Page 1

Chapter 1

Elizabeth Bennet sat in the parlor of the Hunsford Parsonage reading the most recent letters she had received from her sister Jane. After her conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam earlier that afternoon she was more determined than ever to find the melancholy expressed between the lines. She would never forgive Mr. Darcy for separating his friend, Charles Bingley, from her sister.

Not expecting to be disturbed, she was taken aback by the arrival of the very man she was cursing in her head. Mr. Darcy was shown into the room.

He quickly asked after her health, explaining that he was visiting with the hope of hearing that she was feeling better. She answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments, then got up again and started pacing around the room. Elizabeth was aggravated, but said not a word, certain that he would eventually tire of being there and take his leave. After a silence of several minutes, his pacing brought him back to her side. On his arrival there, he seemed to come to a determination and started speaking.

“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

This was so far beyond anything that she had ever expected to hear come out of Mr. Darcy’s mouth, that she was struck silent.

Before he could continue his alarming speech, they were interrupted by clattering and exclamations from the front of the house. With some uncertainty, both Darcy and Elizabeth turned towards the parlor door as the housekeeper entered.

“Forgive the interruption, Miss Bennet, but this express has just arrived.”

Elizabeth accepted the folded paper. With dread, she immediately began opening it, without any thought at all for the gentleman standing next to her.

Mr. Darcy hardly noticed the housekeeper as she exited the room, keeping his eyes fixed on Elizabeth. A message sent express rarely contained good news. Studying her so intently, he saw her face drain of all color and tears start streaming down her cheeks, unheeded. His shadow fell across the page in her grip as he approached, and Elizabeth suddenly remembered that she was not alone.

“You must excuse me. I have urgent business to attend to,” Elizabeth squeaked out between tears.

“What has happened? How may I be of assistance to you?”

Elizabeth found she did not even have the strength to look directly at Mr. Darcy. With tears in her eyes, all she could do was stare straight ahead as she gave him an explanation.

“There is nothing you can do. My father has died, I must return home.”

“Let me arrange for your transportation,” Mr. Darcy almost pleaded. Seeing Elizabeth so despondent reminded him of his own father’s death. He had felt so alone at the time, not knowing how to go on. He determined he would do all within his power to ease her suffering.

“It has all been arranged,” Elizabeth replied listlessly, slumping into the chair she had previously occupied.

“May I see?” Darcy asked quietly. Getting no response, but determined to discover all the details, he softly freed the express from Elizabeth’s hands, placing a handkerchief in its place. She continued to weep as he read.

Our Dear Lizzy,

I am writing with the most dreadful news. We have just received word that your father was thrown from his horse this morning, passing away instantly. I am writing, begging you to return home. I will send our carriage to retrieve you at first light. It will bring you as far as London tomorrow. We will return you and your sister Jane to your mother at Longbourn in two days’ time.

Do not let thoughts of your future cloud your grief. You will have a home with us for as long as necessary.

We will all be waiting most anxiously for your arrival.

As always, Your Loving Uncle,

Edward Gardiner

Mr. Darcy’s mind was working quickly, though none of his thoughts showed on his face. He understood that travelling from London to Kent, back to London, and then on to Hertfordshire all in one day would be difficult to accomplish, thus the reasoning for the Gardiner carriage to collect Elizabeth the next day before proceeding on to Longbourn the day after. There was no reason, though, that he could not escort the woman he was going to marry to Hertfordshire, as long as they were chaperoned. It was only fifty miles and could easily be traversed in a single day with a change of horses at regular intervals. The fact that Elizabeth had not yet accepted him did not even cross his mind. He was certain that if he had been given sufficient time to finish his proposal she would have gladly accepted his suit, so he proceeded as if they had been able to finish their conversation.

He was conscious of the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Collins were still at Rosings Park, and Elizabeth would surely find comfort from her friend. He did not wish to leave Elizabeth alone until her friend arrived, but he did have much to accomplish if he were to leave the next day. Excusing himself from the room (though Elizabeth did not notice him leaving), he had a quick conference with the housekeeper, asking her to send the maid up to start packing Elizabeth’s things, and explaining that if she were to get him some writing utensils, he would shortly have some notes ready to be sent. As soon as he was shown the supplies he got to work penning four different notes.

The first note was to Edward Gardiner informing him that Darcy would be escorting Elizabeth to Hertfordshire the next day, and that they should leave London for Longbourn in the morning without waiting for Elizabeth’s arrival. He was able to copy the Gardiners’ address from the express that had been delivered.

The second note was to Charles Bingley, asking for use of Netherfield Park, with no explanation as to why.

The third note was to Colonel Fitzwilliam, where he laid out the bare details: Elizabeth’s father had died, and he would be leaving in the morning to escort her home. If the Colonel was ready, he could join them in the carriage.

The last note was to his valet, in which he enclosed his first two notes, asking them to be sent to London express—with instructions to deliver the one to the Gardiners’ house first. He also told him they would be leaving as early as possible in the morning, so he would need to pack and find a maid willing to come along to act as chaperone.

His notes finished, Mr. Darcy again sought out the housekeeper and instructed her to have a servant carry them to Rosings Park as quickly as possible, and to bring Mr. and Mrs. Collins back to the parsonage.