Prestidigitation
It was the little things that Darcy noticed. The chair that should have been right there, the glass that should have fallen, his horse, which hurried to her in the stable, but avoided her when he was mounted. But no, it could not be real! It had to be figments of his imagination! Or maybe it was slight-of-hand: prestidigitation? Problem solved... but Miss Elizabeth was still there and those eyes had most definitely bewitched him.
Meryton Assembly
He watched her walk by. A pretty young woman with eyes which seemed to light from the inside. When she walked by him, he felt oddly contradictory feelings of fear and desire. Did she hear me? No, of course not! She is smiling and laughing with her friend now. What an IDIOT! Why did I say that within her hearing. I was only trying to send Bingley away, not speaking of her... Darcy's racing thoughts were cast away, along with his dignity, when he stepped back and found a chair at his knees which had not been there before.
That entire side of the room looked up as the tall stranger who was too full of himself to even be introduced tumbled to the ground. Almost every eye was on him, but three pairs of eyes shot quickly in a different direction. The closest, Charlotte Lucas, hissed, "Eliza... you didn't!"
Elizabeth tried to look innocent, but the expression was overpowered by amusement, "Not on purpose. But look! It had a salutary effect. He was all alone and now most of his party is rushing to help! It is a good thing."
"Tell that to Jane... who is now making her way toward us... or your mother!"
"Mother will see that I am visiting with you. Jane... well... my sister knows me too well," Elizabeth sighed as her older sister stepped into view.
"Lizzie!" Jane hissed, much like Charlotte had only minutes before.
Elizabeth looked back in wide-eyed innocence, "Oh! Hello dear Jane. I am surprised that you are not being attended on by that handsome Mr. Bingley. He seems very taken with you."
For a moment Jane's expression turned dreamy, then it turned stern again. "Lizzie, our neighbors have only just forgotten to wonder how Robbie Knowles managed to fall into the manure pile while perfectly sober. We do not need them to begin wondering about the strange things that happen whenever you're around!"
"You are perfectly right, my dear Jane. And Mr. Darcy is perfectly safe from me. I will do nothing to him."
Jane blinked, looked deep into her sister's eyes, nodded, and then walked away to rejoin Mr. Bingley and check on Mr. Darcy. Charlotte waited until the beautiful blond was out of earshot, "Of course you only promised not to do anything to him now. You did not say that you have not done anything already... or that you will behave in the future... Eliza, please! It was wrong of him to say what he did, but he is a man of great wealth and consequence. Let the matter drop and then just keep your distance."
Elizabeth took one more glance at Mr. Darcy, who was now standing and looking confused. He began to glance her way, but she had already turned back to her friend. "You are wise, my friend. I shall behave and be the soul of decorum."
Charlotte, watching her dearest friend walk gracefully away, was not convinced in the slightest.
Longbourn, that same night
Thomas Bennet signaled his second daughter to remain with just his eyes. After the others had slumped upstairs and off to bed, he raised an eyebrow. "And did this insult that your mother told me about go unpunished?"
Elizabeth could not lie to her father, first of all because she valued their private dialogue too much, and secondly, because he would see right through her. So she did not reply, just twisted her lips.
Her father sighed in resignation. At least she had control of her gift now. There was a time when there was little or no control. In a household full of women and strong emotions, there were quite a few "accidents," though never anything harmful or intentionally dangerous. Lizzy's mother came into the vast majority of these uncontrolled incidents and Thomas could not say that she did not deserve some of them... well... all of them, truthfully. But now his favorite daughter did have control, though perhaps not of her own emotions.
"Tomorrow I would like you to write me an essay on the quality of mercy. Two pages. Normal sized lettering."
"Father! You did not hear the man! I was very merciful, considering."
"And that is why I am mercifully only assigning two pages. Now off to bed before I decide to make your write it in Greek or Latin." He kissed the top of her head and pointed up the stairs.
Feeling tired herself, Elizabeth offered no further argument and trudged off to bed with little of her normal natural grace. Thomas Bennet looked at the portrait of his own dear mother which was hung on the mantle beside that of his father, "She had both your gift and your temper, Mother. Let us hope that she learns to control both. Otherwise this Mr. Darcy is in for a memorable visit."
Knowing that the man had the audacity to insult his favorite, Mr. Bennet was not feeling a great amount of pity or mercy himself.
At a Soirée at Lucas Lodge
Fitzwilliam Darcy wanted to grind his teeth, but he forced his jaws to relax. Sir William Lucas had billed this night as a Soirée, a pleasant social gathering with intellectual conversation. This felt more like a crush and now they were even clearing a part of the floor for dancing! Why did there always have to be dancing?!
