Chapter 10

Bingley true to his word left immediately following breakfast eager to make it to London and call on Jane that day, a note from Elizabeth tucked into his pocket. As Darcy and Elizabeth set out for their walk, he asked, "You think Bingley and your sister are a good match?"

"You think they are not," Elizabeth said archly.

"I think that they both deserve to have someone that loves them," Darcy said carefully. In truth over the winter he had only been concerned with Bingley's happiness not Jane's, but was wise enough to realize he would have to go about explaining his sentiments carefully to Elizabeth. Her comment at breakfast regarding their discussion at Netherfield about Bingley's impulsive nature reminded him exactly why she had come to Netherfield in the first place, to nurse the sister she cared about dearly. He was torn between gently helping Elizabeth realize she would prefer to see her sister in love with her husband rather than merely comfortable, but at the same time not wanting her to consider that her lack of love for him should result in her refusal of him once they reached Scotland. He had enough love for the both of them, but he feared Bingley's attachment was shallower then his own.

"And you are warning me that Mr. Bingley does not love my sister? While you know your friend best, my opinion differs from yours. In fact, I believe you wish to think that Mr. Bingley has never cared for my sister because of your own belief in your superiority," Elizabeth said angrily. "You do not wish to see your friend connected to the Bennets regardless of the sentiments of either party involved."

"I wish for my friend's hapiness in marriage and have never detected any indication that your sister's heart was touched. She welcomed his attentions at your mother's urging. Should they enter a union simply to appease your mother? She was proclaiming their engagement to all at the ball in a disgusting manner," Darcy said in angry exasperation. He had planned to discuss it with Elizabeth camly and she had immediately gotten angry, causing his own temper to stir.

"Less disgusting then the way your aunt proclaims your engagement to your cousin," Elizabeth fired back quickly.

Darcy stumbled to a halt and gaped at her. Recognizing she had won that round, Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him and felt her anger lessen with her triumph. Darcy grimaced and said, "I am not engaged to my cousin and never will be. I would not wish you to hold Lady Catherine's behavior against me, so I can only conclude that you are correct that I should not hold your sister accountable for your mother's behavior. She has always behaved with manners that are above reproach, but even taking the behaviors of others out, I never observed in your sister's manner or behavior that she truly cared for Bingley."

"You mean my sister's very correct and proper behavior? You perhaps would have preferred to see her behave towards Mr. Bingley in a similar manner to how Miss Bingley behaves toward yourself?" Elizabeth said not knowing just how much of a blow she was landing.

Darcy remembering in just how appalling the manner Miss Bingley had recently acted in vehemently denied such a thing exclaiming, "No!" He realized with sudden insight that Jane Bennet's manners and behaviors were better then a large majority of the marriagable ladies in society. He was always disgusted with the fawning and simpering of fashionable ladies. Jane, he realized, would with her comportment and serene countance keep Bingley contented whether she loved him or not. She would act in a proper manner, never sniping at him or harguing him. She would submit to her wifely duties without complaint. While it was not a passionate union, was it really such a terrible union if it was what Bingley wanted? He had remained surprising constant in his admiration of her, having no new flirts, since they departed Netherfield.

Interrupting his thoughts, Elizabeth said, "Then just how, Sir, would you expect my sister to go about showing affection? Just because she is serene does not mean she lacks in emotion."

"She had affection for him?" Darcy asked surprised.

"I would use sarcasm and say what do you think, but you appear to be particularly obtuse in the matter," Elizabeth said with a huff. "It might surprise you to hear that an individual is capable of concealing their emotions, especially my sister who chooses to act in the most proper way possible, not that a man with your manners could appreciate the observance of proper behavior."

"I am quite aware of an individual's ability to conceal their emotions. I have a tendency to do so myself," Darcy responded but before he could say more she interupted him.

She quickly cut him off saying, "Not your scorn. That emotion was clearly displayed this autumn. Your manners emphasized it clearly." Seeing his features tighten, Elizabeth instantly felt guilty. "I am sorry. I should not have said that. I am doing a poor job showing my gratitude for your actions yesterday," she said contritely.

"I would know what you found fault with in me," Darcy said thickly. "If I do not know, I cannot strive to correct myself. Please tell me."

Elizabeth worried her bottom lip with her teeth as she watched him, trying to decide if she should or not. His eyes were drawn to it and he took a step closer to her. Raising a hand, he gently with his thumb, freed her lip from the abuse she was heaping on it and said softly, "Please," his thumb gently rubbing her lower lip.

Elizabeth's eyes widened briefly before fluttering closed and her body leaned towards him of its own accord, her breathing hitching, the sensations his light touch created in her were unfamiliar but she was not repulsed. She was curious and enticed.

