Page 21 of To Go Against Her Heart (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“Jane, you are worried for nothing. You cannot doubt Mr. Bingley’s sentiments,” Elizabeth reasoned.

“But why did Miss Bingley mention that he will likely get engaged to Miss Darcy? I cannot understand why she chose to inform me of this after all these days,” Jane cried with despair. It was the same night they returned from Lucas Lodge.

“I have a good idea as to why Miss Bingley did so; she can see her brother falling in love with you, and maybe she is unable to dissuade him. She is artfully trying to do so with you,” Elizabeth tried to calm her sister.

“It is quite clear that she does not favor me as her sister, but she has brought up this topic many times, with confidence. She mentioned that her brother and Miss Darcy favor each other and that Mr. Darcy is delighted with the match.”

Elizabeth wanted to reveal what she knew about Georgiana’s past. She was very certain that the poor girl was in no position to marry, but she wanted to keep her promise to Darcy.

“For all I know, Miss Darcy is just sixteen; I am certain her brother would not be intent on getting her married. Jane, please do not distress yourself. Mr. Bingley is in love with you; I can see it in his eyes. Don’t you find it odd that all of a sudden, Miss Bingley has taken the effort to inform you of this?

She is trying her best to stop you both from forming an attachment.

Please do not allow his sister to manipulate you,” she reassured Jane.

However, Jane was not convinced and was very much in distress.

She could not believe that Mr. Bingley was capable of deceiving anyone, especially her, in such a way.

Elizabeth could sense that her sister was upset and cursed Miss Bingley’s intent to ruin her happiness and peace.

She observed Mr. Bingley in the next few days while he called on Jane at Longbourn and could not mistake his sentiments, and she was certain Miss Bingley’s plans would go in vain.

***

A few days before the ball, Elizabeth was surprised to see Darcy accompany Mr. Bingley to Longbourn. She spotted him from her room window and could not understand why he chose to call on them.

He has not done so before. Why is he here today?

Darcy had often seen his friend call upon Jane, and finally, he found the courage to accompany him. The moment he entered Longbourn, he could see Mrs. Bennet’s look of surprise.

“Oh! Mr. Darcy, it is indeed a delightful surprise for you to call on us, sir.”

Darcy did not know what to reply and nodded.

“Why, Mr. Bennet is currently away on some business. I hope you can entertain yourself this morning, and my girls are in the parlor,” she informed and called for tea.

Darcy was disappointed not to see Elizabeth among her sisters, and Mr. Bingley immediately stationed himself beside Jane.

However, Jane could not set aside the doubt in her mind, after the story Miss Bingley had fed her, and struggled to converse with him.

The rest of the sisters were too stunned by Darcy’s presence to utter a word.

Elizabeth paced in her room upstairs, knowing she had to show up at the parlor.

Why is it so difficult for me to endure his presence? I cannot allow this to happen to me; I cannot allow anyone to affect me in this way.

She decided to meet the guests and resolved to act unaffected. When she entered the parlor, she noticed Darcy’s countenance change from boredom to surprise. He smiled at her as they greeted each other, and Elizabeth tried her best to conceal the emotions she felt in his presence.

“I hope we are not disturbing your morning, Miss Elizabeth. I was telling your sister that the servants are busy preparing for the ball, and Darcy and I needed a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle,” said Mr. Bingley.

“Not at all, sir. I had intended to walk; otherwise, the morning would have passed with little diversion.”

“It is such a pleasant morning for a walk, is it not, Darcy? Would you mind if we joined you?” Mr. Bingley asked, and Elizabeth agreed.

Sensing that the rest of the sisters were not interested in the same, Elizabeth and Jane accompanied the men for a stroll in the garden.

As Darcy offered her his arm, she noticed the relief in his face to leave the room.

If at all he feels so restless to spend merely ten minutes here, what made him take the trouble to accompany his friend? she thought as they headed out to the gardens.

“I am certain you were not inclined to walk just in the gardens,” he mentioned as they were out of the house.

“I planned to walk to Lucas Lodge,” she replied, still keeping her eyes on the path. Jane and Mr. Bingley walked ahead of them.

“I assume you no longer find Oakham Mount to your liking, or one could say you have found other trails that entice your outdoor pursuits,” Darcy said, and she looked at him with shock.

“Why would you assume that, Mr. Darcy?”

