The System

by Liz P

September 2003, Firthness Challenge Entry

Rated PG-13

Author's Note: Here is my offering for this month's challenge. Not just my first posted story, but my first ever story.

I see this as a vignette from a longer story, in essence true to P&P but featuring a slightly older and somewhat changed Elizabeth.

As the story opens Darcy and Elizabeth are recently engaged.

Shortly after the announcement of their engagements Elizabeth and Jane had come to an agreement as to the sharing of the burden of wedding planning with their mother. In respect of their dresses and bridal flowers each girl would of course communicate individually with Mrs Bennett, but on all else they agreed to make joint decisions, thus avoiding the necessity of them both having to attend their mother at all times. Each night, on retiring, the girls would review the plans made to date and agree their choices for matters still outstanding. During the day, Jane, who was not such a lover of the outdoors and exercise as Elizabeth, would assume the responsibility of being with Mrs Bennett. In the evening, Elizabeth, whose fiancé was reserved in company, took on the role of supporter to her mother, leaving Darcy to his quiet observation of the scene and Jane and Bingley to all the joys of sweet conversation.

Thus Elizabeth’s days were quite often free from commitments, and as Darcy’s priorities currently began and ended with his intended, the happy couple were often to be found, under Mary’s less than close chaperonage, in the lanes and paths around Longbourn and Meryton. Initially many conversations during these excursions centred around their past interactions and their present good fortune and feelings. Needless to say, they also included many ardent glances, a good deal of hand holding and a few sweet kisses. After some days, when the first heady rush of excitement over their commitment to each other had subsided, Elizabeth and Darcy began to talk just a little less of love and more of their future together. Having endured a less than smooth path to their present position, they were determined that in the future they would endeavour to avoid the type of miscommunication that had plagued them in the past. Elizabeth had come to realise she would no longer be able to act as independently as she had become used to doing. Darcy was learning that having someone to consult with was very agreeable after having to support his burdens on his own for so long. Both of them were finding that there was joy to be had in sharing.

On this particular fine autumn day Mary had accompanied her sister and Mr Darcy on a walk to Denbigh Hill. Ought to be precise, Mary accompanied them to the foot of a hill and then elected to seat herself on a fallen tree and pursue her studies of Fordyce whilst the engaged couple followed the path to the summit. They had both pursued this path before to comment on their surroundings, instead turning their thoughts to further discussions about their future together.

On her part, Elizabeth was curious about their immediate future; to be specific, what she was to expect on the night of their wedding. Since she had taken over her father’s library she had gained access to books that were previously forbidden to her and had thus enlightened herself as best she could as to the process of procreation. What she longed to know was how did one conduct oneself so as to arrive at that process? Both she and Jane had received their mother’s words of wisdom on the subject and had almost immediately discounted them as being of little practical use. As ever, muddled and uninformative were the most apt words to describe Mrs Bennett’s declamations. Seeking other guidance Elizabeth had sought out her aunt during the shopping trip that Mrs Bennett and her daughters had taken to London. But here again the kind of straightforward, practical help that Elizabeth wished for was not forthcoming. Instead Mrs Gardiner had instructed her to put her trust in her husband and allow him to show her what was required. Dissatisfied, Elizabeth dearly wished for further advice, but in her present company she could not approach the subject without seeming improper and forward. She therefore made a vague enquiry as to Darcy's plans for the period after the wedding breakfast, hoping that he might seize on her hidden meaning. He did not do so, however, but brought the discussion around to quite a different subject.

"Plans, Elizabeth?" queried Darcy "Whilst I have some ideas, I do not yet have any formal plans. I had thought that our plans would be something that we would draw up together."

Elizabeth was delighted and told him so "I am very glad to hear that. I know that we have talked about avoiding the wrongful interpretation of each other’s meaning, but I was unsure as to the extent that you intended to consult me about our future."

Darcy had in fact thought long and hard about how he and Elizabeth could approach decisions about their future and he now explained to her the conclusions he had reached.

"Elizabeth, I very much intend that we will consult each other when events which concern both our lives need to be considered. Indeed I have given the matter quite some thought. If I may I would like to suggest an approach we might take to decision-making in the future. In doing so please be assured that I am more than willing to take into account any of your thoughts on the matter.”

Although surprised by the course of their conversation, Elizabeth was by no means disappointed. She could not but welcome his implication that, like himself, Elizabeth was a rational creature with opinions worthy of consideration.

“Please, Fitzwilliam, I would very much wish to hear your thoughts” she invited.

“Very well.” He began. “It seems to me that when discussing our future together we will have three things to take into account; choices, decisions, and consequences."

