Mr. Darcy's Vow: A Pride and Prejudice Story by Timothy Underwood & A Lady

Author:Timothy Underwood & A Lady
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-04-20T06:00:00+00:00

After dinner, Elizabeth and Darcy immediately gravitated towards each other in the drawing room. They sat in a corner, with blue and white tea cups between them on a small rosewood table. Naturally, as they looked at Jane and Bingley smiling together, the conversation turned towards the couple.

Darcy spoke, sipping at his tea, “They make a handsome couple.”

“And they are perfect for each other. I like Bingley more every week.”

“He is the best of friends. He deserves happiness. I only slightly know Miss Bennet, though. Tell me more of your sister.”

“Jane? She is an angel. She always believes the best of everyone. For a long time, I feared someone would take advantage of her sweetness, and I always thought it necessary to protect Jane. Once —” Elizabeth hesitated and stared into her tea and breathed the fragrant odor from the thick brew. The candlelight glinted off the milky surface. Placing cup back down, Elizabeth’s eyes shot back to Darcy’s. “Did you ever hear my mother tell the story of the man who wrote Jane a sonnet when she was fifteen? Likely you did. She has always been fond of it.”

The seriousness of Elizabeth’s manner confused Darcy. “I heard something about it. It is fortunate for my friend that the attachment did not ripen.”

Elizabeth glanced around the room. All of the other guests were intent on their own conversations. She spoke in a hushed voice which would not carry, “It is my fault it ended so suddenly — I do not think I acted wrongly, but… what I did has still gnawed at me.”

“You need not share this story if you think it best unsaid.”

“No — I have told no one this, not even Jane, it would please me — I wish you to know it.”

At Darcy’s nod and intent expression, Elizabeth began, “We were in London visiting my aunt and uncle for a few months, and a man became infatuated with Jane. He was ten years older than her — twenty-five seemed far more aged to me then. He was a boring and shallow man. Jane neither liked nor disliked him, but she was determined to think the best of him. Mama was enthralled by the thought of the match for, while much poorer than Bingley, he had a respectable estate.”

Elizabeth looked at her hands. “It was the way his eye lingered on Jane’s figure when he thought himself unobserved that made me dislike him. I was sure he only wished to marry Jane due to her beauty. He couldn’t understand her goodness and character. Today, Jane — until she met Bingley she discouraged every potential suitor because she did not feel what she ought. But… we were both so young. I… I thought she would do what Mama wished.

“I had servants trail the man — I sold jewels which had been a gift to pay them — and found he kept a mistress on the outskirts of town. He visited her constantly despite courting Jane. He recited his horrid poetry to Jane and left in his carriage and headed straight to that woman.

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