Mr Darcy remained at the drawing room window well after the Bennet's carriage disappeared behind the wall of steadily increasing rain, completely oblivious to the cruelties being so easily dealt by the two sisters who, it had seemed, had found more of the elusive energy Miss Bingley was previously able to tap from. Instead, the gentleman contemplated the look and lingering touch that had been his farewell from Miss Bennet, unsure as to the degree of pleasure such attentions brought him from this particular lady. Upon hearing her name spoken from the lips of someone that was coming to believe had no right to pronounce such syllables, Darcy's attention was brought back to the one sided conversation.
"And if it weren't enough that her family, excluding dear Jane of course, was utterly despicable," cried Miss Bingley's shrill voice, "I found Miss Elizabeth as intolerable as ever. Did you see the way she paraded about the room with that odious man! You know, sister, I do believe she did so just to provoke us!"
Mrs Hurst nodded in agreement with her sister, though she looked barely sensible of what was said, and muttered something or other to do with her poor choice in fashion.
"I think-" started Bingley, before he was once again cut off by his elder sister.
"Do you not agree, Mr Darcy, that we should not know her? My goodness, just look at the way she dragged you into conversation tonight!" She turned to Mrs Hurst and added in a terrible attempt at a whisper: "As for the dance that she no doubt set up, well, there can be no doubt about her intentions."
The pair snickered. Caroline watched Darcy intently from the corner of her eye, in order to gauge his reaction to her prodding. The man himself turned from the window and moved towards a side table to pour himself a glass of wine to aid his survival. At this point in time, he was unable to muster up any form of reaction or response to Miss Bingley's comments, resolutely refusing to offer her any such satisfaction for so cruel a speech. Though he knew himself to be at times rather cold towards others, he found it mortifying to even think about uttering aloud such unflattering opinions. If she were trying to recommend herself by bringing down others of the same sex, she would have little success in her endeavours where he was concerned. Perhaps I should restrict her contact with Georgiana, he thought sourly, such a mindset cannot be healthy.
"Oh come Mr Darcy," Caroline continued sourly after a long silence, "it is not like you to withhold your opinion!" Her eyes narrowed as she continued. "Perhaps, you have found yourself growing rather fond of her?"
Darcy set his now empty glass down harder than anticipated on the it's original tray, sending the sound of ringing metal echoing throughout the immediate surroundings, and causing the other occupants within the room to jump. Mr Hurst, who had gone unnoticed in the back corner woke with a start, muttering some unintelligible garble and immediately reached for his wine glass. Darcy turned to glare at Miss Bingley, caring not for her brother's opinion.
"Perhaps, Miss Bingley, I do not openly share my opinions on this matter, whatever they may be, because I have too much respect for both myself, and those within the neighbourhood that your brother is residing in, to lay upon them such inelegant, and cruel slander!"
His response greatly astonished his target, to the point that she was unable to utter a single word in response. Darcy calmed himself before continuing.
"I wonder at your ability to admonish those around you, and request that you do not importune me with any opinions of this nature - especially in connection to a family that has such influence in this household - again." Darcy flicked a quick glance towards Bingley, noting a slight blush creeping its way into his complexion, before stalking out of the now silent room. Its other occupants soon followed suit, with Bingley's sisters giving up their plan of convincing their brother of Jane's indifference, now that their key ally had seemingly jumped ship.
Elizabeth found herself unable to sleep for more than a few hours, waking instead at the crack of dawn to her mind actively searching for answers to questions she had previously no intentions of considering. Mr Darcy's behaviour the evening before had astonished her; his willingness to dance, with only herself she may add, brought mixed feelings, and his more than civil enquiries following the evening's end only confused her more. Why had he singled her out, when there was more than one amiable young lady without a partner? Why had he even addressed her when she knew him to despise her and her family immensely?
"Does he despise me?" Elizabeth whispered aloud, staring at the light reflecting on the far wall from the rising sun. All at once, the room was thrown into a wash of gold. Moaning slightly, Elizabeth pulled the covers over her head, and curled up in an attempt to grow too small to be of any notice. If only this had been possible last night.
A light tap on the door alerted her to her elder sister's entrance. Hearing her soft footsteps move towards the bed, Elizabeth ventured a peek from under the covers where she was met with Jane's smiling face. Her own melancholy mood could not, under any circumstances, stand a chance when such an expression was bestowed upon her. Oh how she delighted in seeing her sister happy, especially when she knew the source. Jane did not wait for an invitation to join her sister on the bed.
"I take it," Elizabeth whispered with a grin, "that you have some information you wish to impart to me?"
"Dear Lizzy, am I really that easy to read?" Jane looked genuinely worried, which earned her a hearty laugh from her sister.
"Oh do not fret so much Jane! You needn't fear propriety here - you should know that by now. Come, what is it you have to tell me?" A small smile crept onto Jane's face, and she took a few moments to collect her thoughts, though her expression was serious when she resumed the conversation.
"I think he likes me Lizzy, though I cannot be sure. He seems always to be agreeable everywhere he goes and to everyone he talks to. Sometimes I cannot help but feel that he only pays any heed to me because of my mother's constant scheming. She does not realise what mortification it brings."
As Jane began fidgeting with the chain and cross around her neck, Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder how on earth this had been the resulting conversation.
"Jane, look at me. He likes you. He loves you. And if he does not - well then he is more of a fool than I ever believed he could be." Elizabeth took her sister's hands.
"Do you really think so?" Jane peered up at her with as much hope as a child innocent to the world might.
"Of course I do! He talks with you most of the night, and stares at you for the rest of it. If that is not inclination enough of his attachment, then I don't know what is. I daresay you will be a permanent resident of Netherfield within the next season, and I will await the announcement of my first niece or nephew expectantly." A light swipe at the shoulder was Elizabeth's prize for such a speech, both of which sent the pair into such a laughing fit, which could only be checked by the sound of the household beginning to wake from the slumber that had so far eluded them.
