There was a smaller local show the week after Bingley had settled in at Netherfield. It was customary for the majority of people to at least see the horse games events the trio, Darcy, Mr Bingley and Miss Bingley, attended to admire the finest ponies the district had to offer. However, Darcy had refused to enter any of the events, 'at a show such as this? You must be kidding Bingley. Storm would trounce them entirely.' Bingley had no such reservations and noticing that there were plenty of events he could enter on the day he did so. Darcy watched from a key vantage point and listened to the gossip and commentators who were constantly getting details wrong, in his opinion. Miss Bingley was very bored and so left to ride a trail before the last set of events, the games.
Elizabeth laughed heartily when her sister introduced her to Mr Bingley and suggested that he be part of their four-person games team.
"I should very much like to have you on the team Mr Bingley but I thought Lydia was bringing our fourth player." Elizabeth said.
"No, she has gone to do something with her friends this afternoon. She didn't really want to enter games on Dancer yet anyway." Jane replied quietly.
"Then we are in need of two others to join our team. Mr Bingley…"
"Please, call me Charles."
"Charles, would you like to be one of the Longbourn team?" She was smiling welcomingly and Bingley agreed on the spot. It was then up to the rider of the chestnut to find the other team member and after a suggestion from Bingley she was determined to approach the most arrogant man at the show. Even if it was just to show she had no hard feelings about his comments before.
She was riding in his direction and Darcy could think of no reason at all she should approach him carrying a brightly coloured sash. Perplexed he waited for her to ride past but she stopped, dismounted and smiled.
"Good afternoon Mr Darcy." She began. "My name is Elizabeth Bennet. I came third at the jumping last week at –shire show." He nodded and wondered why she looked slightly nervous.
"Nice to meet you, your ride was impressive." She wrinkled her nose with dissatisfaction.
"No, I wasn't concentrating and nor was Flame, we were on autopilot." He was very glad he could school his features into any expression he chose for he was sure that otherwise his jaw would have hit the grass with a thud.
"I see." There was a pause.
"I was wondering if you would be so kind as to be the fourth member of a team to compete in the games later this afternoon. My sister and her friend have left us in the lurch and Mr Bingley has kindly volunteered to be third player but we are still in need of the last rider. It would be great if you would ride with us."
"Ride in a games event?" He asked again, shocked anyone would dare propose such an idea.
"Yes, there is not one event more prestigious in our area. After all, what good is a horse that can only jump or do dressage if it is not responsive and a pleasure to ride?" Her remark hit home and he reached for the sash.
"What exactly does this event entail?" She smiled
"I'll tell you once you're mounted and over with Mr Bingley. I'm sure he and my sister are discussing strategies but I'd like to go over everything once before we compete with everyone there." Mounting she waved, smiled and rode back to the other two people on the team. Darcy wondered for a moment what on earth had possessed him to accept her challenge but unable to find a satisfactory answer he tacked up Storm and went to be briefed on the tactics involved in games.
