A/N: I love reading your reviews and your varied reactions to the story, from horror to addiction! Thankyou all for taking the time to read and review, I hope you enjoy this latest chapter, not much action but a very telling dinner party.

And to Stranger12, a soft spot for Lord Hartfield? I must admit I enjoy writing him, but you must be the first reviewer I've met who hasn't wished to tie him to the stake! Seeing as how he's going to get decidedly worse I wonder if your opinion will change.

Part 9- 'A few choice words…'

Yes, the evening had begun simply enough. They had been invited to dine at Hartfield and although Darcy had been at first reluctant, given the conversation he had had with Jane only that morning, he found he could have little resistance to offer against Georgiana's excitement. Youth is a remarkable thing; it takes unpleasant thoughts and memories and places them far at the back of the mind. Where once Georgiana would have been horrified at the idea of dining at a place someone had been killed, now at the prospect of a personal invitation from Lady Hartfield, her enthusiasm was unbridled. When we are young we fear nothing for very long. It is only when we grow older, when the mind is too full of things it ought not to have seen that it grows dark and afraid.

But before the evening was through Darcy would be glad he had put his reservations aside, for it soon became apparent he would be learning something new of the woman he loved, the woman Miss Bennet had convinced him would break his heart.

In all truth, Lizzy had not invited the Darcy's or the Bingley's to dine, the notion had been all Lord Hartfield's. He had convinced her to provide some form of entertainment for the trio from London, and the Netherfield lot were to be it. She suspected and feared that he still harboured still some suspicions with regards to Darcy, and in an effort to spare both herself and him, she endeavoured to be merely polite to Darcy and nothing else. Thus when he entered she spoke to him only briefly, and though he never expected very much more, but it pained him all the same.

'Your Ladyship…' he began tentatively, 'I hope you are well?' He was stood quite close, and as he leaned into her, Lizzy looked up briefly into the expression clouding his eyes and caught her breath.

She endeavoured to answer him with a steady voice, 'Very well thank you Mr Darcy.'

But he was not ready to move away yet, he looked down at her hands, one folded neatly atop the other, and noted with some alarm that she had removed the bandages. It seemed the simplest of things yet for some reason the action cut him to the core. She had removed the bandages, his bandages; it appeared to say that she was dismissing him, that she no longer needed him. 'She will break your heart' suddenlythe words seemed to have gained an added pathos.

Lizzy saw what he was thinking, 'They're healing now, and are a lot better, you must know I couldn't very well wear them any longer without fear of impugning questions…'

Of course, her reasoning was perfectly sound, but it hurt all the same. Darcy held her gaze for a while, before painfully nodding his head and walking away.

Lizzy looked after him with a wistful gaze, until she caught the eye of her husband, at which she coldly shrugged and turned to her other guests. Jane had been wrong about her sister, Lizzy was capable of attachment, and her heart could be touched. And it had been, by Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, the penniless revolutionary from the distant North, who had been here barely a month.

The revelation heaped itself upon her, as soon as she had perceived that look in his eye; it was what had caused her sharp intake of breath. She knew then that he loved her. What a strange sensation it was, frightening in its entirety and exhilarating in its effects, to know that a man could feel for her as passionately as all that.

But she also knew there was nothing to be done about it, she was married. She resented him then, Mr Darcy, who could claim no right to involve them both in this misery, a love without a purpose, without hope. The futility of their situation would break both their hearts.

The dinner passed off better than Lizzy could have hoped, every dish was done to perfection, the soup, the bird, and everything else culinary was delightful. Lizzy herself ate little; it took all her reserve to keep her eyes from wandering to where Darcy sat.

As the hostess she sat naturally sat at the head of the table with Lord Hartfield opposite her. Sir Richard was sat at her right hand, ready with conversation for her and nobody else, whilst on her left hand sat Georgiana. Lizzy had specifically expressed her wish for Darcy's sister to remain close, not only as a compliment to the young girl but because Georgiana reminded her in some way of her own sisters, Lydia and Kitty in particular. Though the two younger Bennet sisters had more in the way of boisterousness than Miss Darcy, they were close in age and for a little while Lizzy could imagine her own once happy family unit were close by.

