Chapter 2
The following morning found Darcy and Bingley riding out upon Bingley's new estate. While Bingley was thrilled to have his friend as his own guest rather than be a guest himself, the main purpose of Darcy's invitation was to secure his opinion on Netherfield. Having come from trade, Bingley had not been raised as Darcy had to run his own estate. Their first order of business, evaluate the land.
While Bingley had readily accepted Darcy's insistence that the land was their top priority, Darcy himself felt somewhat guilty. The true first focus of evaluating an estate should be the house. However, after a long carriage ride and evening with Bingley's sisters the day before, Darcy was more than anxious to escape to the outdoors. He had seen enough of the house to deem it a worthy building, but felt that the need for fresh air and exercise was more important than a full house inspection.
While Bingley chattered on about his excitement for the evening's assembly, Darcy focused on the land around him. Reaching out with his magic, he was able to touch the consciousness of many living things around him. He felt the worm digging through the dirt, the sparrow that pecked at the seeds upon the ground, the cow grazing in the field. At one point they stopped upon a knoll where a lone tree stood tall next to a large boulder. While Bingley was content to gaze out upon the vista, Darcy turned his attention towards the knoll's guardians.
First he focused on the rock. Reaching out with a single hand, Darcy sent a current of magic through its veins. Since the rock had never been alive, he could do naught but feel the winds, rain and sun from years upon the rocks weathered surface. In just a few brief moments he was able to tell that the land certainly would not suffer from a shortage of rain in the autumn and winter months, but as to the fertility of the land, he would need to ask the tree.
Checking to make sure Bingley's attention was still on the view, Darcy reached towards the tree. Disappointment reigned heavily in his heart as he was unable to decipher anything from the tree other than its health and happiness. Shaking his head he reprimanded himself. He should not have expected anything at all. Trees had always been her strength. Flowers, grass, springs, insects, and small creatures were all within the realm of the fairies. She had taught him many things though to add to his many abilities; he was able to decipher more than most fairies from rivers and trees, even the occasional large animal, but they resided in the realm of the elves. Her realm.
Sighing he turned away from the tree as Bingley called his attention to point out exactly how far the boundary of his new property extended. Determined not to allow his mind to dwell too heavily on his lost love, Darcy began to share his opinions on the wealth of the land with his friend.
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That evening found the Netherfield party arriving late to the assembly in the nearby town of Meryton much to Darcy's displeasure. Having always been a creature of habit, tardiness was never acceptable to him. Caroline Bingley, however, had finally decided to make the best of her stay in the country and was determined to make an unforgettable entrance.
And unforgettable it truly was. Immediately upon their arrival in between the first two sets, the entire assembly room paused as they observed the newcomers. Never having been one to enjoy large gatherings or marked attentions, Darcy shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as all who gathered stared at them and began to whisper.
Thankfully Sir William Lucas quickly approached the party welcoming them to the assembly with what Darcy felt was way too much enthusiasm. Having observed the new tenants of Netherfield and their friends, the room once again focused on the dance floor so that they could complete the set leaving Sir William to begin introductions with those who were not dancing.
Darcy knew that Bingley had already met several of the local gentlemen before he had left for London to retrieve his sisters, yet he felt as though the community knew far too much about the Netherfield party already. Several of the matrons observing the dancing began to watch Bingley and Darcy instead. Whispers behind fans, however, were more than audible to a person with inhuman hearing abilities.
"He sure is a handsome young man."
"His blue coat is very much becoming."
"Is it true what they say? Does he indeed have an income of five thousand a year?"
"It is indeed Mrs. Goulding," the first lady replied. "For I have heard it from Mrs. Phillips whose husband was present when the lease was signed."
"Oh how marvelous Mrs. Long! What of his friend there. Such a tall dark handsome fellow he is. It is obvious that his coat is of much higher quality than that of Mr. Bingley."
"Indeed it is rumored that he is worth twice that of Mr. Bingley. He owns a great estate in Derbyshire, perhaps even as much as half the county!"
"It is a shame both my girls are married. How wonderful it would be to have such handsome wealthy young men as sons-in-law," Mrs. Goulding sighed. "Perhaps though one of your nieces might catch their eyes, Mrs. Long."
