Elizabeth the Mercenary

Elizabeth the Mercenary, Pride and Prejudice Fanfiction

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Elizabeth the Mercenary By Donna H.

Chapter One

Posted on Sunday, 31 August 2003, at

"Well, Mr. Bennet,"said his wife, shaking her finger at him, "I can only say that if Lizzy had accepted Mr. Collins you never should have found it necessary to sell the northern fields of the farm to Mr. Thompkins at all."

Engaged by his wife's statement, Mr. Bennett sat up in his favorite library chair, peering at her over spectacles perched upon the tip of his nose.

"How so, my dear?" he questioned, "How would Lizzie's marrying my cousin have saved us the sale?" An incredulous explosion of laughter burst forth from Mrs. Bennet.

"Why we would have had one daughter off our hands, gone for her husband to support. Mr. Collins would not have wished you to sell off any part of what will come to him after your death by way of the entailment. Had he been your son-in-law as well as your heir, I'm sure he would have done anything he could have Longbourn in its entirety."

"Perhaps so Mrs. Bennet," he admitted, though not at all seriously, "but Mr. Collins is returned to Kent with his bride and we shall simply have to take pleasure in the knowledge that his loss is our gain both in the money from the sale and in our being able to enjoy Elizabeth here with us."

None of this conversation had been conducted quietly. When Messrs. Phillips and Thompkins left Longbourn, Mr. Bennet's library door remained ajar. With Kitty and Lydia arguing over who would have which of the fabrics Aunt Gardiner had brought from London for them all at Christmas and Jane and Mary studying in another part of the house, Elizabeth was the only one of the Bennet daughters to have overheard her parents. After her mother left the library, Elizabeth could wait no more.

"Papa!" she burst out, startling her father, who had been trying to settle back into the quiet comfort of his sanctuary, "You've sold the northern fields of Longbourn Farm?" Mr. Bennet removed his spectacles and rubbing his nose, replied a little painfully. "The expenses of a family of five daughters nearly grown is more than the resources of the estate have lately been able to generate."

Elizabeth seated herself across the desk from her father. Her mind raced with any possibilities of how the sale could have been avoided. "Could we not all have discussed these expenses, Papa, as a family? Perhaps we might have formed a plan of retrenchment." Her father shook his head.

"Lizzie, I have preached the gospel of retrenchment to your mother since our wedding day. As you see, she is no believer and has converted both Kitty and Lydia to follow her careless practices."

"Can she not see, did you not warn her what the necessities of her actions, of all their habits would be?" Elizabeth's practicality did not allow her to comprehend how her mother could have been so imprudent.

"Your mother sees only the necessity of making our home and our family suitable attract the proper sorts of husbands for her daughters."

"Then my marrying Mrs. Collins..." Mr. Bennet understood at once that Lizzie had overheard her parents' recent conversation. Raising from his chair, he walked to the window where she now stood. Putting his hand comfortingly on her shoulder, he said "Perhaps it may have helped in some small measure, Lizzie," he winked at her and tried not to smile, "after all, we could have enjoyed the condescension and patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. From what we hear Mr. Collins say, that lady would surely know how to persuade your mother to retrench or even how we could somehow make Longbourn estate more profitable. Ultimately it would go to her greatest admirer. I'm sure Mr. Collins would view her advice on the subject to be most valuable." Elizabeth laughed with her father.

"For myself though, Lizzy, as you know, I would not have you married to Mr. Collins for the world, nor, I may add, to anyone you could not love and respect." Mr. Bennet turned away and muttered, "You recognize, no doubt, what a marriage where, in the beginning, passion overrules good sense becomes?" He was right. Daily she saw how little real regard her parents had for one another, how seldom any value for one had any bearing upon what the other did or said. Their marriage was a banter of her mother's imprudent flights of fancy and her father's retaliatory teasing and self-imposed exiles to his library. Yet he was resigned to its workings and whatever, such as the sale of the northern fields, had to be done because of them.

