Last Man in the World

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Man in
theWorld
by AbigailR
 e Last
to see the house,” said Mr. Darcy. “here it is, across
the valley—Pemberley House.”
Elizabeth smiled at him dutifully, then looked
out the window of the carriage where he was pointing. he
house was large and handsome, even at this distance, and
its situation on a rising hill above the water was lovely. Of
course, she had expected as much, having heard its praises
sung by Miss Bingley as well as Darcy himself. In other
circumstances, she might have been delighted by it.
She became aware that his eyes were upon her awaiting
her response. Obediently she turned to him and said, “It
is lovely, sir. I do not believe I have ever seen a house more
fortunately situated.”
His face warmed with pleasure, and Elizabeth hur-
riedly looked out the window again, pretending to examine
the nearer aspects of the house as they drove along a stream
which wound its way downhill. here was no denying the
beauty of the park. It would be some consolation to have
such fine-looking grounds to wander through whenever she
wished.
he driver called out to the horses as they pulled up in
front of the house. Darcy stepped out immediately, then
turned to offer his hand to Elizabeth. She placed her own
upon it, accepting his support as she stepped down, then
allowed him to bring her hand to his lips for an intimate
caress.
here was no point, after all, in pretending he did not
have the right, or that he had not spent the previous night
taking every imaginable liberty with her body. She had no
reason to complain; he had been kind and gentle, but after
a second long day of travel, her spirits were flagging, and she
found the pretense of happiness more difficult to sustain.
He did not release her hand, and eventually she glanced
up at him to find a slight smile upon his lips. “Welcome to
Pemberley, Mrs. Darcy,” he said with evident satisfaction.
appearance, from his frockcoats to his horses, was ever lack-
ing. She schooled herself to remember how little she knew
this man who was her husband. It was imperative that she
learn to grant him the benefit of the doubt if they were not
both to be unhappy.
She was greeted respectfully by the housekeeper, Mrs.
Reynolds. he household appeared to be excellently man-
aged; she could have no complaints in that regard. he ser-
vants were deferential without being obsequious, and Darcy
appeared genuinely glad to see some of them.
Finally he asked if she would like to see her rooms.
Hoping for the chance to refresh herself, she agreed, and
followed him through a maze of corridors to a large, well-lit
suite.
Darcy closed the door behind them and took her into
his arms. It was something to which she had become accus-
tomed and in general it no longer made her uncomfortable,
but after the intimacies of the previous night, it felt like an
intrusion. She schooled herself to bear it and accepted his
kisses.
If only she could have a few minutes to herself! She had
barely been out of his company since she walked into the
church the previous day. It was a long time to play the role
of the contented wife without an intermission.
Finally, in desperation, she suggested to him that she
needed a little rest, and he reluctantly departed, promis-
ing to see her shortly at dinner. As the door closed, leaving
her alone at last, her façade visibly collapsed, her shoulders
slumping in despair. Surely this would become easier with
time. She lay down on the bed, larger than any she had ever
slept in before, to which she was supposed to welcome her
new husband. Tears of loneliness and fatigue slipped down
her face.
How had her life come to this? If only she had paid
more attention to Darcy’s puzzling behaviour when they
first met and then later at Rosings, perhaps she might have
prevented it. But that was useless speculation. here was
nothing left but to make the best of it.
2
2
IT HAD BEGUN ON one of her solitary rambles through the
grounds of Rosings Park. It was a pleasant day; the sun was
shining in a clear sky and Elizabeth enjoyed the crisp air of
the morning with no hint of the disaster to come.
As had happened more than once before, she came
across Mr. Darcy while passing through her favorite glade,
and again, he seemed to feel it necessary to accompany
her back to the parsonage. Wishing she were still alone,
Elizabeth had only half-attended to his occasional forays at
conversation. At one point he turned to her for a response,
and with the indistinct idea he had been discussing the
house at Rosings, she remarked that the house was so large
TO ELIZABETH’S RELIEF, THE rooms and furnishings of
Pemberley House showed more restraint and true elegance
than she had expected. She had tried to imagine living in
an even grander and more ostentatious version of Rosings;
at least her surroundings would be more pleasant than that.
It demonstrated more good taste on Mr. Darcy’s part than
she would have anticipated. In all fairness, she had to admit
there had been no reason to think he lacked taste beyond
the garishness of his aunt’s residence. Nothing about his
1
Chapter 1
“I
n a moment, when we leave the trees, you will be able
she was sure she had not seen half of everything it had to
offer.
“hat will change on your future visits, when you will
spend more of your time there,” said Mr. Darcy.
