Apologies for the wait and for any spelling or grammatical errors in advance.
Darcy entered the drawing-room, that Bingley said that Caroline had herded everyone in before dinner. He had wanted to be there as soon as possible to support Georgiana but Bingley had requested his aid on the houses affairs. He reassured himself with the fact that Richard was with her and wouldn't abandon her to the leech that was Miss. Bingley.
As he and Bingley entered the room he was quite surprised to see all the occupants trying to restrain themselves from laughing, all expect Miss. Bingley who had a very red face and Miss. Elizabeth who was smiling sweetly at the flushed hostess.
"Oh, Charles. What has taken you so long?" She bellowed quickly releasing herself from the conversation she was presently in.
"Sorry Caroline some estate affairs needed my attention." He replied sweetly before enquiring after Miss. Bennet from Miss. Elizabeth.
Darcy decided it was safest to join his cousin who was just quieting.
"Should I dare ask what has caused such a disturbance that you are laughing, Richard?" He asked his cousin once he was able to respond.
"What makes you suspect that there was a disturbance, cousin?" He retorted still smiling,
"For if I remember correctly, you said that spending any allotted time in the presence of a said person would only be cause for great pain. Forgive me if I am wrong but your earlier comments do not suggest you should be laughing merrily?" Darcy was quick to answer back trying to seek the source of the care free side of Georgiana.
"Oh, I see why my amusement would puzzle the great Darcy. Unfortunately, my dear cousin there wasn't a disturbance per say just an unknown factor to my visit that made me prejudice to this trip." The sly comment helped Darcy understand what Richard was saying without everyone hearing.
Upon hearing this comment, Darcy found his focus fixate on the object of their conversation as she talked with Charles as he was asking again if there was anything that can be done to make Miss. Bennet's stay more comfortable.
A commotion at the door prevented any more conversation in the room, as a rather ruffled butler entered announcing the arrival of a Miss. Bennet and a Mr. Collins. Elizabeth's cheeks heated instantly as she realised what this meant. She sent a silent futile prayer to let her be mistaken.
Yet, she was helpless as she watched a rather puffed chest Mr. Collins enter the room before a very scowling Mary.
"Mary!" Elizabeth called after she had formally curtseyed their arrival, "what are you doing here at this time." She asked whilst pulling her sister aside and lowering her voice, as not to be over heard.
"I am so sorry Lizzie, we would have been here sooner had Mr. Collins decided not to spend at least an hour bestowing his great patroness' wisdom on Davey then the carriage being forced to stop every few miles because he gets travel sick." The clear dislike of the man was evident in the way Mary had spoken his name.
"Mary I am so sorry you had to under go that, dearest. It still doesn't explain why you are here?" She asked still confused.
"I believe I can shed some light on that sweet Miss. Elizabeth." Mr. Collins once again leered at her making her stand tall and harden her gaze at him.
"I do not believe you can sir. Unless I am mistaken I asked my sister and unless are her I most certainly did not ask for your assistance in any form." Her words were cold and spoken clearly but were ignored by the man they were directed at.
" A letter from your Father may clear up any confusion, dear cousin." She sent a helpless look at Mary before retrieving the envelope that he held. Just as the maid came in to announce dinner, Elizabeth quickly read the contents before looking up at the room to see every eye was upon her.
"Miss. Bingley you must not starve yourself for me. You must carry on with dinner. " she commented making the hostess speed into action.
"Certainly, Eliza." She said whilst taking the arm of Darcy. "How truly selfless you are." She departed leading the room with her.
"Mr. Bingley, I am sad to say I must keep you from your dinner a moment longer." Elizabeth stated as soon as Caroline left the room.
"Certainly, Miss. Bennet. I am happy to help." He answered before taking the out stretched paper that she had offered.
Dear Mr. Bingley,
My attention has been brought to the fact that not only one but two of my single daughters must now take up temporary lodgings at Netherfield. I must first offer my sincere gratitude to the care you have shown my daughter in her ill-health.
However, I must insist that Mr. Collins take up a room. It is out of protection for my daughters reputations that I ask. I mean no disrespect but I am acutely aware as you must be of the delicate nature that is a ladies reputation.
As a male relative, Mr. Collins is a sufficient person to ensure they keep their reputations intact throughout their stay in Netherfield. He is also a clergyman which installs a small amount of trust in his word.
Your humble servant
Mr. Bennet
P.S if he gives you any trouble just simply say the word 'toad' is sufficiently renders him mute for an hour.
"I am sorry to impose myself upon you like this, Mr. Bingley. But as my kind patroness Lady Catherine states, one must ensure the purity of those that they spend their time. I am here to ensure my cousins come to no harm and are -" he was cut off by the entrance of Mr. Darcy.
