Darcy felt extremely fortunate in his encounter with Miss Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner. He would have been in a terrible pickle indeed without Miss Bennet's' kind and timely assistance. The jaded, suspicious part of his nature wondered if the women would presume upon the acquaintance or if he still need fear blackmail from Miss Bennet.

After a moment's reflection he shook off both thoughts. He remembered the Brooks family as kind people who had an excellent reputation combined with unfailing good manners. Mrs. Gardiner had made no attempt to curry favor, she was simply being courteous to an old acquaintance and, Darcy suspected, honoring his own parents as she did. She was nothing like the ladies who offered a favor then expected to be paid forever for it.

As for Miss Bennet, she had made no attempt to discover his true identity nor had she pressed him for information that could have helped her determine it. She had asked questions but they were part of a friendly conversation. She only knew his name because her aunt recognized him. Darcy would take her at her word and trust in her silence.

As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Darcy House he realized he did not even know where the Gardiners lived. He had paid no attention either coming or going. As he exited the coach it came to him he might want to see Miss Bennet and her aunt again. Before the coachman drove away Darcy asked for the Gardiner's address.

"Number 117, Gracechurch Street, sir." The coachman tipped his hat and, at Darcy's answering nod, drove off.

Gracechurch Street. That surprised him. He had expected a more fashionable address to go with the clean, well kept atmosphere. It was fairly close to Cheapside and he wondered if Mr. Gardiner had interests there. At any rate, he now knew how to find Miss Bennet, at least for the next month while she visited there.

Darcy went in, ignoring the inquiring stares of his staff at the mud-stained state of his clothing. He ordered a hot bath prepared. It would be a relief to clean up and he knew he need not fear the hot water. Idly he wondered what would happen if he sat in the bath until the water cooled. At what temperature would the change be triggered? He dismissed the thought as unimportant. He did not wish to change again if he could help it and that was an experiment he could live without trying.

A few days later Darcy allowed himself to be persuaded to attend a small ball with his friend, Charles Bingley. Actually Bingley and his two sisters needed Darcy's connections to attend themselves. The son of a wealthy tradesman, Bingley rode Darcy's coattails to gain entry into many social events of a higher circle than he would normally be able to attend. Darcy did not mind as he hated to attend such things alone and Bingley had been a good friend to him since their university days.

Bingley's sisters were a problem. The elder was married to a gentleman, if one could call him that, who would inherit a moderately prosperous estate upon the death of his father. While awaiting that inheritance Mr. Hurst sponged off of his wife's brother, living in his home, eating far too much of his food and drinking his wine cellar dry. Given the nature of Mrs. Hurst, Darcy could hardly blame him for the last item.

Miss Bingley was even worse. Grasping, clinging, catty, ambitious and horribly overdressed, she had set her sights on Darcy and his money. Being anywhere around her was a trial. Despite his friendship with Bingley, Darcy would not allow her to attend with them if he did not hope she might find a match at one of the events. He would then be free of her matrimonial ambitions towards himself.

Lady Burlingham, the hostess at this ball, had a reputation for genteel gatherings with a varied guest list. Her guests were chosen for their character instead of their social consequence. Darcy had some concern about bringing the Hursts and Miss Bingley along, but hoped all would be well.

Within minutes after arriving he realized he had been incredibly over-optimistic. Miss Bingley acted as if she was favoring Lady Burlingham by attending. Her condescending attitude, in probable combination with the eye-abusing, overly ornate orange gown and feathers along with Miss Bingley's habit of clinging tightly to Darcy's arm even despite all his efforts to dislodge her, offended the hostess. Darcy hoped no one took the idea that Miss Bingley was his mistress. He did not have one and would not have been crass enough to bring such a woman to a respectable gathering if he did. Still, he wondered at some of the looks he received. Clearly it was past time to have a chat with Bingley about his sister's behavior.

Mr. Hurst had immediately headed to the card room leaving his wife to gossip with her sister. Bingley had almost as quickly requested an introduction to a young lady and headed out to dance. That had been three sets ago. Bingley had found a partner for each of those sets. As Darcy disengaged Miss Bingley from his arm for what seemed the 100th time that evening he decided he would have to find a dance partner himself if he ever hoped to get away from the unwanted attention and malicious gossip he had been subjected to by Bingley's sisters. He was hoping could avoid being the subject of gossip as well.

