A/N: Special thanks to katmom, ercilia, leavesfallingup, ArenttinCA, AnakinSmom, LS Summers, 2old4fanfic, Hiniwalay, ChrisM0519, Lisa, liysyl, Romana973, ashiana, MK543, RHALiz, MsLiss, calt02, archy12, Ann, jesskmemmy, sunshineandsparklesfan, roses0002, DimmDimms, dpennell007, advalorem, Shelby66, Leleia, Jansfamily4, AHealingRenaissance, Moltz, and the guest reviewers for reading the previous chapter.

Thanks a lot! You're lovely.

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A Wicked, White Cravat
by Anton M.

Chapter 6: Sisterly Affection

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At five PM on Sunday, Mr. Bennet met Mr. Darcy a mile away from the borders of the Burfarrow forest where an enormous boulder signified a place often used as a landmark for meetings. Mr. Darcy jumped off his horse, tipped his hat, and started walking beside Mr. Bennet with his horse. Mandatory pleasantries were shared without either party acknowledging how entirely odd it was for them to meet in relative secrecy.

The sun had set an hour ago but the full moon brightened their path.

"I must admit that I am not as well acquainted with common recovery as you are, Mr. Darcy," Mr. Bennet said. "In fact, if you had not said the words first, I could scarcely believe it existed at all outside of my mind. I am not frequently around attorneys, and I beg you to be patient with me as I learn how to pursue the matter."

Mr. Darcy nodded. "Of course."

"First, please can you tell me, what is it exactly? How does it work?"

"It is a fictional legal procedure with the sole purpose of achieving the barring of the entail. In this case, the Longbourn House."

"Fictional?" Mr. Bennet asked. "What do you mean, fictional? It is not real?"

"The consequences are real but the procedure itself is acted out, with everyone colluding together with the same aim."

Mr. Bennet did not seem convinced. "Forgive me, but I do not quite understand."

Darcy took a moment to think about how best to put it. "If you wanted to go to prison, you could commit a crime for the sole purpose of going to prison. Upon achieving your aim, the law would not care that that was your purpose in the first place. You would still go to prison. Do you follow?"

"So it is like a dance where doing it a certain way gives you a certain kind of reward, even if everyone knows it is a dance."

"Yes."

"My most critical question is — does Mr. Collins need to be present?"

"No."

"I do not need his permission?"

"No," Darcy repeated. "If you had received his permission, you would not need common recovery to bar your entail."

"Very well," Mr. Bennet replied. "Since that is not the case, let us proceed. Tell me, what do I need to do?"

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Half an hour before dinner was to be announced, there was a knock on the front door. It was a most unusual time for a visit, and Elizabeth thought the guests far too considerate to arrive so early. Thus, Elizabeth, who was reading in the library, rushed to the door ahead of the footman in the hopes that she would get to spend the extra half an hour with her betrothed.

"Mr. Bingley!" She curtsied, and so visible was her disappointment that Mr. Bingley smiled.

"Good evening. Do not worry, Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy should be here shortly."

He laughed when Elizabeth perked up considerably, but soon remembered himself and took off his hat.

"I would like to request a private audience with Miss Bennet."

Elizabeth stifled a smile and curtsied before she announced their guest to her family. Once the flurry of activity subsided and Jane was presented, Mrs. Bennet began to invite them to the (now empty) drawing room but Elizabeth whispered to Mr. Bingley, "Go to the garden for fresh air!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Bennet," Mr. Bingley bowed. "I had thought to take Jane on a small walk for some fresh air."

Jane gave Elizabeth a grateful smile before they left. Mrs. Bennet and her youngest daughters flocked to the window, but Elizabeth returned to the library, too happy to continue reading but determined to offer the couple some privacy. She gently called out to her mother.

"Yes, Lizzie?"

"I just remembered a wedding breakfast wish that Mr. Darcy particularly asked for."

"Can it not wait?"

"No, I'm afraid I had forgotten it for two days already. If I don't tell you now, I might forget it again."

Begrudgingly, Mrs. Bennet arrived at the library door, and Elizabeth made up a dessert that would be a bigger hassle to arrange for than what their usual meals involved and yet not impossible. Her youngest sisters also arrived in the library, presumably because Jane and Mr. Bingley could no longer be seen from the window.

