A/N: Get ready to be angry with our Elizabeth!
The next morning Darcy, Georgiana and the Colonel set out for Gracechurch Street. Georgiana did not send a note. Darcy did not want Elizabeth to have any prior notice of their arrival so she would not have time to plot. The Darcy party arrived arms laden with gifts as per the Colonel's suggestion. He had spent hours schooling Darcy on the arts of wooing a woman and hoped he would employ his advice.
They were shown into the parlor and greeted politely. Georgiana almost did not recognize Elizabeth Bennet. She looked like an entirely different person. She truly was a lovely girl, especially when dressed as a gentlewoman not a servant. She became a bit annoyed when she saw a beautiful smile light up Miss Elizabeth's face at seeing her cousin Richard. Miss Elizabeth was everything charming to the Colonel. Miss Elizabeth had acknowledged her brother politely but not warmly. Darcy noticed as well and was very displeased.
Mr. Darcy began to divest himself of the many parcels he carried. "Mrs. Gardiner, we have brought some small gifts for your children. You have four children I believe, two boys and two girls? Hopefully we can meet them this morning." He said graciously.
"Yes, we do. Thank you, Mr. Darcy. How very kind. They will be thrilled. I will have them summoned as soon as they finish their lessons." Mrs. Gardiner replied graciously.
"Mr. Darcy, are you sure your delicate constitution can handle the exuberance of small children? They may accidentally touch you with dirty hands. Your fine waistcoat may suffer for it." Elizabeth said with a smirk not believing he would ever willingly be in the presence of young children.
"Oh, Miss Elizabeth, my brother delights in children. I have never seen him so relaxed as when he is playing with the children around the estate. He is quite the champion lawn bowler. For Boxing Day, he ensured that each child on the estate received their very own bilbocatch." Georgiana said proudly not realizing that Elizabeth was trying to insult her brother. She wanted to present him in the best light possible. Mr. Darcy, however, understood her comment very well.
"Miss Elizabeth, you look quite lovely today. I see you have recovered from your recent affliction. I almost did not know you the last time we met. I also see you have been to the mantua maker. That is quite a lovely frock. I find that green suits you much better than brown." Darcy said sarcastically.
Both Georgina and the Colonel shook their heads. He was advised to compliment her beauty not bait her into an argument.
"I was not expecting company this morning sir. If I had known you were coming I would have dressed accordingly." Elizabeth answered archly.
"These are for you." Darcy said with no emotion as he shoved a bouquet of flowers at her. "I recalled that you enjoyed wildflowers."
"Thank you sir. Did you have your servants up bright and early this morning to pick them for you?" Elizabeth asked with derision.
"No, Miss Elizabeth, my brother and I were out walking this morning in the park and gathered the flowers ourselves. My brother enjoys taking brisk walks in the morning. I have heard that is a habit of yours as well." Georgina replied, again not realizing Elizabeth meant to slight her brother.
Elizabeth looked a bit shocked at the proclamation. She was determined to make up to the girl for her prior behavior and gave her a large smile. "Thank you so much Miss Darcy. That was most kind of you. It means all the more to me that the gift came from your own hands. You are most thoughtful." Elizabeth said, adding nothing else to Mr. Darcy about the flowers.
Once they were all seated Elizabeth engaged the Colonel in conversation regarding his return to London. Soon they were laughing and chatting like old friends on a myriad of subjects including Jane in their conversation as well. The rest of the company talked among themselves. Darcy was making an effort to be social. He and Georgiana spent a good deal of time talking with Mr. Bennet and the Gardiners about Lambton and Derbyshire.
Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed to realize he was monopolizing Elizabeth's attention and tried to include Darcy in the conversation. "Darcy, Miss Elizabeth and I were just talking of Shakespeare. You and she share a love of reading and the Bard. She was just telling me that Much Ado About Nothing is one of her favorite plays. Is that not your favorite as well?"
"Yes, it is," he replied. "Benedict is my favorite character. If my deduction is correct you are an admirer of Beatrice, Miss Elizabeth? You share many traits with that lady." He truthfully meant that as a compliment. Beatrice was known for her intelligence as well as her wit.
Elizabeth unfortunately did not take his words as they were meant and thought he was rebuking her for a sharp tongue. "You guessed correctly Mr. Darcy. I had thought however that Taming of the Shrew was your favorite. You mentioned it in our most recent correspondence." she said dryly.
