"And what woman in England would refuse you, Darcy?" Bingley asked.

Darcy sank deeper into his chair. "Such one does exist, I assure you."

"You mean to tell me, you have made a proposal to someone and I have never heard of it!" cried Georgiana, stopping her giggling suddenly. Even Bingley looked curious.

Darcy sighed. There was nothing else but to continue. "When I met Miss Elizabeth in Kent this last spring…"

*****

Darcy sat back, his story finished. Bingley looked thoughtful and Georgiana had wrung her handkerchief sufficiently.

"And that is what has occurred between Miss Elizabeth and myself," concluded Darcy.

"So, you are still in love with her, then?" Bingley asked.

"I believe so, Bingley. Just as surely as you love Jane Bennet I love Elizabeth Bennet." Darcy said, thoughtfully.

"Fitzwilliam," began Georgiana.

"Yes?"

"Do you intend on proposing to Elizabeth while she is here at Pemberley?"

"No." Darcy said firmly.

"Really?" "Why not?" Came two queries.

"Because," Darcy explained, "I wish to show her what sort of man I have become. She must see that I can seek to please, rather than demand to be pleased. That I have taken her words to heart and practice and see me as a gentleman who upholds his word…" he trailed off.

The three occupants of the room sat in silence until the clock began to chime the hour, reminding them of the time. After saying their goodnights to Darcy, who went off in search of Reynolds (to ensure Miss Bingley had indeed been shipped off to London), Bingley and Georgiana made their way up the stairs together, talking in low whispers.

"Miss Darcy, I believe we must help your brother along with Miss Elizabeth," whispered Bingley, as soon as they were out of Darcy's hearing.

Georgiana smiled mischievously. "I believe so, Mr. Bingley, I believe so."

*****

Elizabeth and the Gardiners had only spoke of Elizabeth's invitation to stay at Pemberley on the way back to the inn, but once they were all seated comfortably by the fireside, Mrs. Gardiner brought up Miss Bingley's insult.

"I beg you Aunt, not to speak of it," Elizabeth said, pleadingly. "It is in the past now."

"And no one is any worse off, except for perhaps, Miss Bingley," said Mr. Gardiner, taking the cup of tea his wife offered to him. "I must say, though, her brother is an excellent man. He will make our Jane a fine husband when he asks for her hand next week."

"Will, Uncle?" Elizabeth asked. "Though I understand that Mr. Bingley is going back to Netherfield, that does not mean he will be proposing to Jane the day he returns."

"Indeed, my dear," Mrs. Gardiner said, sitting beside her husband, "Mr. Bingley would not be so hasty in seeking Jane's hand upon his return to Netherfield."

Mr. Gardiner just chuckled at his wife and niece. "The both of you should have seen the way Bingley reacted each time Jane's name was mentioned. He seemed like a lost, love sick pup."

Elizabeth smiled, shaking her head at her uncle. "Love sick pup, Uncle?"

"Indeed, Lizzy." Mr. Gardiner said. "That man will be in the neighborhood for less than a day before he secures Jane's hand. Mark my words. Young men these days are quite bold when it comes to courting the ladies."

"Speaking of young men, Lizzy," Mrs. Gardiner said, putting down her cup of tea, "Mr. Darcy paid you a very fine compliment this evening."

Elizabeth was glad for the darkness of the room to cover her blush. She took a sip of her tea before replying, "He was only trying to apologize for some past blunders and misunderstandings."

"Quite an apology, I'd say," Mr. Gardiner said, snorting into his cup. "The man banished a guest from his house, forbidding any contact of the sort from her, because she insulted you. Yes, I'd say that's an adequate enough apology."

Elizabeth hastened to say, "But Uncle, Miss Bingley also insulted you. Mr. Darcy must have felt compelled set things aright for your sakes, as well as mine."

"Whatever you say, Lizzy my dear, will not change my mind. That man is in love with you, no matter what you say." Mr. Gardiner said, standing and offering his had to his wife. "We shall see you in the morning Lizzy."

Mrs. Gardiner smiled at her niece, who was looking quite troubled at her uncle's words. "Goodnight, Lizzy."

Long after the Gardiners had left the room, Elizabeth sat by the dying fire, going over the evening's extraordinary events.

Her thoughts flitted from Georgiana to Bingley, to Jane, then to Miss Bingley and back to Jane and Bingley again. But she found, however, that her thoughts continuously kept returning to Mr. Darcy, and all that he had said and done that evening.

