Excerpt from Mr Darcy: A Man with a Plan

Happy Friday! Somewhat in keeping with the monthly theme (‘Any Excuse Will Do’), I’ve pulled an excerpt from an older story of mine, ‘Mr Darcy A Man with a Plan’. In the story, Elizabeth and Darcy meet in town very soon after the failed proposal in Kent. He wants her to realise she was wrong about him and, as shown in this excerpt, manufactures an excuse to see her to show that he is not as terrible a person as she accused him of being. Of course, his thoughts soon turn to wanting to win her love. It takes a bit of time–Elizabeth is rather spooked after discovering she was so wrong about Mr Darcy and Wickham–but they eventually end up having their happily ever after (of course!). I hope you enjoy this snippet from the story. It starts after his initial encounter with Elizabeth who (he rightly suspects) was once again reading the letter he wrote to her.

Darcy was consumed with thoughts of Elizabeth for the rest of the day. He wanted—needed—to see her again. If she just once looked at him with something other than the disdain and anger he had seen in Kent, it might erase the shadow her misunderstanding had cast over his thoughts. He would be vindicated and in that find his release.

They [the Gardiners and Elizabeth] visiting Kew Gardens upon the morrow.

I could take Georgiana with me to justify my presence. She would enjoy it, and we have not spent enough time together since my return from Kent.

He would see Elizabeth, confirm that she thought better of him, and close the book on his foolish infatuation with her.

***

The next morning, he collected Georgiana, who was staying with his aunt, Lady Romsley, and they made their way to the gardens. After wandering around for a better part of an hour, he at last spotted Elizabeth. He directed his sister onto a path which would intersect with Elizabeth and her companions, who included Mrs Gardiner, a gentleman—Mr Gardiner, no doubt— and two children.

“Miss Bennet,” he said, keeping his tone and demeanour polite despite his racing heart, “Mrs Gardiner, we meet again.”

“Mr Darcy,” Mrs Gardiner said, curtseying. “What a startling coincidence. Is it not, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth, particularly lovely in a striped pink gown, looked repeatedly between him and Georgiana.

Darcy said, “As the weather was so promising, my sister and I decided it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.”

Mrs Gardiner smiled politely. “Our thoughts were very similar, and we felt certain my niece would enjoy spending the day in such delightful surroundings.”

Introductions were made, and Darcy prayed he was not making a grave error for himself or Georgiana. The Gardiners were not the sort of people they usually knew. However, it was the only way to ensure he had the time he needed with Elizabeth, and an hour or two in their presence would not be so very bad.

“Miss Darcy, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Elizabeth said, smiling warmly.

“A-a-and you, Miss Bennet,” Georgiana stammered. “Are you enjoying your tour?”

Elizabeth eyes remained on Georgiana. Darcy wished she would at least look at him but was nevertheless pleased with the kindness Elizabeth was showing his sister. It is proof that she believes what I wrote in my letter. She acknowledges how infamously that scoundrel Wickham treated Georgiana! It was a victory. She must have acquitted him of cruelty towards Wickham at the very least.

Mrs Gardiner suggested they walk together, and Darcy quickly agreed. He longed to listen to Elizabeth and Georgiana’s conversation, but Mr Gardiner demanded his attention.

“I understand you first met my niece in Hertfordshire?”

Darcy nodded.

“And saw her again in Kent?”

Darcy again nodded.

“It is quite a coincidence that you have now, by chance, encountered her twice in the last two days. Quite astonishing, really.”

Darcy’s attention turned to the man by his side. Mr Gardiner had the air of an intelligent, successful man of fashion. Surely, this could not be the uncle in trade, Mrs Bennet’s brother? Darcy soon learnt that indeed he was. It was a shock, and one on which he would have to reflect further. “Indeed, sir, it is.”

Mr Gardiner said no more, and Darcy resumed his study of Georgiana and Elizabeth as they walked together. A sharp pang of sorrow struck him; Elizabeth should have been introduced to Georgiana as her future sister. How Georgiana would have rejoiced! But all she will have is the memory of a pleasant hour spent with a kind lady she will never see again.

The party wandered for some time. Darcy remained by Georgiana’s side as much as possible since that was where Elizabeth was. It somehow happened that, on the final part of their tour when they went to view the Chinese pagoda, Darcy found himself walking with Elizabeth some steps behind the others.

“Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth spoke quickly. “I feel I must take this most unexpected opportunity to offer you an apology.” Her voice was low and discreet, and he had to listen attentively lest he miss her words. “I am sure neither of us wishes to discuss the occasion of our last encounters in Kent, but I feel I must. I misjudged you, and for that I am truly sorry. I allowed… Well, it is unimportant, and I know you care little for my personal reflections, but I hope you shall accept my apology. At the very least, you can derive satisfaction from knowing your letter was effective. Your character has been well-defended.”

As the last word left her mouth, she nodded briefly at Darcy and joined Georgiana and the Gardiner children. In a cheerful tone, she cried, “Susan, Edmund, I do hope you are not quizzing Miss Darcy too severely! Miss Darcy, do not feel compelled to answer all their questions.”

Darcy did not hear the conversation which followed, too lost was he in his own reflections. She admitted to misunderstanding him. It is what he had desired. But did she regret—?

His sister’s voice pulled his thoughts away from Elizabeth, and he joined the children; young Edmund had a question about frogs that Georgiana could not answer.

Mrs Gardiner had arranged for them to take refreshments at the end of the tour, and she kindly invited the Darcys to join them. After at first demurring, and upon the lady asking again, Darcy accepted.

“Well, Lizzy,” Mr Gardiner said when they were all seated, “were you amply diverted? It is not Hertfordshire, but were the gardens an acceptable substitute for the day?”

Elizabeth laughed. “Yes, Uncle, they were more than acceptable.” She smiled at her uncle, her love for him evident in her dark eyes.

How I wish she would look at me thusly, Darcy thought.

“And you Miss Darcy, have you enjoyed your day?” Mrs Gardiner asked.

“Yes, v-very much, thank you.”

When the time came to separate, Mr Gardiner said, “Mr Darcy, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Should you ever find yourself in our part of London, Gracechurch Street that is, we would be happy to welcome you.”

Darcy thought he caught a glint of amusement in the man’s eye as he glanced at his niece.

“Sir,” he said before turning to thank Mrs Gardiner and take his leave of her and her children.

Lastly, he looked at Elizabeth, fair, lovely Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet.”

“Mr Darcy.”

It was such an unremarkable exchange, and yet it felt so very significant.

***

Comfortably ensconced in a wing chair in his bedchamber that night, Darcy spent several hours contemplating the day’s events and, most of all, Elizabeth. She had apologised, but did she despise him still? He had wanted her to know that she was mistaken about his character, and she said that she knew she had misjudged him. He should be satisfied, and yet he wanted more. He wanted her to regret refusing him.

Sometime later, after pacing the floor and consuming a second glass of brandy, he understood that she would never regret refusing him and that her feelings were just. He had invited her censure and dislike by his manner. And the words he had spoken—how abhorrent and insulting they now seemed! Had he really been so arrogant as to assume that he could insult her and those she cared about, and she would be grateful for his proposals?

To his shame, he had. Other women might have overlooked his manner and accepted him, but not his most excellent Elizabeth.

But she was not his Elizabeth. Despite everything that had passed between them, he still loved her and wished—oh how he wished—she had accepted him!

Another hour was spent regretting the past. He had missed so many opportunities to make her admire him, to help her under- stand what he did: that they were perfectly suited and could have a fulfilling, joyful life together. If only he had done this or said that! Why had he not made more of an effort? Why had he only understood when it was too late?

But was it? Could he not fight for her, change her opinion and win her regard? It would require effort, perhaps a great effort, but she—Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of an insignificant country gentleman—was worth fighting for.

As dawn broke, Darcy went to his study, pulled out several sheets of paper, and sharpened his pen. He wrote to Bingley, who was visiting friends in Dorset but was expected in town within the week. He had a second letter to write but took time to consider to whom he should address it. He rejected Mr Bennet—they had scarcely exchanged a dozen words—and decided on Sir William Lucas.

Once finished, Darcy wearily climbed the stairs, and went to his bed.

That’s it! Darcy now has his plan in place. How could Elizabeth possibly resist a determined Mr Darcy? I hope you enjoyed this short excerpt!

Lucy