"You are correct I do find great enjoyment in that particular work." Darcy replied, hoping that she would not bring up his farcical engagement gift in company.
"It contains one of my favorite quotes." "I see a woman may be made a fool, If she had not a spirit to resist." Elizabeth said with a meaningful look at Mr. Darcy.
Darcy decided to counter her obvious reference to her resistance against their engagement with a quote of his own from Taming of the Shrew, "But for my bonny Kate, she must with me. Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret; I will be master of what is mine own. She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, my household stuff, my field, my barn, my horse, my ox, my ass, my anything. And here she stands, touch her whoever dare. I'll bring mine action on the proudest he that stops my way in Padua."
The Colonel groaned out loud at Darcy's choice of quote. Of all the lines he could have chosen, he quoted a stanza that compared a wife to property and a donkey. "Well, now that we have proven we all know our Shakespearean plays, let us move on to a different topic. Perhaps we should talk of poetry, Mrs. Gardiner do you enjoy the work of Robert Burns? A Red, Red Rose is my favorite poem, Georgiana's as well."
"I do very much. He was from Scotland I believe. Elizabeth has always wished to see Scotland. She has talked about visiting since she was a little girl. She even once affected a Scottish brogue." Mrs. Gardiner said trying inject some levity in the conversation.
Elizabeth laughed and blushed. "Oh, Aunt please do not embarrass me in company with stories of my youth. I am however fascinated by everything Scottish. I once talked our cook into making shortbread for me every day for a week." Elizabeth said sounding more like her usual self.
"What a coincidence," Georgiana interjected. "My brother has an estate in Scotland. He tries to visit there every few years. I have not yet been but would love to see the Scottish Highlands. Perhaps Miss Elizabeth we will be able to travel there together in the future." she said in a very excited voice.
"You are too kind Miss Darcy. I am not one for travel. Perhaps when you visit you can write to me of the beauties you encounter. I would promise to be avid reader of your travelogue." Elizabeth said with a smile towards the young girl. She would love to visit Scotland but certainly not in the company of Mr. Darcy.
"Elizabeth, you love to travel." Jane said not understanding why her sister would say that.
"Not anymore Jane. I find that unsettling things happen when I am far from home. I would be happy to never leave Hertfordshire again." Elizabeth said emphatically.
The entire group understood her meaning and were becoming uncomfortable. Mrs. Gardiner thought it was time for a diversion. "Elizabeth, would you please ring for tea."
"Of course Aunt," she said and removed herself from the group for a few minutes.
When she returned from her errand a new visitor had joined the group. Mr. Bingley was cheerfully greeting all assembled. He turned to Miss Bennet and said, "I have just returned from the newspaper office. Our engagement will be posted in the papers on the morrow."
"Oh, Mr. Bingley how wonderful. I cannot wait to see it in print. I shall have to cut it out and save it among my favorite things." Jane replied happily.
"Bingley, am I to wish you joy?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.
"You are, the wonderful Miss Bennet has consented to be my wife. I am the most fortunate of men." a proud Bingley replied.
Appropriate congratulations were given. Elizabeth paid special attention to Mr. Darcy's comments to his friend. As hard as she tried she could not detect any negativity vis-à-vis the engagement from Mr. Darcy. He was very cordial to Jane with his good wishes. He must be a better actor than she thought. He seemed genuinely pleased and had a broad smile on his face.
Elizabeth could not resist taunting him. She felt he deserved all the punishments she could devise after how he had behaved the last few weeks. "Mr. Darcy, are you ill?" she said quietly.
"No, why do you ask?" replied with suspicion.
"You have a very strange look on your face. One that I have never before seen upon your visage. On anyone else I would think it was a smile but considering that you normally do not do engage in such frivolous displays I must assume you are feeling poorly." she said sarcastically.
"No, Miss Elizabeth, that is just your willful misunderstand making an appearance once again. How could I not smile when my good friend is marrying a woman he loves who loves him so dearly in return. Your sister was ebullient when she learned her engagement announcement was posted. How I would relish the day when the woman I love gives me such a look." Darcy replied with no subtly whatsoever.
"As Jane was consulted in the matter and desired her engagement she is thrilled as she should be. Had she been coerced then taken unaware perhaps her reaction would have been different." she replied sharply.
