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SUMMARY: Elizabeth Gardiner is a young woman who is at the point in her life where everything can change. Elizabeth has her father hoping for a marriage match. Mr Wickham who is a dear friend who feels more for her than she for him. And she has met a charming Mr Darcy who challenges everything about her. What will happen during her summer in the country? Will love reveal itself or will Elizabeth have to make decisions that will change her life forever?

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CHAPTER THREE

ELIZABETH'S POV

It had been two days since Elizabeth arrived at Longbourn and it had been two days of drama and madness.

When she had pulled up in the carriage, Jane and Mary along with her uncle were standing out the front to greet her. She had received a hug from each of them before they followed inside, the Bennet's maid following with her bags. Inside her aunt, Kitty and Lydia were seated at the dinner table. She had arrived just as they were about to eat. A place was quickly set for her in between Jane and Mary, and Lydia was quick to start up conversation about London.

Her aunt was less than impressed by her timing. According to her aunt, showing up in the middle of someone's meal is rude and unladylike. Elizabeth could not help but wonder if her aunt was simply blind to her own rudeness and unladylike behaviour or if she simply liked to make others feel bad about themselves. She did not allow her aunt's opinion to bother her, for she was sure that there was plenty of time to give her aunt a taste of her own behaviour.

The days had been filled with conversation and plan making. Jane and Elizabeth had spent their mornings talking in the garden, and at night they would lie side by side and talk about Jane's possible future husband, Mr Bingley. A rich man indeed, who was lucky enough to receive five thousand a year. According to Jane he was handsome and sweet, and seemed to stumble over his words when they spoke. From what Elizabeth could determine she knew that Mr Bingley certainly felt something for her cousin, for no man would stumble over his words in such a way and embarrass himself in public unless the woman held his heart.

Elizabeth had also taken to walking through the fields. It was something she had enjoyed doing for many years, and often invited Jane, Mary and even her uncle, but not one of them shared her enthusiasm for walking so far. As a child she loved to explore the world around her but her father didn't approve of her wondering the streets of London alone. She soon discovered that her uncle held no worry about her wondering as far as she liked as long as she returned before night. Her furthest walk left her stuck in a heavy down pour of rain, with the only cover a close by bridge where she met the most interesting man.

Mr Darcy was certainly a handsome man, and he was unlike any other she had ever met before. He was a curious man of sorts and quiet bold. He was defiantly someone who she would keep an out of for. Not one man that she had ever met in Longbourn had ever caught her attention.

As she reached Longbourn she found Jane standing on the porch with a towel in her hand. Elizabeth smiled as Jane held it out for her. 'Got caught in the rain, I see. Mama will not be pleased.'

Elizabeth rolled her eyes in a very unladylike fashion and wrapped the towel around herself. 'Your Mama can be displeased as much as she likes. Her opinion does not affect me in anyway. Besides, it was completely unintentional.'

'Intention won't be on Mama's mind,' said Jane.

'As I said, your Mama can say all she wants. I can only imagine what she would say if I told her about the gentleman I met while sheltering from the rain.' Elizabeth wrapped the towel around her hair.

Jane's interest peaked and gripped Elizabeth's arm. 'And who was this gentleman?'

'He was a very interesting and charm man.' Elizabeth walked towards the door. 'Quiet the handsome fellow as well.'

'What was his name?' Jane linked her arm with Elizabeth and they climbed the stairs.

'Mr Darcy.'

Jane stopped in mid step. 'Mr Darcy?'

Elizabeth nodded. 'Yes. Are you acquainted with him?'

Jane sighed. 'Well, yes. Mr Darcy is a close friend of Mr Bingley and he is staying with him at Neitherfield.'

'Mr Darcy is the man who your Mama is displeased with? The man who rudely ignored everyone at the current ball and talked to no one beyond his own party?' Elizabeth was shocked.

'Yes. Mr Darcy has been pleasant enough to myself but he has struggled to please anyone else. Mama was furious when she suggested that perhaps he dance with Mary since neither of them had no partner and he apparently told her that Mary wasn't worth his time.'

Elizabeth frowned and continued up the stairs. 'The Mr Darcy that I became acquainted with today sounds nothing like the man that you describe. In fact, today he was quiet charming and sweet. He did not but compliment me.'

Jane sighed and followed Elizabeth. 'It is very strange indeed. Perhaps it is because you appear to be a woman of a much higher class than we Bennet's are.'

Elizabeth nodded. 'I do not know. If we meet again I will be certain to ask him about his behaviour. I do not wish to be acquainted with someone who would treat my family is such a way. Especially poor Mary who struggles to converse.'

'Yes, quiet right you are.'

Elizabeth sat down on the edge of the bed that Jane and her shared. Jane opened the wardrobe and pulled out a dry dress. Elizabeth could not quiet believe how different Mr Darcy sounded from Jane's description. There were always two sides to every story and her aunt had a talent for over exaggeration when it came to her tales.

'Perhaps your Mama simply misinterpreted Mr Darcy's response?'

