'Lizzy,' cried her mother, 'remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.'

'I did not know before,' continued Bingley immediately, 'that you, Miss Elizabeth, were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study.'

'Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage.'

'The country,' said Darcy, 'can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.'

'But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.'

'Yes, indeed,' cried Mrs Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. 'I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town.'

Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.

Mr Darcy, in a bid to create a measure of detachment, walked over to the window, presenting only his back to the conversation that was continuing between Bingley and that most trying of women, Mrs Bennet. He had seen Bingley's sisters smile mockingly at the uncouth comment made by their garrulous visitor. He was shocked too, but his main discomfit was for Elizabeth, who had to own the woman as her mother. He did not want to stand witness to her shame and embarrassment.

The words of leave taking prompted the tension to ease from Darcy's shoulders and he let out a quiet sigh of relief as members of the party began filing out of the room. When he turned, he was surprised to see Miss Elizabeth who was trailing the exodus, pause indecisively at the door, effectually making her the only other remaining occupant in the room. She turned to look at him, an expression he could not read, quickly supplanted by her customary smile.

'Mr Darcy, would you indulge my curiosity, sir, by answering a question that has sorely puzzled me over the last several weeks?'

Darcy, immediately captivated by her enigmatic query, acquiesced with a nod of his head.

'I hope you will forgive my forwardness,' Elizabeth said, 'but you have provided me with such a conundrum that I find myself temporarily defeated by it. I suspect, if I do not seek clarification on some points, I might find myself waylaid by misconstructions.'

'I must say you have me intrigued, Miss Elizabeth. Please feel free to continue and I will answer as best I can.'

'I was just wondering,' said she in a casual, light-hearted tone, 'if your manners to those around you are formed from a premeditated commitment to maintaining the distinguishing levels of rank or are they accidental in their expression, resulting perhaps from a disinterest in the subsequent opinions formed by the general populace who witness them? As I just mentioned to Mr Bingley, though I esteem greatly the kindness of a good hearted soul, I do so enjoy the questions that surround more… complex temperaments.'

Darcy found it hard not to let the edges of his mouth curl into a smile. Elizabeth had an enticing way of inflecting the tenor of her questions with a playful challenge. He kept his lips pressed closed out of habit, even as his heart awoke with pleasure at this beguiling young woman's flirtatious teasing. 'Are you saying Miss Bennet, that you are enjoying the complexity of my character?'

'In this instance,' replied Elizabeth, 'my present enjoyment would be the journey of puzzling out a riddle. The worthiness of the exercise perhaps cannot be measured until the originality of the answer is ascertained. As to the worthiness of the subject itself, well that is a separate matter altogether.'

Darcy found his smile break through as he remarked, 'You are quite the philosopher, Miss Elizabeth.'

The lady laughed. 'Oh, thank heavens you never said such a thing in front of my mother. She would be horrified by such a categorization. It is worse than even being deemed merely 'tolerable' in her estimation,' said Elizabeth, her tone light and cheerful.

'Merely tolerable?' Darcy replied, his brow furrowing slightly. 'Did she say that of you Miss Elizabeth?'

'No, you did sir.' Her words took Darcy by surprise, as did her unwavering good humour as her eyes held his unflinchingly, if not with a hint of mischievousness. 'Do you not remember?' she asked. 'At the assembly. My mother was rather incensed on my behalf, of course, but I feel we must always allow for variance of subjectivity, when opinions are being expressed.'

Darcy was embarrassed. He had not thought of the churlish comment he had made on the night of his arrival as having any lasting impact. Indeed, his intrigued fascination with Miss Elizabeth had so long ago supplanted that first notion, he had forgotten it entirely. 'I owe you a long overdue apology, Miss Elizabeth,' Darcy began. 'I am most sincerely sorry. I was not in the best of spirits that evening and my frustration, at being pressed by a friend who should have known better, dominated my judgement. In truth, that comment reflected more upon my intolerant mindset rather than any lack of your genuine appeal. Nevertheless, my words that night were inexcusable. Please forgive me for my offensive behaviour.'

'But that is the curiosity, Mr Darcy; you present so many contradictions. You are a gentleman born to the highest circles, appear well educated, with a principled and honourable reputation if the Bingleys are to be believed, and yet this is not an isolated incident. Please do not suppose that I am seeking more apologies, sir. I am not. Rather, I am pursuing the case to understand what you are hoping to advance by your choice of conduct.'

Darcy was momentarily stunned speechless by her forthright speech, but his greatest astonishment was the surprising desire to gain her approbation.

'Could you perhaps be a little more specific, Miss Elizabeth? What other offenses do you find me culpable of?'

'I do not wish to be discourteous, sir. To list any number of situations may seem like an assault.'

'Perhaps if I offer you clemency for all things expressed in this interview, you might feel more inclined to enlighten me?'

She studied him for a moment, her eyes assessing his countenance. 'If you are sure,' she said slowly.

Darcy nodded while indicating that she take a seat as they had been standing this whole time. Elizabeth hesitated a moment before choosing the far edge of the sofa. He took the opposing side, leaving a respectable distance between them.

'Well,' she began, 'it is your general manner that seems in conflict with what I would have expected of gentlemanly conduct. You attend gatherings but make no effort to converse or associate with those around you. I first assumed it was because you believed us beneath you, but have observed over the last two days, you are not so different here amongst your friends at Netherfield. Instead of making conversation, you either ignore, dispute, stare forbiddingly at the speaker or turn your back upon us. I have never seen someone being given the cut direct, but I have heard of it being done and imagine it looks much like what you did today to my mother as you turned your back on her and walked to the window, and what I have seen on at least two other occasions when you turned your back on the entire room. And yet, though you show no pleasure in our company, you still remain instead of politely excusing yourself when there is opportunity. I am left in bafflement. What am I missing in my perspective that inhibits my understanding of your character?'

