Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
“Miss Elizabeth! Miss Bennet, please stop!”
Darcy called from behind her as Miss Elizabeth reached the end of the path that led to the lane. She hesitated by the gate as he reached her, his long strides catching up to her quickly.
“Miss Elizabeth,” He attempted to speak, struggling with the greatest anxiety and distress.
“I know that after the scene you just witnessed, you have no reason at all to believe any persuasion of mine, but I hope you will do me the honour of allowing me to make my apologies in spite of the fact that I do not deserve your time or even your attention.”
She removed her hand from the gate and crossed her arms indignantly. “You may proceed.”
Darcy had actually expected her to refuse to hear him, and so everything he might have said promptly left his head. She watched him gape like a fish for a moment, then rolled her eyes and turned back to the gate.
“Miss Elizabeth, the only thing I can say is that I am truly sorry. There is no excuse for me to have ascribed to you the vile intentions that I suggested.”
“That is all you have to apologise for?” Her expression had every appearance of disbelief.
“No, no, of course not!” He was uneasy as he attempted to explain incoherently.
“It was unpardonable for me to refer to it as I did in my sister’s presence, but what I described is precisely what happened to Georgiana.
She overheard her own friends plotting against her. She had to be taken away from school.”
“Just because some vile girls, mere school children, insulted your sister, does not mean that–”
“Of course, of course!” Darcy agreed. “It is only that I share my sister’s reserve.
We have always been thus, and while she has been dreading entering society, I have been subjected to it for years, and it has always been this way.
It is impossible to make sincere friends.
Dangerous to trust anyone outside of our family circle.
Everyone knows that my father is ill, that it may not be long before I come into my inheritance, and it makes me an even more attractive marriage prospect.
I cannot deny that I do not allow many strangers close to me.
I worry about my sister, for eventually she must face it as well, and I shamed myself and my family just now when I allowed my anxiety to become the master of me, in anyone’s presence. ”
Miss Elizabeth watched him carefully. “I would certainly feel ashamed if I had ever spoken thusly.”
“Though I always strive for composure and good regulation, I fear that I had several unpleasant experiences today, one right after another, and when I had reacted badly once, I did it again almost immediately in a fit of temper that I hope never to display again. The fault is entirely mine. I will go to my sister as soon as I leave you to beg her forgiveness, but I pray that I may also obtain yours, for if you have been kind to my sister, I owe you gratitude, not insult.”
“Very well, Mr Darcy. I forgive you.” Miss Elizabeth curtsied and turned back to the gate for the third time.
“Just like that?” Darcy appeared astounded.
“Is that not what you sought?” Her eyes narrowed.
“Somehow I feel that something is missing from this exchange.” His brows raised as she took a step back from him. “You gave in so easily. I sense this is not usual for your character.”
“Do you question the sincerity of my forgiveness?” Miss Elizabeth scowled.
“We are taught to forgive others their trespasses. Perhaps my feelings regarding your conduct have not yet abated, but I have said I forgive you and I will forgive you. Society will never hear a cruel word about you from my lips, but I hope you do not expect me to kneel down and pray over it right here in the garden.”
“Of course not,” he agreed quickly. “So when we meet again–”
“Mr Darcy, I hope that when we meet again, that you will be gentleman enough to maintain your distance.”
“But–” he attempted before she interrupted him again.
“Forgiveness is not friendship,” she informed him sternly.
“As I told you inside, I am your sister’s friend, and that does not imply any interest in your company whatsoever.
I have four sisters, all of whom have befriended Miss Darcy.
Do you intend to become their bosom companions as well?
I thought these were the sort of connections you wished to avoid. ”
“Well, perhaps I might not be suited to a close connection with all of your sisters. Some of them are quite young, I have heard, but I most fervently hope to become your friend,” Darcy attempted. This young lady talked circles around him until he was quite tongue-tied.
“Quite sentimental, Mr Darcy, but friendship is not what I promised. I promised you forgiveness. My friendship must be earned, and you do not merit it just by virtue of your relation to my friend. My regard is awarded by respect and esteem.” Miss Elizabeth curtsied again.
“Sir, I thank you for your apology, but it is far past time that I took my leave. I really must return home. My stepmother needs me.”
“Where are you going?” Darcy asked in confusion as she opened the gate.
She sighed as if her trials were burdensome indeed. “Mr Darcy, I just informed you that I am going home.” She opened the gate and exited the garden as he followed quickly behind her.
“But…how? Where is your carriage?” he demanded.
“My father is using his carriage,” she said impatiently as she began walking down the lane.
“You cannot mean to walk!”
“Can I not?” She did not slow as he followed after her. “This is the seaside, Mr Darcy. People walk everywhere for the exercise. Are you so elevated that you have never used your own feet as a mode of transportation?”
“But have you no footman? Why did my sister not call for our carriage, you are her guest!” he insisted.
“Your sister did not call for her carriage, because my friend knows me well, and that I am very fond of walking. I hope this does not bruise your pride, but a ride in your family’s carriage is not as much a thrill for me as some ladies might consider it.”
“Miss Elizabeth, you are not speaking as if you have forgiven me.” Darcy was undeterred. “Are you certain that you are not holding onto resentment?”
