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Soon thereafter Elizabeth and Jane returned from Meryton. They were very surprised to see Darcy and Bingley already in the drawing room speaking with their mother and Mr. Fenton. Darcy could not tear his eyes away from Elizabeth and reveled in the complete rapture on her face as she gazed at him.
The men rose when the sisters entered the room. Elizabeth curtseyed to Darcy and Bingley, coloring a little. It was all he could to refrain from grabbing her and kissing her right there, so acutely had he missed her. As he continued to stare, Bingley coughed slightly and Darcy realized everyone was sitting down once more.
Elizabeth seated herself next to her mother on a small settee. Darcy wanted to sit on the other side, but her mother made a show of having Fenton take that spot, placing him far closer to Elizabeth than Darcy was comfortable with. On the other hand, he would not have been happy until Fenton was in a different house. Although he did not see Fenton as a serious rival for Elizabeth’s affections, that did not stop him from wanting to punch the man in his smug face and warn him away from her for the rest of his life.
Darcy ground his teeth in frustration, attempting to content himself with sitting across from Elizabeth and gazing on her. Everything about her was enchanting: her laugh, the unruly curl that fell over her forehead, her long eyelashes veiling her eyes as she gazed at him. Knowing firsthand how passionate she could be only made it harder for him to be so tantalizingly close, but unable to touch her.
Although he did not wish Elizabeth any unhappiness, he was pleased with her obvious dislike of Fenton’s presence. His boorish conversation made her wince, although he did not dominate the discussion as much as he had in a smaller group. She avoided talking to him or looking at him – at one point in the gathering, Fenton leaned closer to her and she pulled away. All of this was not lost on Darcy. Although he had no doubts about Elizabeth’s fidelity, Fenton’s presumption was testing his self-control. He wanted to smash that supercilious expression off the other man’s face!
Unable to bear it any longer, Darcy finally said, “After being confined in the carriage at such length, I experience a need to stretch my legs. Mrs. Bennet, I would like to take a turn in your garden.” She nodded curtly, uninterested in what he did.
“Mr. Darcy, would you mind if I joined you?” Elizabeth asked.
“Not at all.” He smiled warmly at her, wondering if there was any chance they could find a secluded spot.
“Nonsense, child!” Mrs. Bennet cried. “You just returned from a walk to Meryton. What need have you for exercise?”
“I would like to show Mr. Darcy the roses. They are particularly fine now and I was telling him about them when I saw him in London at my aunt and uncle’s,” Elizabeth said.
“Very well, if you must!” Mrs. Bennet washed her hands of her second daughter, but then a thought occurred to her. “Mr. Fenton, perhaps you would like a turn in the garden as well?”
Darcy cursed inwardly; his entire design was to avoid Fenton’s presence – especially since the man was one of the topics he needed to discuss with Elizabeth. He saw his dismay mirrored in her eyes.
“I am not much interested in gardens,” Fenton said. “I prefer woods. So I think I will forego this excursion.” More the fool you, Darcy thought, exhilarated at the reprieve. Fenton would never win Elizabeth’s regard that way, but then he seemed more interested in wedding her than wooing her.
Bingley had been gazing silently at Jane, trying to discern her mood. He stood as well. “I think I will join you. It was a long carriage ride. Miss Bennet, will you do me the honor of accompanying me?”
Jane readily assented and the four of them set off. Once outside, the two couples split apart by tacit agreement, although Bingley gave Elizabeth some anxious glances to reassure himself that she welcomed Darcy’s attention. Elizabeth led Darcy to the roses that neither ha
d any interest in. Knowing that they were still in view of the house, Darcy turned his broad back to the windows, shielding Elizabeth from view entirely. Then he took her hand and kissed it tenderly.
“How I have missed you! The hours passed so slowly.” He said heatedly.
She nodded agreement and gave him a heart stopping smile. “I hope we never have to be separated like that again. But I am very happy you are here now.”
“I am as well. Apparently I am arrived in time to prevent you from committing bigamy. Mr. Fenton told us that you are engaged to him.”
“He said that?” Her hand flew to her mouth in dismay. “That fool!” She stamped her foot as embarrassment gave way to anger. “I- I- refused him yesterday, but he would not accept it. He thinks that my mother’s approval is all that is required.” Her eyes met Darcy’s. “I am so sorry, William, for any pain it caused you.”
“I must admit that his announcement came as something of a shock. And poor Bingley was afraid I would die of a broken heart right there in the drawing room. But then I almost burst into laughter. After all, the whole situation is entirely ridiculous.”
Elizabeth returned his smile. “It is humorous. The man droned on about his house and his horses and simply would not believe me when I told him no!” She gazed up at him with a twinkle in her eye. “I had thought that being married would mean I would receive no more offers of marriage. How silly of me!”
“Well, madam, I do hope that you will not expect to receive more proposals during our marriage,” he said with a smile.
“I do not know. I am accumulating quite a collection of them. Perhaps only one or two a year would suffice,” she said flirtatiously. “If you do not mind, sir?”
The playful expression on her face was too much for Darcy. “I must object quite adamantly!” He pulled her behind a tree, kissing her as thoroughly as he had wanted all day. She returned his kisses with equal passion. When they stopped, gasping for breath, Elizabeth said, “I am afraid we must return to where we are visible from the window or my mother will come seeking us – or worse, send Mr. Fenton.”
He gave her one last kiss and then they strolled out from behind the tree. She took his arm and they walked about as if admiring the flowers, but the only beauty that held Darcy’s interest was his wife’s. She sighed, “I wish I knew what to do about Mr. Fenton. He would not listen when I told him no – and I cannot reveal the one reason which would discourage him permanently. A more sensitive man might notice my partiality for you, but I am certain he is blind to it.” She shuddered. “I hate to think what he has been saying in Meryton. Soon the entire neighborhood will believe I am marrying him!”
Darcy felt a surge of anger toward Fenton for causing her any distress, but then he thought of a solution. “My love,” he said with a wicked grin. “Leave this to me. I am happy to be of service to you in this regard.”
“What do you plan to do?” She asked, returning his smile.
“You shall see,” was all he would say. They spied Jane and Bingley standing near the entrance to the garden and walked over to join the other couple. Soon they were engaged a humorous conversation about Mr. Fenton’s misconceptions. Even Jane, who never thought ill of anyone, had to admit that the man’s failure to accept Elizabeth’s refusal made him somewhat ridiculous. In that moment, it was all Darcy could do to avoid revealing the truth of his relationship with Elizabeth.
Jane soon admitted to being chilled, so she and Bingley returned to the house. Darcy was loath to relinquish Elizabeth so quickly and she was happy to delay facing the odious Fenton, so they walked to the far side of the garden, admiring the late summer flowers. They were holding hands and conversing quietly with their heads bowed when Darcy spied Fenton emerging from the house. Darcy immediately placed his arm around Elizabeth and gave her a light kiss. It was not the thorough, deep kisses they had enjoyed earlier, but it was unmistakably a kiss. After they separated, Elizabeth glanced at Fenton, who was frowning over Darcy’s liberties with his “fiancée.”
