A/N: Wow, what reviews! I'm very sorry to have lost readers who cannot believe that Uncle Phillips, a country attorney, may have made a mistake in a complicated matter that he has not dealt with before and likely will not again. I have Darcy well informed of the more obscure laws of inheritance as he has many holdings and his extended family generally only has 1-2 children in each nuclear family. With Anne de Bourgh sickly and no other heir, it is very likely the males in his family have discussed who will inherit Rosings Park. I felt it appropriate of his character to be informed on such matters. Darcy is favored by Lady Catherine, so she may name him the presumptive heir over his cousins in attempts to woo him to marry her daughter to seal the deal, so to speak.
To move the story along, there is turmoil to help the characters grow. Elizabeth up until this point has been utterly closed off to the idea of marriage, but with her Longbourn future on tenterhooks, it has opened her eyes to the other options she didn't want to consider. Can't have a FD/EB HEA if Elizabeth refuses to wed! Plus, it would be monstrously out of character for her to consider his proposals seriously if she was dead set against marriage.
Please, have patience. The story is just starting to take shape, red herring will continue to be served, and a lot of difficult situations face our beloved characters, but there is a happily ever after waiting at the end. And some twists along the way that bring our characters closer together! (I've been marathoning Game of Thrones so I'm sorry if it's influenced my writing).
Thank you everyone who has taken the time to review and comment on my story. I love reading all of the constructive criticism and reactions to situations. I do consider the valid points made, but I cannot cater to everyone (particularly those who desire me to stop writing).
Onto the Netherfield Ball! Enjoy!
Rejoining the party, Elizabeth wasn't in a mood to be social. She slipped over to Jane, and said she had a headache, would she accompany her home; her sister immediately agreed. Jane and Elizabeth next approached their Aunt Phillips, who was distraught over 'the two loveliest girls' at her whist party leaving, but bid them off, as she had plenty of guests to attend to and soon they were going to have Mary play music for dancing, which would just not do for a headache. Jane and Elizabeth were able to extract themselves from Aunt Phillips within a quarter hour, which they thought might be the fastest they've ever been able to leave the Phillips' house.
"Do you really have a headache Lizzy?" Jane asked, as soon as they got onto the road towards Longbourn. "I saw you slip off, and then you came back looking miserable. What happened?"
"I met with Uncle Phillips. Oh Jane, I've had the most dreadful day!" Elizabeth cried, tears welling in her eyes. She dabbed at them and told her sister everything that had happened: meeting Mr. Darcy at Oakham Mount and the talks with their father and uncle. The fact that Mr. Collins possibly couldn't break the entail even if they got him to agree was weighing so heavily on her.
"Lizzy, Lizzy my dearest sister, have heart. Father is well, aside from his leg. The doctor said he could still live a long life. You will have Longbourn at 21 until our father passes. There are many years for you and Longbourn even if it isn't yours permanently." Jane tried to sooth her crying sister.
"That is one scenario. Uncle suggested to me what you and father have been trying to tell me for ages— that I should marry. I do not want to be pressured so into marriage. It is something I never thought was for me, I was so focused on Longbourn." Elizabeth dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief.
"You talk of marriage like it is the end of the world, Lizzy. Others would think a solitary life running Longbourn would be the end of the world." Jane smiled kindly.
"I like my time alone, with letters of business, with the fields and my books." Elizabeth said defensively.
"Then you need a husband like Mr. Darcy who also likes his silence and books." Jane teased.
"Jane! You really won't give up. Mr. Darcy likely detests me like I detest him!" Elizabeth proclaimed.
"Do you really detest him so much Lizzy? You debate with him—"
"Argue."
"Is there a difference?
"Perhaps." Elizabeth conceded.
"So you debate with him, which are quite lively and I would go so far to say you both enjoy them as much as everyone enjoys listening to them."
"Except Mr. Bingley. He hates these 'debates' as you call them."
"Except Mr. Bingley. Stop straying from the topic. I don't think you detest the man as you so much you say. You're much too alike."
"Maybe that's why I don't like him!" Elizabeth was annoyed. She didn't like Mr. Darcy. She couldn't.
"I don't see why you're so interested if I like Mr. Darcy. Even if I did, which I don't, it's not to be encouraged. He could never marry so beneath him. His pride and arrogance wouldn't allow for it!" Elizabeth announced to her sister.
"While I think you're right in him having to marry in the right circles, I don't think it's pride or arrogance. I think the word you're looking for is duty." Jane replied evenly.
"Duty. Please let's not talk about any of this anymore. My heart is already heavy with everything I've learned today. My world is completely uprooted. I don't know what my future is." Elizabeth sighed and tucked her handkerchief into her sleeve.
"Your future will be what you decide. Our father has blessed us in making sure we have a choice."
"To an extent. He will not force us into a marriage we do not want. But even he cannot care for us past death." Elizabeth sighed. "I cannot care for you all like I planned."
