Page 12 of Until My Last Breath

After some long strides, he felt the cold door handle and the fresh breeze of the night. Then, without a second thought, he sprang into the night towards the parsonage.

~ ♥ ~

Elizabeth had gone for her habitual walk that morning, secretly expecting to see Mr Darcy again, wondering how he would behave after their muddy encounter.

She smiled, but soon she became serious again. She hated to admitthat she was actually enjoying, even desiring his company, and it made her very confused.

Mr Darcy, the same man who had been so mean in his comments after arriving in Hertfordshire, had touched her hair, her cheek. His dark eyes had looked straight into hers with such an intensity she was absolutely sure he would have kissed her had the colonel had not arrived to save them. A strange warmth spread throughout Elizabeth’s body — an alien sensation. Her heart raced and her breath faulted.

Could that mean…?

The sound of hooves interrupted her reverie. She turned in the hope of seeing the man who had occupied her latest thoughts only to be frustrated when she saw who was dismounting the horse.

“Colonel.”

“Miss Elizabeth. How are you faring this morning?” Richard asked with an enigmatic smile. “I hope yesterday’s event has not caused you any inconvenience.”

She blushed. “I am very well, thank you, Colonel. And no. No harm was done, and no inconveniences took place — well, apart from a long lecture from my friend about the need to watch where one walks.”

Richard laughed and offered to accompany her on her walk, which she gladly accepted. It would be good to have some company and, perhaps, some distraction from her earlier thoughts.

As they walked and conversed about many things, Elizabeth could not avoid comparing the two cousins. Colonel Fitzwilliam was a pleasant and voluble man, naturally inclined to make people comfortable around him. In contrast, Mr Darcy was more reticent, aloof, mysterious. She could well imagine the two cousins together in a ballroom. Colonel Fitzwilliam would be dancing all sets, laughing, surrounded by giggling ladies, while Mr Darcy would only dance the unavoidable sets, just to return to a corner of the room to brood in his aloofness or discuss the latest news from Parliament with those knowledgeable enough to follow his deliberations.

The thought made her smile.

But what had truly amazed her was the colonel’s care for his cousin,and his honourable behaviour. She remembered the way the colonel had scolded Mr Darcy; he had not only been concerned for his cousin, but also for her reputation — for which she was grateful. The last thing she wanted was to have the man forced to marry her, especially when her feelings for him were still so confused.

It was in this unguarded state that the colonel let slip something Darcy had said about his visit to Meryton and Bingley’s decision to give up the lease.

“Oh,” Elizabeth said interested. “And did Mr Bingley give any reason for such a decision?”

“I understood Bingley was not exactly impressed with the property or the town. I am not sure. But I know his sisters were definitively unimpressed. As you hail from that area, perhaps you can understand it better than I do. Darcy said Bingley liked the neighbourhood well enough but preferred to stay in London for the time being. Apparently, some of the neighbours were a little… inconvenient. One of the local young ladies seemed to have attracted Bingley’s eyes, but Darcy said her family was not the most appropriate one. There were some strong objections against a mother, or younger sisters. I cannot remember. But I was very sorry to hear that. Bingley is a strange fellow; a little too concerned about status. By the way Darcy described this lady, she sounded perfect. I know I would not allow such a lady to escape if I had the means — family or not.”

But Elizabeth was not listening anymore; not after understanding thather family was not the most appropriateonewas surely referring toherfamily. She felt dizzy and could no longer walk.

Richard noticed her pale face. “Are you unwell, Miss Elizabeth?”

“No… I mean, I am well. It is just a sudden headache. Perhaps I should go back and rest,” she said, clumsily turning towards her friend’s house.

Richard offered his arm. “Then allow me to escort you.”

Despite her desire to be alone, she was thankful for the support of the colonel’s arm; her eyes blinded by unwanted tears.

As they walked back, Richard thought about their recent conversationand a thought crossed his mind. “Was it something I said that distressed you? If that is the case—”

“No, Colonel,” Elizabeth interrupted him with a broken voice. “Your account just brought back some memories I would have wished to forget.” Jane’s sad face appeared before her. All the levity of the last few days was smashed by her previous disgust and prejudice against Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy. “But they are not your fault.”

A realisation struck Richard. Miss Elizabeth was not just his cousin’s love lady; Bingley’s neighbours were, in fact, Miss Elizabeth’s family! It could not be anything else. Darcy would put his champion greyhounds after him before he could finish his excuses — and with good reason. By her reaction, it would seem that the prospect of a possible courtship between them had been seriously damaged.

“Miss Bennet, please forgive my insistence, but I can guarantee that whatever happened, my cousin did not mean to offend—”

“I beg you to stop defending your cousin, Colonel,” Elizabeth interrupted him again, this time in greater distress. “Your loyalty to your cousin is admirable and speaks highly of your character. But I have spent two months in Mr Darcy’s company, and despite his civility, I know exactly what he thinks of my family.”I have just deceived myself believing he was not that man.

As if in a dream, she was again at the ball, dancing with Mr Darcy and seeing how annoyed he had become with one of her questions about Mr Wickham and his relationship with the man. After that, Mr Darcy’s mood had only worsened. He remained aloof, glaring at everyone, judging all, condemning all — including her, as if she had done something terrible. She had just asked a question.

To make things worse, Lydia had been laughing and teasing young men to chase after her, causing one of the local matrons to spill her wine over another gentleman. Elizabeth’s mother could not have been more embarrassing, visibly inebriated, shouting at her naughty daughter from the other side of the ballroom.

Mr Darcy had stared at them with contempt and disdain. If it was notfor Jane’s interest in Mr Bingley, Elizabeth would have run from that place at once, not caring for the darkness and the cold. Anything would have been preferable to meeting Mr Darcy’s scorning eyes.

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