Beginning, Section II, Next Section
Part Six
The next morning, Elizabeth set out for Longbourn with William by her side. Thank goodness for children who get up at the crack of dawn! she thought. As soon as possible after her son had finished his breakfast, she'd bundled him up, left a note for Jane, and they set off. The day was sunny but cold. William ran on ahead of her on the path.
A long walk will help clear my head, she tried to convince herself. What on earth was going on at the dinner table last night? Jane and Charles kept looking at each other in a way that makes me very nervous. And Will was so polite and friendly; much like he was when I saw him at Pemberley.
"Mummy, Mummy," came an excited voice. "Look what I found, Mummy!"
Elizabeth caught up with William to inspect his prize. To her surprise it wasn't a rock, an old soda can, nor a broken tree branch. It was a kitten, huddled in the meager shelter of a fallen tree.
"Mummy, can I take him home?" William asked, wide-eyed. "Please?"
Elizabeth stood up and looked around. There were no other buildings anywhere nearby that would explain how this little kitten had gotten here. Looking down at her son, she told him:
"I suppose we must. It's far too cold for a little fellow like that to be out here alone." She scooped up the grey and black striped ball of fur and quickly tucked him inside her coat to keep warm. She felt him snuggle up to her.
"Why'd you do that, Mummy?"
"To make sure he stays nice and warm, William. I don't think Grandmama will let you keep him at Longbourn, so I'll probably take him back to Aunt Jane's with me," she explained. "What do you think you should name him?"
William puzzled this over as they walked. After rejecting several of his mother's suggestions, he suddenly exclaimed, "I know, I'll call him Darcy!"
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks. "Darcy?" she repeated.
"Yes, Mummy." William was firm. "Darcy, because that's the name of my new friend I met yesterday in Aunt Jane's garden."
Elizabeth didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seems there's going to be a Darcy in my life one way or another.
By the time they reached Longbourn, William had collected a pocketful of assorted rocks to present to his Grandpapa. He was also quite willing to accept his Grandmama's suggestion of sitting down to join their breakfast.
"Lizzie, what were you thinking, walking all the way from Netherfield with William? We could have come to pick him up!" Mrs. Bennet admonished. "No no, William, that's too hot for you. I've poured you a cup, here."
Elizabeth watched in dismay as her mother served her son some tea. "Mama, I don't allow him tea. He's too young."
"Oh, nonsense, girl. You all had tea for breakfast from the time you could first walk! Here you go, William."
Elizabeth threw a look towards her father, who simply shrugged his shoulders. Taking a seat beside her son, she poured herself a cup of coffee.
"What did you do with that kitten, Lizzie?" her mother asked.
"Hill took it to the kitchen to find something to feed it."
"That's my kitten," William stated proudly.
"Well then, I guess he stays here, too." Mr. Bennet whispered to his grandson.
"His name is Darcy," William continued.
Mr. Bennet's eyebrows rose as his wife screeched "Darcy! What kind of a name is that for a cat?"
"He's my new friend at Aunt Jane's house." There seemed to be no end to William's stream of information this morning.
Elizabeth explained. "Will Darcy is staying at Jane's at the moment. They met yesterday when we arrived."
"Oh, that man," Mrs. Bennet sniffed. "I suppose it's a good thing that you brought William to stay with us for a few days, then. He probably doesn't like children, anyway."
Elizabeth made no reply.
"Is your sister not joining us for breakfast, then?" Charles enquired of his wife.
"No," Jane said, taking her seat. "She's already left for Longbourn this morning. William's to stay with our parents for a few days."
"Oh." Charles glanced at his friend, who was silently contemplating the plate before him, then back to Jane. "Then she'll be back later in the day?"
"Oh, yes."
Will looked up at last. "I have to return to London, today. I have some meetings to attend."
Charles and Jane exchanged looks of alarm.
"You are coming back tonight, though?" Charles asked.
"I can if you like. I have no other commitments."
"I most certainly would like you to," Charles assured him. "Your short visit has done little to make up for snubbing us all these years!" and he gave a wink.
"Well, since you insist..." Will said with a smile, and turned his attention to his breakfast with a renewed interest.
Jane caught her husband's eye and mouthed the words 'thank you'. He nodded and smiled in return. They were going to have to accelerate their schedule. Tonight would call for some delicate manoeuvring.
Since her father had insisted on driving her back to Netherfield, Elizabeth had stayed on at Longbourn until mid-afternoon. William made no fuss at her departure, and her only concern was how much damage her mother would inflict, that would have to be undone once William was returned.
Her father gave his assurance that he would keep a close eye on his young grandson. "But you know, Lizzie, that grandchildren are for spoiling. And your William will not be exempt."
Elizabeth chuckled.
When they arrived at Netherfield, the house was quiet.
"Jane's probably taking her afternoon nap," Elizabeth commented. She knew that Charles was spending this week tidying things up at his office so that he could work from home, and be near Jane. After supplying her father with William's toys and clothing for his stay at Longbourn, Elizabeth saw him off, and turned to the library to settle herself in with book. Pulling one down from the shelf at random, she looked at the title and rolled her eyes.
"Great Loves Lost. Definitely not what I had in mind." She replaced that one and perused some of the other titles. "My, but Jane has a lot of romances here." After a few minutes of vainly searching for something else, Elizabeth resigned herself to a generic love story and made herself comfortable in a chair by the window.
She wasn't very far into the book before her mind began to wander from the pages. It wasn't often that she had so much time to herself, without William to look after. Normally, she would consider that a real treat, but today her mind was more seriously engaged.
Briefly Elizabeth wondered where Will Darcy had gone, and if he was coming back. She felt a stab of envy of whomever he might be with at the moment. Maybe he went with Charles!she thought hopefully. Then he'll be back for dinner. She closed her eyes, and snuggled back into her chair, heaving a great sigh. Her mood suddenly sober, Elizabeth opened her eyes and gazed out the window. From here she could see the hedgerow, behind which she had first seen him with William just yesterday. They had looked as if they'd belonged together. Father and son usually do. Now she could recall the expressions on their faces when she had surprised them in their little tête-à-tête, and could appreciate how funny they'd looked. Struck by the absurdity of it, Elizabeth began to laugh. Once she started she found she couldn't stop. Her laughter rose in pitch and she felt tears running down her face.
"Lizzie. LIZZIE!"
Elizabeth looked to the door to see Jane staring at her in concern.
"What on earth is so funny?"
