Page 5 of An Interrupted Proposal
“Oh!” Charlotte’s grin spread across her features, but her excitement died as quickly as it was born. “What did you do?”
A tear slid down her cheek as Elizabeth shook her head. “I was so angry with him for interfering with Jane and Mr. Bingley.”
“Eliza, you have no way of knowing it was him. I firmly believe it was Mr. Bingley’s sisters who separated them.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Colonel Fitzwilliam told me, just this morning, that Mr. Darcy boasted to him that he had saved a friend from an imprudent marriage as there were some very strong objections against the lady.”
“No!” Charlotte’s mouth hung open.
“Yes.” Elizabeth dabbed her handkerchief at the corners of her eyes. “And then the man himself arrived at Hunsford and declared he ardently admired and loved me.” She sniffed anddabbed her nose. “I was in such disbelief that I demanded he explain himself.”
“Oh, no, Eliza, you didn’t.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I did.”
“What did he say?”
Reluctantly, Elizabeth revealed what passed between her and Mr. Darcy while Charlotte alternated between questions and exclamations. When all had been told, Elizabeth felt the tears rolling freely down her cheeks again.
“You see? He will be more determined to keep Mr. Bingley as far from Jane as possible.”
Charlotte nibbled on her fingernail. “Perhaps, or perhaps he will right the wrong he has done.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips and stared at her friend. “What man in his right mind would push his friend towards a woman he believed was objectionable after that lady’s sister reprimanded him as I did?”
A smile tugged at Charlotte’s lips. “One who is ardently in love.”
***********
Elizabeth slipped soundlessly from the parsonage and hurried towards the nearest wooded area. Only when she was out of sight of her cousin’s home did she breathe easier and slow her steps. Speaking to Charlotte the previous evening had helped to clear her mind––to a degree––but now she required nature to soothe her soul.
Dew covered the ground and droplets dripped from leaves as she passed under them. Her footsteps turned towards her favourite walk, but she hesitated. Elizabeth agreed with Charlotte that she would have to speak to Mr. Darcy, but she was uncertain if she was currently ready for the confrontation. She now realized they had met entirely too frequently on that pathfor it to have been a coincidence. In order to avoid him for a bit longer, she chose another trail she had seen but never explored.
A few feet down the path, it began to narrow. Lost in her thoughts, she did not notice and continued on until branches pressed against her arms and plucked at her bonnet. Elizabeth released an exasperated sigh and turned, only to find an intrepid twig had snagged a lock of hair. Try though she might, she was unable to release herself without causing damage to the simple knot into which she had twisted her hair that morning. Another step revealed a larger branch had entrapped her gown and yet another plucked at the sleeve of her pelisse.
Frustrated with her lack of perception, she suppressed another sigh and carefully removed herself from the predatory branches. Once in the wider path, she began to take stock of her appearance, certain she looked a sight.
“Miss Bennet!”
Her gaze fell upon the opening at the end of the path to find the one man she had hoped to avoid that morning. “Mr. Darcy,” she managed in a soft voice as she dipped a brief curtsey.
He belatedly bowed before stepping closer. “Are you well?”
“Of course," she said as she stood a little straighter. "I was enjoying a walk before breakfast.”
Mr. Darcy stepped closer still and removed his handkerchief. “May I?” he asked.
Uncertain what he would do, Elizabeth reluctantly nodded, and the gentleman lightly pressed his handkerchief to her cheek. When he removed it, there was a spot of blood marring the pristine fabric.
“Oh!” She took the handkerchief from him and pressed it to the same spot. “The path,” she turned and motioned back the way she had come, “narrowed and I became entangled, but I did not realize the branches had attacked more than my clothes and hair.”
Mr. Darcy’s lips twitched, but he did an admirable job hiding his mirth. “I shall have the gardeners remove the offending flora at once.”
Elizabeth’s blush grew as her gaze fell to the ground, her embarrassment over her words from the previous evening humbling her. “In truth, I would have been in no danger had I not been trying to avoid you, sir.”
There was a moment of silence, and Elizabeth slowly tilted her head so she could see him. Mr. Darcy looked off to the side, the muscles in his jaw clenched.
“Forgive me for forcing my presence upon you––"
