Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice Read Free Page A

here.”  Elizabeth looked down while she was speaking to avoid Darcy’s intense observation.
    “You wished to go?”  He asked.  There was a slight edge to his voice.
    “You said yourself that Miss Bingley was most unwelcoming to my presence here.”  She looked up to him and met his unblinking gaze.
    “So I did.”  He bowed stiffly and left the room, closing the door after him.
    The sisters looked at the door then to each other.  “What on earth is happening, Lizzy?”
    “I do not know.  There is some grave reason why he must marry soon, and I sense that he thinks it is important that I do as well.  He admits that he cares for me.”
    “He did not say love?”
    “No . . . no not in so many words, like yes, but he did not say love.”
    “And you?”
    “I like him, I realized . . . and I feel, Jane I am overcome with far too many emotions, but I also somehow feel that this is exactly the right thing to do.   I can . . . feel how much he needs me.”
    “But why ?” 
    “He will tell me after we marry.” 
    “Lizzy!  You barely know him!”
    “I trust him.”  Elizabeth said simply and looking up tried to speak convincingly.  “I have nothing to offer him Jane, and he has everything to give.  He is the one who loses in this, not I.  There must be something to be said in that.  He could have anyone.  Even Miss Bingley would be a more prudent choice than I with her dowry.”
    Jane regarded her sister and tried to help her.  “I have never felt that he is the terrible person that you built him to be in your imagination, Lizzy.  I think that he must have had a reason for behaving so uncivilly to you at the Assembly.  See how he was just now, he seemed to realize that part of the reason we were anxious to leave tomorrow was because of your dislike for him.  He was hurt.”  She took Elizabeth’s hands as she looked down at her twisting fingers.  “I do think that he has always paid you particular attention, in his way.”
    “In his way.”  Elizabeth murmured.  “I see that I will be rethinking every encounter with him now that I own this new knowledge of his admiration.”  She noticed Jane’s gentle smile and bristled.  “But it does not excuse his incivility to everyone else of our acquaintance!” 
    “Perhaps not, but . . . why does he have to give attention to those below him?”
    “Perhaps because it is gentlemanly?”  Elizabeth huffed to covered up her embarrassment for being so blind.  “There is no reason to be dismissive.”
    “Lizzy, are you sure that you wish to marry him?”  Jane asked worriedly.  “It is a very sensible choice, but you have always wished for a marriage of respect and mutual care.”
    Elizabeth looked to Jane in surprise and covered her mouth.  “I am in such a state of disbelief; I do not know what to think.”  There was a soft knock on the door and the girls looked up and at each other.  Jane grasped Elizabeth’s hand and felt her shaking, then watched her square her shoulders.  “Come in.”
    Darcy opened the door and met her eyes.  “The carriage is ready.”
    She rose to her feet, and took his outstretched hand.  His grasp was warm and strong.  “So am I.”
     
    “SIR, ARE YOU DEBATING how to approach my father, or have you merely misplaced your tongue?”  Elizabeth asked from across the carriage when they crossed the bridge outside of Meryton.  Darcy had been rubbing his ring beneath his gloves and staring out at the passing scenery. 
    “I know what I must say to Mr. Bennet.” 
    His reticence was exasperating.  “Mr. Darcy, if you have something to say to me, I wish that you would before we arrive at Longbourn.” 
    At last he turned to look at her.  “You wished to leave Netherfield to remove yourself from me.”
    “Not just you . . .”
    “You honestly did not find anything likeable about me?”  His voice was a combination of disdain and defeat, and Elizabeth was not sure how to reply.
    “I greatly