Darcy on the Edge Read online

  DARCY ON THE EDGE

  Charlotte E. Robins

  (A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE NOVELLA)

  COPYRIGHT

  DARCY ON THE EDGE ~ A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE NOVELLA

  Copyright © 2015 by Charlotte E. Robins

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, in whole or in part, in any form whatsoever.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters depicted in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  COPYRIGHT

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  EPILOGUE

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER 1

  FALL 1812 in LONDON

  The carriage was moving away from him and Fitzwilliam Darcy saw it make a turn out of the fashionable part of town. He thought he knew one of the occupants, as he believed he had seen Elizabeth Bennet. She was the young maiden who had commandeered his thoughts ever since he first met her at a country dance in Meryton nearly a year ago. It had been many months since he and his friend Charles Bingley and Bingley’s family left Netherfield and returned to London, but Darcy had not been successful in putting Elizabeth Bennet out of his thoughts and he was certain that he loved her. The very pounding in his chest at seeing her confirmed his belief that she was indeed alive.

  Weeks earlier the newspaper reported that she and George Wickham had died when their ship sank as they made their way to Ireland. The paper also reported them as newly married. At first he did not see the story, but Bingley told him after learning of it from his sister, Caroline. Darcy knew he would never forgot the feeling of despair and hopelessness that day as he read the news.

  Ever since he and Bingley returned to town after the Netherfield Ball, Darcy had regretted leaving Hertfordshire. He reasoned that his leaving would protect his heart from the bewitching Elizabeth Bennet. With Bingley removed from Elizabeth’s elder sister, Jane, who Darcy was convinced was not in love with his friend, he thought he could also forget Elizabeth. Thoughts of her lively spirit and her dancing eyes doomed his sleep and he could not avoid thinking of how it would feel to take her into his arms.

  His was a fool’s folly for even as he left Netherfield he wished to return. He could not forget her and she was nearly always in his thoughts and his eyes often searched for her as if he could magically will her appearance. Sometimes he would believe he had seen her and would be disappointed to find he was wrong. Such aberrations were becoming more frequent after learning of her death as his heart refused to believe she was lost.

  Since he left Netherfield he had put off returning to Hertfordshire, wanting to give himself time to forget about Elizabeth and it hurt him knowing that she was on friendly terms with George Wickham. The man had attempted only last summer to elope with Darcy’s young sister, Georgiana, who was but fifteen. It was only by chance that he saw his sister at Ramsgate before she and Wickham could travel to Gretna Green to wed. Darcy was distraught that the only woman whom he ever cared for appeared to be interested in the very man who tried to seduce his sister and steal her fortune.

  He now recalled his last visit to Rosings that Easter and learning from his Aunt Catherine that her parson, Mr. Collins, had married Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Such news angered him and tore at his heart to think she could be so stupid as to marry the man, but he thought she may have accepted him due to the entail of Longbourn, her family home, along the male line. He knew that Mrs. Bennet promoted such a marriage and that Elizabeth may have accepted so that Longbourn would remain in the family after her father passed on.

  Darcy had never been so relieved as when he and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, visited the parsonage and met Mr. Collins and his wife, the former Charlotte Lucas. Lady Catherine had confused Elizabeth who, along with Maria Lucas, had recently visited the parsonage but left the day before Darcy’s arrival to return to Hertfordshire. He was sorry he missed seeing her again and that thought nagged at him during the entirety of his visit. Things did not go well and Darcy and his cousin left early to return to town after Darcy told his Aunt Catherine that he and Anne de Bourgh, his cousin, would never marry. Both he and Anne told the great lady that neither desired to marry the other and that her wish for a marriage to unite the two estates of Rosings and Pemberley would never happen. Darcy left after those words and wondered if he and his Aunt Catherine would ever speak again, but at last he had set her straight of such notions. After his declaration to his aunt, Darcy felt a freedom he had never known during previous visits to Rosings, but he knew that he had not heard the last from his aunt.

