Page 23 of Mr Darcy’s Worth: Three Pride and Prejudice Variations
“I thought you would never want to see me again and that you would have me thrown from your estate. If I had known — if I had the smallest suspicion — that you were at home, I would never have dared to set foot at Pemberley. I still feel the need to apologise for my presumption.”
“If we begin to apologise again, we might need more time than this walk. Just please know that nobody’s presence at Pemberley has ever been more welcome than yours.”
“Thank you,” she replied, their eyes locking briefly. They walked on a few steps before she spoke again. “Would you not tell me about Lady Catherine? I admit to being quite intrigued as your tone seemed rather grave yesterday.”
“I shall, but I must warn you it is not a pleasant story. Would you not tell me first what she said to you? It would put me at ease to know the extent of the damage she has caused.”
She looked positively uneasy as she appeared to search for the right words.
“Lady Catherine came to…”
“To express her opposition to what she believed to be our engagement,” he finished for her, and she sighed in apparent relief.
“Yes… It was a rather awkward moment as I could not imagine where she might have heard such a report.”
“Apparently from Mr. Collins, with whom I shall have a private conversation at the first opportunity,” he answered.
“We quarrelled, and I admit I might have answered her more harshly and less politely than I should have.”
“I hope you did,” he answered and noticed a smile on her face.
“Then she said she would travel to London directly. Miss de Bourgh was with her. I wonder how she endured that long journey.”
“Not too well, I am afraid. But it proved to be for the best, in the end.”
“Truly?”
“Yes…Miss Bennet, before going any further, I would like to ask…I apologise if you find my question presumptuous and improper, but I must address it. Lady Catherine said she demanded you promise her that you would never become engaged to me…and you refused.”
He heard his voice trembling slightly, and he could see she was surprised by the enquiry.
“I did… She said you were engaged to Miss de Bourgh.”
“Surely you knew that was not true?”
“I did…but it was still somehow painful.”
“I am sorry to hear that. My aunt’s claims are often painful for everyone…” He paused again before gathering the courage to enquire further.
“So, your promise was not given… May I dare assume…? Hope…? I do not expect an answer now, so abruptly. I just wish to know if your feelings are the same as they were in April. If they are, I shall never bother you again on this subject. I value your friendship, and I wish to avoid upsetting you with insistence that is not welcome…”
His voice was now trembling so badly that he wondered whether she could understand him properly. He had his answer when she stopped in front of him.
“Mr. Darcy, you cannot possibly be serious when you ask such a question. You cannot possibly believe that my feelings remain the same as in April.”
“I was serious…doubtful…but I would be the happiest man in the world if you would call me a fool.”
She was so close to him — inches away — that her scent filled his nostrils, and his body tensed at her nearness.
“You are a fool, Mr. Darcy,” she whispered, her eyes locked with his. His heart stopped, and his head felt as if it were spinning. He still did not dare make a single gesture, nor ask further.
“I have been a fool almost from the beginning of our acquaintance, Miss Bennet.”
“So have I, Mr. Darcy. In that, we are equals,” she admitted, her voice trembling too.
He held his breath as she took another step forwards.
Then her hand slowly lifted and touched his cheek.
That simple gesture dissipated all his doubts, all his fears, and gave him more hope than any words of reassurance.
The expression of heartfelt delight on her face and the tender touch of her hand spoke more eloquently than any words.
He froze for an instant, then he turned his head so his lips could touch her gloved palm.
Gazing deep into her eyes — now sparkling as never before — he took her hand in his and gently removed her glove.
He searched for a sign of opposition, but none appeared, so he nestled her hand in his and brought it to his lips.
She gasped at the same time as a thrill ran from his lips through his entire body.
“As you have already called me a fool, would you allow me to ask you another question, Miss Bennet?”
“Please do…”
“Would you allow me to tell you how ardently I have loved and admired you for more than a year now, Miss Bennet? Would you allow me to ask you to spend your life by my side, despite my foolishness?”
Tears appeared on her eyelashes, while her other hand rose to caress his face too. “If you can overlook my foolishness and ask me again what I previously refused because of my poor judgment, you certainly know my answer already.”
“I believe I do,” he replied. Slowly, gently, despite the longing that reminded him his passion had been repressed so long, he placed soft kisses on both her wrists, then finally his lips touched hers and captured them for so long that only the need for air separated them.
“I do too,” she whispered back.
They needed a long enough time to recover and to resume a reasonable conversation. Walking arm in arm, he related to her the situation caused by Lady Catherine.
She gasped, expressed her disbelief, astonishment, and worry for Anne, and in the end, when they were walking back to Longbourn, she asked, “Are you sure you would be willing to defy your relatives for me? Even though you did not say as much, I assume the colonel’s parents will oppose our union too.
I know how loyal and devoted you are to your family, and my heart goes out to Miss Darcy especially.
Now that I have properly considered everything—”
“I have considered everything properly too,” he interrupted her.
“There is nothing and nobody to whom I owe more devotion and loyalty than to our union, if you will have me. There is nothing else to be considered except for your feelings and your wishes. You have known mine for a long time. I am asking you — in this, do you think we are equal?”
“We certainly are equal in this too,” she assured him with her lips and with her eyes, both opened to him, waiting for him. The wait ended only an instant later.