Let me Dry your Eyes

Summary

There once was a lonely little girl who was the youngest of five children. And an angry young man whose mother died and left him with a grieving father and a baby sister mere hours old. This is their story.

AN-I have no right to Pride and Prejudice or its characters. That joy solely belongs to Jane Austin and her descendants.

Chapter Eighteen: The Next Day

The next morning Elizabeth descended the stairs and quietly went into the breakfast parlor. As she walked in the men looked up and greeted her; Mr. Bingley offered to get something for her but she waved him away and made her own plate. She sat down and began apologizing for last night. "I am sorry you had to see that. I should have waited til we had left and gone home."

Mr. Darcy thought it was probably time to get a few answers. "It is fine and at least this way you had people to help you." Eliza glanced at her hands and clenched them for a moment and then let go and looked up again. "I can't imagine how hard this must be for you. Do you know what you are going to do?"

Elizabeth opened her mouth but then turned to the door and greeted both her sister and William who just came in. She waited until they sat down and then looking back to the elder Darcy she answered his question. "I am always happy to be in the company of friends... It was hard but not because of why you think. What they did or have done or would have done did not hurt as much as you might think. It was the letting go that hurt, all I wanted was for them to see me and show even a little love and letting go of the possibility hurt a lot more than what they tried to do. As to what I am going to do. I am going to do what I always do I am going to pick myself up and brush the dust off and move forward. I have sent an express letter to my Aunt and Uncle in London and hope to hear from them soon. I will more than likely stay with them for some time while I decide on my next course of action." Here Elizabeth began eating her plate as she waited for their reactions. She knew what Williams thought were on what she should be doing next.

Mr. Darcy was surprised that she took no offense to what they had planned for her. If he was her he would not have been so nice. These were none of the answers he was looking for though, she seemed to neatly side step all the questions that she didn't want to answer. He wondered if there was a way to ask about what he had seen that night without alerting anyone else. His son just sat at the table drinking his coffee and reading the paper that had been delivered. If he didn't know any better he would think that there was not anything so intimate between his son and the young girl... woman that was turning to miss Bingley as she started to talk.

"So, I suppose that this means that you will be looking for employment now. Are you thinking of seeking a position as a governess?" The whole table looked up at miss Bingley's snide comment. William was ready to cut her right back while Mr. Darcy could not believe the audacity of the woman he was quickly coming to believe was a shrew. Her brother and sister were disgusted with her thoughtless and meanness. Mr. Bingley glanced at Jane and opened his mouth to reprimand her when every one snapped their heads to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was laughing seeing everyone looking at her she tried to stifle her laughter. "Forgive me I was thinking of my Aunt and Uncle's reaction if I told them that I wanted to find employment." Seeing everyone was just as confused she expounded. "First they would assure me that there was no need for me to do that as they make more that an average gentleman annually, after they had assured me of such and I still pursued it my Uncle would do his best to agree to take care of his business books as he has been trying to for the last couple of years." She smiled and excused herself to her room to wait for her letter.

It was Mr. Darcy's turn to laugh "Well there goes a girl who knows her mind. I do wonder what she is going to do though. I wonder if she would Like to meet your aunt Elinor? They would get along famously I am sure." All William could do was nod. His father approved of Elizabeth this was as close as they were going to get before he announced his intentions. Miss Bingley was furious that question was not supposed to endear her to the elder Mr. Darcy. She excused herself and stormed up the staircase to the parlor where could scheme in peace. Her sister quietly followed her to make sure she didn't go to overboard. Bingley shook his head and apologized. "Please forgive my sister she is not always like this and I fear that the excitement has shook her up." "Mr. Bingley I am sure that you are right I Lizzy has not taken offense I am sure... When she does you will know." Jane assured their host trying to cheer him up.

Mr. Bingley stood and offered her his arm and began to escort her to the parlor where his sister had gone. William and Mr. Darcy glanced at each other doubting that was why the woman had asked those questions. Some time later they had all gathered in the parlor including Elizabeth when a woman was announced. "Mrs. Hill! What are you doing here?" Jane cried seeing Longbourn's housekeeper come into the room. "I am here to tell you miss Lizzy that all of us are prod of you and that we saved everything we could and I was sent with it to bring it to you." She looked down at the floor and waited. Most of the people in the room were horrified. She had saved what she could? What did that mean. Mrs. Hill couldn't take it anymore she broke down crying. Elizabeth stood and walked to her she wrapped her arms around her and waited til her sobs died down. "Thank you! I know you feel upset about what happened or because you think you could have done more but the truth is that I wouldn't be here without you. So thank you for saving what you could but even if you couldn't save any I would have everything I needed seeing you this one more time to say good bye. My Aunt wrote and said that they are waiting for me and I am leaving for London as soon I gather my travel arangments together." Mrs. Hill smiled and said that she had better not forget to write her. After she had calmed down and had a cup of tea Elizabeth wallked her to the door.

William had followed after her a few minutes behind. He watched her wave her old housekeeper of and walk down a corridor that wasn't used much. He followed her and his Father who had followed him went as well a few feet behind. He stopped at a cornor and strained to hear them. "How could they do this! I never did anything to them." He heard Elizabeth cry, he watched as she cried into his son's chest. William just ran his hand done her back again and again trying to sooth her crying. When she stopped he just rested his hand on her back holding her to him for a moment. " My Father and I am traveling to London in two days allow us to travel with you please. I believe that my father has taken a liking to you. He has said that my Aunt and you would be great friends." Elizabeth considered him for a moment and then smiled wide. "I would love to!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. Darcy was overwhelmed It was obvious that his son very much loved this woman. It was harder to tell with her but it also seemed as if she loved him. He wanted his son to be happy and it wasn't as if the family needed more money or for their name to be moved up in society any more than it already was. He was going to support them when His son finally asked the woman to be his wife. Or knowing Miss Elizabeth when she asked him. Now he just needed to get the rest of the family on his side.

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My apologies for taking so long but I only write when I get into it other wise I have a hard time writing. I really hope you like it so enjoy!