Love Calls Again Page 3

  "I thank you, yes," Elizabeth stammered out of sheer bemusement. She was obviously expecting more verbosity from him. Miraculously, perhaps because she could not tolerate her own embarrassment, she endeavoured to aid him out of his silent struggle with a perfunctory question. Looking intently into his eyes she said : "My sister has been in town these three months. Have you not seen her?"

  Sadly enough, her address seemed to worsen Darcy's abashment. Completely taken aback, he lingered in perplexity for what seemed to Fitzwilliam an eternity. Finally, he regained his ability to speak and attempted an answer.

  "No," he shook his head in emphatic denial. "No, I have not had that pleasure."

  A new awkward silence arose, and his cousin lost composure once more. This was a most disappointing performance on his part, but it was a welcome diversion to Fitzwilliam. He had never had the opportunity to see his relative in such a dreadful state of perpetual discomfiture. Finding nothing more to say, Darcy turned round and walked towards a window. There he found refuge in the silent survey of the outside view. He abandoned his contemplation only to cast a short melancholic look upon Miss Bennet. He, thereafter, resumed his previous posture.

  She continued her declaration in ironic tone, "So you see, it is a hopeless case, is it not, Colonel Fitzwilliam?"

  He could say no more, yet Fitzwilliam was certain of one thing. If Darcy was not to take his chances with her, the Colonel himself would gladly seize the opportunity to get to know her wit in a more exhaustive manner, should the opportunity to do so befall him.

  Four

  —

  An Unexpected Proposition

  To Colonel Fitzwilliam's sheer pleasure, the opportunity to further his new acquaintance certainly did come, and not in scarcity, for the Collinses and their visitors would pay frequent calls on Lady Catherine. So much so, that before he could understand it, he was trapped in the web of Miss Bennet's fine eyes. Soon her visits to Rosings Park became frequent enough to turn Fitzwilliam's admiration into serious attachment. After spending two weeks in her constant company, he came to the conclusion that she was the perfect companion for his life. They were incredibly of the same mind on almost every subject, including music, dancing and books. Needless to say, it was clear that Miss Bennet preferred his company to his cousin's. She would talk to him, walk with him, play the piano forte with him. They would have danced together all night had they attended a ball. Colonel Fitzwilliam would walk to the parsonage almost every morning, with or without Darcy. The latter, on those rare occasions in which he had been bold enough to pay a visit, would remain taciturn and isolated in a corner, whilst the newly acquainted would keep each other company in a most entertaining manner. Still, in the intelligence of Darcy's emotions he would not dare take any serious steps.

  But suddenly Elizabeth's preferences took an astounding turn. One evening, at Rosings Park, Fitzwilliam witnessed a remarkably suspicious conversation.

  He and Miss Bennet had been sitting at the piano forte in their usual manner, while Darcy was in company of his betrothed, his aunt and the rest of the visitors in the adjoining room. When Miss Bennet had finished her piece, Darcy rose to his feet and strode very decidedly towards them.

  Miss Bennet began fidgeting on her stool, and made some clumsy mistakes upon the piano forte. She was obviously not comfortable in his presence. Still, she shyly looked up at him and said rather dramatically: "Do you mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? I shall not be alarmed." She resumed playing and looked at the colonel in common mockery. "My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me." But then she directed her gaze at Darcy and smiled. Her whole countenance acquired a flushed brilliancy.

  Thus, the unexpected happened.

  Darcy, instead of assuming his accustomed coy attitude, flashed her a disarming smile and stared mischievously into her eyes. Then using a deep, soothing voice he answered, "I know you find great enjoyment in professing opinions which are not your own."

  Whilst Fitzwilliam gaped helplessly at Darcy's frolicsome comedy, he was stunned to hear Elizabeth's coquettish giggle.

  "Your cousin would teach you not to believe a word I say, Colonel Fitzwilliam. That is ungenerous of him, is it not?"

