"You two are going to let your stubborn hides eat you alive." A voice whispered confidently from behind me, followed closely by the feel of Jane's hand as she grabbed the crook of my arm pointedly before pulling me into a dim corridor off the dining room. I didn't argue with her only because even I was having a hard time believing that I had only been involved with Darcy professionally for a few days now. Is it possible to meet someone for the first time and yet feel as if you had known them forever? I had always scoffed at those fairy tale ideals—the ones that depicted men and women who ended up in bed, married, and pregnant with their first children in under a week. It was laughable really. And the man Jane happened to be referring to was, by far, the most despicable man I had ever met. I glared at her—amazed too that I had only known her a short period of time as well, unless, of course, you count the year we spent working next to each other without a single word between us.
It's not stubbornness, Jane. It's disgust." I reiterated as I tried to disentangle myself from her hold. It was too presumptuous of her to make references about my love life. I didn't feel comfortable referring to Fitzwilliam Darcy at all. He and the three words 'my love life' was not something I considered compatible. Therefore, I was determined to ignore him. Or I had been. Now I knew I needed to try a different tactic. Someone cleared their throat from out in the dining room and Jane and I both jumped as we were brought out of our reverie.
"Unless you intend to eat outside in the hallway, I suggest you two find a way to join us." The wavering voice demanded as I sighed. It was the dowager enmity herself. Where did they dig up the hag anyway? King Tut's tomb? I have heard the place is cursed. I realize I am belligerent, but the woman just rubbed me wrong. Jane rolled her eyes as she pushed me slowly into the room, both of us raising our brows sheepishly when we noticed everyone else had already taken a seat. I grumbled to myself as I noticed the two empty seats were between Charles and Will.
"So Ms. Bennet, I have heard quite a bit about your proficiency in Italian. Are you versed in anything outside of writing and translating?" Catherine DeBourgh asked me curiously as I took my seat next to Darcy. The food looked appetizing despite the way my stomach cringed at the questioning. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I placed my hands respectfully in my lap.
"I sketch some, and I had an aunt that once taught me how to play the piano. It's been years, however, since I've even been near a keyboard of any sort." I replied with a shrug, the aroma from the cuisine making my stomach growl as Catherine nodded towards me in sudden interest.
"Really? The piano? I have a special soft spot for those interested in music. Did you know that Darcy's sister Georgiana is proficient in the piano herself? We expect her to study classical music once she reaches the college level." The woman proclaimed proudly as I snuck a look over at Darcy with surprise. He had a sister? He didn't return my look so I smiled quickly at the dowager.
"I wouldn't really consider myself proficient or even more than vaguely interested in the art myself, although I do enjoy music." I remarked with a shrug, sighing as I started to reach for the utensils at the side of the plate. Ahhh, but the old woman wouldn't have it. Why let someone enjoy a visit to a beautiful country or enjoy dining on fine cuisine when you can make them miserable instead, right? It seemed to be the Darcy family motto.
"Well, I find myself sympathizing for you then, dear, for music is the key to the human soul. It is also the key to propriety." Catherine said in a tone marked by insolence. My ire rose. Had the hag just snubbed me? Oh, uh uh, I don't think so. I grinned through clenched teeth after gazing a moment helplessly at the untouched victuals.
"And here I always thought that human emotion was the key to the human soul, that respect was the key to propriety." I replied slowly, letting my gaze meet with the woman's from across the table as everyone suddenly stopped eating. At least they had gotten a chance to taste theirs. Catherine was sitting rigidly as she perused me anew.
"You're rather opinionated, Ms. Bennet." Madame DeBourgh remarked in a tone that my own parents used to utilize when lecturing me as a child. It unnerved me.
"I'm only opinionated, mam, when I feel I have been insulted falsely. I have never pretended to be proper, have never assumed that I was well-rounded. Point being, I have never portrayed myself to others as anything other than myself. I do, however, feel that everyone should be respected despite their station or lot in life. And if music were the key to the human soul, then a good deal of the world would be soulless." I countered softly, suddenly aware that I was, once again, the one being stared at in accusation and surprise. I was growing weary of it, my modest soul taking a beating that it had never endured until now. And then 'he' did something that surprised me so much I actually lost my appetite.
