{"id":2398,"date":"2018-03-31T14:43:08","date_gmt":"2018-03-31T18:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2398"},"modified":"2021-12-17T13:09:36","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T18:09:36","slug":"chapter-29-31-if-mr-darcy-dared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-29-31-if-mr-darcy-dared\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 29-31 If Mr. Darcy Dared"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Mrs. Bennet doesn’t get to be the hero often, but she does now!\u00a0
<\/span>XOXOX Elizabeth Ann West<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBUY DIRECT<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop iTunes\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Google Play\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Amazon\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Nook\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Kobo\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Chapter 29- If Mr. Darcy Dared<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Determined in her cause, Elizabeth Bennet stormed into Longbourn without even taking off her boots. She passed through the dining room where her father sat at the head of the table and called out to her.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“There you are,; I was beginning to wonder if I should send out a search party. But then I saw smoke rising from the hunting lodge and realized you must be quite well if you are able to build a fire,” Mr. Bennet said taking his daughter’s appearance into full consideration. Elizabeth’s hair was disheveled, barely pinned into place. Her gown was creased and the navy blue satin marred by light patches of dust. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mr. Bennet frowned. “Elizabeth Bennet!” He began to lose his temper as his daughter merely gawked at him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Her words caught in her throat, Elizabeth shook her head and broke into a run through the hallway and up the stairs with a thunderous pounding echoing through the house.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Elizabeth!” Her father called again from the dining room table as Elizabeth dashed into the room that she shared with Jane, rummaging in her trunk for what she needed. A sleepy Jane rolled over and considered her younger sister with her eyes half closed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“It’s early, Lizzy,” Jane said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth shushed her sister and abandoned their room as her father now stood at the foot of the stairs looking up. But Elizabeth again ignored him and dashed across the hall to her mother’s bedroom, swiftly closing the door behind her. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Her mother sat on the edge of her bed, her long brown hair braided to the middle of her back, with silver strands glimmering throughout as a testament to her nearly forty years of experience.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“I am not going to argue with you again, Lydia,” Mrs. Bennet began without turning around to see who entered her bedroom.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth stepped forward and spoke up. “It is not Lydia, Mama, but Lizzy.” Elizabeth’s cheeks plumped as she held her breath while her mother finally turned around with confusion painted across her face.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“And what misadventures have you already begun this morning, young lady? You look positively frightful,” Mrs. Bennet stood from her bed and walked to her wardrobe where she fetched a robe to go over her nightgown.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth held out the scrap of newspaper for her mother. Befuddled, Mrs. Bennet accepted the thin paper from her daughter as words began to tumble from Elizabeth’s mouth:<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“I wish to marry Mr. Darcy on Monday with Jane and Mr. Bingley. The papers in London have picked up the stories of what happened at the ball and soon I’m afraid even the gossip about Mr. Wickham. Mr. Darcy came here with a special license, Mama, from the Archbishop himself, and still, Papa will not allow it.\u201d Elizabeth began to pace back and forth as she continued. \u201cI know he means well, but unless we are allowed to marry I’m afraid the situation will only get worse and possibly harm the prospects of Mary, Kitty, and Lydia.” Elizabeth finished her declaration as Mrs. Bennet clutched at the lacy collar of her nightgown reading the words that one of her daughters was declared a mistress of a wealthy gentleman in the Times.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

A firm knock on the door startled both of the women and Mr. Bennet turned the knob to enter the room. At the sudden appearance of her husband, Mrs. Bennet wasted no time in dissembling into a frazzled bundle of nerves.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Mr. Bennet, are you aware of this?” Mrs. Bennet flapped the poor shred of abused paper in the air. “We must make Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth marry at once!”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth refused to meet the gaze of her father. She suddenly felt ashamed and guilty for not only going to her mother for relief, but that her father was aware she had been in the hunting cabin that morning. She thought she would not mind if her behavior forced her marriage to Mr. Darcy, but the reality of disappointing her father stung her heart more than she could have anticipated. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