His expectation that she would
want
to know Rosings
better irritated her. She said archly, “Do not wish such a fate
on me, sir! I assure you that should I visit Kent again, I shall
be perfectly content to spend my days at the parsonage.”
“Surely you know this is no teasing matter, Miss Bennet,”
he said. here was an edge to his voice that made her look
at him sharply.
“Mr. Darcy, I have no conception of any sort on the
subject.”
“You know what my hopes and wishes are,” he said in a
voice of tight intensity. “You have seen me struggle against
it, but it will not do. None of the objections—and I know
there are many—none have the power to move me any lon-
ger. My feelings will not be suppressed. I have never been so
bewitched by any woman. Your low connections, the degra-
dation which it will bring to my honored family name, the
opposition I shall face from my family have long prevented
me from speaking or even considering a union with some-
one so far my inferior.”
Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression. Could
he possibly be attempting to declare himself?
Mr. Darcy
,
who was so proud as to look at her only to criticize? She
could not credit it. hat he would harbour such insulting
thoughts about her family was not surprising, but what lu-
nacy could bring him to say them aloud?
He continued, unaware of her silent struggle. “But ar-
dent love will not be denied. I can no longer imagine a fu-
ture without you by my side. Your wit, your charm, your
beauty hold me captive. he depth of my tender regard for
you can be demonstrated no better than by the obstacles I
have overcome to make this declaration.”
She could hardly believe she was not dreaming, but she
could never have dreamt a more absurd set of circumstanc-
es. She knew she must stop him, and she turned to him with
great determination. “Mr. Darcy,” she began, but before she
could say anything further, he had taken her by the arms
and pressed his lips against hers.
She felt nothing but shock that he would so violate pro-
priety as to take a husband’s prerogative. As soon as she
could speak, she cried, “Mr. Darcy! You must not…”
“No, Elizabeth, indeed I must,” he said in a voice of sur-
prising tenderness. “You need not worry. I shall not allow
anyone in my family to be unkind to you.”
“hat is hardly the point, sir,” she said, her voice trem-
bling with barely suppressed anger. “You assume far too
much.”
“Surely you do not think your father will deny my
suit?” here was a light of exhilaration in his eyes. Before
Elizabeth realized what was happening, he was kissing her
again. his time she struggled free and backed away from
him. She could not believe it, even of him.
Her first response was relief at no longer being alone
with Mr. Darcy; the second, horror as she realized Colonel
Fitzwilliam must have seen the entire episode. here could
be no hiding her shame; there were too many witnesses.
Darcy did not even look taken aback. “You misunder-
stand, Fitzwilliam. Miss Bennet has just done me the hon-
our of consenting to become my wife.”
Was his pride so great that it did not occur to him she
might refuse him? Elizabeth opened her mouth to deny his
allegation, but before any sound could emerge, she recog-
nized her danger. If she claimed it was not true, her reputa-
tion was ruined, regardless of whether she had welcomed
his advances or not. What was her other option, though—
marriage to a man she heartily disliked? She looked at him,
utterly furious he had put her in this position.
Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to her. “My congratula-
tions, Miss Bennet,” he said. “I wish you the best of luck
with that rogue.” He smiled at his own joke.
No, she was sure of it—she would prefer ruin to mar-
riage to Mr. Darcy. Even had she liked him, his cruelty to
Mr. Wickham would have convinced her against him, and
she still suspected he had a hand in Jane’s cruel disappoint-
ment.
Dearest Jane—what would this do to her when word
of Elizabeth’s shame got out? It would be the ruin of her
as well, and of their other sisters; what little marital chance
they had would not survive Elizabeth’s disgrace. Jane and
Mary, Lydia and Kitty—they would be forced to grow old
together, spinsters surviving on the charity of the Gardiners
and the Phillipses.
Although she would not marry Mr. Darcy to save her-
self, neither could she condemn her sisters. Tasting the ashes
of lost hopes, she said faintly, “hank you, Colonel.”
She could not even look at Darcy. He was standing
closer to her than she liked, and she could hear the happi-
ness in his voice as he accepted his cousin’s congratulations.
“But let us not tell Lady Catherine until I have Mr. Bennet’s
consent,” he said. “I shall ride to Hertfordshire tomorrow,
and if all goes well, I shall return the following day.”
Elizabeth could not even begin to imagine what her
father’s response might be. Oh, how had she found herself
in this miserable situation? Her sole consolation was that
Colonel Fitzwilliam was disinclined to let her return to
the parsonage with only Darcy for company after what he
had witnessed earlier. She did not think she could bear it if
Darcy touched her again that day.
