Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 10

Darcy had seen the gossip column in the paper and knew it depicted him and Elizabeth. Somehow or other, word had gotten out. At Bingley’s insistence, they had remained home the past few days, even refraining from attending Sunday service, but apparently it was not enough to prevent some one or other wagging their tongues. He was unsurprised, therefore, when a messenger arrived the next day, summoning him to Longbourn.

“You can be at no loss over why you are here, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet began, pacing the floor of his study.

Darcy stood still, his hands clasped behind his back respectfully. “I have seen the gossip column, Mr. Bennet. It seems the secret is out. I am prepared to do my duty towards your daughter, as we agreed.”

“It is not my wish to do this, you understand. Were my family’s reputation not endangered, I would not force the issue.”

Darcy gave a silent nod in response.

Mr. Bennet stopped pacing and settled into the chair beside his desk. “Lizzy, among all my daughters, is my particular favorite. I have never attempted to deny it. Her sleepwalking habit is unfortunate. She and her sisters, save for Jane, all suffered from nighttime perambulation as children, a trait they unfortunately inherited from their mother and me. The younger girls outgrew it, as I had. But Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth retained this condition even into adulthood. It has been no small task to keep them safe and to prevent others from learning of it.

“I had always intended I should communicate this news to whichever of Lizzy's suitors seemed most likely to marry her. However, I did not expect this circumstance would take place so soon. I wish with all my heart that I could absolve you from doing your duty towards her, but alas, I must think of my family and my remaining daughters, as well as Elizabeth.”

“I understand,” murmured Mr. Darcy. “It is a cross I am willing to bear. I will also do my utmost to protect her from further harm.”

Mr. Bennet looked at Mr. Darcy with a curious expression “Mr. Darcy, do you have feelings for my Lizzy?”

Darcy felt his face redden. “I confess, sir, I allowed my prejudice to cloud my early impressions of her. I have since come to admire your daughter's wit and sense. It is unfortunate that I insulted her early on in our acquaintance, and she has yet to forgive me for it. But I will treat her with the care and respect she deserves as my wife and endeavor to love her as best as I can. I hope that in time she might come to think of me with something like regard.”

“Such is more than many people can say upon entering the marital state.” Mr. Bennet nodded. “And though I cannot say I give my ‘blessing’ upon this marriage, I will certainly not stand in the way of it.”

S

Elizabeth had scarcely begun to think herself safe from marrying Mr. Darcy, and now this! The past few days had been relatively calm, with nothing to trouble them except the pig escaping from his pen. I ought to have known that my fortune could not last .

She could not bear to look at Mr. Darcy when he called. How could she? Knowing her father was to insist she marry this man could only confirm any suspicions Mr. Darcy harbored of their mercenary motives and give him every reason to hold them in contempt. If he did not despise her before, he surely would now. The thought of marrying him sickened her.

After giving Mr. Darcy a perfunctory greeting, she escaped to the barn, where she poured out her troubles to George while feeding him a few fallen apples she collected from the orchard on her way.

“I understand why you tried to escape, George,” she told the pig. “I would too, in your position. We none of us like the feeling of being trapped.” She patted the coarse hair atop his head. George grunted happily as he continued to munch his favorite treat.

“At least your life is simpler than mine,” she continued. “You need only content yourself with rolling in mud and eating to your heart’s content. But your day of reckoning will come, almost as surely as mine will.” She imagined herself being led like a pig to its slaughter, a gruesome but fitting image of her future, she thought.

Her thoughts were disturbed by footsteps approaching, precipitating the appearance of Mr. Darcy.

“Your father told me I might find you here.” He came beside her and leaned his arms against the rails of the pen, mimicking her stance. “Things are settled between us. We are to wed.”

Elizabeth wrestled with the knot forming in her stomach, torn between cold silence and hot anger. Finally, she settled on a lukewarm declaration, willing herself to remain calm. “I will not pretend to feel grateful for what you are doing, Mr. Darcy.”

“Given the circumstances, I would not expect you to. I am well aware I am not your choice of a husband.” His tone was grave.