"Ha, ha.... it was Will.....ha, ha.....and William....ooh....yesterday," and she collapsed in another paroxysm of laughter.
Jane waited patiently until her sister seemed to gain some control of her runaway emotions. Sitting in the chair opposite Elizabeth, she said dryly, "Are you quite finished?" Elizabeth snorted. "You sound like Lydia!"
That started the laughter all over again.
"Oh, Lizzie, for goodness sake, you're hysterical! Let my know when you've come to your senses," and Jane got up to leave.
"Oh, Jane, no," Elizabeth managed to say between howls. "I promise to be good. Look, I've stopped!" and she bit her lip to keep the smile in check, but couldn't dampen the radiant light in her eyes.
Jane returned to her seat. "Lizzie, I know this is stressful for you---Lizzie stop it! Before you get me started! Now, what is so funny?"
When Elizabeth finally had enough control to speak without any danger of regressing, she said, "It was their faces when I saw them together yesterday. Oh, Jane! I came around the hedge, reprimanding my son in full voice, and found him with Will. The both looked at me with the exact same expressions; mouths hanging open like a pair of fishes!" Jane smiled, but suddenly Elizabeth didn't find it funny anymore. "It was so cute, so natural. They should be together."
Jane was worried about her sister's rapid mood shifts. "Lizzie, are you okay?"
"Yes," Elizabeth replied wistfully. "Oh, I don't know anymore." She was silent for a few minutes. "Where did Will go?"
"To London. He had some meetings or something." Jane eyes Elizabeth carefully. "He'll be back before dinner."
"I don't feel up to it."
"Dinner? or seeing Will?"
"Both." Elizabeth smiled wanly. "But don't worry. I'm sure I'll be feeling better before then. It's your fault, you know." Jane's eyes widened. "I was looking for something to read and all you have are these depressing romance novels! They've got nothing on my life!"
"Why don't you go lie down for a while?" Jane suggested. "I'll make sure you're awakened in time for dinner."
"Good idea. I think I could use a nap after that display of mine." Before she left, Elizabeth turned to her sister. "Will there be wine at dinner tonight?"
"If it's requested."
Elizabeth tossed a careless smile at Jane. "I'll think about it."
Jane's expression became thoughtful following Elizabeth's exit from the room. She crossed to the books lining the north wall and selected one of her favourites. Pulling a folded blanket from the end of the sofa, she carefully draped it over the seat cushion in the window so that only the corner of the book was visible. Satisfied, she rang for the butler. There was just one more thing required to set the stage. Hopefully, Charles would have time to play his part.
Part Seven
Charles was waiting for his friend when he entered the front hall upon his return from London.
"Will, a word please."
Will Darcy, surprised, followed Charles into the study.
"Is something wrong, Charles?"
Turning to face the other man, Charles asked point blank, "What do you intend to do about Elizabeth?"
Will blinked, then slowly, a smile spread across his features. "Shouldn't that question be posed by Mr. Bennet?"
Momentarily losing his momentum, Charles stammered, "Well, yes. I suppose," then more firmly, "but he's not here, so I'm asking."
"I think you're perfectly aware of my intentions toward Elizabeth. It's her intentionsthat need some clarification," Will mused.
"You seem to be the only one in the dark, there."
Will's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
Charles fixed his eyes on his friend. "I'm saying that we're tired of this cat and mouse game that you two are playing. You love her. She loves you. What on earth are you waiting for?"
Indignant, Will retorted, "Waiting for! If you'll cast your memory back, you'll remember that she turned me down once already! Wait a minute......did you say that she loves me? How would you know that?"
"If you would cast your mind back, my friend, you might recall a little fling you had with this same Elizabeth Bennet one summer. Did she behave as if she hated you then?" Charles retorted hotly.
"No, but she regretted it all later." Will was becoming confused. Had he been wrong? "She wouldn't speak to me, apart from what was necessary as members of your wedding party."
"And I suppose you went out of your way to reassure her of your feelings!" Charles sarcastically replied. Impatiently, he continued. "Anyway, what difference does it make? This is today, the here and now, and I'm telling you that she loves you. So do something about it. Preferably soon. Jane and I have enough on our minds without worrying about you two."
Will wordlessly stared at his friend. Could I have been mistaken all this time? I was sure she had blamed me for that mess with her sister and George. She never met my eyes once, even when we had to dance together at the wedding reception. And she looked so pale, and hardly spoke to me. I've misunderstood her often enough before.
"Will?" Charles spoke softly. "I'm sorry to be so blunt, but from our point of view, we could all be old and grey before you two figure it out."
Will considered a moment. "I suppose Elizabeth has told Jane of her feelings. That's how you came by this information?"
"Yes."
"Why did you wait so long to tell me?" Will demanded, his anger rising.
"Whoa!" Charles cautioned, "Lizzie never said anything until she ran into you here, yesterday. Do you honestly believe I'd have let you suffer all this time if I'd known?"
"No, I'm sure you wouldn't have been so cruel." Will turned away, silent for a moment. "I could use a drink, Charles," he said quietly.
"Help yourself," Charles said. "I--uh--I'm going to get ready for dinner." There was no response. "I'll see you at dinner? Will?"
"Yes, yes. At dinner."
Charles paused at the door to watch his friend cross to the bar and pour a very large whiskey. Closing the door softly behind him, he hoped that Jane was right; and they hadn't just set up their closest friend and sister for an even harder fall.
The atmosphere at the dinner table that night was anything but relaxing. Elizabeth was still feeling apprehensive about meeting with Will. She knew she couldn't put off her confession any longer. The fact that he kept looking at her across the table throughout the meal was preying on her nerves. I'm beginning to sound like Mama, she thought and smiled.
Will saw her smile and sighed. What is she thinking about? That's the first smile I've seen since last night. He tried to catch her eye, but she was determined to concentrate on her plate. Why, he couldn't fathom, as she didn't appear to have eaten anything at all.
Jane and Charles repeatedly attempted to facilitate some conversation.
"How did your meetings go, Will?" Charles asked of his friend.
Will tore his gaze from Elizabeth's face. "Well enough. They were just annual board meetings for a couple of corporations I'm involved with."
The room lapsed into silence again, and Jane frowned at her husband in frustration.
"Lizzie," Jane ventured, and Will looked up. "Could I convince you to come into town with me for my checkup tomorrow? I don't like to go by myself, now."
Aware that everyone's eyes were on her, and one person's in particular, Elizabeth looked directly at Jane. "Of course I'll go with you, Jane. That's exactly the reason why I came here. To help you out at this time, whatever you need."
