Chapter 5

It was a moment of intense emotion for all present, except Mr. Clifton, who, of course, had no knowledge of the history of Elizabeth's prior acquaintance with Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth, her cheeks aflame, instantly pulled her hand from Mr. Clifton's and let it drop to her side. Georgiana, standing to the left of her brother, put a calming hand on his forearm and patted him gently. She did not need to be told that the embarrassed young lady in the drawing room was Miss Elizabeth Bennet; she had immediately ascertained it by the stricken look on her brother's face.

Darcy's first, dismal thought was "It is too late. She is promised to another."

Bingley had the unenviable but necessary task of introducing his guests to Mr. Clifton.

"Mr. Alexander Clifton, this is my good friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, and his sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy."

If Mr. Clifton was confused by the icy expression on Mr. Darcy's face, it was not evident. He smiled and bowed, not seeming to notice that his gesture was returned with only the most perfunctory nod by Mr. Darcy. Georgiana forced herself to be more gracious and smiled in return.

And since Mr. Darcy did not make a move to introduce his sister to Elizabeth Bennet, that responsibility fell to Mr. Bingley as well.

"Miss Darcy, may I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"

Georgiana smiled, her eyes searching Miss Bennet's face, and bowed.

"It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Miss Bennet. My brother has told me so much about you."

Elizabeth glanced at Mr. Darcy, who had still not acknowledged her. He was, in fact, looking determinedly toward the window.

"And I have heard so much about you, Miss Darcy. Did you and your brother enjoy your stay on the Continent?"

"Yes, it was lovely, Miss Bennet, but it is good to be home. I know my brother was anxious to return and renew his acquaintance with all those here in Hertfordshire."

Darcy was stealing a glance at Elizabeth, but the moment she looked at him, he quickly turned away once again.

Her mouth dry, Elizabeth forced herself to address him.
"Are you well, Mr. Darcy?"

He looked at her warily.

"Quite well, thank you, Miss Bennet. And may I inquire after your parents, and your sisters?"

"They are well, Mr. Darcy, I thank you."

Despite himself, Darcy turned to look at Mr. Clifton. He was most distressed to discover that the man was looking at Elizabeth with a smug, proprietary expression on his face.

Mr. Clifton lingered, hoping Bingley would invite him to stay for dinner, but Bingley remembered Jane's admonishment of the previous evening and refrained from doing so. Finally Clifton took his leave, smiling at Elizabeth and saying meaningfully, "I will return tomorrow, Miss Elizabeth, as we earlier agreed. I will count the minutes until then."

Elizabeth thought she had agreed to no such thing, but she could hardly contradict his statement in the presence of the others.

Mr. Clifton bowed to all present.

"It has been a pleasure to meet you, and I hope to see you again soon. Good day, Bingley, and thank you as always for your hospitality."

Georgiana looked at her brother with sympathy. The poor man looked utterly miserable. How she wished she could communicate what her intuition told her, that Miss Bennet was indifferent to Mr. Clifton. And more than that, she was far from indifferent to Fitzwilliam! Her brother was behaving as he usually did when he was embarrassed or uncomfortable; he became silent and withdrawn. If this was how he had behaved when he was first in Hertfordshire, it was no wonder the general opinion of him had been so poor.

Bingley was supremely grateful when Jane, carrying baby Charles, entered the room, for it gave them all something about which to converse!

"Ah, Mr. Darcy," Jane said warmly, crossing the room to show him the baby. "And this must be your sister! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Darcy."

"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Bingley. And what a perfectly adorable baby!" Georgiana answered.

"Mrs. Bingley," Darcy said, "may I offer my sincere best wishes on your marriage and on the birth of your son."

"I thank you, Mr. Darcy. Charles Thomas Bingley, may I present your godfather, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy," Jane said with a bright smile. "Would you like to hold your godson, Mr. Darcy?"
As it happened, Mr. Darcy, having no experience in such matters, would have much rather not held him, but as there was no gracious way of refusing, he gingerly took the baby into his arms and cradled him awkwardly.

Georgiana smiled at the comical picture her brother presented. A man of such large stature holding this tiny being in his arms! Even the baby seemed awestruck, his big blue eyes staring unblinkingly at Darcy's face.

"I think I should sit down," Darcy said nervously, seating himself on the chair opposite Elizabeth.

