Page 18 of To Go Against Her Heart
She must suspect that I feel something more for her than just her friendship, and she has indirectly warned me never to think in that direction.
As Darcy sat contemplating, Elizabeth struggled to compose herself as she returned to Longbourn. As much as she tried, her countenance betrayed her, and Charlotte noticed her state of agitation.
“Are you well, Lizzy?” she asked out of concern.
“Yes, I am. Why do you ask?”
“You do not look well; you look flushed.”
“I met him at the bookstore.”
“Who?”
“Mr. Darcy!” she said with a sigh.
“Very well, and you argued with him again?”
“Charlotte, why would you assume so? We merely conversed for a few minutes.”
“And he said something to upset you.”
“No!” she denied.
He did not say anything to upset me, but his eyes conveyed something more than his words. Why does he make me feel so?
“Then what is it? You look as though you have seen a ghost.”
“His sudden appearance took me by surprise, that is all. I wish he could be more easygoing like Mr. Bingley, but Mr. Darcy is always rigid.”
“Is that so? You blame the poor man now that he is not as amiable as his friend. Honestly, in my observation, he has changed after your brutal set down on the mount.”
“I was not rude; I merely conveyed what I felt about him.”
“Of course! I am not accusing you of being uncivil, but one must assume that for someone as proud as Mr. Darcy, being called out for his actions by a stranger must have made him even more hostile towards our society. However, he has taken your words to heart and changed.”
Elizabeth remained silent, yet Charlotte perceived that,after the arrival of Darcy, her friend had finally laid aside the anguish related to her past.
You like him, Lizzy, and I know he favors your company. But you do not realize it yet.
Once she returned home, Elizabeth was surprised to see the commotion in her house. Her mother was arguing with the housekeeper, and she wondered what might be amiss.
“What is it? Why is Mamma angry?” she asked Jane with worry.
“You will know soon; Papa wants to see you,” Jane informed.
Elizabeth hurried into the library and saw her father seated looking amused. Mr. Bennet handed her a letter, and she read it anxiously. However, as she progressed, her father noticed her expression change to surprise. He waited patiently for her to complete reading it and smiled as she looked at him with disbelief.
“I assure you, my dear, I have been well entertained this morning; I do not envy the time you spent at the bookstore.”
“Is this the first time he is corresponding with you?” she asked.
“Yes, it is. He is well versed, I believe, in leaving an excellent first impression,” he said with a wink, and Elizabeth laughed.
“So, he is the one our estate is entailed to.”
“Yes, Mr. Collins, or must I say the humblest servant of Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins.”
“Is Mamma upset that he is to stay with us for a few weeks?”
