Chapter 9 : Resumed Walks

Not an hour after Darcy, Elizabeth and Charlotte entered the Longbourn sitting room from their walk, did Bingley arrive with a cheerful greeting. Jane and Kitty who had welcomed the first three, curtsied at the gentleman with warm smiles as well.

Jane called for tea, and conversation flowed easy. The newly arrived gentleman congratulated Elizabeth on her resumed walks, to which she replied her hearty thanks.

Charlotte was telling them of the near mishap at Mr. Robinson's house—the carpet had almost caught on fire—when Bingley asked to be reminded who the gentleman was.

"I think you met him at the Meryton assembly, sir." Charlotte supplied the information.

Here, Bingley turned suddenly red, for he recalled now with much clarity the said gentleman. It was he who asked whom Bingley thought was the prettiest woman in the room. To this he had answered;

"Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point."

In his embarrassment at the recollection, Bingley blurted out the first thought which entered his mind, and that was that he very much enjoyed the dancing at the Meryton assembly and wished for a repeat of such an occasion.

"Are you proposing to hold a ball then, Mr. Bingley?" Kitty said, eyes bright with the prospect.

"And would that not be a splendid idea, Miss Kitty?"

"Oh indeed, sir!" Kitty stood up in her excitement. "Lizzy and Miss Bingley are free of their injuries both, so it can not be too soon, sir!"

"I daresay it can not." Bingley replied warming up to the idea of him hosting a ball.

"I hear Mama and Lydia coming in from their visit from our Aunt in Meryton, they must be told!"

And before anyone could reply, Kitty had gone out to meet her mother and sister with such good news.

"I caution you, Mr. Bingley," Elizabeth said with a teasing smile, "not to raise the hopes of us poor females."

"No, indeed, Miss Elizabeth! I am in earnest." He looked to Darcy. "Tell Miss Elizabeth, Darcy, how I am a man of my word!"

Darcy bowed his head, and with mock seriousness he continued.

"To be sure, Miss Elizabeth, I have never known Bingley to joke about balls. He takes his balls very seriously."

Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and Lydia entered just as their laughter was dying down.

"Are you in earnest, Mr. Bingley?" Lydia hurried in, her mother and Kitty behind her. "Are you really to hold a ball at Netherfield Park?"

Bingley smiled widely at the youngest Bennet sister.

"Yes, Miss Lydia, I was just about to consult with your sisters the date for that happy night."

Lydia clasped her hands together and twirled towards the center of the room.

"Oh, Mr. Bingley! How you will make everyone happy!" Mrs. Bennet touched her eldest daughter's chin. "Look Jane is already glowing with happiness!"

"Mama, I am sure your own countenance out-glows Jane's, or anyone else's in this room." Elizabeth teased her mother. "I have always heard that you were the belle of the ball in your youth."

"None of that now, Lizzy. I do not pretend to be anywhere near youthful anymore." But the pink in Mrs. Bennet's cheeks showed her pleasure at the remembrance.

"You really are the most amiable man, Mr. Bingley!" Lydia smiled at Jane. "Is he not the most amiable of men, Jane?"

The blush on Jane's cheeks, as she replied to the affirmative, was rivalled only by Bingley's own flush of pleasure. Kitty giggled from where she stood. Darcy and Elizabeth glanced at each other, both holding back amused smiles.

"Perhaps in a fortnight we can all be dancing at Netherfield?" Bingley continued, looking more at Jane than at anyone else.

There was a general consensus to his suggestion, and at length the date was fixed. This found Lydia even livelier than when she had first entered the room.

Darcy caught Elizabeth's eye and spoke softly to her.

"I hope your ankle will be well enough by then to allow me to dance again with you, Miss Elizabeth?"

His gaze was warm, making Elizabeth almost falter in her answer. Somehow it felt as if they sat just the two of them alone in the room. She felt a shiver of pleasure, but pursed her lips and tried to be arch in her reply.

"I am sure my ankle shall be able to bear a dance with you, sir."

Darcy chuckled at her, the dimples in his cheek deepening.

"I do hope you shall more than just bear a dance with me, Miss Elizabeth. I promise you that I shall do my best not to inflict suffering on your person. Why, it has been many years now since I last stepped on a partner's toes."

"Sir! I had not meant—"

"Miss Elizabeth, I am but teasing you." The wide smile on Darcy's face evinced his enjoyment.

Elizabeth's mouth opened to speak, but she could think of no words to say. Blinking rapidly, her lips formed a straight line. Elizabeth could see the twinkle in his eyes, and they both laughed.

Charlotte caught her eye and gave her a knowing look, she feared that her friend would resume her teasing again, but was thankful when Charlotte attended to the conversation near her. Unbidden, a memory passed in Elizabeth's mind;

One day, Lizzy, someone shall tease you as you tease others, and it will be for us to see whether you shall know it is actually happening.

Charlotte had predicted quite aptly. Well, if it be somebody, let it be him.

Elizabeth looked quickly at Darcy, seeing him watching her, she blushed.