Elizabeth stifled a giggle at Mr. Darcy's stiff posture and could not resist saying, "Relax your arms, Mr. Darcy, he will not break."

"You are looking well, Mr. Darcy, the Italian sun has certainly agreed with you," Jane said. "Is he not looking well, Lizzy?"

"Yes, he is," Elizabeth said in a near whisper. He is even more handsome than I remember, she thought. "It is...it is good to see you looking so well, Mr. Darcy," she said, not daring to meet his eyes.

Darcy stared at her, trying to collect his thoughts sufficiently to make a sensible response.

Say something, Fitzwilliam! Georgiana thought.

"I hope we did not intrude on you this afternoon, Miss Bennet," he said. "It appeared we...might have," he finished weakly.

Georgiana turned her head so that no one would see her roll her eyes. Most emphatically not what I had in mind!

"Not at all," Elizabeth said awkwardly.

What else would she say, Darcy thought. She could hardly admit that we had interrupted her sharing a romantic interlude with Mr. Clifton!

All that Elizabeth wanted to convey to him -- her gratitude for his telling her of Wickham's ignoble behaviour, thus sparing Lydia from possible disgrace, her remorse for the unfair accusations she had made of him last spring, and her appreciation of his owning up to Bingley about his role in separating him from Jane -- could only be conveyed in private, and she wondered if she would ever have the opportunity.

It would certainly not be today, when they seemed to be reduced to uttering the most meaningless of pleasantries and tentatively worded inquiries:
Are you well? Is your family well? You are looking well.

It was absurd, Elizabeth thought, when she remembered the raw emotions that had surfaced at their last meeting.

And she knew quite well what Mr. Darcy was thinking, that she had some sort of understanding with the bland and inoffensive Mr. Clifton. How on earth was she to let Mr. Darcy know that she had refused an offer of marriage from Mr. Clifton? There was simply no way for her to relate these events to Mr. Darcy as it would be highly improper and unfair to Mr. Clifton. She would no more consider sharing this information with Mr. Darcy than she had considered revealing Mr. Darcy's failed proposal to anyone but Jane. How very frustrating it all was.

Elizabeth now feared that perhaps Mr. Darcy had come to Netherfield for no other reason than to fulfill his obligation to his friend. After all, he had not contacted Bingley until he received Bingley's letter asking him to be baby Charles' godfather. It was entirely possible, even probable, that he would still be in Italy had Charles not written to him.

By neither word nor expression had he indicated any more than a polite interest in her, Elizabeth thought. Indeed, why should he? He had been in love with her, or thought he was, a year ago, and on that occasion she had cruelly rebuffed his proposals. All those deficiencies of family and connections that had made him hesitant to declare himself then were still present now! Having been so emphatically refused, why would he risk his heart again?

What conceit on my part, Elizabeth thought, to assume his feelings would remain constant after so many months.

Baby Charles began to cry, and Elizabeth looked up. Darcy attempted to comfort the wailing child, with little success. He looked down at the baby, then at Elizabeth, and he remembered what he had written, and his face was covered with the deepest blush.

Look at me when we hold that baby over the christening font, and you will know how much I wish it were our baby, yours and mine.

"I will take him from you, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, and Darcy thought she could not fail to see how affected he was by his improper thoughts and by the brushing of her arms against his as she carefully took the baby from him.

This is what might have been mine, but for my abominable pride, he thought. Look at Charles -- the man glows with happiness! And why should he not? Despite all obstacles, obstacles placed in his way by me, when given the opportunity, he seized happiness with both hands, while I threw it away.

"There, there, little one," Elizabeth said, as the baby wrapped his fist around her finger. She leaned down to nuzzle the baby's face with her own.
How serene, how right she looks, holding the infant so tenderly. I cannot bear to think of her with Clifton, or with any other man.

"Lizzy, I believe it is time to put the baby down for his nap," Jane said.

"I will help you, Jane," Elizabeth answered, eager to be alone with her sister to convey all that had happened and what she was feeling.

The two sisters excused themselves to go upstairs to the nursery, leaving Bingley with Darcy and Georgiana.

Georgiana gazed at Fitzwilliam with the deepest sympathy.

"You look fatigued, brother. And I confess I am feeling so myself after our journey."

Bingley immediately suggested they retire to their rooms until dinner, and his offer was accepted.

Georgiana was determined to have a word with her brother in private, and she had the opportunity when they arrived upstairs.

