Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice, page 1
Imperative
A Tale of Pride and Prejudice
Volume 1
Linda Wells
Imperative: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice Volume 1
Copyright © 2012 Linda Wells
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form whatsoever.
Cover photo: © Stephen Orsillo: Dreamstime.com, Back cover photo: © Adina Nani: Dreamstime.com
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead; is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
To
Catherine, Tania, and Jane for their wonderful eyes and great support.
and
Bill and Rick for being my boys.
Chapter 1
“Please understand Elizabeth, this is for both of us.” Darcy whispered as he took Elizabeth’s hand from the reverend and turned to face the altar. He could feel her fear as the tremble in her body travelled down to her fingertips. Darcy wondered if she could feel his hand shaking as well. Chancing a glance down to her, he studied her eyes: wide, dark, but focused, and as always, so beautiful. He took a breath and drew strength from the slight woman at his side.
Elizabeth looked up to find Darcy’s blue eyes examining her. She was aware of his eyes from the first moment she saw him at the Meryton Assembly. Was it only six weeks ago? Those penetrating, fathomless eyes had followed her every move: watching, examining, and she thought, judging her. Perhaps he was. But it was not a negative opinion that drove him to rise from his chair in the library.
Two weeks earlier, 16 November 1811.
After nearly a half-hour in silent companionship, while she attempted to read and he failed utterly to stop thinking of the knowledge that tortured him, Darcy heard the sound of Caroline Bingley’s grating voice as she approached with her sister and brothers and coming to a decision, brought Elizabeth along. He sprung from his chair.
Elizabeth startled when Darcy seized her hands, sending her book to the floor and Elizabeth up and into his arms. Barely before she could take a breath, Darcy’s mouth found hers, and he kissed her. A bolt of electricity travelled through them both. Drawing back, he stared into her eyes. “I promise; I will never hurt you. Please accept this.” Seeing her confusion he whispered again, “Please, Elizabeth.” Darcy wrapped her tenderly in his embrace, holding her, cradling her. This was not a compromise of violence and demand; he was transmitting his care to her. “Trust me.” He waited, and then looked to the doorway as the group drew closer.
The eye contact broken, Elizabeth startled from her transfixed gaze and found her tongue. “Sir … Mr. Darcy, what … what has come over you?”
Her voice was silenced by the exquisite feel of Darcy’s soft lips kissing her again. Without thought, Elizabeth lifted her hands to grasp his shoulders. Never in her life had she touched a man, let alone clung to him. Every thought of disliking him was gone in the touch of his lips. She did not understand. She knew she should be fighting him, slapping his face, calling for help, but something in his eyes, his voice … Trust me, he asked. Elizabeth Bennet had no reason in the world to trust Fitzwilliam Darcy, but she did, and her fate was sealed.
“Mr. Darcy!” Caroline cried.
“Darcy, what are you doing!” Bingley rushed into the room and stood impotent next to his friend who continued to kiss Elizabeth, and Elizabeth, who was so lost in the feeling, did absolutely nothing to stop him.
At last Darcy ended his caress and drew away, looking only at the woman in his arms. She felt him take a long deep breath and rest his forehead on hers. “Thank you.”
“Mr. Darcy, quickly, nobody must know of this!” Caroline urged and attempted to pull him away.
Bingley grabbed his sister. “Caroline, let go of him!”
Darcy steadfastly held onto Elizabeth, and lifted his head. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have just compromised you before witnesses. I will go to your father and accept the responsibility that I must marry you. Will you fight this or accept my hand and join me at Pemberley as my wife?”
“Marry me?” Elizabeth blinked and tried to focus on what he had said. “Marry me?”
“NO!” Caroline screamed.
Darcy continued the unwavering gaze into Elizabeth’s eyes. He read every emotion that she was feeling. She could hide nothing when she gave him her eyes. She was so frightened, and confused. He saw anger and … curiosity.
