides to never marry, I am willing to do anything to be by her side and dedicate myself to her.”

“If you never marry, you would not have a legitimate heir for Pemberley. What would you do then?” his cousin asked.

Darcy shrugged his shoulders, “Georgiana’s son can have Pemberley. I only want her. I can live in whatever house she purchases and remain blissfully happy to spend my days arguing with her and holding her in my arms. All I have,” he pointed to the paintings and books in the room, “even the first edition of Shakespeare’s First Folio, they mean nothing to me without her.”

Richard chuckled, “You really have changed, cousin. There was a time when Georgie and I both tried to talk you out of marrying Caroline Bingley and the only thing that mattered to you was your vow to uphold your father’s wish. Not that I ever had her, but I am pleased that of all the gentlemen in the world, that Miss Elizabeth fell in love with you. Why did you not tell me about meeting her ten years ago, though? I never heard the story about you running around in London barefoot and appearing like a pauper. Did you truly name Sabrina Cottage after Miss Elizabeth?”

Darcy scratched head sheepishly, “I was mortified and could not tell a soul! I did not want to be caught in such a shameful disgrace at the time, and although the young girl had made a great first impression on me with her impertinence, I had little time to think about what happened until I realised Miss Elizabeth was the same adorable girl from ten years ago. I had heard of rumours of you chasing a Miss Elizabeth who competed in archery but you revealed nothing about her and I never connected that she was my Sabrina. She declared that she would marry me then, do you know? But now, she cannot envision herself as a wife and I will continue to try to convince her that I would do anything for her. I beg for your forgiveness and thank you for your acceptance. You are a good man, Richard.”

His cousin answered, “I intended to pursue her fervently again during this trip but she tasked me to look towards Miss Grey, and although my heart is aching, I will overcome it. I suppose I always knew she would not choose me. She always said I would have been an ideal brother and I intend to protect her like one for as long as she needs. If she tells me to give you a beating, I will obey in an instant!”

“Haha! And I believe you!” Darcy laughed loudly. “And Georgie would do the same! She has such an effect on people.” He took a deep breath, “She is worried that I will be frightened away by her family. She wants to provide for them and believes that society will disapprove of me connecting with someone like her. How do I convince her that it will not be the case?”

“Father told me that Mr. Bennet is quite peculiar,” the colonel explained, “and although they were good acquaintances, he became more withdrawn once he moved into his family’s estate and rarely ventures out of the county. I think he meets Miss Elizabeth annually in Bath for a certain competition but that is about all. He said Thomas Bennet was with Benjamin Bingley when he died and it affected him greatly and that Mr. Bennet never returned to London afterwards and is pretty much a recluse. I believe he knew your father as well; they had a huge success in some speculation years ago when they made a fortune.”

“Ah, yes, about ten years ago, when Father gave me Sabrina Cottage for my birthday, I believe. He had gained over a hundred thousand pounds at the time and purchased a few other smaller properties then. I did not know he knew Mr. Bennet. That might make it easier to convince her father to allow me to propose,” Darcy grinned. “I will take any advantage I have to win her hand. But do you have any feelings for Miss Grey? She is still head-over-heels in love with you.”

Richard coloured, “We were so young then and I thought I would ask her for courtship when she became of age, but then I got busy with His Majesty’s Army and then met Miss Elizabeth… I suppose in needing to give her up, I might look to Miss Grey but it is not fair for any woman to feel second best and it is common knowledge that I chased after Miss Elizabeth, or rather Miss Fairfax, in town. I will need to see how she is at the ball to evaluate my future with her.”