Disclaimer: I own none of these people.
Here's the next chapter! Let's hope Darcy fixes his booboo, eh? Enjoy! :)
But she's from an important family! Darcy continued pacing back and forth along the same line in his library. His attempt to decide how to handle the situation with Elizabeth and once again find himself with Bennet Benediction—or so Bingley called it—seemed futile.
Why do I even care that she was insulted? What I said was true! He would think.
Was it? It was for comments like this that Darcy learned to hate the part of his brain he couldn't control. His conscience could go rot in bloody hell with his anger issues.
And so it went on, Darcy trying to rationalize his behavior in a way that made is alright for him to say those things, and then deciding he should be apologizing.
It was true, what he thought before. She was from an important family. Not at important as he was, that is, yet they—especially the two eldest daughters—seemed to be social favorites. No title, but friends in very high places.
Of course, by social favorites he meant friends of Lady Matlock's. Insulting a friend of Lady Matlock's was always an especially dangerous endeavor.
But she's not as important as you! he thought. There is nothing she can do to harm you! This silly little notion was promptly ignored as Darcy grabbed his coat and hat and headed for the door.
The Bennet family spent their morning in the delicately and tastefully decorated parlor, sipping tea and having a peaceful morning. Elizabeth and Jane were rather intent on discussing the ball and a certain ginger's attentions to a certain blonde. Their younger sisters, Mary, Kitty and Lydia sat around them, listening to the tales. Mary's darker coloring was a pleasing contrast to her pale skin, yet it colored often as her sister's recounted their bold words. The plainest features in the family, they were also the most apt to turn a judgmental eye. Lydia, so much closer to Elizabeth in looks than the others, could hardly contain her excitement. Her hair thought similarly as it fought against the pins in the same jovial expression. Kitty's curls, however, differed from her sister Lydia's. Her rag curls-versus her sister's pin curls-were fairer, a lovely mixture in color of Jane's and Elizabeth. Her curls bounced in jubilatios in repsosne to her sisters' exciting night.
"Oh, the day I come out and go to my first ball I shall be the happiest girl in the world!" proclaimed Lydia. Kitty quickly agreed and Mary simply nodded her head.
"Is there much lively discussion?" was Mary's inquiry.
Elizabeth smirked ungraciously at the memory of Mr. Darcy. "If you can find someone intelligent enough, there can be."
Jane jumped in shock. "Lizzy!"
"It's true, Jane! I did find one fellow." The three younger sisters leaned in to hear more. Lizzy noticed and quickly reprimanded them. "I will say no more, sisters! He turned out to be a snide man, a tad pompous for my liking. And quite rude!"
"Yes, but what was his name, Lizzy!" Lydia cried.
"Mr. Darcy," the butler announced. Lizzy, whose mouth was open ready to reply less favorably, froze and stared in wonderment at Mr. Cottingham.
"Excuse me, sir? How on Earth were you aware of such a fact?" she demanded indignantly, jumping to her feet. Were even servants privy to her humiliation?!
The butler looked frazzled. "Madame? To what are you referring? I am just announcing the caller at the door!"
Jane, Mary, Kitty and Lydia burst into a fit of giggles. Elizabeth colored horribly and sank back down into the cushions, wishing they would just swallow her up.
"So it seems your 'pompous man' decided to drop by!" Kitty's wink caused Elizabeth's cheeks to burn a bright red. Darcy chose that moment to grace the family with his presence.
He stood awkwardly in the doorway, not quite knowing what to do when he only knew two of the seven people in the room.
Jane quickly came to his assistance as Lizzy refused to look anywhere in his general vicinity.
"Mama, Papa, Mary, Kitty, Lydia, may I introduce Mr. Darcy? Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Misses Mary, Catherine and Lydia." Darcy bowed appropriately.
Mrs. Bennet quickly jumped in, taking her role as hostess very seriously. She was a small woman, however she was well fed. Raised in a like society, her behavior modeled all that it ought to. A little enthusiasm was always part of her nature, however.
"Mr. Darcy! How wonderful of you to join us! Please, sit down and tell us how you know my Jane!"
He slowly did as he was bid, taking a seat rather nearer to Elizabeth than to anyone else. "Well, Mrs. Bennet, first I must remark on the beauty of all of your daughters. London is truly a lucky place to be graced by such an agreeable family."
"Thank you Mr. Darcy," said Mr. Bennet. The women were of course a little flustered at the favorable comment, and the sisters shot a small glance at Elizabeth who had narrowed her visual options to just the floor.
"I met Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth at Lady Matlock's ball," Darcy continued. "I must say I found them most diverting company."
"Oh? I was wondering where I lost my daughters to that night!" commented Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Darcy gave a small smile.
"Yes, I'm afraid Mr. Charles Bingley and I took up much of their time."
"Well that's wonderful! One should always have friends in a crowded ballroom," Mrs. Bennet commented decidedly.
"Indeed."
