Elizabeth, Miss Bingley did not encourage her brother to Town. I did,” Darcy said to Elizabeth with a tranquil air, as if he were guilty of nothing.
Jane’s letter dangled from her fingertips. “Why?? Why would you do that?”
“I saw that Bingley’s attachment was more serious than I imagined, and Jane’s not serious enough. I could not stand by and watch him enter into such an unhappy marriage.”
With every word, the anger grew within Elizabeth until it burnt brightly into her cheeks. “Do you truly believe you can best decipher the secrets of a woman’s heart? I would have thought you had learned that your judgement is far from absolute.”
“Thank you for reminding me of my failures.”
His pale face gave her pause as Elizabeth felt a flicker of remorse. She said at last, “Forgive me, but I think I must when you seem determined to repeat them. You interfered in the private affairs of two persons, both of age and sound character, without consulting any opinions beyond your own.”
“I could hardly consult you,” Darcy replied in a cool tone.
She looked at him, horrified. “Do you think I would deceive you regarding my sister’s affections?”
“Certainly not.”
“She has a true regard for him, I assure you. If you write to him and explain your error, it would be for their happiness.” Elizabeth became impatient with his silence, adding,“I hope you will not hold my reproaches to you against Jane and Mr Bingley.”
Elizabeth thought he looked rather offender. “I would not.” After another long pause, Darcy finally said, “How can I speak of this without wounding you? Perhaps I was mistaken in your sister – you must know her better than I – but I cannot wholly condemn my actions. Writing to him would be tantamount to acting against his interests.”
“I cannot understand you at all. You expose your friend as a careless, unsteady sort of gentleman, and my sister to the impertinence of the neighbourhood then refuse to rectify your error. Heaven save him from your idea of happiness if you consider this as a favour!” When he hesitated again, dread began to oppress her. “Have I made you so unhappy to cause you to despise matrimony?”
“No, Elizabeth, not at all.”
“Then what is it? You cannot object to Jane, surely?”
Darcy sighed. “Her manners are above reproach, but there are disadvantages attending her situation. I know you must understand my meaning.”
“You cannot abide my mother’s matchmaking, and my family might not be fashionable enough for the likes of Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth said with another hot blush; “but it does not follow that the rest of the world censures the occasional lapse of propriety and fashion with such severity.”
He straightened. “If you think of my reasons as exceptional, then you know very little of the world. Gentlemen of means often consider a woman’s situation before making her an offer. Even if they care nothing for size of the lady’s fortune, which they generally do, they likely care something for her connections.
“With our marriage, she no longer suffers from such a want, but you cannot be ignorant of the evils her other connections represent to men of consequence in the world. Their situation, and especially their almost uniform lack of propriety, will give many men a reason to pause. It is easier for me here at Pemberley, but Bingley would settle within three miles of Longbourn.”
Elizabeth stared at him in disbelief, finally breaking the silence to say, “This is overbearing cruelty to separate two persons attached to one another for so mean a cause. I think it beneath you.”
“I do not consider prudence as cruelty.” He said more gently, “Our marriage will put them in each other’s company again. If Bingley’s affections survive the separation and the contemplation it will require, then I will say nothing further to him, but I cannot fault myself for having advised him to consider it carefully.”
He sat so calmly before her, she considered resentfully, her next words dripping with disdain: “And if he does find another, I suppose it is all for the best as far as you are concerned. Poor Jane, who has never wished ill on another person in her life, will pay the price for it.” She gaped at him, hardly able to believe that such a man had married her at all, until the truth ran over her with painful clarity. “If you had not needed a wife, would you have ever noticed me?”
Darcy looked away. “One cannot help but notice you, Elizabeth.”
Her eyes narrowed. “But you would not have married me, would you? To think I overcame my objections to you-”
“Your objections?”
Elizabeth viewed his surprised expression with a perverse sense of satisfaction. “Yes, you recall I had no idea that you liked me? I decided to dislike you in turn, and successfully I might add, until you told me of your sister, but I misjudged you there again. Her misery does not excuse your lack of gentlemanlike manners nor your abominable conceit.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You can be amiable, even generous, to those of your own circle or those dependent upon you, but the rest of the world is beneath your notice or worse, worthy of your contempt.” She paused, too horrified by their conversation to continue, hiding her face in her hands. “What have I done?”