Darcy as he looked into her face was gratified that she had not recoiled from his touch in horror. He had not meant to caress her lip, but he had acted without thinking. Now he wished to take it to the next step and replace his thumb with his lips, but refrained from doing so. He had never kissed a woman's mouth before, but wanted to intensely with her. He had certainly licked and suckled on his paramour's breasts in the past as he sought his own enjoyment but he felt a deep yearning to tenderly taste Elizabeth's lips. Instead he forced himself to speak. Removing his thumb from her lip, he said huskily, "I need to know, Elizabeth. I need to correct my behavior. "

Elizabeth blinked, bringing the conversation back into focus mentally. Softly she said, her agitation of her previous statements gone, "I would not wish to haruge you over the past. It is not kind. I suspect my own behavior was wanting as well, after all I was eager to believe Mr. Wickham."

"Your behavior has never been wanting," Darcy said. "You are perfect."

"Jane's behavior is perfect. Mine is impertinent," Elizabeth said with a laugh, resuming walking. Darcy fell into step beside her. Glancing at him, Elizabeth took a deep breath and said, "There is one issue I would like to address. You have assured me that Col. Fitzwilliam would alert my family to my safety, and I am grateful of that, but I must ask, what now? What happens next? You yesterday mentioned having a plan?"

"I do have a plan. Society deems that Lady Catherine's actions have caused you to be ruined. Society also dictates that if you were to be married, your reputation would be restored."

"Your suggestion is that I marry? While that may be the usual remedy, I have no suitors langiushing in the background ready to marry me. Before my reputation was ruined, I had received exactly one proposal of marriage. I do not believe I am likely to garner another one now that I am ruined, if I was I would not be ruined because I would still be considered marriagable."

"You are still marriagable," Darcy said firmly.

"To who? " Elizabeth exclaimed.

Darcy desperately wanted to say, me, and declare himself. Instead he said, "I have a candidate in mind."

"A marriage of convience?" Elizabeth said, her eyes moistining. "I suppose that is the best I can hope for now in a marriage. I never wanted to marry other than for love. I cannot bring myself to enter a marriage of convenience even in my circumstances. Could you not assist me to find a position in a household as a governess or companion? My traveling alone on the post coach would be considered acceptable if I was one.

"It would not be a marriage of convience. You would be adored. You would be loved and respected. You would enrich his life and he would strive for your happiness. I ask that before you decided against it, you travel with me to this canidate's estate in Scotland and then decide. Mrs. Wiffle has agreed to journey with us as a chaperone." As Elizabeth looked at him, he added softly, "Please."

"I know no one in Scotland," Elizabeth said with a frown. "How could you be sure he would be willing to marry me?"

"Trust me, he would be most willing," Darcy said.

"If I go, do I have to give my answer right away?"

"You may take as long as you need to decide."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I will need to consider other alternatives," Darcy said attempting to keep his tone light. If Elizabeth refused to journey to Scotland he knew he would be hard pressed to not simply put her in his coach and journey thither. He was about to suggest the possibility of her finding a position more easily in Scotland then Engalnd when she spoke again.

"He is a good man?" Elizabeth asked, her determination to refuse to marry a man she did not know wavering under Darcy's scrutiny of her. She knew she was ill qualified for a position in service and knew as a gentlewoman she was expected to someday marry and he seemd certain that the gentleman he knew would love her. Surely, she thought to herself, if this gentleman could love her she could love him as well.

"He has recently vowed to always strive to be a better man. To be worthy."

"I will go with you to Scotland and meet him. I am not eager to go into service. My education has not prepared me to be a desirable governess and my character does not lend itself to the meekness most seek in a companion," Elizabeth admitted.

"Thank you," Darcy said relieved that she had agreed to at least go to Scotland.

"Would you tell me about him?"

"I do not believe it is my place to do so. I would rather you make your own judgements once there. If you decide against the marriage, there are other options to consider later."

Elizabeth nodded and Darcy released a breath of relief. He would need to convince her that he was worthy of her consideration while they traveled. If he could achieve ensuring she did not instantly reject him when he offered in Scotland, he could use the time she wished to think over her answer to declare his love and woo her. In Scotland no engagement would be necessary, they could simply marry if she decided in his favor. She had promised Lady Catherine not to enter an engagement with him, nothing was promised about a courtship or an actual marriage, no matter what Lady Catherine's intents were. He was hoping that Elizabeth would only see her word as extending to the most literal of senses, an engagement nothing else. He was prepared to ask her in front of a parson and witnesses when he declared himself and again when she was prepared to answer him.