He was standing with Sir William, listening to the man drone on about... something... when Miss Elizabeth walked by. Darcy could tell that she was intent upon reaching her two youngest sisters, who were dancing much too energetically with two young officers. Sir William did not see this, so he stopped her progress, "Mr. Darcy, let me recommend that you dance. And what better partner than the lovely Miss Eliza Bennet. You could not ask for more in a partner."
Darcy watched as the young lady schooled her irritation into polite refusal, so he softly interjected, "It would get you out on the floor where you could reach your sisters more easily. May I have this dance?" Elizabeth's rejoinder stopped at her tongue and she looked at his eyes for a long moment before replying, "Yes. I thank you, Mr. Darcy."
Elizabeth took the man's idea at face value and used her proximity to make both of her sisters behave with more decorum. The youngest looked rebellious, but something in Miss Elizabeth's eyes made the girl think better of it. The rest of the dance between Darcy and Elizabeth was completed with grace and skill. As soon as it was over, however, the young lady politely excused herself and moved to the other side of the room.
Darcy told himself that it was for the best.
Elizabeth told herself that no, she was not effected by the dance with Mr. Darcy at all.
Neither was quite convinced.
Elizabeth had already been imposed upon to play and sing once, but towards the end of the night Sir William, perhaps a little to friendly with his drink by that point, pressed for her to play again. Darcy had watched her the first time and had been profoundly aware of her. This time she was all too aware of him, standing there in the corner and watching her with intensity.
It was due to her awareness that she saw Mrs. Trumble, who was well into her cups, suddenly trip over someone's foot and take a tumble. Her freshly filled glass should have splashed Mr. Darcy liberally, but when she landed, the glass remained in her hand and just as full as it had been.
Fitzwilliam Darcy saw the older woman tumble. He saw the liquid slosh in the glass as her hand flew open and the glass began to fly towards him. Then he word swear that he saw the amber liquid return to the glass and the glass to the woman's hand. Somehow, when the drunken woman hit the floor, her glass suffered no injury.
Had Elizabeth not struck a wrong note, Darcy would not have thought to look in her direction right then. Yet she did. And he did. And there was something in those fine eyes which made him wonder...
On the trails between Netherfield and Longbourn...
It was the strangest thing, but Darcy's normally obedient and well-trained mount, Arion, seemed to balk or refuse certain trails. Were this like the wilds of Africa or the Americas, where Darcy had read about numerous poisonous snakes and other creatures, he might have thought that Arion sensed danger. Yet there was no feeling of fear or flight in the horse's behavior. It was as if he was obeying commands other than his own! Odd.
As this was supposed to be a relaxing morning ride, Darcy gave Arion his head and dismissed the matter from his mind. At the moment it was more pleasantly engaged with the vision of fine eyes in the face of a pretty and somewhat mysterious young woman.
Elizabeth stepped out from behind the tree and expelled a breath in relief. It was easy enough to redirect Mr. Darcy's horse. After all, she had befriended the animal almost as soon as she met the beautiful animal in the Netherfield stables. He was a delightful creature and absolutely loyal to his master. Horses, like dogs, were trusting creatures until you gave them a reason not to trust. For Arion, the Master had always been all that is good.
While stuck at Netherfield caring for Jane, who was still sick abed, Elizabeth had noticed other things as well. The servants liked Mr. Bingley. They tolerated the Hursts. They very much disliked Miss Bingley. And they liked and respected Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth's gift had been supplemented by years of careful observation. Her grandmother had trained her first. When she passed away, her father had taken over. There was no doubt from Elizabeth's observations as well as her gift that Mr. Darcy was a good man.
That did not mean that she wished to spend any more time with the man than necessary. He was still arrogant and he had still labeled her at merely tolerable. So when it seemed that Mr. Darcy would soon interrupt her solitary ramble, she simply asked Arion to take a different trail.
Done and done. Now she simply needed to think on other matters than Mr. Darcy... and yet his handsome face just kept cropping up in her rebellious mind.
Longbourn, three days later
Elizabeth had to remind herself that murder was not an acceptable use for her gift. Yet it would be so very easy to make the man swallow that potato whole! Will he never stop speaking?! Even father is at his limit, and he had been counting on the man to be amusingly ridiculous. The problem is that while he is ridiculous, the amusement has long since faded away.
It did not help in the slightest that she could see the strongly projected images in this foul man's mind. On the surface he attempted to project the image of piety, but in his mind not one of the Bennet daughters was dressed at this moment. And the accuracy of his images suggested that he was not a chaste man. Which was why Elizabeth was subtly keeping the man's glass filled. Her father would not be pleased to learn the amount of port that the man had consumed, but it was for a good cause.
