Authors: Melanie Schertz
“And we would not wish to tarnish Mr Darcy’s
spectacular reputation by my becoming ill in his fine
home.” Elizabeth chuckled. “The poor man, he is most
likely regretting inviting us to stay in his home.”
“Oh, I am most certain that he is not regretting
your being here, for the man is so in love with you, he
would be insane with worry for you if you were
anywhere else.”
Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide. “Do you truly believe
Mr Darcy has feelings for me? Especially after all he
has learned about our family?”
“Indeed I do. I should not have listened, but I
could not help myself. I overheard Mr Darcy speaking
with Papa. Mr Darcy plans to ask for your hand.” Jane
said, keeping watch for her sister’s reaction. “And
what would your reaction be if he were to ask you to
marry him?”
“I must admit that I have come to know him better
since we have been here. He is not the same as the
man we met in Hertfordshire. It is easy to see the true
man, as he is quite at ease here. And his tenants and
staff clearly respect and care for him and Georgiana.
Mr Darcy has been all that is kind and caring to us.”
Elizabeth thought for a moment. “I do find him
handsome, and he is quite intelligent. I enjoy
speaking with him, and debating subjects. We have
similar tastes in many regards. And, Oh Jane, when I
am near him, I have experienced times that my heart
seemed to race. Is this what it feels like to be in love?”
Jane smiled. “I believe it is what it feels like for
you to be in love. For myself, my heart seems to
flutter like it is filled with butterflies. It is a wonderful
feeling.”
“I can believe that, as it seems so pleasant when I
am with him. And when he touches me, it sends
shivers down my spine.” Elizabeth said as she thought
of the times she had been in Darcy’s presence of late.
“You would be red as the Christmas gown Aunt
Helen has when you learn that Mr Darcy would allow
none of his staff to carry you into the house yesterday.
He did so himself. And Colonel Fitzwilliam told me
that it was Mr Darcy who went into the cavern to
recover you. The colonel was the second one down
the hole, and it was Mr Darcy who pushed the stone
from on top of you.”
Mr Bennet knocked on the door as he opened it.
“Good morning, my dear girls. How are you this
morning?” He walked over and sat down on the side
of the bed.
“I am pleased to hear this, for you have given me
enough worries for the rest of my life. You must
behave yourself as to refrain from any further
worries.” Mr Bennet leaned over and placed a kiss on
his daughter’s forehead.
“If Jane were to bring any worries to me, my heart
would most likely stop completely. Jane has been the
perfect daughter all of her life. That is why the two of
you are such a good match. You are the rebel and
mischievous imp, while Jane is my good girl who
never brings me a moment’s unrest.”
“Well, after the aches and pains I am feeling today,
I make you the promise that I will behave myself for
some time to come.” Elizabeth said. “Would one of
you tell me exactly what happened?”
Mr Bennet decided to be the one to explain the
situation and the conspiracy of the Bingley sisters. He
told in detail of the plot, of the young postilion who
was seduced by Miss Bingley to do her bidding, how
he abducted Sadie and harmed her, placing her where
Elizabeth would find her and fall through the earth
into a cavern.
Darcy had ridden out to the location at first light
and discovered the area with which had been
tampered. Not only had Raymond removed the
markers warning people of the dangers, it appeared
he had taken a long spear-like object, using it to poke
the ground to find the weakest location, before
planting the dog to lure Elizabeth. The spear had
been located in some nearby bushes.
“Mr Darcy is glad the young man had already
departed Pemberley with Mr Hurst and Colonel
Fitzwilliam, for he would have strangled the postilion
with his bare hands if he had laid eyes on him.” Mr
Bennet stated.
“I cannot believe someone could be so cruel.” Jane
said with a small sob. “Not only to lure a young lady
into a dangerous location, but to purposely find the
most dangerous location and make it worse. I am so
grateful for God watching over Lizzy.”
“To think that someone had so much hate welled
up inside of them that they would wish me dead, is
difficult to fathom.” Elizabeth declared. She tried to
sit up, restless with laying down, only to discover the
pain which reminded her of the injuries she had
sustained.
“Now, you are to remain laying down, resting.” Mr
Bennet stated, placing a hand on his daughter’s
shoulder. “If you do not obey, I will ask Mr Darcy for
some rope to tie you to this bed for your own sake.
You are injured and need time for your body to heal.”
As the pain stole what energy she had, Elizabeth
was quickly convinced to remain where she was.
“Yes, Papa. I will behave myself.”
Jane requested a tray be prepared for Elizabeth,
with some broth, fruit, toast, and tea. To the surprise
of the Bennet family, when the tray arrived, it was
brought to the room by none other than Fitzwilliam
Darcy.
“I heard that Lady Elizabeth had awakened, and I
wished to check on her progress. Please forgive me
for intruding, but I have been desperate to see for
myself that you are better than when you were
brought to the house yesterday.” Darcy said, his eyes
fixed on the view of Elizabeth’s face.
“I have heard that I owe you for my rescue, Mr
Darcy. Jane was telling me that it was you who went
down into the hole to bring me back to safety.”
Elizabeth said with a smile, though her cheeks turned
a brilliant shade of red. “I am grateful for your
kindness, Mr Darcy, and grateful that you were not
harmed in the process.”
“Lady Elizabeth, I could do nothing different. If I
had remained up on top, I would have gone mad with
the need to see you safe.”
“Mr Darcy, I believe Jane and I need to discuss
something down the hall. Would you be kind enough
to keep Elizabeth company until our return?” Mr
Bennet asked, surprising his daughters. “The maid
will be in the corner of the room, if you should require
any assistance.”
