Page 26 of Elizabeth’s Choice

He could not believe his eyes to see Elizabeth Bennet walking in, looking beautiful even in a simple dress, and his heart nearly stopped when she looked in his direction, but she did not acknowledge him.

“Lizzie!” he could hear Mrs. Bennet’s shrill voice, “You have finally arrived! Let me take a look at you! My daughter who has been so successful that she is leasing her own large estate now and will be a landowner soon! Why do you appear so pale, though? You are too skinny and we must fatten you up a bit…” her voice trailed off as she paraded Elizabeth around the hall.

Darcy attempted to follow Elizabeth but many of the neighbours were cheerfully greeting her and Sir William’s spinster daughter appeared to be especially happy to see her as well. Darcy tried to step through the horde of people but felt a hand on his arm to turn him around and saw that it was Miss Bingley who had stopped him.

She annoyingly commented, “There you are, Mr. Darcy! I had wondered where you had gone. Did you see that woman come in by herself? She is the second Bennet daughter who was expected to arrive last month and is apparently the prodigal daughter who has been gone for several years! I do not understand all the fuss that they are making about her, just for having a small house or something, when you know I have twenty thousand pounds and she cannot possibly have much if her father only has two thousand a year. I cannot believe that my father and Mr. Bennet would have been very close, since he is so poor and no one of any import resides in Hertfordshire.”

Darcy looked back at where Elizabeth had last been but lost sight of her and then faced Miss Bingley to address her, “I believe Miss Elizabeth to be the most accomplished lady I have had the pleasure to meet. Please excuse me,” and left her standing alone in complete confusion.

Darcy stood next to the stands at the side of the hall in his search for Elizabeth as the music continued for another dance, and Bingley approached him and began to extol all his praises of Miss Bennet. Darcy was disappointed that Elizabeth had all but vanished and was nowhere to be seen so he turned his attention to his friend.

“…is an angel, Darcy,” Elizabeth could hear Mr. Bingley speaking with Mr. Darcy while she hid herself behind the under-structure of the seating stands in the great hall. She had snuck away to compose herself after seeing Mr. Darcy and could not decide how to approach him. She held her breath to listen to Mr. Bingley, knowing that he had just finished dancing with her dearest Jane. “Can you imagine what would have happened if I went to the Monument and met Miss Bennet? I would have fallen in love immediately and we might even be betrothed by now!”

Darcy sternly warned his friend, “Take caution, Bingley. You were busy chasing Miss Grantley and were about to propose to her, and do not forget that Miss Bennet sent her sister in her place. You might have escaped a terrible fate by missing the appointment. Did you hear her mother? She is the most vulgar woman I have met and I know for a fact that the Bennet daughters have decent dowries but her mother is as mercenary as one gets and you will need to take your time before your eyes drift to another young lady.” He paused a moment before continuing, “I have heard good things about Miss Bennet but you need to guard yourself better, Bingley. And yes, she is very pretty and your sisters will hate it. Let us fetch a drink. I am looking for someone who has disappeared again.”

Elizabeth could hear Mr. Bingley laughing as the gentlemen walked away and shook her head in disappointment. It seemed that Mr. Darcy had met her mother and it had been exactly as she had dreaded; that her family was beneath his notice and it would not be long until all affections would be dissolved. She straightened her posture, resolute to ignore the gentleman who had wounded her and to find a way to apologise to her sisters that her secret had been revealed and that it would not be long before her family’s name would be in utter disgrace.

Chapter 17

Elizabeth walked next to her horse to the front gate to head towards Oakham Mount for an early ride the following morning, wondering how to invite Miss Darcy to Ashworth but to send her brother away. She had arrived only the evening prior to take possession of her new home and was immensely pleased with the property, and due to the lateness of the hour, had gone straight to the assembly hall after donning one of her plainer evening dresses.

She had not expected Mr. Darcy to be present at the assembly but knowing him well, she thought he would attempt to make his apologies but was disheartened to hear his poor opinion of her mother. She still cared for him but avoided him the entire night and knew that all hope was lost, and she only desired to save her family’s reputation, even if it meant writing to Lord and Lady Matlock to beg for their assistance. She continued towards the end of Ashworth’s driveway when she saw him.

Mr. Darcy was seated on his horse by the border waiting for her and she could not find the words to speak to him so she began to turn back but he called out to her. “Please do not go. I have been waiting for you for the past hour so that I might see you. I am here to fulfil my debt to you since I promised to ride out with you when you arrived in Hertfordshire, did I not?” He pulled the reins back so that his stallion would step farther away from her, “You do not have to speak to me and I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, but I would like your permission to ride behind you and will keep my distance. That is all I wish to do.”

