Chapter 10

Through muck and mire, the gentleman traversed, slowly making their way back to Netherfield. Though not a great distance, it required no small amount of time, as the roads were in no enviable state, the rain had come hard and fast making travel little more than treacherous. Finally arriving, they entered the drawing-room and observed an extra amongst their party.

"Richard?" exclaimed Darcy, quite jolted at the sight of him.

"Darcy! Don't be so dour, the cavalry's here!" said Richard with a wink, jesting at both his occupation and Darcy's need for reinforcements.

"Capital!" cried Bingley, "Happy to see you old chap. I hope you'll be staying. I declare I've never been amongst such happy company or welcoming people in all my life. I'd be glad to have you join us."

"Your sister has already put me up in a room. I must thank you for your hospitality. I had some urgent business with Darcy, you must forgive my unannounced arrival" replied Richard.

"Fluff and nonesense, quite happy to have you, colonel. Maybe you can help Darcy adjust to society here. He's declared it something savage, and refuses to become acquainted with the natives ' jested Bingley.

Not knowing if Bingley was jesting at Darcy's normal demeanor, as he often did, or if he was in on Darcy's scheme to improve himself, Richard merely nodded his head at Bingley and raised his eyebrows at his cousin. Darcy looked mortified.

"I daresay I arrived just in time. I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Miss Bennet before she fell ill," said Richard with a slight undertone of accusation, looking at Darcy, but changing the subject so far as the rest of the room was concerned.

"Good Lord, is she being seen too? She is an angel. I declare I've never seen such a pretty or well-mannered girl in all my life. It wouldn't do for such a lovely creature to suffer." said Bingly with concern run a muck written all over his boyish face.

"It's a trifling cold Charles" snapped Miss Bingley. Quite irritated with her brother's predictable preoccupation with a friendly blonde. Aside from the obvious (thinking well of everyone, fine looks, naturally unsuspicious, and determined kindness) Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley had something else in common: someone to run off their romantic interests with a frightening level of ingenuity and success. Though both women accomplished it with their manners, that was where the similarities ended. Miss Bingley was nothing if not deliberate, nor was she well-meaning. Mrs. Bennet, though well-meaning, was also quite capable of scheming, though in her case, said action always provoked the opposite consequence she intended. In addition to better intentions, Mrs. Bennet's morals were indeed much better than Miss Bingleys, as she never prompted anything truly underhanded, she merely wished to see her girls well settled, but successful they both were, no matter the difference in their methods.

"I would not underestimate her symptoms so," stated the colonel after a long silence, with a serious look upon his face, as he had hoped Bingley would act to the benefit of his guest. "I caution you to treat her with every care. Such symptoms ought not to be ignored. It's certainly clear she has taken a fever and her color was rather disconcerting. I insisted a room be ready and the apothecary called. I hope you won't mind my interference, Bingley."

"Certainly not, for all the world I wouldn't deny her anything." declared Bingley.

Citing his recent travel, the colonel politely excused himself and shot Darcy a meaningful look. Shortly thereafter Darcy was at his door.

Once they were alone, the Cornel couldn't help but inquire, "Darcy, I can't imagine why you would insult such a fine creature."

"It was Miss Elizabeth Bennet that I insulted" replied Darcy rather dryly, unable to discern the dinner point the colonel was making.

"The ugly sister then? She can't resemble Miss Bennet if you made such a claim" inquired the cornel, he recalled Darcy mentioning five of them about. Good God, they couldn't be all out at once, he thought.

"She is by no means ugly, I had failed to take a proper look at her."

"So her sister is the better looking of the two?" Inquired the cornel, attempting to gauge the depth of his cousin's unacknowledged regard.

"I daresay not, though some might think so. The elder sister may have more classic beauty but the younger has remarkably fine eyes, especially so when she belabors her point, she expresses herself uncommonly well, and has a light and pleasing figure. The elder smiles too much and talks little, while the younger argues her points with expertise, though too freely for some of polite society, unable to follow her intellect." replied Darcy, thinking of Miss Bingley.

If Darcy thought the younger sister was more attractive than the elder, especially when angered, the cornel would have wagered his cousin meditating on those fine eyes more than he was likely to admit. Who envisions a woman in an uproar and decides she's all the finer for it? A man rather far gone in affection for her the colonel reasoned.

Though Richard was by no means going to reveal the depth of his strategy just yet, he did wish to bring Darcy to consent with the broader notions critical to the success of his plan. If Darcy knew the considerable intelligence Richard had gleaned heretofore, he would show his hand even less.

"Darcy it occurred to me this country town provides a superior opportunity to practice, Miss Bingley, assures me there is no one here particularly well known in London," Richard said, shifting the conversation to avoid Darcy becoming acquainted with his suspicions.

"Indeed not Richard, what of it?" replied Darcy

"Town is ripe with pitfalls Darcy, your demeanor is well known there. You were quite right, it would cause gossip to quickly change your demeanor. However, here, as you've been present little more than a fortnight, you may have a new beginning. People will simply assume you were uncomfortable with strangers. You will also be in possession of the benefit of goodwill Bingley garners with his temperament, people will be predisposed to approve of you so long as the sister can be kept in check. As the locals are hardly inclined towards you as a connection, we can rehearse manners without raising expectations, and later, when well practiced, we can transition into a planned course of action for town. I have something in the works, but I'll modify it as your strengths and weaknesses make themselves apparent." Before Darcy's mind could begin forming objections, and thus questioning the plans for town, Richard quickly added "But first you'll need to apologize to that impertinent miss, Darcy, and I do mean a sincere and sincerely humble apology, that is all that will do so far as this predicament has already gone. I would bet my horse she is exceedingly well-liked and that you are unlikely to garner goodwill without her good opinion." Richard knew his last statement would fix Darcy's thoughts on the apology and away from any objection to the strategy. Darcy was too decent to deny an apology where one was owed and the women involved had apparently already driven him to distraction.

Darcy merely nodded and removed himself to retire for the night.