And so while her parents argued, Elizabeth focused on the amusing pattern of chipped paint on the bench at the foot of her mother’s bed. The exposed dark wood looked curiously like the outline of Australia, and this folly of furnishings allowed Elizabeth to push her guilt aside until her father spoke her name.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Did you meet this morning with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth?” Her father asked directly and both of her parents looked at her expectantly for an answer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Yes, I did,” Elizabeth confessed. She had never been one for lies and falsehoods. Her mother made a loud cry of astonishment.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Mr. Bennet! Surely you see,” Mrs. Bennet said pointing to her daughter. “They must be made to marry. Or who knows what might happen!”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mr. Bennet was not yet persuaded. He continued his stern look at his daughter and asked another question.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Your poor behavior this morning aside, what if I should remain unmoved in my decision?” Mr. Bennet asked and watched as Elizabeth’s posture became rigid and her hands clutched the fabric at the sides of her skirt. Her head snapped in his direction and his fierce Lizzy stared back at him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“If you deny me, then I will leave. I shall elope with Mr. Darcy and put an end to his torment and mine!” Angry tears tumbled down Elizabeth’s cheeks as Mrs. Bennet stood and embraced the daughter who had never needed her and never sought her approval. Elizabeth stood fast, blinking, at her mother’s unfamiliar affections and both women looked at Mr. Bennet expectantly.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“James, be reasonable,” Mrs. Bennet used her husband’s Christian name and the stern, protective father melted away into the wide grin of the jolly and sardonic Mr. Bennet both women were most familiar with.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Smiling, Mr. Bennet walked to his daughter whose anger dissipated into confusion as she was suddenly flanked very closely by both of her parents.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“I could not have given you away, Lizzy, until you were absolutely sure of yourself. A marriage of great passion can exhaust a couple. There will be times when the world will set itself against you and Mr. Darcy. The two of you shall have to stand steadfastly together even though you are both quick to anger and slow to forgive.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth pursed her lips at her father’s criticism of her character which made him laugh.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Do not pout, for it does not become you. Besides, no one likes a bride who is not all smiles on her wedding day,” Mr. Bennet said as Elizabeth gasped.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“You mean, I can marry Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked and both of her parents nodded.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“I warned your mother yesterday the wedding breakfast may become a doubled affair. If you will have him, and no other, then yes, you may marry that tall, dour, rich fellow of yours,” Mr. Bennet grinned and Elizabeth crushed her father with an embrace.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Standing in the doorway was her sister Jane, dressed for the day and watching the happy resolution between her sister Elizabeth and their parents.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Did you have a hand in this as well?” Elizabeth asked and Jane merely smiled.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Not only I, one of the biggest champions of your cause was Mr. Bingley. But Papa insisted that you had to be the one to demand the match,” Jane explained as Elizabeth crossed her arms in front of her chest.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Despite her family’s attempts to protect her, Elizabeth suddenly felt very cross that such orchestrations were made as a sort of test.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“And what if I had not insisted? What if I had been the dutiful daughter that would never argue against her parents\u2019 wishes?” She asked as the three of them looked at each other and shrugged. But it was Mrs. Bennet who answered.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Well, I can say that I was against the plan from the beginning. I believed you girls should be married together from the start. But then Jane related what had happened at the first assembly and then later at Netherfield Park when she was ill, and I had to agree with your father,” Mrs. Bennet declared and Elizabeth tilted her head to one side hoping her mother would further explain. If there was ever someone who enjoyed listening to the sound of her own voice, it was Mrs. Bennet. So Elizabeth was not disappointed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Your father\u2019s sister made a poor match, God rest her soul. It was almost a blessing when the Lord saw fit to take her from that monstrous brute,” Mrs. Bennet said as Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. This kept Mrs. Bennet from taking a tangent that could possibly distress their daughters. “We could not be sure about Mr. Darcy, you see, but it was agreed, Lizzy, that of all our daughters you were the most sensible. And from the sound of it, you have put Mr. Darcy through his own test of worth, have you not?” Mrs. Bennet asked and Elizabeth blushed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

An awkward silence befell the room and Elizabeth began to cry once more. She wiped her tears with the other occupants suddenly feeling alarmed on her behalf, but Elizabeth smiled.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“I thought you were all against me, and through it all, Fitzwilliam has remained constant. I believe I shall go write a note to have it sent directly to Netherfield. If you will excuse me?” Elizabeth said to her parents\u2019 nods. Her sister Jane gave her a quick embrace before Elizabeth quit the room.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Making a dramatic sigh of exhaustion, Mrs. Bennet took a seat in front of her vanity. She considered the worn face staring back at her in the looking glass. Behind her, Mr. Bennet entered into the reflection and placed two hands lovingly upon his wife’s shoulders.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“You were remarkable, my dear. In two days\u2019 time we will have married off two of our daughters,” Mr. Bennet said, gently squeezing his wife’s form which brought a glimpse of the young woman he had married twenty-four years ago.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

As Mrs. Bennet reached back to release her braid and asked Jane to call Hill, her husband took on the task of nimbly releasing her tresses from their capture.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mrs. Bennet closed her eyes and enjoyed her husband’s touch, she leaned her head back to gently rest against his fingertips. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

“I just pray that the other three are far less trouble when they make their matches.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
[swpm_protected not_for=\"3-4\" do_not_show_protected_msg=\"1\"]\n
\nAdvertisement<\/b>\n<\/center>\n[\/swpm_protected]<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
[swpm_protected not_for=\"3-4\" do_not_show_protected_msg=\"1\"]\n
\n\n