Thank you to everyone who responded so kindly to the last chapter, or more specifically, the author's note from last chapter. I only really wrote that note because I felt the need to explain myself, but it was lovely to receive the responses that I did.

I am going back to University this week, so updates will continue to be sporadic at best unfortunately, but I am hoping to finish the story before I get any deadlines, so that they don't clash.

Hopefully you enjoy this chapter.

Heaven x

It took Jane the better half of twenty minutes to rouse Mrs Bennet from her sleep, and Jane almost wished she had just waited for her mother to wake naturally under the glare being sent her way. She decided to explain the situation to her mother, before she could get a tongue-lashing for waking her.

"Mama, Lizzie and Kitty are staying at Netherfield until the rain lets up, and then my father is sending them to my aunt and uncle in London until the yule season." All of this was said rather quickly, and Mrs Bennet needed a few moments to understand her daughter's words before she could reply.

"Why should I care what your father allows the cripple and her sister to do? As I said last night I shall have nothing to do with either."

Jane just rolled her eyes at her mother before explaining why the woman should care.

"Mama, if Lizzie and Kitty are at Netherfield, then that means they could entrap the attentions of either single gentleman and ruin Lydia's or my chances with them. Furthermore, when my aunt and uncle Gardiner visit during yule, they will bring back Lizzie and Kitty. And father has said that he shall allow them back into the house."

"No, I shall not have those two misfits in my house, I shall write to my brother Mr Gardiner and tell him so. He should have enough compassion on my nerves not to bring them here. And as for their being at Netherfield, we shall just have to send you and Lydia to join them."

Jane would have thought this a brilliant plan if she couldn't see the flaws in it. "Mama, the roads are too dangerous to travel until the rain stops, and then Lizzie and Kitty will be going to visit my uncle. Also, it would look awfully impolite to invite ourselves over to stay; but maybe if we invited the gentlemen round for dinner when the rain has let up, it would work better."

"Oh yes Jane, that does sound much better, I will get your father to send an invite as soon as I am ready for the day."

With that Jane left her mother's room hoping that their plan would work.

Meanwhile, at Netherfield, Lizzie was tinkling away at the pianoforte, thinking of Mr Darcy. Her hands had automatically begun playing the song that Matthew and she had written, and she could do they whole song flawlessly without even trying. It was in this state that the subject of her thoughts found her; he had came to investigate who was playing a song on the pianoforte that he didn't recognise.

His sister, Georgiana, was an avid musician and as a result of this Mr Darcy was well acquainted with most songs that were played in public. He didn't however, recognise the piece being played which intrigued him.

Upon seeing that it was Miss Elizabeth playing the pianforte, Mr Darcy walked towards her, hoping to gain her attention before having to break the rules of propriety. By the time he had reached her side, she still hadn't noticed him; but he had noticed that whichever piece she was playing was being done from memory.

Sighing to himself that he would have to break the rules of propriety to get her attention, Darcy was suddenly very grateful that she had given him permission to do so earlier that day. He reached out and gently tapped her shoulder, making her startle slightly.

"Oh, I beg your pardon Mr Darcy, I didn't see you come in."

"That's quite alright Miss Elizabeth, what song were you playing? It isn't one that I recognise."

Elizabeth frowned slightly wondering how to explain what she had been playing. When she had ordered her thoughts she began to reply.

"The song doesn't have a name Mr Darcy, as my twin and I wrote it together shortly before we took ill and he died. Matthew always encouraged me to play with feeling, he said it made the performance more enjoyable, so he decided that we would write a song that depicted our love for each other as twins. He became ill before me and made me practice the song for him, and then I became ill and lost my hearing. I already knew the song off by heart so it has become one of my favourites to play."

Mr Darcy saw the unshed tears in her eyes that had appeared as she talked about Matthew, and felt slightly proud that she felt close enough with him to tell the story. "It is beautiful Miss Elizabeth, a truly wonderful song."

Elizabeth could tell that Mr Darcy was being genuine in his praise, and as such found herself feeling rather self-conscious. To avoid further conversation that made her uncomfortable, Lizzie sought to distract Mr Darcy.

"Mr Darcy, would you like for me to teach you some sign language? I find it immensely gratifying to be able to insult those who frustrate me without their knowing that I am doing so." At this she sent him a cheeky wink to show him that she was in jest. She didn't expect Mr Darcy to seriously consider her offer.

"Miss Elizabeth, I think that is an excellent idea. I always enjoyed learning new languages as a boy, so this should be interesting."

To this Mr Darcy received a beaming smile in reply before Elizabeth ushered him to the two armchairs by the fire to begin his lessons.

"So we will start with how to sign both of our names Mr Darcy, this involves signing the first letter of your name followed by a defining feature. For example I would sign an E for Elizabeth and curls near my head because my hair is known for being rather unruly and untameable."

She showed him what she meant and then got him to copy her actions, which he did rather easily.

"Brilliant, now would you prefer to have a sign for your christian name or your surname, Mr Darcy? I'm afraid that we struggle with titles in sign language, so it would either be a sign for Darcy or your christian name."

"How do you and Miss Catherine distinguish between Miss Bingley and Mr Bingley or Hurst and Mrs Hurst?" Darcy asked genuinely curious.

"Well this is rather embarrassing Mr Darcy, but we sign the B for Bingley followed by the sign for orange for Miss Bingley and the sign for happy for Mr Bingley." Elizabeth said this all rather quickly with a blush colouring her cheeks.

Mr Darcy laughed heartily at that, giving his cheeks rather prominent dimples that Elizabeth found incredibly endearing. When Mr Darcy had finished laughing, he finally answered Elizabeth's question.

"As long as it is just the two of us and Miss Catherine I would prefer you to use my christian name, which is Fitzwilliam, as I fear not enough people use it. However, I would also like to know how to sign Darcy in case anyone questions the propriety of such."

Elizabeth once again blushed prettily at this, before showing him how to sign his names.

"Fitzwilliam would be this sign for F," she showed him the sign, "followed by the sign for tall and curly hair on top."

Mr Darcy copied her actions before remarking that he was rather lucky to have two descriptors for himself.

"Well Mr Darcy, I know many tall men, and many men with curly hair, but you are so far the only man that fits both descriptors with distinction."

At this it was Mr Darcy's turn to blush, having never heard himself described as such without their being an ulterior motive such as with Miss Bingley.

"Now Darcy uses the sign for D," she showed him, "and then the signs for tall and curly hair on top."

Once again, Darcy copied her actions flawlessly. Elizabeth enjoyed the pace with which she could show him how she communicated, so through the course of the next hour before being called for tea showed him how to sign the names of everyone in the house, and how to sign the name of each room. She also showed him the signs for talking, walking, reading and riding, thinking that they were enough for them to communicate in front of Miss Bingley subtly.

Both found themselves looking forward to being able to communicate with each other without having to open their mouths.