"Bingley, I came to see what kept you. Miss. Bingley is most instant that you eat " he stated not mentioning that he had bolted from her grasp as soon as she gave him leave to do so.
"Miss. Mary, Mr. Collins would you join us for dinner?" He asked politely playing the role of host easily and not showing any awareness of the underlining insult that Mr. Collins had payed to his cousins.
"I must get going Mr. Bingley. I should apologies for the late hour, our travel was prolonged." She said whilst giving a pointed look at the toad like man that she called her cousin.
"Has Davey been out in the cold all this time?" Elizabeth questioned instantly worried.
"No, Martha made him wait inside, especially since he just recovered from that horrible fever." Mary stated.
"Martha truly is a saintly woman. I'll ask someone to fetch her." Elizabeth said before exiting the room in search of the nearest footman.
"Bingley? What is going on?" Darcy questioned, in reply Bingley handed him the letter from Mr. Bennet.
Whilst Darcy read the letter Bingley tried to engage Mr. Collins in conversation by asking him about his stay. Unfortunately, Mr. Collins leapt into a long speech about all the fine things he had seen whilst staying at Longbourn.
"Miss. Mary?" Darcy asked when completing the letter.
"Mr. Darcy, how may I help?" Mary replied, noting he appeared confused upon a topic.
" I find myself curious to the end comment that your Father mentioned. Forgive me if I am intruding on some personal matter." He explained whilst showing her the note, he watched as she smiled at the writing obviously it was some inside joke.
"It is nothing personal I assure you sir. You are correct that it holds a story, however I am unsure if the participants of said event would wish for me to disclose this to you. I am sorry to disappoint you sir." Mary said sincerely,unsure if Elizabeth would want the story to be told it was most unladylike and their mother had ignored Elizabeth for a whole month because of the event.
"Do not worry, Miss. Mary. I should not have asked, I was merely curious as to the context." He replied trying to reassure her that he took no offense.
"If you are truly curious then you should ask Lizzy about it, she will know if to tell you or not." Mary said smiling when said sister re entered the room announcing that Davey was ready to take her home.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy left the room to see Mary safely into the carriage, as Elizabeth chatted to Davey, Darcy handed Mary into the carriage whilst thanking her for her advice.
"I apologies for the antics of my cousin, Davey. I am sorry you were forced to spend so long out in the cold because of him." Elizabeth was saying.
"It is quite alright, miss. No trouble to see that Miss. Bennet and yourself are being cared for, Hill would have my head if I couldn't report such. Its Miss. Mary that was tortured, seven times he stopped for almost half an hour each time, we had set off after they had finished lunch. Her patience finally wore out." He revealed with a knowing smile.
"Do reveal all Davey, you know I can't bare suspense." Elizabeth encouraged him
"It was the eighth time he had requested to stop the carriage, I slowed down so we could stop. When I heard Miss. Mary ask him if he thought it was wise to exit the carriage in a known toad infested area. His expression must be of been something, miss, for he never asked the carriage to stop again." He finished before settling himself and tipping his hat before returning to Longbourn.
Elizabeth was amused at her sisters antics so much that she didn't notice Mr. Darcy still stood next to her.
"Martha" she called as she met the women in the entrance hall. "Oh sweet Martha."
Martha, was instantly on guard.
"You are going to tell me something I dislike. Don't beat about the bush girl you may no longer be a mere slip of a girl but you haven't changed that much." Darcy could hear the affection, the elderly woman had for Elizabeth and was surprised that they were acquainted at all.
"How you wound me so with your sharp glares, Martha." Elizabeth retorted making the stern woman laugh.
"unfortunately, I must ask you to prepare a room for Mr. Collins" Darcy noted that neither sister seemed to appear affectionate to this particular cousin. From what Darcy had seen he wouldn't be partial to his odious manner either.
"Yes I was made aware of this already, honestly dear don't trouble yourself its being sorted." Martha replies slightly confused to the pained expression.
"Which room"
"It is the one next to yours." Martha explained slightly alarmed at the now sad expression on the usually energetic woman.
"I know you must think me arrogant and rude to ask such a thing but... could you have the room furthest from myself and Jane, this is the Collins." She emphasized the last name trying to trigger the recognition from Martha.
To Darcy it was clear that there was some previous encounter that had made everying think suspicously about this Mr. Collins especially for Elizabeth to request such a setting, also everyone in the neighbourhood appeared to know expect the Netherfield party.
"This wouldn't be Toad boy would it?" She asked hoping with her heart that it wasnt, as a boy he unnerved her with the way he was with the Bennet girls it appeared nothing had changed.
"unfortunately, he thought it time to reconnect with the family. " Elizabeth replied her voice full of sarcasm.
