Chapter 1.15 #4
“Well, dear son,” answered Lady Ellen, half in jest, “few women are as beautiful as I was! But I must confess you have made me quite curious about this lady. If your statement is correct, then the man who secures her affection is indeed a fortunate one. I hope he will be worthy of her.”
“I dare say you are correct in every aspect, Mother; he is a fortunate man, and he will be worthy of her.” He hid a smile behind his glass.
“Is that so? My interest is now completely engaged. I am determined to ask Darcy to host another dinner without delay so I can have the opportunity to meet both Miss Bennets. But I shall insist that Caroline Bingley be invited too. Maybe I shall be fortunate enough to have a repetition of the spectacle.”
“Well, I am certain you will have the opportunity to meet them very soon, and I shall be here to remind you of every word you said just now.”
He smiled mischievously and kissed his mother’s hand, asking to be excused. He climbed the stairs to his room, exceptionally pleased with himself, while Lady Ellen’s lovely brows furrowed thoughtfully.
∞∞∞
Several minutes elapsed—Elizabeth could not be sure how many—before Mr Darcy returned.
He lingered in the doorway; his face brightened and his heart melted at the sight of the women he loved most embracing each other.
“Miss Elizabeth, the carriage will be ready in a few minutes. I shall accompany you if you will allow me.”
She rose and held Georgiana’s hand tightly, whispering, “Thank you.”
“Shall I see you again soon, Elizabeth?”
“I…I do not know. As I said it is possible that we—”
“I can assure you, Georgie, that you will see Miss Bennet again very soon. And do not worry, dearest; all is well. I shall return to you shortly.”
They went down the stairs in grave silence, but Mr Darcy did not lead her to the front door as she expected.
“Miss Bennet, until the carriage is ready, I was hoping we might speak privately for a few minutes. I know it is not entirely proper, and ordinarily I would not dare to suggest it…but there is a matter of great consequence I wish to discuss with you, and I do not know when such an opportunity will arise again. Moreover, I thought you might like to ask me more questions and details about Miss Lydia, and so I am at your disposal.”
She nodded in agreement, grateful for his kindness and understanding; indeed, she was anxious to know more—to know everything—but did not dare to open that dreadful subject with him.
Mr Darcy opened the library door as she wondered what important matter he could wish to discuss with her.
She had neither the courage nor the energy to face his intense gaze.
What would happen next? Why did he say I would surely see Georgiana again?
Doubtless he must be careful to avoid exposing his sister to scandal by allowing a connexion with me, especially considering my new connexion with Mr Wickham, and then…
His voice, unexpectedly tender and as gentle as a caress, brought her from her reverie. “Miss Elizabeth, please sit down.”
She did as he said. Her body, rather than her will, obeyed his commands.
He took a chair and sat by her, taking her hands gently.
“Mr Darcy, you said that my sister is in my aunt’s house? Is she unharmed? How did you find them in such a short time?”
“She…seemed to be in good health, although I do not believe she was at all pleased to see us.”
Elizabeth started to ask another question, but he continued.
“We were very fortunate in our quest. We found them at Mrs Younge’s house, although she did not want to divulge their secret at first—not wanting to betray Wickham—and nothing we told her or promised her came to fruition in the beginning.”
He smiled tentatively, using a light, neutral tone as though relating a story, but Elizabeth could only imagine his aversion to being obliged to ask, insist, and even make promises to that despicable woman. Even worse was Lydia’s wild reaction and Mr Darcy’s being forced to witness it.
“I am truly sorry. I know how Lydia can be—how much effort it must have cost you to find them and how unpleasant it must have been for you to attempt such a search.”
He intended to say something, but she would not allow him just yet. “Mr Darcy, it is impossible to express my gratitude for your help and the generous compassion that induced you to take so much trouble in order to discover them. My entire family and I shall be forever in your debt.”
“Please do not speak of gratitude. I did nothing to deserve it—quite the contrary. The entire situation was caused by my mistaken pride in not exposing Mr Wickham when I first should have. Furthermore, finding them was not only my doing but also that of Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner, together with the efforts of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Bingley. My only assistance was in knowing some of Mr Wickham’s habits and connexions. ”
“And what happened with Mr Wickham? Where is he now?”
