Elizabeth Bennet: Shapechanger by Carroll Laer & Austen Jane

Author:Carroll, Laer & Austen, Jane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

Act 6 - Love Troubles

Chapter 34 - Darcy's Proposal

When Mr. and Mrs. Collins and the Lucas father and daughter were gone Elizabeth began examining all the letters which Jane had written to her since her being in Kent.

They contained no actual complaint nor was there any communication of suffering. But in almost every line of each letter there was a want of that cheerfulness which had been used to proceed from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself and kindly disposed towards everyone.

It was some consolation to think that Darcy's visit to Rosings was to end on the day after the next. It was a still greater consolation that in less than a fortnight she should herself be with Jane again and able to contribute to the recovery of her spirits.

She could not think of Darcy’s leaving Kent without remembering that his cousin was to go with him. However, Colonel Fitzwilliam had made it clear that he had no intentions toward her at all and, agreeable as he was, she would not be unhappy without him.

She was suddenly roused by the sound of the door-bell and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea that it might be Colonel Fitzwilliam himself.

But when she answered the door she was amazed when she saw Mr. Darcy standing without. He removed his hat and asked how she was feeling.

She answered him with cold civility that she was feeling much better. Observing the courtesies she asked him in out of the cold, led the way into the parlour, and invited him to sit down. He did so and she followed suit. He sat for a few moments and then getting up walked about the room, obviously agitated. Elizabeth was surprised but said nothing. After a long silence he came towards her chair and spoke.

“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

Elizabeth was greatly astonished. She coloured and was silent, having no idea what she could or should say.

This he considered sufficient encouragement to continue. He declared that he had long cared for her. He'd struggled against his knowledge of her social inferiority and that of her family. He'd struggled against the knowledge that there were many who would despise him and worse despise her.

In spite of her dislike her first instinct was to be sorry for the pain he was to receive from her rejection of his proposal and, to be honest with herself, how flattered she was to be the object of such a man’s affection. But as he spoke she was roused to resentment by his subsequent demeaning of her station.

She tried however to compose herself to answer him with patience when he would be done. He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which in spite of all his endeavours he had found impossible to conquer. He expressed his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand.

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