"Fitzwilliam," she said softly so no one might overhear. "All is not lost, please believe me."

Darcy shook his head. "You saw them together as well as I did, Georgiana. It was quite obvious."

"Oh yes, it was quite obvious! Mr. Clifton is far more enamoured of Miss Bennet than she is of him. Think, brother! She immediately removed her hand from his when we entered the room, and she appeared relieved when he left. He eagerly anticipated seeing her again tomorrow, and she expressed no similar sentiments. Neither she nor her sister nor Charles Bingley suggested that he stay for dinner, although Mr. Clifton seemed loath to leave, and certainly one of them would have, had there been any understanding between them! You are not thinking logically."

Darcy sighed. "All I ever did in the past was think logically, Georgiana."

"Miss Bennet is not indifferent to you, of that I am certain. She blushed when she saw you and when she touched you, and why on earth, Fitzwilliam, did you make that unfortunate comment about intruding upon her and Mr. Clifton after she remarked on how well you looked?"

"I did? She did? I cannot remember a word either of us said today. What would you have had me say?"

"Something that would have not so blatantly called her attention to Mr. Clifton. 'You are looking lovely yourself, Miss Bennet,' might have been a good start!"

"It would have been no lie, Georgiana. Is she not beautiful?"
"Yes, she is, but I see it is far more than her beauty that has captivated you. Fitzwilliam, you may count upon it that Mr. Clifton is going to be here again tomorrow. I suggest you arise early in the morning and place yourself firmly next to Miss Bennet, and do not move!"

A wide grin spread over his handsome face at his formerly timid sister's audaciously delivered commands.

"And smile, Fitzwilliam! Just like that!"

Chapter 6

Jane and Lizzy, safely behind the closed door of the nursery, earnestly discussed the afternoon's events. Jane settled herself in the upholstered rocking chair, baby at her breast, and eagerly awaited the disclosures her sister so urgently wished to make.

"Oh, Jane, I have never had so distressing an afternoon in my life! First Mr. Clifton took me totally by surprise with a proposal of marriage..."

"Lizzy, he didn't!"

"Yes he did, Jane, despite all my best attempts to prevent him. He did not seem unduly distressed at my refusal, and insisted that he would not be discouraged. Imagine, Jane, another Mr. Collins, who will not take a refusal as discouragement! He did not once mention the word 'love,' Jane! Even Mr. Darcy, for all his disagreeableness, did tell me he loved me that day last spring."

"You seemed rather affected by Mr. Darcy's presence, Lizzy."

"Jane, how could I not be? I have not yet told you the worst of it!"

Jane's eyes widened. "The worst of it? What happened, Lizzy?"

"At the very moment Charles chose to bring Mr. Darcy and his sister into the drawing room, Mr. Clifton was in the process of kissing my hand in the attitude of a suitor who had hopes of success, rather than one who had just been soundly rejected."

"Oh no, Lizzy! How can Charles have been so thoughtless as not to knock? What was Mr. Darcy's reaction?"

"His typical one of no reaction at all, Jane. He was cold to Mr. Clifton and did not address me directly until I made some inquiry of him first. Ohhhh...why did I do that? What must he be thinking of me!"

"Lizzy, may I be frank?"

"Of course, Jane."
"If how Mr. Darcy was looking at you while you were holding little Charles was any indication of what he was thinking, I can assure you his thoughts were very favourable indeed!"

Elizabeth looked at her sister hopefully.

"I could not meet his eyes, Jane, because I feared my expression would reveal my feelings."

"Lizzy, you must look at this from Mr. Darcy's point of view. You told him in no uncertain terms last year that his proposals were unwelcome. He arrives at Netherfield and sees you in a somewhat compromising position with another man. Why would he be anything but cautious in his approach unless you gave him some indication his attentions would be welcome? At the very least, he must be made to realize that you have no attachment to Mr. Clifton."

"Yes, Mr. Clifton," Lizzy sighed, "who no doubt will be awaiting me at the breakfast table tomorrow morning at dawn!"

Jane giggled.

"Perhaps, like Mr. Collins, his attentions may be deflected to another, Lizzy. It is not as though he has been passionate in his declarations."

"No, indeed, Jane, his proposals were sadly lacking in passion!"

"Caroline Bingley will arrive the day after tomorrow, Lizzy."