A small silence ensued.
"Now, Mr. Darcy, would you mind telling us the purpose of your visit?" Mr. Bennet cut in. The silence, he felt, had gone on long enough. There was only so long everyone could awkwardly admire the furnishings and paintings.
"Ah, yes! My visit. Well. I was wondering—well, really hoping, that is—that Miss Elizabeth would be inclined to continue our…discussion…about…dancing."
His eyes immediately averted to her, and though she still stared at the floor, her eyes widened. Her stubborn nature told her to let him suffer, to allow him to leave in disgrace.
But her breeding told her otherwise. She stood and inclined her head towards Mr. Darcy.
"Sir, if you join me on a walk I would be glad to continue our…discussion," she agreed coldly. Darcy very nearly winced at her tone and her mother's eyes bore into her, wondering what had come over her daughter. Elizabeth's sisters tried their hardest to stifle a giggle, yet Lydia—the youngest and least trained to handle such a social setting—let one escape.
Mr. Darcy rose and addressed the eldest Bennets. "Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet. With your leave?" They both nodded in consent and Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth. She graciously took it, if not somewhat stiffly, and they exited the room.
The walk to the front door was nothing short of hostile on Elizabeth's end. Darcy prayed he could fix this.
As they made their way stoically through the streets of London to Hyde Park, he couldn't help but admire her figure in the pleasing yellow morning dress.
It suits her, he decided. Yellow suits her just as it suits the Sun.
With this perfect self-intimidation in mind, Darcy decided to begin his endeavor.
"Miss Elizabeth?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy?" came the flat reply.
"May I…may I offer you an apology?"
Elizabeth stopped, staring incredulously at Mr. Darcy. The halt in the walk jerked him almost comically as he was mid-stride.
"Mr. Darcy, I hardly know if you know what you're apologizing for!" she cried.
"What? Of course I know!" It was now his turn to get offended. "Miss Elizabeth I am not half as daft as you seem to think me! I apologized for my lack of decorum in the ballroom and for insulting such a wonderful lady. If this does not satisfy you, I must apologize once again and ask you to enlighten me!"
"Mr. Darcy, the intent behind your comment, saying you do not wish to be attached to me, that was not the insult!" she told him, growing more emphatic with every word. His confusion set her off once more before he had to chance to answer. "Mr. Darcy, you spent one dance and then a dinner with me. I had hoped…or just wished…that my character was different enough from the young ladies who throw themselves at the feet of money and status."
"Miss Elizabeth…it is! It very much is!" Darcy assured her.
"Then why, Mr. Darcy, did you assume I was going to cling to you and take a second dance as any sort of promise? And if you believed that's what another dance would have meant, why did you assume I would accept? Did you assume I would attach myself so willingly after so short a time? Based on what? A promise of money?"
"Miss Elizabeth?" He could hardly comprehend what he was hearing.
"I was not insulted by your words. I was insulted by your judgment of my character," she concluded quietly.
Realization dawned on Darcy. He really had made her sound like a desperate gold digger who he was inclined to avoid, didn't he? But if that was what she thought…surely she was standing there for longer than either he or Bingley realized.
"Miss Elizabeth…how much did you hear?" he asked.
Her gaze hardened. " You wished to avoid ladies of the ton which is why you never went to balls and why you wished to be separated from me. You didn't wish to grow too attached to some female."
This is it! Darcy thought. Just the place to plead my case!
"Miss Elizabeth, you have to understand. I do wish to avoid ladies of the ton. I find them ill bred and fortune seekers. I must assure you, I do not include you in this category! Ever since I was of a marriageable age, mothers threw their daughters at me, hoping she would be the one I would choose. I couldn't stand it, so I disappeared for a while. My first ball back in society, I hardly expected to find a woman so amiable as you, and so quickly! I assumed it was simply too good to be true. Please, allow me to apologize! I was paranoid and ill-advised. Allow me to make amends. I do wish to be friends."
The plea in his eyes hid something deeper than a wish for friendship however. Whether or not he knew it, whether or not he meant it, it was there. The plea for something more, something he had longed for since he had walked the hallowed halls of Pemberley alone.
If only she had looked into his eyes.
Alad she did not. She opened her ears to him, but her eyes remained planted on the ground. Her mind was already so preoccupied by his words that she simply could not bring herself to add a preoccupation of his face.
His long winded speech made Elizabeth think. She could understand what he said. Men often threw themselves in her path, as well as Jane's. A little self-preservation could be comprehended. She sighed, thinking she may have overreacted a smidge. She paused, gathered her wits about her, and smiled. Facing Mr. Darcy, she held out her hand for him to take. He did so quite willingly and bowed over it as she curtseyed.
"Mr. Darcy, I think being friends would be most agreeable."
He escorted her back to her home at the end of their walk. They had spent some rather pleasant time discussing anything that came to mind. Books, politics, nothing was safe. He marvelled at her ability to converse about almost anything with graceful dexterity. She put most women to shame, he realized.
