Page 53 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
Elizabeth’s words skipped through is mind in a never-ending loop.
“Fitzwilliam!” Elizabeth jumped to her feet and took his hands in hers. “Pray, sit. I’ll explain further.”
He fumbled to grasp the back of the chair and lowered his body into the seat. She held out a glass of water and he took it in hands that shook beyond his control. Next to Elizabeth, Georgiana was his greatest love. To think she was alone... His heart lurched again.
“How do I get back. Georgiana... she has no one.”
“That is what Grandmama is working on.”
He cut a sideways glance at Elizabeth. “Working on? Can she not just send us back? Are we here forever?”
“No, oh bother.” She whirled and paced back and forth on the terrace stones. “I’m making a mess of this.”
She came to a full stop and turned to face him. “Do not interrupt or I’ll never get through this because it’s convoluted, yet simple.”
He longed to ask more questions but he also understood she was trying to tell him something important. Not trusting his voice, he nodded.
“First, we are in Miathara which moves through time at a different pace than we on earth. In this dimension, from my understanding, what is days on earth is seconds and minutes in Miathara.”
She stopped and held his gaze, clearly wanting to know that he followed her line of thought. He nodded again.
“Good. Now, the reason it is taking time is that Grandmama is working to return us to a time before Wickham executed his terrible revenge.”
“She can do that?” he sputtered out.
“Yes.”
He rubbed his forehead while digesting her explanation in his mind. On a base level he understood what Elizabeth spoke of, but to think of some being having the power to travel through time and alter it... well, it was beyond his comprehension. A sudden thought entered his mind and he blurted it out.
“Is she the Creator?” Surely this was the only explanation of her great and awesome power.
Elizabeth trilled out a delighted laugh. “Absolutely not. She cannot create, Fitzwilliam, but she can manipulate that which is created. This is a power which has been bestowed upon her by the Creator and she does not abuse it.”
“So, when will she send us back?”
A swirl of citrus enveloped them.
“It seems now is the appropriate time,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
~~oo0oo~~
“Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”
“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner.”
“I would not be so fastidious as you are,” cried Bingley, “for a kingdom! Upon my honor I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life, as I have this evening; and there are several of them, you see, uncommonly pretty.”
“Yes, I saw that you were dancing with a handsome woman,” Darcy said, smiling at Miss Bennet.
“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”
“Which do you mean?” and turning around, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, catching her eye and impish grin. “Oh yes, Bingley. She isverypretty andveryagreeable. By all means have your partner introduce me to her sister and I will dance with her.”
“Really?” Momentarily stunned at Darcy’s lifted mood, he faltered. “Yes. Yes, of course.”
Darcy almost laughed out loud as Bingley hurried toward Elizabeth. Most likely thinking he’d change his mind before they reached her and stalk off in high dudgeon. As they drew near, Elizabeth stood, hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes shone and the shafts of silver around her pupils sparkled.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I introduce you to my good friend, Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.”
