Quick as a flash, Mr Bingley scooped Jane up, without any thought towards propriety or Jane's dignity. I for one, respected him all the more for it.

My mother wailed; unfortunately I'm not surprised to find myself noticing this or that it happened at all. Everything else happened in a bit of a flurry.

Mr Darcy asked where we should take her and as I pointed to the sitting room and he went straight to the door and opened it, holding it for Mr Bingley to go through. I followed him and removed the cushions from the chaise lounge and Mr Bingley gracefully deposited Jane there. Mr Darcy took the cushions from me and I lifted her legs so that he could put them underneath her feet. Thankfully propriety was remembered enough in this part, Jane had enough embarrassment to come without Mr Darcy having to lift up her legs.

My mother cried, "My smelling salts!" and they were fetched by a nearby servant and promptly thrust under Jane's nose. Through it all, Mr Bingley never left her side.

After another couple of seconds, Jane stirred and tried to sit up. That was her first mistake, resulting in swooning slightly and falling back down. Her second mistake was looking to her left and seeing the anxious face of Mr Bingley. She gasped rather audibly and grabbed the smelling salts, taking a large whiff.

"Hello Mr Bingley. What's going on?" Jane asked in barely more than a whisper.

* * *

A few minutes later, Jane was sitting up and feeling much better and was proving it by being totally engrossed in a conversation with Mr Bingley, who was seated next to her on the chaise lounge.

This, unfortunately, left myself, Mama and Mr Darcy to converse. The rest of my family seemed to have no wish to join us; my father was in his library, Mary was practising her music, though thankfully not singing and Kitty and Lydia were making a nuisance of themselves elsewhere.

My mother spent the first few minutes of this conversation praising both gentlemen and thanking them for their aid. Mr Bingley barely heard this, as he was so enchanted by Jane's voice and as Jane had already thanked the gentlemen, they were in no need of thanks from our mother.

Mr Darcy seemed to be losing his patience with this conversation and after another minute or two of trying to bear my mother's exaggerated praise with grace, he suggested that perhaps the fresh air would be 'highly beneficial to Miss Bennet'.

Regardless of the truth of that statement, I knew that he believed that it would be beneficial to himself as well.

Mr Darcy then suggested that we take a short walk. I was thankful for this suggestion; I couldn't bear my mother's fawning anymore and I knew that Jane and Mr Bingley would do better to be able to distance themselves from us. Mama immediately said that she did not have a strong constitution for walks and would do better to stay inside but urged the rest of us along.

It was a good thing that Jane had been made to drink some sweet tea when she regained consciousness, otherwise I'm sure that she would have fainted again from the head rush bestowed upon her when she all but jumped up in her haste to fetch her bonnet and gloves.

The gentlemen were waiting for us outside and we began to walk in the direction of the woods, Jane and Mr Bingley in front, myself and Mr Darcy behind. Mr Darcy walked rather slowly and I thought it best to keep pace with him, for he surely meant for Jane and Mr Bingley to gain some distance.

I could see the two of them smiling and talking and all seemed to be going well. Mr Bingley made a funny motion behind his back and without any warning, Mr Darcy grabbed me and pushed me up against a tree. Before I could protest, he put one finger to my lips, hardly forceful but the shock made me stop.

He whispered to me, "Mr Bingley is about to propose to your sister and didn't want to have to worry about our intrusion, thus the signal and the most ungentleman like manner in which I secured their privacy. I am sorry for that."

"Mr Darcy," I whispered back, "I know that I should scold you fiercely for the liberty that you have taken but as you did so with good intentions, particularly ones securing the happiness of my sister, I find it hard to be harsh with you."

"Thank you Miss Bennet. I assure you, I have no intention of making a habit of it," he said dryly.

I was so astounded at Mr Darcy making a joke, even one as small as this, that I let a small laugh escape but after a glance towards Jane and Mr Bingley, I realised that I could have laughed loud enough to cause an avalanche and they still wouldn't have noticed. The two of them just stood there smiling at each other.

I couldn't help but stare at the two of them and saw him raise his hand to caress her cheek and then use the thumb of his other hand to wipe away a tear that was, finally, from happiness.

After a few minutes, Jane and Mr Bingley continued to walk and we carried on behind them.

"I am very happy for my sister and your friend, Mr Darcy," I commented.

"They shall do very well together I am sure. It is hard though, for me to be wholly happy for Bingley I'm afraid, Miss Bennet," he replied.

"Why is that Mr Darcy?" I wondered.

"I envy him a little I believe."

"You? Envy him? Why?" I asked, astonished.

"He may marry with more freedom than I," he stated, plainly.

"Surely you can afford to marry anywhere? You're rich enough."

"But that you see is the problem. When I marry, I must marry a woman of fortune and a high rank. I could not, for example, marry you or one of your sisters, given your background."

"My background?" I asked, my teeth clenched.

"Oh yes Miss Bennet, whilst I believe that you could keep me entertained for a lifetime, with your sparkling wit and charm, of course there are those bewitching eyes of yours but it is your family that betrays you." At the beginning of the sentence his eyes had held warmth but they looked cold as soon as he said 'but'.

"My family, sir?" If it were at all possible, I would say that my teeth had clenched even more.

"Yes, there is a definite theme of impropriety in your household. Your younger sisters and your mother display this the most and I suppose on occasion your father could be included. However yourself and your older sister are the model of propriety, it is just a shame that you have such low connections."

"I wouldn't worry about not being able to marry someone of my background, sir. I may not speak for everyone but I can at least speak for myself. You are the last man in the world whom I could ever marry! You are proud, arrogant and you have no qualms with insulting and slighting those around you, even on their own land!" My voice had risen to an unladylike volume but I did not care a jot.

"I believe then, that I have outstayed my welcome and that we should return to the house as I should be going," his voice cold, withdrawn and detached.

"Are you sure that you could stand to?"