It was apparent to Elizabeth that the ever-practical Darcy was attempting to describe a systematic approach to decision-making. She suspected that the approach he was about to outline was in fact the approach he was accustomed to using for himself. As a practical person herself, she already felt inclined to agree with the basis for this approach, although she would prefer to see it tempered with a degree of feeling. She therefore allowed him to further expand his thoughts.

"I shall begin then with the first subject; choices. In any given situation we will always have more than one choice to consider."

"Any situation, Fitzwilliam? Are you sure that every situation lends itself to choice?"

Fitzwilliam thought for a moment and then smiled. "I will grant you Elizabeth, that there are some occasions when no choice is available. For example, I suspect that neither you nor I had any choice in the matter of falling in love. Nor do I believe that our future children will have any say over when they are born. But I sincerely believe that in most cases there is always one more than one choice open to us. To reduce it to its most simple level, in almost every case there is at least the choice to do something or to do nothing.

Which brings me to the second subject. When faced with choice one has to make decisions and I believe that it is how we approach this subject that will determine the course of our marriage. I feel that all choices deserve to be examined on their own merits and should be discussed jointly. In many cases of course, a decision will hardly need to be discussed at all for the appropriate outcome will be clear from the start. However even in cases such as these I feel discussion should be welcomed, as two informed opinions will always be better than one.

When discussing our choices the consequences of taking any given path should be examined closely before the final decision is made. I do not expect that we will always agree, but I hope that we will achieve some sort of consensus; at the very least an agreement to disagree."

Elizabeth pondered his words for a while. In the main she had no objection to the scheme as he had outlined it. But for her there remained the matter of feelings and this she now sought to introduce into conversation.

"I can see, Fitzwilliam, that you have given this much study. I daresay, that in principle, I am in agreement with the system you suggest. However, I believe there is a further subject that we must take into account."

Darcy was nonplussed. What other subject could there be? After mulling over her words he confessed to himself that he could not discern what such a subject might be and therefore asked her directly to clarify the matter.

"Well, Elizabeth, I fear that all my thought on this matter has not led me to consider that there might be another subject to be taken into account. Pray, please enlighten me further."

"Willingly, Fitzwilliam. I grant that in most cases, where we are considering those things that will affect our marriage and our lives together, we will have choices to consider and decisions to make and that we should always examine the consequences of any future decisions. But I do think, that in making such decisions, we should give some thought to feelings, both our own and those of others. However we try to reduce decision-making down to practicalities, I am sure there will be times when it will be feelings that will dictate the outcome of our discussions. I would not like to think that our future existence could be painted in entirely rational terms. Surely emotion and impulse must have a part to play as well?"

Darcy was relieved by what he heard. She did not intend for his systematic approach to be discarded. What she seemed to wish was for it to be enhanced, for sensibility to be compounded with sense. He could not but agree that she had it largely right. He could foresee that the addition of emotion to decision-making might sometimes be a difficult thing to manage successfully but acknowledged it would have to be done.

"Elizabeth, I'd do believe you are correct in your assertions. I have some concern that acknowledging the place of emotions might lead to discussions being clouded rather than clarified, however, I will grant that o,n the whole, feelings should play a part in our dealings."

Although gratified with the tenor of their discussion to date, Elizabeth could not help but raise an eyebrow at her fiance’s last words.

"Fitzwilliam! Given the nature of our characters and our somewhat stormy progress to this point do you really believe that we will ever be able to exclude emotion?" she shook her head and smiled.

She was right, of course. And he let her know it. "Yes, my dear, I think subconsciously I knew that our feelings would always be brought into play in any discussions we might have and it being a given I felt no need to mention it."

Seeing that they were largely in agreement, and not wishing for all their time together to be taken up with such lofty matters, Elizabeth felt it an opportune moment to steer the conversation in a lighter direction. “That said, my love, I believe we have established the basis of an approach we can use together in the future. Shall we now return to my original question? I should perhaps rephrase it and ask not to know your plans for the time after our wedding, but what you consider our choices to be."

Darcy was perfectly ready to have the subject of conversation changed. He appreciated that the forging of their partnership required its lighter moments as much as its weightier ones. Indeed, Elizabeth’s ability to speak either seriously or light-heartedly as a subject demanded, and her willingness to switch from one to the other, were two of the many facets of her personality that delighted him.

“As you will, Elizabeth. But might I suggest that we use this opportunity to put our newly agreed approach to work?”

“Yes, of course, that is precisely what I had in mind when I asked what you consider our choices to be. Let us both give the matter some thought, say until we reach the top of the hill, and then consider each other’s opinions as we enjoy the view.”

