Chapter 12

Having spent the day with Jane, Elizabeth was even more concerned about her sister's health, which seemed to be degrading instead of improving. Though concerned for her sister, Elizabeth felt she must go. She wished Jane farewell and thanked their hostess for the kind attention to her sister. Jane expresses regret at losing her sister and expressed concern that it would put more of a burden on Miss Bingley stating "Oh Lizzy, I'm sorry to see you go, and poor Miss Bingley to be taken from her other guests."

Miss Bingley, having her own agenda she wished not to be distracted from, declared, though begrudgingly, "You must stay Miss Eliza, for your sister is much in need of your company." Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply of clothes.

Eventually, Elizabeth was summoned to dinner where all the party inquired after Jane. She had the pleasure of distinguishing the much superior solicitude and kindness of Mr. Bingley, though she could not make a very favorable answer. Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them.

Mr. Bingley, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could regard any suspicion of reel concern for Jane until Colonel Fitzwilliam inquired. Their anxiety for Jane was evident, and their attention to herself most pleasing, and they prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the others. Though they had only just met, Elizabeth found Colonel Fitzwilliam's conversation quite pleasing. She had very little notice from any but those two gentlemen. Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr. Darcy, her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards; who, when he found her to prefer a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her.

Throughout dinner, Elizabeth felt herself bombarded with snide remarks from Miss Bingley, but for Jane's sake, she was determined to keep the conversation civil. However, to a particularly unkind remark, Elizabeth replied, not yet seeing evidence of Mr. Darcy's repentance and having no notion of his remorse.

"I daresay yourself and Mr. Darcy must have a great deal in common. I noticed your similarity in mindset as early as the assembly. It must be very agreeable to have a houseguest in such accordance with you" Elizabeth replied to the snide and condescending comment from Miss Bingley.

Miss Bingley, who was desperate for her own consequence, consistently sought to gain ground by depreciating those around her, was quite gratified by Elizabeth's statement, misunderstanding the implied insult. Miss Bingley took her advantage (as she saw it), staking her claim, and replied "Indeed, Miss Eliza, Darcy, and I share the same manner of opinion on everything of consequence."

Is that what she thought? realized Darcy in horror. How could she interpret his silence as accordance? Then again he was often silent, and on occasion made unkind remarks, as evidenced by his present situation. Dear God, did she think I was encouraging her! The consequence of his ill behavior, as previously pointed out by Elizabeth, once again hammered down on him. At that moment he fully realized that the combination of his natural reticence and his increasingly ill behavior in company was causing both Miss Bingley and the world at large to see them as two complementary members of the opposite sex. Dear God, I need to put this to rest at once.

Richard for his part was rather quite impressed. Every bit the lady, Elizabeth had justly, but kindly, reversed the set down and put her unwitting afflictors in their place. For the most undeserving of her audience, little did they even know their cruel words had just backfired. It was much like watching a cannonball headed for her suddenly reverse course. She was truly a force to be reckoned with, but she was Darcy's, whether or not either of them knew it yet.

As dinner finished, Elizabeth declared her intention of immediately going to Jane, feeling she had already been away too long. The gentleman retired to their port, though Bingley was called away by some business matter after the ladies retired to the drawing-room.

"I daresay, she could take on the worst of the ton, and shine brighter for it. If she and her sister were in town, those not in need of a dowry would snap them right up. For men of means, the harpies will always be jealous when a man decides on another but for women of that nature, she would swiftly build a repudiation she was not to be trifled with, in short order, she would attract people of sense and drive off the snide gossip mongers. " mused Richard.

"I have no designs on her Richard, I know what is expected of me" mumbled Darcy while looking distracted.

"Very well, I trust you'll still apologize," said Richard.

"Naturally," replied Mr. Darcy.

"Perhaps I should talk with mother about them. You know how mother likes her pet projects. She would delight in those two, one the classic beauty, every bit the ideal lady, and the other a paragon of liveliness and intelligence while remaining in the bounds of propriety. She is absolutely enchanting. Mother would be delighted to present two such ladies. She'd be the talk of the ton."

More disturbing to Darcy than the earlier revelations with Miss Bingley, was the notion of Miss Elizabeth marrying. Darcy didn't know why, for surely she would marry someone, but he found it deeply disturbing, the thought of catching glimpses of her with her husband through the years.

"Richard, why would you meddle in such affairs, move your mind from weddings and lace sir, for it's no affair of yours," stated Darcy firmly.

"I daresay it is Darcy, as it would move mothers mind from marrying me off, knowing she could boast being so superior in skill that she could make extraordinary marriages for two penniless ladies, while everyone else was trying to marry off their well dowered but snide daughters. Those two might make pettiness unfashionable again. Tis a shame they're stuck in the country for now. Perhaps I'll speak to mother after Christmas if it doesn't seem as though Bingley will make good." mused Richard appearing casual but launching a strategy just barely forming.

He knew how his cousin's mind worked, he would scrutinize every conceivable objection, trying to dissuade himself from affection he wasn't willing to admit to himself he was feeling. Truly, many of those objections wouldn't signify. Darcy didn't need a dowry, nor would any bride of his go without criticism (too many desired him for a connection), and truly Darcy didn't need more high society connections either, he begrudged maintaining the ones he had. Richard had devised for his part in Darcy's reformation he would casually drop counter-arguments into the equation, before Darcy expressed them, and hopefully before he stewed on them. Perhaps it was premature, but he had taken Miss Elizabeth's measure, she would be good for his dour and lonely cousin.