“He will remain at the inn until the wedding—”
“The wedding? So they are to be married?”
“Yes, apparently that is the only solution. Miss Lydia is quite insistent on marrying him, and finally, Mr Wickham also agreed.”
“He did not intend to marry her, did he?”
The subject was highly improper, and both were uneasy to speak of it, but Darcy was determined to tell her the truth. He trusted her good sense and judgment, and he knew that concealing the facts from her would not relieve her obvious distress. “I shall not lie to you: no, he did not.”
“And may I ask with what arguments he was convinced?”
“We…as I said previously, both Colonel Fitzwilliam and I know how to convince Mr Wickham when necessary.”
She regained her courage with the determination of one who has nothing more to lose and lifted her gaze to look deeply into his eyes.
“Mr Darcy, you have just said you will not lie to me. I beg you to answer truthfully: Did you offer him money to marry my sister?”
He wanted to avoid the answer but could not meet her intense, searching look. He averted his eyes, which was enough confirmation for her.
“Oh, dear Lord, what a shame, what a shame…”
Elizabeth was deeply mortified and humiliated on behalf of her sister before the man whose good opinion she wanted most. She rose in great haste, pulling her hand from his, and went directly to the door, not even trying to stem her tears. In a moment, he was by her side.
“Elizabeth, please do not run from me.”
With her last fragment of rational thought, she noticed his addressing her by her Christian name and knew it was not right, but compared to her wanton behaviour the previous night, how could it be considered improper?
He firmly held her arms and turned her to him. Now they were alone with no one to interrupt them, and she needed to be comforted, caressed, and held. His arms knew best how to do it; she belonged there.
“Please look at me and tell me what I can do to bring laughter back into your beautiful eyes.”
Unexpectedly and shockingly, his fingers gently touched her chin, lifting her face until their eyes met and held—spellbound—his thumb tenderly stroking her face.
“The sadness and distress on your face has followed me every moment since we parted last night. I would do anything to see you smile again. You are the one who brings joy into my life, remember? Where is that joy and liveliness, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth?”
Her heart threatened to stop beating, and her whole body melted under the warmth of his closeness and his burning touch.
“Elizabeth, I know how difficult these moments are for you and how you must be suffering for your sister. That is why I shall not pressure you in any way, so I shall not ask my question today. I shall wait patiently until you allow me to do it. But I beg you—do not prolong my agony by making me wait too long.”
Elizabeth’s astonishment almost made her faint.
She stared at him, doubting that she had understood his words, her face colouring crimson, fighting to regain her breath and prevent her heart from bursting.
She could not think properly; she could not think at all.
All thoughts and senses were concentrated on his hand touching her chin and caressing her face, while her eyes pleaded with his to give her a confirmation of what she was afraid to admit she had just heard.
“Mr Darcy, I do not understand you. I…cannot imagine what question you need to ask me.”
Darcy smiled and intensified his caress.
He knew he was being more bold and improper than he should and that he might frighten her.
But he was certain he had guessed her feelings correctly for some time, and the last days spent together, especially the previous evening, were confirmation of that.
Her behaviour dispelled any doubts or misunderstandings; he was sure she understood him correctly.
“Yes you can, Elizabeth. You understood me last night when we talked before dinner, and later, when you did…what you did”—he took her hand and traced her fingers over his face as she had the night before—“so you certainly understood me when you did this…” He leaned his head and touched her lips with his own as softly and lightly as she had done.
She watched him, mesmerised, waves of chills spreading through her rigid body, which seemed to have lost all power of movement.
She began to tremble. Her lips were burning from his touch, and his scent was more intoxicating than ever—she had never been so close to him with her body and her soul.
She put her hands on his chest, leaning against him for support, for she knew she would fall otherwise. She needed his strength to compensate for her weakness. She needed him, utterly and completely, and did not dare to entertain the smallest hope that her need would be fulfilled.
“Sir, you cannot possibly refer to…you cannot consider…not after what happened with my sister, not after you know Mr Wickham is going to be my brother…”
The tears flowed freely from her eyes and rolled over her cheeks; this time he wiped them away with his thumbs.