A/N: If you are interested in the setting that inspired this story, let me direct you to the music video for "Sunday in the South" by Shenandoah. It was actually filmed in the town that I grew up in and captures the feeling and nostalgia that comes from living in that kind of sleepy southern town. You can check out my Wattpad for a playlist that elaborates on those feelings, as well as some inspiration pictures that help set the scene. More backstory and explanations are coming in later chapters, I promise.


Chapter 5

Lizzie managed so spend much of the rest of the day camped out in the guest room where Jane was set up. She was happy to avoid socializing with the rest of the household as much as possible and was glad to be available to care for Jane and lift her spirits. But she knew she couldn't avoid making an appearance for dinner at the very least, which Charlie had stopped by to inform her would be ready around six o'clock. "We'll make sure to set aside a plate for Jane as well, to bring back to her room," he said sweetly, smiling at the pale figure napping in the guest bed.

It was nearing six when Lizzie decided she should at least try to do something with her unruly hair before heading to the dining room. She managed to wrangle it into a braid, Jane watching her carefully. "There, I won't be too much of a disgrace at least, don't you think?" Lizzie asked her sister wryly.

"You look gorgeous as always, and you know it," Jane sighed, shaking her head at her sister's antics.

Frowning, Lizzie sat on the bed. "I'd rather get a plate and eat in here with you," she said grumpily. "Those sisters would prefer me anywhere else, as well. The only civil one of the bunch is your Bingley."

Jane coughed, shaking her head. "He's not my Bingley, Lizzie," she said, as firmly as she could manage.

"Oh, I beg to differ," Lizzie said. "And if he isn't now, he will be soon enough." With that, she stood up, grinning at her sister. Jane couldn't help but smile back as Lizzie marched out the door as if she were heading to war.

Netherfield was impossibly large, something that Lizzie was just now fully grasping as she looked for the dining room. She should have paid more attention when Charlie showed her around earlier that day. There were noises coming from behind a door, though she couldn't quite make out what they were. Thinking it was possibly the dining room, she opened the door slowly.

It was not the dining room. She peered into a cozy study, complete with a pool table in the center and comfortable leather chairs scattered about the room. Someone was leaning over the pool table, lining up a shot with calculated precision. It was Darcy, his every movement steeped in confidence. He solidly tapped the cue ball, sinking the striped ball he'd been aiming for before standing up, satisfied. Lizzie watched quietly, impressed with the skill even in the dimness of the study.

Darcy must have felt her presence, because he turned suddenly, catching her staring. An uncomfortable moment passed where neither said a word. He finally gave her a small wave then turned back to his game. Lizzie decided it would be more awkward to say anything at that point, so she left to continue her search for the dining room.


After dinner, Charlie insisted that Lizzie should join them in the sunroom. "It's not good for you to be cooped up all night with Jane, and I'm sure she needs her rest," he said. Lizzie found it difficult to deny the man anything, with his puppy dog eyes and sweet disposition. She could certainly see what her sister liked about him. So, she agreed, on the condition that she would be allowed to read, claiming to be at a pivotal point in the novel she was working through. She went to grab her book and check on Jane. Charlie was right; Jane was fast asleep, having hardly touched the dinner Lizzie had brought her.

Settling into one of the chairs, she had to admit that it was very comfortable, lounging in the sunroom, listening to the cicadas. Bingley, his sisters, and Mr. Hurst were playing poker; it was obvious by the conversation that Mr. Hurst was winning. Lizzie wondered briefly where Darcy was, only for him to appear as if she had conjured him up.

"Oh good, Darcy, come help me. Hurst is cleaning house over here," Caroline said, pouting. Hurst slapped his cards down triumphantly, earning a collective groan from the other card players.

Darcy just gave a half-smile, sinking into a chair near Lizzie. "How is your sister?" he asked, pulling her attention away from the book she was pretending to read.

"She's feeling a bit better, thank you for asking," Lizzie said, surprised that he cared to ask after her at all.

He nodded, setting up the writing supplies he had brought in with him. "I'm glad, that's good to hear." He began writing, the conversation apparently over. He's probably hoping we will leave soon, Lizzie thought, shaking her head at the strangeness of the man.

At the table, Caroline's dramatics continued. "I'm going broke over here, Hurst," she said, loud enough to be heard by everyone. Her brother-in-law just chuckled, counting his earnings.

"Would you like to play, Lizzie?" Louisa asked, dealing out a new hand.

