Alright here's the next chapter. Hope you like it.
Chapter 5: Return Visits
Mr. Bennet closed his paper and looked at Jane. "Dear Jane, should we expect visitors today, would we be able to serve them tea?"
Jane looked curiously at her father, "I suppose so. I could have Hill check. Are we expecting company today father?"
"Perhaps." He said intertwining his fingers in front of him.
"Did you go and visit the young gentleman yet papa?" Kitty asked.
Mr. Bennet looked at her, "You still wish for me to visit him?"
Kitty nodded, "If only to welcome him to the neighborhood."
Mr. Bennet nodded, "Yes indeed. That would be the neighborly thing to do." He sighed, "I suppose I should tell you that his name is Mr. Bingley and he may pay us a visit to return the one I paid him yesterday."
Kitty let out a slight squeak of excitement while Elizabeth, James and Jane smiled at their father.
"Is he handsome?" Kitty asked.
"I dare not reply to that lest you get the wrong idea but he seems a sensible gentleman." Mr. Bennet said smiling.
Jane clapped her hands together, "I shall speak with Hill and make sure we have sufficient supplies for tea."
Elizabeth mimicked her, "And I shall request a tray be sent to my room as I hide from eligible young men."
James, Mary and Mr. Bennet laughed while Kitty tried to look reproachful but not being able to help a smile. Jane too had a small grin.
"Dearest Lizzie I believe you have no reason to be shutting yourself in your room." Mr. Bennet said, "For he may bring with him a young lady who is much like our Mary in some ways. For I was told she plays the pianoforte well and I observed her to be quite shy."
Lizzie shrugged, "Then I suppose I must help her to feel welcome among us should she come and be just as shy as Mary."
Mary smiled, "Papa. I am not always shy."
He nodded, "True but around strangers you retreat into a shell of shyness much like a turtle. But with your sisters around I am confident that you shall, with their help, make friends with this young miss."
Mary's cheeks became a bit pink. "Fear not Mary." James said, "For if you find you cannot come out of your shy state you can always communicate with her threw music which papa said that she is heard to plays well."
Mary nodded and took a drink from her glass.
Georgiana Darcy smoothed her light blue dress out before descending the stairs where her brother was waiting for her.
He smiled at her as she got to the bottom step, "You look beautiful dear sister. I shall have to beat Mr. Bennet's young son away from you."
She blushed, "It is not for the son that I accompany you and Mr. Bingley to the Bennet's. It is for the daughters."
Darcy smiled. "Indeed. For it would be most fortunate if you were to find a friend here in Hertfordshire."
She nodded, "Yes. But I fear that around these new ladies that my shyness might get the best of me."
He hugged his sister, "Fear not my dear Georgiana. Just let a little of that lovely spirit out and they shall all love you and wish to be your friend."
That advice was on her mind as they rode towards Longbourn.
All the Bennet's were in the music room, Mr. Bennet was listening to Mary play, Jane was doing embroidery, Elizabeth and James were reading and Kitty was doodling. So they were all comfortably unaware of the carriage that had just pulled up.
Bingley smiled looking around, "Seems like a quaint comfortable home."
Darcy looked at the house, there was nothing especially grand about it, and there was a nice green lawn that looked well taken care of.
Georgiana smiled at it and bit her lip, "I'm very nervous." She admitted.
Darcy grabbed her hand. "Fear not dear one."
She squeezed his hand and only let go briefly for him to get out of the carriage but kept a hold of it after she'd been helped out. Georgiana could hear soft music as they approached the door.
When the bell rang Hill rushed to answer it and the family looked to Mr. Bennet. "It seems like we have guests."
When the door of the music room opened everyone stood.
"Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy and Miss. Darcy." Mrs. Hill announced curtsying and closing the door behind the guests.
They all bowed and curtsied to each other.
Darcy looked around at all the Bennet's and his eyes were caught by a slight movement. Elizabeth had noticed the gentleman in the party. She couldn't believe her luck, he'd shown up at her house. And what was more, the girl he had had with him was his sister.
"Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy Welcome." Mr. Bennet said shaking hands with Bingley then Darcy. "May I present my children Jane, James, Elizabeth, Mary and Kitty." He said pointing to each of his children in turn as they bowed or curtsied.
"A pleasure." Bingley said as his eyes lingered significantly on Jane.
"I fear father, that we have already met two of our guests." James said stepping forward to Mr. Darcy. "Let me thank you again Mr. Darcy for saving my sister."
Darcy offered his hand and they shook, "Think nothing of it."
"Papa, Mr. Darcy was the man who saved Lizzie the other day in town." Kitty said.
Mr. Bennet looked from Kitty to Elizabeth and then to Mr. Darcy. "Well I would offer my thanks but it seems my son has beat me too it."
"It was nothing really." Darcy said smiling at Elizabeth, "I hope you are well Miss. Bennet."
"Quite well thank you." She said.
"Please feel free to sit." Jane said motioning to empty chairs. All but Darcy sat. "Shall I send for tea papa?"
"Oh, No." Bingley said shaking his head smiling, "That shant be necessary. For we have many calls to make today and would not wish to detain you so long."
"It would be no trouble sir." Jane said.
"Dear Jane." Mr. Bennet said, "I suppose I shall have to drink more tea this afternoon to compensate for your diligent work of insuring we had enough, in case we had guests."
"So I hear you p… play the pianoforte." Georgiana said to Mary.
"Yes I do. And I believe you play as well?" Mary said
"Yes. Did I hear you playing a moment ago?" Georgiana said smiling.
"Yes. Would you like to see?" Mary said scooting over to make room for her on the bench.
