"Elizabeth," Kitty whispered into her older sister's ear. "Mr. Darcy is staring at you. Again." Kitty giggled and turned to Lydia who giggled even more loudly and sent both of the younger girls into a fit.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was not amused. As she peered down the large dinner table past the many guests at Netherfield hall however, she saw that her sister's claim had, in fact, been true.

Mr. Darcy was staring at her very intently indeed.

"I wish he would stop doing that," Elizabeth said, turning away from the intensity of Mr. Darcy's gaze to the much friendlier one of her older sister. "Why is it that a man I so thoroughly disgust feels the need to stare so. If I am correct in his sentiments, which I'm quite sure I am, than his behavior is downright masochistic."

Jane laughed quietly, sneaking a gaze in Mr. Darcy's direction. "Indeed sister, maybe you are quite incorrect. That is not the sort of stare one would expect from an enemy."

Elizabeth only shook her head, desperate to change the subject. She stole another glance in Mr. Darcy's direction and noticed another set of eyes, staring quite intently also. "Nor, I would imagine," she continued to Jane. "Is Mr. Bingley's. While the motives behind Mr. Darcy's glances may be a mystery there can be no doubting Bingley's reason for staring." Jane blushed a deep shade of red and turned back to her dinner, and Elizabeth was glad to have ended their discussion of Mr. Darcy. Indeed, it was rare that Elizabeth had a Darcy-free moment at all.

Since their meeting at the assembly hall Darcy had managed to worm his way into Elizabeth Bennett's life. And, much to Elizabeth's dismay, it was not entirely unpleasant. Though Darcy was, of course, a proud and arrogant man there was something about him that drew Elizabeth. Indeed, even after quitting Netherfield upon Jane's recovery Darcy had been a constant fixture in Elizabeth's thoughts. So much so that –

"Miss Bennett," a deep voice called from above Elizabeth, interrupting her revelry. "Miss Bennett?" it asked again. Elizabeth looked up from her meal only to see the very object of her thoughts addressing her.

"Y-yes," she flustered. "I'm sorry Mr. Darcy, I was quite engrossed in my dinner."

"So I noticed," Mr. Darcy responded, his color rising slightly. Perhaps he'd realized that his stares had not gone unnoticed. "And did you enjoy it?" Again his color rose. "Your meal I mean."

Elizabeth was put off by Mr. Darcy's awkwardness but she answered him with a pointed look. "It was certainly adequate," she replied.

Mr. Darcy's awkwardness faded immediately, replaced by a radiating defensiveness. "Only adequate Miss Bennett?" He asked.

"Indeed," She replied. "Surely you agree with me. The company you were surrounded by must have made the meal utterly unappetizing for you."

"On the contrary Miss Bennett," Mr. Darcy responded. "My dinnermates were nothing but pleasant. I am quite thankful however that we did not converse during dinner, as such a conversation as this one would certainly have spoiled my appetite.

Elizabeth stared at him, shocked by his retort.

"Excuse me," he said bowing and walking back towards his seat near the head of the table.

"Well," cried Jane, looking beseechingly at her sister. "That was quite a scandalous response."

Elizabeth nodded angrily. "What a hateful man," she said cutting rather forcefully into her meal.

Soon after another voice sounded from above her. "My dear cousin," crooned Mr. Collins. "You do handle your cutlery quite violently. Pray tell, is your meat too tough?"

Elizabeth could barely keep from rolling her eyes. "Not at all Mr. Collins. It is not my venison that is the object of my violence and alas my poor meal has become a victim of my emotions." She smiled at him politely.

"It would be silly to expect anything different from a woman as passionate as yourself cousin. Though, to be sure, such excessive emotion can be unbecoming to a Lady. Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself has often explained the importance of docility in any woman.

"Has she?" Elizabeth asked, already disinterested.

"Indeed. In fact cousin, you may soon meet Lady De Bourgh and discuss it with her yourself."

"Is that so?" Elizabeth asked, again more out of politeness than real interest.

"Perhaps. In fact that leads me to exactly what I intended to discuss with you tonight, dear cousin." Mr. Collins extended his hand toward Elizabeth. "Would you care to take a turn with me about the grounds; our conversation will require some privacy."

Elizabeth was nervous now. "Surely cousin what you have to say can be heard by all. And if not it simply would not be proper to walk the grounds as a pair. We'd have to be joined by a group and our privacy would be sacrificed regardless. Indeed Mr. Collins if it cannot be said now than pray, save it until the morning."

"I am afraid that may sentiments cannot wait. Besides, finding apt and discretionary company should not be difficult in a gathering of so many young people. Mr. Darcy, in fact," Mr. Collin's called so Mr. Darcy could hear his address. "I am told in quite fond of walking. Sir will you be so willing as to give my dear cousin and me the honor of your company as we tour the grounds?"

Elizabeth was not sure what she expected Mr. Darcy's response to be, but it was certainly not his curt yes. "The weather is quite agreeable tonight."

Elizabeth sat opened-mouthed and staring at Mr. Darcy and so it fell to Jane to invite herself. "A walk does sound quite pleasant," she offered. "Might I join you?"

"Why of course," Mr. Collins exclaimed. "We will make quite the merry party I think." Again he offered his hand to Elizabeth. "Shall we cousin?"

Not knowing what else to do, Elizabeth accepted his hand and together the four of them exited the dining hall for the grounds.