"Dear God. Certainly the furthest room will be prepared don't you worry. I will not allow him to be within close proximity of Miss. Bennet, oh the poor girl can she never rid herself of that odious child, well I suppose he is a man now." Martha muttered before curtseying then leaving to give the new orders.
"Before I forget, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley asked me to inform you that he has gone to dinner and to join him there you too Miss."
Elizabeth, startled at her address looked over at the tall gentleman that raised his eyebrows as he saw a pink flush across her cheeks.
"Mr. Darcy, I didn't notice you there." She stated, slightly confused at him remaining with her.
"It is easily done madam. I was curious as to this recurring code that everyone is using. " he stated before offering her his arm and leading her to the Dining room.
Everyone was already eating when they entered , Darcy lead Elizabeth to her seat before taking his beside Georgiana.
"Mr. Darcy, Eliza how good of you to join us. Miss, uh, Miss. Your sister I assume is safely on her way home." Miss. Bingley called practically shouting over the droning voice of Mr. Collins.
Her slight at forgetting her sisters name as if it was beneath her notice erked Elizabeth. It was with cold civility that she replied, " Yes. Mary is returning home, Mr. Collins however is staying for as long as we must trespass on your hospitality until Jane is recovered enough to be moved."
Miss. Bingley scowled at this new information looking at her brother for confirmation, he was conveniently looking intently at his soup.
"Is he? How pleasant. Your cousin was just entertaining me with stories of his great patroness." Miss. Bingley said trying to appear civil but sneering at the man seated next to her. The place that her dear Mr. Darcy should have been seated, not a blubbering idiot.
"Oh yes, he is very fond of bestowing her wisdom with those that will listen. Mr. Collins I am sure Miss. Bingley would benefit from that lovely description about the great chimney in her ladyship's home. I for one surely cannot consider life lived to the full extend until I have seen the glorious chimney. " her words had an immediate effect, Mr. Collins launched into an elaborate description of the brick chimney that sat in the home of his patroness, he completely ignored his hostesses protests at her not having need of such information. Even when Mrs. Hurst seconded the protest he continued talking giving them no option but to listen to his account.
Darcy had noticed the hard face that Elizabeth had held when Miss. Bingley began to speak to her, it appeared like a sweet smile but he was very aware of the poison that the smile concealed. He watched in amusement as she composed the little scene with a few charming words, she had conveniently freed the bottom half of the table to talk without the disturbance of Bingley's relatives.
"Mr. Darcy I must confess I am at a lost to which code you were speaking of." She said bringing his thoughts back to his curiosity about the supposed key word. He was unsure of the meaning before he had spent more than five minutes in the presence of Mr. Collins, he now clearly understood why it would be beneficial to have a code word that would render the man mute. However, he was still curious as to the story behind the word. Also he wanted to see if it actually worked but resolved to make Elizabeth speak it.
"Can you really be at such a lost Miss. Elizabeth. An intellectual mind such as yourself can surely notice that a certain amphibian has been mentioned repeatedly in the course of the evening." He challenged arching an eyebrow at her smirk.
"An amphibian, you say. Why would such an animal be mentioned repeatedly" she asked the twinkle that Darcy had come to recognise as a mischievous tell had returned in her brown eyes.
"Gigi, surely you must know what your brother refers to" Elizabeth said trying to draw the shy girl into conversation she had been awfully quiet since the appearance of Mr. Collins.
The shy girl was startled out of her musings by the address.
"I must bring only disappointment Lizzy, for I do not know what Fitzwilliam is referring." She replied after a moment's hesitation, the encouraging smile from Elizabeth gave her enough courage to speak in front of the stranger.
"Don't punish yourself Gigi, if you do not know then I wouldn't dare hold it against you." She was quick to reassure the girl wary of her low esteem.
"For who would dare to when I can simply inform your mother of all the injustice you have caused me." She teased, laughing at the shocked expression of her relatives. Elizabeth just laughed, enjoying the teasing side of the normally shy girl.
"Then I must beg your forgiveness of any injustice I have coursed you in our brief acquaintance. However, in doing so I must retrieve a vow of never engaging my mother into such topics."
Georgiana pretended to think about the deal before saying, "well I must first hear how sincere your apologies are to see if a visit to your mother is still warranted." She replied trying to keep a straight face, as she watched the stunned expressions of the three gentlemen that watched the exchange with astonishment.
"Ah but, you have me at a disadvantage. For you are surely used to such sweetly worded apologies from superior minds then myself. I see no way in which my humble apology would be in any form sincere enough for you. Therefore I must condemn myself to my fate." At her declaration, Georgiana laughed before admitting she had no such people.
"Lizzy I could never condemn you to such a fate, for who else am I to talk to when I wish to escape ?" She asked cheekily.
