Chapter 9
Rosings, Kent
Darcy
Darcy quickened his pace, aware that visiting at this hour was rather improper, especially with Mr. Collins absent from the parsonage. Yet, for once, he didn't care.
He had expended much contemplation on how to secure a private conversation with Miss Elizabeth for the purpose of making his proposal, preferably before the dinner today. Not for an instant did he entertain the notion that she might be absent from the dinner altogether.
It is beyond belief that she should suffer from a headache on precisely the day I had planned for my proposal. I beseech you, God, let her be awake when I arrive. Grant me the opportunity to converse with her.
As always, God granted his wish. As he was ushered into the front parlour, he saw her staring at him in surprise.
Elizabeth
When the person she never wanted to see again in her life bowed in front of her, Elizabeth found herself at a loss. She curtsied by habit, yet maintained her silence.
What is he doing here? Doesn’t he know it is improper to visit at this time?
She was engrossed in perusing Jane’s letter, which detailed the recent visit from the Bingley sisters.
As anticipated, it did nothing to improve her already vexed disposition.
With each reading of the letter, her disdain for Mr. Darcy intensified, leaving her disinclined to engage in conversation with him.
I have nothing to say to him. Let him talk if he has anything to say.
However, the words he uttered were the last she expected to hear:
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
What?
Bingley’s Townhouse, London
Caroline
When her brother strode into the parlour, Caroline Bingley felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been idling in the morning parlour, aimlessly passing the time. However, as he pulled a chair from the side and positioned it directly in front of her, a sense of foreboding crept into her mind.
Without any forewarning, he locked his gaze with hers and posed the question she had always dreaded, the one she hoped would never pass her brother's lips.
“Tell me Caroline, why didn’t you tell me that Miss Bennet is in London?”
That was the moment in which Miss Caroline Bingley’s life veered off course, hurtling down an unexpected and dramatic path.
Hunsford Parsonage, Kent
Darcy
As he toiled over his proposal speech the night before, the very speech he would later discard, Darcy contemplated revealing the inner turmoil he had endured due to his intense affection for Miss Elizabeth.
However, in a moment of clarity, he chose to withhold those confessions.
The struggle had been of his own making, a product of his misguided sense of duty and familial expectations.
Why insult her with such revelations? She deserved better from him.
And thus he embarked upon his desired course, commencing precisely where his heart yearned to begin.
There must be no room for uncertainty or misunderstanding.
His love for her, sincere and profound, demanded to be laid bare right up front.
No other fair lady in this vast country deserved to hear these declarations from his lips.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
He noticed her surprise, yet he carried on regardless.
“From the moment I first laid eyes upon you at the assembly in Meryton, your vivacity, and unparalleled beauty captivated my soul. Even at the very first glance, when I looked into your eyes, the eyes that mirror the depth of your soul, I was done. My attraction to you was instantaneous, illogical and eminently powerful. I was drawn to you like a moth to your flame. I couldn’t get away.
You are unique, Miss Elizabeth. You lack pretence.
You are natural, unaffected and refreshingly genuine.
You possess a sparkling intelligence, an unrivalled sense of independence, and a captivating spirit that sets you apart from all others.
Your wit and lively conversation have enlightened my heart and challenged my own understanding of the world.
Your unwavering integrity and keen sense of justice have inspired me to become a better man.
In witnessing your genuine concern for those you hold dear and your unwavering loyalty to your family, I have come to admire your virtues with an unwavering passion.
I am acutely aware of the potential disapproval that may arise from our union, and I shall not insult your discerning intellect by professing otherwise.
However, rest assured, dear Miss Elizabeth, that those individuals of significance within my esteemed family, those I hold dear, will embrace you wholeheartedly.
Furthermore, I pay no heed to the opinions of those who measure a lady's worth solely through materialistic means.
They fail to comprehend the depth of your significance in my life, how your exquisite loveliness enriches my existence, how your spirit shall uplift and guide myself and my young sister, and how your benevolence shall touch the lives of the tenants and staff at Pemberley.
