Excentryke's Musings

Title: Wasn’t that the truth? (Coffeehouse Continuation)

Author: ExcentrykeMuse

Pairing: Elizabeth/Darcy

Fandom: Pride & Prejudice

Word Count: >1k

Rating: G

Warning(s): none

Prompt: from Shelby 666: You know me….always looking for Pride and Prejudice. I would love you to continue the Coffeehouse!!!!

Elizabeth waited in the window, waiting for Mr. Darcy to come. 

They had indeed taken hot chocolate together and when they had exited the shop, the grey kitten Elizabeth had confided in had disappeared.  She had been disappointed, but she supposed the kitten must find its own way in the world, much as she must.

But today Mr. Darcy was to come.

“Elizabeth, come away from the window, dear,” her Aunt Gardiner entreated her as she saw to her sewing.  “Someone might see you.”

Regretfully, Elizabeth removed herself from the window and came to sit down.

“What are you looking for, dear?” Aunt Gardiner asked.  “We’re not expecting anyone.”

The only problem was that Elizabeth was expecting someone, in the shape of Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.

He called half two, and Elizabeth sat up straighter in her seat where she was mending one of her uncle’s shirts.  The conversation could not be heard from the door, but she was well aware when Mr. Darcy was directed to her uncle’s study, and not to the ladies.  He was there for well over ten minutes when Elizabeth was asked to come in.

“Elizabeth?” her Uncle Gardiner asked as she came into the room.  “Do you know this gentleman?”

Looking over at Mr. Darcy, who had stood upon her entry, she smiled at him.

“Why, yes, uncle.”

Uncle Gardiner seemed upset.  “He says he wants to court you.”

Elizabeth looked back at Mr. Darcy.  “Is there something wrong with his character?”

“No, there is nothing wrong with—that is to say.  Elizabeth, you have been banished here for not accepting another offer of marriage.”

“And I intend to stay banished,” she agreed, now taking a seat.  “Father need never know.  He made it quite clear to me that I was no longer his daughter.”

Uncle Gardiner looked like he was about to have an apoplexy.  Turning to the sideboard, he poured two glasses of madeira (as there were only two glasses) and offered one to Mr. Darcy, who refused it.  He then gave it to Elizabeth before drinking his own. 

“You are aware, Mr. Darcy, of my niece’s family difficulties?  She refuses to be called anything but ‘Miss Elizabeth’ even when we go to church!”

Mr. Darcy did not seem at all bothered.  “I applaud her for her strong sense of moral fibre.  It is unusual in a young woman of under twenty.  Indeed, it is unusual in a woman more than twice her age.”  He looked over at Elizabeth with his intense green gaze.  “I like her quite as I find her.”

Uncle Gardiner, however, was not yet finished.  “And what do you intend to do if Mr. Darcy proposes, Elizabeth?  Do you intend to be married from this house and only then inform your father by letter after the honeymoon?”

Elizabeth pulled her gaze away from Mr. Darcy.  “Yes?”  It was more of question than a statement.  “Father doesn’t care about me, as long as I do not do as he bids, and as I am not biddable unlike my sisters—”

Sitting back, Uncle Gardiner looked into his empty madeira glass.  “Indeed.  This is most irregular.  Very well then, if that is how you both will have it.  I will not pretend that you are not a burden to your aunt, Elizabeth, as much as we like to have you here.”

Elizabeth felt the weight of what her uncle was saying.  By marrying Mr. Darcy—or indeed anyone—she would be doing her uncle a favor. They could not afford her.  Her father could, but he was punishing her since she would not marry Mr. Haversham.  Shame on him for putting both her and her uncle’s family in such a predicament!

“Then may I propose that Miss Elizabeth and a suitable chaperone come to the coffeeshop on High Street tomorrow at eleven as I know Miss Elizabeth likes chocolate so much?” Mr. Darcy offered.  “I can send my carriage.”

“That sounds most satisfactory,” Uncle Gardiner agreed.  He stood and shook Mr. Darcy’s hand. 

Darcy was nothing if not polite, and he took Elizabeth’s hand before he left and kissed her bare knuckles, causing her to blush.

“Well, Lizzy,” Uncle Gardiner said once he was gone.  “You seem to have done well by yourself.  You flee Mr. Haversham of three thousand a year and catch a gentleman worth at least three times that!”  He took a card from where it was resting on his desk.  “Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.  How well your aunt should like that!  She’ll remember Mr. Darcy from about the village from when she was a girl.”

“I did not accept his suit to please you, Uncle, or indeed Aunt Gardiner.”

“No, of course not,” he agreed.  “You never do anything but to please yourself.”

And wasn’t that the truth?

The End.