'To what,' Darcy entered the parlour at Netherfield to strains of music, 'do I owe the pleasure.'

The ride from London had been long and hard. The roads in a terrible state from a sudden summer thunderstorm, Darcy had been forced to delay his return by a day. Impatient to set out this morning, the twenty four mile journey took the better part of six hours. Covered in mud, he'd retired to his chamber to wash and dress.

'Brother,' Georgiana ceased her fingers moving across the keyboard and rushed to greet Darcy. Hugging him, Fitzwilliam swung her around the limited space. 'I have missed you so!'

'As long as you have a pianoforte,' he commented glancing around the room, 'that cannot be so. Miss Bennet,' Darcy bowed, acknowledging the woman still sitting at the stool. He felt glad to be appropriately attired to greet the lady. 'Bingley.'

'Mr Darcy,' Lizzy offered with a quizzical expression. His features had hardened the moment he spied her. Courage rising, she attempted to be perfectly content in his presence, even if her heart began to bound in her chest and a strange tingling sensation entered her stomach. 'I trust the roads from London where not too difficult?'

'Ahorseback, no,' he stated with a strained expression covering his face. The unexpected meeting threw Darcy off a little. As always it made him appear unyielding. 'I would not have liked to attempt the journey in a carriage. I fear the roads would have been impassable.'

'Oh,' Bingley finally entered the conversation, 'so that is what has kept Caroline and Louisa. I began to worry for their safety when the messenger arrived from Eastwick last evening with the news they were to stay the night. Even Miss Bennet could not return to Longbourn, the sudden downpour made the roads most treacherous. My man had difficulty and only returned this morning. Indeed, we have missed Sunday services due to the inclement weather.'

'I have enjoyed Elizabeth's company, brother,' Georgiana broke in as the look on Darcy's face changed to one of concern. She knew him well enough to stop his caustic retort which served to cover his mixed feelings. It would not be taken in the vein he meant with such an austere countenance. 'We employed out time very well by practicing a duet. Would you like to hear it?'

'Certainly,' Darcy frowned while taking a seat very close to the pianoforte. He had hoped to talk privately with his sister about the business taking him to town with such urgency. That, he knew, would have to wait until Miss Bennet returned to Longbourn.

As he watched the two women sit side by side, he considered the plans made with Mrs Annesley's guidance. Georgiana respected and admired Miss Elizabeth Bennet for she did not choose to play with just anyone. It had been entirely appropriate for the young lady to stay and accompany his young sister in a house full of men she did not know at all well. Mr Hurst would be into his cups at this time of the afternoon, leaving Georgiana without a chaperone with only Bingley for company. Which left the question, why did Miss Bennet continue to stay at Netherfield? Where the roads really so impossible or had he missed something?

'The carriage, Sir,' Fosset announced just as the ladies finished playing, 'as you requested.'

Bingley looked confused. Fosset stood at the door without demonstrating any emotion. He would not tell his Master Miss Bennet requested the use of the carriage the moment Mr Darcy or Miss Bingley returned from their journeys.

'Please stay and dine with us, Elizabeth,' Georgiana implored, looking between her brother and friend, 'especially now my brother has arrived.'

'I have been away from Longbourn since yesterday morning,' Lizzy tried to find some excuse to hurry her departure.

'Colonel Fitzwilliam is to join us,' Bingley commented, 'and it seems my sister's may not return before nightfall if the roads are as impassable as Darcy states. I'm afraid there is no choice, you must stay and keep Georgiana company.'

'Thank you Mr Bingley,' Lizzy felt the blush creeping up her cheeks, 'but I will insist on returning home after the meal now Georgiana's brother has arrived. Shall we,' Elizabeth indicated the keys.

'Please stay tonight,' Georgiana whispered just before they started. She could feel something occurring between her brother and friend. Not sure what it signified, she needed to speak with Fitzwilliam. However it would have to wait.

As it turned out, the storm had not completed is devastation. As the dinner hour approached, wild winds buffeted Netherfield. During the final course the rain pelted down. Although Lizzy would have been content in a carriage, she could not expose Mr Bingley's servants to the lightening which seemed to come close enough to the house to enter.

'I am glad,' Georgiana spoke hesitantly on the way to the parlour after the evening meal, 'the storm has come.'

