Though he did not relish furthering his acquaintance withthem, he could find joy in at last giving in to his heart’s desire.Elizabeth will be mine!No longer would he be alone! No longer would he have to fend off the grasping, pretentious ambitions of hopeful debutantes and their manipulative mothers. He would be armed with Elizabeth’s charm and wit wherever he went with her. He would have her brilliant mind to partner with him in all things—surely an intelligent, lively woman such as she would take an active role as mistress of his sprawling estate.
His expression warmed when he realized that Georgiana would, at last, have a generous, loving sister. He felt certain that the entire staff of Pemberley and all his tenants would adore her, just as everyone in Meryton, Longbourn, and even Netherfield seemed to. Bestowed with his tender care and ample worldly blessings, he comforted himself that Elizabeth would blossom into her full potential as a captivating, graceful woman of means.
With her sparkling, vivacious personality to keep him company, the grey of his days would at last vanish. And the nights! What passion lurked behind those sparkling eyes? Darcy trembled with delight at the very idea, then harshly chided himself. There would be time enough for such thoughts.
With a bracing deep breath, Darcy rose and left the house to find his fiancée.
Chapter 4
Elizabethranashardas she could down to the stream behind the house. Since she was a little girl, this place had been a solace and a refuge for all her childish hurts and cares. When she had grown old enough to walk out on her own, she had discovered the joys of other places, more distant. Still, this retreat, so close to her own home, had retained its place as first in her heart. Throwing herself down on the bank, she gave way to her sobs.
Why did things have to become so complicated? Had it only been Mr Collins, Elizabeth felt certain she could have stood up to him in her refusal. He was thick-headed, but eventually, she would have made her point. But to have assumed her cooperation, in front of so many witnesses—including their neighbours! It could not have been more ill-timed. Elizabeth angrily flung a stone into the creek. It landed with a satisfying splash.
Inspired, she stood to her feet and found a larger rock. She heaved it into the deepest part of the stream and waited for the deepThunk!it made. She found three or four other palm-sized stones, and one after another, they too found their way into the stream bed. Her frustrations abated somewhat, she felt drained and depressed.
Once again, she dropped onto the bank, this time a little more properly seating herself on a great flat rock rather than the muddy shore. The tears flowed freely then, tumbling through her fingers as she covered her face. What had possessed Mr Darcy to claim they were engaged? The audacity of the man! He was no better than Mr Collins, simply announcing what she was to do and expecting her compliance! The conceited arrogance of his actions was beyond even what she could have thought him capable of.Does he try to runeveryone’slife? Of course, the powerful Mr Darcy expects everyone to kowtow to his wishes because of his ten thousand a year and his wonderful Pemberley! Well, I will not, and he cannot make me!
Elizabeth’s fierce anger melted into dejected self-pity. She was no fool. She knew that her reputation would be in irreparable tatters by the end of the day if she refused. Was it worth it? Taking a deep gasping breath, she tried to calm herself enough to think.If only I could talk to Papa!Yet… what if her papa never recovered? Had she any right to fling away any chance to save her family? Fear trembled in her breast, and her sobs racked her body.
Her piteous thoughts were interrupted by a fine white handkerchief materializing over her shoulder. Without even glancing up, she knew that the hand holding it belonged to Mr Darcy. She tried to ignore it, but he sat down rather indecorously on the rock next to her and pressed it into her unwilling fingers.
“I do not wish for company at present,sir.” She kept her voice from wavering quite admirably.
“Miss Bennet,” his normally clipped tones were softened with sympathy. “We must talk. I humbly apologize for having offended you. I only wished to be of help.”
Her sharp eyes turned on him. “Help?” she sputtered incredulously. “You fabricated an engagement! Without ever considering my sentiments, you announced to my entire family that we… that you… that I had accepted a proposal! One which you had never uttered, and certainly never gave any prior indication of!” She turned her face back toward the stream, clamping her mouth shut before she could hurl the insulting and unbecoming words that she longed to express. “How could you do it, sir?” The anguish quavered in her voice.
