Chapter 34

            Elizabeth, after much hesitation, decided to take a walk along her favourite path the very next day.  After all, she did not compromise her daily walks for the sake of avoiding men, especially one as rude as Mr. Darcy.  The revelations of the previous night came back to her; Elizabeth immersed herself in thought.  “Mr. Darcy’s manners at Rosings differ from his manners at Hertfordshire,” she started, “however, his wrongdoings against both Mr. Wickham and Jane—oh, especially Jane—are shocking.”

            Elizabeth seated herself under the shadow of the surrounding trees and spread out Jane’s letters in front of her.  The distress hidden in the letters angered Elizabeth, especially now that she knew of Darcy’s interference. 

            “Miss Elizabeth?  I assume that you do not want to talk.”

            Elizabeth caught herself staring into the eyes of Mr. Darcy himself.  Quickly diverting her vision elsewhere, she replied, “You have assumed correctly.”

            “If I may, what are those things in front of you?”

            She collected the letters hastily, so that Mr. Darcy could not read the contents of them.  “Simply letters from my sister, Jane.”  Elizabeth searched his face for a reaction to her sister’s name but did not get one. 

            “Miss Bennet, I apologize for any inconvenience beforehand.  What I will say might come as a shock.”

            His words caught her attention.  Another quick glance at his face told Elizabeth that he meant every word he said.  She prepared herself for Mr. Darcy’s attack.

            “Miss Bennet, from the first time I saw you, I knew that you differed from other women of your financial status.  Your intelligence and mannerisms caught my attention, though I hesitated to acknowledge you at first.”

            Her eyes widened, surprised that Darcy had not yet insulted her.  She forced herself to remain silent and waited for Mr. Darcy to start again. 

            Darcy, encouraged by her silence, continued to speak.  “I understand that your mother and father must provide for five daughters and have no son to inherit Longbourn estate.  Therefore, Miss Bennet, my proposal appeals to your sense rather than your emotions, if you care to hear it.”

            Elizabeth, still in awe over Mr. Darcy’s speech, could feel herself nod her head.  She never knew that he could speak so eloquently, as their previous conversations gave Mr. Darcy no opportunities to show off his ability.

            “Miss Elizabeth, will you run away with me?”

            Elizabeth returned to her senses as he stated his proposal.  “Mr. Darcy, as flattered as I am, I simply cannot accept.  If I ran away with you, people in Hertfordshire would think poorly of my principals.  My family would become the joke of the town.”

            “I am sorry, but I do not understand,” he admitted.

            “You yourself have pointed out that my family has a limited fortune.  My father cannot give the five of us a lot of money because of that.”

            “Please, Miss Elizabeth, if you would just listen—”

            “Mr. Darcy, I apologize, but I must decline your proposal.  I cannot be happy with the one who caused my most-beloved sister grief.”  She could see the change in Mr. Darcy’s composed countenance and decided to press further.  “Yes, you have caused Jane the most dreadful sadness by telling lies to Mr. Bingley.”

            “Miss Elizabeth, I—”

            “I must leave.  Goodbye, Mr. Darcy.”  She turned away from him and began to walk up the path, back to Mr. Collins’s estate.

            “I love you!”

            Elizabeth stopped.  “Mr. Darcy, you must be sick from the heat.  Return to Rosings.”  However, she could hear footsteps as she walked along the path.

            “Miss Elizabeth, please.  I love you.”

            “I cannot bring myself to reciprocate your feelings.  I sincerely apologize, Mr. Darcy, and I wish you good health in the future.”  With that, Elizabeth ran, and ran, and ran, until she reached Mr. Collins’s home. 

            Mr. Darcy did not follow her.