After reading the reviews I realized I had a very different childhood from other people. I used to play a game where you had to write a series of words either above or below the others with your eyes closed. By sixteen, I was pretty good at it. We also drew pictures with our eyes closed with very humorous results.
On with the story. A few surprises.
The following day brought several surprises. Firstly, was the arrival of Miss Bingley at the earliest possible hour considered polite. Mrs. Hurst had reluctantly accompanied her sister. The two ladies were let into the parlor to wait by Mr. Davis while a footman informed the house of the visitors. The occupants of the house were lingering in the breakfast room when they were informed of the visit. Mr. Bingley sighed and rose.
"I will speak to them." he said solemnly. "They are likely here to find me."
"How about a game of billiards when you finish?" the colonel offered.
Mr. Bingley nodded then departed.
"I am going to go read to Elizabeth. We are nearly done with our book." Georgiana remarked. "I shall take the back stairs though. I do not want Miss Bingley to see me."
"A good plan." her brother remarked.
She bid them goodbye and departed.
"Shall we await Bingley in the billiard room?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.
His cousin nodded and they walked into the hall. They did not make it to the billiard room. Instead they followed the sound of raised voices to the front parlor. They took in the scene from the door. Miss Bingley was berating her brother while Mrs. Hurst was attempting to quiet her sister. Mr. Bingley said nothing, simply standing with a grim expression.
"Caroline, Mr. Darcy." Mrs. Hurst hissed lowly into her sister's ear.
This finally resulted in silencing her sister. Miss Bingley's eyes flew to the doorway, taking in the new occupants.
"Mr. Darcy, how wonderful to see you this morning." Miss Bingley began.
"Is everything well, Bingley?" Mr. Darcy asked, ignoring Miss Bingley.
"Yes, Darcy. I apologize for the noise. My sisters were just leaving."
"You must help us, Mr. Darcy. Charles intends to pursue that wretched Bennet girl."
"Your brother is his own man, Miss Bingley. He is free to do as he wishes."
"You cannot condone such a relationship. It would be a disgrace for our family to be connected with such a low family."
"You seem to forget, Caroline, that the Bennets are landed and our family is from trade." her brother remarked. "In the eyes of society, the Bennets are above us."
"You cannot say we are below them." Miss Bingley replied, her voice becoming more shrill. "I attended one of the best finishing schools in the country. They are unrefined and uncouth. The younger girls are wild and terrible flirts. Jane may seem sweet and innocent but she is a fortune hunter as is their mother."
"Enough." Mr. Darcy stated firmly. "I will not have my friends disparaged in my house. If you wish to spew such vile things do so elsewhere."
"But sir, you agreed..."
"That was before I knew them better. I took your word on certain matters thinking you were friends with Miss Bennet and had some insight into her character. I know now that is not true."
"I was her friend." Miss Bingley assured. "I valued her friendship until I learned she meant to ensnare my brother in an unequal marriage. I could not continue an acquaintance with such a woman."
She looks to her brother.
"If you wed Jane Bennet, I will never find a husband. No man would want to be connected to that family even distantly. Even their cousin, that annoying Collins man, would not marry one of them."
"Mr. Collins was refused." Colonel Fitzwilliam remarked casually. "It seems Miss Elizabeth's hand is in high demand. I heard she also refused another gentleman, a wealthy one at that."
Mr. Darcy sent a scowl in his cousin's direction.
"Her cousin may have proposed but I doubt any other man would, least of all any man that was considered wealthy." Miss Bingley retorted.
"My sources are quite reliable."
"Indeed. I heard it as well." Mr. Bingley added.
"I do not believe it."
"Believe what you will, Caroline. It matters not to me."
Miss Bingley huffed but changed the topic.
"I heard the Prescotts are having a ball tomorrow evening. Did you receive an invitation?"
"I did." her brother replied. "I declined."
"What? How could you? Do you know who will be there?"
"I do not care who will be there."
"What about the Van Allens dinner on Friday?"
"I declined that as well."
"How am I to go to events? The invitations are addressed to you. You must accept and attend with me."
"Surely one of your friends will invite you to some social outing." Mr. Bingley remarked. "Surely Hurst could gain a few invitations. He has many friends. Perhaps Louisa could arrange a dinner."
"I offered..." Mrs. Hurst began but was cut off by her sister.
"I will not be accepted among the best circles by associating with Hurst's ilk."
"I am sorry, Caroline. I told you I would not be attending any events with you when I left."
Miss Bingley stormed from the room. They sound of the front door slamming resounded through the house.
"I apologize, Charles, gentlemen." Mrs. Hurst said simply. "I told her that we should not come. She felt if she could confront Charles in person that he would agree to take her to some events."
"I told her I would not."
"I know. I tried to tell her that. I will take her home now."
Mrs. Hurst turned to go but stopped at the doorway and turned back.
"Did you find the residence of Miss Bennet's relations in London?"
"I did."
"Have you spoken with her?"
"Yes."
"You are planning to pursue her, are you not?"