"Indeed that would be a wondrous thing. Imagine all the jewels and carriages they would have! Although I must say that it would be nothing compared to attaining the first circles as Mr. Darcy must inhabit! To believe that they would be of higher standing than anyone here. Perhaps then Sir William would no longer feel the need to boast so often of his having been presented at St. James' Court as my nieces would also have had that advantage." Mrs. Long tittered behind her hand while her companion openly giggled the sound grating on Mr. Darcy's nerves. A woman with married daughters giggling among company? How insupportable. Perhaps Miss Bingley was right; perhaps there would be no decent society found here.
"Oh dear!" Mrs. Goulding gasped once again drawing Mr. Darcy's attention their way. "I am afraid your nieces will have no chance at garnering either gentlemen's interest now."
"Whatever can you mean? My nieces are both sweet young women, pleasant to look at and very well mannered," Mrs. Long huffed.
"Indeed they are. However Mrs. Bennet seems to have wasted no time in gathering her daughters around her and Sir William is pointing her way. Look, there she is beckoning Miss Mary to her side. At least Misses Kitty and Lydia are dancing, so perhaps they won't insult our esteemed guests tonight with their unruly behaviors."
"Yes indeed. Well Miss Bennet is a sweet girl. Mrs. Bennet is quite correct in calling her the most beautiful of the girls, also the sweetest. I am quite afraid you are right though, Mrs. Goulding. My nieces will have no chance against Jane." Mrs. Long sighed regretfully as she and her companion turned to once again watch the dancers.
Darcy turned and began to watch the family in question. There was indeed an older lady surrounded by three young women. The oldest looked to be around two and twenty and was indeed most beautiful. She had her mother's light hair and blue eyes. Her tall willowy countenance and demure smile as she listened to her mother were those looks and manners of the most fashionable of the ton.
The youngest of the three had darker hair pulled back into a harsh bun giving her a most severe appearance. The look of boredom in her eyes attested to the fact that due to her plain looks next to her eldest sister she must rarely have been asked to dance.
The third sister had her face turned away from Darcy and his group. Her dark hair gleamed in the candlelight and was set in a most becoming style. Although the shortest of the sisters, her figure was the most pleasing to his eyes. The soft lilting melody of her voice drifted over to the crowd to his ears. The sound was indeed very pleasing, full of laughter, although she seemed to have upset her mother who looked exasperated. Not having heard what she had said, Darcy surmised it must have something to do with his party as the four women turned to look their way. Still unable to see her face, Darcy felt his heart race. Only she had ever attracted him in all his lifetimes, and here was a young woman whom he could not look away from. Wishing she would turn his way, Darcy was pleased to hear Bingley request an introduction with the family from Sir William.
He followed Bingley and Sir William at a distance unsure if he was ready for an introduction. As his friend approached, the young woman turned towards them and Darcy felt his heart sinking. She was indeed a beautiful young woman although not a classic beauty like her elder sister. Her laughter shone in her soft hazel eyes, yet there was no depth to them. As a man he was drawn to her beauty like a moth to the flame, yet as a cursed soul he chastised himself for being attracted to anyone other than his love.
Surreptitiously, he turned and walked to a point a short distance away attempting to appear as though that had been his destination all along. He watched as Bingley was introduced to Mrs. Bennet and the eldest three of her five daughters and requested the hand of the eldest, Miss Jane Bennet, for the next two dances. Embarrassed for his friend, Darcy was appalled at the manner in which Mrs. Bennet was gushing praises for both Bingley and her eldest. Yet he could not help but notice the amusement in the eyes of her next eldest, Miss Elizabeth. With a rueful smile, he swallowed his disappointment at not finding her in the assembly hall and walked away.
Although he had by courtesy danced with his hostess and her sister, Darcy spent a good portion of the evening trying to avoid any company. The hope he had felt upon arriving in Hertfordshire had disappeared the moment he saw Miss Elizabeth's face. He had been so sure it was she he had been looking for, yet there was no recognition.
