Mr. Darcy's Promise (2 page)

“Do you think we should call for the apothecary again tomorrow?” Mr. Bingley asked. “I feel terrible that she is so ill.”

Elizabeth was pleased he was so attentive to Jane. Especially since Jane and she had just had a conversation about Mr. Bingley’s attachment to her sister. He may not be Jane’s Mr. Bingley yet, but the concern on his face showed that he cared a great deal. “No, Mr. Bingley, I am sure she will feel better soon. Then we can both return to Longbourn and we will not have to trespass on your kind hospitality any longer.” She stole a glance at Mr. Darcy even though she willed herself not to. She knew he was the member of the household that was the most uncomfortable with their stay at Netherfield, and knew he would be pleased to see them leave sooner rather than later. What she saw on Mr. Darcy’s face only confused her. She expected relief to be evident in hearing they would be leaving soon, but relief was not how she would describe the expression as.
Have I read his character wrongly
?
She could not deny that she felt some mortification at the thought. She diverted her eyes in an attempt to mask her confusion.

Mr. Bingley suggested they forgo the separation of sexes after dinner to spend the evening enjoying each other’s company. All parties agreed and Elizabeth took the opportunity to check on Jane. When she returned, Miss Bingley was playing something lively on the pianoforte. As she entered the room, Mr. Darcy stood and walked in her direction. His strides were long and determined but his arms were stiffly at his sides. Why was he coming directly over to her? He appeared to be determined to address her right in front of everyone! 

Mr. Darcy hadn’t meant to be anxiously awaiting her return, but when he saw her, he knew he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms. Since he couldn’t do that, and he knew it, the inner turmoil within himself pushed him to ask her to dance instead. “Miss Bennet, will you do me the honor of dancing a jig with me?” His hand was stretched forth and his head bowed slightly.

Elizabeth was shocked into momentary silence. All she could think of was how he had scorned her at the Meryton Assembly and how he had said she was merely “tolerable” and “not handsome enough to tempt” him. Remembering this comment, she saucily raised her eyebrows and said, “It is tempting, Mr. Darcy . . .” She was at loss on how exactly to finish the perfectly impertinent refusal, when he took her hand and led her to the center of the room.
How could he presume that was an affirmative answer? How could I have let him think so?
Her cheeks flushed. She certainly had not wanted to demonstrate any special attention to Mr. Darcy. She could already hear her mother’s shrill celebration of his income. She almost refused, but then caught a glimpse of Georgiana’s sweet smile. She could not embarrass him in front of his sister.

Once they began to dance, Miss Bingley’s tempo seemed to quicken and she played with energized fervor, leaving Elizabeth quite short of breath. Her heart was pounding and her hands were on fire every time the movements brought their hands
back together. Soon Bingley asked Georgiana to dance which made the dance less of an intimate performance and Elizabeth relaxed a little. She laughed at Georgiana’s shyness to dance, but Bingley was too kind and encouraging. Could there be some feeling on Mr. Bingley’s part for Georgiana? Surely his attentions to Jane were genuine; she would not believe anything else. Elizabeth continued to watch the two dance, if for nothing else but to avoid Mr. Darcy’s penetrating gaze.

Oh, how lovely!
Elizabeth’s cheeks were bright pink once again! Darcy couldn’t quite decide if her eyes or cheeks were brighter. He longed to kiss those cheeks and feel their warmth on his lips. This was something he knew he could not do and he decided he had better keep his thoughts to himself. He was pleased to see her relax and laugh merrily as Bingley and Georgiana danced. All too soon the music ended and Miss Bingley stated her fingers were tired and asked Georgiana to play. Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and escorted her to her seat and took the seat next to her
.
Why did I do that?
He knew he could not show a preference for Miss Elizabeth
!
He struggled with the rudeness of leaving and sitting elsewhere after he had already sat down. If he wasn’t careful, his impulses would take over and he would give encouragement when the reality of developing a relationship was absurd! He had enough experience with eligible ladies throwing themselves at him that he did not wish another one, even if her eyes were fine and her mind engaging. He stood up again and claimed need of refreshment. On impulse, he asked if others needed something to drink and looked at Elizabeth. But it wasn’t Elizabeth that answered.

