The day after the Miss Bennets had left Netherfield was a strange one. Miss Darcy could hardly believe that she was the only one to notice the sudden quietness of the building. Miss Bennet had possessed such a quiet kindness, that Georgiana had quite begun to think that she simply exuded happiness from her, as a candle would, and Miss Elizabeth had come so easily to smile and laugh that it was most odd not to hear her teasing remarks. They had hardly been there long, but still they had had such an impact.
It had at least given Georgiana an invaluable time to spend time with her brother, although he too had seemed sombre after the departure of the ladies. She had been minded to believe that that was entirely due to the fact that it meant he had less protection from the manipulations of Miss Bingley had it not been for an uncharacteristically earnest conversation they had had. Georgiana had professed sadness at being parted from her new friends, a short statement, barely needing any reply of note at all.
Her brother had turned to her with a look of some confusion and agreed that it was strange without them.
"Although I know that it could never have been," his voice was so low as he spoke that Georgiana had to strain to make out his words. They were out taking a turn in the garden so that their conversation might not be hindered by other ears. "I do wish that I could know that..." And then, most strangely, her brother had stopped. Miss Darcy would have always said that her brother was the bravest man she had ever met - so such an action could do little but alarm her.
"What do you wish to know?" She could only hope she didn't sound too curious and overly involved - that her brother wouldn't shut her out again, no matter how much she might deserve it.
"If I were a less known man, or Miss Elizabeth more respectably a lady, I might have thought that I had found someone with whom I might happily settle." His words were slow and deliberate - well thought out. Georgiana could only presume that he was attempting to not give her cause for hope. Little could he tell how quickly she swept away all of his complaints and let that happiness soar.
She had been certain she had seen her brother admiring Miss Elizabeth. It was always such a joy to be proven right about such a thing.
"But we are not. And more, I am completely convinced that she utterly and completely loathes me."
For a second, Georgiana had to just stand still to take that in. She could hardly tell how her brother could speak so calmly about such a thing. And, more to the point, how he could be so careful to hide all the signs of the hurt in his eyes from his voice.
"Well then, we only have one choice, do we not?" She finally replied. Her brother had waited patiently for her, perhaps suspecting what a shock his suggestion might have been. Still he looked so dejected that Georgiana could scarcely believe that he expected the alternative she would offer. "We must endeavour to change her mind."
.
Elizabeth walked alongside her sister wishing she could be almost anywhere besides where she was. Mr Collins wasn't perhaps a bad man, but that didn't change how intolerable he was to her in that moment. From the first thing that morning he had been attempting to be so attentive and focussed upon her, that she was certain he would have fallen from her favour, even had she not already gained a reluctance to spend time around his ridiculousness the previous day. Elizabeth could hardly remember an acquaintance of whom she had taken so instant a dislike. Apart from Mr Darcy of course - but Elizabeth was doing all within her power to not think of him at all. She hadn't been able to speak through her confusion with Jane - for Jane had had her own thoughts to share, and those musings had been infinitely more important than her worry over one sentence that had been directed at her. Or so Elizabeth had felt anyway.
It almost took her by surprise as her youngest sisters dashed across the street and Jane had to gently nudge her before she had the sense to follow after them. Their purpose was quickly determined as this arrangement coincidentally had them nearly collide with two gentlemen who had been walking along the street. One was Mr. Denny - a young officer who Elizabeth had heard plenty of, even if she had been uncertain as to whether they had ever truly met - but the other was totally unknown. He introduced himself in fine manner as a Mr Wickham, and his address was everything that it should be. Elizabeth tried to attend, wondering all the while why it should be that suddenly, when faced with a young man with all the amiability that one would wish, she would wish to be just as far away as had that man been Mr Collins - who, indeed, still loomed unfortunately near to her elbow.
