OMG IM SO SORRY. totally must have pressed the wrong button whoops. I believe i have declared my technophobe nature in the past. took me ages to notice the reviews and messages cuz I was very busy at work. sorry!
A/N - Hello lovely readers. I am gonna keep this short cuz i have to go to work shortly and want to get this chapter out. Those of you who are unhappy with Lizzie, hope this chapter helps. i have faced the challenge of writing without a hunsford moment for either of them. darcy had his in the last book, but e never got hers. both were important for them to grow, so e has had to gradually realise things here. harder to write. :)
Chapter Five - To courtship and such fair ostents of love.
...
When the Netherfield party came to visit the next day, bringing with them the much anticipated ball invitations, Darcy was surprised to have Miss Elizabeth putting herself forward. She brought him his coffee, made just as he liked it, and then sat next to him.
"Mr Darcy, I feel I should warn you" her voice was pitched low, her manner circumspect.
He looked up. Wondering what she could be nervous of, recognising the signs in her countenance.
"Mr Wickham, he is telling some tales."
She watched as the colour drained from Darcy's face, not understanding the reason for his worry or anger.
"What has he said?"
"He" Elizabeth stuttered. This was not a Darcy she had met before, was he angry at her? For talking to him? "He is claiming a prior relationship with the house Darcy, and that you cheated him out of an inheritance"
Darcy visibly relaxed "Is that all?"
"Is that not enough?"
"I am used to Wickham saying many things about me. That is probably the least of it. Likely he would have gone on if you had allowed it"
Elizabeth looked down ashamed "I did not stop him soon enough" her voice lacked it's usual resonance.
Darcy longed to reach out and lift her chin, wanting her eyes on his. Unfortunately that thought led to the desire to run his fingers through her hair, to press his lips to the little line that was surely between her brows, to trail kisses over her eyes and across her cheek bones to that spot behind her ear that makes her...
Good god stop it man! He dragged his thoughts from the dark place they were going. Not in polite company.
"Do not fret, Miss Elizabeth" he coughed to remove the hoarseness from his voice, and shifted to hide the evidence of his thoughts "I believe I said he was a practiced deceiver, will you be more careful in future?"
"Indeed, I am very keen to do so. However the military are often welcomed here, I do not know how to persuade my mother to deny him entry"
"Could your father not do that?"
Elizabeth raised her eyes to look at him, "You have met my father? He is unlikely to make such a demand, not on my behalf. He would assume I have been spurned or some such and declare it is good for a woman to be jilted on occasion"
Darcy narrowed his eyes, thinking quickly. Trying to place the next weeks events as he remembered them.
"Miss Elizabeth, I would like permission to court you"
Elizabeth gasped, eyes opening wide in shock, a blush suffusing her face.
"I had not thought to ask so soon, but I remember this will likely be my last chance before the ball. If you will permit me to speak to your father on that matter, mayhap we can discuss others also?"
"Court me?" It was Elizabeth's turn to clear her throat "As in, to call upon me?"
Darcy smiled "That is often what one does when courting."
"Openly? With my mother's knowledge?"
"Darcy raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Mrs Bennet as she shrieked at something Bingley was saying.
"Well, I am not certain we could keep such a thing a secret for long. If you accept me."
Elizabeth's eyes were shining "Of course, but why me?"
Darcy looked at her askance, tilting his head, as if to find hidden meaning.
"I thought I was not handsome enough to tempt you?"
Darcy grimaced "someday, soon, I will explain why I was in such a poor mood on that occasion. Suffice to say I regretted those words almost before I had finished saying them and I have long considered you far more than merely tolerable."
"So you are one who says the first thing in ones head when one is upset or cross?"
"No doubt one of my many faults"
"Why do you talk as if you know what I am thinking?"
"I do not think I know you well enough for that yet, but I look forward to the day that I do"
Elizabeth watched the play of emotions over his face, there was so much about Mr Darcy that confused her. But she knew she found him a most interesting man and she would not be adverse to knowing him better.
"If you do not wish to have the honour of your cousin's hand for the first dance I would suggest you accept my offer, both for the first dance and for my being able to court you?"
Miss Bingley was just announcing the need for the party to take their leave and to continue delivering invites and Collins was starting a speech about dancing. She nodded quickly at him and found herself propositioned not two minutes after the party had left.
"Unfortunately, Mr Collins, I am already engaged for the first set"
The room looked somewhat gobsmacked and she rose to take her leave before the barrage of questions began. She was just in time to catch sight of Darcy bidding his friend goodbye before heading to her father's book room. She smiled and decided a short stroll in the garden would be the perfect opportunity to escape any unwanted questions.
