Chapter 28:

Mr. Darcy likewise awoke later than usual, it had been a late night, but he did not join the lady's in Mrs. Darcy's parlor. He loved seeing how much she enjoyed that room for it had once been his mother's favorite. Oh how he wished that she would have met Elizabeth, he knew she would have loved her at once.

Mr. Darcy broke his fast in his study, attended to some business and then decided to pay a visit to Mr. Bingley. Even though Mr. Bingley now had free rein to court Jane, Mr. Darcy knew things were not going as well. Anyone looking at their disastrous dance would see that there was no interest on her side. He now knew her well enough to know what was modesty and what was lack of interest. And Mr. Darcy could not help but feel guilty but he had persuaded his friend to leave Miss Bennet.

"You do not look well" observed Mr. Darcy, entering Mr. Bingley's study. He had walked to Bingley House, for it was not far and he enjoyed the fresh air. He had arrived and asked the butler to see Mr. Bingley and was shown into his study. Mr. Bingley was sitting in his chair, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

"I thank you" said Mr. Bingley sarcastically, "Would you like a glass?"

"No, thank you" said Mr. Darcy politely.

"I see, I forgot you are happily married now, you do not need whiskey" said Mr. Bingley bitterly, rolling his eyes.

"Did something happen?" asked Mr. Darcy now concerned, at seeing his usually jovial friend so distraught.

"I….I am not sure" said Mr. Bingley finally, putting down his glass and motioning for Mr. Darcy to sit with him.

"I thought miss Bennett would wait for me" said Mr. Bingley, coming out as a whisper.

"Wait for you? Charles, you left her" said Mr. Darcy, pointing out the obvious.

"On your suggestion!" He screamed. Mr. Darcy did not flinch.

"Yes and I apologized but you nonetheless did leave her and though it pains me that you listened to my wrong advice, you must understand how it seems to her" explained Mr. Darcy.

"It was just a few months, I have not stopped thinking about her, did she truly not love me?" asked Mr. Bingley, running his hand through his hair.

"I believe she loved you very much" said Mr. Darcy, "however, I think she feels your love was not deep enough for you to have gone back for her. The entire town expect you to propose and you simply left."

"It was not my fault, I wanted to go back" said Mr. Bingley.

"So then why did you not?" asked Mr. Darcy.

"Because you and Caroline told me otherwise" said Mr. Bingley, exacerbated. Why was no one aware of the situation? Was he missing something?

"Did you apologize to Miss Bennett?"

"For what?" asked Mr. Bingley.

"Charles, you must not be serious" said Mr. Darcy, looking at his friend incredulously.

"She should understand" said Mr. Bingley, now reaching again for his glass of whiskey.

"I do not believe she does and unless you apologize and show that you are truly devoted...I am not sure she will give you another chance" said Mr. Darcy carefully, "I know you listened to others advice, but if you truly loved her, could anything truly keep you away from her? What stopped you from getting on a horse and going to see her? To at least say goodbye?"

"You are the one who persuaded me!" screamed Mr. Bingley.

"I think she doubts if someone who is truly in love can be thus persuaded" explained Mr. Darcy calmly, "I believe I should leave."

"No, stay, I apologize. You are right….I do think I loved her enough, perhaps I believed, since she had no other prospects, that it did not matter if I went back. She would, after all, wait for me" explained Mr. Bingley, "Does that sounds so very dreadful?"

"Indeed" said Mr. Darcy. "I do not recommend you say that."

"I would not" said Mr. Bingley with a smile. "I will pay a visit later today...after the whiskey..."

"I think tomorrow would be better, my friend" suggested Mr. Darcy, "I do not think being even partially inebriated would help your case."

"I believe you are right" said Mr. Bingley, now more cheerfully. He raised his glass in toast and took another shot.

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In another home, albeit a more fashionable one and of much longer standing, a family sat in the drawing room likewise discussing last nights events.

"Oh Peter" gushed Penelope, "I do so love Jane." She blew on her tea, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, waiting for a reaction.

The Dowager Viscountess smiled and rebuked her daughter, "Do not tease him."

"Agreed" said Peter, adding some milk in his tea.

"Do you want to share with us, your dear sister and dear mother about your thoughts on Miss Bennet?"

"I do not believe I do" said Peter, his face unreadable, "I believe I shall finish my tea and then go to White's."

"Do not be such a bore" teased Penelope, smiling from ear to ear, "I honestly take all the credit for my matchmaking efforts, as it was me who introduced you and if you had listened to your dear sister, you would have been married months ago!"

"Penelope!" said the Dowager, rebuking her daughter, "Let Peter enjoy himself. When do you plan on seeing her?"

"I asked if I could call on her tomorrow and promenade in the park with Penelope, but perhaps it may be wise to rethink our companion" teased Peter, a sly smile on his lips. "Penelope, I will not share with you all my thoughts but know that I am a gentleman and if I am pursuing a young lady it is with honorable purposes. I do not know Miss Bennet well and I will not marry anyone simply because the young lady is beautiful. I do hope to know her better and only then, will we see if it is a fit for both parties. I know that is not a romantic answer but it is mine nonetheless."

"I think it is very romantic, Peter" said the Dowager, dabbing her eyes, "I have raised you well."

"You have mother" said Peter, lovingly, "Now this conversation has gotten too solemn, I believe I shall leave you ladies. Penelope, would you still like to accompany on my morning call tomorrow?"

"I shall behave" said Penelope smiling widely.

"Good" said Peter, smiling. "Goodbye mother."

"Goodbye, my dear" said the Dowager, as her son bent down to kiss her cheek. Once he had left the room, she reprimanded her daughter. "Penelope, you should not tease him!"

"It is so fun to tease Peter, he is too uptight" said Penelope, popping a grape in her mouth.

"Indeed, but he is also never pursued a young lady before and I am not getting any younger, I would not like to sabotage this. Miss Jane Bennet is absolutely lovely and though them meeting did not happen previously, I am very glad it is happening now" explained the Dowager, her voice a bit nervous.

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im sorry! has been 2 very busy weeks!

hope you enjoy :)