“You have abused my character,” Darcy replied angrily, “and made a match which should be out of your reach in ordinary circumstances. I never misled you about my scruples, nor about my feelings. I thought you understood me well enough, but it hardly matters now. ”
The waning sunlight from the window cast Darcy half in shadow, but there was light enough to see his lack of remorse. Elizabeth recoiled from him; his words and tone were abhorrent to her, and she moved to stand behind her chair. “Your feelings of my inferiority matter very much to me. No material consideration would have induced me to accept your hand had I rightly understood you. How I wish I could undo it!”
The cold hauteur and offence in Darcy combined with Elizabeth’s hot anger and displeasure until they were almost congruent mirrors of the other in all of their proud glory. Before more words could be spoken, likely to be more intemperate than the last, the steward arrived to put an end to the distressing scene.
Elizabeth fled from his study and raced up the staircase with enough energy to nearly knock over a footman as if he were a chess piece. She hardly noticed or cared, flinging herself upon the bed as the door closed behind her. The chaotic thoughts and feelings churned insistently until she gave way to the comfort of tears then to the solace of slumber.
**
Elizabeth stirred hours later at the sound of the fireplace poker striking relentlessly against the andirons. “Sarah? What are you doing in here?” she murmured drowsily at the crouched maid, sitting up. She wondered briefly why Hill was not stirring the morning fires as usual until she looked down at her wedding ring and shivered. I would never be cold at Longbourn, she remembered, the longing for Jane welling up like a painful sore.
“Beggin’ your pardon, mistress, but you never called for me,” Sarah said fretfully. “I should have come anyhow and tended this fire. You must be frozen through – what’ll the master think of it?”
Elizabeth pursed her lips together. The thought of seeing him at the breakfast table in all of his stately arrogance was enough to make her forget her hunger. “Never mind. What time is it?”
“I reckon about five in the morning, ma’am. Will you be wanting the water? I thought your white gown with the blue trim for the morning -”
“No, I-I am feeling a little poorly. If you will help me out of my gown and fix my hair, I intend to keep to my rooms this morning,” she declared with relief at her reprieve.
She could take no pleasure at the thought of Darcy’s presence. In light of their argument, even their mornings in the library were now tainted for her. The poison of suspicion – that he was trying to improve her mind or discover what he must correct as a consequence of her low birth – curdled any happiness those memories contained.
Sarah brought her mindlessly through the motions of her toilette until she sat before the handsome dressing table, staring back at the stranger in the glass. If only she had listened to Jane! Her sister tried to make her see reason, to understand the dangers attending an unequal marriage, and Jane had not known the half of it. Elizabeth was mortified to recall the ease with which she dismissed her sister’s counsel and insisted upon her own way. The scales began to fall from Elizabeth’s eyes, and the stranger in the mirror appeared familiar again as she tried to understand herself.
The fabric of her judgement, if not her character, had unravelled a little in marrying a man on such a short acquaintance. She laughed at Charlotte’s assertion that it was best to know as little as possible of one’s mate, then drove away reason and principle in a fit of girlish petulance toward her parents. They would have recovered from their disappointment; their displeasure would have been less vocal, and all would have been as it ever was, had she merely exercised patience. Instead, stung by the cold calculation of her father and pleased by Mr Darcy’s appreciation of her, she allowed her impulses to dictate her actions against her better reason. Women might marry without love often enough and be content, but to marry based on pride and disappointment was folly.
Mr Darcy had been privy to the worst failings within her family circle thanks to her, those lapses of character merely adding weight to his other objections. Her father’s greed, her mother’s lack of sense, and her own desperation to marry were enough to make any gentleman caution his friends. To think that her sister’s unhappiness had been undone by her nearest relations was a cruel blow; to think of her own role in the sad affair was nearly unendurable.
