So much had happened during the first hour of their first assembly in Hertfordshire, but the evening had hardly progressed past twenty minutes before Louisa Hurst began to feel uneasy. She was a woman who might appear to be apathetic...or dull, as Caroline was wont to describe her...and that was true enough after years of dealing with her sister, but she wasn't simple minded and she knew her husband. He usually referred to an assembly as a damned silly way to spend an evening, yet once they entered the hall he had appeared almost giddy with expectation for that night's amusement. Looking back, she realized that his demeanor had changed during their luncheon the previous afternoon. From boredom and his usual disdain for Caroline he had suddenly become alert, signaled by a lift of his right eyebrow...a sure sign that he smelled mischief in the air. She had been so concentrated on Caroline's unpleasant observations concerning the locals that she had almost missed Darcy's remark on how he had met a country girl whom he had found delightful. In any case, his remark did not signify as she could not imagine Darcy romantically inclined towards a country girl. However, when she heard Darcy speak to Charlotte Lucas and ask specifically about Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it occurred to her that anything was possible. It was difficult enough to deal with Caroline's obsession...but if a real rival appeared here in Hertfordshire, of all places, there'd be hell to pay. Caroline would suffer an abject humiliation and she would take it out on Louisa who, being so dull, made an excellent scapegoat.

Louisa sighed at the vagaries of life and focused her attention on Darcy, unable to keep her eyes off him. She watched as he planted himself at the window looking for all the world as if he would cloud up and rain on anyone who dared approach him. She suspected that he was waiting for the appearance of a certain young lady. What was so fascinating was that his usual noncommittal demeanor seemed to have altered into something approaching anticipation. When Peter addressed him he showed a mild annoyance which again was unlike Darcy for she knew that Darcy actually liked the young man.

Things didn't improve. Instead of asking Caroline to dance, Peter Postlewaite had made light of Caroline's remark about the howling dog band, then passed her by and asked Charlotte Lucas for the next dance.

Caroline managed to ignore this slight with a shrug of indifference. She turned to Louisa, "Poor Darcy," Caroline whispered with a smirk," how he must be suffering to be thrown into a room of nobodies. I do wish he would hurry and ask me to dance. I know if he dances with a real lady he'll be better able to endure this country amusement."

Louisa regarded her sister in disbelief. Talk about dense. Caroline prided herself on her acumen yet here she stood waiting patiently for Darcy to ask her to dance seemingly unaware that he was waiting for another woman to appear. There were so many things she wanted to say to Caroline...anything that would awaken her to the truth...but an assembly hall was not the place so she offered no reply as Darcy continued to stare down the room at the entrance with undisguised impatience. Her brother seemed to find the entrance of great interest also. He had dropped the name of Miss Jane Bennet several dozen times in the past two weeks so Louisa assumed that she was the lady whom Charles was waiting for. When she saw Darcy suddenly stand straight and take a step forward, Louisa turned and saw the entrance of a young woman who seemed to think the floor more interesting than the guests in the hall. At first the shy young lady in question did not seem to have a prepossessing appearance until she raised luminous eyes and stared down the hall at Darcy who was now examining the floor and missed the look. Fortunately, Caroline missed the look too as she was watching their brother move quickly to the blond goddess who's face lit up as Charles approached her.

Louisa was so engrossed in the many scenes unfolding that she hadn't noticed her husband sidling up next to her, "the Bennets of Longbourn, I believe," he said quietly.

"Well, I've never denied that Charles has good taste. She's lovely. And I suppose the other one is the delightful woman whom Darcy met in Kent."

Hurst continued to speak in a soft tone, "And all that's best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her eyes."

"If you must quote Byron, do so in our bedroom where it would be better appreciated," she whispered back, and not here where my sister can hear you. And you won't be so glib when Caroline starts smashing all the glass in the house." She rewarded him with a wry smile, "including your brandy bottles."

Hurst chuckled lightly, "a fate worse than death. But tell me, my dear wife, is he in love?"