"So you wish to save me from a doomed life not because you value my friendship but as to avoid the clutches of another, how you have wounded my ego." She teased clutching her chest dramatically.
They were momentarily silently, well everyone but Mr. Collins who was still informing Bingley's sisters of the grand chimney, as the table was filled with all different dishes then they selected each food and began to eat. It amazed Elizabeth how Mr. Collins could talk so much and eat as much as he did at the same time.
"Anyway Lizzie, I am confident that your ego will soon heal. I must bring you back to your initial question that you have sought for me to forget. I cannot say I know what amphibian my brother was questioning do you Richard?" She asked avoiding letting Elizabeth change the question again, the woman in question simply smiled knowingly and didn't show any surprise at being caught at her goal. The Colonel had unfortunately lost the flow of conversation as he was busy enjoying his meal.
"Huh?" Was his intellectual response.
"The amphibian that Fitzwilliam said was being used as code, do you have any idea?" She asked kindly instead of laughing at her cousin like Darcy was.
"I would hasten a guess at a frog, my knowledge on amphibians is quite lacking." He replied cheerfully quite intruged at the code that his cousin was questioning. Darcy had recovered from his monumemtous shock at the teasing behaviour of his younger sister and was able to shed some light on the answer but still refused to give up the name.
"I must say that you are wrong Richard, though you were very close they are remarkly similiar." He stated smirking at the annoyed look that his vague statement was met with.
"Would you hasten a guess, Mr. Bingley?" Elizabeth asked trying to included the host who had been otherwise away in a mind of his own.
"I must concor with the Colonel my knowledge doesn't extend beyond frogs." He said now baffled to the conversation his guest were having.
"Lizzy you must know the answer otherwise you wouldn't ask everyone else their thoughts." Georgiana observed, watching as a small smile appeared on her brothers face.
"Yes, I think I may have an idea." She replied vaguely before taking an interest in her food, trying hard to ignore the stares she was getting.
"Something on my face?" She asked innocently when she caught Georgianas eye, surpressing a grin at the annoyed look of the two gentlmen, she couldn't of known Darcy's facial expression for she was avoiding looking at him for she assumed he would be grinning at his victory, she was not wrong.
"Must you suspend us any longer? " Georgiana asked grinning at the the smile that was on her brothers face.
"Well I suppose Miss. Bingley has suffered enough." Elizabeth said causing more confusion except from Bingley and Darcy who were aware of Mr. Bennets advice.
"It would be most kind of you Miss. Elizabeth, I doubt either one of my sisters need anymore description of a chimney no matter how grand it is." Mr. Bingley pleaded.
"You must be referring to the code that was the word toad?" Elizabeth said raising her voice slightly at the end so Mr. Collins could hear.
The effect was immediate he looked slightly frightened and he stopped speaking.
"Did someone say toad?" He gulped rubbing his hands nervously on his legs, keeping a wary gaze on his cousin.
"Yes, I was just warning Miss. Darcy of the toads that reside in near by ponds we would hate for her to encounter them wouldn't we?" She asked smiling the sweet smile that hid the poisonous words. He nodded jerkily, but remained silent and began to eat his meal in silence avoiding his cousins gaze as if thinking a toad would materialize just from engaging in eye contact.
"Well it appears to have the desired effect." Colonel said laughing slightly at the change in the gentleman.
"For the time, it is not a permenant transformation." Elizabeth whispered to him.
"Toads! We have toads!" Miss. Bingley had raised her voice furthering Mr. Collins discomfort by repeating the word 'toad' but if she noticed the change in her previously animate guest she showed no acknowledgment.
"Mr. Darcy, I must inisist you do not allow your sister near such creatures." She demanded, Mr. Darcy arched his brow in question. Colonel covered a barked laugh with a cough and Georgiana returned to mute self much to the disappointment of Elizabeth.
The dinner passed with stilted conversation between Miss. Bingley and whomever she opted to subject towards a prolonged speech about a passing comment. Dinner continued in this manner before Miss. Bingley settled her sights on Elizabeth who was sharing a smile with Georgiana. Trying to show her superioerty over the country girl, she decided to engage her in a conversation that would undermine her every word.
However, unfortunatly for herself she had forgotten her previous embarrassment at her earlier attempt to make Elizabeth feel inferior. Miss. Bingley was soon tongue tied by her own words, she sat seething for the remainder of the meal, to make the situation worse Mr. Collins had recovered from his back flash enduced mutness with what seemed like a vengence for he began to tell the whole table about his esteemed patroness.
As soon as the meal was over Elizabeth annouced her intention to see to her sister. She left the ladies as they seperated as was normal after dinner. However, at the betrayed look that Georgiana directed at her she was forced to promise to rejoin them if Jane was sleeping.