"And you are sure that he wants raspberry macaroons with ratafia? Not brandy? Not madeira? Not ratafia biscuits?"

Elizabeth did not have the slightest idea about Darcy's preferences, but she assured her mother confidently that that was exactly what Darcy had specified. Mrs. Bennet was quite in her element, and wrote down so many of Elizabeth's specifications that soon they had decided the whole wedding dessert without setting out to do so.

"Oh but this is very helpful indeed!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. "I am exceedingly happy that you have begun to talk about important matters!"

Elizabeth did not agree but smiled nonetheless. She would have been happy to arrange for the wedding breakfast herself, but it seemed to give such purpose and joy to her mother that Elizabeth did not have the heart to take it away from her.

Jane arrived soon with Mr. Bingley, both delirious with joy, to announce their engagement. Elizabeth embraced her sister for a while, relieved that whatever rumours were out there about her had not hindered her sister's happiness.

"Oh Elizabeth," Jane said. "Is this how you felt when Mr. Darcy proposed? How is such happiness to be contained?"

Elizabeth laughed. "I see that you are set to become even happier than we are."

"Do not say such a thing," Jane scolded. "We shall both have an equal amount of happiness, which is already quite too much!"

Mr. Bennet arrived home, and when Darcy entered just after him, Mr. Bennet said, "Look who I met on my walk."

Darcy, as uncomfortable-looking as ever, greeted everyone before noticing the joy of Jane and Mr. Bingley. As others entered the drawing room, Darcy congratulated Jane and pulled Mr. Bingley into a hug.

"Good man," he said. "We are to be brothers!" He pulled back, hand still on Mr. Bingley's shoulder, and grinned. "Since I am to be Miss Bennet's brother before your expected wedding, you are to be on your best behaviour or you shall have to face me."

Elizabeth enjoyed the boyish twinkle in his eyes, and the two men embraced each other in laughter. Upon noticing that Elizabeth was observing them, both men sobered and Mr. Bingley tore off his eyes from Jane's before entering the library with Mr. Bennet. Jane went into the drawing room in such a daze that Elizabeth couldn't be sure her feet were even touching the floor.

Elizabeth stood on the first step of the staircase when Darcy approached her, his eyes still twinkling. He was visibly embarrassed.

"Elizabeth," he said, taking her hand and searching her eyes. "I did not mean any harm with my comment. I apologise if I crossed a line and upset you."

"I cannot fathom how such a thing should upset me," she quoted him, smiling, and Darcy kissed her cheek in relief.

"And how have you been today?" he asked, stepping so close that Elizabeth could feel his chest against hers. She felt tingly, cared for, breathless, all at once, and she wondered if it was possible that she had already missed him even though he had only left at noon.

"Busy," she replied, thinking of all the arrangements and decisions they had made prior to her escape to the library. "I've been busy. And you?"

"The same," he said, leaning his forehead close to hers. "I have never written as many letters in my life as I did today. I might have permanently harmed my right hand."

Elizabeth lifted the arm in question against her lips.

"I shall have to care for you today, then."

"How is it that you always know the right thing to do or say?" he whispered.

Elizabeth laughed. "I wish that were true. Sir, you are to develop an immediate liking to raspberry macaroons with ratafia. It was the only thing I could think of to give Jane and Mr. Bingley some privacy."

"Ratafia." Darcy grinned. "I'll try to remember that." His eyes flickered between Elizabeth's eyes and her lips, and she leaned ever so slightly closer to him.

"Darcy!" Mr. Bennet opened the library door. "Come join us!" He disappeared back in the library but left the door open.

"I fear that, now that your father has developed a liking to me, he has every reason to prevent us from spending any significant time together."

Elizabeth smiled. "Go."

He did not move away from her. "Spare a seat for me?"

She nodded, and Darcy pressed an ever-so-tender kiss on her forehead. "I will see you at dinner."

: :

When Elizabeth had helped Jane into her finest dress and they finished putting her hair just so, Miss Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and the Lucases had already arrived. Elizabeth and Jane voiced their sincerest apologies for being late, and Darcy's eyes met Elizabeth's when she entered — Miss Bingley had taken the seat next to him. Perhaps she thought the occasion to be informal enough, or perhaps she was not paying attention to the order of the seating, but such as it was, Elizabeth did not wish to create a scene.