Mr. Bennet turned to face Elizabeth. "Mourn the sale if you like, Lizzy. Grieve the want of good sense that led to it. I have done both myself. The regrets and recriminations soon pass." His tone was dismissive. He kissed his daughter's forehead, sat down in his favorite chair, opened a book and concluded, " You and Jane are well respected hereabouts, Lizzy. I don't doubt but you will marry well. In doing so I'm sure you will introduce your younger sisters into better company where they may gain a modicum of good sense and entice some unsuspecting chaps to marry them as well. Between the five of you, your mother will be very adequately cared for, if she outlives me. It is the winter confinement and Jane being from home that has put you in this sad state, Lizzy."

He adjusted his spectacles and began to read, adding, "Worrying will do you no good. What was done is over and what will come next you can do little about."

Elizabeth closed the library door. It was foolish to worry, yet who would marry the Bennet girls, respected, if she and Jane really were, beautiful as they were reputed to be. Whatever their virtues, they could not logically captivate many men because of their father's dwindling fortune. What could she do? How could Elizabeth help her family?

Chapter Two

Posted on Monday, 1 September 2003

"I know you well enough, Papa," Elizabeth comforted her father humoringly, "you will find something to occupy yourself in your library to soothe your empty heart at my absence."

Mr. Bennet smiled. "My library is where I must go, as you say Lizzie, for until you or Jane return, I shall not hear two words of sense spoken together."

Elizabeth knew just how true this was, for Jane had been in London for better than two months and whilst Mr. Bennet secluded himself in his library, the winter months dragged on without that best-friend sister. Elizabeth was so in need of something different to do, some place new to see, that she could even accept the fact that Mr. Collins was part of the package. Surely he would find a way to demonstrate how fortunate Charlotte was to have accepted him after Elizabeth's rejection. She must receive it graciously, with tongue in cheek.

"With Jane in London and myself in Kent, Father, think how much expense will be saved."

Mr. Bennet shook his head slowly and smiled slightly, "True, my love, but such insignificant thrift does little for our overall financial well-being."

Elizabeth sighed. What could she do to help? "Perhaps Lady Catherine de Bourgh will have some gentleman in mind for me, Papa, if I ask her advice."

"Yes, well there you are my dear." Mr. Bennet concluded happily, "By all means, let her advise you, after all, Mr. Collins tells us she is the wisest of women."

After not too many days at Hunsford, Elizabeth found herself back in the routine of walking out. That Charlotte Collins accompanied her on many of those rambles did not surprise Elizabeth. Charlotte seemed to carefully consider what activities would expose her least to the company of her husband. Indeed, Charlotte contrived Mr. Collins' daily activities in that way as well. To feel such a scheme exigent proved to Elizabeth the importance of being able to love and respect one's mate, and yet Charlotte was no longer a financial burden on her parents, who, like the Bennets had several other children and very likely fewer resources than her own family. Perhaps Elizabeth, despite her objections, would be obligated to marry into a situation like Charlotte's. Watching him eat breakfast one morning, she thought, please God, if that must be the case, let my husband not be so stupid a man as William Collins.

Though Elizabeth's first choice for marriage was not to make one of convenience, there were more of her acquaintances than just Charlotte who were making them. Mr. Wickham, for instance, by marrying Mary King, hoped to improve his station in life. Such marriages were quite acceptable to society, but of what importance was social acceptance when one had to live with the consequences of what very well could be a distasteful convenience for the rest of one's life?

March 18, 18__

My Dear Nephew,

Anne and I are anticipating your impending Easter visit. Though our rector, Mr. Collins has recently married a young lady whose company we tolerably enjoy, a Miss Charlotte Lucas, from Hertfordshire, we are still sadly in want of really good company.

It seems, however, that spring will bring us more visitors, though not as significant as yourselves. Mrs. Collins' father, younger sister and a particular friend of hers, a Miss Elizabeth Bennet arrive two weeks before yourself and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

As patroness of this parish I find, though I condescend to spend my limited and valuable time with the likes of such people, that I am always a model to them of all that is enviable. That they may never attain such a level as what they see before them in Anne and myself is something they haven't the intelligence even to suspect.

So you see, nephew, you must come with the Colonel as soon as you may to give relief to your cousin and myself from such tedious company as this.

Of course my dear Anne particularly looks forward to your visit this year. Her health and general spirits are vastly improved over what they were last year upon your visiting us. I feel sure this must be the year the two of you will make me the happiest of women.

