Chapter 15

I would be so very grateful if you'd please share your thoughts. We're almost halfway through now. Though the colonel is on a roll, some twists are coming. Is everyone still with me? I just wanted to be sure as the reviews have been so up that it hasn't gotten too boring. Thanks for your help!

While the gentlemen were thus engaged Elizabeth busied herself seeing to her sister, in truth she felt a bit guilty for being so long absent from Jane's side. Elizabeth had been out of doors far longer than she had originally contrived, having meant only to take a short reprieve. Mr. Darcy's conversation, surprisingly enough (though not easy to draw out), she found to be a delight. However, after Jane had settled herself into a more peaceful slumber, it was not the conversation in the garden that Elizabeth began to wonder about, but the conversion in the breakfast parlor. Perhaps it was, in part, to assuage her own guilt for having misjudged him. Whatever the inducement, her curious nature focused on what wasn't said as opposed to what was said.

What had happened that could cause Miss Darcy to feel so ill-used at such a young age? Had one of her friends attempted to compromise her brother, using proximity and familiarity with the sister as a tool? That would certainly explain Darcy's public behavior. Rudeness and reticence would be a natural response to such a violation. Elizabeth knew it was all speculation, that she certainly had not the right to ask, nor would it be right to ask it.

The young lady had already suffered humiliation enough, that much was clear. If her temperament was as much like Jane's, as Elizabeth had believed she surmised, she couldn't imagine the depth of the transgression, for a person of that nature to not only acknowledge it but also to feel so betrayed by it. Something terrible had happened, that much was sure. Elizabeth knew there was little that could be done on her part, but if she ever had the opportunity to meet Miss Darcy, she'd look after her as well as she did her dear Jane.

After several hours of contemplation, Elizabeth now realized Jane was resting more peacefully than she had the previous night. Elizabeth made her way to her own chamber and determined to sleep until supper.

The call for dinner came all too soon, leaving little time to check on Jane. Elizabeth dressed swiftly, saw her sister was still sleeping and arrived as the other guests did, responding more favorably to inquiries about her sister's health. Dinner, though well presented, was feeling a slight stifling for all those involved. Miss Bingley was clearly lost in her own consideration and rather upset at something or another, though no one cared to inquire.

Elizabeth, determined to be an amiable guest, broached the topic of a book she had been reading. Mr. Darcy, happily joined the conversation, finding he had both some similar, as well as some conflicting, opinions compared to hers. Miss Bingley, knowing this was not a topic she could discuss to her credit, determined to bring the conversation back around to her merits, and deigned to give advice.

"I would encourage you, Miss Eliza, to stifle your intellect and your impertinence, in company at least, until you have found a man willing to make you his wife," said Miss Bingley, quite vexed as she discovered her guests were discussing some volume she neither knew nor cared to know. Everyone had sensed what only our dear couple had missed, the two of them were surprisingly and suddenly getting on very well.

Collecting herself while chewing, Elizabeth took a deep breath and determined the best course was to pretend it a lark and thus prevent further discomfort for the rest of the party. "For shame!", cried Elizabeth giving all the appearance of a jest, but quite horrified in reality. "It's a mean art I'm sure, to deceive a man into matrimony, surely you would not advise it. I fear that would not a happy match make, for either party. For a man could not but have regrets if he thought he had asked for the hand of a simpleton and found he had married a wit."

Darcy was quite sure Elizebeth was not jesting, and as for Miss Bingley, he, in fact, was quite certain he couldn't attest to the validity of any of her character traits aside from pettiness and spite. Miss Bingley's other traits were exchangeable based on what Darcy had acclaimed and condemned in his recent conversation.

"Miss Eiza, allow me to advise you, gentlemen simply do not prefer impertinent young ladies to proper ones." retorted Miss Bingley, determined to show her superiority.

"I daresay many of them do not, but those Gentlemen would hardly be well suited to me," replied Elizabeth, refusing to allow herself to be intimidated by Miss Bingley's intended humiliation.

"In your situation, I strongly advise suiting yourself to any who would have you, as I understand you have not much to recommend you," replied Miss Bingley, attempting to remind Mr. Darcy of where their guest was found wanting.

"That depends on which recommendation one would count the most. Tis true, it's mostly my charms that recommend me. If one counts pounds prior to character I would present sorely lacking," replied Elizabeth with all confidence as though she counted herself equal to any estimation.

"Undoubtedly, there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable. I quite concur with Miss Elizabeth, one could hardly hope to have a happy match if it was acquired in such a deplorable way. Or if one counted pounds without regard to character." said Darcy, ashamed it took him so long to come to her defense. He was captivated, however, wishing to know what she would pronounce.

Miss Bingley managed to stifle the conversation through the rest of dinner, her guests feeling all the awkwardness of it, made swift work of remaining courses and shortly retired to the sitting room. The gentleman left their port shortly thereafter and entered the drawing room in time to overhear Miss Bingley.

"One prefers to recover in the comfort of their own home, I'm sure. Now that Jane is on the mend I suppose she would prefer I called for the carriage." entreated Miss Bingley. Though they were a small party, sensing a threat, Miss Bingley began to devise ways, though ill-thought out, to keep her guests apart.

Elizabeth looked at her shocked and appalled, replying "She is not yet up out of bed, only resting more peacefully, I apologize if I misled you in my happiness for my sister's improved health."

Bingley stared at his sister, incredulous until he finally found his voice and spoke. "Caroline, what are you about? You know very well Miss Bennet is not fit to be moved, nor would I wish her to leave before she has made a full recovery. We are happy to have both the Bennet sisters here."

"Thank you for your kindness sir, I'm sure my sister appreciates it as much as I," said Elizabeth.

"Nonsense, I quite enjoy the company and I'm sure I cannot think of anyone I would prefer under my roof. Do tell your sister we are very happy to have her stay." replied Bingley, trying to make up for his sister's brashness.

Mr. Bingley, though amiable and kind, was not stupid. Though he was aware his sister's character was not as unaffected as his own, he never thought he would hear her attempting to put an ill guest from their home. He was under the impression that she limited herself to snide remarks and giving a general sense of superiority. Though, how she grew to think herself superior to everyone and everything he knew not. Mr. Bingley was often reminded his roots were in trade, he worked to develop his character into what others found quite likable, lessening the snubs and helping to include him in genteel society.

The rest of the room proceeded to make conversation and ignore Caroline until Charles called for music. Elizebeth declined to play and Mrs. Hurst offered to take her place. Darcy requested a jig, citing a desire to dance, and asking Elizabeth to stand up with him, surprising even herself, she accepted, having lost her determination never to dance with him.

As the dance finished, Mr. Bingley commented on how accomplished all young ladies were. Caroline, finally speaking, spoke with the contempt she could be counted upon for, insisting the word was applied to liberally. Mr. Darcy concurred, saying it was a shame the word could be applied to women who had not improved their minds through reading. Elizabeth, struggling to keep a straight face, declared she meant to check on Jane.