A Matter Between Friends

A what if story...what if Mr. Darcy had gone to Mr. Bingley immediately following his return from Kent, and what if he told Charles then and there of his reasons for separating him from Jane? And what if Mr. Bingley didn't take it very well at all?

Although I might "borrow" from both the book and the movie (2005) in this story, Jane Austen's characters and plots are all her own and I own none of them.

Fitzwilliam Darcy tapped his long fingers nervously on the writing desk in his bedchamber. He had been awake for hours, had summoned his valet earlier than usual and dressed with meticulous care. All that was left was to go to his good friend, Charles Bingley's house. Ordinarily that would have been a most welcome occurrence, but Mr. Darcy was not making a social call. He had something grave to confess to his most trusted friend and he tried to brace himself for what he knew would be a shocked reaction.

Fitzwilliam hoped that Charles would understand that his actions were done out of concern for his well-being. Mr. Darcy had watched Charles with Miss Jane Bennet and had mistakenly saw indifference on the lady's part toward his friend. Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the lady's sister, had most certainly set him straight on that count! He smiled bitterly at the irony...he had seen indifference in Jane where it had not been and did not see it in Elizabeth where it had.

'Well', he thought to himself, 'there is nothing more that can be done about Elizabeth'. He knew he had not a chance of ever having her love him in return. She had made that abundantly clear at Hunsford. He "was the last man she could ever be prevailed upon to marry". The memory of her words, said so clearly in anger, still pierced him. He felt a pain as sharp as if she had taken an actual dagger and thrust it into his heart.

He still was not sure why he had needed to explain himself to her in that letter. But at least she would know what Wickham was about. If that was all the good that came out of this sorry affair...but no, even that didn't seem worth being so entirely humiliated in love.

Fitzwilliam shook his head as if to empty it of these most depressing thoughts. He arose with an air of confidence that he did not feel and departed the room. Outside, as he prepared to enter the carriage, he noticed the dreary sky with it's gray clouds overtaking any attempt by the sun to shine. It matched his mood perfectly.

I know it's short but I had to write it to set up the next chapter. Reviews are always welcome and constructive criticism will be taken into account...