Page 30 of A Forced Marriage
Georgiana’s smile faded slightly, but she nodded obediently. "Of course, Fitzwilliam. I shall see to a few things in the drawing-room."
With a quick glance between her brother and Elizabeth, Georgiana made her way inside, leaving the two of them standing together. A brief silence followed, the quiet stretching between them like a delicate thread.
Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth, his expression unreadable. "I hope your outing was pleasant," he began, his voice even.
Elizabeth, determined to keep her composure, nodded. "Yes, it was. The modiste is quite accomplished, and Georgiana was a wonderful companion."
"Elizabeth, I must apologize for my absence.” He said, his momentarily pleased expression growing into something more serious. “My departure was rather sudden, and I regret not sending word as I ought to have. Matters concerning the estate's legal affairs required my urgent attention, and I was unable to delay them. However, I should have made arrangements to inform you, and for that, I am sincerely sorry."
Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat as Mr. Darcy spoke, his eyes full of remorse and apology. His tone was sincere, and the explanation reasonable. Had he read her mind or made a calculated guess of how to approach her? Elizabeth found it difficult to entirely let go of the frustration that had built up over the past two days. "I understand that such matters require your attention," she said, her voice gentle, though marred with lingering doubt. "But I must ask—has your business been concluded?"
"Not entirely," he admitted. "But I returned because I could not, in good conscience, leave you without word any longer. The business is pressing, but it can wait for now."
Elizabeth felt her irritation ebb further at his response. The sharp edges of her prejudice began to soften, though she was not yet ready to completely lay them aside. "Thank you for returning," she said, her voice softer now. "I appreciate your consideration, truly. I suppose I allowed my thoughts to get the better of me in your absence. These past few days have been… challenging."
"Challenging indeed," Darcy echoed, a faint smile touching his lips. "This marriage is as new to me as it is to you. But I hope that, in time, we might come to understand one another better, and that this union will grow into something more than a mere necessity."
Elizabeth studied his face, seeing in his eyes a flicker of vulnerability that she had not noticed before. It was strange, this feeling of guilt mingled with a tentative hope—an unfamiliar sensation that left her both wary and curious. She realized that there was much she still did not know about this man, her husband, and that perhaps her judgment had been too swift, too coloured by past grievances.
"Yes," she said after a pause, her voice carrying a hint of resolve. "I believe that would be best."
Darcy nodded, the tension between them easing slightly. "Shall we go inside?" he asked, offering his arm.
Elizabeth hesitated only for a moment before placing her hand on his arm, allowing him to lead her toward the entrance. As they walked, she found herself contemplating the conversation they had just shared. She was not in love with Mr. Darcy, not yet—but for the first time, she felt that perhaps it was not an entirely impossible notion. There was much to consider, much to reconcile in her mind, but for now, she was willing to take a step forward, even if it was only a small one.
As they entered Pemberley together, the grand estate seemed less imposing, and the path ahead, though still uncertain, did not seem quite so daunting as before.
Later, as Elizabeth changed her clothes quietly in her room, she reflected on what had just transpired. Darcy’s words, his apology, and his evident concern for her well-being had begun to chip away at the walls she had built around her heart. Yet, questions remained—questions she was not yet ready to voice. The allegations made by Lady Catherine about Darcy’s supposed betrothal to her daughter, and the tales Mr. Wickham had talked about Darcy’s past actions, lingered in her mind.
Perhaps, she mused, once they had grown more accustomed to each other, she would find the courage to ask him about these things. If Darcy could explain himself, if he could offer her a truth that aligned with the man she had begun to see glimpses of today, then perhaps she could finally let go of her prejudice and allow herself to truly know him—to perhaps, one day, love him.
****
Darcy sat alone in his library, his mind searching through the events of the day. He had sought refuge here, in the familiar solitude of his books and papers, a place where he could gather his thoughts and reflect on the decisions that had led him to this point.
The truth was, his departure from Pemberley had not been as urgent as he had led Mrs. Reynold, his sister and Elizabeth to believe. The matter with his attorney, though important, could have been resolved with less haste. But the prospect of remaining in the house, in close proximity to Elizabeth, had seemed unbearable at the time. Her guarded manner and the coldness in her gaze, had left him feeling more uncertain than he had ever felt in his life. It was notthe indifference he could not tolerate—it was the idea that she harboured a deep-seated disdain for him, a disdain he had brought upon himself.
In truth, he had completed his business with the attorney on the first day, but the thought of returning to Pemberley, to Elizabeth’s cold reception, had held him back. He knew it was ungentlemanly to stay away from a newly wedded wife, especially one who had entered into marriage under such strained circumstances, yet he could not bring himself to face her so soon. He had needed time to think, to plan how he would approach her, how he might begin to mend the rift between them.
But as the second day had drawn on, he realized that his absence was doing more harm than good. It was not enough to simply retreat and hope the tension would dissipate on its own. He had resolved, then, to return to Pemberley, to face Elizabeth with humility and continue to apologize until she saw the sincerity of his intentions. He had to show her that he was willing to earn her trust, even if it meant enduring her coldness a while longer.
Now, as he reflected on the events of that afternoon, Darcy allowed himself a glimmer of hope. When they had spoken, Elizabeth had allowed him to take her hand willingly, her touch gentle rather than begrudging. And when she looked at him, he had not seen the same disdain that had haunted him since their marriage. It was a small victory, but one that stirred within him a belief that he was, perhaps, making headway.
There was much yet to be resolved between them, and Darcy knew that their journey to mutual understanding would not be an easy one. But in that brief moment, he felt the possibility of something more—an easing of her guarded heart, a softening of the barriers she had erected. And for that, hewas willing to be patient, to continue proving himself to her, no matter how long it took.
Chapter 18
"Georgiana, that melody is quite enchanting," Elizabeth remarked, her voice warm with genuine admiration as Miss Darcy’s fingers danced gracefully over the keys of the pianoforte. The evening air was filled with the soft, soothing strains of a piece that seemed to reflect the tranquillity of the hour. It was still the same day when Mr. Darcy had returned from his trip shortly after Elizabeth and Georgiana had visited the modiste in town. The day, though filled with activities, seemed to be winding down in peaceful harmony, with the music serving as a gentle close to the evening's events.
Georgiana looked up from the keys, her expression modest yet pleased. "Thank you, Elizabeth. It is one of my favourites, though I must confess, I am still far from perfect in rendering it as it ought to be played."
Darcy, who had been quietly observing from his seat near the window, interjected with a gentle smile, "My sister is ever modest about her talents, but I must attest that she has improved remarkably of late. Georgiana possesses a rare gift for conveying the emotion of every piece she plays. It never fails to set one’s mind at ease."
Elizabeth returned his smile, feeling a rare sense of contentment. "It is indeed a blessing to have such music fill the house."
"Yes, it is," Darcy agreed, his tone softened by the intimacy of the moment. "It has often been a balm in difficult times."
"Do you play, Elizabeth?" Georgiana inquired with a shy curiosity.