In perfect agreement with her suggestion, Darcy brought her arm over his own, kissed her lightly on the cheek, raising a blush on it as he did so, and, at a pace comfortable for Elizabeth, gave his attention to the path.

Some time later the pair were to be found seated on a large flat rock at the top of Denbigh Hill watching the shadows created by the clouds that passed over the sun, streak over the fields below. The scene was peaceful, there were no intrusions to spoil their enjoyment and the couple were relaxed and contented. Perhaps it was the conversation they had had earlier, or maybe the pleasant warmth of the afternoon sun. Maybe it was Elizabeth’s acceptance of the small intimacies Darcy had dared so far, or his overwhelming love for the woman beside him. Probably it was a combination of all of these, but whatever led him to it Darcy, without consciously doing so, found his consideration of their choices of action after the wedding tending to those matters that should not be broached with a gentleman’s daughter. In short, his thoughts turned to that period that Elizabeth was eager to know more of – their wedding night.

He would allow his thoughts to continue in this vein indefinitely were he alone, but he was not. Nevertheless he decided to indulge himself just a little, promising himself that if Elizabeth showed the slightest sign of discomfort he would immediately turn the conversation to travel plans and such. Tentatively he began.

“My love, are you now ready to share with me your opinions on what you believe our best course of action to be after our wedding?”

Elizabeth was torn. As a gentleman’s daughter she could not directly approach the subject she most earnestly wished to discuss. As a woman in love, a woman used to expressing her opinions in a forthright manner, she found it hard to contain her impatience to know more. Finally, she drew confidence from the evidence she had had to date of Darcy’s love for her, and his complete acceptance of her behaviour, and determined on a compromise.

“Fitzwilliam, I have several opinions on the subject. In fact I have so many that it would be helpful if you could more precisely define the period we are calling ‘after the wedding’.”

She could not be clearer than that – either he took up her suggestion or he did not.

She could not be clearer than that – the connection that had grown between them over the last few weeks allowed him to interpret her meaning accurately and his heart soared.

Knowing that what she had said would be considered more than bold by most of their acquaintance, and that it would have made her anxious, he sought a way to calm her. Remembering their earlier conversation he said

“Let us imagine that the wedding breakfast is about to draw to a close. What are your opinions as to what we should do next? What are our choices?”

Elizabeth was uncomfortable about being asked to make the first suggestion, but she ventured “We either retire to the suite that Charles has offered us at Netherfield, or we move to our carriage for our journey to London. I know that my mother has offered to host us at Longbourn but I hope you would agree that that suggestion be discarded immediately.”

He did agree, very much so. “In that we are in perfect accord, my dear. Your family will have several other guests to host and we should not impose on them.” This was said with a wry smile and Elizabeth’s answering raised eyebrow made him aware that their real reasons for not wanting to stay at Longbourn need not be voiced.

Darcy knew which of the two remaining choices they had he preferred; he wished to travel to his elegant, yet comfortable townhouse. Knowing Elizabeth’s attachment to her sister he felt she might wish to stay at Netherfield and therefore sought to know if this was indeed the case.

“Elizabeth, so what do you believe are the merits of the choices open to us?

She had already considered these and was able to reply swiftly. "Until quite recently I would have said that Netherfield offered us the best choice. The suite of rooms Bingley has offered are well-appointed and comfortable, we would be able to spend plenty of time with our wedding guests and would avoid having to travel."

Her opening remarks had intrigued Darcy. "Am I to gather, Elizabeth, that your preference for Netherfield has altered? What further factor has changed your perception as to its suitability?"

Elizabeth knew that in this case she could be candid. "My sister tells me that her sister-to-be is to remain at Netherfield after the wedding. She was to have accompanied the Hursts to their relatives in Scarborough, but on hearing that we would likely remain at Netherfield for a while she decided to do the same."

Darcy was astonished. Did that woman have no dignity? "Elizabeth! May I be frank? If Caroline is indeed to remain at Netherfield I truly feel that we should not."

"Yes, Fitzwilliam, I am in perfect agreement with you on that. Furthermore I believe that this might also assist Jane and Charles as Caroline may well change her mind and accompany the Hursts after all."

"I am relieved to hear both of your points, my dear. It would seem then, that the town house is the wisest choice for us."

She nodded and smiled. There had not really been much of a decision to make at all. They resumed the conversation and settled it between them that as soon as the speeches were over they would start the journey to London, so as to arrive in time to dine at the townhouse.

