Mr Darcy's Second Chance

Mr Darcy's Second Chance

Isabelle Mayfair

Published by Isabelle Mayfair, 2017.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

MR DARCY'S SECOND CHANCE

First edition. October 14, 2017.

Copyright © 2017 Isabelle Mayfair.

ISBN: 978-1386903185

Written by Isabelle Mayfair.

Mr Darcy’s Second Chance

Isabelle Mayfair

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter

1

Elizabeth Bennet embraced her oldest friend for the

last

time

.

I wish you did not have to leave so suddenly, Lizzy, said Charlotte Collins. Her eyes were uncharacteristically misty. I hope nothing else has occurred to trouble you? she added in a low voice.

Elizabeth gave her a reassuring smile. Nothing at all, Charlotte. I have had a wonderful time. But I cannot be easy until I have seen Jane. She does not seem quite well in her letters.

Charlotte sighed and nodded. Then of course you must go to her, she agreed.

I am sure Lady Catherine de Bourgh will not be displeased when she learns it is a mission of sisterly devotion, Mr Collins announced pompously as he came around the side of the coach. "I will explain it to her, cousin. You need have no fear of

offending

her

."

Elizabeth just about managed to avoid rolling her eyes. Thank you, Mr Collins. You are very kind, she said, dryly. And thank you for your hospitality.

It was the least I could do. I hope I can always provide hospitality when - well, when a certain unfortunate event takes place.

My dear, Charlotte scolded sharply. You forget yourself.

Thank you for thinking so much of my father’s death, Mr Collins, said Elizabeth. You are all kindness.

Mr Collins missed the caustic tone and smiled triumphantly at Charlotte, as if she should have trusted in his judgment that there was nothing offensive about discussing the death of someone’s father.

Then have a safe journey, dear cousin. I will write a note to Lady Catherine, informing her of your departure.

He gave Elizabeth a brief bow, then bustled away, puffed up with the importance of writing to the grand lady of

Rosings

Park

.

The two young ladies stared after him in silence, and Elizabeth shook her head. She could not understand how Charlotte could bear such a mate. To think, he would have been her own husband if she had accepted him. She would have been doomed to listen to his prattling, self-important nonsense every day. And like Charlotte, she would have had to devise means to get him out from under her feet. Surely it was better to be an old maid than have to live every day with a mate one could not respect

or

love

.

But it was not her rejection of Mr Collins’ proposal that was uppermost in her mind. She hugged Charlotte again.

I am very sorry for leaving so suddenly. I have loved spending time with you. She squeezed her friend’s hand. I will write you as soon as I’m in London.

Do. I shall want to hear about how Jane is. And thank you for coming here, Lizzy. My anticipation of your arrival gave me solace on many an occasion as I grew accustomed to being Mrs Collins.

Elizabeth laughed although her eyes were filled with pity. "And you have become accustomed now,

I

hope

?"

Charlotte shrugged. Oh, yes. As well as one can, you understand. I was never interested in a love match, and this marriage has given me the home and security I wished for. She smiled. I am quite content, Lizzy. You need have no fear on that score.

A soft cough from the coachman interrupted their conversation. Elizabeth sighed. I must go. I will write you soon, Charlotte.

The two girls kissed one another on the cheek, then Elizabeth climbed into the seat. She leaned out the window as the coach pulled away, and waved at Charlotte until the coach turned a corner and she was no longer in sight. The carriage pulled out onto the main road, and Elizabeth quickly pressed herself to the back of her seat to stay out of sight. Despite her guilt at ending the visit so abruptly, she felt a wave of relief as she saw the distant chimneys of Rosings Park grow smaller and smaller as they moved towards London. At least now, she was safe from encountering him again.

Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy paced the grove as he had been doing for some time. He felt sure he must have worn a path in the thick grass by now. His impatience and anxiety grew as the sun rose higher in the sky. He knew Elizabeth was an early riser and that she loved to ramble through the woods before breakfast. Mr Collins had often complained of it to Lady Catherine. This was her favourite grove. He had often devised to run into her here, and he guessed she would come here to find solace after their disastrous encounter the night before. He still had not found a way to ease the tightness in his chest when he recalled how he offered her his heart and his hand in marriage and she rejected both without any attempt to soften the blow of rejection. He had been as nervous as a schoolboy all day as he planned to finally reveal how much he loved her and that he wished her to be his wife. And in spite of his nerves, he had little doubt of being accepted. He was Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, the largest landowner in Derbyshire. He was one of the wealthiest and most eligible bachelors in the kingdom. Women chased him and hunted him everywhere he went. Papas and Mamas throughout the country plotted to throw their daughters in his path. How could a young woman with few prospects of making an advantageous marriage not fall at his feet? He was offering her the world, and an unprecedented chance to rise in society .

