Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews, I am so happy that you guys like it so far, some of you can see how different this will be, I hope it turns out great, and I am looking forward to more reviews.
Disclaimer: so sad, Mr. Darcy will never be mine, I think I will cry, the characters are as always Jane Austen, but of course the ones that have me written all over them.
Chapter 2
The next morning found Jane, Elizabeth and Rachel out walking in the flower garden, occasionally plucking a flower or two. Jane was starring dreamily at one of the daisy's she picked, with a slight smile on her face. Elizabeth saw her sister's look and nudged Rachel in the side to pull her attention toward the elder sister. Both smiled at each other knowing exactly what the former was thinking of, or should they say whom.
"Well, I personally don't think that last night's ball was all that fun," started Lizzy playfully, watching for Jane's reaction out of the corner of her eye, "I mean there were not nearly enough agreeable men there to dance with."
Rachel catching on to what Elizabeth was doing, helped continue on with the joke, "I can't agree more with you Lizzy, it was rather dull." Trying to remain serious, as Jane had a slight frown come across her face. "Especially that, Mr. Bingley, who was he to think himself so far above our company. I could scarce draw three words out of him."
Jane's mouth had dropped a little and she was starring at both her sisters in astonishment. They glanced at one another and laughed.
"Oh, Jane," soothed Lizzy, " Rachel and I were just teasing you, we know how much you enjoyed the evening, and we can tell that you like Mr. Bingley a great deal"
This statement brought a slight blush to her checks, before she tried to defend herself.
"He is just what a young man ought to be sensible, lively, so it is true, I don't not like him, and don't look at me that way Lizzy, I for one saw that you took an eager interest to someone else while at the ball."
It was her turn to blush now, Rachel sensing the turn in teasing jumped on the new subject with more zeal.
"Yes, she would hardly speak or even look at me. Her eyes alone were for Mr. Darcy and Mr. Darcy alone. She practically turned down the whole assembly just to talk with him."
Rachel jumped back to avoid Elizabeth's playful slap. "It was not the whole assembly, just one man, and besides if Mr. Darcy was not there, I would have said no to him anyway."
They looked at one another and knew this was not true, Rachel rolled her eyes at her sisters, and sighed.
"Too bad, Mr. Bingley didn't have another friend for me, for now both of you are love stuck and all I can do is tease you, but I do confess that is equally fun."
They all laughed at this, before Elizabeth grew serious once more, she had to explain herself to her sisters.
"Well, I do not want you guys to be getting the wrong idea about Mr. Darcy and me, because I do not like him in the way that you two think. For Mr. Darcy can carry on lively conversations that I enjoy, and so I simply refused to dance because we were in the middle of a discussion. We are simply friends, nothing more."
Rachel sighed and rolled her eyes again, knowing perfectly well that Lizzy did indeed like Mr. Darcy but would not admit it.
"Well I am going inside, I can't talk to you two anymore, when you decided to admit you true feelings for our neighbors than you can find me inside." With that she walked through the front door.
"She is right you know Jane, come, and confess to me what is already plainly written across your face" Lizzy continued seriously.
She laughed softly, "Lizzy, I think she was meaning both of us, not just me, and I confess I do like Mr. Bingley, so now it is your turn sister dear."
"..Jane, I", just then she saw Charlotte out of the corner of her eye coming up the lane, saving her from having to answer Jane. "Oh, look Charlotte has come, Charlotte," she yelled and walked briskly over to her friend.
"We are having a party at Lucas Lodge and you are all invited." Said Charlotte,
Mr. Darcy glanced across the room one more time to look at Elizabeth. She had been avoiding him ever since he walked in. He couldn't understand, they had a wonderful time at the ball, and he couldn't remember anything he had done wrong to offend her. She was talking with some of the officers with her mother and seemed to be enjoying herself thoroughly. He wished that he could be part of her lively conversation. He was frustrated, he had looked forward to this little party that the Lucas' were having, which was surprising. He normally didn't like conversing with strangers, especially since most everyone here was a little inferior to him. But Miss Bennet had bewitched him and he decided that talking to her was better than talking to anyone else, she wasn't like most women. Sighing once more he surveyed the room, noticing that Bingley had not stopped conversing with Miss Jane Bennet since they got here, he smiled at that a little.
Removing himself from mantle of the fireplace, Darcy started walking around the room, hoping that Elizabeth might come and talk to him.