The rest of the meal was much of the same, and following dessert, they returned to the drawing room. Charles immediately offered Will a drink, which was readily accepted.
"And you, Lizzie, can I get you something?"
His expression was innocent, so she knew he wasn't trying to be funny. "Thank you, yes, Charles. I'll have a red wine, please." See Jane? I'm not afraid. I'm in control. I am in control.
There was a little more conversation here in this comfortable room, and Elizabeth began to relax as the wine warmed her. Jane tried to stifle her yawns, but after only an hour she surrendered, and announced that she needed to say goodnight and turn in.
"Lizzie, would you sit with me for awhile?"
Surprised, Elizabeth agreed, and accompanied her sister up to her room.
Once inside, Jane motioned to the chairs by the fire, and retrieved two glasses and bottle from the cupboard beside the door. She gestured a silent question to Elizabeth, and upon receiving a favourable reply, poured out two glasses of wine.
"My doctor advised me to take a glass at bedtime to help me relax." she explained. "And after the last couple of days I'm tempted to take the entire bottle!"
"Jane, I'm so sorry this has landed on you, especially at this time." Elizabeth raised her glass and sipped at it appreciatively. "Mmm. This is one good vintage!"
Jane laughed. "Well, I thought most other medications taste awful; if my doctor's prescribed wine for me, I'm going to pick the best in the wine cellar!"
"Excellent reasoning!" Elizabeth laughed, too, and raised her glass to her lips once more as her sister watched and smiled.
Some time later, the men exchanged the drawing room for the closer comfort of the library.
"I've just had the bar in here freshly stocked. What's your poison?" Charles grinned at his companion.
Will groaned. "What is with you, Charles? You've been offering my drinks all night. How many times do I have to politely refuse? Or are you waiting for me to be rude?" He raised his eyebrows speculatively.
"Fine." Charles threw himself into a chair. "You condescend to visit me after three years and I can't even entice you to sample the contents of my cellar!"
"Well, don't pout about it." Will laughed. "All right, all right. Just one. A small one." As Charles jumped up, Will mumbled, "That whiskey I had before dinner didn't do anything for my rattled brains. Do you think you have something there that will?"
Charles handed him a snifter of brandy. "Enjoy. I sought long and hard for this particular bottle. I know you'll appreciate it."
Will sniffed at the amber liquid and raised his eyebrows in approval. Taking a sip, he rolled it around his tongue to get a full evaluation of the flavour before letting the liquid slowly trickle down his throat.
"Very nice indeed, Charles. Where did you manage to find it?"
"Oh, no. That's my secret! I need to have something to lure you from Pemberley."
Will gave him a wry smile. "Point taken."
They sat in a companionable silence while enjoying their drinks. Charles glanced at his watch. All right, Jane, I'm ready. What's taking you?
Jane was quite satisfied with the results of her work so far. She could see her sister's fortress walls crumbling under the influence of the wine. It was most helpful of Lizzie to start the ball rolling by accepting Charles offer of a drink while they were downstairs, not to mention her not eating much at dinner. Looking at the clock, she decided it was time.
"Lizzie, could you do me a favour?"
Elizabeth looked up from where she lay comfortably sprawled on the floor. "Yes, Jane?" she said slowly.
"I just realized I've forgotten my book down in the library. Would you be a dear and get it for me?"
Getting to her feet, Elizabeth shook her head. "You never change, Jane. You were always leaving your books in the oddest places at home. Where is it this time?"
Jane smiled. "I was reading in the window alcove this afternoon. Perhaps I left it there."
Elizabeth nodded. "Okay, I'll be right back."
Jane watched her sister make her way to the door, noting a slight unsteadiness to the walk. She'd already seen Elizabeth was getting misty-eyed during her reminiscences of William's babyhood.
It's going to be just perfect! she thought as she reached for the phone.
Charles looked up quickly at Elizabeth's entrance.
"Oh!" she said cheerfully. "Sorry to disturb you gentlemen, but Jane left her book down here and asked me to fetch it for her." She frowned in thought. "Now, where did she say she left it?"
Charles' eyebrow rose in silent enquiry. He saw Will looking at him warily. There was a discreet knock at the door, and a voice said:
"Excuse me, Mr. Bingley, but there is a telephone call for you."
Bravo, Jane! Charles smiled inwardly. Aloud, he said, springing from his chair, "Thank you, Daniel. I'll take it in the study." He wasted no time in leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
Left alone with Elizabeth prowling the room, Will shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"Aha!" she exclaimed suddenly, and Will nearly jumped out of his skin. "Here it is!" Triumphantly, Elizabeth pulled the book out from under the blanket on the window seat and turned back towards the room. For the first time she noticed that Charles wasn't there anymore. But Will was. She met his eyes and smiled nervously. He smiled back.
"I'd better get this to Jane," she stammered, and quickly crossed to the door. But upon trying the handle, she encountered difficulty. The door appeared to be stuck. Not wishing to look foolish, she gave a couple of discreet tugs but to no avail. Looking back at Will, she said sheepishly, "The door seems to be stuck. Could you help me with it?"
With an amused grin, Will roused himself and joined Elizabeth at the door. She hadn't moved away, thus requiring him to reach around her to grasp the door handle. He pulled. The door wouldn't move. He tugged harder. He rattled the door. Still nothing. It dawned on him that someone had locked it from the other side. Judging from the horrified look on Elizabeth's face, the same thought had occurred to her.
They said in unison: "Just wait until I get my hands on Jane!"
"Just wait until I get my hands on Charles!"
They looked at each other and laughed.
Will spoke first. "Well there doesn't seem to be anything we can do about this." He looked at Elizabeth, very much aware of her proximity. She returned his gaze, her eyes warm and soft. Will was sure that he felt his heart stop.
Elizabeth's mind struggled through an alcoholic fog. She could almost feel the heat emanating from the man standing before her. A voice from somewhere in the back of her head said, Go on, Jane's not going to let you out until you tell him. But talking wasn't foremost in Elizabeth's thoughts. She brought a hand up to touch Will's cheek, as he watched her, a curious expression on his face.
As her fingers brushed against his skin, Will closed his eyes and shuddered involuntarily. Opening them again, he raised his own hand to take hers and placed it against his lips, all the while his gaze locked on her face.