The rest of the party arranged themselves in their own particular arrangements and it was with pity that Lizzy noted that through a cruel twist of fate Darcy had ended up sandwiched between Miss Bingley and Mr Collins. He was of course aware of his unfortunate position and was divided between a mutual intense dislike for the lady on his left, but a growing nausea for the obsequiousness grovelling of the man on his right. But he was spared somewhat, for his impoverishment rendered him immune to the attentions of either. There were other wealthy personages around the table to attract the delights and lavish praises of both Miss Bingley and Mr Collins.

For Caroline Bingley, the night brought along with it the notion that she had finally arrived. It was well known that the Hartfields rarely hosted dinner parties, and certainly not intimate, small ones such as this. Caroline felt justified in all the pains she had taken to court Lady Hartfield's good opinion, given that she was now, just as she predicted, being thrown into the path of rich, young men. She talked as lively and abundantly as possible, and no doubt to her pleasure, would have been delighted to know that, had a stranger happened on the party just then, they would have been hard pressed not to mistake her for the hostess. Sir Richard, being close at hand bore the brunt of her courtesy, and as insistent as he was on speaking only to Lady Hartfield, Caroline was equally insistent on talking only to him.

The fact of the matter remained, she had no reservations with regards to his wife, given she had had none where Lord Hartfield was concerned with Lady Hartfield being in the neighbourhood at the same time; the fact that Lady Anne Purvis was in another part of the country altogether, was a prospect too opportunistic to pass upon.

Lord Hartfield had shown no further interest in her, and given Sir Richard's wealth, although no match for the Lord's was sufficient. She was sure that by the end of the evening she would have come to a discreet and pleasant arrangement with Sir Richard.

Lord Chaston would have been the preferred choice for Caroline Bingley of course but he was too young, and it soon became clear all too interested in Georgiana Darcy. She spoke little to him, but every time she did it seemed the boy lit up with a smile Lizzy found amusing. She had known the young earl for a few years now, since Lord Hartfield had introduced them in London, and she had rarely seen him thus interested in anything other than cards or gambling. Georgiana Darcy had most decidedly caught the eye of young Lord Chaston!

Lizzy was not surprised; Georgiana with her fair hair, and large blue eyes wore a simple demure gown of powder blue, it showed her figure off most advantageously, and Lizzy was sure that had it not been for their unfortunate circumstances, Miss Darcy would have long been happily married. But as it was, Lord Chaston's interest in her sparked something of interest around the table, and none more so than her brother. But Darcy was not looking at the earl with a favourable eye; rather he tried vainly and failed miserably to disguise his anger.

Lizzy could understand his reservations; Lord Chaston's reputation had suffered as a result of his friendship with Lord Hartfield, what had been assumed to be the failings of one man were seen to be incumbent in the other; Lord Chaston was tainted by association. Whatever his wealth was, a man who loved his sister as dearly as Darcy clearly loved Georgiana would never consent to her being courted by so dubious a character. However, it was equally clear to see, that though Georgiana made no attempts to encourage him, Lord Chaston's continued and clear efforts towards her, added a most becoming flush to her cheeks and lustre to her eyes.

Lizzy was sorry for them, certainly there was much improvement to be made in Lord Chaston before he could ever be deserving as so loyal a creature as Georgiana Darcy, but they were improvements that could be easily attended to. And the love of a woman as devoted as Georgiana and absolute removal from the influence of Lord Hartfield would certainly see the young Earl become a better man.

Lord Hartfield made as a little an effort at conversation as he did to attending to what others said. He chose to study the features of his wife instead; the incident in the carriage had troubled him somewhat. His hurting her was unfortunate, her hurting herself, well that was something new entirely. As for her thoughts towards this Darcy, he thought it was more telling that however vainly she was attempting to keep her eyes averted from his side of the table, the conscious effort of doing so made her eyes drawn to him all the same.

Although Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy was although irksome, Lord Hartfield was determined to ensure he proved no threat. Lady Hartfield would come to see Darcy only in the way Lord Hartfield approved.