Georgiana got up and came to sit next to Mary at the pianoforte and Mary began to play the piece she'd been playing before."
"So how do you like Hertfordshire Mr. Bingley?" Jane asked.
"Very much. And so far the neighborhood has been very welcoming." He said smiling widely at Jane.
"We do have great neighbors." Jane said smiling back, "Everyone is so friendly."
"So Mr. Darcy do you read much?" James asked.
"I do. Not as much as some but I read when I have the time." He said
"What sort do you read?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"I read many types Miss. Bennet. I suppose I favor the philosophy books most. I prefer the books that encourage me too think many different ways." He said sitting.
"That is most interesting." James said, "For Lizzie prefers to expand her mind as well."
Elizabeth smiled, "Indeed. I find that it is best to improve one's mind rather than let it be dulled by the romance novels that most woman enjoy."
"Then you do not read those novels?" Darcy asked
"I do but only occasionally to escape the dull romance provided in Meryton society." She said.
"I, myself, prefer to seek the information that will help to improve the productivity of the estate." James said becoming more aware as he looked at Mr. Darcy that the gentleman seemed to be looking mainly at his sister.
"Indeed, they are very good. I too like such volumes." Darcy said trying to shift his focus to the young man and not to look at his sister as often.
"That is common ground that we three share is it not Lizzie?" James asked giving his sister a small smile.
"Yes for if two such people read such volumes it should surly bring twice the productivity and opinions for improvement."
Darcy was baffled by this entrancing young lady who read to improve her mind and saved young boys from carless horsemen. He could not help but notice a sort of sparkle in her eyes and her pleasant smile.
Elizabeth smiled at this man who had saved her and reads the same as she and her brother. She bounced between his interests and she noticed his tall profile with a nice smile, dark eyes and dark hair. She very much wished to get to know this man better.
James was not oblivious to the looks between his sister and Mr. Darcy. But they'd only just met and he didn't know enough of this man to know whether he was a good sort of man or not. He looked over and saw that Mary or Miss. Darcy were playing a song he recognized.
"Lizzie. Is this not one of the songs you know well?" he said smiling at his sister.
"What?" She said looking at him then to the pianoforte "Oh. I suppose."
"Don't be modest my dear, you play it beautifully and sing it with much excellence." Mr. Bennet said hearing the comment.
"I fear, father, that you are obligated to praise my abilities beyond merit." Elizabeth said blushing.
"Ahhhh my daughter is most humble when it comes to things she does well." He said smiling at her, "Maybe we should ask her to prove her ineptitude."
Mary stopped playing and looked at her father, "Father, Lizzie is by no means inept at this song, though if she would play it with more confidence and practiced more she would be most accomplished at it. But she does play it with enough excellence that you hardly notice any problems she may have."
Georgiana turned, "I should dearly like to hear you play Miss. Elizabeth."
"I also find myself intrigued. Won't you play for us Miss. Bennet?" Darcy said.
Elizabeth sighed, "I suppose with the request of our guests I have no room to refuse such a petition." She stood walking to the bench which was vacated by Mary and Georgiana. "But I have to tell you," she said, "my family grossly exaggerates my talents."
"I shall be the judge of that." Darcy muttered to himself.
Elizabeth stared at the pages and began to play. She stumbled only once or twice and her powerful voice filled the room. The whole room was listening intently. Perhaps none more attentive than Mr. Darcy who seemed to be hanging onto every note she played and every sound that came from her mouth.
When she was finished everyone clapped and Georgiana sat next to her on the bench, "Miss. Elizabeth. I fear that it was you who belittled your abilities. I agree with Miss. Mary that with a bit more practice you could be quite accomplished at the pianoforte."
"I agree." Mary said, "We could practice together Lizzie."
Elizabeth smiled at the girls, "You both are very kind. Perhaps if I wish to be more accomplished at this instrument I shall turn to you two for more instruction." She stood, "But I shall turn it back to young accomplished hands." And she returned back to her seat next to James.
Darcy cleared his throat. "Miss. Bennet I fear that I must point out that I feel that you did, in fact, grossly underestimate your abilities at the pianoforte. While it is true that my sister is a very accomplished young lady I believe I rather enjoyed listening to your talented manipulations of the instrument."
She smiled, "Why Mr. Darcy how cruel you are to tease me so, for I know that even my brother would not say such an unconvincing lie."
Darcy felt like he had just been slapped, she thought he had been lying when he had tried to pay her such a complement? His only comfort was in the fact that she was smiling and did not look wounded at all. So he decided to play along, "My dear Miss. Bennet." He said putting his hand over his heart, feigning shock, "If you thought that I meant any slight on your abilities please forgive me. It was only meant with the kindest of intentions."
Elizabeth's smile widened, he must have caught on to her teasing. This man would be fun to have around.
"Please, do accept my apology for I only meant to inform you that your playing was not as dreadful as you made it seem." Darcy said staring into her eyes.
But before Elizabeth could reply Bingley intervened. "I believe we must be going. We would love to stay but I fear we have many more visits to make." He bowed, "Miss. Bennet's. Mr. Bennet. Have a pleasant evening."
Darcy stood and bowed to Elizabeth before striding to the door. And looking back at her before fallowing Bingley and his sister out the door.
Elizabeth, who had stood with the rest of her family on their guest's departure, sat back into her seat next to her brother. What a strange and intriguing gentleman.
Sorry it's taken me so long to update. My family has been having some problems and I went back to work but I should update more than every two weeks. I would like to update it at least once every week.
Thank you for all your reviews, advice and encouragement.