As she experienced the softness of his lips on her hand, Elizabeth felt the last vestiges of her resistance disintegrate, and acted on the impulse of her desires. With her free hand, she grasped Will's shirtfront, pulling him closer, and placed her mouth firmly on his. She wasn't disappointed in his response. Elizabeth's mind was filled with the memory of the last time they had met like this, and her body pressed against his. Her arms wound around his neck while he wrapped his own tightly around her waist, effectively eliminating any chance of escape.
Will's surprise at Elizabeth's forwardness was eclipsed only by his own desire for her. His head was spinning furiously with every touch of her lips. With a low moan, he turned his attention to her throat, a part of his brain still managing to register the effect that his caresses were having upon her. Thank God the door is locked! If Charles should walk in now.......
A soft whimper from Elizabeth alerted him to the fact that in their passion, she had been pushed up against the door, the handle pressing into her back. Reluctantly, Will stepped away, releasing her. She seemed just as disappointed at the interruption as he.
"Will, I--" Elizabeth began, but he placed a finger on her lips. Taking her hand, he led her to the sofa.
"I think this may be more comfortable." Despite his initial reaction, Will realized the interruption had been necessary, and welcome. This was not the way to begin, however much we both wanted it.
Elizabeth was sitting, watching him carefully. She was flushed and her hair in disarray, yet she was the most beautiful sight in the world to the man pacing the floor in front of her.
"I think a few things need to be said," she suggested. "Please, Will, come sit down."
He complied, being careful to keep his eyes front and centre. He wasn't able to control his autonomic response, but he could curb the impulse to look at what was causing that response.
"I'll go first," Will said firmly. Elizabeth was surprised, but voiced no objection. He took a deep breath and began. "From the start, our relationship, tenuous at best, has suffered repeatedly from misunderstandings and misinformation on one side or the other. I have no wish to cause you any distress, but I have to say that in retrospect, out time together at Pemberley was the happiest time of my life. I won't dwell on the circumstances which forced your early departure, but the next time that I saw you, shortly before Charles' wedding, left me so thoroughly confused as to the state of your feelings regarding me. You were quiet, barely saying two sentences to me at a time, and seemed to be avoiding my company." Here he finally looked at her. "I believed then, although I have as late had reason to believe myself mistaken, that you had regretted what happened that day of our picnic." He paused as the image of her laughing face, framed in a cascade of loose chestnut curls, was drawn unbidden to his mind. "And perhaps, that you harboured a resentment of me for failing in my effort to extract your sister from the clutches of George Wickham."
"Oh, no!" Elizabeth cried.
Will raised a hand. "Please, let me finish. I would not blame you, for I berated myself for months over that particular subject. I should have handled it much better."
"You cannot blame yourself for George and Lydia's criminal behaviour!" Elizabeth could not keep silent. "You were the injured party in that exchange! I can't believe you thought my feelings for you would change because of Lydia's stupidity!"
Will didn't let the comment pass. "Regardless of the outcome in that situation, as I said earlier, I believed you to be regretting what had passed between us in the summer. That perhaps you had been caught up in the heat of the moment, and once back home, realized that you didn't really care for me." His voice trailed off.
"What on earth possessed you to think that I didn't care? Are you that blind?" Elizabeth asked incredulously.
"I'd misinterpreted your actions before. It wasn't easy for me to differentiate between what was real and what I wanted to be real. Not after Kent."
Elizabeth was torn between laughing at his insecurity, and slapping his face. "Do you think I make love to any guy who takes me on a romantic picnic in the woods?!"
Will suddenly realized his mistake, but it was too late. Elizabeth was off the sofa and storming about the room.
"Good God, Will! Did you think I just let my hormones take my on a joyride that day? Oh, what the heck, I think I'll have a quick fling and dump him! I knew how you felt about me. That would have been the cruelest act imaginable. Did you really think me capable of that? No, don't bother to answer!" Elizabeth stopped her pacing and turned her back to him, staring into the fire.
Will could see her shoulders shaking, and knew she was crying. He ached to take her in his arms and comfort her; to stroke her hair and kiss away her tears. What have I done? Will I ever learn to recognize who this woman is?
Elizabeth's voice reached him. It was quiet, and husky with emotion. He moved a little closer in order to hear her better.
"That day.....that beautiful day in the sunlit glade.....I loved you with all my heart and soul. I never wanted to leave your side. And if you'd asked me then, I would have married you in an instant." Will closed his eyes in painful realisation of what he'd lost. "I never stopped loving you. After Lydia and George had fleeced you of all that money, I was so embarrassed. At first I couldn't tell what you were thinking when you returned to Netherfield prior to the wedding. Youwere quiet and barely said a word to me."
"I barely said a word to anyone!" Will spoke up. "I felt I'd let you all down. Elizabeth, the money was never a concern of mine. Your peace of mind, the preservation of your family, was uppermost in my thoughts. And that's where I failed you."
Elizabeth turned to face him, tears running freely down her cheeks. "Oh, Will," she sobbed. "You weren't the one who let us down. Don't you see? It was Lydia. Lydia!"
Will couldn't restrain himself any longer. Her suffering was his agony, and he reached for her to fold her into his arms. Elizabeth buried her face into his chest, her body racked by sobs. She cried out years of pain and loneliness until she felt there was nothing left of her.
Will held her tightly, his own tears falling into her hair, as he relived the years of bitterness and regret to which he had subjected himself.
At last he whispered, "Elizabeth?" She snuggled closer and mumbled something into his chest. "Elizabeth, let's sit down."
He led her over to the sofa where, sitting, he pulled her down next to him, still nestled in the protection of his arm.
"Dearest Elizabeth," he began.
She giggled. "Is this a letter?"
Will smiled. "No. I could say I'm sorry for the unbelievably stupid way I've behaved, and although I am sorry, more than you'll ever know, I somehow think it won't be enough. Something Charles said to me comes to mind."
Elizabeth looked up with her red, swollen eyes. "Charles? Since when have you been taking advice from my brother-in-law?"
Will's eyes smiled at hers. "Since it's been good!" he said, laughingly. "Charles said 'You love her, she loves you. What are you waiting for?' What am I waiting for? Without you, Elizabeth, my life has been a desolate wasteland for the last three years. I could never look at another woman, and never entertained the thought of marrying anyone but you. I tried to forget you, and forgot my life instead. That day when Georgiana came home and said she'd run into you at school; I saw the sun again for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. An eternity spent in hell. I realized that I had to see you, had to try again. Georgiana told me of your plans to visit Jane, and Charles confirmed it. So I came to Netherfield, unannounced, for I was afraid you'd run off if you realized I'd be here. I knew Georgiana had asked you to come to Pemberley, and you'd found excuses not to; because of me, I thought." He fell silent a moment, and lowered his head to place a kiss on Elizabeth's forehead. "Do you think it possible that we could start over? A new beginning?"
