Page 25 of Such Persuasions as These (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
E lizabeth was attempting to find the words to explain herself, but they would not come.
How could she tell him that their supposed understanding was cemented by Frederick ‘compromising’ her when she was all of nine years old?
How could she tell the great Mr Darcy of Pemberley the whole circumstance without him feeling himself the victim of some elaborate practical joke?
That, she knew, would hurt him more than anything.
Tears began to well up as she tried to force herself to speak.
Her expression, the worry and fear in it, must have pricked Darcy to the heart, for it seemed he could not allow her to continue in such misery.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he said soothingly, “I can see that you feel you must explain yourself to me in some way. Please, be assured you owe me nothing. However, if I can be of any help by hearing you, know that it would be my honour to do so.”
“You will despise me,” she was finally able to whisper.
“Despise you? You ?” At this, he leant into the space that separated them and reached out his long arm to place a hand on hers.
“Elizabeth, nothing you could say could make me despise you. We have not known one another long, but I believe you may be the truest friend I have ever had. You have my full and complete trust.” His consoling declaration only increased Elizabeth’s wretchedness, making her watery eyes begin to pour.
She looked at their hands, and the images she had begun to entertain of them sharing such intimate touches, his bare hands on hers, struck her with a regret of such force that she felt she might be sick.
She could do naught but flee from the library and from his company before she made even more of a fool of herself than she already had.
Upstairs, Elizabeth took several deep breaths before entering the bedroom she shared with Jane, only to see her beautiful sister being attended by Miss Bingley’s lady’s maid.
Her colour had returned. In her fine gown and with a blooming countenance, Jane was lovely.
Elizabeth could not help but think about how enraptured Mr Bingley would be upon meeting her this morning.
At least her Jane still had the hopes of winning the heart and hand of the man she loved.
She would not suffer heartbreak from this visit.
Elizabeth was not inclined to go down and sit at the breakfast table as if nothing had happened, but she knew it would be rude to miss the meal on their last day. After all of Mr Bingley’s hospitality, she had no wish to give offence.
Yardleytouched up her hair, Elizabeth dressed herself properly, and she and her sister walked to the dining room.
Awaiting them were the gentlemen. All three rose, then bowed their good mornings, but only Mr Bingley walked about the table to greet them personally.
The chair next to Mr Darcy, he pulled out for Elizabeth, clearly not imagining she would wish to sit anywhere else.
Then Mr Bingley offered Jane his arm and escorted her to the other side, pulling out the chair nearest himself so that he might dance constant attendance upon her.
Though contented to see this, Elizabeth dreaded her own circumstance.
Mr Darcy was an accommodating neighbour at breakfast, serving her and not demanding conversation. He simply smiled encouragingly and endeavoured to make small talk. He could not know how his kind solicitude stung.
Breakfast was a quiet affair, with the Bingley sisters joining them halfway through the meal.
Miss Bingley nodded a formal greeting to Darcy, dripped a syrupy good morning to the Bennet ladies, and shot Mr Bingley a cold glare replaced quickly by a false smile.
She mercifully refrained from either attacking Elizabeth or flattering himself.
Evidently, his conversation with Bingley had had some impact.
“I have just been informed you two are leaving us today. We are simply desolated to be robbed of such pleasant company. How we have enjoyed having you,” Miss Bingley saidwith exaggerated feeling.
“We are indebted to you and your brother for your kind hospitality,” Miss Bennet replied, clearly taking the woman’s words as true expressions of friendship.
“It was nothing. You must know it was no trouble at all, Miss Bennet,” Bingley assured his angel.
The lovers gazed at one another for a moment as if the room, nay the world, were devoid of all but themselves.
Darcy was not fool enough to deny that the two shared an affection, but something in himstill held to the conviction that the match would not be a good one for his friend.
Watching them regard one another put him in mind to hie Bingley off to London for a week and reintroduce him to some of the more suitable ‘angels’ with whom he was acquainted.
He must do so soon—before his friend became so besotted that he made a declaration he wouldcome to regret.
Darcy was so distracted by this line of thought that he was startled by a knock on the door and the butler’s voice as he introduced Captain Wentworth.
“Do forgive me, Mr Bingley; I did not intend to encroach upon your breakfast. How do you do?” Captain Wentworth made a cheerful bow, which was acknowledged rightly by all at table.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he said with a nod before turning his attention to her sister.
“Miss Bennet, how relieved I am to see you looking so well. I promised Miss Elizabeth that I should accompany her on a walk later today, but I find myself unable to keep my word. However, as you are both here, I should like to tell you my happy news. That is, if your host does not object.”
He turned towards Mr Bingley expectantly.
Bingley stood, entreating him to share anything he wished and implored, “By all means, have a seat.”
“I thank you, but I cannot. I have time only to tell my dear friends that the year twelve is looking to be a very good one for me, for by February, I shall be a married man!”
The gasps from the ladies were as expected and satisfactory, but the one from the taller gentleman came as a surprise. Frederick noted Mr Darcy staring hard at Elizabeth. Turning his eye to her, he noted a fierce blush as she attempted to force a smile and join Jane in her congratulations .
“Miss Elizabeth, I am sure, will be glad to have my ill-timed advances come to an end,” Wentworth said as he took her in, “and I shall relish the thought of never being dragged anywhere by the ear again. I hope you will forgive me for breaking our engagement .”
“I release you,” Elizabeth said in less than buoyant tones whilst still attempting sanguinity, “with all my heart.”
“You have been desiring to say that since you were nine years old, I am sure. I did not give you much choice then. What an undisciplined rogue I was—how you could ever deign to remain friends, I cannot fathom.”
Both Bennet womenstood to shake his hand and wish him joy.
Mr Darcy, however, left the room without a word, and Elizabeth watched him go with an anxious expression.
Mr Bingley soon chimed in with his own well-wishes, while Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst simply sat, exchanging a triumphant glance before smirking in the general direction of Elizabeth.
Wentworth took all this in, but was lamentably too behindhand to investigate.
“I am told that we shall meet again this evening at Longbourn. I will be able to tell you all about it over supper, I am sure.”
And with that, Captain Wentworth was off, wondering what could make Elizabeth so miserable. She could not still be holding a candle for him, could she? No, she seemed genuinely happy for him behind her troubled eyes.
What, then, could it be? And what can it have to do with Mr Darcy?