A few days after the date of the ball was settled, Elizabeth found that she could not stay inside Longbourn. Her mother and younger sisters proved to have too much excitement over gowns and lace. She had left them in the sitting room vying for Jane's help on how to arrange their hair for the ball.

As she had stepped out of the threshold, she met with Darcy and Bingley who were just arrived and were dismounting from their horses.

"Good day to you, Miss Elizabeth." Bingley smiled.

Both gentlemen bowed, Elizabeth replied with a curtsy of her own.

"Are you out for your regular walk, Miss Elizabeth? Or are we preventing you from a call?" Darcy inquired.

"Only the first, sir." Elizabeth smiled.

"Might company be welcome?"

A few minutes later found Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley and Jane heading to a walk that Elizabeth had not visited for quite a while. She had chosen that walk for it was not one so commonly traversed. She had solitude and exercise in mind when she dressed for the outdoors, but her traitorous heart gave a leap when Darcy had asked to walk with her.

"It is a bit of a vigorous walk." Elizabeth told Darcy. "I had planned on conditioning my ankle before the dance, but if you do not prefer the exercise, we can walk towards the fields instead."

"I hope you know, Miss Elizabeth, that once phrased that way, there is no possible way for me to choose the fields and maintain my manly dignity." Darcy grinned.

Elizabeth laughed, the sound echoing in the empty woods they had just entered.

"I assure you, sir, I shall not be a judge. I have not had many walking companions whenever I ventured this way. Jane, I can normally count on, and sometimes Charlotte, but that is it. Perhaps had I a brother he could be relied upon more."

"Yes, that is what brothers are for I daresay." Thinking of Georgiana, he added, "That and claiming kites caught in tree branches."

Elizabeth had a sudden vision of a younger Darcy atop a tree reaching for a kite while a little girl looked up hopefully from the ground. The image charmed her.

"You must dote on your sister, her being many years younger than you."

"I do. I try to do my best by her."

"From Miss Bingley's stories, she appears very accomplished."

"I am very proud of the young woman Georgiana is becoming."

"You should be proud of yourself as well, sir, I appreciate the energies needed for such a responsibility. Growing young ladies is not an easy tasks." Elizabeth looked sideways at him.

Not knowing how to respond to the compliment, Darcy continued. "I have noticed that you and Miss Bennet have had a hand with your sisters as well."

Smiling, Elizabeth sighed.

"Sometimes I rather wonder if after Jane and myself, Mama just decided to let her children raise themselves."

Elizabeth said this in jest, but she watched discreetly for Darcy's reactions. She knew that her younger sisters were not as well-mannered as she would like, indeed her father had called them silly many a time, and Elizabeth was inclined to agree with his statement. But she also knew that her sisters had good hearts. Lydia perhaps being the youngest, tended to be more selfish, but she and Jane had started to make progress with her since she turned fifteen. With steady influence, she knew her younger sisters would grow and blossom.

"They are but young, still learning." Darcy unknowingly echoed her thoughts. "Seeing you with your sisters, Miss Elizabeth, makes me quite envious of large families."

"I assure you, sir, five sisters do not make a peaceful home." She jested, but she was secretly pleased by his answer.

Darcy had a sudden vision of himself in Pemberley, surrounded by a brood of children; running, laughing, wanting his attention. Beside him was Elizabeth. His heart warmed, he cleared his throat.

"And I have heard that peace and quiet do not necessarily make for a well-lived life."

Lifting her eyebrows at him, she replied with twinkling eyes. "I shall leave you then to your blissful ignorance."

They walked on in companionable silence. Behind them, Bingley and Jane conversed quietly. The wind picked up, blowing the ribbons of Elizabeth's bonnet towards Darcy's chest. Leaves flew past them, blowing away.

The more rigorous part of the walk came up just then, the path, which had taken a decidedly sloping angle, ended in a natural stairs of packed earth and rocks, it then bent sharply to the right and descended some yards down until it reached lower ground.

Darcy watched as Elizabeth proceeded, he was about to offer her his arm in assistance, but before he could speak, he saw her gather her skirts and step from one rock to the next in a pattern apparently mastered from experience.

As if sensing him watching her, Elizabeth looked behind at Darcy. She smiled at him.

"'Tis quite safe, sir. Follow my steps."

And so Darcy followed Elizabeth as she led them down the natural stairs, giving free reign to his admiration of her agile grace.

When she cleared the stairs, she looked up to watch Darcy's progress. She could not help but admire his movements as he maneuvered his way down, his athleticism appealed to her. When he reached the ground, Darcy let out a breath.

"That was quite invigorating." His grin showed his enjoyment of the activity.

"Indeed, sir. I am glad of your opinion. I daresay my choice of walking companions towards this particular area have increased?"

"Walking companion to Woodpecker Walk, at your service, madam." Darcy bowed.

Elizabeth laughed at his silliness. Pleasure hummed in her countenance.

"I am happy to hear that, sir."

Above them, Jane and Bingley could be heard traversing the natural stairs. They both looked up.

"Not to worry, Mr. Darcy, Jane is quite adept."

"I do not worry about Miss Bennet, it is Bingley that I think of."