2
His countenance expressed concern, but no loss of as-
surance. “My apologies, dearest Elizabeth. It was not my
intention to frighten you.”
“Darcy!” An angry male voice interrupted them. “How
dare
you?”
Startled, Elizabeth turned to discover Colonel
Fitzwilliam, breathing heavily as if he had been running.
Close behind him were two of Lady Catherine’s gamekeep-
ers.
She managed somehow to make replies when she was
spoken to, but she barely knew what she was saying; her
mind was awash with dismay. Surely there must be some es-
cape from this! Perhaps if she spoke to Colonel Fitzwilliam,
she could convince him to tell no one. But no, that would
not help—there were still the gamekeepers, and she had no
hope of keeping them silent.
hey reached the parsonage at last. She did not invite
them in. Darcy bowed over her hand, and when she met his
eyes she found them full of a bright fire she had never seen
in him before. It unnerved her, but she forced her lips into
a smile.
She went into the house, barely pausing to greet
Charlotte in a civil manner before she fled to her room.
Charlotte was not deceived, and made haste to follow her.
“What is troubling you, Lizzy?” Charlotte asked as they
reached the sanctuary of Elizabeth’s room.
Under ordinary circumstances, Elizabeth preferred
to keep her difficulties private, but it was pointless now.
Charlotte would know what had happened soon enough;
indeed,
everyone
would know.
“I am engaged to Mr. Darcy,” she said in a lifeless voice.
“Eliza, my dear!” cried Charlotte. She was not complete-
ly surprised, as she had often thought Mr. Darcy interested
in Elizabeth. Her friend, though, looked so unhappy that
Charlotte checked her impulse to congratulate her on mak-
ing a brilliant marriage, and said only, “It is a very prudent
match for you.”
“It is not for
me
at all! He caught me quite by surprise
with his proposal, and I should have refused him in no un-
certain terms, but before I could he
kissed
me without so
much as a by-your-leave, and we were observed,” Elizabeth
said angrily. “He is the last man in the world I wish to
marry.”
“Oh, Lizzy. I am sorry you are unhappy for it. I know
how much you dislike him, but is it not possible that with
greater knowledge of him, your opinion might improve?”
“What is there to learn of him? I know what he has done
to Mr. Wickham, I have heard him speak most degradingly
of my family, and he has conceit enough to
assume
I would
marry him! If it were not for the disgrace it would bring my
sisters, I should never, never have agreed.”
“It will be an advantage for your sisters as well. Only
think—you may be in a position to bring Mr. Bingley and
our dear Jane back together.”
“Something which is only necessary because
my
future
husband likely had a hand in separating them!” Elizabeth
paused to think; it would be some consolation to her if her
sacrifice could lead to Jane’s happiness.
Charlotte observed the change in her friend’s face.
“Marriage is a matter of compromise, Eliza. I know you be-
lieve I have compromised more than I should. I do not think
Mr. Darcy is totally without redeeming features, even apart
from the practicalities. By all reports he is a good brother
and guardian to his sister, and Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr.
Bingley, both amiable gentleman, have called him friend for
years. He is well-educated and sensible, which I know is of
importance to you. He has his faults, but I cannot believe
he is
all
bad.” She left hanging between them the specter of
Mr. Collins; knowing how Lizzy felt about him, perhaps
the comparison might give her some ease.
Elizabeth stood and began to pace the room. “I grant
you he is not completely despicable, but I do not want to
marry him!”
Charlotte did not respond for some time. Finally she
said, “No, of course you do not, but given that you must,
there is nothing for it but to make the best of it. Perhaps
you cannot love him, but you must work on finding things
to like in him, Lizzy. Your resentment will do you nothing
but harm in the end.”
She could hear the sense in her friend’s words, much
as she disliked them. Closing her eyes tightly and clench-
ing her fists, Elizabeth said, “So what is your advice then,
Charlotte?”
“Be amiable to him, my dear. He must be violently in
love with you to have made you an offer; that will naturally
incline him to treat you well, if you do not give him reason
to change his mind. Perhaps at some point your influence
may be enough to lead him to alter some of those behaviors
you dislike in him.”
“Your advice is eminently practical,” said Elizabeth, “but
you know I am no actress. I cannot counterfeit well, and I
confess I feel no urge to make him happy.”
“I am not suggesting this in his interest, but in yours.
What will
your
life be like if you make him miserable?
Would you live with a husband who hates you? Please, Lizzy,
do not give him that power; for your own sake, find ways
you can be happy within a marriage you do not want. You
need not spend much time with him once you are married.”
