Page 16

Matlock House Drawing Room - Elizabeth

“ P lease, Miss Elizabeth?” There was an air of desperation in his voice.

She found she could not meet Darcy’s intense gaze for long. Her eyes darted away, focusing on the wall behind him, the floor, anywhere but those piercing dark eyes that seemed to see right through her carefully constructed facade.

“As you wish, Mr Darcy,” she replied.

He smiled at her, “Until tomorrow then.” he went to join his sister, leaving Elizabeth to her thoughts staring after him.

Elizabeth smoothed her dress and touched her hair, using the familiar motions to ground herself. She turned slightly towards the main group, ready to rejoin the general merriment, even as her mind still reeled from Mr Darcy’s words.

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth forced her racing thoughts to slow.

She summoned a pleasant expression, determined not to let her inner turmoil show as she prepared to mingle with the other guests once more and who were helping themselves to tea and coffee.

Her eyes were drawn to Mr Darcy as he sipped his tea.

What could he want to speak to her about in private? Had he seen some point of the letter?

“Miss Elizabeth,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, approaching her with a smile, “I hope you’re enjoying the evening?”

She jumped and nearly spill the tea she had been pouring. She smiled at him to cover her embarrassment.

“Indeed Colonel.”

She then sought out Jane. Who was of course standing and speaking to Mr Bingley.

Jane was laughing at something Mr Bingley had just said, her eyes alive with delight.

Elizabeth took her place next to her sister and smiled in a reassuring way.

Jane hardly noticed, as her attention was fixed so completely on Mr Bingley.

Elizabeth could not blame her - she had enough to worry about.

It was while she was watching her sister with Mr Bingley as they talked of Town that the thought occurred to her.

She did not know where it had come from, in a way she knew that she had always known it.

It was time. They could continue like this indefinitely but they would not get anywhere.

Nothing would have changed, even if Mr Bingley proposed to Jane tonight, it would not solve their problems. Her father would still be dying.

Mr Collins would still be waiting for her. There was no escape.

As the evening wore on, Elizabeth found herself constantly aware of Darcy’s presence. She manoeuvred carefully around the room, always ensuring there were other people between them. When she sensed him approaching, she quickly engaged Lady Rowena in conversation about the latest fashions in London.

* * *

Matlock House Dining Room - Colonel Fitzwilliam

Colonel Fitzwilliam found himself seated across from Miss Elizabeth Bennet at dinner, with Darcy next to her. As the first course was served, he couldn’t help but notice the tension between his cousin and the lively Miss Elizabeth.

“I understand you’re quite fond of walking, Miss Elizabeth,” the Colonel said, attempting to break the ice.

Elizabeth’s eyes brightened. “Indeed, I am. There’s nothing quite like a brisk morning walk to clear one’s head.”

“Darcy here is quite the walker as well,” Fitzwilliam added, glancing at his cousin. “Aren’t you, Darcy?”

Darcy, who had been staring intently at his soup, looked up. “Yes, quite,” he murmured, his eyes meeting Elizabeth’s briefly before both quickly looked away.

The Colonel raised an eyebrow at this exchange but pressed on. “Perhaps you two should compare notes on the best walking paths in Hertfordshire.”

Elizabeth’s cheeks coloured slightly. “I am sure Mr Darcy has more important matters to attend to,” she said, her voice carefully neutral.

As the conversation continued, Fitzwilliam couldn’t help but notice how Darcy seemed to hang on Elizabeth’s every word, even when she wasn’t addressing him directly.

His cousin’s usual aloof demeanour had been replaced by an intense focus that the Colonel found both intriguing and slightly concerning.

When Elizabeth laughed at one of Fitzwilliam’s jokes, he saw Darcy’s hand tighten on his fork, his knuckles whitening. Interesting, the Colonel thought, very interesting indeed.

After the meal had finished and the gentlemen joined the ladies, the Colonel sort-out his youngest sister, “Have you noticed anything… odd about Darcy tonight?” Fitzwilliam asked Rowena in a low voice .

Rowena’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “You mean besides the fact that he cannot take his eyes off Miss Elizabeth? I thought I was the only one who’d noticed.”

Their eyes sort out the lady and gentleman in question who were speaking. Miss Elizabeth was seated at the pianoforte, clearly having just finished playing.

“I was hoping she would be performing when Darcy arrived.” Rowena sighed. “But she would only play the one song.”

“Well then it is my turn, let me see what I can discover.” Colonel winked at his sister as he walked towards Miss Elizabeth.

“Miss Elizabeth,” Fitzwilliam said, approaching her with a smile, “I hope you’re enjoying the evening?”

Miss Elizabeth Bennet started, nearly spilling the tea she had just poured, her eyes darting briefly to where Darcy stood before meeting the Colonel’s gaze. “Yes, quite,” she replied, her voice a touch too high. Interesting, Fitzwilliam thought.

Colonel Fitzwilliam watched with amusement as his cousin’s eyes followed Miss Elizabeth Bennet across the room for the third time that evening. He had never seen Darcy so captivated by a woman before.

Colonel Fitzwilliam observed the dance of avoidance between his cousin and Miss Elizabeth with growing curiosity. He caught Darcy’s eye and raised an eyebrow in question, but Darcy merely shook his head slightly and turned away.

Colonel Fitzwilliam decided that he needed to seek his cousin out at some point in the near future and work out what was going on between him and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

He saw a chance about half an hour later. Darcy was standing alone near the window.