Elizabeth's smile was full and inviting. "Oh, yes! I'd like that!"
Will snuggled her closer. "We could put all of our messy past behind us and start fresh. No more embarrassment, no more regrets, no more secrets. How does that sound?"
Elizabeth's newfound happiness dimmed. "That sounds......good. But....."
"But?" Will prompted anxiously, wondering what else, after everything they'd been through already, could possibly come between them.
Elizabeth bit her lip. "There's just one thing I need to tell you......"
Part Eight
"Well?" Jane asked eagerly.
Charles sat down in the empty chair beside her. "I did as you asked, my dear. The door is locked."
"Did you hear anything?"
"I stayed in the hallway long enough to make sure they knew it was locked." He chuckled, remembering the number of attempts made to open the library door before the occupants finally realized their predicament.
Jane was disappointed. "So, Lizzie tried to leave as soon as possible. Well, I hated to force her into it, but she didn't leave me much choice."
Charles looked at his wife suspiciously. "Is there more to this than you're telling me, Jane?"
Jane looked down at her hands in her lap. "Actually, yes. I shouldn't be the one to tell you, but if Lizzie does what she's supposed to do, what she has to do, then I guess I won't be betraying her confidence. Besides, the truth will come out eventually."
Charles was beginning to worry about what his wife was up to, and leaned forward anxiously. "Jane, I know you love your sister dearly, but if we have set the stage for Will to be hurt in the process.......I don't think I could forgive myself. What is going on?"
Her brow furrowed in concern, Jane looked up at her husband. "There is something that Lizzie needed to tell Will. Something she's kept from him that he deserves to know." Charles expression invited her to continue. "Lizzie's little boy is Will's son."
Charles blinked. Then his eyes opened wide in horror. "Oh my God, Jane! You had me lock your sister in the library with Will so that she could tell him that?" He got up and began to pace the room. "Do you know what we've done? Have you any idea how he's going to react? He's going to go ballistic!"
Jane began to panic. Of course her husband would know his friend better than she, but Will had always appeared to be so level headed. Could Charles be right? Was Lizzie in any danger? "Oh, Charles, I didn't think......I just wanted them to be happy, to be together. I may have destroyed everything!" and she covered her face with her hands, beginning to cry.
Charles, in an effort to comfort her, knelt by her side. "Don't worry, my dear. I'll go downstairs and check on them. Maybe she chickened out. There might still be time to forestall the inevitable. I'll go right now." and he rushed from the room.
"I think I know what you're getting at, and please believe me, you don't need to say anything." Will squeezed her hand.
Elizabeth nervously rose from where she was sitting and began to walk about the room. "It's not as easy as that, Will. It's about my son. I need to explain to you--"
"There's nothing to explain," he soothed. "Any past relationships are just that; in the past. I won't pretend that the thought of any other man with you doesn't bother me, for it does, but at the same time I can't blame you for looking elsewhere when you believed I didn't care."
Elizabeth said pitifully, "You didn't look elsewhere."
Will looked down at the carpet. Once again he had managed to offend when all he meant to do was reassure. But her soft voice reached him again.
"I didn't look elsewhere, either."
It took a moment before the import of her words became clear. Then it hit him like cannon fire through his midsection. He felt his stomach lurch, and his heart picked up speed. Even his breathing began to match pace with the lightning thoughts rushing through his brain. He looked up sharply in Elizabeth's direction. But just as quickly he had to turn away. He couldn't comprehend his own feelings. What did she just say? You know what she just said, and what it means!
He jumped up from the sofa but had no idea where to go. Impulsively, he crossed to the bar and poured out a large glass from the first bottle his hand touched. Clutching the glass, he raised it to his mouth and gulped the contents down. It burned, as he knew it would, but it was nothing compared to what was burning in his soul.
Elizabeth was still standing, silently watching him.
"Why?" The word came unbidden from his tongue.
There were so many questions in that one word, Elizabeth hardly knew where to begin. She wearily sat down in the nearest chair. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" The words thundered across the room and hit her with the force of a slap.
Elizabeth winced. Before she could venture another attempt his voice boomed again.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean? How long were you planning on waiting to tell me that I have a son?" Will stood with his back to her, not knowing where to look, what to do. Finally, he slammed his fist down on the bar, rattling the collection it contained. He whirled around to face her. "That boy I met, out there in the garden, is MINE! My only child, and my HEIR; the heir to all I own, and you sit there and say you don't know why you never told me?!" He paused, but only to draw a breath, and continued in a dangerously low voice. "My God, Elizabeth, I loved you. With all my heart, my soul, my very being! I trusted you!" He fell silent suddenly, and Elizabeth's eyes flew open. He stood, eyes closed, fists clenched. His facial muscles contorted as he fought for self-control. Just as suddenly, his eyes flew open and his piercing gaze locked with hers. She could see the fury of a man betrayed, the bitter hatred lancing out at her. But no more words came. His thoughts were a tangled mess, and not a syllable was able to make it past his lips.
Elizabeth had never felt more frightened. She had always suspected Will of a dangerous temper, but now that she had pushed him beyond his limit, she had no idea what to expect. Surely he wouldn't hurt me? Would he?
"I was afraid." Was that my voice? she thought. Will blinked once. "I found out that I was pregnant after Jane's wedding, and you were gone. I didn't want to appear to be chasing you. The oldest trick in the book. I hoped you'd come back; after all Charles was your best friend. I felt sure you'd come back soon. Not until tonight did I know why you never did."
Will blinked again, and again. A harsh sound escaped him. "If I had known ........if I had known about.......William......." his voice trailed off and he had to look away. This evening had taken a decidedly different turn than he had expected.
"I'm sorry." It was far from consoling. Elizabeth expected a bellowed reply.
"So am I." His voice was like steel; cold and unbending. Without thinking, Will stalked to the door before remembering that it was locked, and he was trapped in here with nowhere to go. Growling, he turned back to Elizabeth. He could think of nothing more to say; at least, nothing that he was sure he wouldn't regret later. At a sound from behind him, Will swung around to see Charles framed in the doorway.