  Notwithstanding that the Colonel was the object of her address, Elizabeth's attentions were not directed upon him, rather she was vehemently interested in Darcy's response. Without for a moment taking her dark eyes off Darcy's, she contended once more, "Impolitic too, for it provokes me to retaliate and say somewhat of his behaviour in Hertfordshire, which may shock his relations." Unmistakably, she was now flirting with Darcy. She had made that playful movement with her mouth, so very seductive, biting her lower lip with her upper teeth.

  So very inviting.

  Darcy sent her his most seductive look and maintained "I am not afraid of you."

  At this, Colonel Fitzwilliam had become really worried. He was definitely losing ground. He tried hard not to remain out of their exchange but little was achieved. Elizabeth and Darcy might have well been alone in the music room, bluntly ignoring his presence, persisting in their charade, their eyes locked, playing a most delicious game of words, which in fact were saying how much they had been involved in each other's exertions in the past. More than a game, it seemed a confession. Darcy would not take his eyes off hers. A wolf in sheep's clothing, he was definitely enjoying himself. At last he had been able to rid himself of his mortifying shyness and reveal his most seductive self.

  Darcy took his time giving a retort to every single statement Miss Bennet would utter and Elizabeth was definitely amused. She resumed playing the pianoforte. This man was amazing. So distantly aloof one moment, alluringly bewitching the other. She recalled Charlotte's admonition. You'd be a simpleton if you let your fancy for Wickham lead you to slight a man of ten times his consequence. She had to admit Mr. Darcy was ten times the consequence of any man. Even the dazzling Colonel.

  At the end of their exchange Darcy took the opportunity to send a message to the Colonel. He sighed deeply, and, looking daggers at his cousin, he said "I… I have not that talent which some possess, of conversing easily with strangers."

  Check. The Colonel decoded the message.

  Elizabeth, unaware of what was going on between the gentlemen, and thinking herself still in battle with Mr. Darcy, answered with complete conviction.

  "I do not play this instrument so well as I should wish to, but I have supposed that to be my own fault, because I would not take the trouble of practicing!"

  "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you could think anything wanting." Then, assuming a low voice as he leaned across the pianoforte to say almost in a whisper. "We neither of us perform to strangers."

  Check mate.

  Elizabeth did not retort. She had expected him to retaliate once more. But he, most generously, had shown composure and was now stating his admiration. She could see that in his eyes. Suddenly she could not hold his gaze any longer. Instead the most outrageous thing happened to her. The very thing that could do nothing but reveal her innermost emotions towards Darcy.

  She blushed.

  In the end they were interrupted by Aunt Catherine's piercing shrieks demanding her share in their conversation. Colonel Fitzwilliam could not be more relieved.

  Now, what to do? Clearly, despite her previous displeasure towards him, Elizabeth entertained feelings for his cousin. At least she was not completely immune to his unexpected charms. Her reactions to his teasing had been evident enough. She had unmistakably flushed. At the certainty of this realization, it would not be wise to depend solely on Elizabeth's taste in men nor her unsuitability. Judging by his cousin's easy performance, it would not be so difficult for him to turn her nascent emotions into something more serious, and she would end up being Darcy's mistress. He would not allow that.

  He would have to change strategies.

  But what to do?
r />   A few days passed in which Richard learned that Miss Bennet had come across Darcy on various occasions while taking her morning strolls. There would not be one single morning in which Darcy would not go to the parsonage, and many times he had not taken the trouble of waiting for his cousin. Instead, he had ridden his horse to the parson's residence and even invited Miss Bennet to walk in his company. Regrettably, many times this had been done at such early hours, that he had taken the whole family unawares and still in bed. His infatuation took such dimensions that he could not restrain his feet from dragging him helplessly to her temporary dwelling. Far from him was to hide them, for his intentions were bluntly written on his face.

  Richard saw the need to take desperate measures. After all, all was fair in love and war.

  Upon their travel to Rosings, he had serendipitously learned Darcy's struggles to separate his friend, Mr. Bingley, from a certain lady from Hertfordshire. Later on, he had arrived at the conclusion that the lady whose integrity had been found faulty by Darcy was none other than Miss Jane Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet's elder sister.