Elizabeth saw the movement out of the corner of her eye, Mr. Darcy had been hovering by her the whole evening but she had ignored him. He was now walking around the room, glancing at her more often than not. His glanced unnerved her, she felt really guilty for not talking to him since they hit it off really well at the ball. After bearing the teasing from her sisters she decided that if she talked to Darcy too much then they might get an idea that she liked him. Which is why now she was refusing to speak to him now, she hoped that he was not too upset. Seeing Charlotte across the room, she decided to walk over and give her some company.
"Well Charlotte, I am having a delightful time, this party has turned out very well." Charlotte smiled, and continued, "Thank you Elizabeth, I see Mr. Bingley continues his attentions to Jane"
Elizabeth glances over at the couple in question, "Yes, I am very happy for her, and I think if Mr. Bingley continues his attention than she will soon be very much in love with him."
Charlotte raised her eyebrows, surprised a little, "And Mr. Bingley, do you think he is in love," Thinking before continuing on with her response, "Well it is clear that he likes her very much."
"Well she should leave him in no doubt of her heart, she should show more affection, more than she feels, if she is to secure him." Laughing at Charlottes absurd answer,
"Secure him, Charlotte, really, before she is sure of his character, before she is sure of her own regard for him." Charlotte, being a little too old to attract many suitors, knows the importance of securing a suitor since she never did and now must face the facts of becoming and old maid. She didn't want the same fate to go to Jane, she is much to pretty for that.
"Happiness in marriage is only a matter of chance, you know, there will always be vexation and grief, and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of your marriage partner, is it not so." Lizzy eyes sparking with mirth, "You know that is not sound, you would never act like that yourself,"
Glancing again at Jane and Mr. Bingley, Charlotte was determined for Lizzy to see her side of things. "Well it seems that Jane will not, so let us hope that Mr. Bingley will, I think he gets little encouragement from his sisters."
Lizzy rolls her eyes," I will have to agree with you on that," smiling, she looks once more at Mr. Darcy, their eyes lock for a brief moment, before Lizzy looks away, blushing.
Charlotte, always the observing friend, noticed this and was curious.
"Mr. Darcy looks at you a great deal Lizzy,"
Determined not to be affected by that statement, "I don't know why, unless he means to frighten me with his contempt, I wish he would not come into society, he only makes people uneasy," she finishes with as much indifference she could muster. Charlotte knew deep inside that Lizzy didn't feel that way; she saw them at the ball but couldn't figure out why she was avoiding him.
Perhaps she thought, Lizzy just needs a little help with men, as it seems Jane does.
"Well Lizzy, I am going to open the instrument, and you know what follows."
"You are a very strange friend, always wanting me to play and sing. But as you know I am not the best of performers." Seeing her friends face, she added "Very well, if I must, glancing once more at Darcy, before taking her seat at the piano. She got thru one song, with Charlotte turning the pages for her exceedingly well, until Charlotte turned and suggested to Mr. Darcy,
"Mr. Darcy, I am getting tired of standing her to turn the pages for my dear friend, since you seem to be the closest, would you mind taking over for me."
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide, but before she could protests, Mr. Darcy agreed.
Pulling up a chair close by, which made Elizabeth's face flush, she dared not look at his face. "What would you like to play now Miss Bennet," he said this hushed and close to her ear, which made a chill run up and down her spine,
"Whatever pleases you, Mr. Darcy," sitting up straighter, so as to calm herself, Mr. Darcy picked a piece she knew very well, from Mozart. After playing several songs, she got up to let some other ladies take their turn as well. Hoping Mr. Darcy would stay at the piano, she walked briskly over to a corner of the room, to compose herself. She dared not look back, if she did, she would have saw a certain man follow her to her secluded corner.
"Miss Bennet, may I join you" this was his chance to talk to her and he was not about to give it up. Turning around, she could only nod in response.
An awkward silence perused which neither party felt inclined to talk. Mr. Darcy was having trouble formulating a question so as to find what was bothering her so, and Lizzy was trying to remain composed. Rallying his courage, Mr. Darcy started the conversation.
"Miss Bennet, I can't help notice that you have been avoiding me this evening and I wish to know what I have done to offend thy, and if I have I am dreadfully sorry."
Realizing her mistake of ignoring him, she quickly replied, "Oh no Mr. Darcy, you have not done anything, I just…well," finding it hard to explain the real reason why, she made one up.
