"Lizzy, I can hear you laughing," Darcy scolded.
It was never any fun playing hide and seek with his friends' younger sister. Richard always had to include Elizabeth. No matter what it was they were doing, even in swords play. Darcy could not help but wonder why a lady was playing with swords at all. Girls did not do things such as that. They sipped tea, and sewed purses, practiced pianoforte and singing, learned to draw. Why was Richard's one and ten years of age sister not playing with other young ladies? Darcy scurried around the large oak tree and jumped out, "Boo!" Darcy's brow furrowed in confusion. He could have sworn he had heard Elizabeth. Looking about he scratched his head. She began to giggle again. He could tell it was distinctly her giggle because it made birds and the most elegant musicians envious. Not that he had noticed such a thing.
"Lizzy, I give up. Where are you?"
"How is that any fair, Darcy? You have yet to look for Richard. Why must I give up my hiding place?"
Darcy searched for the voice but could not find its source. "Elizabeth," he started but was cut off as the lady in question hopped down from the large oak tree. Dissolving into a fit of laughter at Darcy's look of astonishment.
"Careful Darcy, your face may become stuck like so."
Though Darcy was a gentleman, and one of sixteen years of age, he stuck his tongue out at the young girl. Yet again making her dissolve into giggles.
"Come Darcy, let us find my brother. I know where all his hiding spots are. They are rather silly might I add, but he refuses to hide anywhere else. Though when I think of it Darcy, it is the perfect hiding spot when you are the seeker." She smiled back at him and trudged up towards the Fitzwilliam Manor. He scrunched his face in confusion and a bit of disdain.
"Well what does that mean?"
Elizabeth skipped forward, "You shall see Fitzy dear, you shall see."
Darcy growled, "She knows I hate to be called Fitzy," He mumbled.
Elizabeth and Darcy walked into the drawing room their mother's sat in.
"Good afternoon, Lizzy, Fitzwilliam," Lady Eleanor Fitzwilliam greeted. "Are you done with your game dears?"
"No ma'am, we have yet to find Richard" Darcy replied.
Elizabeth shooshed him and grabbed his hand pulling him towards the settee. Right beneath it, covered slightly by a fallen cushion, was Richard's black clad booted feet. Elizabeth pointed towards them and raced off to sit next to her Mama.
"I have found you, Richard, your giant feet have given you away."
Richard slithered out from under the settee, "Mind you and my big feet. I rather think it was a younger sister," Richard smiled.
"Twas not, Richard I swear it. Darcy found me and I came back to rest next to Mama. Tis no fault of mine your feet are rather large in size."
Neither Richard nor Darcy could hold back their laughs. Elizabeth at such a young age was quite the wit. She could hold her own nicely. Darcy had been friends with the Fitzwilliam's since his very birth. His Mother and Lady Fitzwilliam were great friends, as well as their fathers. Even Georgiana, though she was only seven years old and terribly shy, loved Elizabeth as a sister. There was, of course, Richard and Elizabeth's eldest brother, Thomas. He was the rightful heir to the Fitzwilliam's fortune and title, and he made sure everyone knew it. Though Darcy did not see much of him as he was a bit older and married with three children.
"Darcy? Richard? Might we have a game of chess? Winner receives the others treat after supper."
Darcy looked at his feet not comfortable with the idea of being beaten by a girl, for he knew he would be beaten by Elizabeth and not Richard. She had won his treat's countless times over the years. She could see him hesitate and added, "Darcy, one last time? Before you and Richard leave me?" She walked towards him and looked up at him with her hazel brown eyes. "Please?"
Darcy grunted before shaking his head in the affirmative. How could he resist such tempting eyes? He shook his head, none of those thoughts.
Twenty minutes later and Elizabeth was glowing. She had won both Darcy and Richard's treats for the night.
"Oh do not look so sour, Darcy. I am sure that that school you are to attend shall teach you how to better play chess. Besides now you have a fond memory of me before you depart at the end of the week for university. Well perhaps it is the other way around, I have a fond memory whereas you," she paused to lick her fork she had just taken a bite off of the treat she won. "Just have a memory." Her eyes danced with mischief and mirth.
Her father, the Earl of Matlock, laughed a throaty laugh at Lizzy's teasing manner. "Come Darcy, humor the poor girl. It will be quite some time before you see her again. She is off to school as well you know. Etiquette school for young ladies. That reminds me, Richard you and her both depart the same day. Might I add his majesties army will be gaining quite the soldier."
Richard coughed, choked up at his father's compliment, "thank you, Father."
The Earl nodded his head and turned back to his conversation with the elder Mr. Darcy.
"Well Lizzy, dear, are you excited for school?" Richard asked as Lizzy sat doe eyed eating her third treat. Darcy stared in wonderment at how such a small girl could finish all three treats in one sitting. One of her brown curls hanging over her brow, covering her eye. She flicked it away and frowned.
"No, Richard and you are aware of it. I do not see the reason behind going to etiquette school. I am a perfect lady all on my own."
Darcy snorted.
"Why Darcy, care to explain the snort?" Richard smirked.
Darcy looked down, color rising to his cheeks. He was never one for confrontation and Elizabeth always seemed to have one on the edge of her lips.
"No, I simply find it amusing that a girl who duels as well as a boy, climbs trees, has more holes in her stockings than can count, and has a sharp tongue can count herself among the ladies. More or less a perfect one."
Richard leaned back in his chair slightly amused at how true the statement was and how Lizzy looked ready to kill. Only he was surprised, and so was Darcy, when Elizabeth simply took an over exaggerated bite of her treat.
A/N: Hiya fanfiction readers! So this is my first JA FFN so please review and tell me what you think. If you like it I might continue it.
~ Mrs. Lily Darcy