The only two available seats were next to Mr. Bingley and Miss Bingley, and Jane took her place next to Mr. Bingley when encouraged by Elizabeth. Elizabeth would just have to grin and bear it.

Just as she was sitting down, Mrs. Bennet leaned forward. "Miss Bingley, would you be so kind as to switch seats with Elizabeth? You see, we are celebrating two engagements today, and they do look so very handsome together, don't you think?"

Miss Bingley, stunned into silence, moved away from Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth took her place, amazed by what had just happened. Her mother, her dear meddling mother, had the perfect mixture of boldness and audacity to do just the very thing Elizabeth needed. She sent a silent look of gratitude to her mother, and Mrs. Bennet, to her surprise, answered her with a look that spoke volumes of what she thought of Miss Bingley.

Mr. Bennet gave a speech, short and sweet and probably required by his wife, and the courses offered foods even Elizabeth had not seen being offered at Longbourn before. Wine flowed, and so did the conversation. Elizabeth was vaguely aware of Miss Bingley judging her every move, but she was far too happy to care, and when Darcy slid his hand between them, Elizabeth squeezed it and kept it in her lap.

Miss Bingley made every silent attempt to expose the indecent behaviour next to her — sliding further from the table and giving pointed looks — but the benefit of having engaged through a kiss was such that benign hand-holding was only further proof of an impending love marriage and nobody else saw or cared to see what she saw.

Mr. Bingley picked up Darcy's passionate discussion on the arc lamp.

"Surely, one day, we will all use the arc light every day in our homes — imagine never lighting a candle to see! Just a string, or a button, or God knows what."

"But, Bingley," Mr. Bennet said. "How can just anyone afford this? Will the rich live with no need for candles and the poor resent them for it? If such an injustice happens, I do believe the poor will use all their candles to light the rich on fire!"

"Mr. Bennet, it would be for everyone! Everyone will get it."

"But how would they afford it?"

Darcy leaned closer to Elizabeth, whispering in her ear, "Which side are you on?"

She was quite taken with his proximity.

"Humphry Davy will either invent something less energy consuming or he will light himself on fire at his laboratory," Elizabeth whispered. "And then, the poor will steal his invention, duplicate it, and everyone will have the arc light!"

Darcy let out such an unexpected laugh that Mr. Bingley stopped talking.

"I do believe Elizabeth has the right answer," Darcy said, still grinning. "But I solemnly swore not to share it."

The discussion switched to the promise and dangers of batteries, but Darcy did not pay attention. Perhaps affected by the wine, he found himself observing the gentle curve of Elizabeth's neck, her hair, and the eyes that had such depth and teasing in them that Darcy could not believe that some poor country gentleman had not offered for her hand ahead of him (Mr. Collins notwithstanding).

"I cannot wait to have these discussions with you at the dinner table at Pemberley," he whispered, squeezing her hand.

"Why would we only have these discussions at the dinner table?" Elizabeth asked without thinking, and Darcy's eyes darkened before he took a deep breath and finished his wine in one gulp.

"That is quite unfair," he said. "You have exactly the right words to cause my undoing but I do not have the right words for yours."

"You do." She touched his shoulder with the side of her head. "But I will not tell you what they are."

"Now that is most certainly unfair."

Even with the words she sometimes caught from Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, and her youngest sisters silliness, Elizabeth had never enjoyed a dinner this much, and she felt the loss when the men retreated to the library, leaving women to go into the drawing room. Tea and biscuits were served. Her mother, who could achieve the height of impropriety at other people's dinners, was so consumed with fussing over the details of the dinner party that, thankfully, she did not have enough time to exclaim much of anything.

Elizabeth found Charlotte, who had been on the other end of the table, and in a more secluded corner of the room, shared everything that had transpired between herself and Mr. Collins as well as herself and Darcy. There was much to say. In the end, Charlotte held her hand in front of her mouth.

"Mr. Collins attacked you? And the rumours started from him? I thought it was…" She gave Miss Bingley a glance. "I cannot believe this."

"Are you not most diverted?"

"But are you feeling quite well after all that happened?"

"I was rattled for the evening but I am quite well, thank you."