'Oh,' Lizzy commented.

She'd kept up a light conversation with Mr Bingley and Georgiana throughout dinner. Mr Hurst, as expected consumed more than was his need and remained silent. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst still had not returned. A note from Eastwick extended their stay yet another night. Leaving only Mr Darcy's piercing stares. Lizzy couldn't help but think he looked upon her with disdain even though he did not stop the obvious friendly conversations with Georgiana.

'It means I have you for company again this evening without the Superior Sisters. How I would like to be at Pemberley in the music room. I am sure you would love it, Elizabeth. I know I should like to spend many nights in such a way,' the young woman enthused.

'Perhaps one day I will visit,' Lizzy answered with a smile. 'I should like to travel to Derbyshire. I believe the Peaks are wonderful in summer.'

'I confess, I have never been to the Peak District,' Georgiana said sadly.

'Then perhaps we shall go together in the future,' Lizzy tried for a light tone. 'Now how shall we spend our time until the gentlemen join us?'

'Let's set up the card table,' Georgiana suggested. 'Mr Hurst intends to retire early with Mrs Hurst away.' Both knew this meant he would take a decanter of Bingley's best brandy to his chambers. 'You can play with Fitzwilliam and I will partner Charles.'

Allowing one eyebrow to rise, Elizabeth chose to remain silent. Mr Darcy's sudden change in character on Friday afternoon intrigued Lizzy. Indeed she could find nothing to account for it. It must have something to do with the business in London, she concluded. I will take Jane's advice and watch him closely.

By the end of the night, Lizzy had no more of an idea on what troubled Mr Darcy than before. He continued to speak very little and stare at her a great deal as if lost in his thoughts. This seemed to confuse Mr Bingley as much as it did Elizabeth. Georgiana on the other hand appeared bemused by her brother's actions.

'He makes me uneasy, Jane,' Lizzy commented as she readied for the assembly on the last Tuesday in September. She'd finally returned from Netherfield yesterday with a sigh of relief.

'Mr Darcy makes you uneasy,' her sister questioned, 'or the emotions you feel while in his presence make you uneasy?'

'Both,' Lizzy smiled bemused by the discovery, 'I imagine. I spent one night in the same house and he barely spoke a word. Honestly, Jane, he is a most vexing man.'

'Mr Darcy will ask you to dance this evening,' Jane reminded with a smile. In her mind at least, she knew the meaning of his sudden reluctance to engage her sister in conversation.

'You have not seen him since his return from London on Sunday,' she commented with a slight frown. 'You did not see the disdainful way he glared at me. I cannot conceive what I did wrong with respect to his sister although Georgiana seems delighted by his actions.'

'Did you expect Mr Darcy to call with his sister today?' Jane asked, intrigued. She had hoped Mr Bingley would accompany the party. Even with the assembly tonight there had been ample time for the visit.

'No,' Lizzy stated, 'although I would have liked to see Georgiana and find the time to have a quiet word with her. We had a delightful day at Netherfield on Saturday without the Superior Sisters. It is a wonderful house Jane. Georgiana showed me all over the interior when the afternoon rain stopped us from going outside.'

'I am glad you were there,' she commented with a shiver. 'The sudden storm delayed Miss Bingley returning from her acquaintance and Mr Darcy's return from London. It would have been completely inappropriate for Miss Darcy to stay at Netherfield alone with Mr Bingley and Mr Hurst.'

'Oh, Jane,' Lizzy enthused, 'we had such a grand time. Mr Bingley is truly one of the most delightful men I have ever known. You were right to council me so the other day. I did not feel like Georgiana's companion at all, although I know that is the part I played. He did not mind the imposition of an extra guest at the last moment. He is a very good man.'

'I know, Lizzy,' Jane blushed furiously.

'I wish you had been there,' Elizabeth pushed, pleased with the deep colour rising on her sister's cheeks. 'Come, let us make haste, for Mama will soon be calling for us if we tarry further.'

'Jane, Lizzy,' came the very woman's voice from the bottom of the stairs. 'Hurry girls, hurry for it will not do to keep the Netherfield party waiting when they have shown you so much interest.'

'And so it begins,' Lizzy commented to Jane.