Page 19 of Winter of Passion (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“E lizabeth, Jane is looking for you,” Bingley said.

“I was looking for her too,” Elizabeth replied, trying to avoid Bingley’s eyes. “Mr Darcy is in the library. I believe I disturbed him.”

“Do not worry — I am sure Darcy did not mind. I shall talk to him,” Bingley said, and Elizabeth smiled, feeling her cheeks burning. She went in search of Jane, while Bingley entered the library.

In the hall, Elizabeth passed a mirror and stopped to look at her appearance.

She arranged a few locks of hair on her nape — where Darcy’s fingers had rested moments before.

Her necklace was twisted, and she straightened it, the trace of his kisses still vivid on her skin.

The worst of all were her lips, which were red and somehow swollen, and she pressed her fingers to them in a poor attempt to cover the damage.

“Lizzy, where have you been?” Jane called, her face glowing with eagerness.

“Aunt Gardiner has sent the dresses she purchased for us for the ball. Just wait until you see them — they are stunning! They are both in shades of yellow, and yet the colours are somehow different. The lace is so delicate and elegant! I sent yours to your chamber. Charles insists on paying for both of them — he will not have it any other way.” She regarded her sister.

“You look very pretty, Lizzy. I missed you today.”

With her sister chatting happily, Elizabeth returned to her room. On the bed was the ball gown — fashionable, elegant, soft, and silky. Her first thought was Darcy’s response to seeing her in it.

“Charles gave me some jewellery as a wedding gift. You may borrow whatever you think would suit the gown.”

“Thank you, dearest, but I think my gold and pearl necklace and earrings will be enough. It is your evening — you must shine. Though I am sure you will be the most beautiful lady at the ball regardless of what you are wearing.”

“Lizzy, I confess I am very nervous! I still fear something will go wrong and ruin the ball. I am eager for it to be over and for peace to return to our home!”

“I am sure everything will be perfect, just like you,” Elizabeth encouraged her, with a stab of guilt for all her illicit encounters with Darcy.

She already missed him, and the desire to be with him was stronger than her concern for Jane’s tranquillity.

That evening, Elizabeth again withdrew rather early while the gentlemen remained downstairs. Darcy did not come to her room that night, and she felt equal regret and relief for a risk not taken.

The following day passed with busy preparations, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner came to dinner.

The introductions were made, and the other guests met them with a cold politeness which resembled disdain.

Fortunately, the warm friendship shown by Darcy, the colonel, Bingley, and Georgiana was enough for the Gardiners to enjoy themselves.

“Mr Gardiner, I understand you have a business in trade?” Mr Fitzroy enquired.

“Yes, sir.”

“A successful one, from what I had the opportunity to observe,” Darcy interjected.

“Your interest in trade is surprising for a gentleman of your status, Mr Darcy,” Miss Cecilia said. “I would say you are too busy managing Pemberley — and quite successfully, from what I have heard.”

The teasing was obvious in the young woman’s voice and in her insinuating smile. Also obvious were the attempts to shame the Gardiners.

“I am interested in many things besides managing Pemberley. The company of an excellent man — such as Mr Gardiner — is certainly one of them.”

“Thank you, Mr Darcy. It was an honour to be your guest at Pemberley.”

“I hope to have the pleasure again soon,” Darcy responded. Their familiarity caused moments of confusion and obvious displeasure around the table.

“Mrs Bingley, I heard your youngest sister recently married the son of the late Mr Darcy’s steward,” Miss Banfield interjected. Elizabeth saw Jane and Georgiana turn pale, Bingley looking stunned, and there was a frown of repressed anger on Darcy’s face.

“Indeed,” Elizabeth interjected. “My sister Lydia married Mr Wickham, a militia officer.”

“She was very young, was she not?” Mrs Fitzroy asked.

“She was very young indeed — barely sixteen,” Elizabeth said, feeling quite annoyed. “And it is probably not the wisest decision to marry at that age.”

“Society is hardly ever pleased with women’s decisions in regard to marriage,” Lady Laura intervened.

