Breakfast before the Bennets leave Netherfield

"Miss Bennet," Darcy looked up from his newspaper as Elizabeth entered the breakfast room. "Do you always rise so early."

"Yes, Mr. Darcy. With four sisters, the only quiet time in the house is in the morning when everyone else is asleep. My father and I both like to wake up early and have a quiet breakfast together."

"I cannot imagine what it is like with four siblings in the house. I only have the one sister and she is much younger than me. By the time she was making much noise, I was away at school. By the time I finished school, both of my parents had died, so it is just me and her rattling through a large house."

"I am sorry for your loss Mr. Darcy. You both must be very lonely."

"We do have other family that we spend time with. I have a cousin that I share guardianship with. And my aunt and uncle are constantly having Georgianna to stay."

"It is good of your aunt to have her. The poor girl must be quite bereft of female company with just you and a cousin. I hope your cousin understand women better than you."

"I will not say he understands them better. He is certainly better at conversing with them than I."

"Oh, I am sorry Mr. Darcy. I did not mean to be rude."

"It is fine. You are right. I find I understand women very little. My sister.. She is not a troublesome girl, but I do not know how to help her."

"She is still young?"

"Fifteen."

"Well, from growing up with four sisters, I can tell you that fifteen is a trying age. You are not quite a woman, but not a child either. Just listen to her and be there for her."

"Thank you. You know, I have found something else I admire about you."

"Ooh, do tell, Mr. Darcy."

"You are very kind."

"Kind? Even though I keep telling you off?"

"I think you are quite brave to tell me off. Not many people will stand up to me and call out my poor behavior. But yes, you are kind. You are offering me advice on my sister, even though you do not know her and I have not always been kind to you."

"Others would call my interference officious."

"I would call my other aunt officious, you, never. You are also kind to your sister. Coming here and caring for her while she is ill."

"Who would not do the same for Jane. She is my dearest sister."

"Netherfield's tenants have also told me how you and your sisters have cared for them."

"Netherfield's owner has not been here for many years. It was Jane's idea to take over their care though."

"It is still kind. I know of no other landowners that care for tenants that do not belong to them."

"I declare, Mr. Darcy, if you keep going on in this manner, I might change my mind about those raised expectations."

Mr. Darcy blinked. "You are teasing me."

"Yes, Mr. Darcy."