Dejected, he wished nothing more than to return to Netherfield and deal with his bitter disappointment in solitude. Instead, he watched his friend dance with Miss Bennet. He had seen Bingley fall in and out of love many times over the years, always with a pretty face, and it was obvious to him that Bingley was much enchanted with his new neighbor. He was therefore quite surprised when Bingley left his companion's side to converse with him instead.
"Come, Darcy," said Bingley, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."
"I certainly shall not," he replied. Not wishing to inflict his foul mood on any one he continued. "You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."
"I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Bingley, "for a kingdom! Upon my honor I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life, as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty."
"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet and feeling the weight of his lie.
"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."
"Which do you mean?" and turning round, he beheld Miss Elizabeth, catching her eye. Holding his breath, he suspended time around him searching her eyes for any sign of recognition inside. Berating himself, he knew that if she had indeed been Iliana, he would have known her right away; yet he could not seem to give up hope. There was something about Miss Elizabeth that drew him to her. Seeing nothing, he once again swallowed his disappointment and let time return to its normal flow. Knowing that he could not allow her to have any idea of his attraction, he withdrew his own gaze and turned back to his friend. He coldly said, "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
Regret washed over him at the untruth he spoke. Nevertheless, she was not the one he longed for, so knew that by insulting her, she would be unwilling to allow a like regard form for him. In that way he knew he would be safe from his attraction to her.
As he started to turn towards another corner of the room, one away from her, Darcy was surprised to see her walking towards him. Steeling himself for a confrontation he knew he deserved, he was struck by the mischievous smile upon her face and the flash of dark green in her eyes as she passed by him to join Miss Lucas. Confused he watched her relate his words to her friend with much laughter at his expense. He had been so sure she was not who he wanted her to be; indeed he had not recognized her as he should have. Yet there was no mistaking the green flash in her eyes. The exact same look she had bestowed upon him all those years ago when they first met.
Miss Elizabeth was indeed his lost love Iliana, and he had just insulted her. What had he done!
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While Darcy spent the rest of the evening in complete misery, Elizabeth put off her own hurt and confusion by refusing to give off the appearance that the proud mans slight had affected her. Laughing over the incident with Charlotte had helped calm her outward demeanor yet on the inside she was in turmoil.
From the moment the Netherfield party had entered the assembly room, Elizabeth had felt different. Strangely she was unable to describe exactly how she felt or why, but was sure it had something to do with Mr. Bingley's friend. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, yet it was his blue eyes that held her spellbound. They were the exact color of the calm ocean on a clear day. Having never seen the ocean, however, she was unsure of how she had come upon such a likeness while knowing the comparison to be true.
She had watched the man try to hide from attention in a room full of strangers by keeping to the edges of the room. While Mr. Bingley was the most amiable man she had ever met, it was obvious to her that Mr. Darcy was quite shy and uncomfortable. She had been disappointed that he had not sought an introduction to her and her family with his friend. While she was happy to watch her dearest sister dance with Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth could not help but let her gaze wander often towards his friend.
Wanting to know more about the man everyone in the room was describing as most disagreeable, she was unashamed to admit that she had purposefully placed herself near him when Mr. Bingley approached him hoping to overhear their discussion. When Mr. Bingley mentioned having Jane introduce her to him, her stomach flipped. But then he turned and met her eyes with his own.
The moment their gazes met, her breath hitched and she felt the world around her stop. She was sure that if she could only look away, the rest of the room would be frozen in time, but she could not. His blue eyes held her own prisoner and she felt him searching their depths. For what he was looking for, she was unsure, yet she prayed he would find it. When he finally withdrew his gaze, she felt cold and empty inside; a feeling that was compounded upon hearing him declare her "not handsome enough."
Always being one who enjoyed laughing at the follies of others, she was shocked to discover tears filling her eyes. This man was unknown to her and obviously had no interest in her, so why was she so upset at his comment. Determined not to let him ruin her evening, she walked by him pleased to see him follow her movements as she went to share the incident with the only other person besides Jane who could help her forget her own unknown misery.
That evening after she retired, she finally let her tears fall unsure why they fell at all. When sleep finally overcame her in the early hours just before dawn, she dreamt of a pair of blue eyes gazing upon her with love.
