Page 24 of Roses from Pemberley
“I am sorry, Aunt, I shall try to attend.”
“Well, do not put yourself out on my account.”
He looked at his indignant aunt and thought how well she took the news that he was in love with a woman other than her daughter. And she never actually complained that he had spent so much time at the parsonage the day before.
He suddenly stood up, walked over to Lady Catherine and kissed her on the cheek. Mrs. Jenkinson turned away slightly but he saw that she was smiling.
“What is the meaning of this, Darcy?” asked Lady Catherine. “What has gotten into you?” Though her words were stern, she was actually looking at him with a fond smile.
“I am not certain what has gotten into me,” he replied softly. “But I appreciate your forbearance…about everything. And your willingness to house both my friend and my physician. Also, thank you for being there for Georgiana and myself in place of our mother.”
Lady Catherine looked slightly tearful as she said, “I have always loved you as a son.”
“I know.”
They were quiet for some time and Darcy noticed that the sun was now in the centre of the sky.
“I do not see,” said Lady Catherine at length, “why you do not call on her. Now that she is better, I would think that you would.”
“True but…she did turn down my offer of marriage…”
“You proposed?” asked Lady Catherine.
“Yes, you did not know?” responded Darcy, thinking that his aunt was the only one who did not know of it. And now both she and Mrs. Jenkinson knew. “Yes, I proposed shortly before she became ill.”
“So then what? Should you not have even more reason to see her?”
Darcy grimaced. “The thing is, Aunt, she refused me.”
“She refused you! But…you are such a kind, handsome and generous boy. How could she?”
“Miss Elizabeth does not seem to think so. You see, I insulted her during my proposal.” He went one to describe his disastrous proposal in greater detail. Strange, that he should make Lady Catherine of all people his confidant.
“Those objections,” said Lady Catherine, “were natural and just. And Miss Bennet should have realised that. Although…as proposals go, it was rather insulting.”
“You see what I mean, then.”
“But you have already spent quite a bit of time there over the past few days. Therefore, I assume she thinks better of you.”
“But she was not awake, you see, during these visits.”
“Not awake!”
Darcy nodded, feeling forlorn. “But now that she is awake, I fear that she will not wish to see me.”
“Perhaps you are simply being maudlin due to lack of sleep,” said Lady Catherine.
“I do not think that it is simply a matter of sleep, Aunt. Although…she has said my name on occasion, particularly during her fever.”
Darcy went on to describe to his aunt how Elizabeth called out his name at times and how he assisted her to eat and drink.
“I simply cannot be certain of anything…at this point,” he said. “Perhaps itisthe lack of sleep that has addled my senses…and clouded my judgment.”
“Well then, you have my permission to return to bed. Or…even go to the parsonage if it is your wish…”
“Thank you, Aunt,” he said slowly, “perhaps I will return to bed.”
“You are not becoming ill, are you?”