“Oh yes, thank you, Mr. Darcy! My fingers got such exercise with that tune!” Miss Bingley said dramatically.

Mr. Darcy turned to Miss Bingley and said, “Of course, Miss Bingley, tea or wine?”

“Wine, please.” Miss Bingley then sat in Darcy’s vacated spot next to Elizabeth solely to prevent him from sitting in it again.

Elizabeth was quite amused at Miss Bingley and smiled to herself.
Surely she knows I want nothing to do with Mr. Darcy!

*****

The next few days were spent between strange looks from Mr. Darcy, smiles of mischief from Miss Darcy, and frowns of frustration from Miss Bingley. Elizabeth was greatly relieved when Jane was finally feeling well enough to come down. The last few days without her had been wild! First Mr. Darcy greeted his sister with such tenderness she could scarcely believe it was him, and much more strangely, he asked her to dance a jig. A jig, of all things! He seemed much more relaxed with Georgiana around and she scarcely knew what to think of him!

It was Sunday morning and Jane and Elizabeth were hours away from returning to Longbourn. All Elizabeth had to do was patiently wait for church services to finish and then Mr. Bingley would have his carriage return them home. Church seemed to be taking especially long this morning! Elizabeth realized she had heard very little of what the clergyman said because of the reflection she was doing on Mr. Darcy. Why was he so changed towards her? She again wondered if she misjudged him. It hadn’t been all that unpleasant dancing with him either.
What am I doing? Why would I enjoy a dance with a man who has always held me in such contempt?
She did not know what to think of it.

The clergyman did not have Mr. Darcy’s attention either. More than anything, Mr. Darcy was overcome with the realization that Elizabeth was leaving Netherfield and he would not see her every day. Oh, the torture this thought brought! Her charming smiles, the merriness of her laughter, the way she crossed her ankles, the looks of impertinence, the soft full lips as she spoke his name . . . No, this would not do! He must marry and marry well!
Marriage? Who said anything about marriage? He had simply been admiring her intelligence.

If Mr. Darcy was being honest with himself,
which he was not, he would have said there was no other woman like her. No other woman stirred feelings of admiration and sparked sensations of curiosity to know more, like Miss Elizabeth did. But Mr. Darcy was not being honest with himself. Instead he was thinking of their one dance together and that relaxed smile on her lips and how much he wanted to kiss them. He thought about how well she got along with Georgiana and how quickly Georgiana had opened up to her. He was thinking about how nice it would be for Georgiana to have Elizabeth’s influence in her life, and in a moment of honesty, in his life.

“William, the song is over, you can sit down now,” Georgiana whispered, pulling on his hand.

He quickly sat down and whispered his thanks. Look what Elizabeth was doing to him!
Focus, man!

After the closing prayer, Georgiana leaned over and continued, “I think I would like to call on Miss Elizabeth tomorrow. Would that be acceptable?”

              A small smile spread across his face, but only briefly, as he realized he would not be calling on Elizabeth with Georgiana. For the life of him he couldn’t think of a single excuse to do so! He then thought of Georgiana in the presence of the other Bennets and frowned. Elizabeth’s youngest sisters alone would be the worst influence possible! And Mrs. Bennet was something else! How could anyone live with such a shrill voice calling out orders, opinions, and innuendos so quickly that people were dizzy just listening for five minutes! He looked at Georgiana, ready to tell her exactly what he thought when he saw the expectant look in her hopeful eyes and it undid him. Why was he always a sucker for fine eyes?

“Georgiana, if you would like to, you certainly may, but not alone. See if Miss Bingley or Mrs. Annesley will go with you.”

Georgiana frowned. If her plan was going to work, he needed to accompany her! “I was hoping to have you . . .”

Then he heard her. That
voice, and it was certainly as loud and obnoxious as ever.

