Read Online The Last Waltz: . . . another pride and prejudice journey of love by Pat Santarsiero - Free Book Online
Authors: Pat Santarsiero
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love someone so much and yet be powerless to help them. But he still did not know how he could help Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Mr. Bennet turned from the window and looked at the young man. “She believes any kindness is given out of pity and that no man could ever want her the way she is.”
Darcy then reflected upon her every feature: her intelligent brown eyes with their radiant flecks of amber, her perfect nose, the luscious curve of her full lips, and the rich brown curls that perfectly framed all of that delicate loveliness.
Darcy’s gaze did not falter; his eyes stayed steadfastly on Mr. Bennet’s.
“I see you are wondering what plan I might have in mind and what part you might play.”
“Those were my thoughts exactly, sir.”
Mr. Bennet took a deep breath. He hesitated for a moment, knowing what he was about to ask was high handed and risky, that it could have the exact reverse effect on his daughter than the one for which he hoped. But he could think of no other way to help the daughter that he loved so dearly.
“I would like you to call on Elizabeth.”
For several moments, an uncomfortable silence filled the air. Fitzwilliam Darcy had been approached by many matchmaking mamas of the ton in his seven and twenty years who obliquely hinted that he call upon their daughters in the hopes of matrimony; however, he could not believe that Mr. Bennet would actually make such a distasteful suggestion.
“Are you asking me to court your daughter?”
“I am asking only that you befriend her, to show her that she has qualities that would interest even a man of your consequence. Oh, do not worry, Mr. Darcy; Elizabeth is an intelligent young woman. She is well aware of the limitations society has put upon our dissimilar social classes. But perhaps with her confidence bolstered, she might at least consider that some gentleman of her own station might come to love her, that she is not defined by her impediment.”
Darcy gave this much thought.
“You know nothing of my character, sir. Would you take such a gamble with your daughter’s reputation as to allow her my companionship?”
“Mr. Darcy, I have sat idly by for some time now and watched as my daughter’s spirit has been trampled and crushed. Soon there will nothing left of her but an empty shell. I am willing to take such a risk rather than allow that to happen. That you have expressed concern for her reputation, speaks well of your character.”
“And why me, sir? What makes you think she will welcome my company? She has shown little interest in pursuing a friendship with me, I assure you.”
“What you consider ‘little interest,’ Mr. Darcy, has been the most notice she has taken of anyone or anything in longer than I can remember.” Mr. Bennet now stood before the desk and looked down at the young man.
“Three important events happened to Elizabeth five years ago, all within a sennight. Of course, the most significant was the accident, but the other two events had such an impact on my daughter that at the time they overshadowed even her injuries.”
Darcy waited, now almost impatient to learn what these other two events had been, and the gentleman did not make him wait long.
“She attended her very first London dance. She was quite impressed with it and went on to describe it in great detail even as she lay injured in her bed: the lanterns, the flowers, the music—all declared by her to be thrilling and romantic.”
Darcy had no difficulty picturing the Miss Elizabeth he had met five years ago expressing such an opinion. He then waited for Mr. Bennet to reveal the last of the three events.
“But even that did not hold a candle to the enthusiasm she expressed for the other event that left such a great impression on my daughter . . . her meeting you.”
The room was again quiet for several moments as Darcy processed this information. From Elizabeth’s reaction to him at the Assembly, he would never have guessed that meeting him had any
Mr. Bennet turned from the window and looked at the young man. “She believes any kindness is given out of pity and that no man could ever want her the way she is.”
Darcy then reflected upon her every feature: her intelligent brown eyes with their radiant flecks of amber, her perfect nose, the luscious curve of her full lips, and the rich brown curls that perfectly framed all of that delicate loveliness.
Darcy’s gaze did not falter; his eyes stayed steadfastly on Mr. Bennet’s.
“I see you are wondering what plan I might have in mind and what part you might play.”
“Those were my thoughts exactly, sir.”
Mr. Bennet took a deep breath. He hesitated for a moment, knowing what he was about to ask was high handed and risky, that it could have the exact reverse effect on his daughter than the one for which he hoped. But he could think of no other way to help the daughter that he loved so dearly.
“I would like you to call on Elizabeth.”
For several moments, an uncomfortable silence filled the air. Fitzwilliam Darcy had been approached by many matchmaking mamas of the ton in his seven and twenty years who obliquely hinted that he call upon their daughters in the hopes of matrimony; however, he could not believe that Mr. Bennet would actually make such a distasteful suggestion.
“Are you asking me to court your daughter?”
“I am asking only that you befriend her, to show her that she has qualities that would interest even a man of your consequence. Oh, do not worry, Mr. Darcy; Elizabeth is an intelligent young woman. She is well aware of the limitations society has put upon our dissimilar social classes. But perhaps with her confidence bolstered, she might at least consider that some gentleman of her own station might come to love her, that she is not defined by her impediment.”
Darcy gave this much thought.
“You know nothing of my character, sir. Would you take such a gamble with your daughter’s reputation as to allow her my companionship?”
“Mr. Darcy, I have sat idly by for some time now and watched as my daughter’s spirit has been trampled and crushed. Soon there will nothing left of her but an empty shell. I am willing to take such a risk rather than allow that to happen. That you have expressed concern for her reputation, speaks well of your character.”
“And why me, sir? What makes you think she will welcome my company? She has shown little interest in pursuing a friendship with me, I assure you.”
“What you consider ‘little interest,’ Mr. Darcy, has been the most notice she has taken of anyone or anything in longer than I can remember.” Mr. Bennet now stood before the desk and looked down at the young man.
“Three important events happened to Elizabeth five years ago, all within a sennight. Of course, the most significant was the accident, but the other two events had such an impact on my daughter that at the time they overshadowed even her injuries.”
Darcy waited, now almost impatient to learn what these other two events had been, and the gentleman did not make him wait long.
“She attended her very first London dance. She was quite impressed with it and went on to describe it in great detail even as she lay injured in her bed: the lanterns, the flowers, the music—all declared by her to be thrilling and romantic.”
Darcy had no difficulty picturing the Miss Elizabeth he had met five years ago expressing such an opinion. He then waited for Mr. Bennet to reveal the last of the three events.
“But even that did not hold a candle to the enthusiasm she expressed for the other event that left such a great impression on my daughter . . . her meeting you.”
The room was again quiet for several moments as Darcy processed this information. From Elizabeth’s reaction to him at the Assembly, he would never have guessed that meeting him had any
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