| The Other Bingley, Part VI |
| Elizabeth touched her hand to her cheek, the skin still blazing from the touch of Darcy's lips. A strange warmth coursed through her body, accompanied by the even stranger feeling of� desire. It took all her strength to keep from calling out to him and asking for more. Instead, she stared after him mutely, lips parted, eyes alight with passion. Darcy seemed to feel her eyes burning a hole through him, for he turned around before reaching the door and met her gaze. They stared at each other for a long moment, and at its end, they were somehow in each other's arms, so close that their trembling breaths mingled as one. Darcy gently leaned in, kissing her hair, her forehead, the tip of her nose; at last, in what seemed like slow motion, he brushed his lips against hers, careful to keep only the briefest and lightest of contact. He tenderly caressed her cheek, his eyes still glowing with warmth. "I love you," he murmured as she turned to nuzzle his hand. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "Shh... allow me to have said it and let us leave it at that today." With infinite tenderness, he took her hand and left a chaste kiss on her palm. "Good day Elizabeth." This time he departed, leaving Elizabeth with a dreamy smile and wanting� more. * * * * * * "He loves me." Elizabeth sat on her bed, still stunned by Darcy's declaration from several minutes before. "I can't believe it. He loves me." "Who loves you, Lizzy?" The sound of Jane's soft voice from the doorway startled her out of her reverie. "Jane! What are you doing here? I thought you would be with Mr. Bingley." "I was, but you seemed upset when you came upstairs, and I wanted to see what was wrong." Elizabeth extended her arms to Jane, who sat next to her and embraced her. "Oh Jane� I don't know what to do. I have been speaking with Mr. Darcy again; he returned from Netherfield to speak with papa. He said that he intends to ask for my hand, and that he loves me, and always has loved me. And Jane� I am afraid of shocking you� he kissed me! Worse, I cannot say that I did not enjoy it, even invited it! What can it mean?" "I suppose this means that you do not hate him," Jane teased, relieving some of Elizabeth's tension. "No, I can't say that I do," Elizabeth replied with a laugh. "Though I cannot say how I do feel about him. It's all so confusing! For so many months I have hated him, and been convinced that he hates me; now I suddenly learn that he has always loved me, and that my hatred was entirely ill founded. What am I supposed to think? How am I supposed to feel about this?" Jane hugged her sister tightly. "I can't tell you that Lizzy. But I can tell you that I have been so happy since finding Charles again, and I cannot imagine anything more wonderful than being in love, and having that love requited. I know you are confused, Lizzy, but perhaps if you gave Mr. Darcy a chance, he could make you very happy. He is a good man." Elizabeth smiled warmly at Jane, thankful for her council and soothing presence. "And you have always seen that. How could I have been so blind? I have treated him so ill, I don't understand how he can love me." "You are being too hard on yourself. Any admiration of you is perfectly natural, for you are such a dear, wonderful person. Mr. Darcy is a very clever man to love you." "Jane, you are far too good. Thank you for speaking with me, I feel much better. Now go back to Mr. Bingley, I am sure he misses you fiercely by now." "You'll be alright?" "Of course. Go." With a squeeze of her hand, Jane left Elizabeth to her solitary reflections, most of which related to the feel of a certain gentleman's warm lips upon her own. * * * * * * For the second time that day, Darcy could be heard whistling at Netherfield; he was more than satisfied by his afternoon's accomplishments, particularly the part where Elizabeth had allowed him to kiss her. She had wanted his kiss, he was sure of it. The thought brought him no little pleasure, for it meant that her opinion of him was definitely improving. It would not be long before he could propose and whisk her off to Pemberley where she belonged. "Mr. Darcy, sir," Fosset called out to him. "The post has arrived. This is for you." Darcy thanked the man and took the letter; it was dated two days earlier from his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. 20 February _____, _____shire Darcy, As I am sure you know, in a few weeks' time we are to visit Lady Catherine and Anne. I expected to hear from you sooner, but as you do not seem to be of a writing disposition, I am instead writing to you to confirm our arrangements. What date shall we meet in London before proceeding to Kent? How long do you wish to stay? I await your information so I can tell my commanding officer. Your devoted cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam Darcy groaned; he had completely forgotten about writing to Fitzwilliam in all the tumult of returning to Hertfordshire. Well, Fitzwilliam would have to remain in suspense a bit longer. Their travel plans would be based entirely on what occurred with Elizabeth. He would stay by her side as long as would be necessary to win her hand; Lady Catherine could wait. * * * * * * "Are you quite certain Jane? I will not leave you if you need me." "I'm quite sure Lizzy. You promised Charlotte that you would visit her before Mr. Bingley returned, and besides, I know you are going a bit mad with Mama and the preparations and everything. It will be good for you," Jane insisted. "Alright. But I won't stay the full six weeks like we originally planned. At most I will stay a month." Elizabeth was relieved to have Jane's permission and encouragement to travel into Kent to visit Charlotte. Though seeing Mr. Collins was an unsavoury aspect of the trip, she was looking forward to seeing her friend, getting away from her mother (as Jane had so astutely pointed out), and, truth be told, relieved to have some space between herself and Darcy. She needed time alone to think about what he was to her, but she knew that with the recent developments, he would probably try to be constantly with her, distracting her