Thanks for your kind words and letting me know you are interested and reading! I so appreciate every review, fav and follow. I am thankful for any spelling, grammar and typo catches too – grateful when anyone takes the time to point those out. Small favor – when you do point out an error I would so appreciate it if you do so with kindness or at the very least without any meanness. This is an unedited (by anyone other than me) story I am essentially workshopping here and sharing for free because, well I love this community and for the most part it seems to be full of the most delightful people ever who share my almost unnatural preoccupation with JA! Have had to delete a few reviews and I honestly don't like to do that but I also just don't get the need to be mean and/or sarcastic with this stuff. That turned into a little rant – unintentional, but hopefully you hear me. Criticism welcome. Kindness please.

Chapter 20

That night at dinner Mr. Darcy found an unexpected ally in his quest to discover the identity of Mr. Collins and what lay between him and Miss Elizabeth. It happened during the second course.

"Miss Eliza, I understood from your sister, Kitty, that congratulations are in order," Mrs. Hurst said with an innocent smile. "You are engaged to a Mr. Collins, are you not?"

"He is a cousin of yours I believe, a parson somewhere?" Miss Bingley put in helpfully.

Though Darcy wanted to understand the meaning behind what he heard in the library he could immediately tell Elizabeth was uncomfortable with these questions. His curiosity was not worth her distress, but he could not quickly come up with a way to redirect the conversation.

Elizabeth was only somewhat surprised by the question. The Bingley sisters had been sitting with Jane when Mary and Elizabeth returned to her room and all four ladies remained and enjoyed a half hour of conversation together before separating to dress for dinner. So it seemed logical that if there was genuine interest about Mr. Collins that would have been a more appropriate time to express it. Of course, there was no genuine interest. Exposure was the aim.

"His father was my father's cousin, he is a clergyman and I am not engaged," Elizabeth responded, feeling no need to elaborate. She tried very hard to not look at Mr. Darcy. Why did she feel compelled to do so in any case? In this she failed almost immediately and was chagrined to find his eyes, full of concern, resting on her.

"Would you like me to ride to Longbourn tomorrow to procure more ingredients for the remedies you need for Miss Bennet?" he asked.

"Do you believe you were sufficiently observant to procure the proper ingredients without my presence?" She asked with a teasing smile.

"Likely not," he admitted.

"Then you must go as well, Miss Elizabeth," Bingley insisted. "You may take Hera, Caroline's horse. She insists we take her with us wherever we go though I don't know why, she never rides. Hera could use the exercise."

Head bowed, ostensibly focused on her chicken, Elizabeth tried not to smile. She could not help it when her eyes once again sought Mr. Darcy's. He was not smiling, but his eyes might have sparkled with a slight hint of mischief when they met hers.

When Miss Bingley did not immediately offer her assent, Mary spoke up. "We would not wish to inconvenience you, Miss Bingley. Kitty has a list of ingredients and can be relied upon to bring them tomorrow afternoon."

"Not in the morning?" Darcy asked.

"No, she has plans to visit one of our tenant families in the morning and I confess I thought what I brought back would last longer and so did not see a need to ask her to delay her visit. The family has been ill, and she is anxious to be of use," Elizabeth explained.

"I had not realized the supply was so low," Mary said to Elizabeth.

"I am sure whatever it is, our kitchens have what is required. They are certainly more extensive than those of Longbourn."

"Not so well stocked that they can produce a decent ragout," Mr. Hurst declared. It was his first comment of the evening.

"I am certain they are well stocked, Miss Bingley," Elizabeth conceded, "However, the ingredients for the tisanes that provide Jane with some relief in her current state are quite specific. I do not imagine they can be found in most houses that do not specifically cultivate them."

"Let us send a note then. I am sure that is preferable to a long ride," Caroline offered.

"A long ride? I believe it is less than three miles to Longbourn is it not, Miss Elizabeth?"

"That is correct, Mr. Bingley."

