Elizabeth’s Final Resolve (Pride & Prejudice Variation)

Chapter 1

The beauty of the April morning was captivating, and though the melancholy contents of Jane’s letter were clasped tightly in her hand Elizabeth could not forbear filling her lungs with the fresh, scented air of Kent, nor smiling at the pleasure it afforded her.

But her disposition was ill-suited to prolonged unhappiness and as she pursued the winding paths of Rosing's Park she felt a lively sense of existence animating her spirits.

Those first five weeks at Hunsford had been marked by little of consequence, until their tranquillity was at last shattered by the arrival of Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam at the great house.

From that moment on whatever semblance of Lady Catherine’s former condescension, so nearly approaching amiability, that had existed was entirely withdrawn; and in its stead appeared a rigid, close-mouthed civility.

A demeanour betraying far more hauteur than true politeness.

Elizabeth smiled, remembering how forceful the great lady was towards Mr Darcy, her own nephew, to get him for her daughter. The poor man had the look of a hunted animal under the lady’s overbearing attention.

However, she laughed when she realised that the quiet and taciturn Mr Darcy treated his own flesh and blood no differently than he had treated the mere mortals in Meryton.

The man was utterly insupportable and she could not stand the very sight of him.

However, she had to wonder at his constant scrutiny of her own person.

She had, a long time ago, decided that his unwavering stare must be to enumerate her many faults. But how many faults could she have that took him so long?

Elizabeth shook her head in dismay and looked at the beautiful park, which stretched ahead with its rolling hills and a plethora of exotic flora then decided to no longer waste precious time thinking of Mr Darcy and his absurdities.

In many ways he was no different than Mr Collins; a ridiculous, pompous man puffed up with his own importance.

As she turned a corner of the heavy woods, choosing a less frequented path, she found herself almost face to face with Colonel Fitzwilliam:

“Miss Bennet, how good it is to see you in this fine morning.” The Colonel said with an exaggerated bow, as if they had just met in a grand ballroom.

“Good morning, Colonel.” Elizabeth laughed taking his offered arm as they carried on through the grassy path. “Do you walk alone this morning, Colonel, or is your cousin hiding from me behind the next tree?”

“I am all alone, Miss Bennet, but why should my cousin hide from you?”

“Well, it has been some time now that Mr Darcy has secured the position of my most severe critic.”

“Really? That is surprising.”

“Why should it be?” Elizabeth looked at him quizzically. “You see, I do not think Mr Darcy likes me very much or even approves of me… even a little.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam screwed his eyes in concentration as if trying to puzzle a problem out, “I think you might be mistaken about my cousin’s dislike of you Miss Bennet. In fact I know for a fact that he thinks highly of you.”

Elizabeth’s delighted laugh rang out, “Colonel, I can guarantee you, the mistake is yours. Mr Darcy’s feelings regarding me are very similar to my feelings regarding him. In fact they are exactly the same.”

“Are you saying that you do not like my cousin or even approve of him… even a little?”

“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.”

“That is indeed surprising.” The Colonel said looking almost sad. “He is a very good man, Miss Bennet and you will be missing out if you do not allow yourself a change of heart concerning him.”

“I think not.” Elizabeth said firmly and with finality to her voice.

“I have known Darcy all my life and he has always proven to be the perfect friend in a tight spot. Nothing is beneath him or too hard when it comes to aiding his friends and family.” He smiled and continued his high praise of his cousin, undeterred, “For example, I understand he congratulates himself for having recently saved a friend from a most imprudent marriage.”

Elizabeth stopped abruptly, “Really?”

“Yes! That is the kind of thing he would do when most people would leave their friends to fend for themselves.”

“Did he give any reasons for this interference? I mean, how was he to be the judge in the situation?”

“I think there were strong factors against the lady, indicating that she was just a fortune hunter and his friend was utterly infatuated with her.”

“A fortune hunter?” Elizabeth said with a strangled voice.

“That is what I understood.” The colonel continued without realising Elizabeth’s change in countenance, “You see, his friend is a younger man and quite naive.

Not to mention that the lady was apparently as beautiful as a queen and her mother pushed her towards his friend relentlessly, quite forcefully and in a most shameful display.

“How dare he?” Elizabeth blasted out.

“What?” The Colonel stared at her confused.

“Who does he think he is, God?” Elizabeth had stopped walking and when the Colonel looked at her, her tears were freely flowing down her angry face.

“Miss Bennet, I beg your pardon. What is the matter? What have I said to give you such distress?”

Elizabeth just shook her head trying to wipe her tears and failing miserably.

“Miss Bennet, I beg your pardon.” He repeated hopelessly. Then he gasped. “Miss Bennet, could it be that the lady I mentioned is you?”

“No, no. No… I wish it were, Colonel, so I could laugh at them all. No, she is my most beloved sister. The sweetest and kindest lady you can ever hope to meet anywhere and Mr Darcy has the temerity to slander her, calling her a fortune hunter and not good enough for his friend.”

The Colonel swallowed nervously, not knowing where to look. Darcy was going to kill him and this time, he had to admit, his cousin would be within his right to torture him, shredding him to pieces.

“Miss Bennet, it might not be the same friend. I daresay Darcy has many friends who are young and in great need of his guidance. I am sure your sister is the best of ladies and Darcy would never intentionally slander her.”

“When did this ‘guidance’ happen to have taken place?”

Colonel Fitzwilliam pretended to think, but by now he knew very well that Darcy had only been in one place since last autumn and it was Miss Bennet’s county of Hertfordshire.

“I am not certain.” He said pathetically.

“Last autumn?” Elizabeth smirked.

“Possibly.” He said weakly, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him whole.

“This friend was Mr Bingley.” She said looking away into the distance. “The wealthy son of a man in trade and Mr Darcy thinks that a caring, honest and if I might add, very beautiful daughter of a landed gentleman is not good enough for him.”

“Miss Bennet…”

“No, Colonel, please do not try to redeem him for he is unredeemable. Mr Darcy is the most odious man I have ever known. Mr Wickham was totally right and I am only sorry that I cannot leave this place immediately and never look upon that arrogant face ever again.”

“Mr Wickham?” Suddenly the Colonel’s voice was as hard as flint and all vestige of empathy was gone.

“Yes, Mr George Wickham!” Elizabeth tried to match the hardness in his voice. “I know all about their history and how unfeeling and monstrously ungenerous… and cruel Mr Darcy was to his childhood friend.”

The Colonel snorted, “Cruel?” He looked at her with unwavering, cold blue eyes that for a brief moment discomposed her.

But she swallowed and recovered quickly, “I am sure, as his cousin you would take his side in this sad saga, which is commendable. But I have no need for such scruples and like Mr Wickham, I will add Mr Darcy’s name to my very short list of hated enemies.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam was getting angrier by the minute and before he insulted the lady in front of him he bowed stiffly and said, “I am sure you have long desired my absence, madam. Please accept my best wishes for your health and happiness. Good day Miss Bennet.” He then left her standing there, dumbfounded, looking at his retreating form and wondering why he had gotten so red in the face, obviously struggling to bring his temper into good regulation.

“His support of his cousin is admirable” Elizabeth said “as was to be expected. But I need not concern myself with either one. I am done with this place and will apply to Charlotte for my leaving immediately. I just hope she is feeling a little better this morning.” And picking up her skirts, she ran for a few minutes to clear her head and heart from the resentment that was threatening to overcome her.