She could almost breath in a great sigh of relief as she heard the clattering of hooves nearby, and their entire party looked up to greet the new arrivals. Mr Bingley was fast to approach them all - even if his attention was primarily taken by Jane, who apparently they had been visiting to call upon, to see if she was recovered. Mr Darcy seemed to have been scrutinising the pair of them - Lizzy couldn't shake the feeling that he was deliberately ignoring her, nor could she be as relieved by the fact as she felt she should be - when he suddenly glanced up and caught the eye of Mr Wickham. Both changed colour immediately, Mr Darcy with what Elizabeth could only assume was anger and he took a step back as though he were about to leave. Mr Wickham was unknown enough that Elizabeth couldn't hazard a guess as to what his feelings might be.
It seemed, however, that Mr Darcy's purpose was changed at the last instant and he advanced instead of retreating. Mr Wickham, Elizabeth couldn't help but notice, unconsciously moved away.
"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy sounded even stiffer than was his normal approach. "I suppose that we may call upon you tomorrow?" It must have been a question, and yet his tones showed no indication of the same.
"Of course," Lizzy's reply came with far more ease than she would have expected from herself. She hadn't even considered what she would reply - and she certainly hadn't paused to ensure she wouldn't insult him in any way (as she must admit she was somewhat prone to wish to do). "I'm sure we would be delighted to see both..."
"Thank you." His words were curt as he cut her off and he moved away once more, offering a single dark look towards their new acquaintance and gaining Mr Bingley's attention. Mr Bingley was of course a great deal too amiable than to do anything other than accept the hint for what it was. He quickly bid farewell to the eldest Miss Bennet - and then to her acquaintances, almost as an afterthought. Mr Darcy was less loquacious, as had always seemed to be his wont, although, Elizabeth couldn't ignore the strangest feeling that as he had turned to go, he had caught her eyes, and in a strange twist of his features, had intended to bid her farewell with a smile.
But of course, that must have been some strain of madness speaking, for Mr Darcy, insufferable as he was, would never act in such an undignified way, of that Elizabeth could be completely certain.
Elizabeth couldn't honestly say if she was disappointed or relieved as they arrived at her Aunt Phillip's house. To be certain, it gave her some measure of peace - or at least, her aunt was glad to see herself and Jane since they had been away, and the conversation wasn't enough to take much trouble on her part - as conversation between family was wont to be. Still she couldn't shake the strange feeling that cut into her mind as she watched the two officers move off (for even Lydia's and Mrs Phillip's combined invitations had not induced them to come within) that she should have at least endeavoured to discover the source of the enmity between them and Mr Darcy. She couldn't help that she was so inherently curious about everything, nor that Mr Darcy would be unlikely to tell her. Whose interest would not be piqued at such an occurrence?
The gentlemen did indeed call the next day - as Mr Darcy had suggested they might. Elizabeth had endeavoured to stay near to the house to meet her friend - when Mr Darcy had seemed to try to make such an effort to ensure that they might meet once more, she couldn't help but feel she should reciprocate by staying ready to greet them. That in itself was quite a sacrifice, for it gave her no reprieve from Mr Collins who seemed utterly content to bother her constantly.
It was a surprise therefore when it was only the two gentlemen who arrived - Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy. The former was warmly welcomed into the room, while Darcy stood there with such an uncomfortable mien, that Elizabeth could hardly explain why he had come at all. As soon as Mrs Bennet's attention was diverted - for what purpose it was hard to tell - he took a hesitant step towards them. Lydia and Kitty were nowhere to be seen, as was not unusual, and Mary had her nose in her book. So it seemed only natural that he should address her.
"I must apologise for my sister's absence." He said somewhat stiffly. "She was disinclined to leave Netherfield today."
It took Elizabeth barely a moment to inquire after the other ladies health, but Mr Darcy would not elaborate further than to assure her that Georgiana was "Quite well, he believed."
His inability to say anything at all had Lizzy even more confused and she couldn't allow herself to bring up their meeting on the prior day. It didn't seem prudent to give him any more cause for his own reserve. For his sisters sake she would attempt to allow that.
She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or frustrated as her mother appeared and called her out of the room. She felt the rudeness of it deeply none the less, and cast an apologetic look at both Mr Darcy and Mary as a result. Mr Bingley and Jane would scarcely notice it after all.