"I've never seen Darcy in love...never even suspected that he was capable of it...but I must admit that he does look vulnerable...and displeased."

"A combination hard to beat. It reminds me of when I first laid eyes on you, my sweet. And Charles looks his usual smitten self. What are the odds that both Charles and Darcy would fall for a pair of country sisters.?"

"I'll leave the gambling to you, husband. I'm more concerned with Caroline's reaction if and when Darcy approaches Miss Bennet. I'd feel so much better if he asked Caroline to dance."

"And why would he settle for brass when there is gold before him?"

"Oh do be quiet, Humphrey," she responded, a soft smile playing on her lips, "and have a care. I would not have her making a scene."

Louisa thought the situation could not get worse, but it did. When Darcy followed Bingley towards the end of the room, he passed by Caroline without a nod, his dark eyes fixed steadily on Elizabeth. Caroline couldn't contain herself, "who is that loud mouthed woman who seems to know the income of every man in the room?"

Hurst was delighted to oblige Caroline with the information. "I believe," he responded with undisguised glee, "that she is the matriarch of the Bennets of Longbourn. Charming, don't you think? Of course she is a bit too old to suit my taste, but I can't say that about her two eldest daughters. Two beauties, both of them, don't you think?"

The look she turned on Hurst was corrosive. Caroline's mood had begun it's downward spiral. She had been looking forward to dancing with Darcy, yet he still had not approached her. Peter Postlewaite had not asked her to dance which would have given her an opportunity to make Darcy jealous. Instead he had chosen a woman who had absolutely nothing to recommend her. Charles was now chasing after a blond country girl and the final straw was the way Darcy had passed by her without a nod, to allow himself to be introduced to a chubby middle-aged woman who was over-dressed and loud. "I told Louisa that she should never have married you. You're nothing but a buffoon!"

Louisa took her husband's hand, "I believe you asked me to dance? I think I'm ready to do just that."

"And leave your sister to herself?"

Louisa regarded the sour and sullen expression on her sister's face, "Who else can stand her company?"

Across the room from Caroline, Darcy and Elizabeth stood observing the dancers looking for all the world like two indifferent acquaintances making small talk. In fact, she was quietly relating all the information concerning her sister from the time she ran off from Brighton up to the night she left Longbourn and escaped into the night. Later, she would reflect on why she felt no embarrassment as she recited the facts as she knew them, but for now it was enough to enjoy the relief she felt in unburdening her heart. His gentle voice as he probed for all the particulars gave her a kind of release that she had been denied by her own family members. Jane thought all would be well, Kitty envied Lydia's adventure, Mrs. Bennet now had two son's in law...only three to go...and Mr. Bennet had washed his hands of the entire affair. By the time she reached the part she had played with the dreadful words she'd leveled at her sister her words slowed and she finally looked at Darcy with a steady gaze. "I find it difficult to forgive myself. I will regret my words for as long as I live."

As they quietly spoke Darcy's eyes never stopped moving over the crowd looking for signs that they were drawing more attention than appropriate, but there was nothing to see except what appeared to be an argument between the Hursts and Caroline...nothing unusual in that. Nevertheless, he decided that they could no longer contain the seriousness of their converse. "Miss Bennet, this is neither the time nor the place to speak further on this subject. But I hope I can assuage your guilt in the coming days. I have much to tell you about George Wickham. But for now, do allow me to introduce you to our Netherfield hostess, Caroline Bingley."

Elizabeth tilted her head and regarded him with a mocking grin, "if you are trying to lighten my mood with this change of subject, you have not succeeded. I have heard much about the formidable Miss Bingley. I think I should be very afraid."

Relief washed over him for there she was, the pert and sassy young woman who had so entranced him at Rosing's Park. There had been so many dark moments after he left Kent when he feared that Elizabeth was merely a creation of his own desires, that she didn't really exist. "She is not nearly so frightening when out in public, so you have nothing to fear."

