Darcy's Hidden Depths: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Whittaker Lily

Author:Whittaker, Lily [Whittaker, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2018-05-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

As it happened, the opportunity came not long after Elizabeth learned the truth from her aunt Gardiner. It seemed that Bingley’s letter had prompted Darcy to return almost immediately. Miss Darcy spoke excitedly of the friends they had stayed with. It touched Elizabeth’s heart to hear how well her brother had cared for her.

‘May I disturb your reading, Miss Bennet?’ Darcy asked the following morning after breakfast on entering the library and finding her there.

‘Most certainly,’ she agreed.

As soon as he closed the door she found herself unable to put her feelings into words. There was so much of them and such a depth of feeling that she was rendered mute.

‘You read my letter?’ he said, frowning.

‘Oh, Mr. Darcy,’ she gasped. ‘I must apologise most profusely, though I fear all the apologies in the world would still not be sufficient. I had no idea—truly! Had I known the truth I would never have told you of Lydia’s visit. You must believe me—I would sooner be cast out than subject you to the presence of a man who has injured you so.’

He crossed the room and stood before her. ‘It was not my aim to make you feel this way. I simply wished for you to know the truth. I cannot help but think that if I had shared it with you months ago that none of this would have happened.’

Elizabeth flushed. ‘You had your reasons for remaining silent—I understand your wish to protect your sister. I must thank you for your generosity in the matter too,’ she whispered. ‘I had no idea of your intentions.’

‘I never intended for you to find out,’ he muttered. ‘Who has revealed this to you?’

‘Lydia,’ she replied. ‘Darcy, I cannot thank you enough. What you have done for my family—’

‘Everything I have done was for you, not for your family. You do not need to thank me.’

She blushed even more furiously. ‘Well, I must. You have saved us all from a most unfavourable fate.’

‘Please, Miss Bennet, it was no great inconvenience to me.’ He stopped and watched her in silence for a long moment. Elizabeth thought her heart would burst from the sense of contentment that flowed through her. ‘I am glad you stayed at Pemberley.’

‘As am I,’ she agreed. ‘Oh, I am sorry Mr. Darcy. I wrote to my sister and begged her not to come. You must have had a most frightfully terrible time at their wedding.’

His eyes answered her question without him uttering a word. He sighed. ‘The pleasure of your aunt and uncle’s company more than made up for any churlishness from the other two,’ he said at last.

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