Page 43 of Roses from Pemberley
“There is no question about it, I would pursue Miss Bennet. I have already tried it the other way and was miserable. So, until she says she will not have me and can never love me, I shall keep trying. What of you, my friend?”
Darcy sighed. “I have more of an uphill battle than you do but…I shall try as well.”
“As I see it,” said Bingley, “we have no choice.”
Darcy thought about it and answered, “You are right, Bingley. If you love someone, then you continue to love them. No one else will do.”
“Mrs. Bennet has a point, though,” said Bingley. “I should have seen for myself whether or not Jane cared for me. If I had, I would not be in this predicament.”
“It really was my fault,” said Darcy, hanging his head.
“No, Darcy. You were just an obstacle. A test, as it were, of my constancy and devotion. And I failed - miserably.”
“But I was quite forceful in my interference,” insisted Darcy. “In truth, I was a meddling fool.”
Bingley patted him on the back. “There, there, Darcy. No need to add to your misery with such self-flagellation. You have an uphill battle, after all.”
“Indeed.”
It rained over the next several days; thus no calls were made between Rosings and Hunsford. But, almost a week later, the gentlemen presented themselves once more at the parsonage.
They entered the Collins’s small parlour to find that the four ladies were all present. For a while they talked, then Charlotte was called away by a message from one of her parishioners.
She excused herself by saying, “I have promised to look after Mrs. Hawkins’s children while she goes into the village to run some errands. So I am afraid I must leave you now.”
“Do carry on, Charlotte,” said Mrs. Bennet with a bland smile. “We shall stay here and entertain the gentlemen.”
Darcy took a glance at Elizabeth who today was wearing a simple cotton dress with a thick shawl thrown over her shoulders.
“I am glad to see you looking better, Miss Elizabeth,” he began cautiously.
“Yes, I feel better, much better.”
Another uncomfortable silence ensued before Darcy said, “I apologise again for interfering in matters which were none of my concern.”
“And I,” said Bingley, “apologise for being swayed last autumn and…not having enough resolve.”
“You are forgiven,” said Jane quietly, surprising everyone.
Elizabeth relaxed a little, thinking that the crisis had finally passed.
Unfortunately her mother, who seemed to have other ideas, said, “But it must have happened rather quickly.”
Elizabeth almost wished that her mother would revert back to her usual fawning self. She looked worriedly at Darcy and felt a chill running down her spine.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Mrs. Bennet regarded the two gentlemen pointedly before saying, “You made no mention of leaving for good during the Netherfield Ball. And yet you did so the very next day.” She then focused her attention on Darcy and asked, “Did you speak to your friend…that night? And did something happen to…influenceyour actions?”
Elizabeth was again shocked by her mother’s perspicacity. She recalled her family’s behaviour at the ball and had no doubt that it had contributed to Darcy's decision to sway Bingley from Jane. She hated the conflict that was playing out before her, but was nevertheless curious as to how Darcy would answer.
“I have always thought myself responsible for my friend…” he answered obliquely, “and have - at times -helpedhim in that regard…”
“Yes,” said Bingley, taking up his friend’s defense. “I truly feel that Darcy was only trying to help. You see, he has assisted me…on occasion. That is to say, he has saved me - once or twice - from being preyed upon by…”
He let the sentence hang, apparently unable to go any further.
“Preyed upon by what?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