"I do not believe you understand how quickly this rumour caught on, Eliza." Charlotte gave her an uncomfortable smile. "Mr. Darcy must be an honour-bound man indeed to have believed you over everyone else. It might have been started by Mr. Collins but it has become something else entirely, for jealousy of the price for an act such as you bestowed upon Mr. Darcy, it cannot be contained. I am sure this is how—" She gave Miss Bingley a pointed look. "—feels."

"Charlotte! Men are not creatures where you flatter them endlessly and a marriage falls out, even she must know that."

"I do not disagree, but imagine how the situation looks for her. She might have spent many a year in his company, together with her brother, learning what he likes and dislikes and behaving in a most proper manner only to have you enter their lives, grow annoyed at a most persistent suitor, and get what she wanted for behaving most improperly."

"But there was never an understanding between them, not do I believe her heart to be touched."

"It matters not. Have you spoken about what happened to your youngest sisters? You might have taught them a lesson they never should have learned. What if they grow an attraction to a passing soldier and hope to gain marriage by doing what you did, and fail at doing so? How will it reflect upon your family, how will Mr. Darcy feel about his connections, and how will you live with yourself knowing that you taught your sisters that lesson?"

"But I did not intend for him to offer for me!"

"Intention is invisible to others, Eliza. In ourselves, we see intention. In other people, we only see what is done."

Elizabeth sat, stunned, and found it difficult to acknowledge the truth in her words.

"Oh, Charlotte," she replied. "You must think me a simpleton."

"No," Charlotte patiently said. "Not at all. You have had a most difficult week, quite possibly more taxing than any I have ever lived through, I am simply advising you to proceed with caution. Your sisters are most impressionable, even if you feel they are not, and they are eager for your approval, and Jane's approval, more than they let on. Impress upon them the behaviour that will receive that approval."

"You are most wise today."

"And please, Eliza, please be careful around men in any assembly. Mr. Collins, and I still cannot comprehend what he did to you, has spread a rumour about you that will make you most vulnerable to any man with bad intentions. Please be careful."

Elizabeth hugged her friend. "Thank you. You are the dearest of friends."

After chatting about less consequential matters with Charlotte, Elizabeth asked Kitty and Lydia to help her in embroidering her handkerchief the next morning. Their surprise was accompanied by witty remarks but they agreed to do so. Elizabeth observed the room, Mrs. Hurst at the pianoforte and Miss Bingley next to her, Maria and Charlotte talking quietly with Mary, and Jane discussing some matter with Mrs. Bennet. Kitty and Lydia begun chasing each other, holding a ribbon, and Elizabeth felt shame for not having attempted to spend more time with her youngest sisters.

So lost in thought was she that, when Darcy leaned against the wall a few steps from her, she did not see him until he waved his hand a few inches from her face.

She smiled at him. "Excuse me, Mr. Darcy."

"Good evening," he said. "What has captured your attention this evening?"

"Did you encourage Mr. Bingley to propose to Jane?" Elizabeth asked, unprompted. Darcy shifted from one foot to another before he sat down next to her.

"I did not do much," he said, staring at the glass in his hands.

"But you did something."

"Very little."

Elizabeth cast a glance at the happy couple across the room, and squeezed Darcy's wrist to get his attention. "Whatever you did, I am grateful. You are kind to your friends."

He locked eyes with her but looked away with pain in his eyes. He cleared his throat, but whatever he had intended to say was drowned out by Mrs. Bennet, whose exclamations of the carriages and fine dresses that her daughters would grow accustomed to were so loud that most conversations died in its wake. So heavy was Elizabeth's shame that she wished the Earth to swallow her whole. Just an hour earlier, she had hoped that Mrs. Bennet's own dinner party would be different, but it was not to be.

When Darcy winced, Elizabeth was reminded by his words of never intending to offer for her had she not compromised him, and she avoided his eyes. He was right to have his reservations about her.

A moment later, Darcy grazed his knuckles over her arm. "I am headed to London tomorrow for four days to settle some paperwork. I will be back by the Netherfield ball."

Elizabeth was relieved by the distraction from her mother, and surprised by how strongly she felt she would have missed him.

"That means that we will both be in London for three out of the four days for Jane and I are headed there on Tuesday."

"Your father forgot to mention." Darcy, relieved, sought to look into Elizabeth's eyes. "May I call on you with my sister on Wednesday or perhaps Thursday?"

