Page 76 of The Heroic Mr Darcy's Bad Manners
“I thank you but no. I shall only stroll in the garden and not venture far from the house.”
The air was refreshing, and she chose to enjoy the early blooms in the rose garden first, but the hill beyond was beckoning her to proceed. She followed the path into the wood, and at first, she thought the dimming light was due to the trees hanging over her head. It was not until the first raindrop landed on her nose that she noticed the clouds blowing in from the west. The deluge that followed came as a complete surprise, and she was too far from the house to reach it before she would be wet through. A fork in the path led to a Grecian folly, and she dashed thither to take shelter.
She shook the raindrops from her hair and shawl, quite prepared to wait out the fierce summer storm. Thunder rolled somewhere in the far distance, and the sky gave no indication the deluge would abate any time soon. The loud drumming on the roof must account for her not hearing the rider before he was upon her. Coming down the hill at break-neck speed was an informally dressed master of Pemberley. She was not a horsewoman but felt herself proficient enough to judge when someone had a good seat, and Mr Darcy’s was particularly fine, but he was moving too fast. She pulled deeper into the folly in case he did not manage to stop.
The horse skidded to a halt on the muddy ground with only inches to spare. A devilishly handsome Mr Darcy, still with his morning stubble, jumped down and strode into the folly. She let her eyes wander across his wide shoulders and chest before boldly dropping them lower. For a moment she worried he was about to wrench off his shirt by the way he was fiddling with his hand inside it. Instead, he pulled out a threadbare royal blue ribbon matching the one she had lost at their wintery picnic. To think he had kept it for so long pleased her ever so much and allowed her hope to soar.
Mr Darcy must have got rain in his eyes because he raked his wet shirtsleeve over his face to dry himself off. He shook his dripping hair and sent a droplet that landed on her cheek. She wiped it away, and the movement notified Mr Darcy that he was not alone in the folly.
His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
“Eilís?”
Elizabeth could not decide whether her presence was a pleasant or an undesirable surprise. Nevertheless, it was the opportunity she so fervently had wished for. Now was the moment for her resolution to be executed, and she must act whilst her courage was high.
“Mr Darcy!” she exclaimed, curtseying. “I can no longer delay expressing my fervent gratitude. Even if I must remind you of painful recollections best forgotten. I have been most anxious to acknowledge your exemplary kindness to my family, which in turn has grievously injured your own. Let me thank you again and again, on behalf of my family.”
“I harboured no hope you would welcome my presence after I treated you so abominably in Meryton and my family caused you so much grief. I am delighted you have come.”
She understood how he had taken the blame upon his own shoulders because that was the kind of man he was. Dutiful to a fault.
“You are not culpable for what transpired when you were a mere child in leading strings. I doubt you ever knew the facts, judging by your incredulous expression when they were revealed to us. As for your bad manners—I am still waiting for an apology from your own mouth. For that I hold you responsible, but your recent sacrifice saving my family’s name has done much to alleviate my pique.”
“It was for you alone,” he blurted out, startling Elizabeth with the vehemence in his voice. “I shall not deny there were other inducements such as justice and truth, but your family owes me nothing.”
He stepped closer, whilst his expression softened.
“I have delayed my approach till I could address you with a reasonable request and not the mere ravings of a passionate man. My sense tells me that I should forfeit your respect and esteem, but my heart disagrees. In the twelve months you have been known to me you have inspired a deep and abiding affection. Your visit to Derbyshire has given me hope, that to which I before scarcely dared to aspire. Do you still think meanly of me, or has your opinion improved?”
Despite her bashfulness choosing that moment to descend into an abrupt onslaught of shyness, Elizabeth forced herself to speak, albeit not very fluently. “My opinion has not changed at all.” She smiled wryly. “I am steadier in my attachment than that, and though I am now surrounded by flatterers, my regard has not waned since you rescued me from the wild beast in Lambton. Since that very moment you have been my weakness. It remains to be seen whether you can be my strength.”
She could read by the changeable expressions on his face the moment when he remembered the old incident.
“You were the young girl who dared venture into the mad horse’s enclosure?”
She nodded, ashamed.
“You charmed my mother,” he mumbled.
“I believe so, or she would not have invited the unruly child to tea at the Rose and Crown.”
“I can be your everything—if you will let me.”
There was nothing she wanted more, yet her distrust was deeply rooted.
“I am almost afraid of asking, but what did you think of me when we happened upon each other yesterday?” Elizabeth questioned.
“I know enough of your disposition to be certain that if you had travelled willingly to Pemberley, I might stand a chance. So, when the first admission you made to me was being brought here unwittingly, my hopes and wishes were quashed.”
“I was fully aware we were travelling to your neighbourhood. I just did not know that Edensor was this close to your home. I now better understand why you were so silent and grave last evening. I thought you indifferent.”
“Never,” he replied vehemently. “I was arguing with myself, after my unpardonable behaviour and my family’s disgrace, how you could ever be prevailed upon to love me.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes to the ground.
“Will you allow me to explain?” Mr Darcy pleaded.
She nodded her acquiescence.
