Chapter 14
Elizabeth was blissfully happy. She could not remember the last time she had been this content.
Her differences with Darcy and all her uncertainties had been resolved.
They were now in perfect accord. Her friendship with Miss Darcy was progressing beautifully to the extent that she was as much looking forward to having her as a sister as to becoming the wife of the best man of her acquaintance.
Though Darcy had not yet formally proposed, she was aware that it was in deference to the situation with Lydia.
The news from Brighton on Lydia’s progress had added to her present felicity.
From all accounts, her sister seemed to be on the path to mending and even her eyesight had improved from when she awoke.
Her father had written that the accident seemed to have matured Lydia such that she now seemed to consider the repercussions of all her actions much more seriously.
She also seemed to have been disillusioned with the world and the importance of her own charm.
Kitty also showed some progress in maturing and understanding that her past behaviour had invited ridicule.
While Elizabeth would never wish any harm to her sisters, she could not but rejoice at this change the accident had brought.
It was with these happy thoughts that she ascended Oakham Mount as the sun slowly rose over the horizon.
She had just sat down at her usual spot on one of the boulders when she saw Darcy walking towards her and could not help the joy spreading across her countenance.
“Mr. Darcy, I hardly expected to see you here this morning!” she exclaimed as she rose to join him.
Darcy took her hand as he met her, “Mrs. Hill sent me here, seeing my forlorn expression when I could not find you at Longbourn, she probably took pity on me,” he replied with a smile.
Looking at her inquisitive expression he continued, “I received a letter from Bingley and could not help but seek you out at the earliest. It seems Miss Lydia has vastly improved, and the doctor has declared her fit to travel. Your family may return as soon as next week. Bingley also plans to be one of the party.”
“Oh, but that is just wonderful. Once Papa is here you can also speak to him!” she spoke without thinking and instantly blushed. “I did not mean to,” she stammered as Darcy took both her hands in his and spoke,
“Elizabeth, you must know that I am desperately looking forward to making our understanding official. It would give me immense pleasure to talk to your father at his earliest convenience.”
Elizabeth was still too embarrassed to look him in the eye and stared at the ground as she spoke.
“I am ashamed to even recall the way that I spoke of you before. He only knows of my poor opinions. When I came back from Kent, I did not speak to anyone but Jane. I am worried that he will be taken completely by surprise at our understanding. All your generosity towards Lydia may have been interpreted as being done on Mr. Bingley’s behalf. ”
“Elizabeth, I implore you not to worry about what is in the past. You spoke as you felt, and I was the one to blame for your feelings. I have always valued my privacy above everything. That you kept our discussion in Kent private is more reassuring to me than anything flattering you may have spoken. If we speak together, your father will be convinced. I am sure your uncle has an idea of my preference and would have already spoken to Mr. Bennet.”
Finally, Elizabeth looked up to meet his eyes with all the love that filled her heart.
His loyalty and resilience were just one of the few reasons that she had come to love him.
The silent authority that she had once mistaken for arrogance was his inherent nature to take charge.
She had grown up in a family where she had learnt to fend for herself.
Her father would never let any true harm come to any of them.
He had stood by her when she had refused to marry Mr. Collins but otherwise, he could not be bothered with their emotions or feelings as was apparent when he had made a joke about Jane being crossed in love after Bingley’s desertion.
But this man was different, and that was what moved her the most. Mr. Darcy cared for every nuance of her feelings and was attuned to every change in her mood.
“I have no idea what I ever did to earn such devotion from you," she replied.
Darcy smiled at this as he said, “I could ask the same and frankly I should have more cause to be surprised by your feelings now than you have of mine.”
“Yes, all my surprise was very much exhausted in Kent,” Elizabeth replied, coming back to her usual teasing self. “But I assure you that though my admiration may be much more recent than yours, it is no less in its intensity.”
At this declaration Darcy was too overwhelmed to speak.
He gently took both her hands in his and pulled her a little towards him just staring at her trying to communicate all his feelings through his eyes.
This time Elizabeth also did not shy away and looked him directly in the eye.
A silent communication passed between the two which made both realise that no matter when they married, in their heart they irrevocably belonged to the other.
Providence can sometimes play its own sweet jokes.
As Elizabeth and Darcy came to this blissful understanding in Hertfordshire; in Brighton, Mr. Bennet had also been watching the sunrise and coming to a very different conclusion.
Lydia’s escapade had brought forth the consequence of his neglect towards his family.
He had been considering how to be a better father and then Lizzy had always been his favourite.
He still remembered the first time she had walked into his library all of four years old and scolded him for having all the fun alone with his books.
From that day onwards she had always been allowed in his haven and no book was restricted from her.
Now he was most concerned about her being obligated to Darcy for his help in Lydia’s survival.
As he silently walked along the beach for the first time since his arrival in Brighton, he vowed that no matter what may happen, he would never consign Lizzy’s happiness to the altar of family obligation.
He was cognizant of the fact that Darcy was a powerful man and openly challenging him in such a way might make his life very uncomfortable, but for the first time he decided that his daughter’s happiness was much more important than his own comfort.