A/N: Another thank you to a reader who picked up an error (I'd used "regards" instead of "regard") which I have now fixed. That was well spotted and kindly pointed out :)

I have had a couple of you asking how all these interactions are passing the notice of Miss Bingley. I actually have a real soft spot for that woman as I don't believe she is actually as bad as most make her out to be (though I have definitely enjoyed reading some entertaining versions ;). But this piece I am writing is not meant as an exposition of all the characters that P&P introduced to us - sorry if you were looking for it. Are any of you willing to admit to a skim reading of Pride and Prejudice when you just feel like reading the "good bits", aka the interaction between D and E, skipping over Wickham's sob story, the Mr Collins palaver and Lydia's narcissism? Well, that was the craving that gave birth to this short piece. So I warn you now, it is not the well rounded balance meal that Jane Austen gave us, but more like a protein packed Atkins diet menu. Therefore, side characters are only mentioned as a garnish, when needed to set the scene for our beloved D and E. That being said, for those still wondering about Caroline, the mindset I have when writing, is that Miss Bingley is known to keep town hours and is inclined to spend a lot of time on her toilette. Therefore, D and E are often meeting early morning, before either of the Bingley sisters are up and dressed, and in the previous chapter, they met during the time Miss B would be dressing for dinner (which in ch8 of P&P was noted to be somewhere between 5pm and 6:30, so I figure D and E have at least an hour to play with). This chapter will raise the stakes perhaps, but what more can Caroline do that she is not already doing? Suspicious and jealous she may be, but she really has no leverage - poor girl.

Darcy sighed quietly as Caroline Bingley interrupted his reading once again. He could not help wondering if it ever occurred to Bingley or Mrs Hurst to redirect their sister's attention to something, or someone, more appropriate than himself. Bingley, he should probably excuse in this instance, as the besotted fellow currently had the undivided attention of the beautiful Jane Bennet, who had joined them for the first time this evening. But Louisa Hurst was doing nothing but absently playing with her bracelets and rings, while occasionally interposing a comment or two into her brother's conversation. Surely she could exert herself enough to divert her own sister from making such a display. Knowing Elizabeth was nearby, cognisant of everything that was playing out as she sat quietly with her needlework, Darcy attempted to maintain a respectful attitude toward his hostess. Elizabeth, he knew, would be sympathetic to his predicament, even if simultaneously obtaining a great deal of amusement from the absurdity of it all. Presently, his only consolation was hopeful anticipation for the dissection it might warrant on the morrow, if he could find time with Elizabeth alone.

Several minutes later, the mention of a ball penetrated his concentration, but only for the brief pleasurable thought of determining to ask Elizabeth for the supper set in advance. He refocused on his book once more until distracted from its pages by Miss Bingley's address to Elizabeth with an invitation to join her as she walked about the room.

Looking up, Darcy was in time to see Elizabeth set aside her sewing, rise, and allow her arm to be linked with Miss Bingley's, who currently oozed implausible concern for her comfort. Darcy unconsciously abandoned his reading, captured by curiosity as to what would transpire. He was not aware he had been watching them so openly, until Miss Bingley invited him to join their stroll.

Darcy glanced briefly at the amusement in Elizabeth's eyes before politely declining. 'I can only imagine two reasons for your walking together, and I am sure my joining you would interfere with either.'

'How mysterious you are, Mr Darcy,' crooned Miss Bingley, her countenance adorned with a genuinely radiant smile. Turning to Elizabeth, she enquired of her, for the simple pleasure of prolonging the flirtation with him, 'Have you any idea, Miss Eliza, what he might be inferring with such a speech?'

Darcy strove to focus on them both, but he feared his eyes lingered longer on Elizabeth, his heart flooding with warmth at the sight of her questioning amused countenance. He pulled his eyes away just in time to give due courtesy to the speaker.

'What could be your meaning, sir?' continued Miss Bingley in playful contemplation, returning her full attention back to Darcy while simultaneously clinging to the arm of her captive guest. 'Can you at all understand him, Miss Eliza?'

The expression on Elizabeth's face, when applied to for a translation, was all Darcy required to make this evening worth his while; her laughing eyes promising Darcy she was about to enter the fray.

'I could not say,' Elizabeth countered, 'but depend upon it, he means to be severe on us.' Leaning conspiratorially toward Miss Bingley, Elizabeth concluded with a mischievous smile, 'But I believe our surest way of foiling his plans, would be to ask nothing about it.'

Darcy could not but admire Elizabeth's astute judgement of the players, and her quick, clever manoeuvre. She made him work for the privilege of flirting with her. And he loved it.

Miss Bingley defied the contrary advice, unable to imagine it serving her purpose, and began petitioning Mr Darcy even more earnestly to enlighten them.

'I have not the least objection to explaining,' replied Darcy, feeling generous toward his hostess for allowing him the satisfaction which Elizabeth had teasingly tried to checkmate. 'You either choose this way of passing the evening because you each have secret affairs to discuss, or you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage when walking. If the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.'

'Oh, shocking!' cried Miss Bingley with delight. 'I never heard anything so abominable!'

Elizabeth was right, mused Darcy as Miss Bingley continued her raptures. A compliment to one, hidden within a compliment to many, is achieving surprising success.

'How should we punish him for such a speech?' responded Miss Bingley, speaking to Elizabeth as though they were close allies.

Elizabeth, her eyes displaying warm pride as they locked with his own, replied. 'Nothing so simple, if you have but the inclination, Miss Bingley,' she intoned. 'Tease him, laugh at him. As intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done.'

Miss Bingley almost preened at the inference that she had intimate understanding of their quarry. She revelled in it, before declaring authoritatively that Mr Darcy was too exceptional to be the subject of laughter. This pronouncement proved a wellspring of amusement for Elizabeth who readily took up the gauntlet. A verbal tournament ensued between Darcy and Elizabeth, soon leaving Miss Bingley silenced by her own bewilderment.

The two debaters, when finally noticing they had left the others behind, tried to disguise their rapport by proclaiming the shortcomings of some particular attribute they each might possess.

'There is,' Darcy reasoned, 'in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil—a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.'

'And so your defect,' proffered Elizabeth, the warmth and mirth in her eyes belying her accusation, 'is a propensity to study the flaws in everyone?'

'As might yours be, Miss Elizabeth,' countered Darcy, loving every moment of their antagonistic melee, 'to wilfully misunderstand them.'

In the pause that followed, Miss Bingley, with forced brightness, suggested music while walking to the pianoforte, leaving Elizabeth standing alone. A cheerful melody burst into life, filling the room with a lightness that made everyone smile.

Darcy looked at the piano briefly, but found his eyes returning to Elizabeth of their own accord. Her eyes met his moments later and she gave him an almost imperceptible nod of her head. She moved to reclaim her seat and Darcy felt something within him stretch to follow, not wanting Elizabeth to leave his side. She was wise though, her prudent behaviour indicating their interval of connection was over for the evening. He glanced at her occasionally, but she did not meet his eyes again until she bid the room adieu.

Darcy felt withdrawal symptoms as soon as she left their company.

Tomorrow, he assured himself. There would be a tomorrow with Elizabeth in it.