"I am."
"I wish you the best of luck, Brother. She is truly a lovely lady. I am sorry to have lost the acquaintance."
"Jane is kind and forgiving. It is likely she would be willing to mend the friendship."
"Perhaps in time. For now I have Caroline to contend with. Do give her my best wishes though."
Mr. Bingley nodded and Mrs. Hurst departed.
The next surprise of the day for the house occurred during the visit of Mr. Bennet and his eldest daughter. Captain Carson arrived to check on Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy escorted him to the sitting room and knocked on the door to Elizabeth's room. Captain Carson was admitted and Mr. Bennet stepped out. Mr. Darcy waited with Mr. Bennet in the sitting room. They talked a bit about the book Georgiana had finished reading with Elizabeth. Soon Captain Carson returned and Mr. Bennet asked after Elizabeth.
"Your daughter is recovering very quickly. She can open her eyes."
"Truly?"
"It took several attempts but she succeeded in opening them on her own and keeping them open."
"That is wonderful news."
"I was quite impressed with her ability to write without being able to see though. It was surprisingly legible."
"She has had much practice with that in the past." Mr. Bennet remarked. "It is a game she would play with her sisters. She and Jane play it with their younger cousins when they visit as well. I never thought it would be a needed accomplishment but I am glad she could communicate."
The other men nodded.
"I believe she'll make a full recovery in time." Captain Carson stated.
"How much time?"
"I cannot be sure, sir." the doctor replied. "If nothing upsets her recovery, I would say she could be out of bed in less than a week."
"Could she be moved before then?"
"Until she can sit up on her own, I would not recommend it."
"I will likely have to return to Longbourn by Monday at the latest. I had hoped to take Elizabeth with me."
"I would not recommend a long carriage journey until she can walk on her own."
"But once she can sit up, you would have no objections having her moved across town to the Gardiners."
"Sir, there is no need to have Elizabeth moved." Mr. Darcy said quickly. "She is perfectly safe here. I assure you she is receiving the best possible care."
"I do not doubt it, Mr. Darcy." Mr. Bennet replied. "I must consider my daughter's reputation though. We may be able to justify her residing in your home at present but once she is well enough to be moved then she should be returned to Gracechurch Street."
"As long as she can sit up unassisted," Captain Carson remarked, "she could be moved if we are very careful about it."
Mr. Bennet nodded.
"Much of the swelling has gone down so she should continue to improve. Most of the bruises have begun to fade. The ones on her arm are nearly gone. The ones on her neck do concern me a bit. They are not fading as quickly as the rest. They are more severe and there could be damage internally that I cannot detect."
"What does that mean for her recovery?"
"She may have difficulty speaking even after she is fully recovered."
"Is there nothing we can do to help?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"I left a recipe for a soothing tea. It may help but I cannot promise anything."
"I will have it made immediately."
"It may be wise to continue it for a time after she recovers."
The men nodded. Captain Carson soon departed. Mr. Bennet returned to his daughter's room.
Mr. Bennet and Jane departed a short time later. Georgiana walked them to the door then went in search of her brother. He was found in his study going over his correspondence.
"How is Elizabeth?" he asked once his sister was seated.
"You spoke to the doctor, did you not?" Georgiana asked.
"I was with Mr. Bennet when Captain Carson updated him on her condition." Mr. Darcy replied. "I meant how are her spirits."
"She is glad to be able to see everyone again. She is sleeping now. Mrs. Taylor said the medicine makes her sleep."
"Captain Carson said she is recovering well."
"She will be leaving us soon, will she not?" Georgiana asked sadly.
"Once she can sit up, Mr. Bennet wants her removed to the Gardiners."
"Why? Could she not stay here until she is completely recovered?"
"He worries for Elizabeth's reputation." her brother explained. "If it becomes known that Elizabeth is here, it could cause trouble for her and her sisters."
"If someone finds out then you would simply marry her."
"I do not want to force her hand."
"I do not think it would be forcing her hand." Georgiana remarked. "I think if you asked her today she would agree to marry you."
"Georgiana,..."
"I am convinced of it, Brother. Miss Bennet believes it as well I think."
"Neither of you know the things I said, that I wrote..."
"I am sure she has forgiven you as you have her. You have forgiven her, have you not?"
"She did nothing wrong."
"She does not believe that. She told us she wanted to apologize to you."
"If she desires forgiveness, I will give it."
"Wonderful. Perhaps you could speak to her privately later."
"It would not be proper for me to speak to her privately in her room."
"You spoke to her before..."
"She was not awake or rather we were not aware she was awake."
"So it was fine for her to speak to her when you did not think she could hear you but it is not now that you know she can?"
"It was not proper for me to do so then. Her father has every right to call me out for my behavior. I allowed my own emotions and desires to overcome my sense. I could have damaged her reputation with my actions." Mr. Darcy replied. "Yet another thing I should apologize for."
"I am sure you will be forgiven."
"I do hope you are right."
There is another surprise coming up. :)