"A smile abroad is often a scowl at home?"

"Why, Miss Bennet, is that Tennyson?"

Elizabeth raised her chin in mock hauteur, "I said I don't care for poetry. I didn't say I didn't read it upon occasion."

"I stand corrected, Miss Bennet. I see that I must listen to you more carefully."

"See that you do, Mr. Darcy. It's easier to win an argument that way."

"And do you enjoy a good argument?"

She grinned, "more than I do poetry."

So you like to win?"

"Not always. I find that if you lose an argument fairly, you both end up winners."

He couldn't help himself. He leaned down and whispered softly, "I promise that I will never let any harm come to you."

Elizabeth looked deep into those dark brown eyes but could find no reply without sounding flirtatious, so took his offered arm and allowed him to lead her in the direction of Caroline Bingley.

From across the room Caroline had been watching Darcy and Elizabeth as unobtrusively as she could manage what with having to put her brother-in-law in his place, sneering at Peter Postlewaite for choosing to dance with the plainest woman in the room while keeping an eye on her brother who as usual was making a fool of himself over an upstart blond. Once Louisa and her offensive husband took to the dance floor she was able to more fully concentrate on Darcy. At first she saw nothing to alarm her. The girl was dressed in a simple muslin and was not particularly beautiful though Caroline had to admit that Miss Bennet was possessed of a pair of dark, lively eyes. A moment later he leaned down towards Miss Bennet and offered her the softest of smiles and Caroline felt her bile rise. She had been waiting for years to see such a smile aimed at herself. For the first time in her life she felt panic as she watched them stroll nonchalantly towards the end of the room knowing that they were heading in her direction. When they stopped for a moment to chat with Peter Postlewaite and Charlotte, she made up her mind to return to Netherfield unable to bear the humiliation of being introduced to a possible rival for Darcy's affection; that Peter or Hurst would be witness to such a meeting was not to be borne. Now in full panic mode she moved down the side of the room trying to catch the eye of her sister. This proved to be a mistake for she had blindly entered Mrs. Bennet's territory who was delighted to welcome her to their community. "I love your dress," Mrs. Bennet cried, "orange is now my favorite color. And you must tell me where you buy your plumes!" Caroline was aghast to be approached without an introduction and glared her disapproval which usually had the effect of silencing her victim but Mrs. Bennet was obviously too dense to notice anything but her own desire to ingratiate herself to the mistress of Netherfield park. "Isn't it wonderful how your brother and my Jane are getting along together? It's a match made in heaven."

Caroline recoiled in horror and turned on her heel. She noticed that Darcy and Elizabeth were no longer walking towards her but were still chatting with Peter and Charlotte. She spotted the Hursts nearing her as they came down the line, "take me home," she hissed. "Take me home this minute!" She turned and fled out the door and waited on the landing for the Hursts who after a brief word with Bingley followed her.

When Caroline accosted them on the dance floor and demanded that they take her back to Netherfield, Hurst's inclination was to tell her walk home but of course he couldn't do that, but his anger and frustration, long banked, had begun to simmer. Heedless of the feelings of others, Caroline always managed to destroy everyone's fun. When they were finally on their way back to Netherfield Caroline uttered a guttural scream of rage which terrified Louisa and brought a tight smile from Hurst. He was naturally an empathetic man but Caroline had spread her meanness just too far. Her treatment of Louisa was appalling. He cared not a whit at the unkind words she leveled at him but when it came to the insults she threw at his wife he felt helpless and unmanned. He loved his wife dearly and felt that inherent need to protect her yet Louisa would not permit him to do so. She couldn't bear scenes and Caroline's anger frightened her so he was relegated to making small ironic digs at his sister-in-law when what he really wanted was to throttle her. "Whatever ails you, Sister? he inquired gently, allowing her to hear the irony. There was no response from Caroline; instead she rummaged in her reticule for her flask and took several long swallows of brandy. He really wanted to continue toying with her but decided he would be better off letting her drink herself into a stupor; and too, a soft hand on his arm made him desist. Instead, he leaned close to his wife, "It shouldn't take long for her to pass out. Now that she's curtailed our evening, shall we have our own party tonight?"

