Firthness Challegnes...

Yes, Mr. Darcy

by Joanne

October 2002, Firthness Challenge Entry

Rated PG

Author's Note: Ok, this isn't a sequel to last months effort, which was very much a stand alone piece of fantasy. So this actually includes both a first kiss and an engagement and still comes in at well under 2000 words!

The first half of this is actually the ending of a story that I've been trying to write for a while. I don't think you need to know much about it to follow what goes on below. Basically Lizzy is staying at Pemberley. I hope that's not too confusing!

Elizabeth stood still on the stairs for a few seconds after Lady Catherine had swept out of the house, her mind reeling from the shock of what she had heard. “Could it really be true?” she whispered to herself, “is it possible that he still loves me?”

The strength of her feelings was overwhelming and it was almost without thinking that she continued down the stairs and through the still open door into the library. Darcy was standing with his back to her, staring out of the window.

“Mr Darcy…” Elizabeth began falteringly. As she did he turned towards her. His face was flushed with emotion due to the conversation with his aunt but the angry look faded as he saw the object of his passion before him.

“I could not help hearing some of…”

“I am very sorry that you should have. She has not the right to speak in that manner…to speak of you.” Darcy’s words were spoken strongly and he was not yet in control of himself. Elizabeth recognised this and felt she must speak now, whilst she had the courage. It may not come to her again. She began to speak, still hesitantly but with more confidence than a few moments before.

“Mr Darcy, I am sorry if I give you pain by speaking of this but I must speak. I can no longer go on without knowing the truth. You are, I think, too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April please tell me at once. I have to tell you that my affections and wishes are….”

Elizabeth paused to take a breath but could not bring up her eyes to meet his.

“…. are now somewhat…. different.” Elizabeth suddenly found her courage rising, looked up very promptly and spoke in something of a rush. “Sir, I know it is wrong of me to speak thus but I have not often behaved well in your presence and I do not see why I should start now. Mr Darcy, I find that my future happiness depends on your continuing regard for me - I like you. Indeed, I find I love you.”

She felt the courage ebb away as she spoke the last words and mumbled her apologies as her gaze dropped once again to her feet. Despite having been looking straight into his eyes she had no idea of his expression during her speech and could only wait, trembling, for his reply.

If she could have looked up she would have seen a man temporarily lost for words, such was the feeling of heartfelt delight passing through his body. Darcy had never felt quite this way before. However he very quickly realised that she was still waiting for an answer.

“Elizabeth,” he said very gently, savouring speaking her name out loud for the first time. “My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. Whatever are you sorry for?”

The use of her Christian name alone was enough to make Lizzy realise that her words had not been as futile and ridiculous as she had worried they were. She finally managed to raise her head and allowed, for the first time, her true sentiments to show.

The emotions of a young lady and gentleman in love who have just discovered their feelings are reciprocated cannot and should not be underestimated. In cases such as these, where the path to happiness has been hindered by pride, prejudice and procrastination, it is forgivable if more affection than is perhaps proper is displayed. Anyone passing the Pemberley library that morning would give no thought to propriety as they saw Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet enjoying a first, rather passionate, embrace.

The afternoon of the following day saw the Master of Pemberley and his guest taking a stroll through the grove, situated some distance to the rear of the main house. The conversation was wide-ranging but not constant. Elizabeth was quite content to merely be with Mr Darcy, something which struck her as slightly ironic. In the past, at Netherfield, at Rosings, even here, there had been many occasions in which they had been alone together, all characterised by long laboured silences. She had not enjoyed them in the slightest and had been glad of any stilted, awkward conversation. Now she did not need him to speak.

The path they had taken had led the couple very slowly uphill, as Darcy wished to introduce Lizzy to his favourite view of Pemberley House. As they reached the summit of the hill the trees parted, and the house and much of the surrounding estate were clearly visible. Elizabeth was delighted with a sight composed of so many of her favourite things – wonderfully wild scenery, the understated elegance of Pemberley and her very own Mr Darcy.

“Elizabeth,” Darcy began tentatively, as she looked somewhat distracted, “prior to our…conversation yesterday….”

