A/N: Okay leave your disgust with Darcy at the door. It's Elizabeth bashing time. I have stolen some language from Emma for this chapter but it fit so well I couldn't resist.
Elizabeth and her father returned to the house. She knew it was time to confess all to Jane and beg forgiveness for not confiding in her sister. Her father and uncle retired to the library, no doubt to discuss all that had occurred. Jane ran into her arms and hugged her tightly before she could say a word.
"Oh, Lizzy how much you must have suffered. You are the most unselfish sister in the world. Uncle Gardiner explained it all. You did this for me but I can't allow you to sacrifice yourself on my behalf. I will send Mr. Bingley away. I cannot in good conscience allow you marry where you don't love." Jane cried.
"Absolutely not! If you wish to send Mr. Bingley away because you do not care for him do so but I will not allow you to send him away in a futile effort to try and save me! It will make no difference anyway. I am sure that even if Mr. Bingley was separated from you Mr. Darcy would still insist on our marriage." Elizabeth said with much conviction.
"Lizzy, don't you think he must truly care for you to act so. You advised me days ago to look for persistence in Mr. Bingley's actions. Mr. Darcy has been very persistent." Jane pointed out.
"His persistence is born out of spite in being slighted not in his undying love for me. I have discussed it with father. If Mr. Darcy withdraws his offer, father will support me and not force the issue. He gave me his word." Elizabeth replied.
"Lizzy what makes you think he will give up his suit? He did place an announcement in the papers, by now all of London will know." Jane asked.
"I have a few ideas dear sister. Some are more realistic than others. I may even have to act in an underhanded manner myself. It is nothing less than he deserves after his actions in the past week. Your assistance may be necessary." said Elizabeth.
"This type of attitude is so unlike you. I can't imagine you acting in a less than reputable manner. I will support you as far as I can but please do not ask me to scheme. I am not made for dissembling." Jane begged.
"Jane I promise not to put you in a situation that will compromise your values." Elizabeth promised.
"Elizabeth, have you ever thought of just sitting with Mr. Darcy and having a rational conversation about your objections to the match? It may be far more conducive in coming to some sort of agreement." Jane replied.
"He did not do give me the courtesy of a rational conversation. All I received were his dictums and tricks. He shall reap what he sowed!" she said to her sisterly bitterly.
Jane only shook her head sadly. "Elizabeth this letter came while you were in the garden. It is addressed to Miss Bennet but bears the Darcy seal so it must be for you."
"Oh, Jane, my head is aching. Will you please read the missive?" Elizabeth begged.
Jane opened the letter and began to read. "It is from Miss Georgiana Darcy. She sends her regards and congratulations on your engagement. She is most eager to meet you and plans to call with her brother tomorrow. She writes in a very sweet manner. Here you should read it yourself."
"No, thank you. I have heard that Miss Georgiana Darcy is as proud and cold as her brother. I have no need to read her correspondence. So, they will call tomorrow? I will be ready for them." Elizabeth answered archly.
"Elizabeth perhaps you are in error regarding her personality. From whom did you hear these deleterious things about the young lady? Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst complimented her continuously. They had only wonderful things to say about Miss Darcy and her accomplishments." Jane replied.
"That is reason enough for me not to approve of her. If Miss Bingley utters anything I am determined to believe the complete opposite. I heard about Miss Darcy from a reliable source. Mr. Wickham grew up with her at Pemberley and informed me of her imperious manner. She is exactly like her brother. He would have no reason to misrepresent her character." Elizabeth said confidently.
"Elizabeth promise me you will give her a chance as you would any new acquaintance. Please do not be unkind." Jane begged.
"Of course, I will not. I would never be overtly rude to a guest in my uncle's home. I promise you." Elizabeth said with a smile. "Please excuse me now. I feel a great need to rest."
As soon as Elizabeth climbed the stairs she called for Abigail, her aunt's upstairs maid. She had noticed in the past that she and Abigail had a similar build. "Abigail, I need your assistance with an important matter."
"Yes Miss Elizabeth, of course, what can I do?" the maid replied.
"Do you have a plain gown, perhaps something that you wear to church services?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, Miss, I do." said Abigail.
"May I please see it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, Miss, I will go fetch it, at once." Abigail answered.
Abigail returned holding a dark, brown, cotton gown. The dress had a high neck and long sleeves. It had no adornments other than a bit of lace around the cuffs. It was far more severe than even Mary's gowns. The best part was that gown was obviously the dress of a lower class woman. Elizabeth was very pleased.