They held back laughter as they heard Jane giving Bingley instructions. They walked on.

"And why, pray tell, is it called Woodpecker Walk? For so far I have seen nor heard not a one."

"For that." Elizabeth pointed before them. At that point, the path met with a gentle, shallow stream.

Darcy looked but he clearly could not see the reason behind the name. Elizabeth chuckled and went to him. Acting in childish excitement, she took his hand and led him towards the stream.

Darcy was surprised but highly pleased, looking at their joined hands, he kept silent and let her pull him forward.

"Come!" Still holding Darcy's hand, she urged him to skip to a cluster of rocks in the center of the stream, just as she had done.

When they stood side by side, Elizabeth pointed excitedly with her other hand to where the stream forked into three smaller branches.

"It is the shape of a woodpecker's foot, three toes, you see?" Her excitement rendered her face brilliant.

But Darcy was not looking at the stream, he had eyes only for her. Hand held in hers, he was prepared at that moment to tell her all that he felt. He would, at that moment, pledge himself to her, if she would but accept him.

Elizabeth turned to Darcy, smiling.

"I have..."

But the words were lost, indeed, her mind could not form a coherent line as Darcy's eyes held hers. Every uncertainty of feeling fled, she loved him. She was in love with Mr. Darcy, her mind stated it now with absolute abandon. Unconsciously, her hand tightened in his.

"Miss Elizabeth..."

"Lizzy?"

Jane's voice called from a distance, a bend in the path shielding them from view.

With a small breath, Elizabeth suddenly stepped back, only to realise that she had run out of rock, and would have fallen in the stream but for the hand that already held hers and for Darcy's sure grip on her waist.

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth said breathlessly.

"Lizzy?"

"By the stream, Jane!"

With a shy look at Darcy, Elizabeth crossed to the other side of the stream. Darcy followed, only then did they wordlessly release each other's hand.

Caroline Bingley was not pleased with the idea of a ball at Netherfield Park. For truly, she did not think the effort and expense was worth the society. Not to mention such a short time for preparations! But it seemed that her brother was determined to have it happen, left with no choice, she had reluctantly took on the responsibilities. She decided that if she must arrange one, then she would arrange a ball that would have these simple people of Meryton talking for years. Let it be known that Miss Caroline Bingley gave only the best.

And so preparations had progressed, no expense was spared, no detail too small for the hostess to delegate.

She had even sent for the new gown that she had intended for use during the Season. Let Elizabeth Bennet compete with that, she smiled to herself, the little miss would look plain and dull against her sophistication. Mr. Darcy would certainly appreciate the difference.

This ball would show him her capacity for being mistress of a great estate, certainly, it would show her to advantage.

As she sent the Netherfield servants abuzz, Caroline Bingley walked into the ballroom, intending to survey the work that was being done there. She was surprised to find her brother and Mr. Darcy in the middle of the ballroom looking quite absorbed in serious conversation.

"It is different this time, Darcy, I have never felt—Caroline!"

"Gentlemen." She curtsied.

Their conversation ceased as they saw her, they bowed.

"Caroline, everything is looking promising." Bingley said hastily.

"Of course, Charles." She looked intently at her brother. A nagging suspicion forming in her mind. "I would give only my best efforts, I choose only the best in everything, as I am sure you do as well." The last line was delivered with a hard look at her brother.

Charles had gone slightly red, but such a look of resolve that Darcy had never seen on him before reflected on his friend's face. He could readily guess to what Miss Bingley alluded.

"Indeed, madam. I am sure every guest will be pleased with your efforts." Darcy said quickly, hoping to dissolve the tension.

"I hope you are pleased, Mr. Darcy?" She moved nearer to him, smiling now.

"Erm, yes, Caroline." Bingley interjected. "We are, both of us, very pleased! You must tell me if there is anything else that you need." Turning to Darcy, he continued. "Come, Darcy, we must be on our way."

They bowed at Caroline and stepped out of the ballroom leaving behind a scowling Miss Bingley.

She seethed. She intensely hoped that this phase her brother was in would quickly come to pass. She was sick and tired of Hertfordshire. Even being in Louisa's company was not enough for her to endure the place. She needed her brother to move on from Jane Bennet, so that they could leave. They needed to leave so that Mr. Darcy could move on from Elizabeth Bennet.

Yes.

Yes, that was it. That was the key. Her brother needed to see that Jane Bennet was nothing but a pretty face, perhaps only interested in his fortune. Yes that was it, indeed.

A/N:

Hello, everyone!

I am sure you're into Miss Bingley's plans. Watch out for more in the next chapter!

I decided to keep the pace slow for now, as I am quite enjoying D&E's beginnings-of-love phase. Bingley and Jane are not far off in their feelings as well, though Bingley is most certainly not one to disguise his feelings! Next chapter will have our favorite characters dancing and looking their best! I am excited for them. :)

I am again expressing my thanks to everyone who left reviews, who those who favorited, and to those who followed my little story. I know you understand me when I say that having these characters in our lives is a definite reprieve from the world out there. Jane Austen, thank you!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay kind.