Saturday, November 30, 1811 - Friday, December 7, 1811

After a polite discussion with the Gardiners, Mr. Darcy attended to business in London before returning to Hertfordshire and the beautiful Miss Bennet. Returning to a less hostile Meryton a week after his hasty departure, Miss Bennet and Miss Bingley surprised him in the garden.

The handsome pair strolled along the four person wide white graveled path weaving through a meticulously cultured garden.

They rounded the turn. "Mr. Darcy!" Miss Bingley almost fainted.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet helped her complete the turn around the water fountain. She stopped Caroline Bingley and herself in front of Mr. Darcy. Caroline Bingley fell over herself to curtsey while Elizabeth gracefully curtsied. Mr. Darcy bowed to both of them. "We believed you abandoned Meryton altogether. Miss Eliza and I were discussing shopping for new dress prints tomorrow."

The hidden smile lurked behind Elizabeth's flat expression.

"Do not permit me to disrupt your privacy, Miss Bingley. The weather is superior and I merely wished to bask in its pleasantness."

"Your shyness is admired, Mr. Darcy, and unnecessary in the present. We welcome the company. As you said yourself, the weather is superior to being indoors." Elizabeth encouraged him.

The warmth of her voice seduced him. He buried his high hopes with poorly imitated humility. "Am I permitted to stroll the gardens in the company of the handsome Miss Bingley and Miss Bennet?"

The odd pair exchanged shared consent before Miss Bingley offered her arm to Mr. Darcy. He accepted the arm and walked in the middle of the path. Elizabeth fell back a step to admire a statue of a lion. "Miss Bingley and I have decided when Jane returns that she and Mr. Bingley should move to London until my father's actions do not shadow their footsteps." She shared freely.

Caught off guard by their cooperation, Mr. Darcy nodded along. " A proper plan, Miss Bennet."

"Simon says that our father wished well, Mr. Darcy. He is a man of eccentric character." She seemed to challenge him.

He measured his response and schooled his face into a neutral expression. "Your father is a man set in his ways, as are most gentleman." He toed with his answer.

Elizabeth's homely face softened, increasing her beauty in his eyes. She gathered her skirts in her gloved hands. "Yes. Most gentleman are." She agreed. "My father made a mistake, Mr. Darcy. You are too closely involved with my beloved sister's wedding to lie about his unusual deception."

Silence fell over them as they wove their way through the garden and its many statues. Netherfield Park put Longbourn to shame, a sad truth her father sarcastically remarked upon often. Miss Bingley cleared her throat and searched for the right topic. Mr. Darcy stared straight, not desiring to encourage Caroline Bingley's wrath or increased attentions.

"Why were we not a witness to our sister's wedding, Mr. Darcy? Jane is the dearest sister to me. Mama would have behaved for the ceremony." Elizabeth pressed stubbornly. "It was our right to be present, Mr. Darcy."

Praying for forgiveness, Mr. Darcy relinquished Miss Bingley's arm and offered his arm to Miss Bennet. Elizabeth reluctantly curled her hand around his upper arm. "I can not speak of your father, but I can assure you the wedding-"

Breathing deeply, Elizabeth took her chances. "Simon and Mr. Brooks are friendly, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Brooks also assured us that Jane married happily. I pray he is not deceiving us as well. I wish to know - without reservations - that there is nothing more Miss Bingley and I should know." She clenched his arm tightly.

Mr. Darcy lied through his teeth. "If Mr. Brooks assured you Mr. Bingley and Miss Jane Bennet married willingly, you should believe him. Mr. Brooks is an honorable man who I wholly respect, Miss Bennet." He did not know Mr. Brooks, only acquainted with the man's reputation, and Jane Bennet appeared too docile at the union. Mr. Bennet, in comparison, exuded outward positivity.

Breathing deeply, Elizabeth believed him. "Thank you, Mr. Darcy."

He nodded and stopped them next to the garden entrance. "It is my pleasure, Miss Bennet. Miss Bingley, is your mind satisfied as well?"

