Page 18 of The Painting (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“I did not expect to find you in Brighton, Darcy. I assume you have completed your business satisfactorily?” Bingley asked as the carriage moved off and Elizabeth felt instantly embarrassed by his lack of discretion. However, Darcy answered without hesitation.

“It was a sudden decision. I visited Julia—Mrs Norwood—and she was about to go shopping, so I took the opportunity to travel with her to enable us to speak at length. Since I discovered her closeness and genuine affection for my mother, I simply cannot have enough of sharing memories with her. She even confessed to me that she learned to play the pianoforte from my mother.”

“That is wonderful,” Elizabeth said emotionally, ignoring the glimmer of jealousy that still troubled her. Despite her voice of reason, she could not rid herself of the sensation, which felt even more troublesome since she had never experienced it before.

“It is wonderful, and I feel blessed to have this opportunity,” Darcy admitted.

“Ah, I see. Well, we all seem blessed with lucky coincidences, since we keep meeting. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth have just been to call on the colonel’s wife and I escorted them.”

“The colonel and his wife appeared to have a large party with them,” Darcy said.

“We met most of them in the park. I imagine you were displeased to see that Wickham man again.”

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth then he turned back to his friend.

“I was rather annoyed. I have to learn to ignore him, in order to avoid my temper overpowering my civility.”

“Mr Wickham is an insistent man, determined to disregard the signs that he is not welcome,” Elizabeth interjected, hoping he would understand she had not encouraged the meeting.

Darcy’s gaze rested upon her face. “He is. And much more, but I would not dare to disturb you or Miss Bennet by speaking about him any further. The weather seems to be improving. Perhaps the rain will spare us, eventually.”

“I pray that tomorrow we can spend the day on the beach,” Bingley said enthusiastically.

“Yes, so do I,” Jane concurred.

“I find the sea to be enchanting in any weather!” Elizabeth declared.

“So do I,” Darcy agreed. “I am slowly reacquainting myself with the sea. I have recently discovered the pleasure of solitary rides or walks late at night or in the early morning when the beach is empty.”

“Oh yes, riding by the sea must be wonderful,” Jane declared enthusiastically.

“It is! Let us go. Tomorrow?” Bingley immediately offered.

Elizabeth laughed, somehow uneasy with herself. “It sounds wonderful; I have no other choice but to watch you, with my heart full of envy! Since I do not ride, I shall be content to either walk around the house or follow you in a carriage, with Mary.”

“Oh…You do not ride at all?” Bingley asked bluntly while Darcy turned his head, but not quick enough for Elizabeth to miss the concealed smile that twisted his lips.

“I do ride a little—and very ill. Just like I play the pianoforte. And yes, Mr Darcy, I imagine you disapprove of my lack of proficiency. It is because I do not practice more,” she teased him from an impulse she could not understand .

As soon as she finished, her face coloured with mortification, but he turned to her with an expression of joy on his face. His smile broadened and dimples appeared in his cheeks from her teasing.

“You could not be more wrong, Miss Elizabeth. I only disapprove of the claim regarding your performance. I have heard you playing and I very much enjoyed it. But I do wonder why a brave, daring, determined young lady, so fond of nature is not more willing to improve her riding skills? I am convinced that, if you wished to, you could conquer this within days.”

Their gazes were now locked and the warmth inside her grew so much that it made her dizzy. She tried to keep her wits and composure while answering.

“Your trust in my strengths is much appreciated, Mr Darcy, although I am not entirely certain I am worthy of it.”

“On that, I also disagree,” he replied, with an earnestness in his voice that contradicted their little teasing game.

“I completely agree with Mr Darcy,” Jane interjected. “You can accomplish anything you wish to, Lizzy. And yes, you should improve your riding, it is long overdue.”

“And here I am, watching my beloved sister taking Mr Darcy’s side,” Elizabeth pretended to be vexed.

“I am always on your side, Lizzy dearest. But that does not mean I cannot see the truth in Mr Darcy’s words,” Jane concluded.

“There is a simple way to resolve this: we have plenty of horses—one of us could help Miss Elizabeth to practise,” Bingley interjected serenely while Jane heartily agreed.

Darcy said nothing more, he only continued to look at Elizabeth and she returned his stare from time to time. She felt uneasy, even distressed to be so close to him, but to all her nervousness was added a sense of pure and utter joy, completely new, and slightly overwhelming.

What could have been nothing more than a teasing conversation between friends actually carried a much deeper meaning for her, and for him. The simple words were heavy with significance, adding more to the depth of the bond that was slowly connecting them to each other.

Darcy could not take his eyes from Elizabeth and felt grateful every time she raised hers to meet them.

She was not at ease—and neither was he—but she did not seem to dislike his company.

And she was teasing him, smiling at him—as she used to do before.

But her smile, her words and the sparkle in her eyes were utterly different, as he could see a warmth, an appeal that he had missed before.

Both Elizabeth and Darcy were disappointed when the carriage stopped at their destination, each thinking of ways to prolong their time together.

Less guarded with his feelings and manners, Bingley immediately asked for permission to escort the ladies on a walk after dinner—and Jane accepted, thanking him, flushed, grateful and looking exceedingly pretty.

However, the prospect of more time together was once again ruined by the rain, which returned that evening and lasted through the night, causing additional disappointment and misery.

However, the next morning, even from dawn, it became apparent that the sun had regained its strength and reigned once again over the clear sky.