  After returning to town he worked on estate matters and mostly stayed at home until that fateful day that he learned of the ship sinking. Since then, he grieved privately for her loss as he tried to fight the depression that settled over him. His younger sister Georgiana saw he was unhappy and moody and generally in high dungeon and became worried for his health because he barely ate. Darcy then sent her to Pemberley because she would not leave him alone in her quest to learn what troubled him.

  ****

  Believing he had seen Elizabeth in town, he surmised she was visiting friends or relatives and so he waited a few days before leaving, even as he returned to the same location each day in the hope of catching a glimpse of her.

  Darcy knew Elizabeth was a great walker and after leaving Netherfield he began to take many walks in town and mostly thought of her and the mistakes he made. He was convinced that she was the one woman for him and if the paper was in error and she was alive, then he would see if she was free and he would try to win her love. One morning he rode into Hertfordshire and took a room at the Meryton Inn. After resting his horse and eating a meal, he rode near Longbourn and ventured on the road toward Oakham Mount, where she often walked.

  The weather was cooler now and he thought he might find her in the early afternoon if it were sunny, as this late in the year the early morning was usually too cold for her walks. As he turned onto the road it was mere minutes before he spotted a figure in the distance. His eyes could not tell who it was but his heart knew and the pounding in his chest continued as he noticed a women approach. Darcy had recently grown a beard and was not dressed as immaculately as when he stayed at Netherfield. He had done this intentionally so he would not be recognized, but now he worried that he might scare off the person.

  He watched as the woman approached slowly and saw Elizabeth in the distance.

  Who is this man on his horse and why would he be on this road on a chilly afternoon? He appears dressed as a gentlemen but I do not recognize him. I must be careful. She stopped to pick up a fist sized rock and held it in her hand against her skirts as she drew closer in case there was trouble but soon was close enough to hear the man.

  "Miss Bennet,” he exclaimed as he fought with his emotions to keep calm.

  A sudden emotion swept over her as she saw the very same man that she often thought of since they first met nearly a year ago. Her eyes narrowed and she could not fathom why he had come all this way. The shock at seeing him again after so many months had her confused and she could not determine what her feelings were at the time. What she was certain of was that she wished to be careful with her tongue, knowing their propensity to argue with each other. Next she searched his face and watched as he dismounted and walked nearer to her and she curtseyed as he bowed. It was a strange feeling she had and her stomach was in butterflies as few words came to her to speak. What can this mean for him to come this far? Did he believe the story, and why should he come since he always
despised me? I do not like his beard either but at least I do not have to be concerned about him assaulting me.

  “Mr. Darcy,” she said, still slowly approaching and hoping to quiet the pounding in her chest as she tried to gather her thoughts.“I barely noticed it was you, what with your beard. I suppose that I do not need this,” she said as she dropped the rock in her hand. “What brings you to Hertfordshire, sir?”

  “You most certainly do not need to protect yourself, Miss Bennet and I am happy you have not used your weapon against me.” Darcy was so eager to come and learn of her fate that he did not have a reasonable answer to her question.

  “I needed to learn if the newspaper report was correct and I hoped and prayed it was a mistake.” And I longed to assuage my heart and look at your lovely face. I needed to breathe the same air as you and hear the sound of your sweet voice again. You have me undone, Miss Bennet.

  “Others have asked me the same question. Mr. Darcy, my sister Lydia and Mr. Wickham were on the ship that sank on the way to Ireland. The reporter used the name Lizzy instead of Lydia. They both eloped from Brighton and were heading to Dublin after Mr. Wickham ran away from the militia.”

  “Both Mr. Bingley and his sisters believe you were on the ship. I am sorry to learn of your loss but happy that you are well. May I ask about the rest of your family?”

