Hi there- SO SO sorry for the delay in posting this chapter! My computor is having a major meltdown, and so everything to do with this story was inaccessable! Add to that personal issues... and yeah! Very sorry! Thanks so much for the HUGE response to this story! I'm absolutely blown away by how many of you have reviewed/alerted/favorited! I really hope I can keep living up to it!
As for certain issues raised- I'm not sure of different spelling of Pemberly- thats just what the spell check corrected it to- so sorry! Also appologies on the plural of eyes being spelt eye's it's one of my common blunders that slips past spell check! And as per this chapter- I cannot seem to recall wether Kitty or Lydia is the youngest sibling- but for the purpose of this story, Lydia is the youngest. You will note a few changes to key characters in here, please bide with me!
Anyhow- more introductions ahead, before our pace picks up :)
The following events occurred in almost a haze for Darcy, as the young lady appeared to shrug off any concerns that should naturally arise from his less than forthcoming introduction, and lead him toward the group of ladies. As they neared the group, she turned her head to him and quietly whispered,
"I beg your forgiveness in advance, Sir. My sisters are, as you so astutely phrased it, so very young and gay."
Darcy turned an enquiring gaze to her, but his curiosity was not left long to wonder as to her meaning, as a shrill cry erupted from nearby.
"Mama! Mama! Come and see! It's Lizzy, and she has brought with her a gentleman! And oh my, but he is handsome!"
The cooing, Darcy noted with some embarrassment had emanated from the one named Lydia, who was now regarding him in a most disturbing manner from behind extraordinarily long dark lash's. She was, for all intents, a pretty young thing, but any true beauty she may possess, was rendered common by her openly flirtatious manner.
Miss Elizabeth quickly stepped in to censure her sister.
"Lydia! Really! Where are your manners!"
By now, their mother, Mrs Bennet had arrived on the scene also, and was making him decidedly uncomfortable with her appraising gaze, one he was most familiar with- that of a mother trying to measure up a potential suitor for her daughter.
"Well Lizzy, are you going to introduce us to your, admittedly very handsome, young gentleman?" Mrs Bennet smiled brightly in a manner that left no doubt in Darcy's mind as to where Miss Lydia had learnt her manner!
Miss Elizabeth sent a slightly embarrassed grin in his direction before introducing them.
"Mother, this is Mr Smith. Mr Smith, may I introduce you to my mother, Mrs Bennet, and my three younger sisters, Miss Mary Bennet,.." At this, the elder of the girls offered a small curtsy, barely disguising her discomfiture at the introduction,
"Miss Kathrine Bennet,..." The next eldest here offered a somewhat more enthusiastic curtsy, blushing as she gushed "Everyone just calls me Kitty." Whilst Miss Elizabeth frowned slightly,
"And of course you have already met my youngest sister, Miss Lydia Bennet." Lydia for her part, giggled excessively as she offered an exceedingly bouncy curtsy, evidently excited to make a new acquaintance, especially of the male gender!
"A pleasure to meet you." Darcy managed, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with the attention he was attracting. Miss Elizabeth must have realized this, as she continued,
"I was just telling Mr Smith of the wedding tomorrow, Mama, as he has arrived at a most unfortunate time."
"Unfortunate? However so?" Mrs Bennet enquired, her attention effectively diverted.
"You see he was requiring lodgings, Mama, as he has arrived here at somewhat of a loose end."
"Oh! You won't find any of those, why not at this late hour! To be sure, every room in Meryton will be full with the guests for the wedding!" Mrs Bennet despaired, then finding her humour once more, she began to gush over the coming event,
"It is a terribly grand affair, to be sure! Guests coming from near and far! What with that London girl he has chosen, there are so many invited! A good match I suppose, though I had hoped he would choose one of my beautiful girls of course, still..."
Miss Elizabeth again redirected the conversation. "I thought Mr Smith might dine with us tonight, Mama, No doubt Papa would enjoy the male company."
"Oh yes! Indeed! Of course you must, Mr Smith! I will not stand to hear of anything else! We have lovely guest rooms, and of course you are most welcome! Why I am sure Mr Bennet would delight in your company! With five daughters a little male company does him good sometimes... Speaking of which, Lizzy, wherever is Jane? I thought you were to return together?"