“Are you certain of this, Mr. Darcy? We could accept Miss Bingley’s offer to forget this ever happened. An explanation would be wonderful as well, or at the least a declaration of some feeling. Have you considered courting me or is that too conventional for you?”
“I cannot explain why here and now, but I promise you, I will tell you my reasons once we are wed.” Darcy lifted his hand and caressed her soft blushing cheek with the back of his fingers. “Will you be my wife?”
The room was silent, the occupants watching in frozen fascination as Elizabeth stared up to his gentle, serious, almost begging eyes. It was all in his eyes. Why had she not understood him before? She smiled to herself, Because we both open our mouths! His eyes lit up when she smiled and that settled the question.
“I do not know why I am saying yes, Mr. Darcy, but … yes. I will marry you.” He smiled a little. “But be aware sir, that I do expect an honest explanation.”
Darcy let her go and lifted her hand to his lips. “I promise. You shall have it.” He turned to the witnesses. “I am very pleased to announce my engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Good Lord.” Bingley whispered.
“If you will excuse me, I must go to Longbourn and speak to Mr. Bennet.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Would you care to join me?”
“I believe that I must. Papa will be in shock. Not that I am terribly composed myself.” She looked down to the very large warm hand that encompassed hers. Her heart was pounding. “May I tell Jane first?”
His thumb gently stroked over hers, reassuring her again with that delicate touch. “Of course. I will call for the carriage. Thank you for this honour.”
Elizabeth looked back up to him, he was staring at her in a way she had noted so many times before, but now its meaning was evident. He gave no voice to it, but the continued grip on her hand, almost painful in its intensity, told her that there was much to understand about this man she had agreed to marry. And then he let go.
“Oh.” She stumbled, and in a second she was back in his arms. “I think that the shock is wearing off.”
“Perhaps I should walk you upstairs.”
“OUT!” Caroline screeched. “I want them out now! I will NOT play hostess to this fallen woman and her fortune hunter sister a moment longer!” She turned to Bingley. “Get them out!”
“Fallen woman?” Bingley at last woke from his trance. “Who is that? And who is a fortune hunter?”
“Elizabeth Bennet! She has used her wiles to blind Mr. Darcy!” Caroline flew to his side and clutched his arm. “Sir, I beseech you, do not fall prey to this woman!”
Darcy fixed his eyes on Caroline then looked down to her hand and back to her face. She dropped his arm as if it were on fire. “Miss Bingley, I compromised Miss Elizabeth. I will not tolerate any talk that suggests she was in any way complicit. Your insult of Miss Bennet is also entirely out of order. How can you possibly proclaim a woman who has spent the past week bedridden a fortune hunter? You should be ashamed of yourself, Miss Bingley.”
“Darcy …” Bingley wavered between defending his sister and supporting his friend.
“Forgive me, Mr. Darcy … I am justifiably shocked …”
“That your fortune hunting machinations have failed?” Darcy said sharply. “If I am blinded by anything, it has not affected my vision enough to not see what you have been hoping to achieve since I first met you.” Caroline’s already flushed face developed a richer shade of red and she turned to her sister for comfort. He looked to Bingley who closed his eyes with the truth of the statement. Hurst remained in the background taking in the scene. Darcy’s attention returned to Elizabeth, and his voice softened. “Are you well?”
“Yes, I believe so.” Elizabeth had been fascinated watching him silence Caroline’s tirade, and realizing that she was still resting in his arms, blushed anew. His trace of a smile emerged. She withdrew and he immediately let go.
“Good.” Darcy placed her hand on his arm. “I will take you upstairs. I cannot risk you being injured, can I?”
“Who are you?” She demanded.
“Fitzwilliam George Darcy, your future husband.” She saw the slightest hint of a twinkle appear in the depths of the blue gaze.
“What on earth have I done?” She whispered.
Turning to Bingley, Darcy caught his eye. “Since I am occupied, would you please ask for the carriage to be prepared for us? Or if that is too much trouble, a gig would be fine.”