"But now you are free, Lizzy, can't you see? You are free to make a choice." Jane's eyes shined brightly. Elizabeth couldn't help but feel lightened by Jane's words. They clasped hands and walked the way home, hearts light and hopeful with Jane's words.
When they arrived home, it was almost time for supper. They spoke with the housekeeper, then found Mr. Darcy engaged in a drawn out game of chess against their father, and Mr. Bingley reading a book. Jane was overjoyed her favored guests were still engaged with her father. Elizabeth was still torn about all she'd learned during the day. She wandered over to the chess players.
"Quite the game. How long have you both been playing?" Elizabeth asked.
"I thought you didn't disturb concentration?" Mr. Darcy grumbled.
"At least an hour." Mr. Bennet.
"Checkmate in two moves."
"What?" Darcy's head snapped up looking at Elizabeth, standing behind him.
"Checkmate in two moves."
"Impossible."
"If you please, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth motioned to his chair, which Darcy got up from. Dinner was announced.
"Let me." Elizabeth sat as the others rose, the exception was her father.
"Show me." Darcy leaned over Elizabeth's shoulder. She made her move. Her father made his.
"Checkmate."
"Well played, Lizzy." Mr. Bennet smiled at his daughter, with Mr. Darcy hovering over her.
"Well played." Darcy righted himself, nodding.
"Finally! The game ends. Shall we to supper?" Mr. Bingley clapped his hands together.
"Let's." Darcy extended his arm to Elizabeth, who stood and took it, pride in mastering the long played game, making the winning moves. Mr. Bingley led Jane in, and Mr. Bennet followed, a smile playing on his lips, winking at his wife when he took his seat at the table.
The next several days were difficult for Elizabeth and her sisters. Even claiming duties and lessons, Mr. Collins was persistent in demanding their attention. It wasn't until Mrs. Bennet suggested that he could take time to join the girls in refinement of their accomplishments by refining his own sermons or book reading, that the Bennet sisters got any rest. Elizabeth and Jane talked together before falling asleep, but instead of sharing their days, Elizabeth began talking of the future and what it could be now. Jane said that clearly Mr. Collins favored her, and perhaps she would be the sister he chose. Elizabeth scoffed at that, and insisted Mary was the best to be a parson's wife, to which Jane had to agree. But mostly they talked of the ball at Netherfield that was each day brought closer and closer.
Elizabeth and Jane took their baths the night before the ball, washing and conditioning their hair with egg whites. The morning of the ball was taken up largely by the rest of the family taking their own baths, and the girls putting their hair into curling rags before tucking them into caps for the remainder of the day. During the afternoon, Mr. Collins insisted on a long sermon with the family in attendance in both body and spirit. It was torture to the Bennets, all of whom disliked his preaching and especially to the females who would have much rather been discussing which dresses to wear, making last minute changes and spending the afternoon infinitely more pleasurably. Finally, the early supper was announced and they were released from the monotonous preaching of Parson Collins. After supper, the girls and their mother giddily rushed upstairs with a maid to style their hair, get dressed and primp themselves for a night at Netherfield.
As the Bennet coach pulled up to Netherfield, all of Bennet women cooed of the beauty and grandeur of the flower displays and lanterns to draw the eye up to the front doors. Mr. Collins heard none of this so he could not preach as to the superior elegance of Lady Catherine, as he had to ride with the driver, the carriage being short an extra seat and Mr. Bennet in no position to give up his to their guest.
Being let in to the ball at Netherfield felt like a dream to Elizabeth. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst spared no expense to make it the most elegant ball their county had seen in many a year. Elizabeth was ripped from her dream as Mr. Collins grabbed her hands unceremoniously and insisted for the first two dances. If Elizabeth wanted to dance at all the rest of the night, she would have to accept. Damn society and their stupid rules, the last thing Elizabeth wanted was to dance with this odious man. But, she accepted, noting the amount of gentlemen in the room, many of whom had been trying to catch her eye since she came out in society. Her roles at her home may be considered improper by London society rules, but in the more relaxed countryside, it was found that she was admired for her intelligence and ability to manage Longbourn. There was a discreet pride in having such a woman in their midst, most genteel and proper in society, but was known to act as an excellent estate manager and landlord within the bounds of her property. Several of the local gentlemen were slightly jealous of her success with Longbourn, and wanted her for their own to claim her success as theirs. She was uncommonly pretty, and she was useful. Her sisters, also beauties in the county, were more than acceptable for their own accomplishments and education, but Elizabeth was considered to be the prize jewel of them all by many gentleman of Hertfordshire.
After Elizabeth suffered the first two dances with the oaf Mr. Collins, who stepped on her poor toes numerous times and talked too loudly, she found her best friend Charlotte sitting and begged to join her. The two young women had been close since they could remember, their mothers also being good friends. They always managed at least weekly calls despite Elizabeth's demanding schedule, and sat together at church on Sundays whenever possible. They were enjoying their tête–à–tête when Mr. Darcy interrupted.
"Miss Elizabeth, would you honor me with a dance?" His gloved hand was held out to her.