Too young and too sensible generally to have ever behaved very foolishly, her discoveries were even more difficult to bear. At her dejected sigh, the maid looked at her in alarm. “Mistress, you must take to your bed once I finish you up. Cook will make you some broth.”
“Broth will be of no use to me,” Elizabeth replied listlessly.
Upon Sarah’s removal, Elizabeth removed a packet of letters from her table, untied them, and spread them out before the fire. The contents of her sister’s letters distressed her further. Now she could detect the want of spirits and worry in her sister’s writings, though Jane never once alluded to any cause for disappointment. Elizabeth hoped and doubted she might have been so good in similar circumstances. She might at this moment be in her room with Jane, consoling her over the loss of Mr Bingley. Without her, Jane was unlikely to receive intimate kindness from any of her other friends. Elizabeth rested her cheek upon one knee, flexing her feet toward the fire as she tried unsuccessfully to rouse her spirits.
During the morning, Darcy came to see her. He seemed a little pale, but thoroughly composed, she thought with a mixture of resentment and envy.
“Good morning, Mrs Darcy. Do you intend to spend the entire day in your rooms?”
Elizabeth was startled to see how high the sun had risen. “I planned as much, though I now think some air would benefit my headache,” she answered, the tone sounding strangled to her own ears.
“I could accompany you after midday.”
“No, I thank you not to trouble yourself,” she replied quickly. “I can manage the paths on my own.”
He flinched. “I have no objections if you stick to the circuit following the river.”
Elizabeth looked at him with a mixture of surprise and affront. “Why should you have any objections at all? Do you think I am a child who cannot manage on her own? I will find the house before dark, I assure you.”
“Some might call it a husband’s privilege to care for his wife. Some husbands might even insist their wives not ramble about with neither maid nor footman in sight,” he replied with a perplexed frown.
“Is this the sort of husband you intend to be? I have thoughts and wishes of my own, sir, and have rambled about with them almost from the time I could walk.” Having said that much, she decided to say more, and more earnestly, “If you attempt to change me into an ornament or-or a vase, I doubt you will appreciate the results. I know I shall not like myself.”
“I have no desire to suspend your pleasures,” he answered, evidently taken aback by her boldness, “but it is not unreasonable to advise you to show some caution.”
His expression was otherwise indecipherable, as it very often was. She twisted her ring and glanced again at the window. She would not cry before him, even as those promises she made so lightly at the chapel rushed back to her in full force. “Very well,” she said dully.
“I am not a tyrant. Whatever I may reasonably do to secure your contentment will be done. You have my word.”
“Thank you,” she replied with a bow, hating the prim gesture even as she performed it perfectly.
He stood there for several long seconds then left as abruptly as he came.
It occurred to her that he might be as muddled as she felt until Elizabeth dismissed the idea as ridiculous. She did not truly know him. They may have compared opinions on a variety of subjects, but when it came to his heart, he was a stranger whose thoughts were so unlike her own to make speculation impossible. She determined not to think of him any longer.
Looking down at her shift, she blushed and rang again for Sarah.
Wow Ali! This is probably the biggest difference yet and the most emotional for me. I can’t believe that Darcy is so unfeeling…so arrogant…so selfish…so blind. He can’t see what the Caroline Bingley’s of the world are…or how the mothers of the so-called ton behave. They and their families are much, much worse than any who live in the small hamlet of Meryton.
I don’t like this Darcy at all. I have felt a great deal of pity for his plight and his sister’s…and truly believed that he would be a good man once all of this was over…however…now here he is doing all he can to destroy Lizzy’s sister while asking her to protect his. What a hypocrite! …oooooohhh I am so angry at him! I can’t talk about him any more.
As for Lizzy…I am very fearful for her at this moment She is planning to walk out filled with so much emotion…very sad, very angry, and very alone. Just who will she meet or what may happen while she is out!
The situation at Pemberley has just gone from bad to worse and I am so anxious to see how you plan to work through all of this. At least, this time, Lizzy doesn’t need to go to Longbourn for any wedding. I don’t see any happiness, any smiles or laughter or companionship even. What a life to look forward to for Lizzy!