"And look at that woman, Mr. Darcy!" the orange nightmare was saying as she grasped his arm again. "Her face is barely tolerable and her clothing is too plain and poorly fashioned to give her any advantage. I do not see how she can stand to come out in public like that."

Darcy looked to see that the woman in question was Miss Elizabeth Bennet. The young lady had clearly heard the insult by her shocked look and blush. Mrs. Gardiner, who stood nearby, looked equally shocked and embarrassed.

Darcy dragged Miss Bingley's hand from his arm and stepped away from her while saying, "You are hardly one to speak of poor fashion sense, Miss Bingley, considering your choices. I find your habit of disparaging other women in very poor taste and even less attractive than that shade of orange. Besides which you are quite wrong. The young woman you deride is handsome indeed and her gown equally so. She has no need to hide behind a profusion of lace, ruffles and feathers to show herself to best advantage. Now, I insist you stop trying to attach yourself to my arm. Please excuse me."

He walked swiftly to Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet and bowed deeply to both. "I must apologize for my friend's sister. Her blindness is matched only by her poor manners."

Both curtsied in return and Miss Bennet replied, "I think you for your spirited defense, Mr. Darcy." She still blushed and was clearly uncomfortable. Mrs. Gardiner started to speak but was interrupted as Bingley stepped forward.

"Darcy, would you introduce me so that I may also offer apologies for my sister?" Darcy looked at the ladies, who nodded their permission for the introduction to continue. After the necessary courtesies had been spoken Bingley continued with his apology.

"I am ashamed of the insult you were subjected to, Miss Bennet. As I was leaving the dance floor at the end of this past set I heard her vicious comments." He looked over to where Miss Bingley stood whispering fiercely with Mrs. Hurst. "As Darcy so ably said, my sister has no right to judge anyone's choice of fashions and she was quite wrong about your looks. I really wonder if she should be allowed out in society at all. May I offer my deepest apologies for the mortification she gave you?"

"I appreciate the apology, Mr. Bingley. I can easily forgive you, as I have two sisters who are prone to behave in much the same manner. I would hate to be held accountable for their behavior, so I will not hold you accountable for hers."

Bingley gave an exaggerated sigh, which caused all four of them to laugh. Darcy quickly took the opportunity to ask Miss Bennet for the next dance before Bingley could get his own request in. She agreed and Bingley asked for the dance after that.

Perhaps you would dance this one with me, Mrs. Gardiner?" Bingley asked the older woman. She smiled and agreed. They had a few moments before the set started and Bingley asked Miss Bennet if she had just the two sisters.

"No, I have four sisters. The two youngest are not truly ready to be out in society yet, but our mother insisted on allowing them. My next younger sister is quiet and well-behaved, but she does not care for balls or parties. I will not speak to my own manners, but I do love to dance. My elder sister balances us all out. She is sweet, lovely and everything kind. In fact, she is just coming this way. I should like to introduce you."

Darcy noticed a tall young woman with golden hair, lovely green eyes and quietly serene smile walking towards them by the side of an older and very respectable-looking gentleman. She was so dissimilar in looks to Miss Elizabeth Bennet he hardly believed this could be her sister. Miss Elizabeth was pretty in a less classically perfect fashion, with her shorter stature and slightly more pronounced curves. Both young ladies were dressed with understated elegance in colors appropriate to their complexions.

As the introductions to Miss Jane Bennet and Mr. Edward Gardiner were made Darcy wondered if the elder Miss Bennet could be touched by deeper emotions. Her serenity seemed so unchanging as she politely responded to their greetings. Then he saw her look at her sister and an impression of joy showed in her eyes and slightly brightened the smile before it was quickly hidden again. She was wearing that smile as a mask, he thought, much like the stern looks he often wore in public. He asked the elder Miss Bennet for the dance after the next and laughed to himself to hear Bingley enthusiastically ask her for the one after his dance with Miss Elizabeth.

Mrs. Gardiner suggested Bingley take Miss Jane Bennet onto the floor instead of herself for the next dance. She told him she needed to speak with her husband. Bingley made a show of protest, but did quite happily escort Miss Bennet onto the dance floor a few minutes later.

