Chapter 7 : Elizabeth

Elizabeth sat in the Longbourn sitting room attending to her mending, her injured foot propped up on a chair in front of her. Although the swelling in her ankle had gone down, and she could walk with just the slightest of limps, Mrs. Bennet had absolutely insisted that her second daughter remain indoors for another day or two, foot always elevated. Elizabeth knew that it was largely to this that her sprained ankle recovered so quickly, but all the same, she was feeling irritable from such inactivity.

She looked out the window and sighed deeply. Outside the sky was a brilliant blue, the outdoors were calling to her.

Jane bit her lip at her sister's glum expression. She felt sorry for Elizabeth, patting her hand, she contrived of a plan to divert her sister.

"Perhaps I can convince Mama to let you go out on the carriage. I heard Papa mention that the books he awaited from Mr. Clarke's library have arrived, perhaps we can fetch them for him. You shall wait in the carriage of course." Jane said, as a sympathetic smile played on her face.

Elizabeth clasped her sister's hand, eyes large with hope.

"Jane, if you are able to convince Mama of such then I shall declare you the best sister in Hertfordshire! Nay, in all of England!"

An hour later found the two sisters on the Bennet carriage nearing Meryton.

Elizabeth's smile was wide. With the window near her opened, she leaned out slightly and basked in the view of her beloved outdoors.

"You are my savior, Jane Bennet."

Jane chuckled at her sister's silliness, but she was indeed happy to be able to do this for Elizabeth.

"Remember that you can not set a foot outside the carriage, those are Mama's conditions."

Placing her hand across her heart, Elizabeth answered in mock solemnity.

"To that, I swear."

"Lizzy, you silly goose!"

"But really, thank you, Jane."

"You are most welcome."

Soon they arrived at Mr. Clarke's circulating library, Jane was handed down the carriage and proceeded to enter the establishment.

Looking out at the library, Elizabeth could not help but grin at the remembrance the place gave her. For indeed, the last time she was inside the library, she had met Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Well, not met exactly—found? Discovered? Chuckling to herself, she recalled how he had bumped his head, first upon crawling under the display table, and then again in surprise upon hearing her declare that Caroline Bingley had gone. It had been wicked of her to do so, for indeed the kinder thing to do was to have stayed silent and hidden in her alcove. But, shaking her head, she could not regret her mischief making that day, for it gained her a friend.

Smile still in place, she remembered first seeing him as he had wandered to the back portion of the library, her regular reading alcove had hidden her from his view. How very difficult it had been for her to laugh silently at the events that followed. It did not matter how haughtily he had spoken to her after, for indeed, after what she had witnessed, it was hard to believe him proud or arrogant. Perhaps, also, it was because of his haughty expression that she had been led to tease him further. Meryton was not the most exciting place to live in, and so Elizabeth took her adventures where and when she could. And a hiding gentleman was definitely one that she could not let pass.

And now because of that, because of their peculiar associations, they had begun a most peculiar friendship. To say that he was stimulating company, was to Elizabeth, putting it simply. She had never had another gentleman challenge her intellectually save her father, and even that was not the same. Indeed, it was also his ability to laugh at himself that she found endearing. He obviously cared very much for his friend, for Elizabeth knew not of another gentleman who would suffer a lady's attentions, such as they were, to save his friend the embarrassment of a cut direct to his sister.

Of course, Elizabeth thought, it also helped that he was pleasing to the eye.

Her mind suddenly flew to the day of their walk to Oakham Mount. Her heart skipped a beat, she could still feel the pressure of his arms as he carried her. Elizabeth's maidenly sensibilities had been extremely affected by his closeness, by his strength. Her face turned warm as she recalled the shape of his lips, the line of his jaw so close to her own face. As he had carried her, and for an infinitesimal moment, she had wondered what it would be like to be kissed by Fitzwilliam Darcy. She had imagined his hands would gather her face as he brushed his lips against hers. Would the stubble on his cheeks feel rough against her smooth ones?

The door of the library opened, Elizabeth looked up, and to her consternation, out the door came the very man of her imaginings. Her face ha turned a bright red. She felt guilty, of what she was not very sure. Before she could recover, Jane called out to her, she approached with Darcy and Bingley behind her.