"Then if you wish it you and Darcy can ride out in the morning. I have a sneaking suspicion you are like my friend here and you will both be up and out before the rest of us are even below stairs."

Before Elizabeth could respond Miss Bingley had other ideas to put forward.

"I am certain Elizabeth would prefer to stay here and tend to her sister. Mr. Darcy and I could retrieve whatever is needed and free you to be with dear Jane."

"Caroline that is ridiculous," Bingley said. "You would not even know what was needed never mind the awkwardness of two near-strangers showing up at Longbourn's door and asking to be shown into the stillroom. Sometimes I do wonder about you."

"I was only thinking of what is best for dear Jane."

"Of course, Miss Bingley," Elizabeth said. "I do appreciate your consideration. In truth I do not mind walking if it is an inconvenience to use your horse. Please think nothing of it."

"It is not an inconvenience," Bingley insisted, with a sharp look at his sister. "Walking there and back would take you an age."

"I could return on Daisy, my own horse, and so the time, though not insignificant, would be less," turning to Miss Bingley she said, "truly I do not wish to impose on you."

Miss Bingley was quick to disclaim this was the cause of her concern.

"Of course, it is no imposition. I only wish to make things as easy as possible during your stay. I merely thought my solution would allow you the convenience of tending your sister and procuring whatever it is you think necessary from your home to make your remedies," Miss Bingley responded.

Elizabeth was nearly exhausted by this conversation which seemed to be less about how to help Jane and more about how Miss Bingley could either spend time with or show herself to advantage to Mr. Darcy. She turned to include Mr. Bingley.

"I will travel however seems most convenient to you," she told them. "It is my priority to obtain the ingredients as early as I can so that Jane may take the fever tea when she awakens in the morning. I will leave it to you to determine my mode of transport. Please keep in mind I am quite used to walking." With that she and Mary rose and begged to be excused from the rest of the evening that they might tend to Jane.

As soon as they were gone the other ladies had much to say about them and none of it was complimentary. After a few general comments on the family, the ladies' attire and their lack of formal educations they moved on to more specific concerns.

"Really, scampering about to fetch ingredients to concoct remedies best left to servants and that apothecary, who seemed nearly competent," Mrs. Hurst exclaimed. "Can they imagine their little potions actually make a difference?"

"Such notions," Miss Bingley agreed before her brother could voice whatever opinion he seemed to have ready. "It really makes one feel as if instead of being a mere three hours from London we have travelled back in time. Do they not understand modern medicine?"

"Do you?" Bingley mocked, clearly exasperated.

Mr. Darcy was mostly quiet, but not unusually so. One might have supposed he heard barely one word in ten that was said. The party adjourned to the drawing room where the sisters entertained the gentlemen with duets until everyone retired for the evening.

When Elizabeth descended the stairs the next morning, she was surprised to find Mr. Darcy, book in hand, sitting in a chair by the door.

"Miss Elizabeth." He rose to greet her. "I had thought you would be prepared to be on your way early."

"You were correct, as you see," she smiled at him and tried to ignore the way in which his answering smile caused a cascade of reactions within her.

"Shall we be off then?"

"You mean to accompany me?" she asked. "You do know I intend to walk?"

"I can see that," he answered. "Although I, along with Bingley, support the idea of taking Hera regardless of Miss Bingley's . . . opinions, I suspected you would prefer to simply avoid any further discussion and would just walk out this morning."

"And so assigned yourself to be my escort?" When Darcy looked uncertain in response to her tease, she instinctively reached out a hand and placed it on his arm. "My apologies, I did not intend to truly reprimand you. I would be happy for the company."

Darcy's answering smile was one of relief and something else. He took her hand which still rested on his arm and placed it inside his elbow and escorted her outside where his carriage awaited them.

"Mr. Darcy, what is this?"

"While I know neither you nor I are averse to a long walk, this method is more expeditious."

"You are very thoughtful," she said simply, as he helped her into the carriage.