Please post again soon Ali! I need some relief and I have a feeling I’m not going to get it anytime soon!
I still love this story so very much but I think I’m going to hide in my room for a while with the covers thrown over my head!
Post soon! Please! and Thanks Ali for this great story!
Sandy
Wow! That come out strong and hard and I liked it! And she was impressive! and a very deep analysis…I think it was painful to read as she, slowly, become aware of her marriage, of another parts of him and his thoughts, his barely glimpsed character! The both of them were just great, the base of both’s convictions are changing and it is…amazing to read! You did such an impresive work! I loved it!
Thank you.
A.
Something needs to happen soon before that anger and hurt pride festers into resentment and bitterness. Well written! You can cut the tension with a knife.
Thanks!
Excellent chapter, Ali! I am on Eizabeth’s side here but Darcy is not behaving any different than any other regency husband. In fact he is being kinder than he would have to be. That doesn’t mean I am not mad at him. Keep up the good work!
You have created a Darcy more arrogant and off-putting than canon, and Elizabeth has already married him–can’t leave now. But I must admit, as disgusted as I was by his attitude, I understood his logic. Elizabeth’s family is such a horror, why inflict that on his friend if he could avoid it? And, as he points out, the two will be in company now that D&E are married so if it’s meant to be, it will happen. If Bingley happens to find someone with a better dowry and connections in the meantime, then so be it and probably all for the better, to Darcy’s way of thinking–but not, of course, to Elizabeth’s.
Does he realize or care that he has told her he would never have married her if not forced by circumstances? It’s true–we knew that already, and Elizabeth could have figured that out on her own. But it is a cold thing for a man to say. Does he realize the effect those words can have on a marriage? Or, will Elizabeth eventually get over her anger and find comfort in his better characteristics? I must admit, I would have trouble getting over his words–let’s hope Elizabeth is a better woman than I!
This was a great chapter, and I particularly liked this passage: “The cold hauteur and offence in Darcy combined with Elizabeth’s hot anger and displeasure until they were almost congruent mirrors of the other in all of their proud glory. Before more words could be spoken, likely to be more intemperate than the last, the steward arrived to put an end to the distressing scene.”
They were actually having such a row that a servant took it upon himself to interrupt–or was his arrival happenstance?
I took you up on your offer to register and comment, and I am so glad I did. What a wonderful, emotion-filled chapter! Your whole story shows so beautifully how Darcy was falling for Elizabeth, while never really thinking of her as a person with feelings and thoughts as important as his own (or his sisters). To care so little for Jane’s happiness makes this dramatically obvious, especially (as someone above commented) when Elizabeth has been so compassionate towards Darcy’s sister. Especially given that Georgiana’s “impropriety” was “worse” than any of the Bennets.
Such wonderful ironies in this story!
“Your whole story shows so beautifully how Darcy was falling for Elizabeth, while never really thinking of her as a person with feelings and thoughts as important as his own (or his sisters). To care so little for Jane’s happiness makes this dramatically obvious, especially (as someone above commented) when Elizabeth has been so compassionate towards Darcy’s sister. Especially given that Georgiana’s “impropriety” was “worse” than any of the Bennets.
Such wonderful ironies in this story!”
So true NieNie. I couldn’t have said it any better. Darcy comes off as such a prideful, arrogant, hypocrite in this chapter. This reminds me of an earlier chapter where I felt the same way and it was again with regards to Jane. I’ll say again what I said then… Jane is now his sister too. Shouldn’t he care a smidge for her happiness? Shouldn’t he at least try to give her some of the advantages he would extend to his own biological sister? He never would have done this to Georgiana.
I think Lizzy has every right to be angry with him. He has offended her in every way possible and has made it clear that he never would have married her if his hand had not been forced. He makes it seem as though she is in every way a degradation to him, his position, and his name. If I were Lizzy, I would be absolutely mortified by such a put down and find it very difficult to move past it. Her philosophy of thinking of the past as it gives you pleasure, reminds me that she is such a forgiving soul though. Only hours after the fight, she is already starting to blame herself and her family for Jane’s sadness..
