Chapter 10

"The carriage is here! I see the carriage!" Kitty called out her face pressed to the window. "And look Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are riding beside it!"

"Mr. Bingley!" Mrs. Bennet shrieked. "My brother must be late because he went to collect Mr. Bingley and bring him here to call. Jane pinch your cheeks. Lizzy go get your father, let him know they are here at last!"

As the carriage rolled to a stop the Bennets clammored outside enmasse to greet their relatives and the gentlemen.

"Mr. Bingley! How good it is to see you!" Mrs. Bennet cried out enthusiastically as she waited for her brother and his family to exit the carriage. Before Bingley could respond the driver had let down the steps and Gardiner stepped down. Reaching in he assisted his wife down and then caught each child as they tumbled out of the carriage. The eldest boy at the age of 7 made a beeline for his cousin Elizabeth, shrieking Lizzy as he ran towards her hurling himself at her. The next one a small girl only 5 years old followed in her brother's footsteps. Her twin, another girl, as soon as her feet hit the ground hid shly behind her mother's skirts. A young girl, 9 years old, climbed demurely out of the carriage and quickly stepped to her cousin Jane's side. Their nanny stepped down from the carriage next and quickly rounded her charges up.

"I am so glad you are come. I thought for sure bandits had taken you up when you did not arrive," Mrs. Bennet fretted.

"Well seeing as bandits did not get them perhaps we can step inside and have some tea, eh Mrs. Bennet," Mr. Bennet said with a chuckle.

"Oh yes! Do come in! You too Mr. Bingley! It was so kind of my brother to bring you to us today!"

Blushing at how her mother ignored Mr. Darcy Elizabeth said, "Please come in Mr. Darcy. Mama as you can see is enthusiastic about my uncle's arrival"

"I would be most pleased to escort you inside Miss Elizabeth. I have learned today that we have another thing in common," Darcy said as she lightly grasp the arm he held out.

"You did sir?"

"You mentioned that it was your favorite aunt and uncle coming today. It turns out your favorite uncle is my favorite buisness associate," Darcy said with a smile.

"My uncle is a man of good sense and breeding," Elizabeth said blushing.

"That he is. I am quite pleased I shall meet his wife and get a chance to see him during the Christmas season," he said as he covered her small hand on his arm with his own larger one.

"I must ask how you and Mr. Bingley came to be with my Uncle's carriage."

"Interestingly we have Miss Bingley to thank for that."

"Miss Bingley?"

"She has chased Bingley to Netherfield. It seems she encountered carriage problems and your uncle kindly took her up and delivered her toNetherfield," Darcy said wryly.

"Are you sure her brother was her main prey?" Elizabeth ask mischievously.

Darcy shuddered and said, "Bingley was quite put out with her and plans to speak very firmly to her. He confided to me that hearing the cruel way she talked about your uncle, who went out of his way to help her, on top of the way she derided his feelings for your sister, that it was the last straw."

"And what will Mr. Bingley do?"

"Hopefully something that will effectively correct her behavior. He has never tried to do so before, choosing to avoid confrontation."

As the pair entered the drawing room a loud cacophony assulted their ears. Jane and Bingley sat quietly together in a corner, Lydia and Kitty were loudly guessing what presents their uncle would have brought the family and the Bennet matron was loudly and excitedly talking to her sister in law. Elizabeth gave Darcy a wry embarrassed smile and attempted to slip her hand from his arm but he kept her hand covered with his and her in place at his side. "Will you introduce me to your aunt?" he ask her softly. Elizabeth nodded and walked towards where her aunt sat next to her mother. After being introduced, Darcy saw Elizabeth and himself to seats near enough to converse with her aunt and mother. He proceeded to spend the next quarter hour in civil discussion with both ladies, while Elizabeth looked on in astonishment, before following Madeline's suggestion that her husband would welcome the chance to converse with him where he was in the library with Mr. Bennet.

After he left the room with another look towards Elizabeth, Madeline observed quietly, "Mr. Darcy is very civil."

"Yes sister he was. I can't account for it. He has always been a proud cold man. Nothing like Mr. Bingley!" Mrs. Bennet huffed.

"Mama! Do not speak so of Mr. Darcy. it does you no credit," Elizabeth said vexed that her mother slighted him.

"You are sure you cannot account for it?" Madeline said with a significant look towards Elizabeth who blushed under her aunt's gaze.

"Mr. Darcy thinks Lizzy is only tolerable. Everyone knows he dislikes her. Finds her to be a wild country miss I imagine," Mrs. Bennet said crossly. "As if he has any business judging my daughters. Lizzy may be a bit wild, but she is lovely all the same." Elizabeth smiled at the loyalty that underlied her mother's last statement.

"That is not how the situation appeared to me just now Fanny."

Mrs. Bennet's eyes widened as she realized the truth of her sister in law's words. Faintly she whispered her voice tinged with both disbelief and hope, "Is it true Lizzy? Does Mr. Darcy admire you? Is he courting you? You, you wouldn't refuse him like you did Mr. Collins would you?"

"Mama, Mr. Darcy has not ask to court me and until any such question is ask it is useless to speculate on it," Elizabeth told her mother firmly.

"But 10,000 a year-"

"Is not a reason I would consider a man's suit. "

"You child," shrieked Mrs. Bennet, "will be the death of me!"

"Shhh Fanny," Madeline said quietly and gently. "These things take time. Lizzy is a sensible girl. Give her time to get to know Mr. Darcy. Edward finds him to be a clever, likeable fellow and he has been doing buisness with him for 5 years. I trust your brother has the accurate measure of the man. Lizzy may find she likes him very much if the occasion ever arises."

…

In the library Darcy found himself the object of Gardiner's interest. Without preamble after greetings were exchanged Gardiner said, "Tolerable you suppose but not handsome enough to tempt you?"

Darcy redened but said honestly, "Words I am heartily sorry for. Miss Elizabeth has accepted my apologies for my untrue, unkind words and I extend them to you gentlemen as well."

"So that is the way the wind blows is it. It does not mean you are right though Gardiner," Mr. Bennet said dryly.

"Lizzy is a great favorite with my family Darcy. My wife this summer intends for Lizzy to join us on a tour of the lake district as a birthday treat where I am sure there will be plenty of amiable young men who won't insult her before they even meet her."

At Gardiner's words Darcy stiffened and paled. Looking at both men Darcy decided to declare his interest as was proper to her father. "Mr. Bennet I hope to someday request a courtship and eventual marriage to your daughter. I am irrevocably in love with her. I would like the chance for her to get to know me before I offer for her. I know I did not make a good impression when I was first in Meryton. I am attempting to rectify that impression. I seek your blessing to ask Miss Elizabeth to marry me someday in the future."

"I'll wager even you didn't predict that he would be asking for my blessing to marry her today," Mr. Bennet said wryly to Gardiner.

"Well he certainly proved me right that he was at least interested in her," Gardiner responded. "You can't deny that any longer."