Chapter Seven

Elizabeth

Six Days Later

E lizabeth hurried down Lambton's narrow roads, her face burning under the gaze of the locals who seemed to watch her every move.

"Please, let us hurry. I cannot stand the way they are looking at me," she whispered urgently.

She rushed forward, her bonnet drawn into her face, but she still felt the way people were looking at her. Was that strange to say? She had always considered it a little peculiar when her younger sister Kitty would swear she could feel people looking at them. She had dismissed them as silly young girls, but now she felt it herself.

Six days had passed since her unfortunate encounter with Mr Darcy, and she had to confess her aunt had been right. What she had regarded as a harmless unfortunate accident had filled the minds of Lambton's citizens with joyous entertainment. The story of her and Mr Darcy's encounter had spread all through town, and everywhere she went she heard people talking about it. Not just her, Charles reported that he and her uncle overheard people at the tavern where they had dined together, talking about the beast having his way with a poor girl visiting town.

Worse, she and Jane had heard it as well. People did not recognise her as she was not from here, thus making it possible for her to hear what people were saying directly. If they had known it was her they were talking about, she might not have been privy to the true depth of the disaster she had on her hands.

She'd been called a poor, helpless girl who had been viciously assaulted by Mr Darcy in broad daylight and stripped of her clothing. Another gossiper had referred to her as a brazen young woman had thrown herself at the man in hopes of making him marry her. The stories of how she had ended up half-dressed in his company had grown from day to day. It was mortifying.

"Lizzy!" Jane called from behind, trying to catch up.

"Jane, I cannot face these people. I must remain indoors," Elizabeth replied. "The more we venture out, the more people seem to talk. The longer we stay here, the more people will know who I am. What are we to do? I am already the target of all this malicious gossip."

"I wish I knew. Perhaps you should come away with Charles and me when we leave in a few days' time for Sheffield," Jane suggested. She and Charles had put off their departure a little longer due to their aunt's accident and Elizabeth's growing troubles.

"So soon?" Elizabeth stopped in her tracks and turned around. "You are leaving?"

"We cannot delay any longer. The home Charles wants to look at has been viewed by a great many. If we do not go to look at it, it will be gone, and who knows when we will find another suitable home. Come with us. You said it yourself, the quicker we get away, the better for you."

"I cannot leave Aunt Gardiner here alone," Elizabeth said miserably.

"Of course you can. Indeed, I think you must. We will put distance between you and the story, and with any luck, if you stay with us in Sheffield, Charles can introduce you to some of his eligible friends, and soon enough, all of this will simply be a bad memory," Jane reassured her.

Elizabeth linked her arm under her sister's, and they went on towards the inn together.

"I cannot help but fret what will happen if the tale of this reaches our father and mother," Elizabeth said. "Then I will be utterly ruined."

"Charles assured me he was not always like that. But losing his sister truly changed him for the worst. I must say, I had no idea of the kind of horrible he was now," Jane remarked.

"Mr Wickham told me that Mr Darcy was always like this. He said that his appearance now matches his wicked heart although I do not think that is correct. His character is truly abhorrent. But I must say I expected him to look… different."

"Indeed, me too. From what I had heard, I had envisioned someone with a mask for a face. But despite his poor manners and awful temper, I found him quite handsome still, despite his ill manners" Jane said, and Elizabeth smiled.

"Let me tell Charles that his wife finds another man handsome."

"Lizzy!" Jane said, pushing her sister gently. "Did you not think so?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I think if he weren't such a vile man, I would hardly have noticed his scars. I do hope that Charles is now cured of the notion that he and Mr Darcy could ever be friends again."

"I think he is, although he is quite melancholy about it," Jane admitted. But then she stopped so suddenly, she jerked Elizabeth back so hard she almost fell backward.

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked anxiously.

"The carriage. Do you not see it?" Jane paused, her eyes wide. "That is… Lady Catherine de Bourgh's family crest on the side."

Elizabeth had the misfortune of meeting Lady Catherine de Bourgh's several months ago when she had come to visit her friend Charlotte, who had married Elizabeth's cousin, Mr Collins, the vicar at Hunsford. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's was his patroness.

She found the woman quite impossible, and high in the instep. Elizabeth had dreaded every single dinner she had had to take her. And now she was here? Would this misfortune never end?

"She does not seem to be the kind to stay at a humble posting inn. Perhaps they are just changing horses," Jane said, who had accompanied Elizabeth on the visit to Rosings Park and found the woman insufferable herself.

They cautiously stepped inside, looking left and right to ensure they would not run into the unpleasant woman. The sisters hurried forth, however, they were stopped when a familiar figure stepped into their path. To Elizabeth's relief it wasn't Lady Catherine de Bourgh—alas, the moment she focused on the person's face she understood it was far worse than that. Standing before her was none other than her insufferable cousin Mr William Collins.

***

"Cousin Elizabeth, there you are. Your aunt and uncle told me that you were out for a walk, rather brazen given your current predicament."

Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. Mr Collins had not changed one bit, neither in appearance nor attitude. His snide, judgmental manner of speaking had bothered her back when he had attempted to make her his wife, and it bothered her even more now.

"Mr Collins, I did not know that you were in Lambton," she said, ignoring his words.

"I was not. I was sent here on an errand by my esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. But it would not be proper to speak about such matters out here in public," he said, looking around the space where several people were waiting for their coaches to be prepared while others engaged in lunch. Elizabeth glanced at Jane, who had stepped forward and greeted their cousin.

"Mrs Bingley, you have made a lovely match, have you not?" Mr Collins continued. "I will not deny that I had hopes that you and I might..." He chuckled and waved his hand. "Foolish thoughts, of course as it was clear you were already moon eyed over Mr Bingley. In any case, I am perfectly happy with my Charlotte now, as I am sure you are with your Mr Bingley. Now, the two of you accompany me upstairs?"

Reluctantly, Elizabeth did so, and when they were in the privacy of her aunt and uncle's chamber, she saw that her arrival had been anticipated. Her aunt was out of bed and dressed, seated in a chair by the fire, while her uncle sat beside her. Charles was there also, standing by the window, although when he saw Jane arrive, he walked across the room to greet her with a kiss on the hand.

"Elizabeth," her uncle said in a tone that spoke of exasperation, "there you are. Your cousin Mr Collins has come with a message from his patroness."

"Well, I shall not be too long-winded," her cousin said as he sat across from her, his arms crossed. "As they say, I have been sent here with a message from Lady Catherine and her brother, the Earl of Matlock. They have heard about your situation."

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "I do not know which situation you mean. I presume you are alluding to the very minor accident I had last week with a local gentleman."

"Not just any local gentleman," Mr Collins said with a smirk. "Mr Darcy is not just a fine gentleman, who is well respected in the area. He is also the nephew of Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock. His mother, Lady Anne was their sister. That is why I was sent here." Elizabeth glanced at Jane, who did not seem surprised by this news.

Was it news? She could not quite remember if she had ever heard of Mr Darcy being related to her cousin's patroness. It shouldn't have surprised her as it seemed quite clear the universe was conspiring against her.

"I do not see what his relation has anything to do with you being here," her uncle said flatly.

"But it does, Mr Gardiner, it does. You see, word has reached Matlock that Mr Darcy and Miss Bennet were seen in an unseemly situation. A scandalous situation, one might say. There is word that the two of them have had a…" He shuddered. "Clandestine affair."

"I beg your pardon, Mr Collins!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "I have had no clandestine relationships with anybody, and most certainly not with Mr Darcy. I've hardly been here a week."

But her cousin simply shrugged. "Be that as it may, word has spread, and the masses will believe anything that is scandalous enough. I daresay your reputation is quite ruined, and Mr Darcy's family does not wish for there to be yet another scandal attached to their name. The dreadful fire and loss of Miss Darcy was terrible enough. Now this? No, it cannot stand. That is why I have been sent to you to relay a message. You must marry Mr Darcy post-haste before things get out of hand."

Elizabeth felt as if she'd just stepped off a cliff and was plummeting to the ground below. Her thoughts were racing. Marriage to Mr Darcy? Her cousin had to have lost his mind. There was no other explanation for it.

"I will not marry Mr Darcy," she said, shaking her head. "Uncle, please put a stop to this ludicrous idea."

However, her uncle said nothing. Instead, he glanced at his wife, who cleared her throat.

"Elizabeth, I know that this is shocking and very unfortunate. Indeed, I had hoped that you were correct and the entire affair would blow over, but if news has already spread to Matlock, it's only a matter of time before it gets to Longbourn. Lizzy, you might be ruined. This might be your only chance."

"Only chance?" How could he say such things? Marrying Mr Darcy?

"No. I will not do it. He is impossible. He is unkind. He has no manners..."

"I assure you he is very well-mannered," Charles interjected. "At least he was. I know all those good qualities are buried or perhaps gone for good, but regardless I must agree with Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock."

Charles as well? Was everybody joining in this conspiracy to make her marry this impossible man? She looked at her sister, but she could not meet Elizabeth's eyes.

"No," Elizabeth muttered, "no… I will not. Besides, he would never marry me. He despises me as much as I do him."

Mr Collins replied with a click of the tongue. "You may despise him, he may despise you, but in the end, it does not matter. Marriage is the only way to save both of your reputations. And to that end, a messenger has been dispatched to Pemberley to relay a similar message. Indeed, I am certain that you will hear from him very shortly with an offer of marriage. Now, is there a cup of tea to be had? I had a rather lengthy journey. And something to eat?" He looked around the room. "Is anybody else famished?"

Nobody said anything. He got up and made his way downstairs to procure refreshments.

Marrying Mr Darcy? It couldn't be. She was meant to be on a pleasant trip with her aunt, uncle, and sister. Could it really be that she was going to return to Longbourn a married woman? No… She wouldn't return to Longbourn if she was made to marry Mr Darcy. She would have to remain here and become the one thing she had never wished to be, Mistress of Pemberley.