They were both aware that the decision made would assure them of the greatest degree of privacy on their wedding night. Elizabeth, also aware of Fitzwilliam’s hand around hers, and conscious that a degree of intimacy had been achieved in their conversation, impishly brought up the subject of their "system" of problem-solving.

"Well, my love, it would seem that our methods have served us admirably in this case. Do you think that this will be so always?"

Responding to her playful tone, Darcy replied "If you wish, Elizabeth, we could continue to test the system. Shall we consider our choices for the remainder of the evening?"

Elizabeth gasped. This was daring indeed. They both knew he was not referring to the current day's end. All her previous thoughts on what their wedding night might entail came to the fore. After a while, acknowledging that Darcy's forward conversation exactly suited her needs, she spoke again.

"I blush to speak of it, Fitzwilliam, but I admit that I am curious as to how the events of the evening will unfold." At this she averted her gaze and feigned absorption in the view of the surrounding countryside.

Darcy was delighted that she felt able to continue the conversation and decided to use a practical example to illustrate the choices that he felt would be available to them. Raising the hand he held to his lips, he pressed a soft kiss on her fingers before saying, "My love, such a kiss could be said to represent one of the choices open to us." Again he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a further kiss on it. This kiss was more prolonged and ardent. "And that kiss might represent a different choice."

By now Elizabeth thoughts were racing and she was unable to detect the meaning behind either his kisses or his words. Darcy noted her puzzled brow and endeavoured to explain himself further. Placing his free hand under her chin, he turned her face to his and briefly brushed her lips with his own. Moving back slightly, he gazed into her eyes for a while before leaning to kiss her again. Like the second kiss on her hand this kiss was longer and more passionate. He pressed his lips firmly against her softer ones. Her response was to lean closer to him and place her hands against his chest. Thus encouraged, he allowed his tongue to trace the outline of her mouth before breaking the kiss and pulling her into the shelter of his arms.

For a while Elizabeth could do naught but bask in the glorious sensations created by his embrace. Then, as her pounding heart began to resume its normal pace, she realised Darcy's meaning. Not daring to look up at him, but remaining within his arms, she asked him what she knew was a rhetorical question.

"My love, is this your way of telling me that our wedding night may be characterised in two different ways?"

He knew she did not really require an answer but responded nevertheless.

"Sweetheart, in this case, I think that your suggestion that emotion be allowed to play a part in decision-making is an excellent one. I do not believe that we can, at this moment, decide what our wedding night will be like. I feel that we should acknowledge that our emotions should be our guide. But I also feel it would be helpful to consider the possible consequences of our decisions."

Although she was embarrassed and trembling Elizabeth knew that she was close to discovering that which she most wished to know. She raised her head and kissed her fiance's cheek to encourage him to continue. "And can you tell me of these consequences dear Fitzwilliam?" she whispered.

He sighed happily. Her response was everything he could have hoped for. Thus encouraged he again kissed her briefly and replied "Well my love, a kiss such as that might lead to further kisses. Eventually I would hope you would feel comfortable enough for us to take our places in your bed. Once accustomed to this, if it was your wish, we would kiss further and embrace each other, and when you were ready and happy we would consummate our union." He fell silent then, and left her to her thoughts for a while.

Elizabeth was now in possession of the information she had earlier sought. As D'Arcy had spoken she had seen with her mind's eye the events he was describing, and though embarrassed, she was pleased to find that her overwhelming emotion was one of pleasure. As she considered this her thoughts turned again to the question of choice. Lifting her head once again from its haven against his shoulder, she raised her free hand to the back of his neck, pulled him towards her and gave him the type of prolonged, ardent kiss he had earlier given her. When she broke away to snuggle back against his shoulder he knew that she wished to know of the potential consequences of such a kiss.

"Oh! My dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth! You know not how your response gladdens my heart. To know that you welcome my kisses and want to return them is indeed my delight, beloved. It has been my dearest wish that our marriage would be a physical partnership as much as a practical one. To have you in my arms, embracing, kissing and caressing you, loving you, and having you respond in kind, would be blissful indeed. Together we would embark on a journey of discovery, a journey that would bring us the utmost pleasure and satisfaction.”

At that he fell silent and for a while they sat together peacefully until Elizabeth spoke what were to be their final words on the subject for this day “My love, I find our system to be an admirable one. And despite your earlier assertion that we would not be able to finalise any decisions until the event, I believe both of us know that the journey you spoke of has already begun.”

Darcy kissed his fiancé again in reply and after a while they resumed their walk, the path to their future now as clear as that to Longbourn.

The End

Copyright held by Liz P - 2003