Though Elizabeth was undeniably sheltered, her words portrayed an innate intelligence that Darcy found rather compelling.

'Miss Elizabeth, there are many contributing factors that may account for what you think you are perceiving. The first is that some of us are not born with the ease of manners which you, yourself, display amongst large groups of people. There is a skill innate in some, that allows them to catch the tone of a conversation with those little known to them. Though I do not believe myself deficient in character, this social ease is not something in which I excel. Have you not known personalities you might deem shy, that you extend compassion toward when they are in such situations?'

'Mr Darcy, surely you are not claiming to be shy?' she exclaimed with a small laugh. 'Your bearing commands a room when you enter. No, that will not do as an excuse. That cannot be true.'

'Miss Elizabeth, have you not seen someone confident in one area of life but hesitant in others?'

She thought for a moment and then cautiously confessed in the affirmative.

'Could it then not be feasible,' continued Darcy, 'that I might be confident in my standing in society, but not in my ability to converse freely with strangers?'

He saw the expression in her eyes change as comprehension dawned. 'But Mr Darcy,' asked Elizabeth, 'how do you make strangers into friends, with whom you might feel companionship, if you will not take the risk of conversing?'

'A leading question, Miss Elizabeth, which gives me the perfect opening to explain another dynamic. I will often observe those around me, perhaps as you do yourself, to learn of their natures by how they interact with others. I have found over the years that I must be cautious as to those I would allow into my inner circle. Society can be fickle and self-serving in my experience. It is rare to find true friendship when people seek association simply because of one's family connections and monetary worth. And imagine if you will, what defences you might employ if in the last decade you had experienced six attempts at being forced into a compromised position.'

Her quiet 'Oh', as her voice sunk into the silence of contemplation spoke volumes. Darcy watched as Elizabeth's eyes fell to the floor between them. He sat quietly, patiently, until she reclasped her hands and lifted her eyes back to his face.

'I am so sorry, Mr Darcy,' she began earnestly. 'You must think me very naïve, for I had not considered seriously that a man could be in danger of compromise. It is normally the threat upon women that is impressed upon us as we enter society. I have heard distant stories of course, but it always appeared to me to be in the context of exaggerated gossip. That a woman might risk her own reputation on the hope that the man whom she has tricked will do the honourable thing, seems a rather absurd notion. In addition, I have no brothers, and those men that I do know, are not of such high standing perhaps to merit the level of caution you have intimated that you require.'

Darcy gave a nod of acknowledgement for the concession she had granted before replying. 'Miss Elizabeth, you also mentioned my behaviour here amongst my own friends. Sadly, even with those I know well, I am often forced to guard my attentions, as some are too ready to interpret the ease of familiarity as pointed interest.'

It was her turn to nod silently in understanding. 'That is indeed a great burden upon your interactions, Mr Darcy. To be constantly on your guard must be exhausting.'

Initially, Darcy thought she was making light of his predicament, but her tone was full of empathy when she spoke of exhaustion. 'It is perhaps, Miss Elizabeth, why I do not enjoy socialising as much as others. It often requires great vigilance.'

'Would you experience a reprieve in the exclusive company of gentlemen?' asked Elizabeth, her thoughtful direct gaze full upon him.

'More so, yes, but I have experienced betrayal by one I was raised alongside, a playfellow of my youth, therefore carefree is not a state I indulge in often.'

Elizabeth thought for a moment before saying, 'So, in your experience, it is safer to err on the side of offense rather than overt friendliness?'

'Something like that, Miss Elizabeth.'

'Goodness,' she replied, 'I never anticipated that your answer would incite so much compassion within me. But another part of me insists that surely there must be a more temperate approach. For your sake, as much as for the general populace. Do you not get lonely?'

Darcy was not sure how to answer. He suspected her question was innocently given, and when he saw Elizabeth blush at his hesitancy in replying, he was sure. Deep down, when he thought of the small number of people with whom he could experience real companionship, especially when someone like Elizabeth was before him, he did feel the loss of freedom.

'Would it comfort you to know,' offered Elizabeth when he did not respond, 'that there is not an acquaintance of mine in all of Meryton, who would force a compromise with you. If you were pleasant toward them, they would show interest perhaps and pleasure, but never anything immoral.'

Darcy, all this time, had been filtering through his thoughts. One proposition was presenting itself most persistently, and though rather outlandish, seemed to offer a glimmer of hopeful possibility. Taking hold of his courage he asked, 'Would you be capable of offering such a friendship Miss Elizabeth? Allow a convivial, open relationship without forming expectations or risking your own peace of mind?'

'Mr Darcy,' said she with a smile, 'I cannot promise the circumspection of my mother,' and she gave him a meaningful look, 'but a friendship with you, within the bounds of propriety, I believe I can safely tolerate without losing my equilibrium.'

'I would be most willing to enter the experiment, Miss Elizabeth, if you are willing to mentor me through it.'

The lady laughed. 'This will make the coming weeks rather interesting, do not you think, Mr Darcy?'

'Indeed,' he replied. 'I look forward to exploring a new alliance with you, Miss Elizabeth.'

'That being said, sir,' she concluded as she stood, 'I have kept you too long and would not like to be suspected of such underhand motives as you have expressed. Thank you for your clarification, Mr Darcy. Truly. You have given me much to think about.' She bobbed a curtesy before saying, 'I wish you a pleasant afternoon,' and quickly left the room, her sudden vacancy rendering Darcy's feelings somewhat bereft now that their extraordinarily candid conversation was over.