Darcy found himself equally happy with the company of Miss Elizabeth. Her enjoyment of dancing showed in her pleased smile and twinkling eyes. She knew the steps better than he and was graceful in their execution. He enjoyed the dance in silence at first, but finally spoke.

"You did not mention that your sister was also in town visiting."

"When we met she was not and was not then planning to join us. She has come for a bit of relief from our mother. I am very glad to have Jane here with me. I love visiting the Gardiners, but I always miss my sister. Now I have both."

"Why did she need relief from your mother?"

"I believe I mentioned the entail on my father's estate?" He nodded in response.

The dance separated them for a few moments and he found himself opposite Miss Jane Bennet. She also was a graceful dancer. "Are you enjoying the dance, Mr. Darcy?" she asked. He admitted he was before they parted and the dance brought him back to Miss Elizabeth.

She continued her explanation. "My mother is very frightened by the entail," she told him. The heir presumptive is an unpleasant man and she fears that she and any unmarried daughters, currently all five of us, will be thrown into the hedgerows to starve within moments of my father's death. She is overreacting, of course, but she does have good reason for her fear."

They were separated again briefly as they exchanged partners on the other side. Upon her return to his side Miss Elizabeth added, "Mama can be very insensitive in her insistence that we all marry as quickly as can possibly be arranged. She does not care about the nature or character of the men we would marry or our feelings about any possible match. To marry us all off is her goal and she will brook no opposition." They executed an intricate set of turns while she thought about how to continue.

"My mother is in despair over her most beautiful daughter still being unmarried after six years in society – Jane is just one and twenty, but Mama has put us each out at fifteen. A local man recently began to pay court to Jane and Mama has been frantic to see the match made. He is a loathsome creature. Wealthy, it is true, but unpleasant in his words and person. He attempted to make improper advances to force a match a few days ago and Jane was forced to defend herself. She insisted she would never marry such a man despite Mama's foolish insistence that Jane was ruined and must save us all. Jane assures me there was no compromise and they were in company with others who can attest to that at the time. She will only be ruined if Mama spreads lying gossip." Miss Elizabeth sounded understandably bitter. They were parted by the dance again as they moved along the line.

Darcy began to understand the mask of serenity Miss Bennet wore. A beautiful woman who needed to guard herself in company would find such a mask useful. Her appearance would not offend, but it would also not encourage an attachment.

"Has your mother pushed you at any unpleasant matches?" he asked as they came back together in the dance.

"Oh, several times," she said with something like contempt. "I am more stubborn than Jane, so Mama has tried to foist me off on anything in trousers. I am, as she puts it, a willful, disobedient girl who must marry any man I can get whether he is wealthy or not. I do my best to ignore her insults and stay out of her way."

"I suppose there are times when it is lucky not to have much family around," he told her. "My aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is similarly stubborn in her insistence that I am meant to marry my her daughter Anne. My cousin is a sickly, unpleasant girl and I have no desire to marry her no matter how my aunt may bray about engagements agreed on by our mothers while we were still in our cradles. My mother assured me that was an outright lie anyway." He snorted in disgust.

"Has your aunt any way to force you into the match?" Miss Elizabeth asked.

"She has no power over me no matter how she pretends she does. I generally just ignore her to avoid an open break between us. I only visit when I must in order go over her accounts and do other estate business. Her husband passed away several years ago. Will your father take your sister's part and protect your family?"

It was Miss Elizabeth's turn to snort. "He sent her here, which is the most support she will receive. He will not force us into marriage, but he will also do nothing to actually stop our mother's plotting. It amuses him. I hope Jane will find an eligible match with someone she can respect and love while we are here. We have both sworn to accept nothing less. I fear for her if she must return to Longbourn and our mother."

"How long will the Gardiners allow her to stay?"

"As long as father lets her."

"And you?"

"Father will call me back if I do not return at the end of the month. It is growing season and I must be there to deal with any issues that arise." As they were parted again by the dance Darcy wondered what kind of man would be so indolent as to leave the running of his estate to a daughter who he now knew was not even of age. She must have been only fifteen when she took over the accounts. No matter what the size of the estate, he was impressed. He would have had difficulty keeping an estate running at fifteen, let alone improving the productivity. Even at two and twenty, when his father passed away and he was left in charge, Darcy had felt overwhelmed by the responsibility. It struck him that they had both been managing estates for about the same length of time.