Charles' eyes darted from Elizabeth to Will, and back again. He realized that he was too late. The damage was done. He watched as his friend strode across the room to push past him and make his exit. Will paused only long enough to glare at him and snarled "Damn you, Charles! "
Standing helplessly in the entry, Charles watched as Elizabeth lowered her head and began softly weeping. The slam of the front door reverberated through the great house.
Part Nine
"Lizzie? Are you in here?" Jane peered into her sister's room and spied her sitting before the mirror, listlessly brushing her hair. "Mama just called. She's invited us over for lunch after my appointment. You're still coming with me aren't you?"
Elizabeth looked in the mirror at Jane's reflection. "Yes, of course. I promised, didn't I?" She rose and grabbed her bag from the top of the dresser. "Let's go. I'll drive. You shouldn't be behind the wheel in your condition, anyway." As they left the room, she added, "But I'm not going to sit for two hours and listen to our mother harangue me for being a single parent! If I go, it will be to see my son."
Oh, boy, this is going to be a long day! Jane moaned inwardly. Following the disastrous events of the last night Elizabeth had understandably kept to her room this morning. Jane had tried to speak to her, to apologise for interfering, but Elizabeth wouldn't talk about what had happened.
The trip into town was silent. At least, it was until Elizabeth had parked the car. After shutting off the motor, she turned to her sister. "Jane, I know you feel terrible about what happened. Please, don't." She sighed resignedly. "To tell you the truth, I think it's probably better this way. Something Will said has been replaying in my head all night. He asked me how long I was going to wait before I told him about his son, and I didn't even know the answer myself! No matter what I have lost, Jane, it's all my own fault. But at least this way my son will have the benefit of knowing his father. I know Will is going to want to at least visit with William often. I just hope my worst fears don't come true." Jane appeared puzzled. Elizabeth prompted her memory. "What I said the other night; that he'll want full custody. I dread the thought that I might lose my son!"
"Oh, Lizzy," Jane cried, "I hope it doesn't come to that. I have to admit that I never thought Will would storm out like he did. I figured he'd be angry, but...."
"Never mind, Jane." Elizabeth gathered up her bag and opened the car door. "Let's get you into that doctor's office, now. I've had just about enough of Will Darcy for today."
The wind blew bitterly, tearing through the thin weave of his sweater. Will Darcy sat against the hood of his car, staring unseeing at the panoramic view before him. He had no idea how many miles he had driven in the last twelve hours. Nor did he really know where he was at the moment, for he'd payed no attention whatsoever to the road markers. He'd driven aimlessly through the night, the heat of his anger propelling him on. But now his anger had cooled, leaving him with a black void where his heart used to be.
Suddenly shivering, he returned to the car and, revving the engine, pulled away from the layby. He knew where he needed to go.
One road leads to another, he thought, and smiled wryly at his choice of words.
A few miles further, a signpost indicated the way to the M40. He turned onto the unnamed country road, past unfamiliar placenames until at last the motorway came into view, and he joined the congested traffic heading towards Birmingham. Will knew that he couldn't keep going without stopping for food. Lord, he hadn't eaten since dinner the previous night at Netherfield! Thinking it best to find something before reaching Birmingham proper, he took the next exit and pulled in to the first pub he saw.
Fortunately, it was close to midday, and the hot meals were available. Will placed his order with the barman and chose a seat in the corner, away from a group of young men who appeared to be arguing over the latest football stats. When his meal was ready, a pretty young barmaid brought it to his table.
"Can I get you aught else?"
Will looked up and gently shook his head. "Thanks, but no. This is fine."
She flashed him a huge smile. "Okay, just wave if you change your mind." He watched as she wove her way through the tables back to the bar, her blonde ponytail bouncing and swaying.
The growling in his stomach brought his attention back to the plate before him, and Will tucked into it. He realized that he was ravenous, and quickly consumed his meal. His appetite sated, a drowsy feeling began to come over him, and he managed to gain the attention of the young lady who had served him earlier.
She bounced over, and leaned across the table towards him. "What can I get you?"
"A very large cup of coffee, please," Will replied, then added, "No, on second thought, could you bring me the whole pot?"
The young woman raised her eyebrows in surprise and gave a small giggle. "An entire pot?"
Will smiled ruefully. "I've been awake all night, and I still have a long way to drive, yet."
"I see," she said, and nodded knowingly. "Would you consider some espresso, instead of a pot of coffee? It packs a wallop."
"You serve espresso in this pub?" Will asked, amused.
She waved her hand about in a casual manner. "Oh, yes, the locals are wild about it. We brought it in late last year."
Will smiled lazily. "Well, in that case, I'll have espresso. Two cups."
"My, you are a glutton for punishment!" she laughed. "I'll just put it in one large mug for you." She stepped away from the table, but then turned back to him. "Just remember when you get back in your car that you're on a motorway, not a raceway!"
Will chuckled softly. When she returned to set the mug in front of him, she gave him a smile and a wink and sauntered back to the bar.
It was suspiciously quiet at Longbourn when Jane and Elizabeth entered the house. The sisters removed their coats and boots before heading to the sitting room where they expected to find their mother.
"Oh, Jane, there you are! And Lizzie, too." Mrs. Bennet greeted them.
Elizabeth glanced around the room. "Hello, Mama. Where is William?"
"Oh, Mrs. Hill has him in the kitchen. He's helping her to make some cookies."
"I hope he hasn't been any trouble for you. I know it can be very trying for your nerves, having a rambunctious two-year-old underfoot." Elizabeth was hoping her mother would agree.
"Why no, my dear Lizzie. He's been a perfect angel." Mrs. Bennet cooed. "Not at all like you, when you were his age. I must say, you were very nearly the death of me time and time again when you were a child." She turned to her eldest daughter. "So, Jane. What does the doctor have to say about you today? You look as if you could go anytime!"
"Actually, that's just what he said, too." Jane forced a smile. "But I'm not ready, yet."
"But it's not up to you, is it dear?" her mother scolded. "I so look forward to my new grandchild arriving! I never saw William when he was a baby!" She gave Elizabeth a scathing glance.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and took a steadying breath. She was prepared for her mother's hurtful comments, but it didn't make them any easier to ignore. Getting up from her seat, she said, "Mama, I'm going to say hello to my son," and she left the room.
Nearing the kitchen, Elizabeth could hear the cook's voice patiently giving instructions on how to properly place candy hearts on the tops of cookies. She smiled in anticipation of tasting Mrs. Hill's famous Valentine cookies. They had always been her favourites since she was a little girl. Mrs. Hill would never reveal what 'secret ingredient' she added to the mixture to achieve what Elizabeth thought of as 'perfection'. As she entered it was all she could do not to laugh, at the sight of William covered head to toe in flour, with smears of chocolate around his mouth.