"Miss Elizabeth, I would like to speak with your privately if I may." Mr. Darcy said sternly, he had finally had enough of this bitter game of emotional chess they were playing.
"I do not think that is necessary. I would not want to be rude to my aunt's guests." Elizabeth demurred.
"This is very important. We have not had a chance to speak alone for some time and some issues must be addressed." he added.
"I can think of nothing that you can have to say to me that cannot be said in company." she added.
"Miss Elizabeth, I must insist. I will only need a few minutes of your time. I would rather not be part of another scene in your aunt's parlor." Darcy said trying to remind her of her prior bad behavior to make her agree to his request.
"Fine, excuse me, I will ask my uncle for the use of his study for a few moments."
Elizabeth received permission from both her uncle and father. She was instructed to leave the door ajar and agreed readily. She and Mr. Darcy proceeded to the study and Elizabeth took a seat and stared at him. "What you could possibly want to say to me privately?"
"I can think of many things that I want to say to you, especially regarding our last visit. I believe I gave you some reading material that we have yet to address." he said grimly.
"I am sorry I have not had a chance to read it yet. I have been using that particular tome as a doorstop." Elizabeth replied.
"I am most surprised, knowing how much you value the banalities therein. I was not aware of your pious nature." he countered.
"There are many things you do not know about me Mr. Darcy. Now please what do you want to say to me?"
"Miss Elizabeth, we have gotten off to a very bad start. Some of the fault lies with me but you are not completely blameless. There are certain things that I have said that I regret. I have lost my temper on occasion and due to desperation, for lack of a better word, have acted in a way that is totally out of character but I believe you have as well, especially regarding my sister." Darcy replied.
"I think the way you behaved was completely attuned with your character." Elizabeth huffed. "If you are determined to speak about our last visit, I will have you know I thought your sister to be a very different type of girl. I did not expect her to react so and I deeply regret causing her any discomfort. I have apologized to her and that is the end of it." Elizabeth said brusquely and headed towards the door.
"That is not the end of it. Why did you feel the need to act in such a way? Did you think by offending my sister I would end our engagement?" he asked.
Elizabeth turned bright red. "The thought may have crossed my mind."
"Why do you want me to end our agreement so badly? I would like to know all your reasons. I have been told it is time to have a rational discussion regarding our misunderstandings and I agree." he stated plainly.
"I thought I made my reasons clear to you in the past." she said.
"Your biggest reason to dislike me has been resolved. Your sister and Bingley are happily engaged. I kept my promise to you regarding speaking to Bingley." he replied.
"The problem would never have arisen without your interference in the first place." Elizabeth pointed out.
"You are certainly one to hold an unreasonable grudge. Let us move beyond that as it is fait accompli. I demand you tell me your other reasons because almost all the things you spat at me at the parsonage that day are no longer relevant!" Darcy said, his frustration getting the better of him once again.
"Demand? I am not your servant! I do not respond well to demands. The only thing that has changed regards that day is my sister's situation and you have done may things since then to raise my ire!" Elizabeth said angrily.
"Fine I respectfully request you tell me why you still do not wish to marry me! I had thought my letter would have softened your feelings. In fact, I am amazed it did not. I have never been so painfully honest in my life as I was in that missive. I cannot believe you so cold that it did not affect you in the least, especially regarding Georgiana!" Darcy replied loudly.
"I would suggest you lower your voice sir. I do not respond well to being yelled at either! What could Miss Darcy possibly have to do with my dislike of your person beyond the events of our unfortunate visit." Elizabeth said with her temper building.
"It has everything to do with your belief that I am not an honorable, wait, I cannot believe it. You did not, you did not read my letter! That certainly explains your intransigence!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Where is it? I command you to read it at once!"
"Command! You cannot command me to do anything! Your letter is decorating the forest floor in Hunsford in a hundred little pieces! Did you actually believe I would read any correspondence from you?" Elizabeth said angrily.
Darcy had a stunned looked on his face that slowly turned to one of sadness. If Elizabeth was not so angry she really would have felt sorry for him. It was not a look she had ever seen Mr. Darcy wear. She was more than a bit confused. What could that letter have said about Georgiana?
Darcy continued to look at her despairingly and finally said "That was very badly done Miss Elizabeth," and left the room.
That was the second time in one week that someone had said that exact same thing to her.