“If they are too young, they are thoughtless. If they are too old, they are already spinsters. If they have no dowry, they are fortune hunters. If they are rich, they are too fastidious or married too low. Strangely, such judgments never apply to men, regardless of their status or age.”

“You have expressed my thoughts exactly, Lady Laura, with more eloquence than I could have done,” Elizabeth said, bowing her head with a smile.

“I must applaud Lady Laura,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said.

“As a proud brother of a wonderful young lady,” Darcy added, “I sadly agree with Lady Laura. Our society is too harsh with women and too clement with men.”

“You seem to agree with Lady Laura very often, Mr Darcy!” Miss Parsons said. “Should the rest of us be jealous?”

A shade of distress passed over Lady Laura’s face, but Darcy kept his composure.

“I agree with anyone whose opinion matches mine. As for jealousy, I am sure it is only a joke, so I shall not respond.”

“Somehow, the conversation has returned to Darcy again,” Lord Langley interjected. “Should the rest of us be jealous?”

“I strongly insist on everyone turning the conversation around, Lord Langley,” Darcy answered. “It would please both of us exceedingly.”

“Is it not amusing that some of us wish to be the centre of attention and others quite the opposite, and yet neither desire is satisfied?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked, causing many laughs.

“This weather is so frustrating,” Mrs Fitzroy said, changing the subject. “I hope it improves by the time we return to London. I have always loathed travelling in the winter.”

“This is one of the rare occasions when I am glad I left London, despite the weather,” Lady Laura said. “You have a lovely home, Mrs Bingley, and the company is delightful most of the time.”

“Thank you,” Jane responded, blushing with gratitude. “Your kind words are greatly appreciated.”

“Your company is delightful to us too, Lady Laura,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said politely.

“Cold weather is always frustrating in the country,” Miss Banfield uttered. “When in London, one has much more opportunity for amusement.”

“And yet, you insisted on coming to Hertfordshire,” her brother answered. “I have no reason to repine, though. I am quite enjoying my time as well as Bingley’s brandy. Bad weather is perfect for drinking and cards, which I hope we shall enjoy again, once dinner is over.”

That was exactly what happened later that evening; the Gardiners returned to Longbourn, and the gentlemen withdrew to the library.

The ladies amused themselves for a while, then Georgiana excused herself, and Elizabeth followed her.

It had been a long and tiresome evening, and she had had enough of the irritating discussions.

“You look pale, Georgiana,” Elizabeth said as they walked together.

“I am tired. And poor Jane looked tired too. I am sorry that she cannot rest yet.”

“I offered to remain with her, but she declined. Jane is stronger than she appears.”

“I believe my brother is tired too. He seemed annoyed by all those comments.”

“I agree. Mr Darcy certainly did not appear in his best disposition. I imagine some of the conversation vexed him.”

“It certainly did. I know him too well. Forgive me for saying so, but these people are a little tiresome for me. If not for you, I would rarely go downstairs.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Do not apologise. They are tiresome for me too. Except for Lady Laura. And Colonel Fitzwilliam, of course.”

“And my brother?” the girl asked shyly.

Elizabeth felt her cheeks heat. “And your brother, certainly.”

“I am not sure whether I shall attend the ball. I am not out yet, and I certainly shall not dance. Mrs Annesley said we could stay for a little while. And if your sisters Mary and Catherine come, I may stay with them.”

“That sounds like an excellent plan.” Elizabeth smiled again. “You may stay just as long as it gives you pleasure.”

They finally made their goodbyes and each entered her room.

Elizabeth hesitated by her door for a little while.

From downstairs, the sound of voices and laughter could still be heard.

The party seemed animated, and she wondered what Darcy was doing.

She missed him but would not wish him to come to her.

In truth, she did want that, with all her being, but she hoped he would be wise enough not to do it.

For a moment, she considered returning to Jane but quickly dismissed that idea.

If Jane needed her support, she would have asked for it.

All in all, the dinner with the Gardiners had passed reasonably well.