  Touché

  The next step would be to have a serious conversation with Lady Catherine De Bourgh. He persuaded his aunt that Darcy needed to spend more time with Anne. Such pursuit needed more collaboration on Anne's part, for she would remain in bed most of the morning, thus relieving Darcy of his duties with her, and at the same time affording him enough time to woo Miss Bennet. Once the evil deed of persuading both his aunt and cousin to spend more time with Darcy was perpetrated, Colonel Fitzwilliam would just have to wait.

  The next day, Colonel Fitzwilliam went downstairs to find an ill-humoured Darcy breakfasting in the company of his aunt and cousin. Without moment to lose, Richard flashed him a sneer and, offering a light excuse to his aunt, cut a short bow and left.

  He ran more than walked to the clearing in the park where he was sure to find Miss Bennet on her morning stroll.

  And there she was. He thought he could distinguish a tinge of disappointment in her eyes at the sight of him. Was she expecting to find Darcy?

  "Miss Bennet!"

  "Colonel Fitzwilliam."

  The manner of her address told Richard she was.

  "I have been making the yearly tour of the Park. Shall we take this way together?"

  "With pleasure."

  Colonel Fitzwilliam's scheme was ready for launching. Thereupon he said nonchalantly.

  "Mr. Bingley is waiting for Darcy in London. They are going to spend the summer together at Pemberley."

  "Do you know Mr. Bingley and his sisters?"

  "A little. Bingley is a pleasant, gentleman-like man. He is a great friend of Darcy's."

  "Yes. Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him."

  "Yes, I believe Darcy does take care of him." Now it was the moment to release the first poisonous dose. He was sure to hit right on target. "I understand that he congratulates himself on having saved Mr. Bingley the inconvenience of a most imprudent marriage." He took a close look at her countenance, and saw the sudden change.

  "Did Mr. Darcy give his reasons for this interference?"

  "I understand there were some very strong objections to the lady." There. Take it. He was not lying. He was merely being indiscreet.

  Elizabeth's face shrunk in horrific discomposure. Struggling desperately not to break down, she in due time managed to gasp a question.

  "And why was he to be the judge?"

  Colonel Fitzwilliam answered in a most innocent way. "You are disposed to think his interference officious? He could see that Elizabeth's ire had been ignited. Nothing could save Darcy from the oncoming wrath.

  "I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to determine and direct in what way his friend was to be happy."

  "But, as you say, we know none of the particulars."

  "Perhaps there was not much affection."

  "Perhaps not. But if that were the case, it lessens the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly, don't you think?"

  Thus, the poison had been induced most imperceptibly.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam's plan worked incredibly well. That very afternoon, having got rid of his intended, Darcy had dashed towards the parsonage supposedly - in the Colonel's mind -- to make Miss Bennet his mistress, in reality to offer her his hand, only to find the most bitter rejection ever conceived. The next day, an abashed Darcy and a triumphant Fitzwilliam departed for London. The Colonel was planning to call on Miss Bennet at her aunt's house in London, without his cousin's awareness.

  But that was not to happen. Elizabeth's visit in London was but a breeze, only long enough to join her sister Jane on her way back home in Longbourn.

  So Richard Fitzwilliam stayed with his cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy for a few days in Darcy's town house. Yet on seeing that Darcy's bad humour was nothing but increasing, and the object of his affection absent from the immediate surroundings, he took his leave and headed for his paternal home in Matlock. The cards once laid, what remained was only to bide his time until Darcy's nuptials took place some time later.

  Five

  —

  Feeling a Bit Birdie

  For her part, Elizabeth went back home in a terrible spirit. Remorse had taken hold of her heart and the pain of having misjudged Mr. Darcy was nothing small. The idea that such grand man had set eyes on her was flattering enough to tempt Elizabeth's heart to feel a little for the gentleman.