"Oh, Mrs. Hill! I see my son is as big a help in this process as I ever was!"
Mrs. Hill looked up and nodded sagely. "Never a bigger help in the kitchen did I see, Miss Lizzy. You have reason to be remarkably proud of this young man. With his assistance I have managed to finish all of my Valentine baking. You've saved me a lot of time, lad!" She winked at Elizabeth as William beamed from ear to ear at her praise.
"Mummy, I made all these cookies!" he proudly stated.
"I see that!" Elizabeth said, laughing. Leaning over close to his ear, she whispered loudly, "And may I please have a sample?"
William took a cookie from the cooling rack and pushed it into his mother's open mouth. Her eyes opened wide, and her son laughed at the expression. He was ready to stuff another one in when Elizabeth's father entered.
"Lizzie! What a surprise! You haven't come to take my grandson back already, have you?" He tousled the boy's hair, causing a cloud of flour to rise up and swirl around him. "Oh, my goodness, William, what happened here?"
"Following in his mother's footsteps, of course!" Elizabeth laughed. "I haven't come to take him away from you, Papa. Jane and I came for lunch, that's all."
Mr. Bennet grinned down at William. "That's good. For my favourite boy and I had something special planned for this afternoon."
"Oh, really? And what might that be?"
Her father winked. "That's our secret, isn't it William?"
"Okay, I get the idea," Elizabeth said amidst her son's giggles.
As it was nearly time for lunch, she ushered William out of the kitchen and upstairs to clean him up and change his clothes. When they arrived back downstairs, the rest of the family had already seated themselves in the dining room.
Elizabeth endured the barbed comments of her mother throughout the repast, praying that Jane would soon thereafter feel the need to return home for her regular afternoon rest. The only positive aspect of the visit, she reflected, was that it prompted her to decide that William would return to her on the morrow. Her life was just too empty without his little ray of sunshine.
Will stood outside the door to her flat, waiting for a response to his knock. Finally, he could hear footsteps and the door swung open.
"I need to talk to you," he said hurriedly, and swept past her.
"Will! Good Lord, is something wrong?" Georgiana was startled by the sudden appearance of her brother in her doorway. "What are you doing here? And looking like that!"
Will stopped a few paces into the room as he realized that his sister had not been alone. A young man stood looking at him in alarm, casting a questioning glance at Georgiana.
She closed the door and approached her brother's side. "Will, this is Brian Osborne. I've mentioned him to you. Brian, this is my brother, Will." Georgiana was mystified by the state of Will's person. His clothing looked as if he'd slept in it. He was unshaven, his hair unruly; in fact there was very little resemblance to the dearly loved brother that she had left at Pemberley little more than a week ago.
He turned to face her and said again. "I need to talk to you, Georgie. Please."
"What's happened? Will, what's wrong?"
Brian made a move toward the door. "Georgiana," he said quietly, "I'll leave you and your brother alone. I can see I'm in the way at the moment." She gave him a grateful smile. "I'll call you tomorrow morning to see if everything's ok. In the meantime, if you need me, don't hesitate to call." He gathered up his coat, gave her a kiss on the cheek and left.
Georgiana looked back to Will. He had seated himself on the sofa, his head resting in his hands. She had never seen him look so despondent, and had no idea what to say.
He looked up at last. "How could she do it, Georgie. How could she do it to me."
Do what? Who is she? Taking a seat beside him, Georgiana took his hands in hers and looked into his face. "Tell me what this is all about, Will. Who is she, and what has she done to upset you like this?"
"Elizabeth Bennet."
Elizabeth Bennet? "What about her?"
Will sprang from his seat and began pacing the room like a caged animal. Georgiana watched him helplessly, unable to comprehend. Suddenly he stopped moving and, with his back to her, said quietly, "Did you know that she had a son?"
Georgiana's confusion grew. "You must be mistaken."
"No, it's true. Of course she kept it from you, too."
"Kept it from me, too....what are you on about, Will?"
He turned around to face her. Georgiana could see how troubled he was. She could see the pain in his eyes. What could Elizabeth Bennet have done to hurt him so badly? she thought.
"She has a son, just over two years old. He's my son, Georgie. My son! And I never knew he existed!"
Georgiana gasped. Could this be true? She was well aware that her brother and Elizabeth had been involved in a brief romance a few summers back. But had they been that close? Well, obviously, if Will believes her son to be his child! "I don't know what to say, Will. When did you find this out?"
"Last night." Wearily, he once again sat down beside her. "Georgie, how could she keep this from me? I loved her so much. She claims to have loved me. How could she deny me my own child?"
Georgiana thought she would cry at the sight of her brother so wounded. A wave of sorrow washed over her as she saw a tear roll down Will's cheek. Another tear quickly followed the first. "How did she explain it herself?"
He inhaled deeply, attempting to collect himself. "She thought I didn't care about her. Didn't want to trap me by using the pregnancy as an excuse. But none of that really matters! Does it? She should still have told me......I had a right to know!"
Georgiana studied her brother's face. She understood how deeply hurt he was, and could almost feel his pain, herself. Had he been in love with her all these years? Now she understood his withdrawn behaviour over the last few years, and why, inexplicably, he had come out of his shell when she had mentioned seeing Elizabeth in Manchester.
"Are you still in love with her?"
"Of course." he whispered.
"Does she love you?"
Will looked into his sister's face. "She said she does. Yes.... yes, she does."
Georgiana looked at him thoughtfully. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I just don't know."
After a few moments of silence, Georgiana said, "Well, the first thing you're going to do is get some sleep. You can take my room, I'll sleep on the sofa." She knew he was well-gone when he didn't even protest. "Come on, off to bed with you. You'll be able to think much more clearly in the morning."
Obediently, Will made his way to the bedroom. He laid down on the bed, fully dressed, and Georgiana pulled the blanket up over him.
Sleep well, my dear brother. I shall watch over you.
When she checked ten minutes later, he was sound asleep.
Part Ten
"Have you found out where he is?" Jane asked immediately upon her husband's return home.
Charles shook his head. "No. I found out where he isn't, though. He's not at Pemberley, and he's not at his London flat. And he's turned off his mobile." He wrapped his arms around Jane in a comforting hug. "I think we're just going to have to wait until he decides to contact Elizabeth."
