Page 20 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

The carriage swayed and Fitzwilliam Darcy swayed with it.

The road to Hunsford was well established and maintained and his carriage was the best that money could buy.

Thus, the ride was supremely comfortable, even soothing.

Colonel Fitzwilliam, across from Darcy, and Georgiana, next to him, had both succumbed to sleep.

Darcy himself was too excited to sleep as every turn of the wheels brought him slightly closer to Elizabeth Bennet. She was, he knew, installed in the parsonage at Hunsford visiting her friend Mrs. Charlotte Collins.

There was a soft murmur from Georgiana, and Darcy turned to see his sister frown as she shifted in search of a more comfortable position for slumber.

With a fond smile, the tall man carefully pulled his sister close to him, allowing her to rest her head against his chest. Georgie’s eyes opened briefly and she smiled, and then she nodded off again.

Darcy gazed at his sister’s face affectionately.

The months since the Darcys had left Hertfordshire had indeed been long and as expected, he had missed Elizabeth Bennet every day.

Nonetheless, the months at Pemberley had been good for both Darcy siblings.

Pemberley had required the focused attention of her master, and Darcy had found himself with full days of work with his steward and tenants.

Georgiana, with the specter of George Wickham laid permanently to rest, had focused on her music and her education even as she spent as much time as possible with her brother.

Darcy grew only more impressed with time at his sister’s courage and determination, and enjoyed relating to her more as a brother and peer than a father figure.

Yes, though he had missed Miss Bennet, it had been a good winter.

It helped that Georgiana and Elizabeth had maintained a vigorous correspondence.

Darcy could not, of course, correspond directly with his love because he was neither a family member nor formally engaged to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

But Georgiana had been a conduit between the two; she never actually handed Elizabeth’s letters over to her brother, but she often read excerpts aloud.

To Darcy’s astonishment, he found himself happily discussing, via his sister, a complex treatise on crop rotations written under the auspices of Mr. Coke of Norfolk, the most famous gentleman farmer of their day.

The weeks away from Hertfordshire and Elizabeth merely solidified Darcy’s conviction that Miss Bennet was the woman he wanted for his wife.

He was confident that mere infatuation would have waned with distance; instead, he thought of the woman with growing enthusiasm and love.

Elizabeth would be a wonderful mistress of Pemberley, a devoted wife and mother, and he could not wait to propose to her again.

Now the quiet days of winter had passed and the Darcys, along with Colonel Fitzwilliam, were en route to their annual visit to Rosings. Never before had Darcy looked forward with such enthusiasm to seeing his aunt’s ostentatious estate! His waiting was nearly over.

/

“Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy just arrived!” Mr. Collins burbled importantly, bustling into the parsonage. “I just saw their carriage pass by on the way to Rosings!”

Elizabeth looked up from her book as her heart thumped in her chest. She had known, of course, that Mr. Darcy and his entourage would arrive today, but now that he was actually here, she felt quite breathless.

The months away from Mr. Darcy had made clear in her own mind that he was indeed the right man for her, but was he still interested in marrying her?

Time would tell.

/

“Darcy, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana!” boomed Lady Catherine, rising regally to her feet and holding out her beringed hands towards them. The woman was, as usual, dressed with expensive finery which indicated her rank, privilege, and wealth.

Georgiana curtsied and the two men bowed. Lady Catherine smiled with special pleasure at the sight of her niece, as Georgiana had carefully avoided Rosings for years.

“Georgiana, it is a delight to see you again,” the older woman said graciously.

“It is good to be here too, Aunt Catherine,” Georgiana replied calmly, though her breath came a little faster than usual.

She found her maternal aunt a formidable individual with a tendency towards irritating advice and intimidating frowns when she was displeased.

But Georgiana was Jael. She would be courteous but firm as needed.

She had no doubt that there would be fireworks over her brother’s decision to propose to Elizabeth Bennet, and Georgie would back her brother completely.

“Well, sit down, all of you, and we will have tea. Anne is resting in her room but will come down shortly. I know she is looking forward to seeing you all, especially you, Darcy.”

Georgie sighed as she obediently sat down near her aunt.