“Mr Darcy had been privy to the worst failings within her family circle thanks to her, those lapses of character merely adding weight to his other objections. Her father’s greed, her mother’s lack of sense, and her own desperation to marry were enough to make any gentleman caution his friends. To think that her sister’s unhappiness had been undone by her nearest relations was a cruel blow; to think of her own role in the sad affair was nearly unendurable.”
No, I am most definitely in Lizzy’s court right now and think Darcy needs a major attitude adjustment no matter how “true” his statements might be.
The next chapter cannot come soon enough for me… Thank you for this awesome read though. Such a powerful chapter.
@Lisa: Oh, you’re welcome. I’m not sure how much anyone should thank me for this, but well, you are welcome at any rate. Heh.
I can’t say that I quite agree with the idea that Darcy should automatically put Jane’s happiness above Bingley’s. Bingley has been his friend for much longer than Jane has been his sister. As much as one might disagree with his reasoning, he does think he’s acting in his friend’s best interests. But the irony of E saving G while he keeps Bingley from J isn’t lost on me either. Or the disconnect between what he wants from Elizabeth regarding Georgiana vs. his attitude toward hers.
I think E has cause to be angry with Darcy myself though I’m not sure Darcy has insulted her to the extent some of you believe. He made it clear to her when he proposed that he liked her, that he thought she was his best chance at happiness, but that doesn’t change how her family’s situation would have been viewed to many men in his world. Most of them would have displayed more tact perhaps, but most of them wouldn’t have thought of a Jane or Elizabeth Bennet in their wildest dreams. For any reason.
I wouldn’t worry about Elizabeth being too forgiving. Her placing some of the blame on herself and her family isn’t a way to excuse Darcy in her mind, but an acknowledgment of their roles in Jane’s unhappiness. She made a similar acknowledgment in P&P as well. Whatever Darcy has done, it doesn’t change the basic problem within her family – their impropriety affects her and Jane’s prospects. Also, his knowledge of her parents’ desperation to marry her off to whatever man will take her did add to his determination to separate Jane and Bingley.
None of this changes the fact that Darcy’s responses and attitudes were badly done of course. I freely acknowledge that. I think he should have written to Bingley once he discovered that he was mistaken about Jane. But I feel that way in P&P too.
Very strong chapter . Amazing chapter .
Thank you
WOW! Words fail me. They sure didn’t fail you.
I won’t have any problem remembering what happened in this chapter.
I just realized the above post could possibly be misundetstood.
This chapter was just so well written and the frailties of the characters were exposed so painfully. I pitied them both for their blindness.
Darcy, such blind intolerance as a result of his upbringing. Lizzy, so dependent on Jane for approval and love. And yes, I expect to hear from those of you who disagree, but I’ll go with my opinion on this story.
I had read the chapter through twice when I wrote the first post. Now, a couple of hours later I have reread 10 and 11 to get the continuity into my head. As good as I thought it to be the first time, it was even better now.
@NieNie: Welcome! Your comment about Darcy loving Elizabeth without seeing her feelings as important as his own is very relevant, I think, but I’ll take it one step farther: I think it goes both ways. As E herself realizes, she didn’t marry him for the right reasons either really. Of course, she has no interest in interfering in other people’s relationships, which makes it a bit better.
Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy the story.
@Sandy: Poor Sandy! This wasn’t really a happy chapter to read at all. FWIW, I actually think Darcy sees Caroline Bingley and society exactly as they are, but that doesn’t make the Bennets any better to him. The Bennets do uniformly display their impropriety on a horrific scale. They are embarrassing – Elizabeth herself is embarrassed by them – and their behavior would be nightmarish to sensible men of Darcy and Bingley’s stature, I think. That doesn’t excuse Darcy’s bluntness to E, but his words, harsh as they were, were also true. And, well, P&P itself bears out that Jane and Bingley can’t stand living near Longbourn, as amiable as they are.
Nothing bad is going to happen to Elizabeth really. I don’t intend for this story to be overwhelmingly melancholy either. I’ve nearly finished the final chapters on the draft, so I don’t think it’s going to be a long wait for you. Thanks for reading!