"Hear hear, Ms. Bennet. That was well-spoken. Now, auntie, I do advise you to allow Ms. Bennet the chance to eat her lunch." Darcy stated unexpectedly before continuing to eat his own meal as if nothing had transpired. Conversation resumed around us after each of the people surrounding the table looked their share beforehand. I'm sure my face was flaming. Why had he taken up for me when he had been doing nothing but belittling me as much as his aunt had since the first moment we met? I didn't get it. I played with the uninteresting food a moment before stealing yet one more glance at his stoic profile.
"Something wrong?" Darcy asked me quietly as I scrunched up my nose at him and shook my head.
"You could have waited to be my champion until after I had tasted the food." I answered lightly as he laughed. Yes, laughed. It must have been an action he practiced rarely because his aunt's head flew up sharply at the sound and her eyes narrowed at the rumbling that emanated from his chest.
"Does chivalry suit me so badly, Ms. Bennet?" Darcy questioned with a wry grin. One glance at his face and I knew that I had amused him. Stranger yet was the sudden realization that I had been trying to amuse him. Scary thought, that.
"Only because you seem a little rusty at it, sir." I replied with a small smile before finally sampling a little of the food just about the time I noticed everyone else getting up in preparation to depart the room. Damn, just my luck! Oh well, I wasn't that hungry anyhow. Following everyone's lead, I pushed back my chair and stood while watching as Catherine DeBourgh waved her agitated hand toward the stairway in the foyer.
"I will let you all get to the affair of unpacking and getting down to whatever business you need to attend to." She said evenly as I watched everyone file out slowly, my eyes narrowing at the murderous glances thrown at me from Caroline and her sister, Lady Hurst. Hurst had not said a single word throughout the meal, with the exception of whispers aside to Caroline. Jane and I had obviously not been introduced to the woman, which expressed just how much the patroness disapproved of us. What a mess!
"You wanted to speak to me, Ms. Bennet?" Darcy asked me suddenly, startling me out of my thoughts as I realized he and I were the only two left in the room. I nodded as I turned toward him uncertainly, allowing my gaze to meet his interested one unflinchingly.
"Teach me." I commanded suddenly with a shrug as his mouth tightened audibly before he leaned against the table as if he needed support. Now that I think about it, those two words could mean any sort of inappropriate things. Oops.
"Excuse me?" He asked uncertainly as I stared at him pointedly. There was no turning back now.
"I want you to teach me this intrepid propriety that you all seem so wrapped up in." I explained as he stared at me a moment before shaking his head resolutely.
"That's out of the question, Ms. Bennet." He commented quietly as I felt the anger banked in the pit of my stomach flare now to life.
"What do you mean it's out of the question? I've been beat down, pitied, and frowned upon since my arrival at your company. If I am to have the same opportunity as everyone else, then you of all people might as well show me what is so all-fired important about propriety. It's not as if I'm asking you to seduce me, Mr. Darcy." I commented before realizing what my anger had allowed to escape from my idiotic mouth. Please tell me I hadn't said that. Darcy's eyes darkened as he looked at me and I shivered at its intensity.
"And you, Ms. Bennet, do not believe that propriety can be seducing?" Darcy asked in a low tone as I looked at him suddenly in reservation. Of course it couldn't be. Could it? I grinned good-naturedly.
"No, I wouldn't precisely describe it as seducing." I answered in a choked tone as he smiled suddenly before pointing at a clock on the wall next to the door.
"You may be surprised, Ms. Bennet. Fine, aside from a firm well-placed swat on your bottom, propriety may do you some good. There's no time today to worry much about going into the office so meet me down here in about an hour and wear heels." He whispered as he brushed by me brusquely. Oh my! What had I just done?
Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews! I am enjoying working on this piece. It does flounder from the 'Austen' story quite a bit as I can be a little more risque in a modern piece. I do intend to fit most of the characters from the novel into this piece as I go, although they may be portrayed in a different light as I am using the characters from the novel the way I believe they would have behaved in the modern period. With the exception of Jane, of course. I needed a lively character, apart from Lizzie and just thought it would be fun to make it Jane. Please keep reading and let me know what you think. Lots of great and wonderful wishes to you all!--licensetowrite