Colonel Fitzwilliam sidled up to his cousin, two glasses of brandy in hand. He offered one to Darcy, who took it absently .

“You know, Darcy,” the Colonel began conversationally, “when one attends a party, it’s generally considered polite to actually engage with the other guests.”

Darcy blinked, turning to face him. “I beg your pardon?”

“You’ve been staring at Miss Elizabeth Bennet for the better part of an hour,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “Is there something you’d like to share?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Darcy muttered, taking a large swig of his brandy.

The Colonel raised an eyebrow. “Come now, Darcy. I’ve never seen you so… distracted.”

Darcy sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “It’s… complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?” Fitzwilliam replied, clapping his cousin on the shoulder. “Just don’t let my father catch you looking at her like that. He’d have a fit.”

Darcy didn’t reply and took a sip of his brandy.

“How about a spot of fencing tomorrow?” The Colonel suggested. Darcy was still looking at Miss Elizabeth and did not seem to have heard him.

As the guests began to depart, Fitzwilliam found himself pondering the evening’s events. Something had definitely changed between Darcy and Miss Elizabeth. He made a mental note to keep a closer eye on his cousin in the coming days.

“Fencing, not tomorrow no. Maybe the day after?” Darcy said his eyes were still on Miss Elizabeth.

* * *

Matlock House Entrance Hall - Mrs Bennet

As they were getting ready to leave, Mrs Bennet could not help but reflect on the evening with pleasure. Mrs Bennet, in a hushed, excited tone “Oh, Jane, did you see how attentive Mr Bingley was this evening? I declare, we shall have a wedding before the year is out!”

Jane, blushing slightly, “Mama, please. Mr Bingley is merely being polite.”

Mrs Gardiner said gently, “Jane, dear, I think your mother might have a point. Mr Bingley does seem quite taken with you.”

Mr Gardiner chuckled, “Indeed, I don’t think the poor fellow’s eyes left you all evening.”

Mrs Bennet “And did you notice how Mr Darcy kept looking at Lizzy? I don’t like it one bit. Lizzy!” She called “Lizzy, come here at once!”

Lizzy had been standing bidding farewell to Lady Rowena and Miss Darcy.

* * *

Matlock House Entrance Hall - Elizabeth

As the evening drew to a close, Elizabeth found herself more confused than ever by Mr Darcy’s behaviour.

His attentiveness, his smiles, his gentle inquiries about her family - all seemed at odds with the man she thought she knew.

She wondered if she had misjudged him entirely, or if this was merely a facet of his character reserved for London society.

As Elizabeth bid farewell to their hosts, her mind raced. How could she possibly explain to Jane what had transpired this evening? How could she put into words the conflicting emotions that threatened to overwhelm her?

The carriage ride back to Gracechurch Street was quiet, the only sound the steady clip-clop of horses’ hooves on cobblestones.

Elizabeth gazed out the window, the cool glass a welcome relief against her flushed cheek.

She knew Jane would want to talk once they were alone, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for that conversation.

As they prepared for bed that night, Jane remarked, “Did you notice how attentive Mr Darcy was this evening, Lizzy? He seemed quite different from his usual self. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so…

animated in conversation.” Her brow furrowed slightly.

“Are you alright, Lizzy? You seemed a bit… distracted.”

Jane was just as confused as Elizabeth when she told her what Mr Darcy had said.

“So he said that he had a confession to make to you?”

“Yes, but there is more. I think he might have seen some of the letter that Mary wrote for father.”

Jane started, “Why do you think that?”

“I dropped it when we were in Hyde Park and he picked it up for me. It was open and he glanced at it.”

“He must not have seen you drop it and was looking at the address so he could return it.” Jane said hopefully.

“Oh Jane,” Elizabeth said fondly. “I wish I could think like you do.”

“May I read the letter?”

Jane was silent while she read. Elizabeth was lost in thought again, what would Mr Darcy have to say to her in private?

Jane put the letter down, and spoke slowly. “If he did read part of it, the part with my father’s health is mentioned or the part that mentions your engagement, then that might explain his reaction. ”

“He asked after my family’s health straight after he handed it back to me.”

“Then maybe he just wishes to ask after our father’s health but is embarrassed that he read your letter at all.”

Elizabeth was not happy but felt that Jane’s conclusion was the most likely.

“His behaviour has been so strange since we arrived in town. Before we left Hertfordshire I would have said he disliked me as much as I dislike him. But now-”

“Now you don’t think he dislikes you?” Jane offered.

“Well how can I? He has been so attentive. But it might just all be for his sister’s benefit.”

“Oh Lizzy, Mr Bingley has told me that Mr Darcy really does love his sister dearly but that he feels uncomfortable around her, that her age makes it hard for him to relate to her. I do not think that his change in manner to you is because of his sister.”

Elizabeth was silent, thinking.

“And he did ask you to dance at the Netherfield ball. You were the only lady who he asked who he had not been acquainted with before he arrived in the country.”

“That is true, I never understood that.”

“Maybe he enjoys your company more than you think he does?”

“No Jane, I know he does not.”

“Well then if you know it so well then he must just be asking about father’s health and not your engagement.”

Elizabeth coloured, “You don’t think he would ask about that do you?” The very idea filled her with horror. It had been hard enough to explain to her family why she had agreed to marry Mr Collins without having to explain to Mr Darcy of all people.