@anushca: I’m so pleased you liked it! I did want it to be more of a character analysis sort of piece this time, so I’m glad it seems to be working. This was one of the pivotal scenes in the story, and I wrestled with about 6 different versions of it as I tried to get the disconnect between them across along with the right tone.
@ladytrapper: Thanks! I’m glad you thought it was well-written…I tried.
@lucy: It’s easy to be on Elizabeth’s side on this one. Truth is that I feel very sorry for her myself ATM. As you say, Darcy is not being truly horrible to her, but he’s not exactly a prince either.
@Maria Hope: A Darcy more ‘more arrogant and off-putting than canon’, huh? What can I say?? It’s a talent I suppose. LOL. I’m glad you could follow his logic. It does make sense to me, too, although I don’t completely agree with him.
Elizabeth isn’t really a saint, and I don’t think she’s going to ‘get over it’ immediately. Darcy didn’t really want to hurt her – he tried to be as gentle as he could about her family situation. The problem with Darcy is that he is both very blunt and has a very hard way of looking at the world.
I doubt the steward would have interrupted Darcy unless he had scheduled business. Ya’ll can use your imaginations to guess at what the servants might have heard or observed.
@colinette: You’re welcome. Thanks for reading.
@Denver: No worries, Denver. I don’t read comments with the intention of taking offense at them, especially when the chapter is like this one. I honestly took your first remarks as a compliment…I’m a fan of verbal dexterity
I expected some unhappiness and ‘oh noes!’ as well. As I said to Sandy, this wasn’t a happy chapter.
Oh, I’m glad you thought it was written well, and I think you’re right about how awfully their characters were exposed. Your remark about Elizabeth and Jane is interesting, I think. I agree with you that E has a blind spot concerning her sister. Of course, Jane is so very good that it’s almost justified, but many people have a huge blind spot where their families are concerned.
How flattering to think you’ve read and reread! Thanks.
This chapter was so emotional, it was almost hard to read. I can understand Elizabeth’s feelings, doubts, and misery. Darcy comes across as cold and unfeeling. I had to laugh at the irony of him expecting Elizabeth to care for his sister, while he seems to have no real feelings for Jane and her pain. How are you going to fix this, Ali? Will you have Elizabeth hurt while on her walk? Will someone (such as Wickham) attack her? Will she suffer a concussion and not wake up for a while? Would this cause Darcy to see how he really feels about her, and how wrong he was to interfer in Bingley’s and Jane’s life? So many speculations, but I will have to try and wait patiently to find out the answer.
I agree with the others, this story is very well written
Ali,
This is definitely my favorite chapter so far. From here on out they can only learn more of each other and then start to like and love. The angst is high as we all knew it would be. And like everyone else commented, you surely wrote this chapter very well. Thanks for this post.
teb
Amazing chapter .
Thank you !
When you post the next chapter ?!
@Pat: Yeah, this wasn’t light or fluffy. We only have E’s POV, so we don’t know what Darcy is actually feeling, although I do agree that he seems very hard in the chapter. In some respects, I think he does have a very harsh view of people, as I said in my earlier remarks.
How am I going to fix this?? Hmm, well, I don’t plan anything really dramatic. The characters themselves will have to figure out how to understand each other *sharpens pencils*
@teb: Is this high angst?? This is why I can’t ever be relied upon to assess angst levels! Take note, guys.
I’m glad you liked the chapter.
@dbvlgari: Welcome, dbvlgari (I like bvlgari myself, so you already have a positive score on my card
). I’m glad you liked the chapter.
The next chapter will hopefully be done next week.
Hi Ali , I am glad that yo like bvlgari , is my prefered brand…
I love your stories ! All are amazing …
Thank you for let-us enjoy them
Dana
Well…that conversation certainly didn’t go well! And they had been doing so well…
Anything else I could have said has already been said, so I’ll just say I’m awaiting the next chapter.
Wow, Ali!! I would like to “sock” both of them! Better things lie ahead, I hope!