∞∞∞

The following days were the most wonderful that Elizabeth could remember spending on a holiday. The weather was very fine and the company even more so.

They spent most of their days at the beach, together with Julia and her children.

Darcy and Bingley had rented a second bathing machine and they generously offered their support with the three boys.

They supervised them while swimming and helped them to improve and, while they were separated from the ladies, the boys’ cries of joy and enthusiasm were enough proof of the pleasant time they were having.

In the afternoons, Darcy and Bingley offered to teach the children how to ride, under the close watch of their mothers and cousins.

Elizabeth felt it was somehow an attempt to entice her to ride too, as they had discussed in the carriage.

While she felt flattered by Darcy’s obvious effort to impress her, she politely declined Bingley’s insistence that she practise her riding.

The mere thought of Darcy helping her into the saddle, arranging her feet, touching her, troubled her deeply and only added to her general state of delight and discomfort caused by Darcy’s presence.

Not that in his absence she would feel more at ease, as she found herself often missing him and longing to see him again during the short times when they were separated.

Mrs Julia Norwood was a regular companion too, and she became a dear and much-admired friend day by day. Her familiarity with Darcy still disquieted Elizabeth at times, despite her genuine admiration for the lady.

Bingley and Jane were together at every given opportunity.

Mrs Gardiner considered it her duty to write to Mr Bennet and inform him about how things were progressing.

She received a response with Mr Bennet’s full consent for a potential happy event and his plea to keep it secret from Mrs Bennet until there was a clear understanding, to protect both her nerves and his sanity.

On two additional occasions, Elizabeth met Darcy again on the shore at dawn. It was not planned, but their common habit provided more fortunate coincidences—as Bingley kept saying.

As they expected to meet, they were properly attired, but they were also well aware it was hardly a proper encounter; if someone were to see them, it could turn into a compromising situation. Yet both accepted the risk, to the benefit of the comfort and joy they shared.

While Darcy knew the meaning of falling in love quite well, and had suffered from it for months, Elizabeth had only just begun to learn it. But the strength of their feelings was mutual, although not a word was said about it.

The second time they met, Darcy was already sitting on the shore and Elizabeth walked towards him. They exchanged only a smile and he invited her to sit next to him, placing his coat on the wet pebbles.

They sat in silence for a while, waiting for the sun to rise, until Elizabeth could not restrain herself any longer from speaking her mind.

“Mr Darcy, I have long wished to apologise,” she began.

“Apologise? Why would you?”

“Why? Because I have been uncivil and foolish and prejudiced, and I have accused you most undeservedly. To think of all the words I said—”

“Miss Bennet, I am begging you to stop. I am the one who should apologise and I have avoided doing so until now, as I feared the recollection of my dreadful behaviour might upset you.”

“No, it was not your behaviour that upset me, but mine. I shall not be so hypocritical as to deny that the manner of your address angered me… You well know that already. And I did blame you for the harm caused to my sister—”

“I deserved that, Miss Bennet. As it is plain to see, you were right and I was completely wrong. If not for you, my friend would have lost his chance for happiness—”

“No, I deserve no credit for Mr Bingley’s present happiness. It was you who admitted your fault and remedied it.”

“But it was you who forced me to see my error, from behind my foolish arrogance, selfishness and conceit.”

“I was guilty of arrogance and prejudice too, Mr Darcy. All the other offences I threw at you so undeservedly were the result of my misjudgement and silly misplaced trust. I was blinded by the appearance of goodness and flattered by attentions that were deceptive and harmful.”

“Your prejudice, if there was any, was the result of my manners and actions during the time I spent in Hertfordshire. I am appalled remembering my behaviour.”

“So am I, sir.”

He turned his head to her and she looked at him, meeting his gaze. The little smile was there, pressed between his lips, exposing his dimples again.

“Should we continue to argue over who owns the greatest share of guilt, Miss Bennet? You should know I am decided not to change my opinion on this matter,” he teased her in a flirtatious tone.

“So am I, sir. You said I was determined, and I am ready to prove it.”

“Then we will need many other meetings to carry on this debate.”

“So it seems…”

“Perhaps we may continue during your journey to Derbyshire. I would be honoured and happy to have you all as my guests at Pemberley. My sister would be delighted to make your acquaintance.”

She forgot to breathe and her heart skipped a beat, while she struggled to understand his meaning.

“My aunt has long desired to see Pemberley again,” she whispered. “She would be honoured by such an invitation.”

“I am glad to hear it…” he paused a moment, then continued. “And you?”

“I would be happy to see Pemberley. And to meet Miss Darcy. Very happy indeed,” she managed to reply.

“We will eagerly wait for you…and your relatives, of course. I hope you will approve of Pemberley.”

“I am sure I will, from everything I have heard of it. Everyone who has seen it praises Pemberley.”

“Perhaps. But your opinion is most important to me. I hope you do not mind me saying so, Miss Bennet.”

“I do not mind, sir. Quite the opposite,” she admitted, then turned her eyes away from him to look ahead of her.

“Look!” she exclaimed, briefly touching his hand with hers.

He reluctantly averted his gaze from admiring her face, at the perfect moment to watch together the first appearance of the sun, as though it had been resting deep in the sea and was now painting the sky bright colours.

Both noticed that their hands were still timidly touching, but neither of them withdrew for several long moments. They remained there, in wordless reverie, until the full light of day sent them both home.

When they separated, they already shared the fragile beginnings of an understanding, as well as hopes for future sunrises that they might watch together.