"I did not know if you enjoyed my company, sir, and so I did not want to make the evening awkward for you, please forgive me for having miss judged you,"
"There is nothing to forgive," he said tenderly, once again bewitched my the magic in her fine eyes, "There is nothing I enjoy more than being in your company"
At this Elizabeth, turned a deep shade of red, Mr. Darcy could have slapped himself by saying what he felt, she must think him too forward. Trying to rectify the situation, Mr. Darcy tried a more neutral subject.
"You played very well at the piano Miss Bennet," she laughed, "Really Mr. Darcy, spare me, I know I don't play very well, I hardly practice."
"Indeed, but if you practiced more you would be a true proficient. My sister Georgiana, she loves to play the piano forte, she spends most of the day in that manner. I love to listen to her play," Elizabeth could see the love he had for his sister in his eyes.
"How old is your sister sir?" asked Elizabeth, "She is just 16, and about your height, Miss Bennet,"
Blushing a little at Mr. Darcy relating his sister to her, she continued "Is she the only family you have sir?"
Sighing Mr. Darcy answered with a heavy heart, "Yes, my mother died when Georgiana was very young, and my father passed a way a some years ago." Sensing she brought up the wrong subject, she hesitantly continued, "I am sorry; I did not mean to remind you of your past,"
Sensing her discomfort, "Oh no, Miss Bennett, do not make yourself uncomfortable over my account, but thank you for your concern." He smiled to reassure her, Elizabeth couldn't tell if the smile helped or not, for he had such a dazzling smile, as to disarm any rational thought from her head. Looking away as to compose herself, she continued their conversation discussing books. They remained there till the party started to break and they had to say farewell.
He was preparing for bed and couldn't get thoughts of Miss Bennet out of his head, Miss Bingley saw how much time Darcy had spent with Eliza and confronted him about it.
"I am dreadfully sorry sir, for having to bear the company of Miss Eliza Bennet; she is such an impertinent girl. She does not have a handsome feature in her face; I can not see why anyone could like such a girl." Hoping to changed Mr. Darcy opinion of Miss Bennet, she continued "Her performance at the piano forte was just dreadful, I could scarcely her myself think, with all those awful notes, and ill conceived measures that she calls music," Laughing to herself, she did not see Mr. Darcy grow more agitated with every statement. "And to think that some people called her pretty," Glancing at Mr. Darcy and waiting for his response,
"I thought that she looked remarkably well, this evening and her performance, although not the best, was pleasing to my ears, she has such captivating eyes, and lively conversations so as to not make me bored," He stated this firmly, his anger kindling just a little, realizing what he just admitted to Miss Bingley of all people.
He sat on his bed contemplating the conversation he just had, he hoped that by tomorrow, that Miss Bingley would forget some of what he said about Miss Bennet. He was afraid that he was paying too much attention to her. He did not want Miss Bennet to get the wrong idea, sighing once more; he resolved to be more reserved in her company, and about his feelings.
"How did you enjoy the evening, Mrs. Bennet?" Asked her husband, they were sitting close together by the fireplace, having their children all in bed, and the house to themselves, to enjoy the peace and quiet. "Mmm, I enjoyed it very well; Colonial Foster and his wife are very pleasing. Some of the ladies will enjoy having the regiment in Meryton, Rachel this evening seemed to be enjoying their company immensely." She smiled remembering the pleasant evening before continuing. "It seems that Jane and Elizabeth have found some suitors. Jane hardly left Bingley's side, but Lizzy seemed to be avoiding a certain gentleman until later in the evening," She smiled mischievously, knowing that she caught her husband's curiosity.
"Who was the gentleman, dearest," Mr. Bennet asked in the most innocent of voices.
"I can't remember," she responded just as nonchalantly. Annoyed Mr. Bennet decided to give in to his wife. "Alright my dear, you have my full attention, who is the man that my Lizzy has the caught the attention of."
Pleased that she had so much control over her husband, she waited ever so slightly before responding, "Mr. Darcy, he couldn't take his eyes off her for the whole evening, but was finally rewarded in the end by her company."
Mr. Bennet was deep in thought, he wasn't sure he wanted someone interested in his Lizzy, she was his favorite. But he couldn't hold on to his girls forever.
"Well my dear," he said finally, "It seems that eventually we will only have us two to keep company, for soon our house will be empty." She smiled, and kissed her husband on the lips before saying, "But we shall have all those grandchildren to entertain and spoil."
Cuddling closer together, they watched the fire die down till just the embers were left.
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