She blushed as he mentioned the events of the previous day and then turned to face him directly, bestowing a smile upon him that could leave no doubt of her opinions on the subject. His words trailed off and he returned her gaze.

“Mr Darcy,” said Elizabeth lightly after a few moments had passed, “I do believe if we are not careful we could spend a considerable amount of time merely staring at each other. I cannot consider it to be productive.”

“Miss Bennet, there are other possibilities for passing the time, which I would generally consider to be more…. productive.”

Their gaze had not yet broken and the look in Darcy’s eyes left Elizabeth in no doubt of what type of activities he was referring to.

“Indeed,” she replied archly, “I was once told that continued practice on the pianoforte would be extremely productive in my case.”

They both laughed, breaking the look and the moment. However the reference to his aunt reminded Darcy of his earlier words and their purpose.

“As I was saying, prior to Aunt Catherine’s very useful intervention yesterday, you were discussing returning to Longbourn very shortly. May I ask if those plans will now be amended?”

“You may ask. And I will say that I still believe it is time for me to return to my family. I cannot think why that would have changed.”

Mr Darcy looked quizzical at this last comment. Elizabeth sounded sincere but there was a small sparkle in her eyes that he had lately learnt to detect. He continued the conversation cautiously, his nervousness reflected in his beginning to play with his signet ring as he spoke. “I would have thought that the engagement would have led to at least some small change in plans.”

“Indeed, Jane’s betrothal hastens my return to Hertfordshire.” Lizzy smiled beatifically.

He was now certain she had some purpose behind her words, but he could not figure exactly what it was. “I was referring to another engagement.”

“And what engagement is that sir?”

“That of another Bennet sister.”

“Another of my sister’s is engaged? Goodness, my mother will go distracted. Pray tell me, which is it? Surely Lydia is the most likely.”

Throughout this speech Lizzy maintained her serious tone of voice but Darcy could not play along any further. He had not yet learnt to be teased. “Elizabeth, I am talking about the engagement between ourselves.”

She turned to look at him directly once again and this time with an almost serious expression said, “Mr Darcy, I do not believe we are engaged.”

“But, yesterday…” He managed to stammer out a few, barely coherent words before stopping completely and staring dumbly at the object of his affections who had utterly confused him. Anyone who thought Darcy thoroughly hid his emotions would have changed their opinion at that moment. The tumult of feelings he was experiencing were clearly visible to Elizabeth in his face. She realised she had gone too far and took pity.

“Although I cannot and do not wish to deny that yesterday we came to an understanding”, she began gently, “I recall no actual proposal. Indeed it was I that made a rather improper declaration and society has not yet advanced enough for women to make an offer of marriage.”

Darcy allowed himself to breathe again. He closed his eyes, looked down and let a small smile cross his lips. Life would not be quiet with Elizabeth but he could not imagine it any other way.

“In that case, I think we have a situation to rectify.” As he spoke, Darcy reached into his coat pocket and brought out a small ring box. “It had occurred to me that I had not yet presented you with a ring, although I did not realise I had not even your agreement to marry.” He paused. “Miss Bennet, will you be my wife?”

She grinned at him impishly and then turned to walk away, speaking quickly as she did so. “Do you not consider that it might be preferable to acquaint my family and Meryton society to our better understanding and introduce them slowly to our courtship, rather than presenting them with a rather, shall we say, surprising fait accompli?”

He followed, capturing her hand in his as she reached the end of her speech and pulled her roughly into his arms. “No, I cannot say I consider that to be at all preferable.” Now he had caught her tone and their understanding was almost complete. He leaned forward and kissed her on the lips, softly but directly. He broke the contact and tried once again. His third proposal was less pompous than the first, and more passionate than the second. “Marry me, Elizabeth.”

It was her turn to bring their lips together. They allowed themselves to get lost in each other before Darcy, recalling that he still did not have a fiancé, pulled back and raised his right eyebrow at Lizzy.

She laughed and, raising her hand to caress his face, whispered the words he had dreamt of for months. “Yes Mr Darcy.”