A Pemberley Medley (A Pride & Prejudice Variation) by Abigail Reynolds Page A
Authors: Abigail Reynolds
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thought he could trust his voice, he asked, “Are you pleased with Kent?”
A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm and concise—and soon put an end to by the entrance of Mrs. Collins and her sister, just returned from their walk. Mrs. Collins’ look of surprise at their tête-à-tête reminded Darcy of the impropriety of his visit, and he related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding on Miss Bennet. He hardly knew what else to say, and made his excuses to depart as soon as he could.
Still, his feet seemed to drag as he set off down the path to Rosings. He wanted to see Elizabeth’s arch smile again, but he could see clearly that he was in more danger than he thought. He would have to stay away from the parsonage. But even as he thought it, he knew that by the next morning, his resolve would have paled before his need to be in her presence.
“What can be the meaning of this!” said Charlotte, as soon as he was gone. “My dear Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have called on us in this familiar way.”
“I can hardly think so, Charlotte,” Elizabeth reassured her with a laugh. “You were not here; we could hardly keep a conversation going! Each time I raised a subject, he would exhaust it in a few words, and then lapse into silence. He is so far from being in love with me as to be loathe even to converse with me!”
“I suppose it is not very likely, then,” agreed her friend, “yet he does appear to have quite an interest in you. Have you never noticed how he watches you? – and you were the only lady apart from Bingley’s sisters he honoured with his hand for a dance at the Netherfield ball.”
Elizabeth put a hand affectionately on Charlotte’s shoulder. “He looks at me only to criticize, dearest Charlotte! Do you not recall that he found me tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him?” She imitated his voice as she repeated his words with a smile.
Charlotte continued to look dubious, however. “We shall see, I suppose. But Eliza, just think – if you were to have made such a conquest!” There was not a doubt in her mind that all her friend’s dislike would vanish, if she could suppose him to be in her power. But she did not think it right to press the subject any further, from the danger of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment.
Afterwards Elizabeth found that she could not put the conversation out of her mind. Mr. Darcy in love with her? It seemed a completely ridiculous notion, yet Charlotte’s judgment and observation in these matters had often proved better than her own. She could not believe it to be true, but she found that she could not completely discount the idea either, and resolved to observe him more closely in the future
She had ample opportunity, as the two cousins found a temptation from this period of walking to the Parsonage almost every day. They called at various times of the morning, sometimes separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their aunt. It was plain to Elizabeth that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more; and she was reminded by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration, of her former favourite George Wickham; and though, in comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s manners, she believed he might have the best informed mind.
But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage, it was very difficult to understand. With Charlotte’s caution in mind, Elizabeth watched him covertly when they next were at Rosings; but without much success. She knew not what to make of him. He certainly looked at her a great deal, but the expression of that look was disputable. It was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and
A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm and concise—and soon put an end to by the entrance of Mrs. Collins and her sister, just returned from their walk. Mrs. Collins’ look of surprise at their tête-à-tête reminded Darcy of the impropriety of his visit, and he related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding on Miss Bennet. He hardly knew what else to say, and made his excuses to depart as soon as he could.
Still, his feet seemed to drag as he set off down the path to Rosings. He wanted to see Elizabeth’s arch smile again, but he could see clearly that he was in more danger than he thought. He would have to stay away from the parsonage. But even as he thought it, he knew that by the next morning, his resolve would have paled before his need to be in her presence.
“What can be the meaning of this!” said Charlotte, as soon as he was gone. “My dear Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have called on us in this familiar way.”
“I can hardly think so, Charlotte,” Elizabeth reassured her with a laugh. “You were not here; we could hardly keep a conversation going! Each time I raised a subject, he would exhaust it in a few words, and then lapse into silence. He is so far from being in love with me as to be loathe even to converse with me!”
“I suppose it is not very likely, then,” agreed her friend, “yet he does appear to have quite an interest in you. Have you never noticed how he watches you? – and you were the only lady apart from Bingley’s sisters he honoured with his hand for a dance at the Netherfield ball.”
Elizabeth put a hand affectionately on Charlotte’s shoulder. “He looks at me only to criticize, dearest Charlotte! Do you not recall that he found me tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him?” She imitated his voice as she repeated his words with a smile.
Charlotte continued to look dubious, however. “We shall see, I suppose. But Eliza, just think – if you were to have made such a conquest!” There was not a doubt in her mind that all her friend’s dislike would vanish, if she could suppose him to be in her power. But she did not think it right to press the subject any further, from the danger of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment.
Afterwards Elizabeth found that she could not put the conversation out of her mind. Mr. Darcy in love with her? It seemed a completely ridiculous notion, yet Charlotte’s judgment and observation in these matters had often proved better than her own. She could not believe it to be true, but she found that she could not completely discount the idea either, and resolved to observe him more closely in the future
She had ample opportunity, as the two cousins found a temptation from this period of walking to the Parsonage almost every day. They called at various times of the morning, sometimes separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their aunt. It was plain to Elizabeth that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more; and she was reminded by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration, of her former favourite George Wickham; and though, in comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s manners, she believed he might have the best informed mind.
But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage, it was very difficult to understand. With Charlotte’s caution in mind, Elizabeth watched him covertly when they next were at Rosings; but without much success. She knew not what to make of him. He certainly looked at her a great deal, but the expression of that look was disputable. It was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and
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