You, Miss Elizabeth, are a treasure. You are worth more to me than any other young ladies in this country.
Should you deem me worthy of your affection, I promise to devote myself entirely to your happiness and well-being.
I will strive each day to be a better man, supporting your dreams, and protecting you from life's adversities. It is with utmost humility that I beseech the honour of your hand in marriage, Miss Elizabeth. Should you find it within the depths of your heart to accept my earnest proposal, I shall forever be in your debt and consider myself the most fortuitous of men.”
There. My heart didn’t let me down.
There was a long silence after he concluded his speech. Too long for his liking.
Elizabeth
When a girl blossoms into womanhood, when her thoughts turn to men as she experiences the first inkling of attraction within her, she begins to dream about the perfect proposal she will one day receive.
A proposal from a dashing gentleman professing his ardent love for her.
A proposal so enchanting that it would make any girl swoon.
However, for most of these girls, this remains a mere dream destined to never become a reality.
Elizabeth was now experiencing that wonderful dream, a dream from which she would eventually awaken to the harsh reality she must confront.
Mercy me! When did I fall asleep? This has to be a dream, right?
As she stood there, unable to speak, she felt something in her hand.
Looking down, she saw that it was the letter—the letter from Jane that she had been perusing just moments before.
Its presence jolted her from the enchanting yet bewildering reverie she had been lost in, enabling her to awaken to reality.
He is the man who is responsible for Jane's tears.
He is the man who insulted me on the very first day of our acquaintance.
He is the man who cheated poor Mr. Wickham out of his inheritance.
I can never marry him. But, but, how can someone refuse a proposal like this? Why can't I formulate a sentence?
Elizabeth knew she had to respond. He was patiently waiting for her response. But she was so stunned that she couldn’t come up with words.
Notwithstanding the depth of my aversion towards him, that proposal does warrant some measure of gratitude. I need to be civil towards him.
“Mr. Darcy, I would like to extend my profound gratitude for the honour you bestow upon me. However, it is with genuine sorrow that I find myself compelled to decline your offer”, she finally found her words.
She had a reasonable anticipation of Mr. Darcy's reaction upon hearing her refusal.
She foresaw his anger. After all, he himself had described possessing a temperament prone to resentment.
However, as her gaze fell upon his visage, she found only astonishment and bewilderment reflected in his countenance.
Bingley’s Townhouse, London
Bingley
After bidding farewell to Miss Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner, Bingley spent nearly three hours at Hatchard, seemingly engrossed in the same book he had been grappling with earlier in the afternoon. Just like then, he did not read a single word.
Bingley was well aware of one advantage he had today. Both Hurst and Louisa were away. So Caroline would be alone, with no one to support her. The question was how to present himself for the impending confrontation, for a confrontation it would be.
He was never one for angry outbursts. He always preferred heart-to-heart talks, conversations filled with honesty and intimacy. Yet, how to initiate such a conversation with Caroline? He was fully aware that his patience would be put to test.
After three hours of toiling over his plans, he returned to his town house and sat in front of his sister. He made sure there was no distance between them. He wanted a clear view of her countenance as he posed his questions. He wanted to see her reactions.
“Tell me Caroline, why didn’t you tell me that Miss Bennet is in London?” He inquired in the calmest voice he could muster at that time.
The impact was immediate and palpable. Caroline's eyes widened, her delicate brows furrowing as a crease of worry etched itself upon her forehead.
He discerned a multitude of emotions coursing through her gaze—shock, fear, and guilt.
In that moment, realisation dawned upon him.
He held power over her, a revelation that struck him with profound clarity.
He berated himself inwardly for his foolishness, having permitted Caroline to wield such influence over him in every aspect of his life until now.
“How, how did you know that?” Her voice was so low that Bingley might have missed it if he was sitting away from her.
That won’t do, dear sister. I won’t let you steer this conversation.