"Indeed Mama, but she was invited to dine with Mrs Avery tonight, and I promised I would return to let you know of the change in plans."
"Oh,... oh, I see. Well then, I suppose we shall have to do without her then. I assume Mrs Avery will send the carriage to return her."
"Yes Mama, I do believe that was the plan."
At this, Mrs Bennet made a few small disgruntled noises before turning back in the direction they had been previously walking.
"Are you staying long in the area, Mr Smith?" Mrs Bennet enquired at last.
"I am not sure yet, Ma'am. I have no particularly definite plans as yet."
"Oh, oh I see. Pray, what area are you from, Sir?"
"Derbyshire, Ma'am." Darcy spoke before thinking, cursing himself for not simply evading the question. It suddenly struck him, and indeed he wondered why it had not done so previously, so obvious was it, that his natural propensity for honesty may hinder his quest for anonymity.
"And what, exactly, do you do there, Sir?" Mrs Bennet enquired, trying, though failing, to disguise her intent to make out his value.
Darcy smiled at this. Mrs Bennet had unwittingly given him his opportunity to tell the truth at the same time as making himself out to be of small fortune if indeed any.
"I help to manage a gentleman's estate, Ma'am."
Darcy smiled to himself as he noted the lady's face fall slightly, though he managed to miss the thoroughly amused glint in Miss Elizabeth's eye's.
"Oh,.. oh I see... well I do hope you enjoy your stay in Hertfordshire, Sir. There is such beauty in the countryside do you not think?"
"Indeed Ma'am. I do do believe the countryside is some of the finest I have seen."
They lapsed into silence for some time after this, simply enjoying the warm summer evening. But it was not in the nature of either of the younger sisters to be much at peace for any extended period of time, and so it was, that not long thereafter, the two girls were flittering about in pursuit of one another's ribbons once more.
It was then, little surprise that the group formed three sets, with the two girls well ahead, falling back from time to time to the next group- that of their mother and sister- to resolve larger issues. Whilst Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth fell behind slightly, simply enjoying the scenery.
As the two girls ran and giggled, Darcy mused on the strangeness of the perspective he was viewing them from. It did not miss him that were circumstances different to what they in fact were, he most likely would not view the scene he now beheld as he currently did- an enchanting vision of felicity.
No indeed, but if he had come upon this family as Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, he would have proudly stood apart from them, undesirious of their apparent lack of propriety being in any way connected with his families good name. As it was however, Mr William Smith indulgently gazed with open admiration at the thoroughly enchanting scene of family life before him.
"You seem quite taken with my sisters lack of decorum Mr Smith." Commented Miss Elizabeth from his side, a hint of amusement, as ever, in her tone.
"Indeed Miss, I must confess I am not accustomed to such displays of playfulness." He replied with an indulgent smile.
"You have no younger siblings then, I assume Sir?"
"One, a sister, but our father is very strict, such abandon would not be tolerated."
"You sound almost wistful, Sir." She responded, her gaze piercing him once more, and he again had the unsettling sensation of being utterly transparent to her.
"In our family, propriety and decorum are of uppermost importance. I have often wondered what it would be like were we to allow ourselves a few liberties."
"Yes, but one must agree, that whilst youth can cover some abandon, too much can be be detrimental to both ones own future and that of ones family."
Her eye's lost their sparkle with this small speech, and focused with worry upon her sisters. Her manner changing suddenly from carefree innocence to the deep concern one was more wont to see in a parents eye's. Darcy recognized in her one who, like himself, carried more responsibility upon her shoulders than was common in one so young.
"But surely, Miss Elizabeth, it is the responsibility of society to recognize each individuals merit upon their own recommendation alone, is it not?" He said in a soft voice, watching her closely in an effort to understand her.
"Perhaps, Sir, but from what you have yourself said, you are in a position better than most to understand how unforgiving society can truly be."
The words, whilst innocent enough in their intent, stung him most sharply. Indeed, was he not himself just musing on how inappropriate he would normally consider their behaviour? Of how he would normally distance himself from their company for fear of tarnishing his own reputation? How much more so then, would he or another such as himself, despise the very idea of marrying into such a family.
