A/N: Hey eveyone, here is chapter 4, hope you like it. I am dreadfully sorry about my spelling/grammar errors, I know they are annoying. But that has always been my weakest link. I've tried to catch them, but they are probley still some lerking about...please review.
Chapter 4: Sibling Rivalry and the Personal Scribe
David turned to look at the barmaid, very confused. Everhart? He thought, but that's my last name. It wasn't like Everhart was very common either, and moreover, the bartender was called Fletcher. Bingley didn't seem to think it was odd at all, but merely smiled at the girl and bowed his head.
"It's a pleasure," Bingley said before turning back to David. "Your sister looks a great deal like you." Bingley commented. At this declaration both David and Daisy spoke up.
"Oh she's not my sister, sir."
"Him? Me brother? Go on."
Now it was Bingley's turn to look confused.
"I'm sorry, but didn't you say your name was Everhart? I just assumed that-" But Bingley was interrupted.
"Oh me name is Daisy Everhart, sir. But that don't make me his sister, by no means. I'm an orphan." Now David was more confused than ever. An orphan? But he had always thought she was the bartenders daughter. Though, now that he thought about it, he didn't believe anyone had actually told him so. He just had seen her around and at the tavern all his life and so assumed that she was the child of its keeper.
"How strange then that you resemble each other so much," Bingley said, looking back and forth between the two. David again looked back at the barmaid.
He hadn't really registered it before, but she did resemble him. Her blonde curly hair, her dark brown eyes, and her light dimples, all matched his own features. Her face was even shaped like his, and her eyes had the same wide roundness about them. Daisy also stared at him with a new confused look.
"Hey, you do look like me," She laughed, and David noticed that her laugh was a lot like his own as well. Suspicion began to curl in his gut.
"You say you're an orphan, have you always been one?" he asked her, his attention momentarily gone from Mr. Bingley.
"Well, I can't right know can I, I suppose I once had a family, but all I ever remember is being here, and Mr. Fletcher telling me I was an orphan and was to work for him, and me name was Daisy Everhart." Completely perplexed now, he thought back to her age. She looked like she was about 19, older than him by two years. And his father often came to the tavern, but then he did love his ale. His mother on the other hand, never came, and hated it when any of the children were near it. But again, David had always thought this was because that was how women like his mother were. David also had a hard time envisioning his parents giving up one of their children. But then Daisy spoke up again.
"I do know one thing though, Mr. Fletcher told me, that me parents gave me up cause I was born unnaturally, and God wouldn't have me. I was a shame to my parents." She paused biting her lip thoughtfully, "I always thought that I was born out of wedlock here at the tavern." A clearer picture was painted for David now, and he noticed that Daisy's skin was a bit darker than his own though not by much, and her fingers were much longer than either of his parents. He remembered his mother saying something once.
"Well you can have the tavern and everyone in it, cause God knows that they all belong to you." At the time he had found it a very odd thing to say indeed. But now, as he looked at this pretty girl in front of him, he didn't think so. He decided that the only thing he could do would be write a letter to his parents and find out the truth, until then he would have to take care of the girl as best he could. Bingley, who looked very uncomfortable, and a little embarrassed cleared his throat and again addressed David.
"Mr. Everhart, I'm sure you are wondering what brings me to you, as we have never formally been introduced," He began, " Well I heard from the…bartender, Mr. Fletcher," He nodded his head at Daisy, " That you were seeking travel to London. Well it just so happens that I am in need of a coachman. I came here to the bar hoping to employ a person, and I hope now that I have found that person. For surely, it would benefit us both." Mr. Bingley looked very relieved at finally having said what he had originally intended.
David was overcome by an array of emotions all at once. Initially he was thrilled at finally finding a way to London. Then he was ecstatic that it was Caroline's brother, that he would be coaching. Then he was even more excited by the prospect that this might mean his couching Caroline as well, and he would get to be service to her. Then he was downcast, that she might see this as impertinent. And finally he was confused about what he should do with the new problem of his alleged sister. Of course in thinking all these things, a few moments had passed, and Bingley's smile had faded a little from his face while waiting. Perhaps he was worried that he had said something wrong or had offended David. It was Daisy who awoke David from his trance by tapping him on the arm.
