{"id":2243,"date":"2018-02-12T21:32:38","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T02:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2243"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:53:45","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:53:45","slug":"chapter-7-if-mr-darcy-dared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-7-if-mr-darcy-dared\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 7 If Mr. Darcy Dared"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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To answer a few questions \ud83d\ude42 $7.99 Direct preorder is until 2\/28. After that it will be $9.99 and the book will be on preorder on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Kobo, and Nook 2\/26 to 3\/14 when it releases. Yes, readers who buy direct get it FIRST and cheapest. \ud83d\ude42 Final chapters will post on or about 3\/14. Oh, let’s get back to the ball!

XOXO Elizabeth Ann West<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chapter 7 - If Mr. Darcy Dared<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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No sooner had the brazen display of impropriety ended than a tittering of voices filled the room. Even the musicians, who had stopped playing when they noticed none of the couples were dancing, had risen from their chairs to try to see over the throng of people as to what had caused such an interruption to the evening’s festivities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Jane mumbled her apologies away from her partner for the second set, John Lucas, and needled her lithe form through other guests who were beginning to coalesce into rings of gossip sharing. Innately she had kept track of Mr. Bingley who had been so kind to offer his hand for the second set to her sister Mary. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Poor Mr. Bingley nervously laughed as he tried to console Mary Bennet who had burst into tears. Upon spying Jane, the host of the evening smiled though an expression of great worry marred his usually affable charm.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Miss Bennet, you are unharmed, that is good! I was just explaining to Miss Mary here that I’m sure my friend has done no harm to your sister and that any moment your father and they will return with the happiest of news.” Mr. Bingley finished as Jane whipped around to stare at the ballroom door just in time to see it close with a shuddering thud.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

“You mean Papa has taken them?” Jane asked, nervously.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mr. Bingley appeared confused with Miss Mary on one arm and unable to turn to offer his arm to Jane without risking further upset to the poor girl. “Yes, as you came to us, I watched them leave.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Outside, Mr. Bennet held his daughter by the hand, urgently pulling her down the long hall away from the west wing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMr. Bennet, please, I can explain!\u201d Mr. Darcy called as he kept up with the pair, offering a conspiratorial smile when Elizabeth chanced a look at him over her shoulder.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cThere will be no explanations or discussions tonight,\u201d Mr. Bennet barked, nearly out of breath when he reached the end of the hall and instructed a footman to call his carriage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth began to cry, but her father stood stoically next to her, refusing to look at either of them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy intentions to your daughter are just and true. I confessed to her this very afternoon the deep regard I possess for her and planned to make her an offer of my hand this very evening!\u201d Mr. Darcy, unaccustomed to the rejection of a man who by his estimation should be grateful for his interest in a dowryless daughter, ignored the instruction to make no explanation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mr. Bennet said nothing in return. The seconds ticked by as the grand foyer remained quiet, save for Elizabeth\u2019s sniffles. Not even sounds from the ball echoed in the hall. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Standing next to her father, Elizabeth felt a gentle brush of her free hand, and she involuntarily looked in Mr. Darcy\u2019s direction, revealing her cheeks stained with tears. Her movement caught her father\u2019s attention, and he glowered at the simpering look of Mr. Darcy, looking just in time to see the gentleman\u2019s hand pull away.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou dare to touch my daughter again?\u201d Mr. Bennet asked, genuinely bemused by the novelesque scandal developing around him, though still fatherly enough to guide Elizabeth behind him as he now stood between his daughter and her beau.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cIf you would just listen for a moment\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cNo!\u201d Mr. Bennet scoffed, adding a laugh making Mr. Darcy very confused. \u201cThe beauty of this situation, Mr. Darcy, is great man that you are, I am still Elizabeth\u2019s father. Until you come to me, formally, and request my permission\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cThat is what I am trying to do, sir, if you allow me\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy, you are a fool in love!\u201d Mr. Bennet established his dominance over the young whelp, for even though Mr. Darcy had him in height, Mr. Bennet had him in years. Blinking furiously, Mr. Darcy held his breath as Mr. Bennet laid out his terms.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou have acted irrationally, young man, and impulsively. Come tomorrow to Longbourn after you have had a good night to think about your actions and all those you have harmed.\u201d At this, Elizabeth let out a small cry behind her father as his words could just as easily be applied to her. Hearing his daughter\u2019s distress behind him, Mr. Bennet relented in scolding the proud and stuffy Mr. Darcy, remembering he could torment this suitor for so long as it humored him. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou mean to deny me your daughter\u2019s hand?\u201d Mr. Darcy asked, in a tone that did not sound appeasing but dripping with disgust.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Feeling the warmth of his hastily chugged brandy running through his veins, Mr. Bennet held back an ill-timed burp so that it came out as a squeaky hiccough. He was further spared answering Mr. Darcy when a footman arrived to say their carriage was called.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cTell Mr. Darcy goodnight, Elizabeth. We shall see if his courage lasts until the dawn.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Large tears blurred Elizabeth\u2019s vision as she took one last look at Mr. Darcy before leaving Netherfield Park in humiliation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cI shall come! Tomorrow, as your father asks!\u201d Mr. Darcy called as he gallantly followed Mr. Bennet and his daughter to the portico and remained until the carriage door was shut and the vehicle rolled down the drive.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Raking his hands through his hair, Fitzwilliam cursed himself for how he managed to bungle every moment with his fair Elizabeth far worse than if he set out in those aims to start! Guarded looks exchanged between the two footmen and a slightly audible snort made Darcy turn, his face wild with rage. About to lose his temper upon a servant, a behavior he never allowed himself at home, Mr. Darcy inhaled sharply through his nose and pressed his lips thin in disgust. The younger footman, braver than his colleague, spoke.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMay I get you anything, sir?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Scowling as he turned around to see the tail end of the carriage carrying away his love before it made the bend, Mr. Darcy clenched the stone railing before him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Feeling the pain of scraping his fingertips along the coarse grain, Darcy sighed and found his composure. As he turned and began to walk away, he gave one last order to the servants. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cIf your master asks, tell him I have retired for the evening.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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