with his proximity and perhaps even- shockingly- trying to tempt her with more intoxicating kisses. It was for the best that she would be leaving in a fortnight. True to her suspicions, Darcy returned with Bingley the next day and happily accepted his role as co-chaperone with her when Jane and Bingley wanted to take a turn about the garden. Almost immediately, Elizabeth broke her news. "I shall be going away soon," she declared, surprised by how disappointed she sounded. Darcy turned to her with a frown. "Oh? I am sorry to hear it," he replied. This would not help his plan at all! "Where will you be going?" "In December I promised Mrs. Collins that I would accompany her father and sister to Hunsford when they went to visit her. We leave in just under a fortnight." She ventured a glance at his countenance to see how he was bearing the information, and was taken aback by the bright smile on it. "Why, that is wonderful! I am to go to Rosings myself by Easter. I have it on good information that Rosings and the Hunsford parsonage are separated only by a lane!" he teased with a wink. Elizabeth was not quite so pleased. "Well, Easter is a long time away. I stay only a month, so I shall be nearly departing by then." Her slightly frantic tone of voice, in her mind due to desperation over not having any freedom after all, to him sounded like her frustration at being separated. "That can be easily remedied. I shall write to my cousin, with whom I will be traveling, and tell him to prepare to go in just over a fortnight. We may have to spend only a week apart!" Satisfied with his resourcefulness, Darcy joyfully kissed Elizabeth's hand, effectively silencing any further objections. Uncertain as she was, she did know that she cared for him, and she could not bear to tell him that she did not wish for him to follow her so quickly, particularly when he smiled so handsomely. She decided merely to hope that this cousin and travel companion would be delayed a little longer than Darcy hoped. Besides, a week or two should give me sufficient time to discern my feelings, should it not? * * * * * * 23 February Netherfield, Hertfordshire Fitzwilliam, I apologize for my neglect of you. You shall hear all about what- or rather, whom- has been distracting me in good time. Can you be read to leave for Rosings in a fortnight or so? I know it is earlier than usual, but I do not intend to stay long past Easter. Write to me with the precise dates you will be able to come, and I shall inform Lady Catherine. Yours, F. Darcy 26 February _____, _____shire Darcy, I am quite surprised by your application. I had never imagined you to be so eager to see Aunt Catherine. Or perhaps it is Cousin Anne who draws you to Kent. Could our aunt's designs be close to coming to fruition? I am a-twitter with anticipation to discover your secret. I am sorry to inform you, however, that I cannot depart for London so soon. My duties require my presence for closer to three weeks. Shall we meet at your townhouse on 19 March, morning, to be in Kent that afternoon, and depart the week after Easter? I apologize that I cannot be more at your leisure, but alas, this is a busy time for His Majesty's Army. Yours, R. Fitzwilliam 1 March Netherfield, Hertfordshire Very well. I shall see you on 19 March. We leave no later than noon. Darcy 1 March Netherfield, Hertfordshire Dear Aunt Catherine, If it is agreeable to you, Colonel Fitzwilliam and I shall be arriving earlier at Rosings this year. We plan to be there the afternoon of 19 March, and leave the week after Easter. We are, as ever, eager to see you and dear Anne. Do send her our regards. Yours, etc. F. Darcy 3 March Rosings Park My dear nephew, How very kind of you and the dear colonel to visit us so soon, as we had not expected you until near Easter. But I am most vexed by your declaration that you will only stay until the beginning of April! I hope the entertainments of Rosings will induce you to extend your visit to a month complete. Anne of course shares my sentiments, and is most eager to see you especially. I also hope you will show her particular kindness whilst you are here; you know it was the dearest wish of your mother as well as hers that you form a special attachment between you. I would be so pleased if we could formalize everything during this visit. We await you impatiently! Your loving aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh * * * * * * Elizabeth and the Lucases left Hertfordshire without much ado; ten days of foul weather had prohibited much intercourse between Netherfield and Longbourn, but the two days preceding the departure restored the roads to navigable conditions and allowed for Darcy to say goodbye to Elizabeth. Her mind wandered as the carriage took them to London, where they were to spend a night with the Gardiners before continuing into Kent. "I have been sorely disappointed not to have had a chance to spend much time with you, Miss Bennet. This abominable weather has driven me nearly mad," Darcy confessed when they could at last walk outside. "Not even Mrs. Westling could help me, for her boys have all come down with terrible colds, and she has been tending to them all week." Elizabeth shared his sentiment to an extent; when he and Mr. Bingley had managed to get the carriage down the icy road to Longbourn, they had all been forced to stay indoors with Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Lydia screeching about one thing or another, and Mary playing the pianoforte with her usual lack of taste. Elizabeth was mortified that they were thus exposed so frequently and in so concentrated of doses. Darcy kept his equanimity tolerably well, but could not hold back every cringe the family incited. Both were very relieved to escape the crowded drawing room. "I was afraid the roads would be impassible; thankfully we will be able to leave tomorrow as planned." Darcy's countenance turned more serious, as their separation was not a pleasant notion for him. He would not be able to follow her for nearly 10 days. "I shall miss you," he stated quietly. Her reflections bade her sigh, as she realized that she might miss him as well. Next section... |