Lizzie shook her head firmly. "No, no, I'm fine, thank you."

Mr. Hurst made a dismissive sound. "You'd rather read than play poker? Very interesting," he said in a tone that made her think he didn't find it interesting at all.

"Oh, Lizzie hates playing cards," Caroline interjected, though Lizzie wasn't sure how she would know such a thing. "She's very well-read and finds little enjoyment in anything else." Her sister snorted.

It was exactly the sort of backhanded compliment that made Lizzie loath to spend time outside of Jane's temporary sanctuary. "I'm sure I don't deserve such a compliment or such an insult," she said, keeping her tone light and her expression pleasant. "I'm no more well-read than most people, and I enjoy a wide variety of activities."

The rest of the room was quiet, unsure of how to respond. Caroline cleared her throat uncomfortably. "And what are you doing so secretively over there, Darcy?" she asked, eager to change the subject once her initial target fought back.

Darcy looked up, annoyed at being pulled into the conversation. "There's no secret. I'm writing to my sister," he said flatly, wanting to get back to it.

"Sweet, dear Georgiana!" Caroline exclaimed, ignoring Darcy's eye roll. "Oh, I miss her so much! How much has she grown since I saw her last, is she as tall as me yet?" She straightened her back, showing off her admittedly impressive stature.

Deciding that he wasn't going to wriggle his way out of this discussion quite so easily, Darcy capped his pen. "No, I'd say she's about Lizzie's height, maybe a bit taller," he said, glancing at her. Lizzie wondered when he had a chance to take such precise note of her height.

Caroline ignored his pointed comment. "And she's so accomplished! She is incredibly talented on the piano. Do you play, Lizzie?"

"Oh, a little," Lizzie replied. "But not very often and not very well." The Bennet's had one, of course, but Mary was the one that preferred to play it.

Not pleased with this uncomfortable turn in the conversation, Charlie decided to intervene. "Aren't all young women accomplished these days?" he said good-naturedly. "They're all talented, they sing, dance, play instruments, speak all sorts of languages, do charity work and who knows what else."

Darcy was decidedly irritated with being pulled away from his letter. "There aren't more than half a dozen women who would meet my expectations of an accomplished young lady," he said grumpily.

Raising her eyebrows, Lizzie blinked in amusement but decided to hold her tongue and see where this line of thought was going. Caroline was more than willing to provide expound on the subject, one in which she considered herself an expert. "Of course, it's not just about the things you do. No one can really be considered accomplished without having something else about them, a certain manner in the way she carries herself," she said, nodding, looking to Darcy for approval.

"Beyond that," Darcy added, looking at Lizzie out of the corner of his eye, "she has to also work to improve her mind through learning, or maybe extensive reading." His smile was almost imperceptible as Caroline made a choked noise.

Lizzie tamped down the smirk that threatened to take over. "Well, I'm not surprised you only know six such 'accomplished' women, Darcy," she said. He turned towards her fully, waiting. "In fact, it's amazing that you know any at all," she continued, smiling sweetly.

"That's an awfully cynical view, isn't it?" Louisa said.

Shrugging, Lizzie picked her book back up. "It's the truth as I see it," she said.

Caroline turned back to the cards that had been dealt in front of her, annoyed. "Maybe, Lizzie, you haven't had the opportunity to spend much time outside of the company of your small-town society. I know many girls that fit the description."

There was no response from Lizzie, who just rolled her eyes and went back to her book. Darcy smirked, grateful that the interruption seemed to be over and he could go back to his letter.

"Well, are we going to play or not?" Mr. Hurst grumbled, waiting for everyone's attention to return to the game at hand. His wife and her siblings just groaned and looked at their cards.


The next day brought Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest daughters to check in on Jane's recovery. They were shown immediately to the guestroom, while the rest of the household lounged in the living room, escaping the oppressive heat of the afternoon.

"And the mother here now, as well. I swear, we are being invaded by every Bennet in the entire country. It's just too much!" Caroline said dramatically, dropping onto the loveseat next to her sister.

Mr. Hurst, ever oblivious, looked alarmed at this proclamation. He stood up, as if to escape, but was blocked by the group of women that were making their way down the long hallway. "Lord," he grumbled, sitting back down.

Standing up quickly, Charlie offered Mrs. Bennet a seat. "I hope Jane is doing better than you expected," he said nervously.

"I'm afraid not," Mrs. Bennet's voice was dripping with concern. "I think she's worse off than any of us thought. Very sick. Of course, she bears it all admirably. She really is the sweetest thing."

