Page 56

“So what are we to do?” Elizabeth said, looking at the door to avoid Darcy’s gaze.

“Marry,” he suggested, moving so she would have to look at him.

“This is serious. Why would he come all this way to see me and then all but order me to marry?”

“Did he?”

“I am told I need rescuing from a damaged reputation. He thinks you need a damsel to rescue you from scheming mammas of the bon ton.”

“He said that?”

“Not exactly.”

“If you were absolutely against this, you would have said as much to him and been adamant about it to my aunt.”

“I declined your offer twice!”

“We did not know if word had or would spread.”

“It is not you I have an objection to.”

“Then what.”

“Love,” she sighed. “I wanted to marry for love. I could not bear having a marriage like my parents. They exist in the same space, content to live separate lives, only coming together when needed.”

“What do you mean?”

“My father has no respect for his wife. If they ever had any love, it has long since gone. She acts the… well, you have been around her.”

He was not about to say he found her mother loud and uncouth.

“I do not want to end up like her in marriage or character. I know that is horrible to say about my mother.”

“You still love her?”

“Of course I do.”

“There is nothing wrong with you feeling that way. It is oftentimes hard to see the flaws in the people we love. When discovered, we still accept them. That begs the question, how did you and Miss Jane turn out so different than your younger sisters?”

“I have observed that parents are often stricter with the children born first. The more children, the less discipline they give to the young ones. Jane and I also have spent time with my aunt and uncle in London. He is so different from his sisters. Even though he is the youngest, he benefited from a proper education.”

“And you are different from your mother. I do not think you have anything to fear that you will become like her.” He said, thinking what her father had revealed.

“It is all so unfair. To you. To me. To…”

“Life is not always fair, Elizabeth. It is what we make of the circumstances that matter. We can attempt to overcome the obstacles thrown in our path or sit beside them and wallow in self-pity.”

“What if we can’t and end up like,” she looked towards the door, “like him?”

“So you plan on fleeing to the continent to avoid my company if you do not find us compatible?”

She laughed. “No, and that is a terrible thing to say.”

“True, there are two sides to the story, but their situation has remained the same for years, no matter who was to blame. In that respect, your parents have a better marriage no matter what you might believe. They are together, they do talk to each other.”

“Barely,” she murmured as she began to pace.

“I think you fight it because we were not given a natural progression from meeting to a courtship.”

“You think we would have?”

He shrugged. It was something he had thought about.

“The smallest of decisions can change the course of life. We might not have had our conversation if you had gone downstairs instead of looking for your sister on the balcony. A conversation unlike any I think I have ever had. You intrigued me.”

“I did?”

He nodded.

“Or if you had not been trying to avoid Miss Bingley’s company, you would have never asked me to dance.”

“You know about that?”

“You told me the night of our torrid affair,” she teased.

“Some would have taken advantage during my moment of weakness to ensure a marriage.”

“You were not so in your cups that you would have lost all reason and succumbed to my feminine charms, as your aunt believes.”

“For some, maybe. For you, I am not so sure.” He admitted. Elizabeth gasped in surprise. “I have always found you attractive.”

“You have?”

He nodded.

“Why did you have to tell me?”

“You have much to think about,” he said, reaching into his coat and pulling out a carefully folded parchment. “Here is a Special License. All you have to do is add your name.”

“That is rather presumptuous of you Mr Darcy. If my mother hears of this, it will be all she goes on about. The house will have no peace.” She took it from him.

“If you prefer, Gretna Green is an option, but a little cold this time of year.”

“Running off to Gretna Green would fuel the gossip that we had…” she blushed, thinking of how to say it politely.

“I know what you mean.”

“It would also gain me the ire of my mother for depriving her of planning the wedding. No. If I decide, this is the way to go,” she said, waving the license. “It is best to be quick and painless without running off.”

“Tonight I had articles of marriage delivered to your father.” He held up his hand forestall her as she was about to protest his further presumptions. “Only to be opened if you agree. As I was in town, I thought it best to have them drawn up.”

“Why did this have to happen to me?” she grumbled.

“I am glad it was you for several reasons. One being that I know you have no mercenary reasons.”

“Should we count not being mercenary as one of my accomplishments?”

“Your mother would have been happy if it had been one of your sisters.”

“You heard that. I thought you might have when you left.” He nodded. “Jane would have complied with Mother’s wishes. Lydia would have for the novelty of it and boast that while the youngest, she was the first to marry and lord over us in her new position.”

“I would not have made them the offer.”

“Why not?” She asked, shocked.

“Bingley, of course, in Jane’s case. I would have explained what happened. He would have believed me and made an offer himself. Besides, I would have never asked her to stay. If it had been anyone else, I would have scared them off with my sternest gaze.”

“I almost ran off.”

“I am glad you did stayed.” He moved close to her.

“Must you say the nicest things?” she whispered, feeling the heat of his body. She closed her eyes to avoid his piercing gaze. When his hand cupped her face, she gasped right before his lips met hers. It was the briefest of kisses, but her body tingled from the novel feeling of the touch of his lips.

“Why did you do that?” She asked, her eyes still closed

“I could resist no longer.”

He was so close that the breath from his words made her skin tingle more. The sweet smell of the wine he had consumed at dinner and the eau de toilette she had become accustomed to enveloped her. She opened her eyes and stepped away.

“I need time to think,” she said hastily, trying to shake the feelings welling up inside of her. He gave her a long, intense stare, which made her heart race faster.

“Shall we return and enjoy the rest of the night?” He held out his arm. Too afraid to touch him, she grabbed her dress, pretending it needed holding as she headed for the door.

Upon exiting the room, they found their tête-à-tête had been guarded from accidental interruption. Mr Fox informed them the Regent had taken to the card rooms.

“The Regent will find you later, my Lord,” he said with a bow before departing for the card room. Darcy grumbled at the use of the title.

“You may as well get used to it,” Elizabeth said.

“Your father said the same thing.”

Entering the ballroom, they went their separate ways. They did not see each other until the end of the ball when the Bennets were the last party waiting for their carriage to be brought around. Elizabeth was content with how the night had gone. Mr Bingley had spent most of the night with Jane and even now quietly talked with her. Mr Hurst was trying to remain upright as his wife steadied him while trying to stay awake. Miss Bingley had disappeared, for which she was grateful. Darcy talked with her father about crop rotation. Lydia complained about being tired and the Regent not allowing Mr Wickham to dance. Her mother was thankfully quiet, lost in her thoughts. And thankfully, Mr Collins was gone, having asked for a ride from Sir William.

The carriage ride home was surprisingly peaceful. They were all falling asleep as it swayed back and forth along the road. The clopping of the horses and the rhythmic squeak of a wheel in need of greasing helped lull their tired minds and bodies.