Your affectionate aunt,

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Fitzwilliam Darcy read his aunt's letter quickly, skimming those portions he could have predicted would be written there. He was not, however, reading so rapidly that the name of Elizabeth Bennet did not catch his eye.

That this information quickened not only the pace of his heart, but the rapidity of his butler in packing his things, he did not admit to himself. Miss Elizabeth Bennet was captivatingly beautiful and he found her conversation more interesting than any he had enjoyed since leaving her company in November, but she was not his social equal.

He told himself he hastened to see her again sooner than his planned arrival date at Rosings, because the Winter had been long; spent either in the nerve-wracking company of Miss Bingley and the Hursts and with his forlorn and withdrawn friend, Charles, or at Pemberley with Georgiana.

He and Georgiana had lately come down to London to break the tedium, but he had not been fortunate enough to see Bingley in town without Caroline poking her nose in under the guise of keeping Georgiana company.

Oddly, his sister did not want to accompany himself and Fitzwilliam into Kent, though he was surprised to hear her say to Miss Bingley that she thought she would. In so doing, Georgiana would likely be able to avoid not only that woman, but her badgering aunt Catherine and her sickly cousin Anne, who she told regretfully in a letter that she was obliged to spend time in town with her music master.

Chapter Three

Posted on Wednesday, 3 September 2003,

Mr. Darcy did not trust himself to analyze his feelings for Miss Elizabeth Bennet, either upon his return from Hertfordshire or at this moment as he and Colonel Fitzwilliam came to stay at Rosings. Had he allowed himself to identify them, he would have concluded that he was not yet in love; the length of their acquaintance and his objections to her situation in life restricted those sentiments, but he would have to say he was mesmerized, infatuated, drawn towards Elizabeth Bennet.

After a polite, just-arrived visit with their aunt and cousin, Darcy and Fitzwilliam were off to the parsonage to visit Mr. and Mrs. Collins and their guests.

Lady Catherine, of course, tried to persuade them not to leave the house so soon, for they hardly had time to visit with Anne at all. But it was Anne de Bourgh herself who admitted being too tired at that moment to continue their interview, thereby freeing them, and the gentlemen agreed to ride out with their cousin later in the day and left immediately.

Colonel Fitzwilliam knew not why his cousin was in so much haste to visit the home of their aunt's vicar, though Darcy was acquainted with him. Yet, when the two gentlemen were received at Hunsford parsonage, the Colonel quickly understood Darcy's reasoning and tuned out Mr. Collins' monotone in favor of Miss Elizabeth Bennet's lively conversation and beauty. His cousin, once so anxious to come to the place, said scarcely a word, except to ask after the welfare of Miss Bennet's family and appeared to be more ill at ease than Fitzwilliam had ever seen him, when dancing was not involved.

After more than an hour's visit, Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam took their leave, the later wondering why his friend had bothered to pay the call, the former offering no explanation, indeed no conversation at all.

Chapter Four

Posted on Thursday, 4 September 2003

In the woods surrounding Rosings a few afternoons after his visit to Hunsford cottage, Mr. Darcy, on horseback, met the very woman he yearned both to avoid and encounter. So torn was he at suddenly seeing her, he could not think of a sensible greeting, simply nodded in Miss Bennet's direction and turned his horse away.

Miss Bennet, for her part, began to wonder if Mr. Darcy was really the intelligent man she had once taken him for. His social skills certainly were lacking for a young man frequently exposed to good society.

That Mr. Darcy called again only the next afternoon, therefore, surprised Miss Bennet, who, with the absence of Mrs. Collins and Maria to contribute, was quite as much at a loss for conversational topics as her visitor had been the day before. After some long, silent moments, the two began to talk of the improvements Lady Catherine had made to Hunsford cottage when Mr. Collins first arrived.

Elizabeth thought perhaps she saw a smile curl the corners of Mr. Darcy's mouth when she responded that "Lady Catherine could not have bestowed her generosity on a more grateful object" than her vicar. Indeed Mr. Darcy would be a handsome man if he would smile more and make himself at ease. As it was, they turned to talking of how near Charlotte was settled to her family, how Mr. Darcy considered fifty miles an easy distance to travel in a short time and how he guessed Elizabeth, once she married, would not want to be settled too near her own family.