“It would be my honor to keep Lady Elizabeth
company. Take whatever time you need.” Darcy
stated, a smile gracing his face, making his dimples
show. The sight was endearing and set Elizabeth’s
heart to racing.
Darcy took the chair beside the bed and smiled at
the chance he was given. “Lady Elizabeth, I was
praying for a few moments to speak with you.”
“I was wondering if you would allow me to court
you. I know, from your father, that you have mistaken
my interest in you, and I wish to show you who I truly
am.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Mr Darcy, I am grateful for your
interest. I wonder though, how is it you have decided
you wish to court me. According to your words, the
night we met, I was not handsome enough to temp
you.”
“How I wish those words had never been spoken.
Lady Elizabeth, forgive my foolishness. In truth, I had
received a letter from my aunt, Lady Catherine, just a
few hours before the Assembly, and I was still quite
bitter. Bingley was driving me to distraction with his
insistence that I dance, and, to be honest, I never even
looked in the direction Bingley pointed. After I
learned it was you to whom he indicated, I felt the
fool. It has been a long time now that I have
determined you to be the handsomest lady of my
acquaintance.”
He heard a small gasp from Elizabeth. “You are
not only beautiful, you are intelligent, kind, caring,
and devoted. The way you cared for Miss Jane when
she fell ill at Netherfield, and even cared for the
servant who was abducted with you, shows your
nature. I thoroughly enjoy debating with you, as you
speak your views rather than defer to my opinion.
Most ladies would accept the man’s view, but I love
that you stand by your beliefs. And your views are
not based solely on emotions, but on rational
information you have garnered from reading and
learning.”
Elizabeth’s eyes glistened with tears. She was
overwhelmed by his words. “Mr Darcy, for so long, I
thought you looked upon me only to find disapproval.
Perhaps I believed the worst of you due to your harsh
words at the Assembly. I must admit, I have seen a
very different man since being here. You are relaxed
and kind. Seeing the interactions with your servants,
and the devotion they have for you, has greatly
improved my opinion of you. Such devotion is earned,
and it is clear that you treat your servants and tenants
with respect.”
“I was raised to respect those who work for us, as
they are the ones that make my life what it is. If not
for the tenants, there would be no income from the
land. If not for the servants, my comforts would not
be what they are. Mrs Reynolds has been like a
mother to Georgiana and myself since our mother
died. My steward has given me sound advice and
watches over all on the estate. How can I expect them
to do their work if I do not treat them fairly? If they
do not have comfortable homes, food on their table,
medical care when needed, and a reasonable income
from their work, how can I expect them to do said
work?”
“I know that is not a common belief in society. It
speaks highly of your nature.” Elizabeth said, a shy
smile on her lips. “And the way you care for your
sister, taking on so much responsibility when you
were so young. It speaks highly of your nature and
upbringing.”
“I will thank you for my parents. They were good
people who taught me well. I am grateful for all they
taught me.” Darcy looked down at his hands.
“I do. Mother and Father were the best of parents.
Their love and caring was obvious in all they did. And
the lessons they taught me have made me the man I
am now.”
Elizabeth thought for a moment. She had come to
find Darcy attractive, and felt she had come to know
him better. “Mr Darcy, I do not find the need for a
courtship.” She said. Noticing his instant
disappointment, she continued. “As a courtship is a
step to further a relationship towards a marriage, so
the couple can know one another better. If they
already know one another, why not move past this
step?”
Darcy’s eyes grew wide, praying he understood
her meaning. “Lady Elizabeth, am I presuming too
much? Am I wrong in presuming that you would
make me the happiest of men, by accepting my hand
in marriage?”
Taking Elizabeth’s hand in his own, he placed a
gentle kiss on the back of it. “Lady Elizabeth Bennet,
would you do me the extreme honor of accepting me
to be your loving husband?”
Jane could not help but smile as she watched
Bingley pacing about the room. His frustration was so
great that it was difficult for him to speak without his
words being jumbled.
“Charles, please, come and sit with me. I wish for
us to speak.” She said, patting the empty cushion next
to her on the sofa.
Bingley moved to the sofa, but knelt before Jane
instead of sitting next to her. “Miss Jane, please, I beg
of you, forgive me for what has happened.”
“Charles, you are not your sisters. You did not
assist them in bringing harm to my sister. And, when
it was discovered, you were the one who did not
believe your sisters and insisted they were involved
in my sister’s disappearance. Due to you, Elizabeth
was recovered quickly, and brought here to be
tended. Had she been in that wet hole much longer, I
am certain she would have taken a fever.”
“I should have done more to stop my sisters.
Rather than ignoring them, I should have been more
involved in what they were doing. They should have
been removed from Pemberley sooner. I could have
taken them to Town, and then returned to be with
you. But I was so worried.”
“I was afraid that, if I were to leave Pemberley
while Colonel Fitzwilliam was here, you would choose
him for a husband.”
Jane laughed. “Charles, I like Colonel Fitzwilliam,
and consider him a friend. But I do not love him. He
has different dreams for the future, ones that I do not
wish for myself. I plan to marry for love, not to better
my circumstances.”
“I would not be here, speaking with you, if I did
not. I do not approve of how your sisters have
behaved, and I find their actions to be unforgiveable,
but it does not take away the fact that my heart
belongs to you. Many may think me foolish, as
Colonel Fitzwilliam is the son of an Earl, and has his
own land. But those things do not matter to my heart.
I would not be happy married to Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“I find you to be a foolish woman, Jane Bennet.
You are a fool to love me as you do.” Bingley said as he
brought Jane’s hand back to his lips, pressing kiss
after kiss into the palm of her hand. “And I cannot tell
you how grateful I am that you are such a fool. My
fool.”
“We must discuss your sisters and the situation.”
Bingley nodded his head. “Go on, my dear.”