Caroline Bingley's impervious mask disappointed him. As the sister of Charles Bingley, she should have an interest as well in the mystery shrouded ceremony. "I have full faith, Mr. Darcy, that we are well protected from lasting scandal."

Not sharing her optimism, Mr. Darcy suspected when Mr. and Mrs. Bingley returned to Meryton, the real weight of the scandal will crush them all. He'd escape the associative taint, but his beautiful Elizabeth Bennet would not. Her heart and kindness deserved better. Her beauty, captivating to him, would not lure in other gentleman. She needed his protection.

He cast his gaze toward Netherfield Park's gates and the ornate iron work. The war of ladies' tongues threatened the happiness of someone he cared about. He, Fitzwilliam Darcy, refused to permit harm upon Miss Elizabeth Bennet. "Excuse me, Miss Bingley. Miss Bennet. I must respond to my cousin's letter."

"Extend our best wishes to Col. Fitzwilliam." Miss Bingley sang out.

As Mr. Darcy's eyes lingered on Elizabeth one last time. A shiver ran down her spine, befuddling the desire to hate him.

"Will you be walking home, Miss Bennet?" Miss Bingley asked critically.

"Yes."

Her lips twisted before stretching into an ingenuine smile. "I insist you take our carriage. Your mother would insist."

The odd couple returned to Longbourn in the Bingley carriage. Caroline studied her nails, wondering what made Elizabeth so irresistible to Mr. Darcy. Try as she may to capture his attentions, he always circled back to Elizabeth Bennet. The driver jerked the carriage to a hard stop, throwing Caroline into Elizabeth.

"Fool!" Caroline muttered contemptuously.

Catching her breath, Elizabeth held onto Caroline. "Reckless driving will throw a wheel." Elizabeth agreed. Brushing aside the curtain, she peered out the window to spot the driver arguing with a lone stranger on foot. "What is-"

"Who is that, Miss Eliza?" Caroline peaked around Elizabeth.

"Jane's former suitor."

"Connections?" Caroline asked.

Elizabeth covered her face. "We should be asking why he's on foot and stopping a carriage." She dodged, frustrating Caroline.

The man marched away from the carriage toward a horse that edged into view. The carriage creeped to a start again, the wheels delivering them toward Longbourn. Horse and Rider joined the carriage on the return trip to Longbourn. Elizabeth groaned in embarrassment and curled into the corner.

"Miss Eliza?"

Elizabeth lifted her hand and collected herself. "Jane is Mama's favorite, and Mama is particular about who is permitted to marry Jane. Mr. Young failed to impress Mama and Papa sensed an air of desperation about him. He is a man of considerable wealth. 3,000 per annum, and he leases a home in London for peak seasons." Caroline arched a brow and leaned back in her seat.

"This was confirmed?"

"Papa and Uncle hired the best of investigators." Elizabeth replied smartly. "Papa considers it one of his wiser expenses."

Caroline shifted the curtain again and craned her neck to spy the horse and its infamous rider. She shifted to the other side of the carriage, still unable to spot the horse.

"Do not worry, Miss Caroline, you will make the introductions once we arrive at Longbourn. Papa will be 'most pleased' to make his acquaintance again."

Caroline leaned in. "Miss Eliza, why is Mr. Young visiting?"

"We know why Mr. Young is visiting." Elizabeth mumbled in supreme embarrassment. "Jane married your brother. Mr. Bingley is well spoken of in London."

Resting her hand on Elizabeth's arm, Caroline perfectly understood the why. She wanted to meet the man who would travel to Longbourn to confirm rumors.

Regency Knowledge #8 - When I was researching and I couldn't find a specific answer on how people would act during the Regency Era, I often referred to one of two eras, or both. The Georgian Era precedes the Regency Era and the Victorian Era follows it. Architecture changed during the eras, so it is important to not forget the dates of the eras or the order in which they occur. Much like how my own children may never watch a VHS and won't understand the importance of a pay phone, or how I may never fully grip the technology any grandchildren I may have will grow up into.