Chapter 9

The next morning Elizabeth woke up feeling refreshed. As she contemplated the unexpected appearance of Bingley last night, she realized that while her own reputation and prospects had dimmed considerably, she could perhaps achieve something good out of the situation, the potential to reunite her sister Jane with Bingley. She was optimistically hoping that her ruin would not extend to her sisters. Darcy had promised to aid in alleviating it. She hoped it could at least be limited to her alone even though she had been to overcome yesterday to wonder what he planned. She considered that perhaps he knew of a position in a household where it could be claimed that she, not as a young gentlewoman of marriagable aged traveled unattended by even a maid in a post coach, but that she did so as a woman traveling to a new position. It was far more acceptable for a gentry woman that had entered service to travel alone then it was for a single gentlewoman of her status.

As Elizabeth entered the breakfast parlor, Darcy's eyes locked on her as he rose from his seat and crossed the room to her. Stopping in front of her, he said softly, "Good morning, Miss Bennet." As his eyes appraised her form, examining her for signs of distress and finding none, he said, "You appear to be feeling much better today."

"I am," she agreed with a smile. "It is a new day and it is hard to be troubled when the sun is shinning as it is."

"Would you allow me to escort you on a walk in it after breakfast?" Darcy asked.

"I would enjoy a walk," Elizabeth said feeling surprised by his continuing civility. Despite his rescue of her, giving her a better opinion of him, she had expected him to revert to his former standoffish disdain. "Will Mr. Bingley be joining us for breakfast?"

"He will be," Darcy informed her. He would have liked to have Elizabeth's company to himself again, but thought the presence of another would put her at ease as he began his campaign to win her heart in earnest, so he had requested Bingley arise early so he could join them. He had even gone so far as to bang on Bingley's door earlier ensuring his friend did not forget his promise to awake earlier then his usual wont. "Allow me to prepare a plate for you," he said earnestly. Darcy held out his arm and held his breath as he waited to see if Elizabeth would take it. When she did, he escorted her to a seat and made his way to the small sideboard. Despite his unexpected visit it boasted a large selection. He was pleased to see that some of Elizabeth's favorites he had requested be available, if possible, were on it. He carefully filled her plate and brought it back to her. He was rewarded with a wide smile from Elizabeth when he set it down in front of her.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said smiling at him. "I am quite surprise how you managed to only put my favorites on here. Such a lucky coincidence as that makes me believe that the day bodes well."

"It is perhaps not such a coincidence," Darcy said. "I deliberately selected items I knew from the past were your favorites. But I hope it still bodes well for the day." Darcy had considered the quandary of how he could express his feelings for Elizabeth without compromising her sense of safety. He had realized that his unfortunate comment about her not being tempting allowed her to feel safe with him yesterday. As much as he wanted her to know how enchanting he found her, he did not want to make her feel unsafe. He knew that she was safe with him, that as much as he desired her, he would never force himself on her, but was unsure how to convey that to her in a way that left no room for doubt. He had finally realized demonstrating so would be the best course, but that he could also with his attentions demonstrate that he adored her.

Darcy had considered Bingley's words about how Elizabeth would have no choice but to marry him in Scotland after traveling alone with him for days, so this morning he had recruited the services of Mrs. Wiffle as a chaperone. He did not wish to take Elizabeth's choices away. His preference was of course to marry her to restore her name, but if she was against it, he would come up with something else to help her. He had intially intend to ask Mrs. Wiffle's great-niece thinking the trip might be to much for the elderly lady, but the housekeeper volunteered herself, mentioning that she would take great care of the little miss. Deciding that the maternal care of the older woman would be more pleasant for Elizabeth he had agreed. Her further comments had lead him to realize that she was perfectly aware of his heart and intended to play matchmaker to help him win his lady's heart. Mrs. Wiffle was an older cousin of sorts to Mrs. Reynolds, his housekeeper at Pemberley, but was far more eccentric. He was confident that Elizabeth would thoroughly enjoy her company.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet, Darcy," Bingley cheerfully said as he entered the breakfast parlor.

"Mr. Bingley," Elizabeth said brightly and not waseting a moment, she went right in for a killing blow. "My sister, Jane, has been staying in London these last months since Christmas. I know she paid a call on your sisters but they were headed out and it was curtailed. They unfortunately did not return the call for a few weeks and refused to stay long. I was disappointed to hear you had not accompanied them."

The reactions of the gentlemen to her words were instant. Darcy chocked on the coffee he had just sipped and Bingley's mouth gaped open and his face turned red. Elizabeth took a delicate sip of her own beverage to hid her smirk. Before Bingley could answer, she continued saying, "It was of course disappointing to discover we were mislead in the regard which you and your sisters held for some of our family but," here she paused to take another sip to allow Bingley to respond.

"I had no notion Miss Bennet was in town. Had I of been aware I most certainly would have called on her. Wouldn't I have, Darcy?" Bingley said, appealing to his friend for support.

Darcy shifted in his seat, but before he could answer his friend, Elizabeth laughed merrily, reflecting that he resembled a puppy eager to please, and said, "Perhaps you can call when you return to town. She will be staying a few more weeks yet. She was to depart London with me, on my return from Kent in a few weeks."

"I will return to London today to call on her immediately!" Bingley exclaimed happily.

"Wonderful!" Elizabeth said beaming at him. "I can provide you the direction. You will be most welcome I am quite sure."

Darcy stared at Elizabeth, studying her beaming smile. The fact that she was enormously pleased Bingley would pay a call on her sister was not lost on him. He wished he had been the one to put such a smile on her face. It was that smile that lessened his irritation that after his careful intervention Bingley would now be in just as much danger as before. Likely more after avoiding a compromise that would have led to miserable union.

"Perhaps you had better stay here a few more days," Darcy began to say when Elizabeth turned to look at him, the smile fading from her face. Seeing the glow on her countance dim, he stopped speaking.

Into the silence that settled Elizabeth looked at him in challenge and said, "I guess we now have all the particulars for the scenario we discussed at Netherfield."

As Darcy studied Elizabeth, he saw the tension that had infused her form, the hostility that she regarded him with. He realized that she was looking at him similar to how she had in the autumn, when he had been to blind to see the truth. Elizabeth loved her sister, surely she would not wish to see her married to a man she did not love. Darcy, for the first time, considered that he was wrong. And even if he wasn't, if his choice was Elizabeth or Bingley, he knew he would choose Elizabeth. She wanted Bingley to call on her sister, this was an opportunity to show he trusted and respected her opinions in a way he had not done so in Hertfordshire. He realized that he did trust and respect her opinions, even when they differed from his. "No, Bingley you should go to London. Please give my regards to Miss Bennet when you see her."

Elizabeth's eyes widened and her posture relaxed. Darcy felt the tension in his own shoulders release. It was foreign for him to consider subverting his own opinion to another, but it felt strangely right to do so now, afterall he trusted Elizabeth to know what she was about sending Bingley to her sister.

...

Col. Fitzwilliam as he sipped his coffee considered just what exactly he would tell his parents when he saw them shortly. He had assured the Collins of Elizabeth's safety, arranged for his trunk and batman to follow him to London and set out. He had arrived towards the evening at Darcy House. His parents were out for the evening so he was forced to wait to call on them until today. His mother would be horrified to learn that Darcy was eloping with an uknown, penniless country miss. She would be more horrified though over Lady Catherine's actions. Lady Matlock put quite a bit of stock in respectability and proper behavior, Col. Fitzwilliam was never sure if it was despite her husband or inspite of her husband.