“If I were given the opportunity, I would release you from your obligation. I would carry the stain of what has transpired and move to some far-off county where no one knew me. But alas! I have my sisters and their well-being to consider. It is for their sake, and that of my father and mother, that I consent to this union.”

“I comprehend you,” he said in a strained tone.

She fed the last of the apple in her hand to the pig, wiping her hands on the front of her apron

Mr. Darcy looked at her quizzically. “Do you often tend to the animals on your estate?”

“No, only this one,” she answered. “George has become something of a friend to me.”

“George?” Mr. Darcy’s eyebrows raised in amusement.

“Named after our dear Prince Regent. Do you not see the resemblance, Mr. Darcy?” Having concluded his snack, George was now relishing in a mud bath near the center of the pigpen.

“Oh yes, a perfect likeness!” Her comment brought laughter to them both, lightening the somber mood. “I can see that His Royal Highness lives to excess as much as his namesake.” Turning to Elizabeth, he said, “You have no idea how much diversion his name brings to me, for I am well-acquainted with individuals by that name.”

“Do tell.”

“My late father, for one, bore that name, as did his godson, who grew up on our estate. The latter now resides at Kympton, as my rector there.”

“Goodness, I had no idea my pig shared the name of such important people! Here, I thought he only shared it with our good king and his slovenly son!”

“Our good king, and his slovenly son. Yes, that is it exactly,” Mr. Darcy chuckled.

“I confess, this George has become rather dear to me. I shall be rather sad when it is his turn to go to market. But such is the way of things. I ought to know better than to grow attached to something that I know I will one day part with. ”

Mr. Darcy reached out and put his hand on her shoulder, but she recoiled.

“I do not require your comfort over the loss of my pet, Mr. Darcy. He will face his fate one day, just as I must.” The mirth from her face was gone, replaced by a tight frown.

Perhaps sensing he had overstayed his welcome, Mr. Darcy bowed to her and departed, leaving Elizabeth to watch him disappear from view.

S

Charlotte called on Elizabeth, not long after Mr. Darcy departed. Elizabeth took her into the garden, where they might speak without Elizabeth’s mother or sisters hovering. The air had grown cool and crisp, signifying the coming of winter, but it was not so cold yet as to make a garden visit unpleasant.

Charlotte was the first to speak. “I saw the article in the Gazette. How are you bearing up, Eliza?”

“Not well, I am afraid,” Elizabeth said sadly. “I could not sleep last night, knowing what is to come. Mr. Darcy has been here and spoken to Papa. My fate is sealed. I am to marry Mr. Darcy.”

“I am frightfully sorry, Eliza! I do not know how news of your scandal got out. It was not from my quarter, I assure you.”

“Oh, Charlotte!” Elizabeth hugged her friend. “I know you are not to blame, but this is simply dreadful!”

“I know you are suffering, but is it truly as awful as it seems? My mother seems to think it a fortuitous thing, regardless of how it came about.”

“Then your mother must have borrowed her sentiments from mine, for my own mother boasts every five minutes over my auspicious marriage, to my utmost discontent,” Elizabeth said .

“I feel for you, I do!” Charlotte insisted. “I know you detest Mr. Darcy. But at least you may take consolation in the number of fine carriages and gowns you shall have.”

“Now you sound like my mother! Pray, do not spend your days employed in schemes to see your daughters advantageously wed, or I shall have to disown you as a friend!” Elizabeth jested.

“Do not fear, Eliza. Before I can even begin to consider my daughter’s futures, I must first secure my own. Does Mr. Darcy happen to have a brother?”

Her comment made Elizabeth laugh. “If he did, you would not want him, for surely he would be just as pompous, but lacking any of the material advantages!”

“I suppose I shall simply have to wait until another gentleman of several thousand per year decides to grace our neighborhood, then!” Charlotte’s eyes twinkled.

“Dearest Charlotte!” Elizabeth pulled her into a quick hug. “Who shall make me laugh when I am apart from you?”

“I do not know. Perhaps you can find room for me in your trunk, when you depart!” she winked.

“I would throw out my entire wedding trousseau to make room for you, if I could!” Elizabeth laughed again.