To know Mr. Darcy conjectured upon her being married and her feelings once she was, was unsettling to Elizabeth. She decided to turn the tables on her visitor.

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth began sweetly, looking up at Mr. Darcy from lowered eyelids, entirely disconcerting the gentleman, "I believe you and Mr. Wickham were childhood friends and that after his father's early death, you were raised almost as brothers."

Now Darcy was uncomfortable for a different reason. Elizabeth saw him shift uncomfortably in his chair. His head lifted to its customary haughty-looking position, his posture became stiff and he sighed. Miss Bennet expected an explanation.

"Yes, that is true." was all the reply she received. Elizabeth persevered.

"How is it then, sir, that the two of you are now..." she searched for the right word, "estranged?"

Mr. Darcy could tell Wickham had been very persuasive with his version of their story. Obviously Miss Bennet considered him to be the villain. Though his feelings for her were uncertain, Darcy certainly did not want Elizabeth to think ill of him, to believe incorrect information about him. His eyelids closed briefly and Elizabeth could tell she'd upset him. She almost wanted to reach out to him and tell him he didn't need to tell her about his dealings with Wickham, but then she remembered how unfairly, how cruelly Mr. Darcy had treated him and she allowed him to anguish a little before responding.

Darcy recounted the true history between himself and Wickham, leaving out his attempted elopement with Georgiana. He admonished her to ask Colonel Fitzwilliam if she did not believe his account.

When he'd finished, Elizabeth knew not how to respond, indeed she had so many conflicting thoughts going through her mind, she wasn't conscious of what she was doing.

Darcy sensed what she was feeling and that his best course would be politely to leave her to her thoughts. He gave her a few moments to pose any questions, but there were none.

Elizabeth considered his departure sudden, but was glad to be alone to sort things out. Darcy wondered who would emerge the victor in Miss Bennet's mind, himself or Wickham. But he would find he had a new challenger for her regard. It was no longer Wickham, but his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Chapter Five

Posted on Thursday, 4 September 2003

The Sunday following the gentlemen's arrival was Easter and Mr. Collins, as always, prepared the sermon just as Lady Catherine had prescribed. He waited by the chapel door until all the parishioners had entered and Lady Catherine and her entourage arrived, then Mr. Collins escorted them past the standing congregation (for Lady Catherine like to see the distinction of rank observed) to the front pew, which was padded by a long needlepoint cushion depicting several DeBourgh family crests. Colonel Fitzwilliam could hardly suppress a laugh at this petty formality and his cousin covered his embarrassment by holding his head high, his posture erect and his eyes straight ahead during the entire procession, though he knew full well Mrs. Collins, her father, sister and Miss Bennet sat just behind them.

As directed by Lady Catherine, the Easter service contained more than the usual congregational hymns. Lady Catherine could not carry a tune, but sang out boldly as if she could and of course Anne would have sung beautifully, had her health permitted, but as it was, she silently mouthed the words. Fitzwilliam and Darcy, who could both sing quite well, had learned to seat themselves as far from their aunt as possible and though the Colonel's voice rang out, Darcy could not concentrate on the music for being distracted by the beauty and clarity of Miss Elizabeth Bennet's singing behind him.

Several times during the service Darcy wanted to turn his head at least to acknowledge Miss Bennet, but did not think it appropriate. He imagined the beautiful pink dress and bonnet she was wearing. He knew they were pink because he'd seen Elizabeth out of the corner of his eyes as their procession passed by. He could imagine her clear, rosy complexion and bright eyes, the rise and fall of the little garnet cross she wore around her neck as she sang.... He must concentrate on the sermon, such diversions had no place in church, and yet he could feel her warmth behind him.

When the meeting came to a close, the DeBourgh contingent rose, with the audience once again, and left the church, Mr. Collins escorting his patroness. When Miss Bennet finally came out of the church, Lady Catherine was still advising Mr. Collins on various concerns of the parish, while her daughter and her companion, Mrs. Jenkinson and her nephews waited for her nearby.