...
There was, for the next few days, such a succession of rain that the Bennet ladies could not leave the house. This was both a blessing and a curse to Elizabeth's mind. A blessing as the news of her courtship with Mr Darcy was well talked about, a curse because Mrs Bennet had plenty of time to plan how to proceed.
Mr Collins had taken the news badly.
"I had intended to offer for Miss Elizabeth, my attentions have been marked. My patroness would be most pleased with my choice of bride!"
But he found no support.
Mrs Bennet declared Mr Darcy much richer, a fact which would have allowed him precedent, no matter any other facts.
Mr Bennet simply reasoned that Darcy had asked first; whilst Elizabeth, with a surprising amount of civility, explained she had known Mr Darcy far longer and she was far more suited to his temperament.
Elizabeth could not quite understand her father. He had given Mr Darcy his permission, and seemed relieved that Mr Collins would not pester her any longer, and yet he did not seem happy about it. Neither did he seek her out to discuss the matter. She decided not to concern herself, no doubt he would come around.
Mr Collins, in a fit of pique, became less verbose for a few days. Much to the joy of the inhabitants. He wrote Lady Catherine, of course, and Elizabeth realised she must warn Mr Darcy of this fact. For what she knew of Lady Catherine she deduced her ladyship was unlikely to be best pleased.
Elizabeth, for her part, found the rain tiresome. It meant she could not forward her opinion of Mr Darcy, but it left her with too much time to reflect. And reflect she did.
On the many occurrences whereby Mr Darcy seemed to know more than he ought.
She was not a superstitious lady, but Mr Darcy seemed to know of events before they occurred. He had alluded to not being able to ask to court her, if he had not done so on the day before the rain started. He knew that Mr Collins would ask for her hand for the first dance, he had not been surprised to see Mr Wickham, although he had clearly only just arrived in town. As far back as her stay at Netherfield he had seemed to know her movements and actions. Did he have some sort of precognition abilities? Ridiculous though that sounded. What a vexing man! Once again thoughts of Mr Darcy were causing her to have difficulty falling asleep.
...
The day of the ball began with clear skies and, thankfully, reasonable roads. The ladies of Longborn were thrilled to see that there would be no impediment to attending the ball, and Elizabeth was happy to discern Mr Darcy riding towards Longborn in the morning. She anticipated his arrival by walking out to meet him in the lane and they spent a half hour wandering the gardens talking of the upcoming ball and Darcy's friendship with Bingley.
They didn't have long and both the Bennet and Bingley household were very busy but he wanted to visit whilst he had a chance to do so.
Elizabeth wanted to ask him about her concerns and considerations but she was so well entertained that she completely forgot to do so. He took his leave, kissing her hand on the back of it and then again on the inside of the wrist. Promising to be at her side the moment she stepped foot through the doors of Netherfield park.
Elizabeth returned to the house glowing, the attention that Darcy bestowed upon her was gratifying and she could not help but feel honoured by it. His conversation was worldly and intelligent, his opinions well thought through and astute. She would occasionally take an alternative view to her own, to see if he was offended, but he seemed thrilled to have her debate with him.
The challenge of being able to speak with freedom was invigorating. She enjoyed this man's company, but had never thought to aspire to catch him. She felt all the freedom of acting as she wished to see if he would tolerate her impertinence, for she would not wish to be suppressed once married and no longer able to change or challenge the position she found herself in.
Surprisingly, Darcy managed to speak to Mr Bennet about Mr Wickham, and the younger girls. Elizabeth knew not what he said but Mr Bennet spoke to Mrs Bennet and together they spoke to all the girls, impressing upon them that no silliness would be tolerated. That they both expected all the girls to act in a manner befitting the situation and any deviation would be met with the severest of actions. In short, anyone misbehaving would be sent home from the ball.
Lydia huffed but it was pointed out to her that if her intention was to misbehave she may find herself staying at home altogether. She, sullenly, agreed that she was not intending on misbehaving and would be on her best behaviour.
Elizabeth and Jane shared a glance, both very relieved that their father had taken the trouble to check the two youngest and both surprised and impressed that he was supported by Mrs Bennet. Mrs Bennet was only pressed in to helping with the threat of loosing Mr Darcy as a suitor and his ten thousand a year. She was made to see that if the Bennets could not behave in company they would not be welcome in London.