He as equally astute as his wife, and keenly aware of Georgiana Darcy's presence, likewise noted the curious way her brother regarded Lord Chaston, and he smiled slightly, well, well he thought, if he disapproved of Lord Chaston…

The evening brought on a more intellectual turn of conversation, and was rather surprisingly instigated by Mr Collins. He had declared to Miss Bingley's praise of a certain young lady's accomplished musical ability, that he thought all young ladies to be accomplished.

Mr Bingley who had been generally all to quiet through out the evening agreed with him. He had not intended to speak and certainly had no wish to even accept an invitation from the man he blamed for Miss Bennet's recent illness. But Caroline had pressed and forced him to concede that if he ever wished to gain the affections of one sister he had yet still to court the good opinion of Lady Hartfield, something he could only do if he attended their dinners.

And so he came and lent his voice to the discussion, 'I think you must be right Mr Collins, for I have not heard of a young lady spoken of, when it was not said that she could paint tables, cover screens, net purses and the like.'

'And have attained that innumerable and immeasurable quality of sitting quietly by windows with folded hands and letting the world pass them by.' Lady Hartfield's voice cut in through their thoughts, the whole table looked up at her in general surprise.

Lord Hartfield knew what was to come, and he smiled in anticipation, it was many a time where he had sat back amused when his wife stumped men and disgusted women with her views on social and political reform. He was surprisingly liberal with her when it came to discussions of this sort, in truth he loved nothing more than a lively discussion with his wife on politics across a busy dinner table, and the shock caused at this flouting of etiquette gave him great pleasure.

And he knew from where this busy mind such observations and notions flowed, and why. He knew why Lady Hartfield took particular interest in her dame school, and how she was more than once condemned for teaching against the Church principle by stating that men and women were equal.

And he knew why she spoke with such passion. Inevitably the whole stemmed from her particular situation. Though she could not change the law that bound her to him, though she could not free herself, she would work hard to free others, politically, socially, morally and to ensure free thought for all, including women.

Sir Richard laughed outright, and all eyes turned to him for an explanation for Lady Hartfields words, he looked upon Lizzy with a sparkling smile and an expression close to adoration. He turned to look at Mr Collins, still laughing.

'Oh Mr Collins, you poor man, little do you know what you are about or what you have started.' Lord Hartfield and Lord Chaston joined in the mirth much to the bemusement of the rest of the table.

Lizzy smiled a little herself, 'Really gentleman it does not behove well that you would think I would berate a relative stranger with my views on the world and its general ills.'

Sir Richard turned back to her smiling still, 'Oh but you will your Ladyship, and we very well know you will. You will no doubt begin with the emancipation of slaves and what a marvellous thing that was…'

Here Lord Chaston took up, 'And you will move on to the dire need for greater transparency, the need for better men of a wide standing social status to overcome corruption in Parliament, and not merely by increasing the number of country members in proportion to town members, as our esteemed Prime Minister would have us believe…'

The final word belonged to Lord Hartfield, 'And then my Lady, you will expound the vindication of rights, the need for free thought and expression, and an affirmation for equality and not merely justice.'

They all laughed now, and even Lizzy spoke through a tell tale blush and smile, I had not realised gentleman that I had become yet so predictable in my speeches, or the cause of such amusement. It appears the three of you have made quite a study of my character, I suppose it ought to be taken as a compliment.'

Here Darcy could not help but intercede, 'By all means your Ladyship take heart, for it is only the most intricate of characters that warrant such close study and are the most amusing.'

Lizzy looked earnestly at him, 'Then Mr Darcy, it appears I have the best advantage sir, as I have provided these gentleman with such hearty mirth.'

Darcy replied with a look and a voice as earnest, 'It is not the best of views or opinions that are met with open arms, it is forever within mans' nature to reject that which it could only benefit him to hear. It is no doubt why progress and reformation is so very slow, often the sanest and most rationale of minds can be dismissed by those who do not choose to understand them.'

Sir Richard began again, 'And her Ladyship has that habit of making sure she is misunderstood, within which she takes great pleasure I am certain. Really,' he leaned forward towards her, 'I believe you would be a celebrated 'first-rater' in town if only you would take to engaging with the London Ton instead of insulting them with your frequent cut-downs.'