Elizabeth was not a fool; she could see her friend’s point,
and she spent the next day schooling herself to acceptance.
It was not easy for one of her spirits. She made a list of Mr.
Darcy’s virtues in her mind—albeit a very short list—and
repeated it to herself regularly. She could not help wishing
something
might happen—that her father might refuse his
consent, though it would solve nothing, or at the very least
that Darcy’s return would be delayed. She did not trust her
own ability to dissemble, and after the events surrounding
his proposal, she was not under the illusion that he would
make no physical demands during their engagement. She
planned to make every effort to avoid being alone with
him.
His arrival was timely, however, with news of Mr.
Bennet’s consent and a letter from him to Elizabeth. She
met him with a smile and put the letter aside for later.
Knowing her father, she did not expect it to contain the
normal platitudes, and she did not imagine he would be
happy with this match.
To her dismay, no sooner had Darcy appeared than
Charlotte manufactured an excuse to leave them alone to-
3
gether. Glancing despairingly after her friend, Elizabeth
said hurriedly, “Did you find my family well, sir?”
“Your father was well, but I confess I did not see any of
the others.”
“My mother was not aware of the occasion of your visit?”
“Your father kindly offered to share the intelligence with
Mrs. Bennet,” Darcy said in a tone of slight distaste. “I was
happy to absent myself from the occasion.”
I am sure you were!
thought Elizabeth indignantly.
Why
tolerate more degradation than necessary?
“I am glad it did
not take up any more of your time,” she said, trying to mask
her hostility with a smile.
Remember, Bingley and Colonel
Fitzwilliam think highly of him. He is truthful. He is a good
brother.
he litany was becoming wearying.
“It allowed me to return to your side as soon as I could,”
he said with slightly more grace.
Elizabeth wondered what he had been thinking, all
those times he had stared at her in the past. Clearly it was
not
only
to criticize. She could not comprehend, though,
how he had come to love her, for love her he must, to make
her an offer despite his opinion of her family. She had rarely
been anything but saucy and impudent to him, and he had
not often troubled himself to speak to her. Now her cheeks
coloured at what he might be thinking.
He took her blush to mean something else, though, and
moved to the chair beside hers. Taking her hand, he pressed
it to his lips.
It is only a kiss on your hand. Other gentlemen have done
the same,
she told herself.
here is no reason to allow it to
trouble you now.
Other men, however, did not fix their eyes
on her with such heated intensity, nor hold her hand a little
too long. She looked away uncomfortably.
He gave a low laugh. “I should not have expected you
to be shy, Elizabeth.”
His use of her Christian name only fueled her embar-
rassment. “Mr. Darcy, you must allow me some time to be-
come accustomed to thinking of you as something beyond
an acquaintance.”
“Surely you knew I would be making my addresses.”
“I assure you, sir, there was nothing in the world I ex-
pected less,” she replied spiritedly. It was one thing to be
pleasant to him, but there was no reason to pretend she had
been part of some covert courtship process.
“I cannot believe you failed to notice my interest in you,”
he said. “Or did you think perhaps I was only trifling with
your affections?” He sounded amused by his conceit.
“Sir, it never crossed my mind that you particularly not-
ed my existence, or thought me more than merely
tolerable.
”
She realized she was very close to provoking a quarrel with
him, and reminded herself how disadvantageous such an
action would be. With a distinct effort she smiled at him.
He looked at her probingly. “Perhaps that explains
something.”
Elizabeth was not at all certain she wished to know
what it explained, but she responded as he evidently expect-
ed. “And what is that?” In another lifetime she might have
said it archly, or even chosen to tease him by ignoring his
hint, but no longer.
He did not quite smile, but his eyes warmed. “I had not
realized I was taking you by surprise.”
She gave him a puzzled look, then her eyes grew larger as
he leaned toward her, his intent obvious. He said, “Perhaps
this time you will not be caught unawares.”
His lips touched hers. She felt a moment of panic at the
intimacy of it. She would not let it show, though; instead
she forced herself to think how her marriage might provide
another chance for Jane and Mr. Bingley.
Although it was distinctly odd to be kissed by Mr.
Darcy, it was neither terrible nor disgusting, she decided; it
was
tolerable
. he thought of applying that term to him was
rather amusing. Perhaps she should start trying to think of
him as tolerable.
“Yes—that is better,” he said softly as he drew away.
If all he expects of me is not to push him away when he
wants to kiss me, it should be simple enough.
She would have
to ask someone, perhaps her aunt Gardiner, how much
more there was to marriage. he thought made her blush,
which seemed to please her new fiancé.
4
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