"Whose turn is it?"

"Mine, but I'll cede to you if you can manage to tuck her in before midnight."

"I'll do my best." Louisa tightened her grip on his arm, "And bring the bottle. I suspect I'll need it."

Darcy saw Caroline speaking to Mrs. Bennet, then accosting the Hursts on the dance floor but he could not imagine what had prompted them to leave the hall in such a hurried fashion though he suspected that Caroline's jealousy had something to do with it, but he couldn't spare more than a moment on Caroline Bingley. Elizabeth had been taken away from him by a man old enough to be her grandfather and seemed perfectly happy to oblige him with a dance. Darcy found himself pacing with annoyance though he allowed himself an inward smile remembering Bingley's description of him at a dance much like a horse eager to bolt from the barn. His consolation was that she had promised him the last dance and that would have to do for the moment, but only for the moment. He stopped his pacing momentarily to stare out the window and was confronted by his own reflection. What he saw, he didn't like. He was glowering at his own image. With effort, he softened his face before turning back to the room and saw Elizabeth coming down the line with the sweetest smile directed straight at him. His heart skipped a beat and his stomach lurched. He returned her smile but what he was really thinking was if he should consult Bingley or Richard on how one survived being in love.

Darcy hated being the center of attention but there was no way he could avoid it if he wanted to spend the last half-hour with Elizabeth so he stiffened his resolve and led Elizabeth to the floor when the band signaled the last dance. If he thought it might go unnoticed he was sadly mistaken. The whispers began immediately and reached a crescendo when Bingley and Jane followed by Peter and Charlotte joined him.

Mrs. Bennet nearly swooned when Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy took her daughters out on the floor. Fortunately her friend Lady Lucas kept her from slipping to the floor which was a miracle in itself for she too was in shock as she watched her plain daughter being led to the floor a second time by the handsome stranger from Nottinghamshire. It was left to Sir Lucas to clap in time to the music as he muttered, "capital, capital!"

Darcy and Elizabeth never took their eyes off each other though neither said not a word to each other as they danced the next half-hour of the assembly, but simply enjoyed being in the presence of each other. Mrs. Bennet was keenly disappointed not to see her least favorite daughter at least making an attempt to speak to the wealthy man from Derbyshire. All she could see was a tall handsome man looking austere and above his company. Instead of using her arts and allurements to capture his heart, her obstinate daughter seemed to find great amusement in his steadfast silence. Mrs. Bennet felt a tiny stab of regret that her youngest daughter had run off to marry Lieutenant Wickham when there was a much larger fish to catch, but she would have to make do. She would have a long talk with Elizabeth in the morning and teach her how to capture the heart of a man...even as difficult a man as the proud Mr. Darcy appeared to be. She sighed. A mother's work was never done.

Peter and Charlotte were also enjoying the dance for other reasons. They were finding vast amusement in the silence of Darcy and Elizabeth compared to the non-stop chatter of Bingley and Jane. "For the life of me," Peter said, "I've never known such good friends who have such different temperaments. Bingley's such a jolly soul and Darcy almost seems dour."

"And are their looks deceiving?"

"Only in Darcy's case. He is nothing like he seems. He's actually warm and good-humored once you've gained his trust. And what of Miss Elizabeth and Miss Jane? Are they similar in temperament?"

Charlotte laughed, "not at all. Jane doesn't believe that evil exists in the world...only errors in judgment."

Peter laughed hardily, "sounds like Bingley. And Miss Elizabeth?"

"Elizabeth knows that evil exists so she's careful about who she trusts."

"Sounds like both pairs are equally matched."

"You don't believe the old adage that opposites attract?"

