Chapter Five

When Lizzy awoke slowly, the first thoughts coming to her mind was waking up last night and Mr. Darcy being there. As she lapsed in and out of consciousness, she wondered whether or not it was a dream. She couldn't remember the details clearly, but his scent burned on her memory as though he was still in the room. The strength she'd felt as she leant against his body last night could not all have been a dream? Unless she was remembering how it had felt the night he rescued her.

Lizzy stretched her back and moved her legs, deciding to herself that it had to have been a dream. After all, she'd been having a nightmare about the men who attacked her. The sensible conclusion is that Mr. Darcy had appeared in her dreams as he had that horrible night.

Lizzy sat up and cautiously rotate her lower body, testing her legs and hips to see if they were feeling better. As she moved she felt no pain, just some discomfort. While she was alone she thought she'd try walking. She had the feeling her Aunt and Uncle were in no hurry to leave, but if she continued to stay at Pemberly she knew she was in great danger of falling more in love with the Master than ever.

This thought made her bold and she pulled back the blankets and carefully swung her legs over the side of the bed. Placing her feet firmly on the ground and holding onto the bedpost, Lizzy slowly stood. Other than an odd discomfort, she felt fine so took a step with her right foot. But as soon as she put her weight on that leg to move her other foot she grimaced as pain swept through her hip and thigh. She exhaled slowly as she finished the step then took another one. The pain was bearable, a significant improvement. She was hoping she'd be able to limp without it being obvious she was in pain.

She walked over to the window and looked over at the beautiful view. The lake was shimmering in the dawn light and Lizzy enquired why she had awoken so early. Her body was probably sick of the rest; Lizzy really loathed being an invalid. She was much too active a person to be confined to a bed for more than a night. Lizzy decided to get dressed and be downstairs before anyone was going to breakfast, as long as she could get down the stairs. She dressed in a simple dark green gown and carefully sat down at the dressing table. She brushed her hair and styled it into a simple bun.

After grabbing a book from her bedside so she would have something to do, she walked carefully out of her room, cautious of making any noise. Looking down the long hallway, she saw not even a servant and limped towards the staircase slowly, stopping to observe an attractive painting or statue. The house was so grand, more exquisite than anything Lizzy had seen in her short lifetime. With the possible exception of Rosings of course. But Rosing was grand in an over the top fashion, almost vulgar in its decor. Clearly chosen for financial value rather than anything artistic. But Pemberly had a warm glow, a house with generations of hand chosen style; heirlooms passed on through the years and treated with care.

Lizzy had found herself taken in by a portrait of an elegant woman who looked like Georgiana and was startled by approaching footsteps. Accompanied by two dogs, which immediately bounded towards her, Mr. Darcy appeared from a bedroom further down the hall from Lizzy's room. He was dressed for hunting and carrying a long hunting gun. She blushed for a moment but was distracted by the excited setters that stopped in front of her wagging their smooth tails. They were such large dogs she didn't need to bend over to pat them and say hello.

Mr. Darcy approached awkwardly with an expression of more than usual embarrassment. She was unsure of what exactly he was uncomfortable about, but her thoughts did drift momentarily to last night. "Good Morning Mr. Darcy," she said with a smile and a curtsey that made her grimace in pain.

"Good morning Miss Bennett," he said with a small cough, clearing his throat. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Lizzy replied pleasantly, still making a fuss of his pets. "I'm feeling much better. I'm quite mobile as you see."

"Yes," Mr. Darcy agreed with a more relaxed smile. But there was something in his eyes which almost looked apologetic. At that moment Lizzy thought to herself how much she wished she could read his mind.

"Going hunting this morning?" she asked eager to make casual conversation.

"Yes, the weather is quite clear this morning. I offered Mr. Gardiner a hunt last night," Mr. Darcy replied.

Lizzy nodded in understanding. One of the dogs barked and Mr. Darcy turned around. When Lizzy moved to see behind him she saw her Uncle walking towards them dressed like Mr. Darcy. "Good morning, Mr. Darcy, fine weather for it."

"Indeed, Mr. Gardiner," Mr. Darcy returned pleasantly and her Uncle beamed when he saw his niece.

"Why Lizzy, it's such a relief to see you up and about!" He said as he hugged her.

After going downstairs, Lizzy assisted by her Uncle's arm, they escorted her to the breakfast room then excused themselves to go hunt while the light was right. Every new room Lizzy was shown she fell in love with. But she banished any further thought on that subject and went straight to her book as she ate toast quietly by herself until Mrs. Gardiner arrived in the breakfast room in a worried state. "Oh Lizzy," she said a little breathlessly. "You might have warned me you were feeling better. When you weren't in your room I didn't know what to think."

But considering there was nowhere for her to go and no other explanation for her disappearance, Lizzy thought her Aunt rather dramatic in her concern. But merely apologised and tried to get her Aunt to agree to an early departure. Her attempts appeared to be in vain and when Miss Georgiana walked into the room the subject was immediately dropped.

The ladies were on their own until about ten o'clock. They spent the morning in one of the parlours, Lizzy and Georgiana sitting at the piano forte. Georgiana would practice while Lizzy watched and turned the pages. Every now and then Georgiana would ask Lizzy to play something but she would decline. She was no match for the sweet melodies her younger friend was producing.

Mr. Darcy walked in with Mr. Gardiner just in time to see Lizzy concede defeat and swap seating positions with Georgiana to play the piano. She started playing a song she knew well, hoping she didn't sound too dreadful. As played she noticed her Uncle sit next to his wife and asked her she was enjoying her book. Although Mr. Darcy had picked up the newspaper and sat down on a sofa close to the piano, he seemed more interested in watching Lizzy play than reading his paper. Lizzy focused on her playing, and smiled at Georgiana as the girl turned the page for her as she played. When she was finished Georgiana applauded, which made Lizzy laugh. Lizzy had really enjoyed Georgiana's company; they were fast becoming close friends. She exchanged a look with Mr. Darcy, who seemed pleased with the exchange between Georgiana and herself.

Lizzy stood to let Georgiana move back to the playing position and Pemberly's butler entered the room carrying letters. He handed a few to Mr. Darcy then walked over to Lizzy and handed her two letters. "For you madam," he said with a bow. Lizzy thanked him and turned the letter over to read the sender.

She looked up happily at her Aunt and Uncle. "Two letters from Jane, at last! I was wondering what took her so..." she paused as she examined the first letter. "This one was misdirected. Oh I see, she wrote the address rather ill." But she was so pleased to finally hear from her sister that she didn't mind.

"Well that's lovely dear," Aunt Gardiner replied. "I hope everyone is well."

"Would you please excuse me?" she asked politely looking from her Aunt to Mr. Darcy. "I might just go outside to read these letters."

"Of course dear," Mrs. Gardiner replied happily. Lizzy smiled at Mr. Darcy and walked as quickly as she could out of the room.

A/N: Ok sorry that chapter isn't hugely exciting, but the next chapter all counts on your reviews. I need to know what you think I should do about the Lydia situation. Should it happen? Shouldn't it? How do you think these changes will affect it?

Thanks!!!!!