"Do you think he will?"
"Oh, definitely! Will has a very strong sense of family. His son will be very important to him. I'm sure it won't be long before he comes back." Charles also hoped his friend would forgive him for his own role the previous night. Drawing Jane towards the dining room, he asked, "How's your sister?"
Jane gave a sigh. "Quiet. She's afraid that Will's going to want to take William away from her."
"Oh, I hardly think that's likely." Charles said.
"Do you really think so?"
Charles turned to face his wife. Placing a hand on each of her shoulders, he said, "Jane, whatever happens between Elizabeth and Will from now on is strictly up to them. I can't predict what Will is going to do any more than you can foretell your sister's actions. Between the four of us we've made a right hash of things. All I can say is that in all my years of knowing him, Will Darcy has never acted in a rash or vindictive manner. There is no reason why William would be removed from his mother's care, and I can't see Will trying to prove that he should be!"
"I hope you're right, Charles." Jane said softly.
As he followed her into the dining room, Charles added under his breath, "So do I."
Georgiana Darcy opened her eyes and briefly wondered where she was. Oh, yes. I slept on the sofa. Will! She sat up and saw her brother watching her from across the room.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
She smiled. He hadn't called her that since she was a little girl. "I see you found the clothes I laid out for you."
"Yes, thank you. But I have to ask you; do you always have men's clothes laying around your flat?" There was an edge of something in Will's tone that she didn't care for.
Offended, Georgiana said, "No, I don't! And you can keep that high and mighty tone to yourself, Fitzwilliam Darcy!" Seeing him properly chastised, she continued, "I called Brian after you were asleep and asked him to bring over something for you to wear, and a few other things. You found the razors, too, I noticed."
Will rubbed his chin absently. "Thank you Georgiana. And thank Brian for me, too."
"What would you like for breakfast?" she asked with a forced cheerfulness.
"Whatever you're having," he replied listlessly.
Georgiana began folding the blankets from her makeshift bed. "All right, after I've put these away, and got myself dressed, I'll fix us something." She carried them to the bedroom and emerged a few minutes later. Will hadn't moved. She went into the kitchen and looked into the refrigerator.
"I've got some eggs!" she called. "I could make us omelettes. How's that?"
"Fine."
"Then come in the kitchen and keep me company!" she demanded.
Will joined her at the counter as she began breaking the eggs into a bowl. He watched as she beat them with a fork and then began adding ham, cheese and other things.
"When did you learn to cook?" he asked in a puzzled voice.
Georgiana continued stirring, and said, exasperated, "Over a year ago! I needed something to do while you were moping about the house. Besides, I knew I'd be going away to university, and you wouldn't let me take Mrs. Dodson with me." She was rewarded by seeing a small smile appear on his face.
While the mixture cooked, Georgiana ordered her brother to set the dishes out, directing him to where he might find everything. When they sat down at the table to eat, she finally said what was on her mind.
"Will, tell me what happened. Where did you see Elizabeth? I thought she was at her sister's?"
Setting his cup down, Will replied, "Yes, she is. Her sister Jane. Bingley. You remember; she married Charles."
Georgiana nodded. "Oh, yes, that's right."
"Anyway, you were the one who told me she'd be there, and when I spoke to Charles I found out when. I just dropped in on him on Saturday." He lowered his eyes, and began to toy with his ring. "Elizabeth arrived the next day. I was walking on the grounds when a little boy scampered around the end of the hedge and ran right into me." He smiled, remembering how William had fallen face first into the snow as a result. "I picked him up off the ground and asked if he was hurt. He assured me he wasn't. That's when Elizabeth appeared. She began scolding the boy, and when he turned and called her 'Mummy' I thought I was imagining things! But she seemed distracted. She didn't say a thing to me, and marched the little fellow away and back to the house. The next day she packed him off to her parents' home."
Georgiana touched his hand gently. "When did you see her again? Was she unwilling to be with you?"
"Unwilling?" He recalled the press of her body against his, and the taste of her warm mouth on his own. Shaking his head to clear it, he continued, "I'd hardly say she was unwilling. Georgiana, the night before I came here, Charles and Jane conspired to lock Elizabeth and myself in the library at Netherfield! I can only assume that they both knew about William being my son, and this was an attempt to force Elizabeth into telling me, though at the time I thought it was Charles trying to prod me into action. It was obvious that Elizabeth had been drinking; she was a little unsteady, and.....very forward." Once again, the memory of her bold assault on his senses threatened to overwhelm his control, and he looked away from his sister. "That is when she told me that William is my son."
Georgiana watched him intently. "She named him William? She must have really loved you, Will."
Will looked at her disbelievingly. "Oh, yes, so much that she elected to keep my son's existence a secret!"
"Fitzwilliam Darcy!" Georgiana spoke sharply. "Would you try for once to see someone else's side? I'm well aware of how much you have suffered the last three years! I had to live with you! But Elizabeth was on her own and pregnant. How much support did she get from her family?"
Will was staring at his little sister in shock. "I...I'm not sure.....she was here, in Manchester."
Georgiana's mouth fell open. "Here? In Manchester? With no family to help her?"
His sister's words triggered a recollection of a conversation at Netherfield the first night after Elizabeth arrived. Jane had begun with:
I remember some of your late night phone calls as being little more than pleas for human contact!
Elizabeth, laughing had replied: Tell the whole truth, Jane. All of my calls were like that!
To which Charles concluded: I can attest to that! My new wife was constantly on the phone in the evenings.
But Georgiana had continued speaking. "My, God, Will! She was all alone in a city she didn't know, expecting a baby and believing you didn't care about her! I have to say that raises my respect for Elizabeth Bennet to new heights!" She looked at him long and hard, then decided to drive the final point home. "Did you stop to consider that she did have another choice?"
Will's brow furrowed in confusion. "Another choice?" he repeated.
Impatiently, she replied, "Yes, another choice! She could have elected to terminate the pregnancy! Would you have preferred that to being kept ignorant for three years?"
The look of horror that crossed his face was answer enough. He was speechless. The image of that little boy, and the fragility of his existence, filled Will with an overwhelming need to return to Netherfield as soon as possible.
"Will? I'm sorry to be so cruel, but you simply have to see Elizabeth's side in this, too. I know she was wrong not to tell you, but it can't be helped now." As her brother's eyes were raised once again to her, Georgiana said, "I think there are only two questions left to ask yourself. Can you forgive her? And, if not, can you live without her?"