  “Considering that we have lost our dear Lydia, I suppose all of us are doing well, Mr. Darcy. Everything is nearly back to normal. Lydia’s elopement was a big concern at first but the story confirmed that the couple had married, so that quieted those who might hold our family in contempt. We had just got over the abandonment by our Netherfield friends the day after the Netherfield Ball and then we had the business with Lydia and Mr. Wickham to deal with. Jane, in particular, has suffered the most. You do know that she is in love with your friend?”

  Darcy knew not how to respond. He was happy to have his beard for he blushed fiery red at her words. Seeing her reaction he looked into her eyes and began to speak.

  “Then you shall hate me more than any man in the world, Miss Bennet, for I was in league with Mr. Bingley’s sisters to separate him from your sister. I am very sorry and apologize for being such a fool.”

  “Why have you come all this way, sir?”

  Darcy could not hide his feelings. “Miss Bennet, I have not been myself since I left Netherfield and wished to see you again. I should never have left Netherfield and was angry that you appeared to favor Mr. Wickham.”

  He is not the prideful and haughty man that he was in Netherfield. I wonder if he has come with his friend. No, he has come for another reason, but he said he missed seeing me.

  “At the time I did think highly of the man, but later I learned the sad truth about his character. When he and Lydia eloped, I was not surprised, but now he and my sister are gone. Why should you have been troubled by Mr. Wickham? I do not understand. You said I was tolerable and not handsome enough for you that first night we met at the Meryton Assembly. Can you explain that?”

  “No, I am afraid that would be impossible. What I will say is that my opinion was the opposite before the assembly was concluded. Miss Bennet, please allow me to apologize for saying those words that evening, and I have no reason to have said them. I was in high dudgeon that evening and thought only Mr. Bingley could hear what I said. Since those words, I have attempted to be more civil with you and we had many spirited debates, of which you won most.”

  “Aside from your beard, you are very different from before, and I do accept your apology, sir. Since you have been honest with me, let me do the same. When you left I suspected you and Mr. Bingley’s sisters talked your friend into leaving. I hated you for it, but no longer do. Jane has told me that she could have done more to let your friend know of her feelings, but she did not. So I expect that was one of the reasons he left, was it not?”

  “That is correct. I can tell you that I believe Charles is in love with your sister.”

  “But he has not returned since leaving last November. Neither did he attempt to contact Jane when she was in town last January and saw his sisters on three occasions and left messages for him.”

  Darcy turned his head down in shame and looked at his feet. “I was not aware that Caroline did not tell him about your sister’s visits and he never said anything about any messages that your sister left for him. He did tell me that Caroline had promised to include a letter from him with the letter she sent on the day we left for town. I also gave her a letter addressed to Mr. Bennet and your family, thanking them for their kindness during my stay in Hertfordshire. Did your father ever receive it? I should have preferred to send you a letter but that would have been inappropriate.”

  Elizabeth watched Darcy color as she responded that Caroline did not include Bingley’s letter and that as far as she knew, her father did not receive a letter either. She did tell Darcy that in Caroline’s brief letter to Jane, Caroline implied that Mr. Bingley and the others would very likely never return to Netherfield. She also told Jane in town that Mr. Bingley and Miss Darcy would likely soon marry. “Mr. Darcy, that likely put a knife into her heart.”

  “That is disgraceful and she has lied. My sister is very young and neither have any romantic feelings for the other. For her to tell your sister such lies does not surprise me so much, now that we have been talking about it. Mr. Bingley also wrote some letters to your sister and he asked Caroline to include them in letters she would address to your sister, but I suppose she never received any of them?”

  “No, she did not. What are your thoughts?”

  Darcy looked at her in pain. “I will speak with Charles when I return to town. There is no need to spend much effort to identify who is responsible. Charles will soon discover the truth.”

  “I cannot be proud of being so silent about Mr. Wickham when I was at Netherfield. Had I been more straight forward, I might have prevented your sister from being with the man.”

