Lizzie’s Dilemma Page 4
With this intention firmly in place, she descended the stairs and greeted her aunt in the entryway with a genuine but small smile on her face.
“How are you feeling this morning Lizzie?” Mrs. Gardiner asked carefully.
“I am feeling better Aunt. Once I could clarify the situation in my mind I became accepting of it. I do not like it, but I must accept it.”
“I am so happy to hear that Lizzie. Your uncle and I were so very concerned about you.”
Before Lizzie could reply, there was a knock on the door and none other than Mr. Darcy and his sister were admitted.
“Good morning Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet. How are you this fine day?” Mr. Darcy asked as he bowed to both women who curtsied in return.
“We are very well sir,” replied Mrs. Gardiner. “Please come into the drawing room and I will send for tea.”
“It is such a beautiful day I was hoping Miss Bennet would enjoy a walk in the park across the street.” His eyes never left Lizzie face, praying that she would acquiesce to his request.
“Why that is a fine idea Mr. Darcy,” exclaimed Mrs. Gardiner. “What say you Lizzie?”
Mrs. Gardiner knew of her niece’s love of the outdoors and felt that a walk in the park was just what was needed to lift her niece’s spirt.
Lizzie smiled and replied enthusiastically “Yes aunt, I whole heartedly agree. Thank you for the invitation Mr. Darcy, I do so love to stretch me legs.”
Darcy released the breath he was not even aware he was holding. His entire demeanor relaxed and a wide grin spread across his face. Once outside, Darcy offered his arm to Lizzie which she readily accepted.
Mrs. Gardiner walked behind them with Miss Darcy but she managed to put some distance between them to allow privacy to converse. She took note of the manner in which Mr. Darcy stared at her niece and felt that he was beginning to hold a tendre for Lizzie.
After walking for some minutes in silence Mr. Darcy turned to Lizzie and asked, “Miss Bennet are you well?”
Lizzie who had been walking silently with her head slightly down now raised it and looked directly at Mr. Darcy. “No sir, I am not. But please do not think that I am ill in anyway. I am only distracted by thoughts of my father.”
“They must be sad thoughts indeed,” replied Mr. Darcy. “Miss Bennet, I know our acquaintance is of short duration, but I would like you to consider me a friend. And friends help one another in need even if it is only to lend a sympathetic ear.”
Darcy then took a deep breath and said, “In all honestly I came here today not to offer friendship, although I do want us to be very good friends, but to ask for a courtship so that we might get to know one another better. Allow me to say that I have admired you from our first encounter at Longbourn. I am sure you will recall that I uttered not one single word due to the fact that I was struck dumb by your beauty. But it is your wit and intelligence that has endeared you to me.”
It was now Lizzie’s turn to be struck dumb as she stared at him.
“My intentions are honorable and pure Miss Bennet,” continued Darcy
“If you find that we do not suit, I will accept your decision.”
Lizzie finally found her voice. “I am greatly honored sir that you would bestow this honor upon me. A courtship is for determining if the parties involved would suit one another but before I render my answer there are certain matters that I must make known to you.”
“Please proceed Miss Bennet.”
“Although after I have related these matters Mr. Darcy, you might wish to withdraw your offer of courtship. Please allow me to say I will not hold your withdrawal against you.”
“Please allow me to be the judge of that,” Darcy stated.
“Very well,” replied Lizzie. “I am sure you are aware that although my father is the master of Longbourn, he is an absentee master. Three years ago, he and a school friend embarked on a tour of the West Indies. The day that you saw him in the entryway was the first time I had seen him since he left. I thought at first that he was returning for good, but he advised me that he was stopping only for the day. He intends to reside with his friend and travel to Scotland. So you see Mr. Darcy, my father has abandoned his family. He also intends to have his family moved to another house and lease Longbourn.”
Darcy listened intently as Lizzie spoke and could feel the anger rising in his chest.
“I am shocked Miss Bennet that a man could treat his family in such a manner but it is no reflection on yourself and my offer stands.”
“I wish to tell you about the rest of my family sir so you know all.”
Darcy waited patiently and silently while Lizzie gathered her thoughts.
“I am the second of five daughters. Jane is the eldest of whom you have already met. Mary is the third daughter and though she is inoffensive, she spends her time sermonizing and playing the pianoforte, and very poorly at that, in an effort to gain attention. My two younger sisters, Kitty and Lydia, are two of the most silliest, wild, uneducated girls in all of England. They lack decorum and gentle manners. Jane and I have tried to instill ladylike qualities in them but it is difficult when our Mother constantly overrides our instructions. My mother is the daughter of a country attorney who also was raised without proper guidance on how to behave in society. My mother can be crass, loud and quite embarrassing on occasion. But in spite of these faults I love them. They are my family and I would never forsake them.”
“I would never ask you to break relations with your family, for when a man marries, his wife’s family becomes his own. I now have another quality to add to the growing list of things that I admire about you, loyalty. I will not withdraw my offer of courtship.”
Lizzie took a deep breath and faced Mr. Darcy, “If that be the case Mr. Darcy, then I happily accept your offer of courtship.”
Darcy smiled so widely that Lizzie exclaimed, “Why Mr. Darcy, I was unaware that you had dimples. You must smile more often.”
Epilogue
Darcy and Lizzie were married one month after their courtship, as neither one of them could keep there off of one another and anticipated their vows. Although there were trials and tribulations theirs was a happy and passionate marriage, with Lizzie presenting him with five children, 2 boys and 3 girls.
On their wedding night Darcy kept his promise and his mouth traced every inch of her body that his hands had touched and then some.
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much” From Hamlet by William Shakespeare