It was Colonel Fitzwilliam who addressed Miss Bennet first and said precisely what his cousin meant to, "Miss Bennet," he bowed to her, as did his cousin just behind him. Miss Bennet curtsied in response. "We very much enjoyed the addition of your beautiful voice this morning. I cannot say I was surprised at its beauty, for though Darcy here has said very little since we came into Kent, he has mentioned how much he enjoyed hearing you play and sing in Hertfordshire."

Elizabeth was very surprised at Mr. Darcy's praise and glanced briefly at him to see the same slight blush on his face as she felt upon her own. Mr. Darcy is very kind," she explained to the Colonel, but I must say he had not many performers to compare me with in Hertfordshire."

The Colonel laughed and Darcy longed to join the conversation, but could not think sensibly for being overwhelmed at her nearness. She was even more lovely than he had imagined her earlier. "Oh, but Miss Bennet, my cousin has had the opportunity to hear many talented young women sing, whilst he's been in town and so have I, so you see, our assessment is a fair one."

Darcy opened his mouth to agree with the Colonel just as his aunt called to him. Reluctantly he excused himself and went to her. Lady Catherine asked him to return to the church and collect Anne's parasol, which she had probably left under the pew by accident.

Inwardly Darcy groaned. From the corner of his eye he saw his cousin walking toward the parsonage with Miss Bennet on his arm. "Damn!" Darcy swore under his breath. Perhaps he could catch them if he was quick in the church. His long legs covered the short distance quickly and he soon retrieved the parasol, but just as he turned the corner from the DeBourgh pew to the aisle of the church, there, on the floor, partially hidden underneath the next pew back, the one Mrs. Collins and her company had sat upon, was a white prayer book. Darcy stopped and picked it up. The leather cover was engraved with the owner's name: ELIZABETH BENNET.

This was the very excuse he needed to catch up to Fitzwilliam and Miss Bennet. A few long strides brought him to his cousin Anne , who thanked him for returning the parasol but as he turned to excuse himself and go towards Miss Bennet, his aunt prevailed upon him again to help them into their carriage and see them home, "Unlike Fitzwilliam, who has abandoned us." she whined. Darcy began to apologize and go on his planned route, when the thought occurred to him that he could return Elizabeth's prayer book some time when he could speak to her alone, when his cousin couldn't monopolize what was said and make him look so conversationally inept.

He slipped the little prayer book under his vest and helped the ladies into the carriage, getting in afterwards himself. From the window he saw Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, now flanked by Mr. and Mrs. Collins, her father and sister not far behind. Yes, he thought to himself, this latter was a better plan. If he was to divert Miss Bennet away from Colonel Fitzwilliam, he could do it much better without such interference.

Chapter Six

Posted on Friday, 5 September 2003

Darcy's plan to speak alone to Elizabeth could not soon be achieved. His cousin, it seemed, had discovered or was informed of Miss Bennet's walking route each morning and if he wanted to see the lady, he had to join her with the Colonel, not unpleasant company if he couldn't see how much Miss Bennet enjoyed walking and chatting with Fitzwilliam. Darcy felt his own presence to be intrusive, not so much because the two were growing so fond of one another, but because the path rarely admitted three persons and, as before, Darcy hardly contributed to the conversation. Neither Miss Bennet nor Colonel Fitzwilliam understood why Darcy deigned to spend his time with them. Separately they put it down to Darcy's wishing to be out of the company of Lady Catherine and Anne DeBourgh and that there was nothing better for him to do alone, without his cousin.

And yet, Colonel Fitzwilliam told Elizabeth, Darcy had postponed their departure for another week after a fortnight's visit. To Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy was an enigma. After his second visit to the parsonage, Charlotte said Mr. Darcy must be in love with her, but Elizabeth hardly believed that would be true, after all, he rarely directed a word to her.

During the third week of Mr. Darcy's visit to Rosings, Lady Catherine again entertained Mr. and Mrs. Collins and all the remaining guests at Hunsford Cottage, for Sir William Lucas had returned home. Of course her nephews, Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson attended as well. Lady Catherine felt truly beneficent. How fortunate the Hunsford group was to spend their evening in such company.

