Once again, a very huge THANK YOU to Shey72 for proof-reading this story.

Chapter 4

A true friend is never getting in the way unless you are happen to going down.

- Arnold Glasow

"Now, Darcy, would you kindly tell me what is going on? It is not like you to just go on a journey."

It had been a matter of course that his friend would appear on his doorstep the very next morning, though the concerned look on his face was somewhat unsettling.

"Nothing is going on, Bingley. I just decided to travel, that is all."

"Are you ill? Have you committed an offence and need to run? It all comes a bit suddenly. I mean, I have never heard you even mention a journey before yesterday."

"Neither, I assure you. I am in perfect health and I have not committed any crime, nor caused a scandal. All I want is a little bit of peace and quiet, nothing more. I will be leaving in a couple of days."

"So soon? Are you trying to escape the Season?"

"Yes, one could say so," Darcy admitted with disarming openness. "I have long thought of how tedious it is to constantly socialise, especially when one is just game for the 'matchmaking mamas' and their daughters. I am tired, Bingley, tired of putting on a mask every evening to please the crowds. For weeks now I have felt a desire to just turn my back and I guess I would have already done so, were it not for Georgiana."

"Now is that not a bit of an exaggeration, old friend? Is it not enjoyable to spend an evening with friends?"

"With friends, yes, but not necessarily with acquaintances. I am seven and twenty, Bingley, and the expectations everybody seems to have for me are weighing me down. I just need a little time to myself, be it alone or amongst people who see and value me for who I am and not for my wealth and status. It is a sham Bingley. All this is a sham and I am heartily sick and tired of it. I have grown so cynical to an extent where I hardly recognise myself anymore."

Understanding lit up in his friend's eyes. Though possessing a completely different disposition, this did not mean Charles Bingley did not know that for his friend an evening engagement was more of a chore than the pleasure it was for himself.

"And so you are travelling to Egypt?"

"No, I will stay in the country."

"Hiding away at Pemberley?"

"Of course not! It would be the first place people would presume to find me. What I intend on doing is... - different."

Darcy hesitated. Was it safe to confess to his friend that what he was about to do was dress up as a labourer and just live a simple life for a couple of months? Yes, it was. Bingley would neither betray his trust nor would he judge him for it.

"And your responsibilities?" was indeed all his friend's reaction.

"I am just now busy sorting everything out. My cousin will take care of all matters regarding Georgiana, the letter to my steward is already written, and as soon as I know where I will stay, I will send on my address to both of them."

"And what about me?"

"Oh, do not worry, old friend, I will write to you as well as long as you promise me to answer in an intelligible manner."

"That I cannot promise, but I will at least try. Perhaps you could add false missives of your journey in case somebody asks me how you are faring," Bingley now grinned. "You know, I am starting to agree with you, you do need some time away and once you return, you might even enjoy the hubbub of society again. You already seem more relaxed than I have seen you in weeks."

That he would ever truly enjoy his social tasks Darcy dared to doubt, but at least he would be more able to tolerate its follies.

"Thank you, Bingley. I appreciate your discretion and understanding."

"What are friends for, eh Darcy? If there is anything you need help with, let me know."

"I will."

"Good. Then I will leave you to your preparations and carry on with my seemingly endless search for an estate of my own. My sisters are quite insistent I purchase one just like our father had intended. Louisa is all for a house close to town while Caroline insists that there is no better county than Derbyshire."

If Caroline Bingley had been sincere, which he doubted, he would be inclined to agree with her.

"And what do you want?"

"If only I knew, Darcy. But as long as the neighbourhood is a good and lively one, it does not really matter where it is located, I suppose."

This statement made Darcy chuckle. His friend indeed was a man as easy to please as that. How he still managed to be so sensible was a mystery, but somehow Bingley did manage to combine perfect amiability with sense and on top of that made it look as if it was the easiest thing on Earth.

A.N.: Again, thank so so much for all your feedback. It really made my day so much brighter. :)

- To JUSTAREADER: Not according to the Oxford Dictionary (couple – informal an indefinite small number) or Collins Paperback English Dictionary (couple – informal a few) nor Leo dot org. - As you see I did, in fact, look it up before claiming such a thing and make sure I wasn't wrong for I am always grateful to people when they point out mistakes and eager to improve myself. However, occasionally that can be tricky and sometimes downright misleading (which is why I generally look it up) due to the differences between American and British English and it happens quite often that I am told that I have misspelt something when it is actually spelt correctly due to that ('spell' is actually a good example there – always a regular verb in AE but (more commonly) irregular in BE).

So, in this case, it might be a solely British thing to use 'couple' and 'a few' synonymously while in American English it is considered to be wrong - and granted, it is informal - but as said, it's not incorrect since British English is what I use and will stick to and there the Oxford Dictionary is what I go by.

- To all those who guessed Darcy has decided to become a servant for a while, you were spot on, obviously. ;) And yes, I know that is OOC, but hey, why not? It's fanfiction after all.