  “No, that is not true. Soon after you left, rumors began to spread that Wickham had accumulated large debts in Meryton and gambling debts with the officers. Worse than that, he had seduced the daughter of one of the merchants in Meryton. The girl gave birth to a child not three weeks ago. Lydia knew of these things but still it mattered not to her, so you are not responsible.”

  “Miss Bennet, Mr. Wickham attempted to elope with my sister, Georgiana, that summer before we came to Hertfordshire. At the time she was but fifteen. I came upon them whilst they were at Ramsgate and prevented the elopement. Later, Wickham told me he just wanted my sister’s inheritance and that he did not love my sister. He is worse than bad, Miss Bennet.”

  “Then, you did not cheat him out of the inheritance that he said your father promised him?”

  “No, he was promised the living and was to study to become a minister and later would have a church in Klympton, but he refused it and asked instead for money to study the law. I gave him three-thousand pounds for this purpose but he went through the money in a few months and returned to ask for more money but I denied him. It was not long after that he planned the elopement. Had he succeeded, my sister would have been ruined and his revenge on me would have been complete. This is why I hated seeing him work on you.”

  Elizabeth never knew why the men were so at odds and whenever they were in close proximity she could feel the undercurrent of tension. She now recalled that Mr. Wickham had avoided the Netherfield Ball because he knew Mr. Darcy would be there. He knew he had wronged Darcy and likely wished to avoid such unpleasantries.

  Darcy had not been observing Elizabeth but when he next looked at her he saw her struggling to hold back tears. The last thing she wished was for Darcy to see her in tears, so she braced herself to be strong. Both men did her family ill, and Mr. Darcy had already confessed to his role in separating Mr. Bingley from Jane. Part of Elizabeth wanted to jump on him and attack him and let him feel her sister’s hurt and shame, but she did not have it in her and she found it harder to still be angry with him.
Seeing him humble himself before her increased her good opinion of him and she would not make his situation any worse. If he stayed long enough, she might learn more of Mr. Bingley and other news as well. No, Elizabeth would put up with the man in the interest of Jane and Mr. Bingley, but now there was a different reason. She remembered how she had been prejudiced against him at Netherfield, even as he treated her with civility and now she understood why Darcy disliked Wickham. Charlotte Lucas told her that Mr. Darcy cared for her and her sister spoke of his goodness, but Elizabeth would not listen. Perhaps he does not hate me after all, but why would he put up with me after I have treated him so poorly?

  “I am sorry to upset you, Miss Bennet,” he said, as they slowly walked toward Oakham Mount. Many minutes later he saw the sun dip behind a cloud and next there was some wind and they both felt a chill as they walked. He then noticed Elizabeth wrap her arms about herself in an attempt to warm her person. “Listen, Miss Bennet, please use my jacket to warm yourself as we return you to Longbourn. Do not worry, I will leave before anyone notices me.”

  “Mr. Darcy, my father is in London and my mother is staying with her sister, my Aunt Phillips, who is sick. You shall come to Longbourn and visit as well as dine with us. I insist.”

  Darcy could not believe his good fortune and thanked her for the offer. Even with Darcy’s jacket she continued to shiver. She watched as he mounted his horse and just as quickly he pulled her onto his lap and they were on their way hurrying to her home. Though she had a fear of horses, Elizabeth understood she needed to get out of the cold and riding on his horse would be the fastest way. She amazed herself by accepting his offer and actually enjoyed the ride as she could feel his nearness and sense his fragrance of musk, spice and leather, just as she recalled from nearly a year ago. She was surprised how easily he had pulled her up onto the horse. He was a large man and she was glad that he was a gentleman, for she would stand no chance if he meant to do her harm. There was something different in the way they interacted and she felt the beginning of a blossoming approbation for the man. His closeness was inviting and she felt protected next to him as they rode up to the house and he helped her off the horse. The brief feeling of her body next to his awakened stirrings in her and she recalled the look in his eyes and wondered what he felt. The ride was too short for them both as Darcy turned his horse over to a stable boy.