Page 12 of Elizabeth Bennet Says Yes to Mr. Darcy

Then another thought arose.

If I broke off the engagement, what would become of the Bennets?

I rose and paced the room. I could not wait. Mr. Darcy was to come to dinner, but I could not bear the civilities, Charlotte’s glances, Mr. Collins’s conversation. I went downstairs, asked that a note be carried to Rosings, and wrote with a steady hand:

Sir,

I must speak with you before this evening. I will walk in the wood near the old beech tree in half an hour.

E. Bennet

He was already there when I arrived.

His face lit up when he saw me, then his expression closed off when he noticed mine.

“What happened?”

“I spoke with Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

Silence fell.

“I see.”

“Then you know what he told me.”

“I can imagine.”

His composure irritated me further.

“Did you separate Mr. Bingley from my sister?”

“I advised Bingley to leave Netherfield.”

“And you kept from him that Jane was in London.”

He shifted almost imperceptibly.

“Yes.”

“You deny nothing.”

“I will not lie to you.”

“How noble, after deceiving your best friend.”

He paled.

“I took no pleasure in it.”

“No, naturally. You acted because you were convinced you knew better than he did who should be his wife, and better than my sister what was in her own heart.”

“I believed your sister indifferent.”

“You observed her for a few weeks and concluded that her reserve canceled out her feelings. Did you even try to speak with her?”

“That would have been improper.”

“But controlling her life without her knowledge seemed perfectly proper to you.”