There was silence between them for a long moment. Risking a glance sideways, she could plainly see his face wreathed in turmoil.Let him suffer a little longer,she thought smugly. Knowing him to be a man of few words, she savagely decided she was going to enjoy watching him try to talk his way out of this one.
At length, his voice came, the words forming slowly at first, then building in fervency. “In vain, I have struggled, and it will not do. My feelings compelled me to speak. Miss Bennet, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you! I know that in declaring myself as I have done, I have gone against the express wishes of my family and my own original intentions, but it is done, and I do not regret it. Almost from the first moments of our acquaintance, I have come to feel for you a—apassionateadmiration and regard. You know, of course, that the relative positions of our families make such an alliance a highly reprehensible connection. I have regarded it so myself—your family’s want of propriety and low status I had considered insurmountable obstacles to my forming any serious designs upon you, much as I might have desired otherwise. I confess that I cannot rejoice in the inferiority of your connections, but under the present circumstances, it cannot be helped. I beg you, please, to relieve my suffering and agree to become my wife.”
Elizabeth had received so many shocks in one day that this final blow absolutely took her breath away. Her outraged fury was checked only by her stunned incredulity. She searched his expression and found no evidence of this alleged internal struggle. Indeed, he seemed quite assured. She shook her head slowly in disbelief. How far was he going to take this insulting charade?
Darcy watched her carefully; his hope buoyed on the rising tide of his passionate feelings. He had done it, he satisfied himself. Since his rash words had necessitated the confession of his love, he finally allowed himself to thrill in the thought of her. He put his misgivings behind himself. His family might expect a fashionable woman of theton,with fortune and standing, but he had been fooling himself for years to think he could ever find the kind of love match he desired there. There was only one Elizabeth.Hang it all, I will be happy!
But why would the eloquent Elizabeth Bennet be finally struck speechless? Her dark eyes flew wide, and her delicate lips parted in amazement. Certainly, he thought, I must have entirely surprised her with the honour of my proposal. Of course, modest as she is, perhaps she was not expecting it after all! Surely, she must have felt my regard for her, but her estimable good sense would not allow false hope. Wise, discreet woman!
Overcome with tenderness, he wished to reassure her of the sincerity of his feelings. Darcy leaned toward her and at last claimed those luscious lips as his own. Cupping his hand behind her deliciously unruly curls, he melded his mouth to hers, shivering with the sublime contact. Elizabeth was his at last.
A firm hand pushed violently against his chest, and he found himself propelled roughly away from her lovely face. Her other hand raised, and she slapped him soundly across the left cheek.
“Miss Bennet, what is the meaning of this?” He put his hand to his throbbing face. Darcy had been punched by men and slashed by sabres as a sporting man, but never slapped by a woman. He could scarcely credit her petite frame with the kind of strength she possessed.
She bolted to her feet, trembling with rage. He followed, more uncertainly. “Howdareyou, sir?” she cried.
He took his hand away from his face, instinctively glancing to see if she had drawn blood. Fortunately, she had not, but the insistent sting of her strike would take some time to fade. “Pardon me? May I remind you, Miss Bennet, we are engaged! There was nothing improper!”
“We are most certainlynotengaged, Mr Darcy!”
“Miss Elizabeth, please, be reasonable. I know I took liberties. I beg you to forgive me, but there is no call to take such offence under the circumstances. I might wonder why you would treat me with such incivility,” he returned, a little stiffly.
Her eyes began to fill with tears again. “And I might wonder why you would choose to tell me you loved me against your will? Is that not some excuse? But I have other reasons to dislike you. You know I have!”
“Reasons? What reasons?” he demanded, his anger growing.
She took a gulp of air, fighting for composure. “Do you think any consideration could tempt me to marry a man who would declare an engagement without my consent? Who would presumptuously demand I cooperate, regardless of my own wishes, simply because I have not at present the protection of my father to tender my refusal?”
“Refusal? You cannot be serious!”