Alas, what could be seen from one perspective as innocent abandon, could also be easily perceived as a complete lack of propriety, and thus hinder the prospects of all those associated with them.
He suddenly felt shame of a most acute kind as he realized that his true self would be inclined to spurn her company based on what could be labelled as nothing but prideful folly. A slightly uneasy silence descended upon them, as each contemplated their own thoughts.
At last, Miss Elizabeth broke the tension, with a teasing smile that re-lit the sparkle in her eye's.
"Of course, these are matters a mere estate managers assistant would never understand- you must forgive me!"
Darcy smiled then, amused once more at how with seemingly little genuine intent of discovering what he chose not to disclose, she delighted in taunting him with the incongruities in his character.
After some time in this manner, they began to walk through fields of a slightly more cultivated nature. Darcy presumed they were approaching The Bennet's home, on account of the manner in which Miss Elizabeth's hands seemed to fondly caress each passing tree and stile, familiarity so evident her demeanor.
What took him by surprise however, was the estate itself. Whilst by no means neglected, it was however clearly not managed to full capacity. He noted the run down fencing, the overgrown fields that spoke of being either under-stocked or not properly rotated, the fields of grain that although planted, had not been harvested in time, and the piles of hay that had begun to rot. Whilst the property could clearly afford a reasonable living, it was notable that with better management it could likely be much more profitable.
Miss Elizabeth, it seemed, noticed his disapproval.
"My father I fear, is more inclined to his library than his fields. With no son's to take an interest, I think Loungbourne shows his lack of care for such pursuits, does it not?"
Again, there was that hint of embarrassment in her words, yet Darcy got the distinct impression that whilst Miss Elizabeth was in no way blind to her families short-comings, she would also be fiercely defencive of them should ever the need arise.
"Whilst I must confess I personally favour great discipline in the running of an estate, perhaps that is on account of how I was personally raised. I have been raised to consider always my duty first. Duty to the family, duty to those less fortunate, and of course- perhaps the one I find comes most naturally, duty to the land.
My father taught me to consider my relationship with the land as much the same as a good marriage, if we take good care of the land, and treat it with deep respect, we will be rewarded with rich fruitage for our efforts. But that effort must be every day, and in every way."
"You have a great passion for the land, Sir." Miss Elizabeth said, admiration evident in her face.
"Indeed, Miss. I am not in my element in social settings, but when I am working with my hands, I feel as though I am my own master." Darcy coloured slightly, realizing that once again he had said much more than he wanted to.
"Of course, that said, I think I can easily see the attraction your father feels for the library. I confess a good balance is often most difficult to master."
Miss Elizabeth's eye's lit up at that. "You are a reader then!"
"Indeed Miss."
"Ah! Well then, you will indeed find much to talk of with Papa. I cannot begin to tell you how many nights we have spent, he and I, discussing a gook book!"
Darcy appreciated the lighter tone to the conversation. "And do you often agree?"
"Oh, as much as any male and female can I rather imagine. Papa would tell you that despite being the most sensible female in our house, I still fall prey to the inevitable female folly of romanticism. But of course- I disagree!"
They laughed together as they rounded a large old oak tree and stopped at last to take in Longbourne.
The house was in every way charming. Not overly large, and certainly had none of the grandeur of such great houses as Pemberly or Rosings, but none-the-less it certainly had a pleasing affectation. The evening sun bearing down upon it cast an almost golden hue to the stone walls, and glistened off the water, whilst a picturesque row of Geese ambled slowly over the bridge, scarcely even disturbed by the two girls who were running towards the house.
"Well, Mr Smith? What do you think of our home?" Came the voice of Mrs Bennet from just a few steps ahead.
"It is very charming, Ma'am." He replied genuinely.
"Hmm... yes... such a pity Mr Bennet and I had no sons. Still, all the same, I think we are very fortunate none-the-less." She tittered distractedly as she began to follow Mary towards the house.
Darcy frowned, wondering whatever she could mean by such a comment, but Miss Elizabeth spoke first.
"Come, you must meet Papa. I am sure we shall manage to prize him out of his library for at least a little while!"
