Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Regina Jeffers

to anyone. She worked hard to keep guilt from her features. Elizabeth prayed her alliance would not bring such censure upon the gentleman’s head.
    “These are heavy misfortunes!” replied Elizabeth. “But the wife of Mr. Darcy would possess such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation that she could upon the whole, have no cause to repine.”
    “Obstinate, headstrong girl!” Lady Catherine hissed. “Is this your gratitude for my earlier attentions? Is nothing due to me on that score? You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I am not accustomed to submitting to any person’s whims, nor am I in the habit of brooking disappointment.”
    “That will make your ladyship’s situation more pitiable, but it will have no effect upon me.”
    Elizabeth’s chin notched higher as she gathered her skirt to make her exit.
    “You can have nothing further to say,” Elizabeth spoke in resentment. “You insulted me in every possible method. I mean to, therefore, return to the house.”
    “You have no regard, then, for the honor and credit of my nephew? Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?”
    “Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments.”
    “You are, then, resolved to have him?”
    Elizabeth wished Mr. Darcy would appear to bring an end to this madness. Did she want to marry the gentleman? A resounding “yes” echoed in her head .
    “I am only resolved to act in that manner which will constitute my happiness, without reference to you or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”
    “You refuse, then, to oblige me; you refuse to obey the claims of duty, honor, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin Darcy in the opinion of his friends and make my nephew the contempt of the world.”
    “Neither duty, nor honor, nor gratitude, has any possible claim on me in the present instance,” Elizabeth quipped in frustration. “No principle of either would be violated by my marriage to Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if Mr. Darcy expressed excitement at the prospect of marrying me, your condemnation would not provide me one moment’s concern; and the world, in general, would possess too much sense to join in the scorn.”
    Lady Catherine’s features hardened.
    “And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well! I shall know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever know gratification. I came to this place to try you,” Her Ladyship snarled. “I hoped to discover you a reasonable creature, but depend upon it, I will carry my point to London.”
    As Lady Catherine strode away, Elizabeth groaned in despair. Would Her Ladyship prevail? Could his aunt convince Mr. Darcy to call off? Although some censure would arrive at the gentleman’s door if he chose such a course, it was possible Mr. Darcy would simply withdraw until the gossip died. A man of Mr. Darcy’s wealth and ancestral lines would not long be censured for disposing of a minor indiscretion, as was Elizabeth.

Chapter Four
     
    “ Miss Darcy.” Elizabeth greeted the girl. “How kind of Mr. Bingley to escort you to Longbourn.”
    Miss Darcy offered Elizabeth a respectful curtsy.
    “I begged my brother to permit me to come ahead. I hope you do not think me too presumptuous. I hoped to have the acquaintance of your sisters before the ceremony. William’s negotiations delay his departure from London.”
    The girl’s news grieved Elizabeth; she had yet to recover from Lady Catherine’s vituperations.
    “I am sorry to hear of Mr. Darcy’s continued absence,” she said distractedly.
    Miss Darcy slipped a folded paper into Elizabeth’s palm.
    “Darcy sends you his regard.”
    The girl blushed as if Miss Darcy read her