A/N and disclaimer: I must thank Jane Austen for her characters and a story I read on Austen.com for my inspiration. I love reviews so please let me know what you think. The horses, characters, events and conversations are entirely fictional and as the story is set in modern times yes, women are allowed to compete. I'd like to thank anyone who reads and reviews this in advance. Enjoy! Zanna
A young man competing in horse events must want the best. A rich young man who is so obviously single and without other concerns can afford the best horses there are. But that did not lessen the anger of Miss Elizabeth Lyndee Bennet.
"Insufferable conceit." The man walking past had just told his friend that he wouldn't be seen anywhere near Elizabeth and her 'paddock pet'. 'She is just a commoner, no real talent I'm sure.' He had said when his blonde friend had mentioned the girl warming up her chestnut. 'And that paddock pet of hers has no breeding or scope. They are not worth my concern Bingley, no, the only one I shall worry about is your new friend Jane, but she is no match for my superior riding.' She saw that the blonde had left the arrogant man watching the warm ups and so decided Elizabeth urged her horse, Longbourn Firebright Warrior, towards the small practice fence. Her position was faultless and as the abominable man was directly opposite the jump he had a clear view of the approach, take off, suspension and landing. Smiling slightly the rider knew she had made the self-important man rethink what he had said. Warrior was by far a match for anything he could set against him.
"Who is he Jane," the brunette asked as she waited in the collecting ring for the showjumping, "that proud one who just jumped?" Her sister shrugged from atop her dapple-grey mare, Longbourn Long Time Waiting.
"He is the best friend of the new owner of Netherfield." She replied. "His name is Darcy and he is the owner of Pemberly Stables." Elizabeth laughed. He was back in the ring with an almost black gelding, this time he was after Miss Jane Marie Bennet, the elder and gentler of the five sisters.
"I see. That is why he called Flame a paddock pet."
"No, surely!" Exclaimed blonde Jane.
"The very rich can afford to give offence wherever they go. But didn't he bid against Papa for Daphne?"
"Yes, but he must not have seen her showing potential." Elizabeth agreed. The mare in question had a heavy hunter look in her winter coat but once summer came she was one of the most beautifully conformed horses the Bennets owned. She had been at an auction almost three years ago and had been very neglected. Mr Bennet was determined that the bay would make a brilliant show and brood mare and so had bid for her against the renowned Mr Darcy, who had seen only bloodlines and paperwork. Kitty, the second youngest Bennet girl, was doing very well on the Pony Club circuit and was ready to take on some stiffer competion soon with the retrained and cared for mare. Elizabeth was called into the arena and she waited calmly for the bell.
The chestnut was flying. Darcy had the video going again that evening at Netherfield. Although he had won the showjumping and dressage he had been almost beaten by the chestnut and woman rider he was watching compete again.
"For God's sake Darcy!" Miss Caroline Veronica Bingley interrupted. "Haven't you watched that enough? You beat her, she came third." But she only had one horse and she was just mucking around with the course.
"Her sister came second." Originally he had put both sisters' performances down to luck, now he was not so sure.
"Then watch her. I am sick of that chestnut knocking the last pole." She was really just aggravated that his attention should be so focused on another woman. It didn't matter that she was of low breeding or that she rode a pathetic horse, just that his attention was not on the unmarried Bingley sister.
"I think Elizabeth rode brilliantly." Charles Alfred Bingley declared. "But her sister was superb, you cannot deny that."
"I have no wish to. For riding a single horse against such stiff competition she did remarkably well. The mare is also reputed to be a terror to ride for everyone else."
"Jane is the sweetest person I have every met. She is gentle, funny and entirely unassuming…"
"Keep going Bingley and I will believe you are in love with the eldest Miss Bennet." Although the comment bought a laugh from most everyone in the room, Darcy knew that there was an amount of truth that worried him. Just as it may have delighted Elizabeth for she was very sure he sister liked Bingley very much indeed.