Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your comments! Unfortunately, I have been unable to reply to any comments as they don't seem to show for some reason. I was hoping that the first chapter would be understandable after a few more chapters are posted but this one should at least help. (I hope!)
Elizabeth Bennet was awake and had been contemplating for some time the prospect of a walk out of doors. If she were in her own home, this would not have been a matter for conjecture. However, as she and Jane were currently trapped – or rather, guests – at Netherfield due to her sister's illness, Elizabeth must concern herself with appropriate behavior and decorum. After checking on Jane, who was still sleeping and thankfully not so feverish, Elizabeth exited their shared room and softly progressed along the unfamiliar passageway. After gaining the main corridor, she heard what sounded to be shouting and a feminine voice – was that Miss Bingley? – in great distress. Elizabeth hesitated momentarily, as that particular hallway led to the family rooms, but her apprehension was superior to her concerns of propriety and she hurried toward the source of the noise. Upon seeing what appeared to be an amused Mr. Darcy, his valet and a quite red-faced Mr. Bingley, she ascertained that, as the clamor seemed to be at its loudest at this location, she had found the site of such loudly proclaimed anxiety. Before she could so much as open her mouth, Miss Bingley's anguished wail penetrated the mostly closed door.
'I will NOT marry him!' she yelled, 'He has no connections or money; he is not even a gentleman!'
Mr. Darcy was evidently trying, quite unsuccessfully, to maintain a suitably passive demeanor. None had noted Elizabeth Bennet's presence as yet and so he spoke to his unsettled friend more candidly than he might have otherwise.
'Charles, she has made her bed and now she must, ahem, lie in it.' Fearing that his composure would be lost shortly and he did not believe that Charles Bingley would at all appreciate laughter under the circumstances, Mr. Darcy turned away. As he did so, he spotted Elizabeth with a suitably concerned countenance but a highly entertained look in her eyes.
'I apologize for the imposition, Mr. Darcy, but en route to the garden, I became aware of a ruckus and wished to see if my help would be of use. Apparently,' said she while suppressing her smile, 'the situation is in hand.'
Mr. Darcy could not but chuckle, albeit quietly, at her rapid understanding of occurrences. 'May I escort you to break your fast, Miss Elizabeth? Mr. Bingley may not be able to offer his services as host until later.' She assented and they began to walk in the direction of the dining room. He was surprised at the fleeting expression of unease that crossed her face before she spoke.
'Mr. Bingley has been very kind to both my sister and myself and I would hate to cause discomfort with our residence here. Perhaps I should remove the both of us to Longbourn, if the apothecary will so permit?' Elizabeth was worried for Caroline Bingley's long-suffering brother and the obvious embarrassment that the presence of two guests would cause, in light of his present dilemma.
'I would imagine that Mr. Bingley would not feel the need to turn you or your sister out of his home. Mrs. Hurst could certainly provide the services of hostess and Miss Bennet would not then be returned to her family in such a poor state,' stated Mr. Darcy confidently. As they two reached the dining room, Elizabeth curtseyed and excused herself, explaining that she had intended to stroll in the garden prior to eating. Mr. Darcy offered his assistance again in accompanying Miss Elizabeth to take in the sights of the garden and, confused but unwilling to appear uncivil, Elizabeth agreed. The fragrant blooms in the gardens had opened fully for the day, providing a rainbow of delicate colors to view. Elizabeth chose to open the conversation, as she was curious about Mr. Darcy's assertion.
'So then, sir, we remain at an impasse or has my contention now found favor in your eyes?' Elizabeth queried.
Mr. Darcy was quite perplexed. 'My pardon, madam. I do not understand your meaning. Were we at a stalemate?'
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows as if astonished and replied, 'We were indeed, Mr. Darcy. It was but yesterday and Mr. Bingley had been speaking of the alacrity of his decisions. You had argued the imprudence of such haste and I had supported Mr. Bingley's loyalty to his friends.' Mr. Darcy nodded at Elizabeth in recognition of the event so mentioned. She continued, 'Therefore, upon your assuring me moments ago of Mr. Bingley's steadfast character, were you then acknowledging my position in the discussion or were you merely forwarding an assumption of his future behavior based on your understanding of his nature?'
Mr. Darcy looked down at Elizabeth and smiled. 'You may claim victory, Miss Elizabeth. Charles Bingley is a constant and faithful friend. He is always ready to aid one who is in need, regardless of the inconvenience it might cause him. I would posit that the one characteristic is closely related to the other – a person who is prepared at any given moment to help his fellow man would likely also be a person who tends toward decisions made with rapidity. As you had cited, there is a benefit in the trait which allows one to bow to his trusted friend's opinion or request.'
Elizabeth was startled by Mr. Darcy's atypical charity and was yet again baffled at the man. That he thought himself above others was her dearest opinion, which surely did not answer for his intimate acquaintance with Mr. Bingley, one of the most amiable men she had encountered. Here was the great man, however, not only smiling but concurring with her on a point on which he had decidedly disagreed just the day before. Curiouser and curiouser. She could not reconcile the two views of Mr. Darcy and resolved to continue sketching his character.
Mr. Darcy was drawing comparisons in his mind between Miss Bingley and her ilk and Miss Elizabeth. Her family was unconscionably vulgar and Mrs. Bennet was, in Mr. Darcy's estimation, the epitome of ignorance. But even with her lack of connections and offensive relations, Miss Elizabeth was a woman worthy of consideration and he knew for certain that Charles Bingley wished to become further acquainted with Miss Bennet with an eye toward courtship. How would Miss Bingley's foolish and imprudent actions of the night previous affect Charles and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst's lives? Would Charles Bingley remain in the neighborhood once his sister was wed to Mr. Wickham? Mr. Darcy could not countenance the notion of having Miss Bingley steal into his bed chamber in the dark of night and was eminently grateful to his valet's open ears and eyes. Without his man's timely warning of Miss Bingley's likely intentions – overheard from Miss Bingley's maid whispering about her lady's special plans – Mr. Darcy would have been the unwitting victim ensnared by her scheming deviousness. When he had received the communication that morning from his valet of the occupants of his chambers, the repugnance had threatened to overwhelm him. George Wickham! In his room, in his bed. Why was George Wickham present in his chambers, if not to do injury? He shuddered. It seemed as though the evil each had plotted had recoiled on their heads and, like a cornered snake, bitten its owner.
Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were so lost in their individual musings that neither noted their distance from the house nor the rumblings of their respective stomachs. A wagon passing in the distance recalled Elizabeth to herself and she laughed at her distraction, interrupting Mr. Darcy's thoughts.
Amused, Elizabeth feigned upset. 'Mr. Bingley will be wondering where you have wandered off to, Mr. Darcy. With his recent state of mind, I would not wish to distress him further.'
Mr. Darcy was startled at their lack of proximity to Netherfield but quickly agreed with Miss Elizabeth that they should remedy their oversight and repair hurriedly to the house, especially as neither had yet broken their fast.
There was a paucity of conversation during their return, due to the rapid pace at which they were walking, leaving both to their reflections, yet again.