Is it true, she wondered to herself, does he still love me? He nearly said as much when we were talking of accomplishments in a wife, but still…We have agreed to be friends, that much is certain. But is this friendship worth banishing Miss Bingley from his presence?

Elizabeth pondered this for a moment, before giving up and moving onto her own feelings for the man. Do I love him? She wondered for a while, before deciding to put off her musings for the next day.

****

Georgiana was all a flurry on Friday, determined that Elizabeth's stay at Pemberley would be comfortable and enjoyable. She had pestered Mrs. Reynolds so many times about Elizabeth's room that Darcy nearly had to drag her away and force her to practice piano in order to give the again housekeeper some respite.

While Darcy chose to wait for their visitor's arrival in his study with Bingley, Georgiana paced the length of the East sitting room, which afforded a good view of the road leading to Pemberley House. Every few seconds she would look out the window, in hopes the sight of a carriage coming down the drive.

After the infamous night of the Caroline fiasco, as Darcy and Bingley had taken to calling it, Georgiana had watched her brother carefully. She and Bingley had taken to dropping broad hints regarding Elizabeth, all of which Darcy shrugged off good-naturedly. This is what had worried Georgiana. When Darcy thought she wasn't looking, he would have a pained sort of look on his face. Georgiana concluded that she would have to do everything in her power to get her brother and her new friend together. Bingley would be leaving for Netherfield the following day, which meant it was up to her, a sixteen-year-old girl. While wondering how she would possibly be able to prod two grown adults into an engagement, Georgiana saw a carriage coming down the road.

Without thought for propriety or if the servants were watching or hearing, Georgiana hurtled out the door of the sitting room, yelling at the top of her voice, "SHE'S HERE!!!! FITZWILLIAM, SHE'S HERE!!!!". Picking up her skirts, Georgiana ran down the hall and nearly tripped down the stairs to the entry hall.

The servants that were nearby just stuck their heads out doors and around corners to see their young mistress's spectacle, before shaking their heads good- naturedly and returning to their work.

Darcy and Bingley followed Georgiana down to the entry hall, at a sedate walking pace, though Darcy wished to run down the halls yelling like Georgiana. They found the young, very anxious Mistress of Pemberley waiting for them in the entry hall, tapping her foot impatiently.

"Well, Georgiana," Darcy said, coming to stand next to his sister as they waited for Elizabeth to enter. "I dare say everyone from here to London could have heard you yelling."

Georgiana rolled her eyes at her older brother and poked him in the ribs with her elbow. "I am just excited, Fitzwilliam," she said. "I have a friend of my very own, and she is coming to stay with us!" She looked up at him with an innocent expression. "Or will I have to share her with you?"

Before Darcy could manage a reply, the front doors swung open and Elizabeth walked in. Georgiana squealed and rushed forward to hug her friend. Stopping short of Elizabeth, Georgiana remembered propriety and made a quick curtsey before throwing her arms around a surprised Elizabeth.

"Oh, Lizzy! I am so glad you have come!" Georgiana said, taking a step back and allowing Elizabeth to take her bonnet off.

"So am I, Georgiana." Elizabeth said, smiling at the young girl before turning a questioning gaze at Darcy.

From the moment Elizabeth had walked through the doors, Darcy had become immobile. Her smiling face, the warmth she greeted Georgiana's enthusiasm with…

At Elizabeth's inquiring look, and a small cough from Bingley, Darcy remembered himself and willed his legs to move. He stepped forward and offered a low, honoring bow to her. "Miss Bennet, I hope your ride from Lambton was pleasant," He said, rising.

"Quite short and pleasant, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, smiling up at him.

Darcy could not but help but feel a smile stretching across his face to match hers. "Seeing as my sister has not done so yet, welcome to Pemberley, Miss Bennet."

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth said. She turned and sketched a quick curtsey to Bingley before Georgiana whisked her away towards the stairs.

Darcy watched the two most important people in his life ascend the stairs, wishing he could follow. He turned back to Bingley, only to see his closest friend smiling at him.

"We'll be brothers before the year is out, Darcy," Bingley said, grinning.

I know it's short! But I sort of want to keep things together in terms of big events and etc. So chapter 9 will have some more Elizabeth and Darcy interaction, plus another letter from Jane, which will have a lot of juicy news. Enjoy!