"Lizzy, look who were visiting Mr. Clarke's library as well."

Both gentlemen bowed to her. Bingley spoke first, jovially as was his way.

"Good afternoon, Miss Elizabeth. I trust we find you well? It is good to see you out and about."

Keeping her eyes on Bingley, Elizabeth could only smile and nod in reply. Indeed, she had trouble finding her voice. When that was all the reply they had got, Darcy peered closer at her.

"Pray, are you alright, Miss Elizabeth?" Darcy asked in a concerned voice. He moved nearer to the carriage window. Without meaning to, her eyes went to his lips. Realizing that she was staring at Darcy's lips, she jerked her gaze away.

"Perfectly fine, thank you!" She managed to gasp. "It is just, ah, just stuffy in here!"

"Allow me to open the door."

Without waiting for an answer, Darcy opened the door of the carriage. They were both surprised however, for Elizabeth sat with her leg resting straight on a makeshift stool, her ankle and calf exposed by the stocking that she had pulled down and by her skirts that had ridden slightly upward.

Elizabeth had not thought her face could grow any warmer, but apparently it could. Somewhat belatedly, she hastily rearranged her skirts with quick movements until only her slipper could be seen. Her eyes went to Darcy's face to determine his reaction. But aside from a slight reddening of his cheeks, he bore an almost blank expression as he stepped back from the door.

Jane and Bingley conversed near them, Mr. Bennet's books carried by the gentleman.

Darcy cleared his throat, from just outside the carriage door, he spoke to Elizabeth again. Though this time, she noticed that he did not look her way.

"The swelling has gone?"

Here, Darcy suddenly turned red.

Elizabeth nodded, still unable to speak. Oh, would that she had listened to her mother and stayed at home!

Fortunately for her, Jane and Bingley had finished their conversation. Her sister entered the carriage and they bid both gentlemen goodbye.

As the carriage moved forward, Elizabeth let out a relieved breath. Jane heard this and peered at her sister curiously.

"Why, Lizzy, you are sweating. Let me open all the windows. I should have thought to consider how hot you would become inside the carriage."

Elizabeth fanned her face with her hand.

"Yes, it is an exceptionally hot day for autumn!"

Two days after their carriage ride to Meryton, Elizabeth was finally successful in convincing Mrs. Bennet that she was well enough to venture with caution out of doors. As that conversation happened during a call from Charlotte Lucas, her friend had volunteered to accompany Elizabeth out. After numerous and repeated extractions of promises of caution and awareness of her surroundings, Mrs. Bennet finally consented.

And so a very happy Elizabeth walked carefully out into the sunshine.

"I shall never take my ankles for granted again." Declared Elizabeth.

Her friend laughed at this. Then continued to ask her.

"You did not enjoy your rest and quiet then?"

"Quiet? Charlotte, there is hardly any quiet to be had in a house with six women, three of whom chatter to no end."

Laughing, Charlotte shook her head.

"I am honestly surprised that you did not try to escape."

"I did try, but Mama had enlisted all my sisters as sentinels, alas I could not escape them."

"Poor Lizzy, locked up indoors for nearly a week. I should have called on you more frequently."

"Yes, you should have!" Elizabeth jested.

A sly look gleamed in Charlotte's eyes.

"But I suspect, gentlemen callers were not so scarce?"

"Whatever can you mean, Charlotte?" Elizabeth looked away, for indeed, two gentlemen callers were present for tea nearly everyday during her confinement.

"I have been to hear from Kitty that Longbourn has not been wanting handsome gentlemen these past few weeks."

Elizabeth refused to look at her friend's teasing face. Encouraged by the other's silence, Charlotte continued.

"I have also heard that while Jane and Mr. Bingley would walk out with one of your sisters, the other gentleman would always stay in the sitting room participating in lengthy conversations with the second eldest Bennet miss."

Elizabeth's cheeks warmed.

"We are friends, that is all."

Charlotte looked at her slyly.

"Truly, we enjoy each other's conversation." Elizabeth insisted.

"Conversation?" The knowing smile on her friends face, alarmed Elizabeth.

"Yes."

"The conversations you have been having everyday for nearly a sennight now?" Charlotte smirked.

