a/n: hi, this is just a silly work meant for my own recreation but I hope it may be enjoyed by others too. I'm not a regency expert, just an Austen lover, so not everything is accurate to the times and I am aware of this so if this bothers you, stop reading now! Otherwise, enjoy.

"Darcy, I must tell you something," Mr. Bingley said with a slightly uneasy smile to his friend seated across from him in his carriage on their way back to Hertfordshire.

Mr. Darcy offered his friend a small smile, seeing his uneasiness and urging him to continue despite his own growing discomfort. "What troubles you, Bingley?"

"Oh, it doesn't trouble me, only, I hope I have not trespassed on your friendship," he paused, "by inviting an old friend of mine to join us at Netherfield. I met him in London the other day and meant to tell you, only we were quite preoccupied." He said this with a wry smile, referring to the business of Mr. Darcy acquainting him with Miss Bennet's true feelings and together planning to salvage them by returning to Hertfordshire. "He told me he, too, was looking to open a property in Hertfordshire and I couldn't believe the coincidence of our meeting and so offered him to be a guest at Netherfield with us until his plans were settled."

"I do not see why you believe I should be troubled by this information, Bingley. I look forward to meeting him."

"Indeed," Mr. Bingley grinned, "I do think you will quite like him. He has your athletic spirit and love for the outdoors, and a great thirst for knowledge. He has done much traveling in his young years, and I confess I am quite eager to hear of his adventures since Cambridge."

"He sounds an interesting fellow. Does he have a name? Perhaps I know him already."

"Mr. Ernest Kendall is the name," Mr. Bingley replied.

Mr. Darcy look pensive for a moment before responding, "No, indeed, the name is unfamiliar to me."

...

They made it to Netherfield late in the evening and settled in, both disappointed that they were too late for a call at Longbourne. They had just finished repairing for supper when a guest was announced.

"Bingley!" the man exclaimed as Mr. Bingley greeted, "Kendall!", and they clapped each other on the back.

"It is a pleasure to see you again, old man," Mr. Bingley said jovially. "Allow me to introduce my great friend, Mr. Darcy."

Mr. Kendall bowed only slightly then stretched a hand to Mr. Darcy with a friendly grin, "Any friend of Bingley's is a friend of mine."

Mr. Darcy shook his hand and said, "Likewise. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Mr. Darcy studied the character before him. He was obviously a man of means, perhaps more wealthy than Bingley, but appeared unlike most gentlemen of the ton. His skin was tawny, no doubt browned by the sun while traveling. He had golden-brown hair and green eyes. He looked almost as friendly and jovial a man as Bingley, though measurably more rugged, but Mr. Darcy could not help feeling skeptically unsettled by him.

"We were just to supper, but certainly you may settle into your room and change, and we shall wait for you," Mr. Bingley told Mr. Kendall.

Once Mr. Kendall left, Mr. Darcy realized something. "Do not take offense, but you do realize now he must join us tomorrow to call on Longbourne?"

Mr. Bingley's eyes widened slightly, "Oh, I confess I hadn't thought of it until now. I don't suppose it will make a great difference, do you?"

"No, I suppose not."

...

At dinner, the men found themselves laughing together in camaraderie as Mr. Kendall, at Mr. Bingley's insistence, recounted a recent adventure in Africa.

"I was sleeping in my little hut amongst the tall, yellow grass- picture me, I implore you! Even at night, temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, but I was on my straw bed sleeping like a lamb-"

"Pardon me, Kendall," Bingley interrupted, laughing, "you were sleeping on the grass? Whatever for?"

"Well, I like to experience the cultures of my travels rather than simply the landscapes and such. The tribes from those parts were acquainted with such habits and so I tried to make my own little shelter in their style. So there I was, in my makeshift home sleeping like-what did I say?- oh yes, a lamb, when I am awakened by none other than," he paused for effect, glancing between the rapt eyes of his audience, then drew his hand to his mouth and made a loud sound resembling an elephant.

"No!" Bingley cried in disbelief.

Mr. Kendall nodded with a smile, "Indeed, gentlemen, a herd of elephants were on a tour to the watering hole for a midnight refreshment, and my little straw hut happened to be a stepping stone to their desired destination. At the noise, I started and sprang to inspect outside my shelter, only to see the herd descending upon me with little more than ten yards between us!"

"Whatever did you do?" Bingley asked with a childlike enthusiasm.

"I did the only thing I could do," Mr. Kendall chuckled and looked between the both of them before answering, "Run!"

The three shared a laugh, picturing the scenario. "Suffice to say," Kendall continued, "I survived, but all of my supplies I had left in my poor, straw hut- destroyed! I daresay old Boney ought to look for those unforgiving beasts I met that night if ever in need of new recruits! I climbed into a tree to keep lookout, luckily having my spyglass on my person as I slept. I returned the next morning to find my guns, canteen-everything smashed! My powder spread about like freshly-laid snow in the middle of Sudan and my shelter- flat as the ground I stood. I felt quite like Crusoe, and I admit," he gave a wry grin, "such pretense gave me courage. I have always believed that pretending is the first step to becoming-" at this Mr. Darcy expressed a look of disapproval, however, it was fleeting and unnoticed, "And so my courage only increased." Darcy froze as the phrase echoed words uttered to him back in Kent and he relented his thoughts to Elizabeth Bennet entirely, wondering anxiously whether she would accept his presence tomorrow.

Kendall continued even as his audience lessened unbeknownst to him, "I even met my Friday, so to speak, one evening when anxiously drinking from the water hole. There was a young native boy behind me who didn't speak any English, but lead me back to his peoples and though he wore a neighborly countenance, whether he was taking me to eat with his people or, I daresay, be eaten by them, I then knew not."

However, they were a gracious people who offered me all they had with equanimity and a civility, which atypical of our cultures, should universally be acknowledged as nothing but very amicable and much obliging. Between clairvoyance and spiritual teachings, I learned much of their culture. But nothing was so insightful and enlightening than the human kindness I was lucky enough to receive in my time of need."

"Wow! Indeed, that is quite a tale!" Mr. Bingley exclaimed, alarming Mr. Darcy out of his thoughts.

"You must join me sometime, Bingley! I know there's a sense of adventure somewhere in you!" Kendall said.

"No, indeed, I believe I would like now more than ever to settle roots permanently."

Kendall raised his eyebrows then gave a coy grin, "Come, who is she now?"

Bingley looked offended, and Mr. Darcy was angered, prepared to defend his friend for implying Bingley's capriciousness, but Kendall spoke first, "Forgive me, Bingley, I jest, but are you truly engaged?"

"Not yet," Mr. Bingley smiled wistfully, "However, I hope that will soon change."

"Well, I hope I get to meet the lady," Kendall said.

"Darcy and I are calling at her home, Longbourne, tomorrow. I hope you will join us."

"Of course, mate. And may I say congratulations?"

Bingley shook his head uncomfortably, "Not yet."

a/n: so ... what do you think of Mr. Kendall so far? He's kind of what I imagine Lizzie to be like if she were a man. A little bit, not entirely. I will probably post next chapter tomorrow. Until then, happy reading.