"Oh-uh…yes of course I would be honored to drive you to London, I just- Well I would like to check in on this matter of 'a sister' to my family. And then of course I will take you." David said turning to look at Daisy once more.
"Oh yes, certainly, take your time, I'm just relieved to have finally found a willing person. What with the chance of floods and all." Bingley said happily, but then his face changed to a worried expression, "But uh- do you think you could- I mean do you think it will take too awfully long? Its just my sister, Caroline, she is quite eager to leave." David tried to hide the excitement from his face at the mention of Caroline.
"Oh! I'm sure it won't take long, I could have it done by tomorrow."
"Excellent!" Bingley said, clearly relieved, David had to bite back a smile at the obvious fear Bingley had of his sister.
"Oh um, and incase it does turn out that she is my sister," He said again turning to look at Daisy, who looked very annoyed to be kept out of the conversation, "Would you mind if she accompanied me, she could sit on the coachman's seat with me, we would be no trouble." But before Bingley could respond, the girl spoke up.
"What! You can't just decide where I'll go for me! If I am your sister, so what, I can still stay here and work can't I?" She huffed, but then remembering that Mr. Bingley was still watching flashed him a quick dimpled smile and continued sweeter, "I mean I'm earning a good living, and I'm happy here, and I'd be in the gentlemen's way I'm sure." She said trying to maintain her composure.
"Oh not at all," Bingley said immediately, for it was clear he feared losing his newfound coachman already. "You would be in no ones way, it would be a pleasure to have you." Daisy did seem to soften a bit at this, and she fluttered her eyes at Mr. Bingley.
"Well when you put it like that and not in a demanding way," She threw a nasty look at David, "I'll think about it."
"And as for earning a good living, hardly, you think I would let a sister of mine carry on the kind of work you tried only a few minuets ago to get me to join?" David said hotly. Daisy's eyes flashed with annoyance again.
"No one has said I'm your sister yet, you may be counting your chickens before they hatch." She said pursing her lips. At this point Bingley excused himself, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
David and Daisy argued no more, but simply went their separate ways. David to rent a room for the night, and Daisy to get back to work.
Darcy's Pov:
Mr. Darcy of Pemberley was completely in raptures with his new wife. As was Mrs. Darcy in raptures of her new husband. For the past few days they had done nothing else but be in each others company. On this particular evening, three days from their wedding, Mr. Darcy sat writing a far to long overdue business letter, and Mrs. Darcy leaned on his shoulder watching. They were lying in bed, dressed only in their undergarments, and they had been lying thus for about 20 minuets.
Elizabeth, a little annoyed at having to wait so long for her husband to finish began to fidget.
"You know, you write uncommonly slow, Mr. Darcy." She said mocking Caroline Bingley's unique voice. She ran her hand up his chest as she said it, attempting to distract him. Darcy smiled a little but otherwise gave no impression of stopping.
"Your quite right, I do." he said kissing her head. "But I really must get this letter posted. I have put it off for quite some time, and I'm afraid it will catch up with me." Elizabeth sighed and waited for a few moments more. Suddenly inspired by an idea she asked,
"Have you ever thought of hiring someone to write your letters for you? I've heard you complain about writing them so often, that perhaps you would not be so put out if they did fall to someone else's lot instead of your own." Darcy finally looked at his wife all the way, and stared amazed.
"Were you listing so intently to those conversations that you memorized them?" Darcy asked of her.
"I did not listen any more than I normally do, but I think they just stayed with me." Elizabeth said giving him a slight smile. "But really, will you not consider the idea of a professional writer. I'm not sure what they are called, the people who do that sort of thing, but will you consider it?"
"A stenographer?" Darcy asked simply.
"Aren't those for court rooms?" Darcy thought for a moment.
"Well my own personal scribe then." Elizabeth giggled, and Darcy kissed her.
"Would it make you happy if I did." He asked her after they had separated.
"Very, because it would mean more time that I could have you." She said slyly. Darcy raised his eyebrow at that, and then looking down at his still unfinished letter, he tossed it aside.