After dinner and advisement were over, (for Lady Catherine felt it incumbent upon her to instruct the young people on any pertinent point) the pianoforte was opened and Elizabeth, with some coaxing from Charlotte, was found to be the only one willing to perform. While Elizabeth played, the Colonel stood by her, turning pages, as necessary. Mr. Darcy sat passive looking as always, seemingly listening to his aunt drone on about some new topic, but secretly trying without much success to hear what his cousin was saying to Miss Bennet.

How, he wondered, could his cousin waste his time on a woman who suited him not at all? Fitzwilliam required a wealthy wife and though Elizabeth Bennet was beautiful and engaging, she had very little wealth to make her attractive to any man. Yet Fitzwilliam continually sought her company and Miss Bennet seemed to enjoy it. Darcy told himself it was nothing to be concerned about, the two of them would leave soon and Colonel Fitzwilliam would never see Miss Bennet again. But Darcy didn't want to leave, he wanted to have Miss Bennet to himself. He could hardly admit to himself-he wanted his cousin, one of his greatest friends, out of the way. He was jealous, and if he was jealous he must be…

Suddenly, hearing Elizabeth' laughter at something Fitzwilliam said, Darcy was brought straight to his feet and into the music room. He could contain his jealousy no longer. It was time he gave his cousin some competition. There was no reason he couldn't be equally as charming. Elizabeth teased him about coming in to intimidate her as she played and then proceeded to recount the unfortunate circumstances of their meeting at the Meryton Assembly. This delighted Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy felt he was adding to their enjoyment of each other rather than paving his own way with Elizabeth.

Just then Lady Catherine interrupted, wanting to know what they were talking of, ending any further interaction, yet Darcy was energized. He would meet Miss Bennet alone and when he did, he would make her realize he was more interesting than his cousin could ever be. He would make her see that she was in love, just as he was.

The next day when Mr. Darcy called at the parsonage, Elizabeth had already left with Charlotte and Maria. Since he and Colonel Fitzwilliam had to leave Kent in just a few days time, he was most anxious to spend all the time he could with Miss Bennet, taking her away from his cousin's influence. The party from the parsonage was invited to tea at Rosings late that afternoon. Before that, Darcy hoped to find Elizabeth walking alone in the Park.

Indeed that was just where the afternoon and the two cousins found Miss Bennet and she was thinking about them both as she rambled. When she heard Colonel Fitzwilliam say he and Mr. Darcy were definitely leaving soon, she was rather relieved. For all the time the Colonel spent with her, she knew he meant nothing by it for he had informed her early in their acquaintance that, being the younger son of an earl, he planned to do the logical thing and marry a wealthy woman. Elizabeth wanted to say that she too would probably need to do the same. Perhaps that was just the way of things, maybe marrying for love was for dreamers.

Midway through her walk Elizabeth met the Colonel, who said he was making his annual tour of the Park. She accepted his offer to walk together.

Elizabeth's opinion of Mr. Darcy had changed somewhat while she'd been in Kent. Upon reflection of his account of Mr. Wickham, she had found Darcy's version to be believable and she had consulted Colonel Fitzwilliam during one of their visits to verify it, so she could no longer consider Darcy to be the villain Wickham painted him. Her opinion of his pride and haughtiness had also altered. She now saw that he was quiet in a large group and restrained with people he didn't know well, but once he became interested in whatever was being discussed, he could be quite animated and interesting.

Elizabeth also saw with amusement Mr. Darcy's opinion of his aunt. Though he was never rude to her, she could tell his patience with Lady Catherine wore thin and she saw absolutely no regard, other than politeness from him toward his cousin. Indeed, though she'd spent more time in Kent with Colonel Fitzwilliam and he liked him very much, he had to admit to herself that she preferred Mr. Darcy.

To make conversation as they went along the park, Elizabeth asked the Colonel what he and Mr. Darcy would be doing after they left Rosings. The Colonel replied that he was obliged to rejoin his regiment, while Mr. Darcy had business first in town with his friend, Mr. Bingley and then needed to return to his estate in Derbyshire.

Elizabeth asked Colonel Fitzwilliam if he knew Mr. Bingley and added that she knew him from Hertfordshire. The Colonel admitted he knew Bingley slightly and added that Darcy, while in town, meant to advise his friend about whether he should keep or quit his property in Hertfordshire.