“Yes, of course, Darcy.” Bingley watched them walk away.
“Sir, I cannot ride alone with you in a gig! I would be considered …”
“Compromised?” His lips twitched.
Elizabeth’s mouth opened in surprise then she lifted her hand to her lips to laugh. “Oh, that was a ridiculous statement. Have you thought of everything Mr. Darcy?”
“No, Miss Elizabeth, perhaps the greater plan … but these fine points astonish me as m
uch as you, I think.”
Her brow shot up and she regained enough composure to begin her questions. “What is this greater plan and further, when was it formed?”
He drew a breath and then stopped himself. “After we wed.”
Instantly her fear returned. “Sir, is there something in this that would turn me against you?”
“No, I would not think so.” He said, considering her question seriously.
“But then, why …?”
“Trust me.” He stopped and spoke very sincerely. “Please.”
“But you find me hateful.”
Darcy’s mouth dropped open. “Elizabeth! I have said nothing of the sort! I think that I have demonstrated quite clearly that I do not find you hateful. How did that idea form?”
“I am tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt you?” She looked to the floor and he stopped his movement to take both of her hands in his own.
“I hurt you and just promised that I never would. Forgive me please, Elizabeth. I spoke then without thinking.”
“Why did you? I am afraid that my opinion of you was rather poor from that moment on and I voiced it to my family.”
“You do not like me?” He said with genuine surprise.
Seeing his expression, she laughed. “You truly need to discover some humility. I am afraid that liking you was low on my priorities. You seemed to search for reasons to point out my faults.”
“When have I done this?” His brow creased and she became the subject of that intense stare again.
Exasperated, she let go and put her hands on her hips. “Every time that we meet! You argue with me, you stare … you … asked me to dance.” She said slowly as realization came over her.
“Twice, as I recall. And never anyone else, you may have noticed.”
“Oh.”
Darcy tilted his head as he watched her eyes opening her soul to him. “Have you noticed Miss Bingley’s rather vindictive behaviour towards you?
“Yes”
“Have you noticed her rather bald attention towards me?”
“It is difficult to miss.” She said dryly.
“Is there perhaps a connection in that?” Darcy waited as she remained silent and was clearly considering every memory of Caroline Bingley. Elizabeth’s hand went to her mouth.
“She is jealous? Of your attention to me? You have been …”
“Very poorly expressing my admiration for four weeks.”
“Poorly indeed if I never saw it.”
“You did not want to. You were justifiably angry; however I think that you did see it because you returned it to me.”
“I did?”
Darcy nearly laughed to see her surprise. “Why did I choose you?”
“Yes, why?” Elizabeth demanded.
He smiled, “I like you despite myself.”
“Oh, that is terribly romantic.”
“I am no romantic.” He said positively.
“Now who is blind?”
“What do you mean?”
Elizabeth laughed to see his handsome brow creased in confusion. “Your proposal, sir, was the height of romance.”
“Oh.” He blushed and Elizabeth delighted in it. Darcy covered up his embarrassment with a question. “If you did not realize that you liked me until moments ago, and you claim not to be a fortune hunter …”
“I never claimed not to be a fortune hunter, but I assure you that I am not.” The sparkle in her eyes nearly brought him to his knees.
Darcy swallowed, and was struck with the realization that his feelings for Elizabeth were beyond the like he claimed, and had grown past the protective concern that had convinced him that she was the one woman he would ask to bring an end to his troubles. “Then why …” He nearly whispered.
Her eyes lit up, “I will tell you after we marry.”
“That is unfair, Elizabeth.”
“You set the rules.” She laughed and then became serious. “You can trust me.”
“I know. I am trusting you with my life.”
They had arrived outside of Jane’s door but Elizabeth made no move to enter. “Your life?”
Darcy nodded. “I do not mean to sound dramatic.”
“Well you certainly managed it very handily.” Crossing her arms over her chest she hugged herself. “Is there someone threatening you?”