Darcy smiled, he could readily imagine what Lady Hartfield would have to say about the London Ton, and despite himself he found the feeling of a strong, unmovable attachment to her returning. 'Perhaps it is because her Ladyship is aware of the great vantage and responsibility her position bears.'

'Do you presume to know my wife so well than Mr Darcy…?' Lord Hartfield cut in with a dark tone; he was tired of this mans constant attempts to defend his wife.

Darcy was not afraid of Lord Hartfield, but he had enough sense to know that any overt display of affection on his side for her Ladyship would only bring pain and danger for her, 'Lord Hartfield will certainly see it if he chooses to.'

'Not at all your Lordship,' he offered his most acquiescent tone, though it rendered him nauseous to have to do so, 'I only meant that society in general was apt to attend to the words of a Lady Hartfield more readily than the average or common young man or woman.'

Lord Hartfield smiled cruelly, 'Such as the average and common Mr Darcy?'

Darcy forced himself to remain unresponsive, 'Yes,' he simply replied, 'much more than the average Mr Darcy, and though I am perhaps a little more outspoken and radical in my views they are no doubt dismissed as easily as the rest.'

The table fell silent, Lizzy was the most uncomfortable for Darcy more than anyone else, it troubled her the way Lord Hartfield insisted on persecuting him, and she could not help but think that it was all for her benefit.

In an effort to ease the tension, and the heavy gloom that had descended on the room, she turned back to the question that had started it all. 'With regards to your earlier observation Mr Collins, what do you deem to be the truly accomplished lady?'

He smiled widely at her, glad to be noticed again, and began with a superior tone, 'The accomplished woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and the modern languages.'

Caroline Bingley who wanted to give the appearance of taking part in an intelligent conversation, but in truth deemed the present company had been deprived of her voice for far too long, concluded 'And to all this she must yet add with her possession of a certain something in her air, her manner of walking, her address and her expression.' She arched her neck and no doubt felt herself remarkably close in every sense to the woman she had just so aptly described.

Darcy could not help but add his own word, with an amused expression, 'I would have thought such a woman hardly existed, to be able to combine such talents so effortlessly, and if she did I would have thought she would have the sense to realise there is yet something more substantial to be added, in the improvement of her mind, say, by extensive reading.' Caroline glared at him, whilst Lizzy tried vainly to stifle a laugh.

'Miss Darcy here is a wonderful hand at the pianoforte,' Caroline trained her eye sardonically at Darcy as she spoke, 'though I am sorry to say she has had little opportunity for practice at Netherfield as our instrument has not yet arrived, you must hear her your Lordship…' She addressed Lord Chaston who was all too happy to press his request.

Lord Hartfield suddenly laughed outright, Lizzy looked on him with a hesitating eye, and she wondered what he had planned next. 'It will not do to talk of fine women's accomplishments where Lady Hartfield is concerned Collins I assure you, she would have a poor defence,' his voice dripped with the faintest hint of menace, 'for I promise you she nets purses poorly, embroiders cushions with a far worse attack, will not attempt at decorating a table, and plays her instrument very ill indeed.'

Lizzy stared at him, she could feel herself blush from head to foot, the expressions of her guests did nothing to allay her embarrassment, of those who could look up at her, Darcy and Caroline, she wondered whose look she found the most reproachful, the pitiful gaze of the first or the triumphant gloat of the latter?

She smiled sweetly at her husband, 'While I thank you your Lordship for your able defence of my good name, I must accede that you are quite right. I do all of those things remarkably ill, and it is true, my fingers do not move over the instrument in the same masterly way as I have seen so many women's do. They do not have the same force of stroke or rapidity, and no doubt they produce a very different sound, but it is my own fault entirely, though it is not because I think my fingers any the less capable, it is because I would not take the trouble of practising.'

Darcy was once more ready for her defence, 'It is because you have employed your time much better, I am sure anybody admitted to the pleasure of hearing you would not think anything wanting,' he almost whispered his next words, 'You are perhaps one of those who does not perform for strangers.'

Lizzy smiled, 'I think we… neither of us do.' For a moment Lizzy forgot herself and bestowed upon Darcy one of those smiles he coveted so much. But a quick flicker of her eyes offered her the frightening prospect of her husband's darkening aspect, and she soon remembered her position.