One of Elizabeth's earliest lessons in control was the movement of liquid. For over two years, almost every day, little Lizzie had to practice moving water from one location to another. At first it was larger drops and larger streams, but over time her grandmother taught her how to move a whisker-thin stream of liquid from one location to another. It was so thin that one would have to look directly at it and concentrate to see it.
It was exhausting work, but Elizabeth wanted this man to be passed out cold for the night so that her sisters would be safe. Oh, she knew that he would not do anything so soon, but there was no certainty that he would not attempt to accost one of them over time. Since most of his attention was on dear Jane, Elizabeth resolved to keep a watch over her.
Elizabeth was not innocent in the matter of men's minds. No person with her gift ever could be. From a very early age she had been able to hear the strong thoughts of others. Over time, as her mind strengthened, it became worse and she saw even more. Thankfully, her grandmother Grace had taught her how to limit what she saw. It was always there, but now she only "saw" when she needed to. Most people thought in images, not in words. Only when deep in thought or when trying to form words did they think in clear words and actual sentences. But images were usually easier to read.
Therefore Elizabeth knew that men often thought of women in a very physical sense. They even imagined interaction on a very physical level. At first it was startling, but her grandmother had helped her to understand the nature of desire and the fact that humans are first drawn together by attraction. Elizabeth was even aware that Mr. Darcy no longer just found her "tolerable." In fact, she was very aware that he was manfully trying to keep his imagination from traveling too far in that direction. For that she respected him, even if it annoyed her that she was considered unworthy due to her social status and lack of wealth.
Mr. Collin's imaginings were not in any way the pleasant or acceptable sort. Which is why she resolved upon a solution which might protect her sisters and keep the man in check.
~oOo~
The following day, when Mr. Collins approached Mrs. Bennet about the possibility of pursuing one of her daughters, she redirected the man away from Jane and towards Lizzy. Given what her daughter had told her and her husband, she would rather just send the man away. But that was impossible without explaining the reasons. We cannot very well say that our daughter Elizabeth read your thoughts and found them foul. He would declare her a witch and have us all burned at the stake! I only hope that Lizzie can handle the man as she says.
Netherfield Ball, 26th of November
For two people who danced together so well, their conversation up until this point was nothing but awkward. Finally Elizabeth approached the subject that she needed to address, "When you came upon us the other day we were making a new friend."
She felt Mr. Darcy's rage and hatred for the man. She also saw images of a crying, distraught young lady... his sister! It was the same person that she had seen in George Wickham's mind, only then she looked vulnerable and trusting. At the time she had been able to sense the man's predatory nature. There had been nothing of love in that image.
Darcy found his voice, "Mr. Wickham had the easy ability to make friends. Whether he can keep them for long is another matter."
"He claims that he has lost your friendship. I am afraid that the man means to sully your name all over our community."
Darcy felt a moment of uncertainty, then asked, "But you do not believe him?"
"Certainly not. I do not know the man and he does not know me. Yet he disclosed a story of a very personal nature to me on our second meeting. Besides, I think that know you at least as an honorable man."
Elizabeth was not prepared for the surge of gratification and more which flooded over her as her dancing partner tried to regain control of his emotions. It was the first time that she realized that his feelings for her were much more than just an appreciation for certain physical features.
"Is there anything that I can tell the people of Meryton which might protect them and also your reputation?"
There was the image of the sister again, then he replied, "I cannot." The second dance of the set ended and they stopped while facing each other.
Elizabeth felt a surge of irritation, "Then my community... my friends... are left to their own defenses, I suppose? Good day, Mr. Darcy. Oh, and enjoy your return to London."
Darcy watched the bewildering young lady walking stiffly away. How did she know that I would be departing?
If Elizabeth had not avoided the rest of the Netherfield party that night, she might have known that there would be a concerted effort to keep Charles Bingley from returning to Meryton and to Jane. As it was, she was so busy dancing with others and avoiding Mr. Collins that she missed that important detail.
Longbourn, the following day
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet looked down at the unconscious lump on the floor. Mrs. Bennet worried, "What will we do now? He will be quite angry when he finally wakes up. Why did you have to knock him out."
Elizabeth sighed, "There was no other way. He was quite determined to secure my hand by compromise if by no other means. Do not worry, Mother. All will be well."
Mr. Bennet watched his distressed wife hurry away and then turned to Elizabeth, "What is it that you are planning, my dear Lizzy."
"I... I have one more skill which Grandmother taught me... but which I am never supposed to use unless absolutely necessary. Please do not ask, Father?"
