Chapter 14

December 21, 1811 Meryton

Elizabeth Bennet awoke with a smile. Georgiana had hinted that she expected part of the Netherfield party to seek asylum at Longbourn in the afternoon. Caroline would no doubt be bent on impressing Darcy as she prepared for Netherfield to host the Bennets. And Georgiana had impressed upon Elizabeth that her brother would do his best to escape Caroline's attentions. Elizabeth had cheerfully suggested Longbourn as a sanctuary for the Darcy siblings, suggesting Georgiana might like to practice a duet with her, and naturally her brother would need to escort her.

With these pleasant thoughts in mind, Elizabeth prepared for the day. Kissing her father's cheek she set out on her morning walk. Habit had her turning towards Oakham Mount as she ruminated on the Darcy siblings, particularly the eldest. He was decisively handsome, intelligent amd thoughtful. Her prior opinion of the man had been completely turned around recently. As if her thoughts had conjured the man himself, she saw him striding toward her.

"Good morning Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said stopping in front of her.

"Good morning Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said returning his smile and greeting.

"I hoped to see you out this morning."

"And why was that?" she ask in a teasing tone

"I enjoy seeing you," he responded honestly.

"Oh," Elizabeth said blushing.

"You cannot be surprised by that. You must realize by now how much I admire you. Seeing you makes my day better. I will get to see you at dinner tonight, my sister suggets we escape to Longbourne this afternoon, and I am seeing you now, when I do not have to share your company. Seeing you turns what could have been a very trying day, to one filled with promise."

"I," Elizabeth said, then halted, unsure of what else to say. Blushing she started again, "I enjoy seeing you as well Mr. Darcy." Then with an impsih smile at him she ask archly, "Today would have been trying?"

"Miss Bingley," he said simply to which Elizabeth laughed.

"That good lady is quite determined, " Elizabeth mummered once her laughter stopped.

"But not as determined as I," Darcy told her with a glint in his eye.

…

"I'm terribly sorry Miss Bingley but my brother promised to escort me today. Miss Elizabeth has graciously agreed to preform another duet with me tonight and we intend to practice today," Georgiana explained to her hostess in dulcent tones.

"My sister is right, Miss Bingley. I'm sure you do not need my opinions on the dishes served," Darcy said grimly. Caroline had been hounding him for the last half hour on his preferences for dinner. His only preference was that Elizabeth be seated near him, and he was sure Miss Bingley intended to thwart that even without him stating it.

"While your musical preformance is always pleasing Miss Darcy, I fear allowing Miss Eliza to join you at the pianoforte is not wise. She is not the accomplished preformer you are. If you had let me know of your desire to preform a duet I would have been most willing to sit and practice with you, as it is I am to busy today so we shall have to postpone our duet," Miss Bingley said in a superior tone to Georgiana.

"My sister wishes to preform a duet with Miss Elizabeth again. The first one was quite pleasing. I, nor my sister, find anything lacking in Miss Elizabeth's talent at the pianoforte Miss Bingley," Darcy said coldly. "We shall leave you to your planning, I'm sure tonight's dinner party will be excellent and my sister only wishes to add to it with a musical performance." With a stiff nod at Caroline, Darcy guided his sister out of the drawing room.

With conspiring smiles the Darcy siblings requested the carriage be called and they set out for Loungbourn and Elizabeth.

…

With a final appraisal of his appareal Darcy headed towards the stairs. His sister he saw peeking out her door so he paused and offered her his arm. Together they joined Col. Fitzwilliam and Bingley in the drawing room.

"Georgie, you are as pretty as a picture," Col. Fitzwilliam said stepping forward to compliment his cousin.

"And you look handsome in your dress coat. Decided to leave off your regimentals cousin?" Georgiana teased him.

"After your description of the youngest Bennets' disappointment today that I did not join you at Longbourn it seemed the safest option," Col. Fitzwilliam said wryly.

"Afraid of Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia, Richard?" Darcy ask his cousin teasingly. "Are you not a fearless decorated officer in his majesty's army?"

"And that is the very problem."

"Well Colonel you can thank me now. My sister had you seated between the two of them but I persuaded her that we forgo a formal seating chart tonight," Bingley said cheerfully.

"And how did you do that?" the colonel ask.

"Pointed out that if she was determined to be so formal she would need to sit Mr. Gardiner by her to properly observe rank. She was not pleased with how I reminded her she is the daughter of a tradesman herself. She had my angel sat at a distance from me and claimed it was based on Miss Bennet's inferior rank. What utter nonsense. While I value Miss Darcy's company, Miss Bennet is also the daughter of a gentleman and should not be slighted as my sister intended."

"She based her seating chart on rank?" Col. Fitzwilliam ask incredulously. "How exactly did she manage to convince herself that my rank as the son of an Earl was the same as the rank of the youngest Bennets?"

"You don't want to know."

"I assume I should thank you too Bingley," Darcy cut in. "I can imagine where she had me placed."

"Not near Miss Elizabeth I can tell you," Bingley said smiling, "but all shall be fine. I put my foot down."

As Bingley spoke a servant entered the room bearing a note. Taking it Bingley unfolded it. As he read it, a frown appeared on his face. "Thank you for bringing this to me. My sister I trust is stil in her room getting ready?'

"Yes sir," the servant said with a bow.

"I suspected she might try something like this after my discussion with her earlier. Thank you for following my orders to bring any notes my sister attempted to send to me first. You may go, our guest will be here shortly, despite my sister." After the servant left the room Bingley sighed and handed the note to Darcy for him to read.

"This is addressed to the Bennets," Darcy said in confusion. Bingley gestured for him to read on. He did so, a look of disgust growing on his face. "Your sister claims that she is indisposed and therefore Netherfield will not be able to host the Bennets for dinner tonight. She instructs them to stay home."

"Yet she is getting ready for dinner in her rooms upstairs," the colonel said in disgust. "Your sister is devious and needs to be taken in hand."

"I do not understand, " Georgiana said. "Why would she write a note telling the Bennets she is indisposed, but then be getting ready for dinner in her rooms?"

"Because Georgiana she planned to be present for dinner with us but make it appear the Bennets rudely chose not to attend without giving us notice," Darcy explained to her.

"But that's terrible! The Bennet's are our friends. To deliberately foster such a deception is cruel," Georgiana cried, tears in her eyes.

"Yes they are. Luckily, Bingley's foresight in requesting his sister's notes go through him first prevented the situation Miss Bingley tried to create," Col. Fitzwilliam soothed her.

"Tonight my sister will embarrass herself. She will come down to dinner, intending a grand enterance and no Bennets," Bingley said grimly. "I for one look forward to seeing her face when she is thwarted. Tomorrow I will discuss with her the ramifications of her actions. I assume you will refuse to acknowledge her in town Darcy?"

"She has shown herself to be not just petty but vindictive and cruel as well. I cannot countance deliberately sowing discord like she has done. She will no longer be welcome at any of my homes," Darcy answered.

"She has shown herself as an example of the type of woman I do not want my ward associating with. I support my cousin in this. Make sure you inform her that my mother, the countess, will be most displeased with her behavior, " Col. Fitzwilliam said grimly.

"Thank you. I intend to curtail her allowance. I won't send her to London where she can enjoy herself. I will invite my Aunt from Scarborough down to be my hostess for the twelfth night ball. My sister shall be confined to her rooms for it. Depriving her of society will hopefully be a fitting punishment," Bingley said.