"If I did, Darcy would have married Miss Bingley years ago."

"And that would have been a bad thing?"

"Marriage without love or passion would be exhausting."

Charlotte laughed at his choice of words, "don't you mean it would be dull, miserable and long?"

Peter chose not to reply to the question, but asked when the next assembly would take place and elicited a promise that she would save the first dance for him.

At Netherfield Louisa accompanied her sister to her room knowing Caroline's need to vent; she just hoped it wouldn't take too long. She didn't like keeping her husband waiting especially when a massage awaited her. If she hadn't been so concentrated on the pleasure which lay before her she might have been more alert. She never saw Caroline pick up the delicate perfume bottle and smash it into the mirror, nor did she feel the two tiny splinters of glass strike her cheek. Wearily, Louisa dropped into a chair and regarded her sister with sorrow. Caroline was now sitting on the side of her bed, weeping and pummeling her knees with clenched fists. "It's a good thing Darcy can't see you having one of your temper tantrums," Louisa drawled. "He might not think of you as the lady you pretend to be."

"Get me a drink!"

Louisa obeyed and poured herself one before resuming her seat. "Be reasonable, Carrie, you've had seven years trying to win Darcy. You never had a chance and I'm weary of watching you try. So is my husband."

Louisa's reference to Hurst brought a sneer from Caroline, "your husband!"

"Yes, my husband! The man whose hospitality you and Charles enjoyed before Charles bought his townhouse. The man who is generous and loving to me. The man who puts up with your tirades and insults."

"Why shouldn't he? He has nothing better to do."

"How dare you speak of him that way? When I think of all the years you've terrorized our family I am thoroughly ashamed of myself . You constantly belittle my husband who's a good man despite what you may think. You know that I love him yet you continually disparage him in front of me not caring that when you hurt him, you hurt me."

"He's a buffoon and so is Charles! Did you see the way our dear brother was fawning over that daughter of a loud-mouthed shrew? Well, I'll put a stop to that!"

"You will do no such thing! I really don't know how serious he is about Jane Bennet but I will not brook any interference from you. If she is his choice, he will have her."

Caroline regarded Louisa with an air of affected incredulity, "and how would you do that, Sister?" She stood and refilled her glass.

Louisa looked long and hard at her sister, "oh, Carrie, I wish we could roll back time and start all over. I've tried to protect you since you were a little girl when you'd came home crying because you had skinned your knee or the boys had called you names. For years I've been laboring under the illusion that I was to blame for the way you turned out when it was really our mother filling your mind with delusions of grandeur. I just carried on where she left off when she died."

"Leave her out of it! You were always jealous of me because I was someone special."

"You were someone special, alright, but I wouldn't brag about it."

"Meaning what?"

"You and Charles were both young, but I wasn't. I remember the angry words and tears...the shouts of recriminations. Then one day father came back and loaded the cart with our meager belongings and took us to Ellesmere. Did you never wonder why the accident that killed her took place back at that dreadful little village and not in Ellesmere?"

"She was visiting friends."

"She had no friends. And neither did we."

"What on earth are you talking about? You're speaking in riddles!"

Louisa hesitated, feeling exhaustion setting in. "Just stay out of Charles's way, Carrie. Let him find happiness. He's a good man and deserves it." She turned and headed for the door, anxious to be in her husband's company.

Caroline followed and grabbed her shoulders spinning her around, "I will not have my brother unite himself with a country girl. He will marry a girl from the Ton!"

Louisa pushed her sister so hard that Caroline stumbled and fell. "Go to bed and sober up. And stay out of Charles's way. And in the morning, take a look in the mirror. A long look." She left the room closing the door quietly behind her and waited for a moment half-expecting to hear a scream of frustration. But all was silent.

When Louisa finally entered her own bedroom she was carrying the scars of seeing Caroline to bed. Two drops of blood marked where the shards of a crystal flask had found their mark and she reeked of perfume.