Here, Elizabeth unconsciously frowned, for indeed, it was only yesterday that the two callers were reduced to one.

"Darcy sends his regrets that he could not call today." Bingley had said, most ambiguously, in Elizabeth's opinion.

Her mind had raced at Darcy's absence. Why had he not come? Her mind travelled to the day before, during their encounter in the carriage. Had he finally thought her improper? Elizabeth became ill at ease thinking what his reason for not accompanying his friend might have been. Had their friendship finally reached its limit in propriety? She sighed.

Until that afternoon, she had never thought to consider how important their friendship had become to her. And as day turned into night, she lay on her bed thinking of Darcy. She had tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. It would be foolish to continue pretending that her feelings for the gentleman were only those of friendship, and Elizabeth was no fool. As she closed her eyes that night, she saw his face. And she knew.

"Lizzy?"

Elizabeth blinked. Her eyes focusing once again on her friend.

"I beg your pardon, I–I have been inside too long."

Charlotte's smile remained knowing. After a while, she spoke again, this time with more force and authority.

"Elizabeth Bennet, I am seven years your senior, and we have been particular friends far too long for you to pretend with me."

Elizabeth was taken aback by Charlotte's words. Avoiding her gaze, Elizabeth turned to the path that led to the fields outside Longbourn. She had no wish for other ears to hear her friend's words.

Following her, Charlotte studied Elizabeth's countenance.

When they had walked a good distance from the house, Elizabeth finally replied.

"Indeed, all you said is true, Charlotte, we have been friends since our youth. Though I can not fathom what you are about now by declaring such."

Elizabeth's indifferent tone could not fool her, for as she had stated earlier, they had known each other for far too long. They stopped by a copse of trees, birches and elms lining together to break the endless green of the fields. A brook trickled a few feet from them, only to disappear into the midst of the trees.

"Do not pretend with me, Lizzy." Charlotte's hand encircled her arm, her tone now of earnestness. With a direct look at Elizabeth she continued.

"Are you in love with Mr. Darcy?"

"Charlotte!"

"Lizzy."

"Charlotte—"

"For I believe that he is in love with you."

Elizabeth's breath caught at her friend's words. Her heart leaped. Could he be?

"Charlotte, please, you-you must not talk such nonsense!" Elizabeth stammered.

"Ever since the night of the Meryton assembly I have observed the pair of you. There is something between you, even during that first night. You share something, a secret or an understanding of sorts."

Elizabeth swallowed.

"Do you love him, Lizzy?"

Elizabeth's heart drummed in her chest. The realization, barely new to her, was still difficult to admit to another, be it Charlotte or Jane. Elizabeth was not yet prepared to do so. And yet—and yet she had been caught, did her expressions show it? Did he know? Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She opened her mouth to reply, but whatever words she had intended to utter were replaced by a sudden look of panic.

"Mr. Darcy!"

Charlotte turned quickly to look. Indeed, that gentleman himself emerged from behind the trees leading his horse by the reins. Before either could react, he greeted them a fine afternoon.

Did he hear us? Good heaven! I shall die!

In her shock, Elizabeth reached out and grasped his arm, startling Darcy.

"Mr. Darcy!"

Surprised, Darcy looked at the hand on his arm, a puzzled smile on his face.

Elizabeth, belatedly realizing her action, hastily pulled back her hand. Then with a red face, she continued.

"We had not expected to see you here."

"Miss Elizabeth, I had not expected to see you out. You do love your walks." Darcy said shaking his head, humor on his expression.

"Indeed, she does, Mr. Darcy!" Charlotte exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. "She loves—"

"Let us walk back, I feel my ankle has quite reached its limit for today."

Elizabeth glared at her dear friend, Charlotte Lucas.

A/N:

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope this chapter finds you well and happy. Truly, there is much to be hopeful for this coming year.

And as a new chapter begins for us, must a new chapter begin for our beloved E&D as well. As you've read, this chapter is written only from Elizabeth's point of view, the next chapter, of course will be written from Darcy's POV. I hope you liked it.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words, they warm my heart! I have a few stories lined up (one-shots), My brain seems to be leading me to write more, I am just in need of time (sigh)!

Please let me know what you think of the story so far!