“I have not had the pleasure of meeting you there in the past week. Honestly, I am beginning to think you choose to avoid it—indeed, to avoid me,” Darcy said openly, amazed at his own courage.

“If you believe I would give you or any other gentleman the power to alter my routine or dissuade me from an exercise I enjoy the most, then you are wrong. Did it ever occur to you that I could have walked there at a later hour because the air is chilly in the mornings?” she asked, returning his gaze with confidence.

“I assure you that thought did not cross my mind,” he replied, knowing very well that she was lying, whereas Elizabeth struggled to compose herself.

“And why would you think that I want to avoid you?” she asked, unable to resist her curiosity.

“I do not know. That is something you need to help me understand.”

“There is nothing to understand or explain. If I wanted to avoid you at all, I would not be walking with you now. I hope this answers your concerns,” she said.

“It does,” he said with a smile, and just then, Mr. Collins joined them. He expressed his deepest regret for being absent in welcoming Darcy to Longbourn.

“I must extend my humble apologies for being unable to welcome you to this estate, Mr. Darcy. I understand from Mrs. Bennet that it is the first time you have paid a visit here. As the future owner of Longbourn, eventhough I would consider the probability of me taking over the estate in the near future very low, considering Mr. Bennet’s excellent health.

I must indeed give credit to my fair cousin, Miss Elizabeth, in taking utmost care of her father’s health. ”

Mr. Bingley and Darcy looked shocked by how Mr. Collins casually mentioned the entailment.

“Mr. Collins, I wish you would be considerate with your choice of words. I am appalled at your ability to upset your own relations while staying as a guest in their house,” Darcy cried with irritation, and Elizabeth noticed that his entire demeanor had stiffened.

Once again, Mr. Collins was devastated to have upset Darcy and went on to apologize for the rest of their visit. Darcy and Mr. Bingley left Longbourn with much irritation, as Mr. Collins had ruined their entire visit.

“I cannot believe you are already acquainted with him, Darcy. I have not been so irritated in my entire life,” Mr. Bingley mentioned once they returned to Netherfield.

“Believe me, I limit my interaction with him while in Kent. I cannot believe how easily he mentioned taking over their estate, and I must admire the remarkable composure Miss Bennet and her sister exhibited today.”

“Though the subject makes me uncomfortable to discuss, Mrs. Bennet hinted that he was to be their son-in-law.”

“Good Lord!” Darcy cried, his thoughts racing to Elizabeth.

“Yes, she mentioned that he favors Miss Elizabeth; the very thought is horrendous.”

“Of course it is. I cannot believe this, and I wonder what made Mr. Collins believe she would favor him. He has quite lost his senses.”

“I am certain that he has, and I hope he leaves as planned after the ball; I cannot stand his presence in Longbourn. He hindered my conversation with Jane…I mean Miss Bennet today, wishing to acquaint me with the recent alterations your aunt had proposed at the parsonage.”

Darcy retired to bed that night, worn out by the obstacles before him when he considered winning Elizabeth’s regard. More than anything else, he understood that the most formidable obstacle was breaking the wall she had built around her heart.

***

A day before the ball, Elizabeth walked up to Oakham Mount with the same anticipation she had in the previous days.

Somehow, she wanted to prove Darcy wrong and meet him there, not wanting to give in to the fact that he had understood her predicament and actions so easily.

But to her disappointment, she never saw him there.

Elizabeth gradually came to realize that he occupied her thoughts all day, and she found it remarkable that the anguish of her past relationship had slowly faded over time.

She could not deny that Darcy was the singular cause of this change.

She no longer detested him for his insult but detested him for making her question her own resolve in life. Elizabeth had no doubts about his sentiments towards her; she could see it in his eyes.

He must be aware of my past; I am certain he knows. How could he still favor me, knowing very well that I cannot return his feelings? she wondered. As she returned home, she desperately wished both Darcy and Mr. Collins would leave Hertfordshire after the ball.

***

The day of the ball finally arrived, and Mr. Collins sat in the carriage along with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet as the sisters chose to ride in a separate carriage.

He was excited about the evening and looked forward to dancing with Elizabeth.

He had no plans of leaving Hertfordshire as a bachelor and was resolved to marry her soon.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bingley and Darcy waited impatiently for the arrival of the Bennets, as most acquaintances had arrived, and the ballroom was bustling with energy.