Miss Elizabeth stopped short and put her hands on her hips. “Mr Darcy, are you certain that I have had enough time to retire to my bedchamber in private, contemplate my feelings, and compose my serenity?”
She shook her head at his obtuseness. “If you think that this is all the work of an instant, my suspicions will be confirmed that you, sir, have the emotional depth of a teaspoon. Now, I would very much like to enjoy a solitary walk, and to return home.”
“I could not possibly allow it.” He offered her his arm, which she regarded as if it were a snake.
“You could not…what?” Her expression turned ominous.
He thought she was rather magnificent. He had never met any other woman like her. She had a complete disregard for his opinion of her. She was perfectly comfortable being openly furious with him, and had even informed him that he was not entitled to her friendship. She was glorious…and beautiful.
“Miss Elizabeth, after the way I have behaved today, I really must insist on escorting you home at the very least. Please, allow me to make this gesture. We need not converse, if you prefer it, but I wish for more than forgiveness that does not include respect or regard. I would very much like to deserve your friendship one day, should you choose to bestow it.”
He offered his arm again and held back a grin as she nearly stamped her foot in irritation. She took his arm, but barely. He could not even feel her fingers upon his sleeve.
He wished to begin a conversation with her as they walked, but for the first time in his life, though he knew precisely what questions he wished to ask a lady that interested him, he did not dare.
He had assured her that they need not converse if she preferred it, and it was obvious that she would rather remain silent.
A quarter hour later, she curtsied to him in front of the gate of a smart and comfortable-looking cottage. “Mr Darcy, your family is engaged to dine with us this evening. My stepmother would consider me remiss if I did not assure you that you are included in the invitation.”
He wished she would look at him, but it was obvious that she had tolerated more of his company than she desired. He bowed over her hand, and she turned and went into the house.
The moment Darcy entered Darcy Cottage, he went directly to the stairs, took them two at a time and presented himself at his sister’s door, which was opened by his cousin. Priscilla stepped back as she regarded him with displeasure.
“You had better make a good account of yourself, Darcy,” she warned.
“Georgiana, I am so sorry.” He pushed past Priscilla and took a seat beside his sister on a small sofa before the fireplace. “I ought never have said it, and I did not mean it.”
“I knew you would never have meant to say something so terrible.” Georgiana was quick to excuse him.
She could never bear to think of him as being wrong.
She saw him as a hero, working hard, and sometimes even staying out late working with the men during spring plantings and harvests, taking care of her, their tenants, and their home, so that it would not all tax her father’s heart.
Even at sixteen, she understood how hard it was for him, and there was nothing she would not forgive him.
“And you went after Lizzy! Did you apologise? Did she forgive you? You embarrassed me terribly, Will. I would never like to think of what happened at school again. Whatever made you say it?” She twisted her handkerchief.
“I am afraid that I had to manage something unpleasant just before I arrived, Georgie, and then, to my further shame, I disagreed with Father,” he confessed openly.
His sister deserved the truth. That he could be wrong, in more ways than one, but that he could also account for it.
“I did not speak properly to him either, and I fear it opened up something angry in me. Once it was done, I did it again almost immediately when I left him and met you in the hall.”
His sister gasped. “You spoke wrongly to Father? Will, how could you?”
“I cannot tell you why. My reasons were not without merit, but I regret the loss of my composure and good regulation,” he answered. “But I was terribly wrong to say something so terribly untrue to you, Sister. You did not deserve it.”
“It was not entirely untrue, and that is why I forgave you as soon as you said it,” Georgiana said.
“I know you only wish to protect me from so many wicked people, and that there are more selfish people than good ones. I only think that I ought to do it differently than you. You close yourself away from everyone to protect yourself. But I think I will be better served by doing as Priscilla and Aunt Eleanor advise. To meet different people, observe their characters, and learn discernment.”
“You are not wrong, sister. You can never protect yourself from others if you do not understand the nature of people and how to read their characters. I hope you have learned much while you have been here,” Darcy agreed.
“I have, but now you must tell me about Miss Elizabeth. I am most concerned about my friend.” Georgiana shook her head. “She must have been so hurt for me to react in such a way. I hope you did not hold her outburst against her. She has four sisters of her own, and she is very protective.”
“Of course I could not hold anything she said against her. I was wrong,” Darcy assured her.
“I begged her forgiveness and attempted to explain myself as well as I could, though there is no excuse for my behaviour. I fear that she has neither your affection for me, nor your view of my good qualities, so, while she claims she will forgive me, I have a great deal of work ahead of me to gain her trust and friendship, but I am determined to do so.”
“Well, all the affection I have for you will not prevent me from giving you this, which you rightly deserve.” Priscilla bashed him over the head from behind several times with a pillow, to the giggles of Georgiana.
Darcy allowed the assault good-naturedly, and waited for the ladies to settle down again.
“And what I wish to know, Darcy, is why you wish to gain our friend’s trust and friendship?” Priscilla demanded. “It cannot be only because you feel guilty for your idiocy. I do not think I have ever heard you wish to befriend a female.”
“For this I am going to need your assistance, Prissy, and yours too, Georgiana,” he said.
“Why?” The two ladies echoed together.
“She is the most perfect lady I have ever met. I need your help to make her fall in love with me.”