Her uncle and aunt had seemed to have a pleasant enough time, despite some pathetic attacks, for which she blamed the Bingley sisters.

Fortunately, the Gardiners were intelligent and confident, and, with Darcy’s support, they could respond to any offence and enjoy a pleasant dinner party.

Elizabeth pondered whether she should lock the door, but in the end, she did not.

She changed for the night and climbed into bed.

The sound of voices was as loud as that of the wind.

If it snowed all night, everything would be covered in white on the morrow.

She must take a stroll; it was her great pleasure to walk through the first snow of the season.

She must have fallen asleep, as she was roused by a sound and an intoxicating scent, which she easily recognised. Darcy was kneeling at the edge of the bed, looking at her.

“You have always stared at me, Mr Darcy, but doing so in the middle of the night is rather odd,” she teased him, stretching out her hand to touch his face.

“I could hardly take my eyes off you almost from the beginning of our acquaintance, Miss Bennet,” he replied, placing a soft kiss in her palm. Then he caressed her forehead gently. “I shall not stay long. I only came to see whether you were awake and to wish you good night.”

“Will you not get into bed with me, if only for a moment?”

“No.” He smiled. “If I do, it certainly would not be only a moment.”

She returned the smile, nodding.

“Elizabeth, on the morning after the ball, I shall go and speak to your father. I shall tell him that I proposed to you that morning and you accepted.”

“Very well…”

“He will certainly ask you to move back to Longbourn, but before you do, we should speak to your sister and Bingley. I shall tell my sister and my cousin if you do not mind.”

She nodded again, slightly nervous. It sounded like a good plan, but she felt a slight anxiety.

“After your father’s approval, I shall go to London to purchase a licence, and my attorney will prepare your settlement.”

“Settlement?”

“Yes. I shall prepare a settlement for you as Mrs Darcy. Your father and uncle should read and approve it or request changes if they wish to.”

Elizabeth looked at him with a frown of incredulity. “Surely you are joking. How can you imagine my father or uncle would demand anything from you?”

“My love, this is how things are done. In your new position, you will have many responsibilities, as well as some advantages that will remain yours, regardless of whether something happens to me.”

Her frown increased, and she rose to a sitting position, looking at him.

“If something happened to you, I would not want anything else,” she said with a heavy heart.

He caressed her face and stole a brief kiss.

“I know it may sound distressing, but it is only a precaution. I should not have even mentioned it to you now. It is something to be discussed with your father. If he approves, we could marry at Longbourn church in a week, or whenever you want.”

“A week would be perfect,” she said, her cheeks warm. His lips tantalised her palm and her wrist.

“Georgiana may stay here if she wishes to, and we shall all return to London after the wedding.”

“That sounds like a perfect plan, sir. I hope Georgiana will not mind your decision to marry me. Nor your cousin. Neither of them seem to suspect anything.”

“I believe Georgiana does. Otherwise, she would not have become so close to your family so easily. I imagine she has found some common interests with your sisters, but still, such swiftness in making friends has never happened to her before.”

“If that is the truth, I would be glad and grateful. It would be a sign of her approval.”

“I am confident it is. I am curious to hear what the colonel has to say, though. And poor Bingley. I expect some entertaining discussions.”

“I am even more curious about Miss Bingley and the rest of the ladies. It is cowardly, I know, but I admit that I would prefer not to be at Netherfield when you announce it to them. I should leave you alone among the wolves, my dear Mr Darcy! But do not worry, I shall come to assist you if you wish.”

Darcy kissed her laugh away, and she leant back into the pillows again.

“Do not worry, madam. You confronted Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and I trust I shall do well enough with a few strangers whose opinion does not even matter to me.”

She placed her arms around his neck and pulled him closer for another kiss, which he broke only a few moments later.

“I absolutely must go now, Miss Bennet, or else I may not leave till dawn. And no, I shall not take such a risk, however tempting the prospect might be.”

He kissed both her hands, wrapped her in the bedsheets, then opened the door to peek out, and left.