  They saw each other at Pemberley, where she could appreciate his true demeanour. amongst his own people and friends. To Elizabeth it was evident that Mr. Darcy's unpleasant character had undergone a dramatic transformation. He was the possessor of an overwhelming amiability which added to his attractive profile and the excess of his wealth, made him the best of suitors. By the time she had met him again at Longbourn, she was irredeemably in love with him. Unfortunately her emotions played against her, for such was her embarrassment at the sight of him that she could not bear to look him in the eye, least of all talk to him. Unbeknown to Elizabeth, her befuddlement only served to discourage the gentleman, who, fearing a new rejection, dared not renew his addresses, much to her own distress.

  But again, Elizabeth was to meet Mr. Darcy at Bingley's wedding. The whole affair proved a real challenge for both of them. For while he was the groom's best man, Elizabeth was the bridesmaid. So they both had to face each other, hearts bleeding, while the entire ceremony was performed for Bingley and Jane. Elizabeth wept silently all through it, her uninterrupted sobbing considered mere emotional constriction from the wedding. In any case, neither Elizabeth nor Darcy was able to bear the wedding breakfast. He departed for London without delay after the ceremony; she found refuge in her bedroom, where she retreated until the last guest was gone.

  After Jane's wedding and Darcy's departure, sorrow took hold of Elizabeth's heart, but the hardest pain to be endured was yet to come.

  Five months later, Mr. Collins sent a letter to Longbourn, in which he rejoiced to announce the espousal of Anne De Bourgh to her cousin Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Though the letter had been intended for Mr. Bennet, he read it aloud for all the family to be apprised of the good news. Elizabeth was about to swallow a bite of baked potato when she heard his father saying the name of the groom. She almost choked and had to wash the damned potato down with some water and then some wine to recover her colour. Her father did not take the hint of the source of Elizabeth's discomfiture, thus he commenced to tease her in an absolutely innocent manner.

  "So, Mr. Darcy has at last found someone handsome enough to tempt him, huh?"

  "Handsome indeed!" chuckled Mrs. Bennet. "Sir Lucas told me the poor thing is a miserable mouse, all grey and small and sickly! She is sure to die within the next year. Rich she is! And this is the kind of bride such proud people as Mr. Darcy deserve! A sole for his shoe, I say"

  "Lizzy? Are you not happy to see the very disagreeable Mr. Darcy so well matched in the end? He certainly deserves the Lady!"

 
; "I must confess I expected he would marry a beauty of the ton, and not the dreadfully sick cousin of his, her fortune notwithstanding," parroted Mrs. Bennet. "But I dare say the inducement of such an alliance of fortunes must have been too grand, even for the very wealthy Mr. Darcy, to pass unnoticed. Can you imagine the wealth he will come into once she is dead?"

  "Mama!" protested Elizabeth.

  "What! Do you believe me inconsiderate? Is he not the most despicable man that has ever come to Meryton? Surely his intentions have been mercenary as well!"

  "Mama. Mr. Darcy is a gentleman. Indeed he is! On marrying his cousin he is doing nothing but his duty. Mr. Darcy is merely carrying out his family's wishes. No mercenary reasons inspired him! His nature is of the most generous and unselfish kind! He does not deserve your idle talking nor your teasing."

  "Pray, Elizabeth. Since when are you a defender of the gentleman's honour?"

  Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears, and she covered them with both hands and broke into silent weeping which went into a crescendo until it became hysterical sobbing. The whole family observed the process in utter amazement. Not a knife was moved.

  "Miss Bennet! Whatever happened to you, child?" said her father in the end.

  She rose and scampered outside leaving all the members of the family dumbfounded and at odds with whatever had been the matter with her. Her wild escape took her to her favourite path, and she ended up crying her eyes out on the road leading to Netherfield in search of the only person who could understand her feelings: her sister Jane.

  Yet the three-mile walk was long enough for her to come to her senses, and before reaching her sister's house, she took a diversion towards one of her favourite spots, a slope from which she had seen Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, riding their horses towards Netherfield, for the first time. She lingered in the same spot from whence she had caught the first glimpse of the man who would hold her heart, she now knew, for good. Lost and lonely, Elizabeth roamed across the field with her gaze as if expecting the gentlemen to appear out of the blue. His ghost would haunt her for ever.