Elizabeth was left alone with her thoughts, which were in a turmoil. Relief was overriding everything, of course, but there was an underlying sense of confusion, making her insides churn, and the confusion was all centred on Mr Darcy.

Normally she would take herself off for a long walk, her favourite way of working through her thoughts without distraction. However, she had too many relying on her at present and so disappearing for a few hours was impossible. She dropped her chin into her hands and sighed, staring into the fire. Why was she so bothered by Mr Darcy? His very closeness, being held in his arms as she wept had disturbed her, but somehow left her wanting more. She could not understand herself.

Her father's return interrupted her cogitation, and she smiled up at him as he entered the study, the lines around his eyes more relaxed than she had seen them since returning earlier that day.

'Well, now Lizzy. All alone?'

'Yes, papa. Mr Darcy needed to speak with Mr Bingley. He has offered to convey our messages to Netherfield. I think he means to leave here soon.'

Mr Bennet nodded and settled into the chair recently vacated by Mr Darcy. He leaned over and took her hands. 'I spoke with your mother briefly. She is more improved than I expected and so I told her something that will, I expect, hurry her on to full health.'

'Is this related to Mr Collins?' she asked, with a smile.

'Clever girl. Yes, it is. I wished to relieve her concerns now the fever is gone and she is coherent,' he said, and with a twinkle added, 'Well, as coherent as your mother ever gets.'

'Papa,' Elizabeth gently chided, 'be nice.'

'You know me, child. Humour is just my way of dealing with "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune".'

She turned her hands to grip his. 'Well I know it, and have inherited it, sometimes to my detriment. So, are you going to tell me this secret as well?'

He shook his head. 'When Lydia has returned home and my family is once more intact and under my roof, then I will tell. I wish you all to hear it at the same time.'

She grumbled under her breath, then said 'Very well. I will try to constrain my inquisitiveness, although I think I might be able to guess at least some of it.' She grinned at him. 'Mr Darcy told me you knocked Mr Collins down. Did he tell you I also did so?'

'He did, and I am very proud of you, even though it was not very ladylike and I should really disapprove; do not tell your mother! Mr Collins deserves nothing less, although in my case, I had to restrain myself to using words until I had things settled to my liking.'

'I am proud of you too, papa, and I hope you did not hurt your hand too badly.'

'Nothing that lasted. Well now, I must write a message for Lydia before our visitors leave.' He paused, looking curiously at her.

She tilted her head in query. 'What is it papa?'

'Oh, nothing really. I was just thinking that the more time I spend with Mr Darcy, the more I like him. He has proven to be an acquaintance worth having.'

Her eyes dropped to their linked hands, and her cheeks felt warm. 'Yes, he has been very kind to us all, considering everything that has happened. More that I would have expected.'

'More that you would have expected? Has he given you reason to think he would behave otherwise?'

The heat in her cheeks increased. 'You have heard from mamma how he was at the Assembly; we all had the impression he was above his company here. Since Mr Collins… well, since then, he has been nothing but kindness and a complete gentleman. I am just not sure which version of him is the correct one. I suppose we can only wait and see if he reverts back to the proud, standoffish man he was, or remains as he is now. I must say, I much prefer this version of him, to how he was when I first knew him.'

Mr Bennet released her hands, stood and moved behind his desk. Sitting, he replied, 'I cannot say I have met the proud version, so I only have his current behaviour as a guide. I will reserve judgement, although I have yet to forgive him for his insult to you, my dear.'

'I have already done so, papa. I suspect he had his reasons. I do not think I was supposed to hear his words and he has since apologised for his poor mood when he first arrived at Netherfield.'

'Very well. I will try to forget them myself, although your mother never will.' He paused and eyed her intently. 'Unless, of course, she can introduce him as a future son. Then I think she would forgive him anything.'

Elizabeth blushed hotly, and looked down at her hands. Leaving his last statement unanswered, she said, 'Mamma is unforgiving of anyone who would slight her daughters, even her least favourite one.' She stood, needing to do something to end this most disturbing conversation. Moving to the desk, and selecting a sheet of cut paper from his letter writing pile, she said, 'I wish to write a note to Miss Bingley, so that she will know when to expect me back. Lydia is very bored, so I give you warning that I will be raiding your shelves for anything I can take to keep her occupied while she recovers. Mr Bingley's library is less than inspiring.'

He winked at her. 'Try to slip some improving tomes between those Gothic horrors and romances she seems to prefer.'

Elizabeth had written her note and selected several books, when Mr Darcy returned with Mr Bingley in his wake.

'Ah, Miss Elizabeth, Mr Bennet, we are about to leave. Do you have anything that needs conveying to Netherfield?'

'Lizzy has a note for Miss Bingley, and I have one for Lydia.' Mr Bennet handed them over and Mr Darcy slipped them into his breast pocket.

'I have selected some books I would like to take with me,' said Elizabeth. 'However, as you rode over, I think bringing them with me later would be more appropriate than having you transport them. There are too many for you to carry, even split between you.'

'If it would be of use, I can send a coach to wait on your convenience and convey you, and your books, to Netherfield when you are ready to leave.'

'That is very kind,' said Mr Bennet, 'and I accept on Elizabeth's behalf. The horses will be cared for, as if they were our own.'

Mr Darcy nodded, glanced at Elizabeth, who was too embarrassed to do more than nod and look away, then he and Mr Bingley took their leave.

For those who had been worried/wondering about Mrs Bennet, back when I started plotting this story, the entail was going to be broken. She was going to die, and Mr Bennet remarry, father a son, etc (yeah, I know, been done before). But then, while I was writing and Mr Collins was about to arrive on the scene, I came up with the idea of the ending the entail using a contract because of something terrible that he does - and so Mrs Bennet survives to flutter her handkerchief and wail at the world once more.