But in his pride and arrogance, he had forgotten how principled Elizabeth was. He knew from having the pleasure of her company that she was not a young lady out to hunt down a wealthy husband. She would hope to marry for love. It was one of the many reasons he had fallen for her. She was so unaffected and honest. He should have known she would not throw herself into his arms just for the opportunity of having a rich husband and a house

in

town

.

But her words. Mr Darcy stopped pacing and closed his eyes as they came back to him again, just as they had done all through a long, sleepless night. He had no idea her dislike for him was so strong. He knew she was less eager to win his approval than other young ladies were, but he never thought her opinion of him was so low. And it was shocking to hear it, especially at a moment when he had made himself vulnerable.

Did she really think he was so arrogant, so cold, so uncaring?

Did she honestly see him as a man who destroyed the happiness of others, namely Jane Bennet and George Wickham, for his own selfish gratification?

And was it true that she believed he did not behave in a gentleman-like manner? To the point where she would have no desire to spare his feelings when she told him he was the last man in the world she could ever marry?

The bushes rustled and Darcy spun around, his heart pounding. A bird flew up into the cerulean sky, squawking lazily. Darcy felt his heart slowly return to normal. It was almost dinner time and he had been there since before breakfast. He looked down at the envelope in his hand. It contained the letter he hoped to give Elizabeth. He had written it with her accusations still ringing in his ears. It was his attempt to defend himself against the charges she had laid at his door. He had no illusion that it would soften her heart towards him, but the injustice of her believing falsehoods about him was not something he could easily overlook.

He looked towards the path again as he had done countless times that morning. His desire to see her was so intense, he could almost fool himself she was before him, the sun reflecting on her dark hair. But the path remained empty. His chest tightened. He would have to accept that which he feared. She was not coming. She had anticipated he might try to run into her as he had done many times before. She did not wish to risk seeing him. He put the letter back in his pocket and made his way to Rosings.

W here have you been, Fitzwilliam? his aunt shrieked as soon as he appeared inside the drawing room. Keane tells me you left before breakfast, and it is now almost dinner. Explain yourself .

Darcy could barely conceal his dislike as he looked at the small, tyrannical form of his aunt. How did one tiny woman manage to dominate all around her? Why did others allow her to have so much power over their lives? It occurred to him for the first time that Elizabeth was not the only person with embarrassing relations.

I went out for a walk, Aunt. He sat down beside his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. The Colonel raised an eyebrow in question but Darcy ignored it. He could not bring himself to tell even his closest cousin what a fool he had made of himself. The less people who knew of his failure, the sooner he could

forget

it

.

He braced himself for a barrage of questions from Lady Catherine but surprisingly, none came. She had a new complaint to occupy

her

mind

.

I am most exceedingly displeased, she exclaimed, rapping her knuckles on the carved oak arms of her chair. It shows a churlish disdain for others, but then what can you expect from a woman of her birth? Her father is a gentleman, but who are her mother and her mother’s relatives? Lady Catherine shook her bird-like head, almost spitting in rage. "Bad blood will always come out in

the

end

."

Darcy turned to Fitzwilliam and raised an eyebrow for a translation.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet left Hunsford this morning for London, the Colonel explained.

Left for London, Lady Catherine cried, as if Elizabeth had flown off the ends of the earth. Left for London. I was most especially generous to her. I gave her particular notice, and this is how she thanks me. I planned to tell her to write to her mother and tell her she would stay here for several more weeks. She shook her head as if she could not believe anyone would turn down such a treat.

Darcy felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach. She was gone. She must have been repulsed by his proposal, and so desirous to get away from him that she had left the very next day. Did she really dislike him so

much

then

?

He carefully tried to school his face to look as unconcerned as possible. What reason did she offer for her departure? he asked. His mouth felt dry as he waited for her response.

Lady Catherine threw up her hands. "Oh, Mr Collins was here with some nonsense about needing to see her sister who is staying in London with relations. It seems the girl is unwell and Miss Bennet needed to be with her. I’ve never heard such a ridiculous reason in all

my

life

."

Quite right, murmured Mrs Jenkins, Miss Anne de Bourgh’s faithful companion and Lady Catherine’s obedient sycophant.

So she left to be with Jane, or so she said. Then she had not told anyone of his proposal. And