“Mr. Bingley! Oh Mr. Bingley! Thank you so much for the care you gave to my dear Jane! She is looking so much better then when I saw her last, does she not?” asked Mrs. Bennet.

“Of course, I have never seen her more beautiful!” Mr. Bingley replied.

“And the church lighting near the altar is so becoming of her complexion!” Mrs. Bennet then proceeded to lead Mr. Bingley by the arm as if to place him closer to the very altar she spoke of.

Elizabeth was caught between amusement and shame at her mother’s behavior, but then her feelings quickly turned to concern for Jane, who was now the object of much scrutiny by the people passing them down the aisle. Only their mother would push her matchmaking skills in the middle of church! She looked at Mr. Darcy and saw his disapproval written all over his face.  Yes, he was quite displeased.

Promises to return the Bennet daughters as soon as possible were made and Mr. Darcy quickly escorted Georgiana out.

That! That was precisely why he could not align himself with any Bennet, much less Elizabeth! Her family was so ridiculous he would be laughed at wherever they went! Master of Pemberley laughed at? He could not bear it. He would no longer think on her fine eyes or the oft-raised eyebrow. He would no longer seek out her company, no longer look at her, nor let his mind drift to those chocolate curls. No, he decided. He simply would no longer desire her. No sooner had he decided this then he found his very own hand reaching for Elizabeth’s to assist her into the carriage. The surge of sensation running from his hand up his arm was so strong he dropped it as soon as possible, opening and closing his hand trying to dispel the sensation. He could still feel the heat and tingling that merely touching her caused.

Elizabeth noticed the quickly dropped hand as well. So the old Mr. Darcy was back in fine form, so prideful and conceited that he could not properly hand a lady into a carriage
.
Of course all these people were watching and she curtailed the temptation to say something smart when she bit her lip. Only a few more minutes with him and then she should never see him again! But she knew that wasn’t true, especially if Jane and Bingley got married. She would be thrown in his path over and over again! This realization did not help her mood any.

Georgiana saw Elizabeth bite her lip and turned to Miss Bingley and asked, “Miss Bingley, could I persuade you to pay a call to Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth tomorrow with me? I have heard such lovely things about Longbourn’s gardens and I know you would feel it appropriate to check in on Miss Bennet’s health.”

Mr. Bingley piped up and said, “What a marvelous idea!”             

Seeing the rudeness of a refusal right in front of the Bennet sisters, Miss Bingley said, “Of course, Georgiana, it would be my pleasure!”

Both Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley noticed the broad grin that splayed across Georgiana’s features. Elizabeth, however, had been looking out the window to avoid seeing what she knew would be further displeasure on Mr. Darcy’s face.

*****

The next morning’s weather was somewhat dreary and Elizabeth was ready and looking forward to going out walking when Mr. Bennet called her into his study.

“My dear sweet Lizzy, how I have missed you. Did you give Netherfield a good once over?” Mr. Bennet was a father first before anything else, and he had noticed the quiet mood his Elizabeth had been in since returning from Netherfield. He suspected she was contemplating some great issue and he wanted to let her know he was available to talk. Since it was hardly natural for him to express his concern openly, he preferred to make light of it.

“No, Papa, I am afraid I did not, but I did try! Some in the Netherfield party may have wished to part with my company sooner, but I could not leave Jane.” She looked at her hands then.

Mr. Bennet loved hearing his favorite daughter call him “Papa,” for it always warmed his heart. It was what he called his own late father. Only his Lizzy used it on him and only to her advantage. His teasing usually curtailed quickly when Lizzy used this endearment. He suspected that the “some” of Netherfield party was Mr. Darcy. He didn’t know much about the man, but had heard on more than one occasion how he scorned Elizabeth at the Meryton assembly. The fact that she hinted at his wishes for her to leave only made him suspicious that Mr. Darcy was the real reason for the quiet mood. Could his Elizabeth have developed feelings for Mr. Darcy? He could not imagine that such a fancy would go far, and regretted again the entail that had so reduced his daughter’s dowries. But, Mr. Bennet reasoned, he could be wrong. So once again, humor was far easier than asking her feelings for the man outright.