"Oh, no! Surely Mr. Clifton has done nothing so terrible so as to deserve such a fate!"

"Perhaps, Lizzy, it will be a suitable match. Mr. Clifton is 32 and is no doubt eager to marry and produce an heir, and he does not seem to require an all-consuming love for the woman he is to marry. Caroline is not getting any younger, and Mr. Clifton has everything she requires: a large estate and a good income. But most importantly, Lizzy, you must let Mr. Clifton know in no uncertain terms that his prospects with you are hopeless!"

"I do not want to be cruel, Jane. He has been most attentive and amiable, and he is a good friend to Charles."

"I know, Lizzy. You need not be cruel, just emphatic. He would be a fool, indeed, to pursue Caroline if he thinks he has any remaining hope of becoming engaged to you! And then we must somehow ensure that Mr. Darcy knows you do not have and never will have any attachment to Mr. Clifton."

Lizzy laughed. "Such deviousness, Jane! Mama would be proud."

"One more thing, Lizzy. Am I correct in observing that your feelings have softened toward Mr. Darcy?"

"I...I am not sure, Jane. I certainly no longer hate the man. He has proven by his actions that he is not the villain I once thought him. But he was very quiet today, Jane. No matter what you may think, I saw no indication that he had any affection for me."

"No, Lizzy, I am sure you are wrong. And if it continues thus, with neither of you willing to take the risk of exposing your sentiments, Mr. Darcy may well leave for Derbyshire directly after the christening, with nothing resolved between you."

Jane noted that her sister had tears in her eyes.

"It is I who has been accused of hiding my feelings, Lizzy, pray do not follow my example. Ah, Lizzy, your tears betray you."

"How shall I face him at dinner, Jane?"

"By being your usual charming and impertinent self! I know he is still in love with you, Lizzy, but he needs some encouragement."

"I will try, Jane."

"And Lizzy? Do not consider marrying without love. A dispassionate marriage might be good enough for Caroline Bingley, but not for you, my most beloved sister. Passion in marriage, contrary to what Mama may have told you, is to be highly recommended. And its result," she said, gazing lovingly at her sleeping son, "is delightful, indeed."

Lizzy, with Jane's assistance, took special pains in her appearance and dress before going downstairs to dinner with her sister and Bingley. Mr. Darcy, who was seated next to his sister, immediately rose to his feet upon her entrance.

Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, relying upon the coaching of their respective siblings, made an effort to be sociable and agreeable.

"You are looking quite well this evening, Miss Bennet," he said with a serious expression, until in accordance with Georgiana's instructions, he remembered to smile. Quite well? She is stunningly beautiful, how can I ever have thought otherwise?

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy," Lizzy answered, her tone deliberately playful. "I believe I neglected to tell you this afternoon how becoming I find your newly acquired tan, no doubt the result of all those days spent in the Italian sun." He should smile like that more often, it makes him look impossibly handsome. Those dimples!

Darcy swallowed, hard, as they all sat down. That was a definite flirtation. He looked doubtfully at Georgiana. Was it not?
Georgiana, as though reading his mind, gave her brother an encouraging nudge under the table.

"I hope you might see Italy yourself one day, Miss Bennet. I should very much like to show you the places Georgiana and I found most delightful."

Excellent, Fitzwilliam, excellent! Georgiana thought, looking at him with admiration. Her brother was learning rapidly, indeed.

"Oh, yes, I have always longed to see Italy, Mr. Darcy! Tell me, which of the cities did you find most memorable?"

Nothing I saw there or anywhere was as memorable as those beautiful eyes. I thought of them every single day, and to see them now in reality, gazing at me so sweetly, is blissful, indeed.

"Certainly all the major cities had their merits, Miss Bennet, but I must confess that the art and sculpture galleries in Florence..."

Soon Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were conversing almost exclusively with each other. They had found a neutral subject, of true interest to both of them, and Elizabeth was astounded at how amiable he could be. He was looking at her so intently, listening eagerly to each word that she spoke as though it were a gift. His hand went to his left breast pocket, touching the cameo that lay within, and he wished he had the right to present it to her as his beloved. I bought this, my dearest Elizabeth, because it reminded me of you. He would pin it to the bodice of her dress, where the neckline dipped, the cleft of her breasts so enticingly displayed. His face reddened as his eyes naturally strayed to the region in question, until he remembered himself and rapidly returned his gaze to her face.