“Elizabeth, please.” His pain was evident, and she wanted to relieve it, but she could not do that without his talking to her.
“No sir, I need to know what is wrong.”
Darcy pushed away all of the new emotions that were swirling around his mind and began speaking in a clipped voice. “If you wish to end this engagement now, I will understand …” He stopped himself when he noticed her eyes widen. “No … no I cannot end it now. Please Elizabeth, please trust me.”
“My father will ask more from you than this before he will consent. I am twenty, Mr. Darcy, unless you plan a trip to Gretna Green, he will require a valid explanation.”
“I understand that.”
They stood staring at each other in silence, willing their partner to say something, anything. Elizabeth gave in to the contest of wills first. “Mr. Darcy, please do not treat me as a child.”
“I did not realize that I had.” He sighed. “Forgive me; I am accustomed to being the sole caretaker for a great number of people.”
“I did not realize that … I know so little of your life, really all that I know is what I have heard from the gossip of the neighbours and Miss Bingley’s speeches.”
“Neither of which are terribly accurate.” His slight smile reappeared.
“Will you at least tell me about yourself?”
Darcy took her hand. “I would be very glad to do that, Elizabeth. I would be delighted to tell you all about Pemberley.”
“And your family?”
He hesitated then nodded. “Yes … you will learn about them. We are not very close, I am afraid, except for my sister and cousin. And an uncle.”
“Miss Darcy is young, I gather.”
“She … is fifteen.” Thoughts of his sister brought him back to the reason for his impulsive behaviour, and he cleared his throat. “I know that this precipitous proposal is hardly what you expected from any man or what you deserve, and that …” He closed his eyes with his embarrassment, “I will not ask for my rights as a husband anytime soon. I wish for us to be friends and … I would not force you.”
Elizabeth withdrew her hand from his and pressed it to her mouth as she realized all that she had agreed to with this man she barely knew. “I … I thank you for that.”
His eyes opened and he attempted to reassure her. “You will be cared for, you will forever have a home. You will be safe and warm. Just … you will just be by my side for your lifetime, if you can bear it.” He took a breath then tried to smile again. “We came here to see your sister, did we not?”
Elizabeth started from her contemplation of his eyes. “Oh yes, she must be wondering over the voices in the hall.” She knocked on the door and peeked inside. “Jane? Are you awake?”
“Yes Lizzy, what is happening out there?”
Elizabeth saw Jane was sitting up, and that she was wearing a bed jacket over her nightdress. “May I bring Mr. Darcy in with me? We have some news.”
“Mr. Darcy?” Her surprise was very clear. “Oh, yes of course, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth turned to smile bravely at him, and he followed her into the room, closing the door behind him. “You look much better, Jane.”
“Yes, Miss Bennet, I hope that you are feeling well.” Darcy said quietly.
“I am, sir. Thank you.” Jane looked expressively at her sister and Elizabeth cleared her throat.
“Jane, Mr. Darcy has … proposed to me and I have accepted.”
“Pardon? I mean; congratulations.” She stared from one to the other. Darcy stood straight and stiff, but his hands were at work furiously twisting a signet ring. Elizabeth was trying hard to appear relaxed but Darcy’s unceasing movement was driving her to distraction. At last she reached over and clasped his hand, and instantly he calmed. Meeting his gaze she saw the corners of his mouth lift and felt his grip tighten. Jane watched the interaction with a growing smile. “Oh, I knew that you were a good man!”
“You did?” He tore his eyes away to see Jane.
“Charlotte and I have talked about it between ourselves. We were sure that you would recognize how lovely Lizzy is, and now we are proved correct! Oh Lizzy!” She held out her arms to her and Elizabeth let go of Darcy to embrace her. His hand was suddenly cold and he immediately returned to twisting his ring. “When did this happen?” She smiled at them both. “Lizzy, why did you not tell me Mr. Darcy was courting you here?”