Elizabeth, still reeling from her mother's words, shifted in her seat. "I… don't know."

He felt the full force of her hesitation, and his hope that her perception of him had improved dwindled with her words.

"I see," he said, voice flat.

"Sir…"

"I will not force myself upon you if my presence is unwelcome," he continued, staring at the far corner of the room but not seeing it. He tore his eyes away and looked at Elizabeth. "I thought…"

Upon understanding what his change of mood was about, Elizabeth took both of his hands in hers, shifted a little bit closer and gave him a tender smile. "Sir—William," she corrected, quietly. "I would be honoured if you called on us. However, know that my aunt and uncle, both exemplary people, live at Gracechurch Street in Cheapside. If that is no obstacle for you, you are most welcome."

Darcy's jaw tightened, and his eyes revealed his determination. "Would Wednesday afternoon suit you?"

Elizabeth smiled, and she wished that they were not in company so that she could soothe the frown on his face. "We would be delighted."

His eyes had such intensity in them, the dark, sharp gaze and the tender, relieved expression that settled on his face, that Elizabeth suddenly felt annoyed at everyone in the room for being there with them. She felt she could light herself on fire with the energy between them. But as it was, she could not simply scoot into his arms and hide her face in his neck.

"I would be most happy to be introduced to your sister," Elizabeth said, distracting herself from his proximity. "Will you tell me about her?"

She was rewarded with the sweetest, proudest smile, and Darcy kissed her hand before he shared details of his sister. He revealed her shyness, her aptitude for playing the pianoforte, her fondness of horses and reading and even his suspicions of her loneliness. Elizabeth listened quietly, noting how Darcy's worries about his sister seemed to be more those of a father than a brother. She had discovered few subjects that exposed his character to be as far from unaffected haughtiness as one could be, and she rejoiced in his care for his sister.

Elizabeth resolved to learn more about the Darcy that he only revealed to his closest confidantes.

: :

On Monday morning, Elizabeth joined Kitty and Lydia in the drawing room. She did not know how to begin the conversation that she knew she needed to have, but when she apologised for her inferior embroidery skills, Kitty eagerly sat closer to her, explaining some of the techniques she had learned from her friend Marjorie's designs. Elizabeth took notes.

Elizabeth's approach to her younger sisters was apparently so different, her attitude so changed, that Lydia was speechless when Elizabeth complimented her on the flowers on her shawl.

It was not long, however, before Kitty noticed that Lydia had taken one of her favourite threads.

"Lydia! That is mine — I need it for my next project!"

"You were not using it! I want to have a handkerchief with golden flowers so that when I drop it in front of an officer, they would find me and remember me!"

"And a golden thread is the way to do that?" Elizabeth asked, so quietly and seriously that Lydia almost did not hear her.

"Would you prefer that I kiss him first?" Lydia asked, and together with Kitty they burst into fits of giggles. Elizabeth, preferring judgement to enthusiasm, was relieved by their response.

Focusing on her amateur attempts at embroidery, she said, "You are correct in your judgement, Lydia."

Amazed by Elizabeth's agreement, Lydia sat across from her. "You are not serious."

"I am," Elizabeth said. "I put our entire family's reputation at risk by compromising Mr. Darcy. I should be shamed for my actions."

"But he offered for you!"

"I did not know that he would," Elizabeth admitted. "It was not my intention, nor should it have been. In fact, after I had done it, I had resigned myself to be cut off from you all to perhaps find work as a governess in London."

"No!"

Elizabeth put down her embroidery to ensure that her sisters would see how, for once, she was not jesting. She took a breath. "I am afraid this is what should have happened, and I would have deserved it. Please, do not take my actions as guidelines for I, myself, have not fully made peace with what I did."

"But he proposed!" Kitty said, eager to soothe Elizabeth's worries but also eager to hear that they would all have happy endings. "Nothing happened!"

"Kitty, I understand why you would think that, and I hope to forgive myself one day for putting you all in this position. But you must know, men can easily walk away from situations such as that one. If you compromise a man, his reputation does not suffer. Yours does."

"Mama would never allow any of us to be shunned from family!"

"It does not matter, for papa would. If our parents are to choose between the ruin of all and the ruin of one, they will have to choose the ruin of one. Such is the obligation of parents that only have daughters."