"Abigail, I would like to offer you a trade. Please pick anyone of my gowns in place of this one. I find I have need of it. If nothing in my wardrobe suits you I will give you money to buy a new dress of your own." Elizabeth suggested.
"Miss Elizabeth, I could never wear one of your gowns. Mrs. Gardiner would never approve." Abigail answered apprehensively.
"Perhaps you are correct. Can I purchase this dress from you?" Elizabeth asked.
"I would have no idea what to ask for it. It was my sisters gown. It is not new. Miss Elizabeth will Mrs. Gardiner approve of you buying my dress?" the nervous girl asked.
"I really have no idea but this was my idea not yours. Please do not worry. Does two pounds sound fair Abigail?" Elizabeth offered.
"That is more than my weekly salary Miss Elizabeth. Tis too much." Abigail stammered.
"No, it is not. I feel it will money well spent. Do you we have a deal?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, Miss and thank you for your kindness." Abigail said as she handed Elizabeth the dress and took her payment.
Elizabeth hastily took the dress and hid it in her wardrobe. She then lay down for a well-deserved nap. When she arose she joined her family for dinner and thankfully no one mentioned the name Darcy. Perhaps they all had conspired together not to mention the matter after her earlier hysteria.
Elizabeth woke early the next morning after a restless night. She asked for a tray to be sent up for with breakfast so she did not have to get dressed and face her family. Seeing them now would ruin her plans. She was still in her night clothes when Jane knocked on her door.
"Lizzy, it is almost the hour for calls. Are you planning on feigning sickness to avoid this visit?" Jane asked.
"No dear," Elizabeth sighed. "I guess I am trying to avoid the inevitable. I will dress and come down shortly. Please go to the parlor and wait for our guests in case they come before I am ready."
Jane saw her request as a reasonable one and proceeded downstairs. Within twenty minutes Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy were shown into the sitting room. Polite if not warm introductions were made and everyone was seated. Tea was served and conversation revolved around the weather and the state of the roads. Mr. Darcy noticed Elizabeth's absence but did not comment. After a few minutes, Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet requested that Mr. Darcy join them in the library. He faltered momentarily for two reasons. First, he knew that Elizabeth's family was not happy with him and he would receive some sort of tongue lashing for posting the engagement announcement. Secondly, he was not sure about leaving his sister alone in company. She seemed comfortable enough with Miss Bennet. In fact, she had a smile on her face as she conversed with Elizabeth's older sister. So, allowed her to stay and he followed his host from the room.
Miss Darcy did not even notice her brother leave. She could not but help think that her brother's fiancée was as beautiful and kind as he had promised.
Mrs. Gardiner rose from her seat shortly thereafter worried about Elizabeth's absence. "Please excuse me I must go look in on my niece. I shall return shortly."
As soon as Mrs. Gardiner left the room, Elizabeth slipped in from the servant's entrance where she had been waiting. She was dressed in Abigail's gown and styled her hair in a severe bun. She had even "borrowed" her aunt's reading glasses to complete her ensemble.
She stood in front of Miss Darcy who barely raised her head. In fact, the young lady was not taking any notice of her at all. She assumed Miss Darcy thought her a servant and beneath her acknowledgment. Jane looked up abruptly and began to cough. She composed herself after a moment and made the necessary introductions.
"Miss Darcy, please allow me to introduce you to my sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth this is Miss Georgiana Darcy, Mr. Darcy's sister." Jane said.
Both ladies curtsied and Elizabeth took a seat on the opposite sofa. She decided to channel Mary and offered her guest the Lord's blessing on her safe arrival to their home. Jane looked like she was about to say something but held her tongue. The ladies continued their conversation with Elizabeth adding as many out of place moral platitudes as she could think of. Eventually, the conversation turned to music.
Georgiana turned to Jane and said "I hear you play the pianoforte quite well Miss Bennet. My brother said he has never heard anything that has given him more pleasure than your playing." Both Elizabeth and Jane looked confused. Elizabeth was astonished that Mr. Darcy had paid her a compliment of any kind. Jane did not understand why Miss Darcy thought she played the pianoforte.
"Forgive me Miss Darcy, I do not play at all. Of all my sisters, only Elizabeth and Mary are gifted with musical ability." Jane replied politely.
"Oh, perhaps I am mistaken maybe he meant your singing? His letters from Hertfordshire were full of praises for the wonderful Miss Bennet." she said blushing slightly.
