“Mr Darcy, there is something I wish to tell you before you hear it from someone else, and it might offend you.” Her voice was serious and timid. “Mr Bingley told us about your generous invitation to spend a month at Pemberley. As wonderful as it might sound, I cannot accept it. I shall find a reason to decline, so nobody will suspect my true motive.”
A pain in his chest took his breath away for a moment.
“And may I ask what is your true motive?”
“You may ask, but I am sure you know it already, sir. I have no right to be a guest in your house. I do not deserve your amiability after I treated you so horribly and offended you so dreadfully. I would be ashamed to admire Pemberley’s beauty, which everybody speaks so highly of, after I abused its master so abominably.”
“Or, perhaps you loathe the notion of being my guest, considering the abhorrent manner in which I addressed you that day at the parsonage and your ill opinion of me. Perhaps you consider me the last man in the world whose house you would like to visit. If this is your true motive, I can easily understand it and will accept your decision.”
“That is not my true motive, Mr Darcy. It is not my poor opinion that induces me to refuse your invitation — quite the opposite. If I thought less of you and felt less ashamed of myself, I would readily accept it.”
Darcy breathed deeply, looked ahead, then gazed at Elizabeth again.
“Miss Elizabeth, this is neither the time nor the place for such a conversation. But I can assure you that my invitation was heartfelt, and if your reluctance is due to your own guilt, I find it unjustified. That day at the parsonage, your words were harsh, but most of them were true, and a misunderstanding induced the rest. Nothing you said or did would diminish my pleasure in having you as my guest.”
He paused for a moment, taking another deep breath.
“A few weeks ago, I hoped your presence at Pemberley would mean much more, but now I understand I was wrong to presume too much. Your presence there would be most welcome, but the decision is yours. I shall not insist upon this invitation, as I fear you might feel forced to accept it against your will.”
“Thank you, sir,” she replied with a sigh and in a trembling voice. “My heart induces me to accept, but my conscience opposes it. If you truly wish me to be there, your will might be more convincing than mine and overcome my reluctance.”
“There is nothing I wish more, Miss Elizabeth. And please do not be alarmed that I might open a subject that once upset you so deeply…”
“I am not alarmed, sir. In truth, I cannot imagine a gentleman such as you would ever discuss that particular subject again after my refusal, as much as I regret it.”
She paused, and he looked at her, bewildered. “Miss Elizabeth, I would gladly open that particular subject at any time, if you would be willing to discuss it. Your refusal was hurtful, but my proposal must have been the same, and your regrets cannot be deeper than mine!”
Her eyes were now sparkling and revealed disbelief, wonder, and the trace of tears.
“Mr Darcy, please be assured that, if you can find a better place and time, I would be more than happy to discuss any subject with you. Especially a past misunderstanding that requires clarification.”
She offered him a warm, reassuring smile, causing his heart to beat even faster. He needed a moment to regain some composure, then he added, “Georgiana and I shall be at Netherfield a week before your sister’s wedding.”
“We shall eagerly await your arrival, Mr Darcy,” she replied.
With that unexpected, heartwarming understanding between them, they joined the rest of the party, engaging in conversation. They chose to sit next to each other, on the same sofa where Georgiana was sitting. Even though their bodies did not touch, Darcy could feel Elizabeth’s warmth, and her nearness made him dizzy.
He still wondered whether he had understood her correctly, whether she had truly granted him permission to talk about a marriage proposal, and whether she had truly admitted regretting her refusal.
His doubts vanished when the time for farewells arrived. After he wished the sisters a safe and comfortable trip back home, Elizabeth said, “We hope to see you and Georgiana in Hertfordshire very soon, Mr Darcy. I greatly anticipate continuing our conversation at an appropriate time.”
“So do I, Miss Elizabeth. Please convey my best wishes to your sisters and parents. I shall be glad to call at Longbourn as soon as I am able.”
