Her statement clearly took him by surprise, and he looked at her with a frown as if he had not truly comprehended her meaning.
“Are there questions you wish to ask me now, Miss Bennet?”
“There might be, but, without being rude, I fear your answer, whether you decide to provide it or not.”
Strangely, he laughed bitterly, puzzling her.
“Betsy and Peter told me their mother is afraid to speak to me. I would never have imagined that you would be afraid to talk to me too, Miss Bennet.”
“I am not afraid to speak to you, Mr Darcy. I am perhaps afraid of things you might tell me or conceal from me. However, I know I have no right to expect any answers from you. After all, we are nothing to each other except mere acquaintances who have always been enemies more than friends.”
He was speechless and look bewildered, while she continued; the Parsonage was already in sight.
“Sir, perhaps you should wonder what are the excellent things you do as a habit that everyone praises you for — from your servants to complete strangers. And what are the things that perhaps require some improvement so that people — no matter who they are — would not be afraid to address you.”
He looked pale and disturbed and still did not reply.
“Forgive me if I said too much. I thank you for keeping me company, Mr Darcy. Good day.”
She took a few steps, then he called to her, and she stopped.
“Miss Bennet, you have not said too much. Perhaps you have not said enough. I have no intention of concealing the truth if you wish to hear it. I shall be in the same place tomorrow. If you happen to be in the area, I am sure the children would be happy to see you. As for being enemies, that might express your feelings, but it certainly does not reflect mine. Good day, Miss Bennet.”
Chapter 2
The encounter with Mr Darcy left Elizabeth in a state of nervousness she could not explain. She had been angry with him for so long and held resentment against him for so many reasons that her negative feelings had defeated her wisdom.
Even worse, her outburst had seemed to affect him and make him feel bad, and it certainly had not made her feel good. Before the conversation, she had been upset with him; afterwards, she was upset with herself.
Perhaps she would not have felt so uncomfortable if she had not seen him in such a candid and gentle situation with the children. Now, she felt guilty and that she had been unfair to him, though she knew too well it was not true. Strangely, she kept thinking of those leaves in his hair and wondered why she had not pointed them out to him.
She arrived at the Parsonage and tried to sneak into her room, but the entire family was there.
“My dear cousin, where have you been?” Mr Collins asked. “Colonel Fitzwilliam called, and he asked about you. It is not polite to disappoint him.”
“Mr Collins, the colonel did not express to me his intention of calling, and he certainly called on the family, not me personally. If he was disappointed, I hope it will not last long.”
Her harsh voice turned all eyes to her, and Mr Collins seemed to forget to breathe.
“My dear Eliza, are you unwell?” Charlotte asked. “Please have a cup of tea. I am sure it will be good for you.”
Elizabeth sat reluctantly and accepted the tea, planning to stay only as long as politeness required and to retire to her room quickly.
As she drank, she became more relaxed and continued the conversation in a more appropriate tone.
“I walked to the other side of the park and met two children, Peter and Betsy. I understand their mother, Mrs Gilroy, is a widow.”
“Ah yes, Mrs Gilroy’s situation is quite tragic,” Mr Collins said. “Her husband died last year. He was a hardworking man but not very wise. He was more fond of the brandy than the church. Lady Catherine was kind enough to give them that cottage and a little piece of garden on that side of the park, so they can grow vegetables and keep a goat and some chickens.”
“How kind of Lady Catherine.”
“Yes, exceedingly so. She is always most kind.”
“May I ask how he died?”
“He fell ill and never recovered. I am not sure… I usually avoid sick people. I do not want to catch something.”
Elizabeth looked at him and then at Charlotte and was ready to ask about a clergyman’s duty but restrained the impulse.