"Yes." Elizabeth replied before looking up to see who had asked her. She had just determined with Charlotte that she would accept every dance except that of her cousin, where Charlotte planned to step in to save her from his attentions. Charlotte was the best sort of person, who always helped out her friends, especially when the request was as easy and pleasing as dancing with someone. Charlotte had been feeling that she was becoming an old maid, and desperately didn't want to burden her family to care for her. Dancing with Mr. Collins was no drudgery for her.
Charlotte gave her a quick parting whisper "Don't be blind Lizzy. Nothing can be worth more than appearing pleasant to an illustrious man."
"Mr. Darcy" Elizabeth was slightly taken aback that he was the one asking her to dance, but took his hand nonetheless.
"I enjoyed dancing with you so much the last time, I wanted the pleasure of doing so again. And perhaps later in the evening as well, if you permit." Darcy smiled warmly as he lead her to the line for dancing, where they were near the top, again next to Jane and Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth blushed quite prettily in his opinion, at his forward words. He would leave for London tomorrow, and wanted to enjoy himself fully before he put Elizabeth Bennet from his mind.
"Lizzy! Oh it's so good to see you dancing, you love it so. And with Mr. Darcy no less." Jane whispered in her sister's ear, giggling. Elizabeth noticed the stares in their direction, of surprise and wonder much like what she'd witnessed at the Meryton assembly.
Elizabeth simply glared at her sister, before curtseying to her partner as the dance began. Dancing was a polished art in gentle society, where one could talk with their partner and follow the steps of the dance. Mr. Darcy made no attempt at conversation, as usual, but rather than being content with his silence, Elizabeth felt the need to talk. He replied to her cordially, but was not making an effort.
"It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. —I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room or the number of couples."
"Do you talk by rule then, while you are dancing?"
"Sometimes one must speak a little. It would look odd to be entirely silent for a half hour together, and we are already drawing attention by my dancing with the proud and illustrious Mr. Darcy."
"Is that what you think of me?"
"I don't know what to think, Mr. Darcy. I have been trying to sketch your character."
"And what is your success?"
"I do not get on at all. I hear and see such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly."
"You hear?"
"You may have noticed the other day in Meryton, we were meeting a new acquaintance. Mr. George Wickham." As Elizabeth spoke the name, a coldness came into Darcy's eyes, and a shade of hauter spread over his face.
"He seems to have been so unlucky to have lost your friendship." Elizabeth watched Darcy, who made no answer and seemed to draw into himself. At that moment, Sir William Lucas stopped them with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment Mr. Darcy on his dancing and his partner.
"I have been most highly gratified indeed, my dear Sir. Such very superior dancing is not often seen. Allow me to say that your fair partner does not disgrace you, and that I must hope to have this pleasure often repeated, especially when a certain desirable event" Sir William pointedly looked over to Jane and Bingley laughing as they danced together, "shall take place. But! Let me not interrupt you, Sir. You will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me."
Darcy looked darkly over to Jane and Bingley, eyes narrowed, with that intense, searching gaze that Elizabeth often found used upon herself. Recovering himself shortly, Darcy turned to Elizabeth and said. "Sir William's interruption has made me forget what we were talking of."
Elizabeth took the hint. "I don't think we were talking at all." Clearly Wickham was not a subject to be broached with Mr. Darcy, for whatever Wickham had said was certainly not the truth with such a story that would only be found in novels. She had no wish to spoil the rest of their dance, or her evening for that matter. "Sir William couldn't have interrupted two people who had less to say for themselves."
"Well, what do you think of books?" Darcy smiled that heartbreakingly charming smile of this.
"I do not think we could have possibly read the same ones."
"We could discuss the differences."
"I cannot think of books in a ballroom, my head is too full to think critically."
"Are you always so involved with the present?"
"Yes, always." Elizabeth answered quite absently, leaving Darcy to chuckle. Her eyes caught his with determination in them.
"I remember you saying during my stay here at Netherfield that you, Mr. Darcy, hardly ever forgave, that your resentment, once created, was unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to it's being created?"
"I am" Darcy said with a firm voice.
"And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?"
"I certainly hope not." Darcy laughed. "May I ask to what these questions tend?"
"I am still attempting to sketch your character."
"I readily believe," Darcy began seriously, "that report may vary greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were not to finish your sketch of my character at the present moment, as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either."
"But if I do not take your likeness now, I may never have an opportunity. Rumor says that you are to leave for London soon."
"I leave on the morrow. I have been away too long from my sister."
"Then when else would I have the chance?"
"Did you forget that you have an invitation to visit Pemberly this summer? You told me you were planning to visit the lakes with your Aunt who grew up in Lambton." Mr Darcy smiled.
"I have not, no. The trip is not yet planned, just an idea." Elizabeth blush grew. They finished the dance in silence. They parted cordially, somewhat dissatisfied. Elizabeth still was trying to reconcile his character and his reaction to Wickham's name, while Darcy quickly pardoned her with his underlying feelings for her redirecting his anger at another. A man he was frustrated and vexed to have appearing in his life yet again.