"Blast the letter, I'll write Bingley tomorrow, he might know someone." And with that he kissed her again.
Charles Pov:
When Charles Bingley returned home it was quite late, indeed. And he had assumed that everyone would be in bed. So he was rather surprised to find Caroline sitting on the stairs waiting for him.
"Caroline!" He exclaimed, upon seeing her. She looked up at him calmly as if it wasn't at all odd for her to be sitting on the stairs of Netherfield at almost mid-night wearing nothing but a nightdress.
"Charles." She said, "Well sit down." She said after he had stood there stupidly for a moment. He complied, though rather hesitantly, his mind automatically assuming that something dreadful had happened. If Louisa had have come down the stairs just then, and seen the two of them parked in the middle of the main stairway she would have been very shocked, and reprimanded them both for days.
"What has happened?" He asked his sister after a moment, he was very unsure of what to do. Caroline looked very alarmed at him for a moment, as if he had discovery some nasty truth by asking her this. Though her face soon changed and she replied.
"Nothing, of course, I just was wondering if you were able to find someone to coach us." Charles wasn't sure what was driving all these different emotions in his sister, but he did wish he could find out. Especially seeing how upset she had been earlier.
"Yes I was." He said, watching his sister. Instantly her face lit up and she beamed at him, she took his hand in hers and held in to her heart. Charles was once again very taken aback by this sudden change.
"Oh, Charles! You are so kind, thank you so much." Charles, who had rarely ever in his life seen his sister so sincerely happy, especially with something he did just stared at her for a moment.
"Caroline why do you wish to leave so badly, is it really because of the Bennet family?" Caroline hesitated, and then looked away, dropping his hand in the process.
"There are- many reasons. But of course there are always reasons why one should leave the country." She laughed turning back to Charles. "-I miss my friends Charles, I miss society." She said truthfully.
"But what you said earlier, about everyone here despising you, I hope you did not really mean that." He said carefully, he was pleased that him and Caroline were really talking and he didn't want to mess anything up. Caroline looked at Charles for a long moment, before adding,
"Well no, you don't despise me." She said, "In fact I doubt you despise anyone, or even remotely dislike them."
"Jane doesn't despise you."
"No, but I can bet she is not to fond of me." Charles was shocked.
"Why wouldn't Jane be fond of you?" Charles asked. But Caroline gave him one of her looks, where she bent her head slightly and stared at him as if he was on display.
"Charles, really, I did try and convince you not to marry her, and I almost succeeded." Charles straightened his shoulders and reflected.
"But, she knows that you thought you were doing the right thing. She has forgiven you, she isn't the type to hold grudges." But Caroline only sighed and put her head in her hands.
"Oh honestly Charles, sometimes you give me the most frightful headache." Remembering the time, Charles decided that they should both get some sleep.
"Well regardless, in a couple days we shall be on a coach back to town, and everything-"
"In a couple days." Caroline looking alarmed. Charles regretted saying that instantly, but she had to know.
"Yes, he can't for a couple days because he has a personal family situation."
"My goodness, are we always to be at the convenience of our employees?" Caroline said, frustrated. "I hope you will take this into consideration when you pay him."
"Well he is practically a boy Caroline. He looks as though he has little income, and I don't think that this particular family problem could be helped." Charles said rationally. But fear emerged in Caroline's eyes. Completely exasperated, and at a complete loss for all these different emotions Charles leaned back against the stairs.
"You say he's young, how is a young…boy supposed to be able to drive us to London?" She asked, though her voice had altered, as if she was hiding something. But Charles didn't notice.
"Yes he's young, but he seems quite capable of getting us there, he was on his way to London anyway, so it only seems fit that he should drive us."
"Did you catch his name?" Caroline asked eagerly.
"Yes, its something Everhart." He said simply, confused, his sister would never inquire about a servant. Caroline didn't move for a moment, Charles doubted she even breathed. After a moment she smiled and said,
"Of course." And with that she ascended the stairs for bed. Leaving a completely perplexed Charles laying on the stairs.
