his face, seeing great pain. She knew it hurt deeply to have to discuss this. There was more to this situation between him and Elizabeth than either of them was willing to share, but because she felt he was still so physically weak and this line of conversation was taxing on him, she decided to let the subject drop… for a while at least. She was content to stay at his side while he rested and she pondered what could be done to remedy this state of affairs. She had a curious conviction that her brother and Elizabeth belonged together.
*~*~*
Elizabeth returned to her room to begin packing. She had a diversity of feelings about leaving Pemberley . She regretted leaving Georgiana, but wanted to be out of Mr. Darcy’s presence as soon as possible. She knew from this last encounter and what had happened previously between them that his regard for her certainly must have dwindled to nothing. How he must congratulate himself that she had not accepted him and that he was not bound to her in any way. Yet knowing he felt this way did not sit well with her.
She knew Pemberley’s servants would be willing to pack for her, but she chose to do it herself. At the moment, she wanted the solitude of her room and its refuge. As she proceeded to gather her things, she realized her hands were shaking. If she had known how these few days would have turned out, she never would have agreed to come. Yet how could she regret the friendship that had developed between her and Georgiana? And she certainly could not regret Jane’s and Charles’ engagement.
She went to the dressing table and picked up her personal items and put them in her small bag. She picked up her bottle of toilet water and carefully tucked it inside, guarding that it would not turn over and spill. The sight of it reminded her that she needed to go looking for her handkerchief. Where had she last used it? At the moment she could not remember.
After lingering as long as she could in the room, Elizabeth decided to venture out and join Jane so they could make plans to leave on the morrow. She opened the door and was grateful no one was around. She carefully walked down the stairs, keeping an eye open for her sister. With each step she took down the staircase, her heart beat a little faster, knowing she was drawing closer to Mr. Darcy.
When she came to the bottom of the stairs, her gaze went directly towards the study, as if to make sure he was not about to walk through those doors. The door was slightly closed and she wondered if Georgiana had gone in to talk with him.
She walked over to the sitting room and found Jane and Bingley talking. Jane stood up quickly and reached out her hands to Elizabeth . "We saw Georgiana walk to the study. Did your talk with her assuage her distress?"
"I hope so. I cannot believe the mess I have made of things!"
"Miss Elizabeth," chimed in Bingley. "We all had a part in the decision to delay telling Georgiana the truth for a time. It was not solely your fault. I am as much to blame as you."
Elizabeth smiled. "We may all have made the decision, Mr. Bingley, but I fear that based on my history with Mr. Darcy, he is placing most of the fault, if not all, on me."
"Yes, your history with Darcy… That is something that has me completely baffled!" Bingley admitted. "When your sister told me of his proposal to you, I must confess I was completely astonished. In all that time we spent together, he never let on to me how he felt! In fact, he… well, I was surprised."
"I must admit I was completely caught by surprise, as well. But that is in the past, and I think it would be prudent if I be gone from here as soon as it can be arranged."
" Lizzy , surely he can be made to understand," Jane suggested.
"Possibly, someday. But until then, I think it would be best if we leave. I have begun packing and I was just about to inform Mrs. Reynolds or Winston so further arrangements can be made for our departure first thing in the morning."
"Oh how I do
*~*~*
Elizabeth returned to her room to begin packing. She had a diversity of feelings about leaving Pemberley . She regretted leaving Georgiana, but wanted to be out of Mr. Darcy’s presence as soon as possible. She knew from this last encounter and what had happened previously between them that his regard for her certainly must have dwindled to nothing. How he must congratulate himself that she had not accepted him and that he was not bound to her in any way. Yet knowing he felt this way did not sit well with her.
She knew Pemberley’s servants would be willing to pack for her, but she chose to do it herself. At the moment, she wanted the solitude of her room and its refuge. As she proceeded to gather her things, she realized her hands were shaking. If she had known how these few days would have turned out, she never would have agreed to come. Yet how could she regret the friendship that had developed between her and Georgiana? And she certainly could not regret Jane’s and Charles’ engagement.
She went to the dressing table and picked up her personal items and put them in her small bag. She picked up her bottle of toilet water and carefully tucked it inside, guarding that it would not turn over and spill. The sight of it reminded her that she needed to go looking for her handkerchief. Where had she last used it? At the moment she could not remember.
After lingering as long as she could in the room, Elizabeth decided to venture out and join Jane so they could make plans to leave on the morrow. She opened the door and was grateful no one was around. She carefully walked down the stairs, keeping an eye open for her sister. With each step she took down the staircase, her heart beat a little faster, knowing she was drawing closer to Mr. Darcy.
When she came to the bottom of the stairs, her gaze went directly towards the study, as if to make sure he was not about to walk through those doors. The door was slightly closed and she wondered if Georgiana had gone in to talk with him.
She walked over to the sitting room and found Jane and Bingley talking. Jane stood up quickly and reached out her hands to Elizabeth . "We saw Georgiana walk to the study. Did your talk with her assuage her distress?"
"I hope so. I cannot believe the mess I have made of things!"
"Miss Elizabeth," chimed in Bingley. "We all had a part in the decision to delay telling Georgiana the truth for a time. It was not solely your fault. I am as much to blame as you."
Elizabeth smiled. "We may all have made the decision, Mr. Bingley, but I fear that based on my history with Mr. Darcy, he is placing most of the fault, if not all, on me."
"Yes, your history with Darcy… That is something that has me completely baffled!" Bingley admitted. "When your sister told me of his proposal to you, I must confess I was completely astonished. In all that time we spent together, he never let on to me how he felt! In fact, he… well, I was surprised."
"I must admit I was completely caught by surprise, as well. But that is in the past, and I think it would be prudent if I be gone from here as soon as it can be arranged."
" Lizzy , surely he can be made to understand," Jane suggested.
"Possibly, someday. But until then, I think it would be best if we leave. I have begun packing and I was just about to inform Mrs. Reynolds or Winston so further arrangements can be made for our departure first thing in the morning."
"Oh how I do
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