Free Apprehension and Desire: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice by Ola Wegner Page B

in the future. He cannot be that bad.”
    Elizabeth stood up again, and started pacing the length of the room, waving her arms in an agitated manner. “Oh, Jane, I do not know what to think of him! Sometimes he is so haughty, and arrogant, insults our family and upbringing, then the next moment he can be so nice. He even apologized to me for what he said at the assembly when we were introduced. You remember the tolerable, but not handsome enough, comment?”
    Jane nodded.
    “He explained that he was in a bad mood that day, and he was sorry that I overhead that.”
    “You see yourself, Lizzy, he is not that bad; he may be a bit antisocial, but there is no doubt he cares for you deeply. All will be well, sister.”
    Elizabeth stared desperately into Jane’s blue eyes. “Do you really believe   that?”
    “Yes, Lizzy, I feel that all will be well. He loves you, so there is something to begin with. Perhaps, in the course of time, when you know him better, you will start to like him too.”
    Elizabeth sighed. “Perhaps. But what about Mr. Wickham? Mr. Darcy did him a great harm. I do not find it encouraging that my future husband is able to act so abominably.”
    Jane was silent for a while, her delicate eyebrows frowned, her shapely nose slightly wrinkled, her usual expression when she was thinking over something. “We know only Mr. Wickham’s version of this story, do we not?”
    “Yes.”
    “I think that you should, at the first opportunity, tell Mr. Darcy what Mr. Wickham told you, and then see how he acts and if he can explain it. We should not judge him, knowing only Mr. Wickham’s version. What is more, to our knowledge, there was no one who could confirm the truthfulness of Mr. Wickham’s words. Mr. Darcy should have a chance to speak for himself on this matter.”
    Elizabeth looked at her sister in awe. Jane was so good, so understanding. She defended Mr. Darcy, even though he was the man who had ruined her chances for happiness with Mr. Bingley. I will do everything to reunite you with Mr. Bingley, dear sister, Elizabeth promised herself in her thoughts.
    “Oh, Jane,” she leaned forward to hug her sister. “You are too good. What would I do without you? You always keep my spirits up.”
    “Give it a chance, Lizzy.” Jane patted her back. “I have a feeling that all will be well. Trust me.”
    ***
    Despite the long day of travel from Kent, and late night talk with Jane, Elizabeth woke up early the next morning, before her sister. She finished her toilette quietly, so as not to disturb Jane’s sleep, and walked downstairs, hoping to manage a short walk before breakfast. She was putting on her bonnet in front of the old looking glass hanging in the foyer when she heard her father’s voice.
    “Elizabeth, can you come here, please?”
    Mr. Bennet stood in the open door to the library, his face unreadable, and lacking the usual warm, teasing look in his eyes. Elizabeth took a deep breath and removed her bonnet. She had expected her father would want to talk to her, sooner or later. She preferred later, but she was also surprised he had not done it yesterday just as she had arrived. He had called her Elizabeth too, which was not a good sign. She was always Lizzy to him, unless he was displeased with her, which happened very rarely. The last time, some ten years ago, was when she had fallen out of the tree and broken her arm.
    “Yes, Papa,” she said politely as she entered the library.
    He gestured to the chair opposite his armchair. “Sit down, child.”
    Elizabeth did as she was asked.
    After a long moment of mutual silence, Mr. Bennet asked. “What were you thinking, Lizzy, accepting this man?”
    “Papa, I...”
    “How do you imagine your life with someone whom you cannot respect? sofar as I know, someone you dislike.”
    “Papa, I have doubts too, but... I have given a lot of thought to it, and there are many other reasons which speak in favour of Mr. Darcy.”
    “May I know those