Elizabeth stated that she believed it would be unfortunate for the neighborhood if Bingley quit Netherfield, but the Colonel hinted that Bingley would likely do so to avoid "a most imprudent marriage". He went on to describe his cousin's help in extricating Bingley from what could be an undesirable liaison.

Elizabeth left no doubt in the Colonel's mind that she thought the whole affair to be none of Mr. Darcy's business, that Mr. Bingley should be free to choose whom he would love. Pleading a headache, Colonel Fitzwilliam saw Elizabeth back to the Parsonage.

Mr. Darcy, on horseback, spotted the two of them just as they had entered there. He swore softly under his breath again, cursing his bad timing. His chances to speak with Elizabeth in Kent were quickly running out.

Chapter Seven

Posted on Wednesday, 10 September 2003

That same afternoon, when she had returned to the parsonage, Elizabeth received a letter from Jane. She was heartened to receive word from the sister who had always been her touchstone, but as she began to read, Elizabeth's anger toward Mr. Darcy's interference between Mr. Bingley and Jane increased.

When Jane finished writing the news of the Meryton-Longbourn neighborhood, she began lamenting how much she wished she could have been of help to her family by possibly marrying that gentleman, not only because she loved Mr. Bingley and he was "the most excellent man of her acquaintance", but also because she knew "her dear family" could have benefited financially from their union. Obviously Jane knew of their father's money problems and this revelation brought a tear to Elizabeth's eye. She had wanted so badly to share that news with Jane when she first learned of it, but had not done so due Jane's disappointment at Mr. Bingley's sudden departure from Netherfield and his sister's information that he might soon be married to Georgiana Darcy.

In her letter Jane repeated her earlier assertion to Elizabeth that at least one of the Bennet sisters would have to marry very well, but at present it seemed none of them could.

Elizabeth caught herself sitting for an undetermined time, staring into space, wanting to cry, but being unable to, wondering if she should reply to Jane's letter and if so, what she would say. Time brought no answers or relief and when the time came for the Collinses, Maria and herself to walk to Rosings for tea, Elizabeth had a headache she felt could rival her mother's worst and excused herself.

Mr. Collins was adamant his cousin should come despite her ill health, for, after all, what would Lady Catherine think if she did not come? Mrs. Collins prevailed, however, and the three of them left Elizabeth to rest and recover in peace.

Elizabeth had just began reading Jane's letter again when the doorbell rang and she heard Mr. Darcy's voice. The Rosings party would barely have had time to finish their tea, let alone the unavoidable conversation afterwards. She was surprised at how immediately he must have left them.

The gentleman was introduced. In an hurried manner he immediately began an enquiry after her health, imputing his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better. Remembering Colonel Fitzwilliam's information about Darcy's selfish interference between his friend and her sister, she answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments and then getting up, walked about the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but said not a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her in an agitated manner and thus began.

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority- of its being a degradation-of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.

In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive; till roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost all compassion in anger. She tried, however, to compose herself to answer him with patience, when he should have done. He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which, in spite of all his endeavors, he had found impossible to conquer; and with expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand. As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favourable answer. He spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance could only exasperate farther and when he ceased, the colour rose into her cheeks.

It took all the composure Elizabeth had within her not to jump up and run sobbing from the room. She had been emotionally unsettled first by Colonel Fitzwilliam's disclosure, then by Jane's letter and now by this insulting excuse for a marriage proposal-it was all too much for her. Elizabeth's eyes filled with frustrated, angry tears. Not wanting Mr. Darcy to see, she rose from her chair and following an example of his, walked to the sitting room window, unable to reply.

If she could have spoken Elizabeth's thoughts weren't coherent enough to have made sense. After some uncomfortable time of silence between them, Elizabeth, still struggling to compose herself and Darcy attempting to understand what had so upset her, the gentleman began to consider what he had said.

As Darcy knew neither the contents of his cousin's recent conversation with Elizabeth nor her letter from Jane, Miss Bennet's current distress must have come from him. In his mind he replayed the words of his proposal and it ...

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

dietanamase.keep.pl