He brought her safely back to her door, thinking how lovely her complexion looked after a little physical exertion.
Darcy, did you not just agree to be friends? Stop! he chastised himself. Why do you care so much? You're starting to sound like Bingley!
As he successfully brought Elizabeth to her doorstep, he paused before handing her off.
"Miss Elizabeth?" he started. She looked at him expectantly. He cleared his throat before saying, "The Bingley's are joining me for dinner tomorrow evening. I would be honored if you and your sister would join us. I'm sure Bingley would be happy as well."
Elizabeth smiled and immediately accepted the invitation. She was sure Jane would be thrilled. Mr. Darcy took her hand and bowed in farewell, and strode back down the street.
Elizabeth watched him before going inside, admiring the strength of his step.
And not for the first time, there was a plea in her eyes as well.
"Jane! Jane dear!" Elizabeth called as she handed her coat to the butler. She turned as he departed with it, thanking him for his service. As Mr. Cottingham disappeared, Jane entered. "Yes, Lizzy?"
"We have been invited to dine with Mr. Darcy and the Bingley's tomorrow night," she informed her. Elizabeth watched as Jane's countenance lit up.
"Oh! That was certainly very sweet! Did you run into the Bingley's on your walk?"
"No, no. Mr. Darcy had invited the Bingley's to dine at his home and extended us the same invitation. I took the liberty of accepting." Her cheeky smile at her sister caused a blush to erupt on Jane's face.
"What about your walk, though?" At this point, the other sisters had joined and quickly joined in the petition for information.
Elizabeth sighed. "What a nosy family I have!" she cried. "Come. Let us retire to the drawing room and I shall tell you."
Mary wove her way to the front. "Elizabeth, first you must tell us what happened in the first place!" Lydia and Kitty agreed vehemently. Elizabeth sighed once more before settling herself in for a long sisterly chat.
"I still can't believe he said such a thing!" Kitty announced, placing a scandalized hand on her heart. Mary nodded solemnly.
"Some men cannot help but be frazzled when presented with such a pretty lady, though," she offered. Elizabeth smiled gratefully at her sister. She had always been a kind soul. She was but one year younger than Elizabeth herself. Mrs. Bennet had offered to bring her out this season though both Jane and Elizabeth remained unmarried. She refused however. She was quite happy to have her books and her handsome pianoforte at her disposal, leaving the frivolous ball-going to her elder sisters. Both Kitty and Lydia were not so pleased, however their mother did promise Kitty that if neither sister had become engaged this season, she would have the next season and Lydia the one after that.
It's true what they say, after all. Cooping them inside the home until the eldest are married hardly encourages sisterly affection.
Luckily, both Lydia and Kitty were exceedingly affectionate towards their elder sisters. All five were in fact very close, though they did have their specific pairings. Jane and Elizabeth were the angelic pair, with Lydia and Kitty thick as thieves. Mary would wander between often, welcomed with open arms by either. Admittedly, however, the five enjoyed sticking together. With an environment as forbidding and hostile as that of the ton, those one trusted had to be kept close at all times.
She sighed. She supposed that was the problem. Did she trust Mr. Darcy? She wanted to, that was for sure. He was such an agreeable man when he wanted to be, and in a very like mind to hers. His avoidance of the pomp of the ton was truly understandable. The only option, she supposed, was going to this dinner on the morrow and hoping to have her confidences strengthened.
And who knows? she pondered. Perhaps Bingley and Jane will be able to get a little better acquainted!
That night Jane stole into Elizabeth's chamber. This was a regular event, as they cherished their late night talks. There was nothing like snuggling up in sheets in the dead of night and sharing the most private dreams and aspirations with a most beloved sister.
"Lizzy?" she whispered. She heard a rustle from the bed at the end of the room. She quickly tiptoed over and slid right into place.
"Well there you are, Jane! I was beginning to think you forgot about me!" she responded indignantly.
"Oh please, Lizzy! Do not be so ridiculous."
They shared a stretch of silence, reveling in the quite.
"Lizzy?" Jane started cautiously. Her sister grunted in reply. "Do you think Mr. Bingley's sisters will be present at the dinner?"
Elizabeth sat up and considered her sister for a moment. "I honestly do not know. Why, Jane?"
"Well…one's family is very influential in one's actions, often time, and I if they don't like me then I fear I will never get the chance to make Mr. Bingley's better acquaintance," she confessed quietly. Elizabeth's gaze softened.
"Sister, how could anybody help but love you? I doubt their mere approval should even be a worry!"
"Do you think so?"
"I know so."
"Well I'm glad."
They both sat in silence once more before Jane's expression turned from one of worry to one of mischief.
"Lizzy?" The sister in question grunted once more. Jane smiled to herself before continuing.
"I hear Mr. Darcy has a sister."
Next week, the dinner! Hope you liked it! Please review :)