Now it was Elizabeth's turn to blush. She had seen his gaze, she had guessed his thoughts, and she was not displeased. I must tell Jane of this later, and see whether she persists in encouraging me in my impertinence!

All too soon, the evening came to an end. Both Elizabeth and Darcy were well pleased with the direction the evening had taken, and Georgiana and Jane were quite satisfied with their "pupils'" performance!

"Well done, Fitzwilliam!" Georgiana said as her brother escorted her to her bedchamber. "Tomorrow will only bring better things."

"Yes...well, except for that blasted Clifton," he said.

"Oh believe me, brother, Mr. Clifton was the last person on Miss Bennet's mind tonight! You shall have no problem disposing of him, I am sure!"

"'Disposing of him?' What would you have me do, waylay him with bow and arrow as he approaches on horseback?"

Georgiana laughed, and reached up to kiss her brother's cheek.

"I rather doubt such extreme measures will be necessary, Fitzwilliam! Continue to be as charming to Miss Bennet as you were tonight, and I am sure she will take care of it herself!"

"Georgiana?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you, dearest," Darcy whispered.

"You are most welcome. Sleep well tonight, brother."

Sleep well? As well as I can, knowing my heart's desire sleeps but two rooms away!

"Charles?" Jane asked, as she and her husband lay in bed.

"Mmmm..." he responded, his lips brushing her throat, then drifting downwards to her wondrously full breasts.

"Mr. Clifton proposed to Lizzy this afternoon."

"And she refused him, no doubt."

"How might you know that?"

"I would be a simpleton, Jane, if I could not see how Lizzy and Darcy were looking at each other this evening!"

"I think Darcy might still be concerned about Mr. Clifton, though, Charles, as a possible rival."

"As I said once before, Jane, it might not be a bad thing for Darcy to think he has a rival for Lizzy's affections."

"Perhaps before, Charles, but no longer. Might you be able to somehow communicate to him...?"

"Jane! You astound me! It is bad enough that you know and I know that Clifton has been refused. To tell Darcy as well would be unconscionable. No, Darcy can fend for himself! A little anxiety will do him good."

Even Charles Bingley's charitable nature had its limits. He may have forgiven Darcy's interference in his courtship of Jane, but he would never forget. If Darcy truly loved Elizabeth, he would win her, without his assistance or anyone else's!

"Charles...what do you think about Mr. Clifton and Caroline?"

"Mr. Clifton and Caroline?"

"Would they suit each other?"

In truth, Charles doubted that Caroline suited anyone, but he could hardly speak so of his own sister.

He shrugged. "I suppose...it would do no harm to introduce them, they will both be here for the christening."

"You might want to let Caroline know that Mr. Clifton is a man of good fortune, Charles."

"Are you insinuating, my dear, that my sister's interests tend to the mercenary?"

He tried to sound offended, but his smile betrayed him.

"Be serious, Charles," Jane said, but her husband found it difficult to be serious about anything except making love to his beautiful wife, who was looking up at him indignantly.

"The baby is sleeping, love, and we know not for how long," he whispered, as he untied her nightdress.

Jane soon conceded that their conversation, serious or not, might better be continued at a later date.

The young housemaid, Ellen, was the last to retire at Netherfield that evening.

The china was stored away in the larder, the furniture dusted, the cushions in the drawing room plumped and re-arranged. She was sweeping the hallway carpet when, directly under the rack on which a number of coats hung, she spied a folded sheet of paper. There were two pieces, she discovered, when she bent down to pick it up.

Ellen had little knowledge of reading, but when she unfolded the papers, she immediately recognized one word at the top of the first sheet.

"Elizabeth"

It was a letter, apparently, belonging to the mistress's sister, and Ellen assumed it had fallen from the pocket of her cloak. As it would not do for Miss Elizabeth to think that she had been looking at her private correspondence, she folded the missive into quarters and inserted it into the pocket of Miss Elizabeth's blue cloak. Ellen had a fondness for Mrs. Bingley and her sister. She had never worked for such pleasant and unassuming young ladies, who were so considerate of the staff. Now Mr. Bingley's sisters...that was an entirely different matter! Their arrival was anticipated within the next few days, and Ellen knew her workload during their visit would increase considerably due to their demanding natures.

There. She looked around the hallway, satisfied with the result of her labours. The house was spotless and in order, and all was in readiness for the following day.