Hurst's face tightened in fury, "I'm going to have that woman put away!"

"You'll do no such thing. It was an accident. And where's my brandy?"

"What kind of an accident leaves blood on your face?"

Louisa shrugged and went to her dressing room to remove her dress and wash the stink of perfume from her body. When she returned to the bedroom she was wearing only a camisole and silk stockings held up by blue garters.

He walked over to the hearth and reached down for the bottle and a small vial of warm scented oil. "Take your clothes off," he said, pouring her a liberal amount of the warm brandy. "And how did you leave your sister?"

"With a reminder to look in the mirror tomorrow morning."

Hurst chuckled, "that's all she needs. She spends at least two hours a day staring at her reflection as it is."

"True. But she only sees what she wants to see." She sat down on the bed and emptied the glass, then began to roll down her garters at a leisurely pace never taking her eyes off her husband. When her shapely legs were bare she stood and allowed him to remove her camisole before stretching out on the bed. Hurst then removed his own robe and straddled her. He slid his left hand beneath her throat cradling her gently, then his right hand began to softly rub the warm scented oil into the back of her neck up into her hairline then back down again. His hand moved slowly and sensually feeling her begin to relax. More oil and now both hands moved down kneading the muscles of her back working his magic. She sighed as he moved to her thighs massaging and squeezing before descending to her knees and calves and finally to her feet and toes. More oil and he moved back up her body slowly, kissing and nipping at her, enjoying the delicious feel of her. He turned her over gently and gave himself a few moments to take in the beauty of her body before she smiled at him. "Caroline asks me all the time what I see in you."

"And what do you say?" Hurst asked his wife.

"I smile mysteriously and say 'you'd be surprised'. Now get me another drink and I may allow you to pleasure me." When he stood up she moved her eyes slowly down the length of his body stopping midway for a moment, "my impatient lover."

"Minx!"

They both laughed loudly and he poured them another drink but not for a minute had he forgotten the tiny cuts on his wife's face nor the cause of them. And despite what Caroline thought of him, Hurst was not a stupid man. His wife had just told him something and he suspected it was something important but now was not the time to think on it. His wife wanted pleasuring and he had better get on with his duty while he still could.

In the hall Darcy and Peter were startled by the loud laughter emanating from the Hurst room. Darcy raised an eyebrow in inquiry and Bingley smiled, "sounds like they're enjoying marital bliss."

Darcy was stunned and at a loss for words. Peter, ever curious, "does their marital bliss always provoke so much laughter?"

"I don't take notes," Bingley replied, smothering a laugh, "but I will say that they are fond of each other."

In his room Darcy threw off his jacket, vest and cravat and poured himself a liberal amount of brandy before stalking to the large window that faced the direction of Longbourn trying not to think of the Hursts and their marital bliss. He had half a mind to bang on their door and admonish them to stop having so much fun, but he could not long dwell on the blissful Hursts when his own desire for bliss kept intruding. Biding good night to Elizabeth had been agony. It had seemed like an eternity had passed since Rosing's Park and his last sight of her. During the intervening weeks she had been constantly on his mind invading his every waking moment and worse still, insinuating herself into his dreams at night. To see her again after all the time that had passed was a mixture of pain and ecstasy..something like bliss...but not quite as satisfying. For the first time in his life he was at a loss as to what to do next.

He leaned his forehead against the cool glass feeling a deep aching throb begin in his loins and gritted his teeth commanding his body to behave. When he heard a gentle knock at the door his body refused to obey instantly and he took a painful breath before sighing. He called out without turning, "come in, Bingley."

"Am I disturbing you, Darcy? I couldn't sleep."

Darcy rolled his eyes and still without turning, pointed to the small bar. Help yourself." By the time Peter rapped at the door and was admitted, Darcy was resigned to his fate and invited his old and new friend to sit down and make themselves comfortable which they did. They were both restless after spending three hours in the company of such lovely ladies and they knew that Darcy didn't have anything else to do.