Thomas Bennet suspected that he knew. He had witnessed an occasion where the elder Mr. Collins, intent upon doing violence to his father, had suddenly changed his mind and departed the area, never to return. A power such as that was terrifying, so it made a certain sense that Elizabeth had been warned to keep it secret even from her family. Nobody wanted to think that another could force their mind to do whatever that person chose. He kissed his daughter's forehead and left the room.
Twenty minutes later Mr. Collins woke. He rose from the floor in a daze, but did not spend any time trying to figure out what had happened. Instead he picked up his valise... which happened to be conveniently sitting there waiting for him... donned his traveling clothes and wide-brimmed hat, and then departed without addressing anyone in the family. Some time later, in Meryton, he boarded the Post, where he sat in blissful silence. The other passengers noticed the bruise on his head and attempted to engage him in conversation, but to no avail. After ten minutes he fell asleep.
In London Mr. Collins he commissioned a ride to Canterbury Cathedral, where he asked to speak with the Archbishop. He did not get an audience, of course, but he did meet with a representative bishop. Then, for the next three hours, Mr. Collins revealed all of his past sins, most especially those against the fairer sex, and then requested absolution.
Mr. Collins never returned to Hunsford, but a letter was sent to Lady Catherine de Bourgh notifying her that her parson was judged to have certain proclivities which required intervention. He had been sent to a special religious retreat where the bishops could work with him on such matters. While one would not wish to question the efficacy of their program, it should nevertheless be noted that he was never heard from again.
Pemberley, 1812
There was no possible way that Elizabeth could deny the outflow of love and desire from Mr. Darcy when they encountered each other at Pemberley the following summer. Nor could she deny her own feelings which insisted upon demanding her attention as she stood before this man.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, being both wise and observant, decided to delay the rest of their tour that summer in favor of remaining in the area. In the next two weeks there were many walks, many talks, and many shared meals. There were carriage rides and horse rides. There was even a canal boat trip. Miss Darcy met Elizabeth and became determined to support her brother's suit. The Bingleys and Mr. Hurst were all but forgotten. The only bump in the road was when a letter arrived from Jane, telling Lizzy that Lydia had been sent home from Brighton for unseemly behavior and would be sent to a school for difficult young ladies.
Elizabeth was just glad that she had taken steps to remove Mr. Wickham from the community and send him to a place where he would do no harm. Oddly enough, he did not remember becoming Catholic and could not quite remember why he decided to become a monk and join a monastery. He was certain that he would find the answer to that question, but he was never a deep thinker and tonight was Friday... they were serving fish! He liked fish... at least he thought he liked fish... ...
Elizabeth did learn of Mr. Darcy's part in separating her sister from Mr. Bingley... with her gift it would have been impossible to conceal. But she also "heard" and "saw" his reasoning. Besides, Mr. Bingley's lack of resolution and tendency to defer to others was disappointing to Elizabeth. Would such a man be a good husband and father?
Fitzwiliam Darcy requested a courtship and was accepted. It was not too long after he followed Elizabeth and the Gardiners home that he requested her hand in marriage. Knowing his mind and now his heart, and well aware of her own, Elizabeth accepted with great joy.
When Lady Catherine arrived to protest, Elizabeth easily saw through all of her bluster and lies. Elizabeth sent her away quite easily by nothing but verbal jousting. It was actually kind of fun. The only area where Lady Catherine came close to the truth was when she tried to blame the Bennets for the loss of her curate. Of course it was only bluster on her part. She returned home disappointed, but otherwise unchanged.
Darcy and Elizabeth were married that fall. Jane met with Mr. Bingley again, but when he tried to renew his suit, she sent him gently away. A year later she married a much better man who came with a steadfast heart... and a very large estate to boot.
Pemberley, 1815
The day finally came for Elizabeth to reveal all... or at least most of her abilities... to her beloved husband. For many, many generations the Gift had passed down the family line through the females. Now, after giving her husband two boys, she was holding the tiny form of a daughter.
Elizabeth had known while her child was still in her womb. Their minds had touched many times, though the child's was unformed. This one would be as powerful, if not more powerful, than her mother. So it fell upon Elizabeth to take the greatest risk of all and to tell her husband the truth.
But even as she looked into Fitzwilliam Darcy's eyes, she knew that all would be well. He knew. He did not and could not know all, but he was observant and intelligent. Besides, his very favorite subject of study was her.
"My dear... there is something that I must tell you... something very, very unusual... and I hope that you will think it wondrous..."
We will leave our dear couple alone to talk. Allow me to just say that although there were trials from time to time, they lived happily ever after.
AN: I hope that you enjoyed my little contribution to the supernatural or psychic genre. I didn't want to include a lot of drama in this, so I probably made Elizabeth a little OP. Oh well, hope that you enjoyed it anyway.