Lady Catherine had been promoting a match between Anne de Bourgh and Fitzwilliam Darcy for literally decades.

It seemed obvious to Georgiana that her brother had never been interested in marrying his cousin; now, with his strong attraction to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the chance of a union between the heirs of Rosings and Pemberley was effectively zero.

Until Miss Bennet agreed to the match, though, there was no point in explaining the harsh reality to her aunt.

“Now then, Georgiana, you must tell me how you are doing with the pianoforte.”

/

“Elizabeth!”

“Yes, Charlotte!”

“Mr. Collins is returning from Rosings where he went to pay his respects.”

“I am certain Lady Catherine and her relations were most pleased at his addresses,” Elizabeth replied sedately.

Charlotte smiled slightly, “Perhaps, but I am alerting you to his return because he brings the two gentlemen with him. Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are nearly here. I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. They would never have come so soon to wait on me.”

Elizabeth felt herself blush and was thankful when Maria, Charlotte’s sister who was also visiting from Hertfordshire, squeaked in distress and rose to approach the sitting room mirror, the better to determine whether her hair was properly arranged.

Charlotte stepped into the kitchen to instruct a maid to prepare tea, and by the time the gentlemen had arrived with Mr. Collins, Elizabeth was moderately calm.

“Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Mr. Collins said obsequiously, “I believe you remember my wife, Mrs. Collins, my sister, Maria Lucas, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”

“Indeed,” the Colonel said with a broad smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you all again.”

Darcy hung back, struck dumb at the sight of his beloved. Elizabeth, while confused and embarrassed, forced herself to gaze into his eyes, and she felt a surge of delight at the obvious admiration residing there.

“Would you care for some tea, Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam?” Mr. Collins asked hurriedly, clearly eager to please his patroness’s relatives.

“With all due respect, Mrs. Collins,” Richard replied pleasantly, “I believe Darcy and I would prefer to take a walk in your lovely garden before settling down for tea. We were in the carriage for some hours this morning.”

“By all means!” Mr. Collins cried out, his homely face suffused with pleasure. “It would be my honor to show you my small acreage.”

“Mrs. Collins, Miss Bennet, Miss Maria, would you care to join us?” Darcy managed to ask awkwardly.

Elizabeth smiled, aware that she was blushing again, and nodded. Charlotte, with a sudden, intent glance at Elizabeth, shook her head.

“I hope you will forgive me if I stay inside with my sister,” she said courteously. “We both have tasks to complete.”

“By all means,” Richard replied gratefully. “Miss Bennet, Mr. Collins?’

The foursome proceeded to the front door, waited for Elizabeth to find and don her pelisse, and stepped out of doors. It was a moderately cool day, but the spring flowers were a riot of color and the trees thoroughly leafed out.

Mr. Collins led the way to the back garden, talking incessantly. He pointed out the various vegetables, described the obvious views in detail, and then dwelled with enthusiasm on his veneration and gratitude for the condescension and oversight of their aunt, Lady Catherine.

Darcy stood next to Elizabeth, his mind a war between his passionate love for the woman at his side and his total exasperation with the clergyman who would not be silent. To his relief, Richard came to his rescue.

“Mr. Collins,” he interpolated when the rector paused for breath, “can you perhaps show me the field south of Rosings? My aunt tells me that her tenant wishes to plant corn and I am wondering at the suitability of the land.”

Fortunately for Darcy, Mr. Collins was not wise enough to question why a military Colonel would have any knowledge about corn planting. With a cry of delight, Mr. Collins led the Colonel around the side of the building, leaving Darcy and Elizabeth alone.

The two turned towards one another and Elizabeth, though struck with an odd and remarkable shyness, met the tall gentleman’s gaze directly.

“Miss Bennet,” Darcy said with an adoring smile.

“Mr. Darcy,” she replied softly.

Impulsively he reached out and took her gloved hand in his own.

“Miss Elizabeth, I must tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Your beauty, your wit and your kindness have won my heart. I hope that you will make me the happiest of men by accepting my hand in marriage.”

Elizabeth smiled with tears in her eyes, “You are absolutely certain, Mr. Darcy?”

“Absolutely certain,” he vowed.

“Then yes, Mr. Darcy. I will marry you.”