"Why are you saying this?" Lydia asked, irritated. "Any honourable man would do what Mr. Darcy did."

"They probably would — if it was an accident, it was known by all, and they were otherwise unattached. But if you rely on a man to do what he did when you intentionally compromise him, they will deny you, and you and your sisters will be ruined."

"So you get to have all the fun and we have to behave ourselves?" Lydia shoved her shawl in the drawer in anger. "It's not fair!"

"No, it is not," Elizabeth agreed quietly. "There are no words for how sorry I am for what happened."

"Well, I don't care." Lydia marched to the door. "You're a hypocrite and I hate you."

Elizabeth grimaced when Lydia slammed the door, and Kitty looked at the door in amazement. Elizabeth, expecting the same reaction from Kitty, shut her eyes and waited for her outburst.

"I think she will need time," Kitty said, surprisingly calm, taking Elizabeth's handkerchief and untangling a few erroneous stitches. When finished, she showed Elizabeth how to continue.

"Is it true what you said?" Kitty asked. "Do you really think most men would not do what Mr. Darcy did?"

"Many would not," Elizabeth replied. "I do not mean to admonish you to never have fun again. I simply fear that your expectation of what will happen, if you found yourself in a situation like mine, should match reality. It is best to be careful."

Kitty hummed as she focused on her own stitching, and the clock struck eleven. "If one were to… if one were to want a reasonable gentleman as a husband, how do you suggest they proceed?"

Elizabeth was momentarily shocked into silence by the sensibility of her sister with whom she rarely spent time without Lydia's presence, but she recovered quickly. She shared the unfortunate (but real) importance of impressions, but she also spoke of good manners and improving one's mind through reading. It was, of course, important to improve one's skills, but more than that, it was important to find a skill one enjoyed spending time on.

"The rest, however, is up to connecting with a gentleman you respect and could learn to admire and love."

"Connecting," Kitty repeated, looking up. "I do not understand. How do you know you connect with a gentleman?"

"You enjoy talking or debating and the discussions that result. You like to be close to them. Your values and priorities are aligned and you look forward to seeing them. You are, in a way, always affected by their presence."

Kitty listened and accidentally poked a needle in her index finger. After sucking on it for a moment, she said, "I do not think I have ever felt what you describe," she said. "But I would very much like to find what you have found. Mr. Darcy is not the kind of man I like but he is so different around you. With us, he is all—" Kitty puffed out her chest and made low manly noises, making Elizabeth laugh. "But when you are around, his character is wholly affected. He is sweet and attentive and always aware of where you are in a room."

If Elizabeth were to be one for blushing, she would have. Instead, she could not help her smile when she squeezed Kitty's hand. "You will find a gentleman you connect with."

"But what if I don't? What if I never find anyone?"

"You are seventeen. You have many years of learning to get to know yourself and your interests before you marry."

"What if I never marry?"

Elizabeth paused. "With Jane and I engaged, we would find a solution. It is not wise to focus on that — it is good to be aware of what could happen in life when things don't go your way, but if you let it overwhelm you, you will do nothing but worry. We will take care of you, should the need arise."

"Do you promise?"

Kitty looked so worried that Elizabeth hugged her sister. "I promise."

Jane and Elizabeth spent the rest of the day packing for their trip to London. Lydia remained upset at Elizabeth, and Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet had a most peculiar argument about who would accompany their oldest daughters. They could not all go for the Gardiners only had limited room for visitors, and they could not both go for the youngest daughters needed a parent. In the past, Mrs. Bennet would have gone for she was fond of the hustle and bustle that the change provided, and they did always stay with her brother.

Mrs. Bennet begged and pleaded, cajoled and flattered. It was no use. Mr. Bennet insisted on accompanying Jane and Elizabeth for safety concerns as well as paperwork in London. Both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy needed him there for signing the marriage settlements and Mr. Bennet could not be persuaded otherwise.

They set out after breaking their fast at ten o'clock on Tuesday. Elizabeth had, to the best of her ability, convinced Kitty to keep an eye on Lydia for she did not trust her youngest sister not to do something foolish in her anger.

Their maid Judith suspected rain, and Judith usually had an uncanny ability to predict the weather. Elizabeth hoped she was right.

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A/N: Thanks a lot for reading! Your thoughts are most welcome.