Lizzy spoke hurriedly, she laughed nervously, 'The material point remains in any case that however accomplished a young lady may become, none uses their talents to the best advantage. A woman's mind is as sharp as any man's, if only she would be allowed to employ those talents as publicly and to the best use of society, but our populace in general is incumbent at suppressing such abilities and abhors the very idea of anything approaching such equality.'

Sir Richard thought it best to bring the subject to a close, he too had noted the dark way in which Lord Hartfield was regarding his wife, and he was well aware of how ill he treated the lovely Lady Hartfield, 'You are quite right your ladyship, and your mind is certainly as sharp as any man's, sharper sometimes I believe…' he raised his glass and drew the tables attention to Mr Hurst who was by now well on his way to being happily drunk.

But Lord Hartfield was by no means done, turning to Darcy he addressed him again, 'never mind the intricacies of my wife's character Mr Darcy surely your story is the more interesting, Sir Richard here can claim a prior acquaintance with you I believe.'

Lizzy who had sworn to henceforth keep her eyes fixed on the table in front of her suddenly shot a glance upwards. Darcy knew Sir Richard, but how, and why had neither of them made any indication of it? She recalled nothing to betray a hint of familiarity or a former acquaintance from either of them.

Sir Richard smiled knowingly, and suddenly Lizzy realised that he must have anticipated and planned the whole with her husband, and she grew afraid. Sir Richard sipped his wine, 'Yes I recall Mr Darcy when he was younger. I believe it was soon after you left school, you had not yet entered your father's business, I recall you kept the most interesting company then. An assortment of French philosophers I think, and there was one amongst that group I particularly remember, a charming liberal young French woman, by the name of…' Lizzy watched horrified as Darcy turned an angry shade paler, all eyes were trained on him as Sir Richard tried dramatically to recall the name of the mysterious woman, '…oh yes, Marguerite was it not?'

Given the way Darcy looked and the triumphant tone of Sir Richard, no one could be in doubt of the nature of Sir Richard's insinuations; there could be no doubts as to Darcy's relationship with this Marguerite.

Lizzy stood up suddenly; she intended to lead the ladies out to the drawing room, Georgiana's look of growing horror at what was being implied as her brother's lack of moral standing was painful to watch. But she could not help regard her husband angrily before she did so; he had of course planned it all. 'Gentlemen I hardly think this is a subject suitable for the dinner table.'

Lord Hartfield smiled up at her cruelly, 'and why not your Ladyship? If we can flout convention so far as to talk of politics surely we can loosen our tongues a little further?'

But Darcy found his own voice at last, and though it shook with anger, his meaning was clear enough. He even smiled a little as he spoke, but his eyes were ablaze.

'And I recall you Sir Richard, but for me it is more than a passing acquaintance. I remember my father reciting to me that you dined at the Darcy table, and that more particularly you were one of those who advised him against giving a rise to the workers.'

Darcy barely took a breath before he continued, 'And I also recall sir that you were not one of those present when we pulled his body from the smouldering rubble as a result of the riots that ensued, nor were you present when we buried him. But more particularly sir, I recall your absence when those of us left behind were in need of help.' He finished at last, and the room fell silent.

Lizzy was tired of them all, her only concern now was for Miss Darcy, the poor girl looked mortified at the nature of so personal attack on her brother. Lizzy took the younger girl by the hand, and spoke coldly, 'Perhaps it is time we removed ourselves to the drawing room ladies, we may leave the gentleman to talk on politics, or anything else they deem appropriate.' The gentleman stood as the ladies rose.

Lord Hartfield raised his glass to her as she made her way to the door, 'You give us too much credit your Ladyship, no doubt we will talk of everything trivial, nothing of great import and no doubt end up drinking more wine than we should.'

Lizzy eyed him coldly, 'No doubt your Lordship, but gentlemen,' here she addressed the whole room, 'be so kind as to justify our confidence in at least one of you, and allow us to hope that you may be endowed with that uncommon ability to speak as much sense after a few glasses of wine as before.'

'We will but try your Ladyship…' Sir Richard bowed dramatically. Lizzy saved her particular glower for him.