Lizzie's eyes widened with alarm at her mother's words, especially since she knew them to be mostly untrue. Jane was getting better every day. "But, I think, she is still too sick to come home," Mrs. Bennet continued, "so I'm afraid we may need to rely on your hospitality a bit longer."

There was no missing the eye-rolls that Caroline and her sister shared as Charlie hurried to answer. "Of course, it is no trouble," he said.

"We'll make sure Jane is as comfortable as possible, I can assure you," Caroline said with saccharine sweetness.

That seemed to satisfy Mrs. Bennet. "Y'all are too kind," she said. Looking around, she appraised the large living room they were in. "Well, you have such a nice home here. I would think you'll never want to go back to the city now that you are settled in here."

Charlie smiled, nodding. "I think I would be happy to stay in the country forever if I could. Wouldn't you, Darcy?" he asked, turning to include his friend in the conversation, as he had yet to speak to their guests.

"You would?" Darcy seemed genuinely surprised. "You don't find it somewhat… stifling and lacking in diversity?"

Whirling on Darcy, Mrs. Bennet raised her voice. "Stifling? Lacking in diversity? Absolutely not! The country is a great deal more pleasant than the city, no matter what you think about it." She crossed her arms with a nod as if that should be the final word on the subject.

The tirade was met with silence as Darcy just shook his head and walked towards the window. "Oh, momma, I think you misunderstood Darcy's meaning," Lizzie said, trying to smooth over the awkwardness that had settled in the room.

"Do I, now? He seems to think the country is worthless." She was not content letting the offensive man off so easily.

"Momma, please," Lizzie sighed, realizing it was probably a losing battle.

"Stifling, no diversity. I'll have you know, my hairdresser is Canadian!"

That last revelation made Caroline and her sister finally burst into a fit of laughter. They didn't even bother trying to hide it. Lizzie closed her eyes briefly, shaking off the embarrassment before trying to change the subject. "Has Charlotte been by in the last few days? I meant to call her, but I forgot," she said, attempting to distract her mother.

Mrs. Bennet smiled, an almost menacing expression. "Oh, as a matter of fact, she and Mr. Lucas came by yesterday," she said. "He's such a pleasant man, very agreeable. Now, that's what I call well-bred." The jab didn't escape anyone's notice, making Lizzie wince and Charlie look worriedly at his friend, concerned that he would continue to engage with the irate woman.

When no one responded, Mrs. Bennet took it as a sign to continue. "Then there are those who think themselves so significant but have nothing good to say for themselves. Well, I think they're mistaken about their importance," she said, settling herself primly on a chair with a look that said she thought she had won some great battle.

There was a quiet sneeze from Catie, drawing everyone's attention to the two younger Bennet girls. "Um, Charlie," Lydia decided to take control of the situation, glad to have all eyes on here. "Didn't you promise to throw a party once you were settled in? I'm sure we would all be disappointed if you didn't follow through." She smiled sweetly at him.

Charlie's relief was visible at this welcome change of subject. "Of course! I fully intend to keep my promise. As soon as your sister feels better. You can name the date if you want."

Turning to Catie, Lydia clapped her hands in excitement. Bingley's sisters looked far less thrilled, their expressions ranging from irritation to disgust.

"Well then, Lydia, isn't that just something," Mrs. Bennet said haughtily. "What a generous offer. Now, that's what I call a gentleman." She looked at Darcy, who was still by the window. He scowled, though Lizzie could only see it from the reflection in the window. She sighed, determined to get her mother out of the room as quickly as possible.


There was only so much time one person could spend reading. Lizzie met her limit more quickly than she would have thought, so she roamed the gardens as much as possible. Charlie's two Airedale Terriers were proving to be a welcome distraction, as well. They were far better company than the alternatives inside.

It was one of those rare breezy summer nights, so Charlie decided he wanted to spend the evening outside. Caroline had strung lights along the railing of the front porch, which Lizzie had to admit made the setting very relaxing and whimsical. It was exactly the kind of night that the Bennet girls would spend lying in the driveway, looking at the stars and watching lightning bugs. For some reason, Lizzie didn't think her current company would appreciate it if she went and laid down in the driveway.

Instead, the group watched the sunset sitting on the outdoor furniture that Lizzie was sure Caroline had recently purchased. The porch was well lit enough to still read, so Lizzie had her book at the ready, though she wasn't paying it much attention. Darcy was also reading, or perhaps pretending to read. Lizzie couldn't help but notice him staring at her more than once when he thought no one was watching. It was disconcerting.