Elizabeth let out a most unladylike snort at Miss Darcy's comment. Jane gave her a very peculiar look. This conversation was becoming quite odd.
"So, Miss Bennet, did you enjoy your stay in Hunsford? The grounds around my aunt's estate are quite beautiful. My brother tells me you take much joy in walking." Georgiana said directly to Jane.
"Miss Darcy, there must be some confusion. I was not at my cousin's home in Hunsford. That was my sister Elizabeth." Jane replied.
"Oh, no, oh, my, I am so sorry." The young girl said as she burst into tears. "I so wanted to make a good impression."
Jane took pity on the girl and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Please do not upset yourself Miss Darcy. Apparently, you have mistaken me for my sister. This is not the first time there was confusion regarding the identity of the Bennet girls. There are many of us. Did not your brother tell you his fiancée's first name?" Jane said kindly.
"No, he only said Miss Bennet. I am mortified, please forgive me." she sobbed. "So, you are not to marry my brother? But, I thought, I mean, I am, from his description I," Georgiana could not continue.
"Let me finish for you Miss Darcy. My sister Jane is beautiful and graceful and I am not. Therefore, I could not possibly be your brother's betrothed. You must be quite disappointed." Elizabeth said almost as if she was trying to convince the girl of the truth of her statement.
"Elizabeth, please, you are not helping matters." Jane said.
"Am I not? I am just trying to put Miss Darcy at ease. I am certainly not what she expected in a future sister. Perhaps she should inform her brother of her opinion." Elizabeth continued.
"No, no please, that is not what I meant." Georgiana continued still crying.
At this point, Elizabeth was starting to feel sorry for the girl. She seemed to be a bit overly sensitive. She sat down next to the Miss Darcy and was about to attempt to comfort her when the gentlemen returned to the parlor.
Mr. Darcy espied his sister sobbing into Jane's shoulder and rushed to her side. It took him a moment to realize Miss Elizabeth was sitting on her other side looking like a widowed schoolmarm.
"Sweetling, what is wrong? Why are you crying?" Mr. Darcy said kindly kneeling in front of his sister.
"I, I, made, made a horrible mistake. She will never love me now." Georgiana sobbed.
Mr. Bennet took one look at Elizabeth and had to leave the room before lost his composure. She was beginning to feel badly that her little trick had caused the girl to become upset. She expected her to react snootily and readily agree that she was not good enough for her brother.
Mrs. Gardiner entered the room not aware of what had happened and said "Please excuse me Miss Darcy but I cannot find Elizabeth anywhere." She then looked at Elizabeth and was taken aback, "Elizabeth, why on earth are you wearing the maid's dress?"
All eyes were on Elizabeth and she turned a bright shade of red. She made no reply. Mr. Darcy glared at her malevolently just as she had done to him in the past. He looked ready to berate her but instead said, "Please excuse us. My sister is unwell. I must take her home at once. Thank you all for your hospitality, especially yours Miss Elizabeth. My sister is quite shy and uncomfortable when meeting new people. She was very excited about this visit. It is all she has talked about for days." he said bitterly.
Elizabeth was ashamed of herself. This was not how her ruse was supposed to play out. She was about to apologize to Miss Darcy but her brother did not linger and ushered her out of the room.
"Elizabeth Rose Bennet, how could you behave so? I have never been so disappointed in you." Jane said severely. Her aunt and uncle nodded in agreement.
Elizabeth was taken aback. She could not remember being seriously reprimanded by Jane since she was a child and threw mud in the Lucas boy's face.
"But Mr. Wickham said Miss Darcy was," she was not allowed to continue.
"I do not care what Mr. Wickham said! Miss Darcy is clearly a sweet, sensitive young girl. I cannot believe you would willingly torment her like that. I begged you not to involve me in anything duplicitous." Jane raged.
"I did not expect such a reaction. I thought she would," Elizabeth tried to continue her explanation but Jane was not done.
"After seeing how horrible I felt when Mr. Bingley's sisters treated me badly I cannot believe you would act as you did. She is a fifteen-year-old girl." Jane fumed.
"Lydia is a fifteen-year-old girl and would have not been thus affected. Miss Darcy is the one who assumed her brother was betrothed to you not me." Elizabeth retorted.
"Do not try to change the subject at hand. Miss Darcy made an innocent error. Since when do defend Lydia's behavior? You cannot compare that sheltered child to Lydia so do not even try. Elizabeth this was very badly done, very badly done indeed." Jane cried out as she left the room.