Elizabeth did not know what to do but as she was already dressed to ride, she quickly mounted her mare to head towards Oakham Mount without saying a word. She was still angry with him and was not in a forgiving mood so she sped ahead to the top of the mount to enjoy the view in silence. She had missed seeing Hertfordshire’s calm, rolling hills and thought to herself to invite Miss Darcy soon and how she might ask her friend to convince Mr. Darcy to depart the county. She was relieved that the gentleman kept his word and did not attempt to speak with her, and after exercising her horse through a long, wide field, she returned to Ashworth without another look in his direction.

Darcy remained at the property line and sighed to see Elizabeth entering her home. She had allowed him to stay near and he was grateful for it, but he also knew that she was not ready to forgive him and that she deserved plenty of space until she chose to speak to him. He pulled on the reins to return to Netherfield so that he could break his fast and then make an important call to the father of the woman he loved.

~*~

Darcy noted the quaint house as he entered Longbourn and was led to Mr. Bennet’s study. He had told Bingley of his schedule and had gone alone with the plan to get to know Elizabeth’s father better, as well as to see if her fears about her mother were indeed valid as it had appeared the prior evening. “Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Bennet,” he began. “I was very pleased to make your acquaintance and wanted to explain myself about my rudeness to Miss Elizabeth last Spring.”

Mr. Bennet grinned as he answered, “I got the truth out of Jane and Lizzie and they told me what they did. I am sorry for my incivility last night. Jane had simply written that Mr. Bingley arrived on time but he had been condescending and impolite, but it made so much more sense that you met my Lizzie instead and left such a first impression on her. Bingley seems like an amiable fellow and he is just as his father had been.”

“I am mortified with how terribly I offended Miss Elizabeth that day, but she had been in Ramsgate when I happened to meet her again the following week and she had become a very good friend to my sister, sir. Had she explained that she had been at Pemberley during the summer months?” Darcy carefully enquired.

“Yes, she told me that she spent three full months in Derbyshire as your sister’s guest but when I asked about how she got along with you, she refused to say a word about it and appeared upset so I did not press. I was actually surprised that she did not acknowledge you at all last night but realised that she must still be holding a grudge against you. You must know my daughter’s temperament well enough, having seen her those months in Derbyshire, that once her good opinion is lost, it is lost forever,” he explained. “She was always a wilful child and I raised her like a son and only regret that she did not have a chance to be a carefree daughter.”

Darcy carefully observed the gentleman of about sixty years in age who was pale and coughing at times and asked, “Are you feeling better, sir? I heard your family was quite ill recently. Are you still feeling the effects?”

Mr. Bennet nodded his head, “I am still weak but improving, thank you. My entire family, except Jane, had been ill and she took great care of us for two weeks, and I was glad Lizzie had been delayed due to her injury, or else she might have fallen ill, too.”

“Injury?” Darcy blared but quickly corrected himself, “She did not appear to be injured at the assembly. How was she injured?”

“She did not say exactly how but it had to do with one of her archery competitions, I believe. She assured me that all is well now. But, if I may ask, why is she upset with you, Mr. Darcy?” He asked the younger man.

“Just Darcy, please.” Darcy sighed as he shook his head, “She has every right to be upset with me, since I have been too proud and said things that should never have been said. It seems I am always putting my big foot in my mouth to offend her. I know it is all my fault but we seem to be constantly arguing.”

“Ah, I understand. I had hoped you two would get along but we shall take care to not offend Lizzie again, and if any talk of you will upset her, I shall not mention your name to her at all. Last time her mother angered her, she left Hertfordshire for five years and I have no wish to repeat it.” He leaned back into his chair and continued, “I have been unwell for about six years, but not from any ailment but rather from losing friends around me and suffering from not a bodily exhaustion but rather that of the mind. I have lost interest in most things in life and did not think I would rally again but having you and young Mr. Bingley here has brought me hope for the next generation. My Janey appeared to enjoy the gentleman’s company last night and perhaps something might happen there as his father and I had wished.”

Darcy smiled, “He falls in and out of love often but is a good man and I have already advised him to take care with Miss Bennet. I do not want any harm to come to your family and would not want him to be accused of capriciousness, since he recently terminated courtship with someone in town. That woman was revealed to be mercenary and he barely escaped her clutches only a little while ago.”

Mr. Bennet rubbed his chin with one hand, “I hope I have a chance to gain a better acquaintance with him soon, Darcy. I would not let my daughters go to anyone unworthy and care not if his father and I thought them to be a good match. If he cannot seriously contemplate dedication in a good marriage, I would never allow my daughter to marry such a man.”

Darcy nodded as he stood up, “I have a younger sister and am of the same mind, sir. I have taken up too much of your time but would like to call on you again soon. Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Bennet.”

The older gentleman stood and shook Darcy’s hand, “Come and see me any time, Darcy. I awake at dawn and have little to do, so feel free to come in the early mornings at your leisure. I would be pleased if you would visit any mornings, every morning, in fact.”