"Won't you walk with me, Eliza?" Caroline said after walking around the circular driveway alone a few times. "It's strangely refreshing." Her words were directed at Lizzie, but she was staring at Darcy, who's focus remained fixed on his book.

Lizzie shrugged, thinking a walk didn't sound too terrible at the moment, even if it were with Caroline. She put her book down and the two walked around the circle once before Caroline sighted. "Why don't you join us, Darcy?" she said finally, realizing that he wasn't going to pay her any attention unless directly addressed.

He still didn't look up from his book. "That would defeat the purpose," he said, turning a page.

Happy now to get a reaction, Caroline smiled. "What on earth do you mean by that?" she asked, batting her eyelashes in a way that made Lizzie choke back a laugh.

"I think I'd rather not know," Lizzie said, struggling to keep her voice even and under control.

But Caroline wouldn't be thwarted so easily. She leaned on the porch railing near Darcy's chair, uncomfortably close. "Oh, no, we need to know what you mean," she said/

Darcy was determined to pretend he didn't notice Caroline's blatant attempts at flirting, which had grown increasingly obvious the longer the Bennet sisters were in residence. "Well, only that walking shows off your figure, in which case I have a much better view from my seat," he said blandly.

The remark drew a sharp snort from Louisa and a scandalized look from Caroline. "What an outrageous thing to say!" Caroline cried, lightly slapping his shoulder. "Naughty man. How should we punish him, Eliza?"

This time Lizzie didn't bother to hide her smile. She was surprised that Darcy was so openly poking fun at his best friend's sister, even if the woman herself didn't realize the extent. "Oh, that's easy," she responded, "tease him, laugh at him."

"Laugh at Darcy?" Caroline said as if it were the most ridiculous idea in the world. "Impossible. He's flawless."

"Oh, is he?" Laughing, Lizzie turned to Darcy to examine him, raising her eyebrows thoughtfully. "Flawless, hm?" Her eyes sparkled, crinkling in the corner to soften the joke.

Joke or not, it made Darcy uncomfortable to be the topic of such a conversation, especially so with Lizzie looking at him in such a way. "Of course, that's not possible," he said, clearing his throat. "But it has been my goal in life to avoid the weaknesses that might expose some to ridicule." He cringed inwardly, hoping that his words didn't sound as pretentious to her as they did to his own ears.

She bit her lip, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Weaknesses. Like… vanity? Or maybe pride?" It was a well-aimed blow, hitting him in the exact place needed to raise his indignation.

"Yes, vanity is a weakness, I'll give you that," he said, suddenly serious, "but pride, well, there's nothing inherently wrong with it if someone has valid reasons to be proud."

Lizzie just grinned, as if his own words proved his point.

"I have faults, Elizabeth," he continued. "Though not the ones you're thinking, I hope. My temper, I can't excuse that. Some people have called me resentful." He shot a look at Bingley, leaning on the railing across the porch. Bingley looked away quickly and pretended to be fascinated with the stars. "My respect, once lost, is lost forever," Darcy finished solemnly.

There was silence for a moment as Lizzie considered his words thoughtfully. "I'd say that is a fault, for sure, though I won't laugh at you for it," she said, a half-apology for poking fun at him.

Darcy accepted her words with appreciation. "I think everyone has a tendency towards some inherent badness," he said, looking up at her.

"Ah, so your fault is a propensity to hate everyone," she said before she could think better of her words, forgetting herself and her present company. It was the kind of thing she would say without regret to Jane or Charlotte, but Darcy was neither her sister or her best friend. The words were out before she could stop them, and Darcy's reaction was instant.

"And yours is to willfully misunderstand them," he said with more force than he intended. He had no idea what it was about this woman that riled him so easily, but he didn't like it at all.

With wide eyes, Charlie looked between the two, unsure what to do. Thankfully, Caroline stepped in, not liking the sparks that were flying any more than her brother did, though for different reasons. "Hey, let's go watch a movie," she said, pulling her sister out of her seat and shuffling everyone inside. Charlie smiled gratefully at her, joining in the efforts of getting the group inside and separating the two firecrackers. Darcy and Lizzie stared at each other for one more moment before Lizzie turned and headed in, going towards the guestroom instead of the living room. She could almost feel Darcy's stern eyes on her back as she walked away.