Jane sat down beside her. 'Perhaps.'

'Did you speak to Mary?'

'No. I did not cross my mind.'

Elizabeth smiled. 'You are far too trusting Jane.'

'I find it better to be trusting than to be distrustful.'

Elizabeth couldn't help but agree. In Elizabeth's life she had realised that many of those whom you might consider to be untrustworthy were those who she could trust the most. For example, Mr Wickham. At first Elizabeth did not trust the man for he seemed almost to jump at any opportunity that would give himself a leg over anyone. She thought he a man only looking for wealth; someone who did not care for those around him. Mr Wickham had shown Elizabeth that she was very wrong indeed about him and she had come to see that he had good intentions. Mr Darcy had the possibility of having similar intentions but she barely knew the man. It would be wrong for her to judge him solely on their first meeting and gossip. Not that it had stopped her before. She liked Mr Darcy though. Even if their first meeting had been brief she enjoyed the short conversation and charming wit he seemed to hold. No matter what her aunt told her, Elizabeth decided to give Mr Darcy to benefit of the doubt. She would get to the bottom of everything.

The drawing room at Longbourn was quiet. It surprised Mr Bennet as he entered. The room was occupied by all of the woman in his life. Mrs Bennet sat in the corner chair with the day's newspaper in her hand. Jane sat beside Elizabeth on a lounge, both of them with their noses buried in books. Mary sat on the floor beside Elizabeth with sheet music around her. Lydia was dozing in a chair while Kitty sat at the table with a deck of cards. The peace would soon dissipate once he made his announcement so he took a moment to take it in.

Mr Bennet cleared his throat. All of the women turned to look at him.

'My dear Mr Bennet, have you decided to leave your study for once and join your family? How very strange that is.' Mrs Bennet didn't look up from the newspaper.

'It would be strange indeed, my dear. However, I have not come to join you. I have come to simply tell you that in three days time Mr Bingley has invited the family to dine with him, Caroline Bingley and Mr Darcy at Neitherfield,' said Mr Bennet. He turned and walked out of the room.

Mrs Bennet squealed in delight starling Lydia from his sleep.

'Mama?' said Lydia.

'Your fantastic father just informed us that we are to dine at Mr Bingley's in three night's time. We will have to deal with the fact that the unpleasant Mr Darcy will be there but Jane will get to spend the night showing Mr Bingley that he will not be able to find a better match than her.' Mrs Bennet walked over and took Jane's hands. 'We shall have to make sure that we dress our best to impress him.'

'Is Elizabeth included in our invitation?' said Mary.

Mrs Bennet looked at Elizabeth with a frown. 'Well, I do not know. Your father simply said the family. I do not think-'

'Yes, she is.' Mr Bennet appeared back in the door. 'When I responded I made sure to include Elizabeth would be in attendance. It would be extremely rude of us, as her hosts and family, to exclude her from this, my dear.'

Mrs Bennet sighed. 'Right you are, my dear Mr Bennet.'

Elizabeth covered her mouth as she watched her aunt and uncle. She couldn't help but be amused at her aunt's annoyance. Some years ago during one of Elizabeth's visits to Longbourn her aunt didn't like having Elizabeth accompany them when a man was involved. Jane had a suitor that her aunt was sure would propose but once the man met Elizabeth he declared passionate love for her. Elizabeth refused the man, knowing one – that her father would never approve, and two – that she would never marry someone she had only just met. The suitor tried to pursue Elizabeth for the duration of her stay but he was unsuccessful. Mrs Bennet, from that day, believed that Elizabeth would ruin any chances of any of her girls finding husband since Elizabeth was of higher station that she and her girls. No matter the reassurance from Jane or Mr Bennet, Mrs Bennet simple refused to believe them.

Mr Bennet returned to the solitude of his study while Mrs Bennet, Lydia and Kitty left the room to decided of their attire for the upcoming meal. Elizabeth took Jane's hand and said, 'It shall certainly be an interesting night.'

'You say interesting, dear cousin, but I am more likely to find the whole thing rather boring.' Mary stood from her spot of the floor to sit in the lounge across from them. 'While Mama spends the evening embarrassing herself along with Papa, I shall spend the evening being ignored by everyone.'

Jane frowned. 'I would never ignore you, Mary.'

'Nor I.' Elizabeth smiled. 'I shall find that the only decent conversation shall be between the three of us. This, incidentally, might only be two if Jane is too busy blushing while Mr Bingley stares at her from across the table.'

Jane gently smacked Elizabeth's and blushed. Mary laughed.

'I would never behave in such a manner. You make me out to be a small child.' Jane looked almost embarrassed.

'Dear Jane, don't take it to heart. I am happy you have found a man who would make you feel such a way.' Elizabeth patted her arm. 'If I were to find someone, like so, I would not care for anyone else's opinion. With the exception of my papa and mama.'

'If Mama has her way, Jane will be married by the end of the summer,' said Mary.

Elizabeth smiled. 'Maybe even the end of the week.'

The three girls laughed whole heartedly, and Jane could not deny it.