On the short ride through Meryton, up the road toward Longbourn and down its drive Darcy and Elizabeth spoke but little. There were the expected inquiries regarding Jane's health (she slept poorly, and her fever persisted), how each had slept (well, the beds at Netherfield were quite comfortable) and their respective plans for the day (Elizabeth planned to spend the day at Jane's side, though she did hope to retrieve some letters from Longbourn that required answers, Darcy intended to attend to his correspondence and possibly go shooting with Bingley and Hurst).

The reasons for their relative quiet were distinct. Elizabeth was preoccupied with varying and unrelated thoughts and ideas. Jane's restless night, the state of the repairs on the barn, Mr. Collins's persistent suit, the price of seed, Mr. Darcy's . . . well Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy was similarly preoccupied but his preoccupation was singularly focused. He wanted to understand what he heard last night, and he knew the best source of information sat before him, but he also knew he not only had no right to the knowledge he already possessed but he also had no right to answers to the questions that very knowledge raised.

When they arrived at Longbourn it was barely past eight o'clock. Elizabeth told him that her family would likely not be below stairs. Her prediction proved true and they proceeded to the stillroom without seeing anyone. Hill found them there, Elizabeth combining ingredients and Darcy looking on.

"Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, forgive me for not being at the door to see you in," she said from the doorway. "I saw the carriage out front and sought you out."

"Hill, please do not distress yourself," Elizabeth said pausing in her task to regard her beloved housekeeper. "Mr. Darcy and I stole in like thieves and you are not to be blamed. I unexpectedly ran out of what I needed for Jane and he was kind enough to bring me over earlier than most anyone is up and about so that we might administer the remedies to Jane as soon as she arises."

"That is very good of you, Mr. Darcy," Hill said, briefly looking at that gentleman. "I will pack a basket of the breakfast I have laid out."

"Please do not go to any extra trouble. If Mr. Darcy has no objection we can simply eat what is available before we depart." Turning to Darcy she asked, "Would this be acceptable? We could take a few minutes. In truth I am a little hungry."

"I am entirely at your disposal."

Hill looked between the two. It seemed clear to Elizabeth something was bothering her. Whatever it might be, likely she was reluctant to talk about it in front of their guest.

"Mr. Darcy would you excuse me for just a moment?"

"Of course," he bowed to her and made himself busy finishing their task of transferring the powders to the pouches.

Elizabeth joined Hill in the hallway, and they moved toward the main part of the house. Hill wasted no time in confiding her news.

"I wasn't certain if you were aware, but Mr. Collins is here."

"Oh my . . . I had thought he would arrive later this afternoon."

"Yes, I suspected your father might not have been clear. He arrived yesterday afternoon."

"That is a conversation we will be having, Papa and I. I know he likes his little jokes but to conceal Mr. Collins's impending visits from all of us . . ."

"I do not mean to speak out of turn Miss Elizabeth but, I believe this visit may have been planned between Mr. Collins and your mother. Your father seems to have learned about it only yesterday."

This seemed plausible. Mrs. Bennet had taken to Mr. Collins immediately and was his most faithful correspondent. She was also nearly as eager as he to formalize their arrangement though in truth she already took it as decided. However, a formal engagement would allow her to spread the news to her neighbours.

"Thank you, Hill. I do appreciate your letting me know. Although I do not expect Mr. Darcy and I will see him as he customarily does not rise before mid-morning on his visits. I will be ready to greet him should he appear while we partake of a quick breakfast."

And they did partake. Chocolate, apples and toast. Conversation about crops, politics and their families. It was pleasant and distracted them both from that which had occupied their thoughts in the carriage. They did not linger, however and were ready to be off within half an hour. After Elizabeth ducked into the study to retrieve some letters she found Darcy already in his greatcoat and Hill at the ready with her bonnet and pelisse. Just as Hill reached to open the door for them a noise was heard on the stairs.

Miss Elizabeth," a breathless, raspy voice called out. She turned and beheld the gentleman descending the stairs, a toothy smile on his rotund face as he beheld her in the doorway attempting to make good her escape.

"Mr. Collins."