They were largely silent for the rest of the set. Standing with the Gardiners between sets, Darcy found himself part of an interesting conversation about recent trade legislation. Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth joined in, providing well thought out opinions on matters he had previously expected no woman would interest herself over. When Miss Bennet and Bingley joined in he found their views just as interesting. He was so involved in the discussion he would not have remembered to return to the dance floor if he had not been prompted by Bingley offering Miss Elizabeth his arm. Darcy recovered quickly and escorted Miss Bennet to the dance floor.

"Miss Elizabeth tells me you may be here for an extended visit," he said to his new partner. "I hope we will encounter one another again at other functions."

"I hope so as well," she responded gently. "Do Mr. Bingley and his family often accompany you to society events?"

"They have in the past, but after Miss Bingley's behavior this evening I shall not be seen in company with her again." He looked to the side of the dance floor where Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst glared at him while they whispered together. Apparently no man here was brave or foolish enough to ask her for a dance. Darcy had no intention of doing so.

"Mr. Bingley was quite embarrassed at her comments. My family sometimes behaves poorly as well, so I understand. You do not intend to cut Mr. Bingley do you?" she asked with concern.

"Certainly not," he assured her. "Bingley has been one of my closest friends for several years. I should not wish to hurt him in such a manner. His company is always welcome to me. The rest of his family I have merely tolerated. I can do that no more."

"I am glad you will remain his friend. He is worried."

"Thank you for telling me. I will reassure him later. Did he tell you how we met?" Darcy felt comfortable in conversation with Miss Bennet and he sensed her interest in his friend. Bingley could do well with such a gentle, kind and beautiful young woman. To refuse her mother and brave ruin indicated she had backbone enough to encourage his friend to be a better man.

"He said you met at university and that your influence helped him along."

"He was being kind. I may have gained him entrance to social events he might otherwise have been blocked from, but he provided me with good company, keeping me from making a fool of myself more than once. He is a year younger than I, so he started a year behind me. I can be very shy and taciturn in social situations and the day we met I had unwittingly insulted three upperclassmen from very prominent families by failing to speak when they expected me to do so. They were preparing to give me quite a drubbing, while I was still trying to work out why. Bingley saw me in trouble and pretended to blunder into the company. He diverted their attention from me and then apologized so cheerfully that they went away forgetting all about me. We struck up a friendship on the spot and I have never regretted it."

Miss Bennet's smile brightened for a moment before the mask slipped back in place when the movements of the dance drew them apart. Darcy found himself hoping Bingley's sudden and easily recognized infatuation for her would deepen into a strong attachment. The rest of the set passed quickly.

They returned to the Gardiners and Bingley insisted on having his set with Mrs. Gardiner. She agreed with a pleasant laugh while Mr. Gardiner teased Bingley about making up to other men's wives. Lady Burlingham brought her two youngest sons, twin boys just barely over eighteen years of age, over for introductions to the Miss Bennets, resulting in invitations to dance the next.

His hostess asked Darcy to step aside for a moment.

"Mr. Darcy, I see that you have separated yourself from Miss Bingley. I do hope you will not bring her with you to any further gatherings I host," she said in a firm but not unkind tone.

"I apologize for bringing her at all. It was a favor to my friend that will not be repeated. I approve of her behavior no more than you do."

"I am glad to hear that. From the way she was clinging to you I was afraid you had engaged yourself to a most unsuitable creature or worse. Your dear mother would have been quite upset at the sight. Madeline Gardiner's nieces are far better company for you. They would be a credit to any man."

Darcy remembered that Lady Burlingham and his mother had been close friends as girls. He took the chastisement in the manner it was intended and assured her that he believed the same of the young ladies. She smiled and gently patted his arm in approval before continuing to circulate among her guests.

Darcy returned to Mr. Gardiner and they engaged in more conversation. To his surprise he learned that Mr. Gardiner was in trade. The man had such a gentlemanly air about him that Darcy would never have suspected. Mr. Gardiner's occupation certainly made no difference to the enjoyment Darcy had in the man's company.

When the dancers returned the small group, including Harris and Howard Burlingham who were enjoying the company and conversation, moved to the refreshments table. After the ladies had been served Darcy poured himself a cup of the coffee Lady Burlingham had thoughtfully provided for those who wished it.