Darcy gently knocked on the door of the room he knew his sister and Mrs Annesley were occupying. Miss Mary's words had stuck with him slightly – and more, he wanted to be reconciled with his sister. She was growing up, and sometimes it left him feeling almost bereft of the little sister he used to have, the little girl who had been gangly and everywhere and utterly charming. Now she was growing up into a beautiful, intelligent and far too wise, young woman. Darcy hated to think how soon he was going to have to be chasing away more rakes and men who weren't good enough for her – because there was absolutely no doubt in his mind that the second she was out in society, it would only be a matter of time until she found someone to marry and take her away.
Still, he was almost surprised to have been admitted into the room. Mrs Annesley greeted him with a small smile; Georgiana was doing her best to scowl at him constantly.
"May I have a word with my sister, please?" Mrs Annesley quickly departed from the room leaving the siblings alone.
Georgiana was angry with him, she knew that much, but there was something about the way he was acting that she found odd. Her brother almost seemed hesitant. It was so unusual from someone who was almost always right, and almost always got his own way.
"I must apologise, Georgie..." He sat down opposite her as he spoke, but she was too surprised to be able to adequately reply to him. "I was being undeniably selfish – and thinking has made me understand that."
Georgiana couldn't help but soften a little, seeing her brother so remorseful. He had always been there for her, and sometimes she wondered if she wasn't terribly ungrateful the few times she became so angry with him.
"I don't mind if we must leave, I only wish you'd explain why...?"
He smiled slightly, and gave a short nod. "First, may I also apologise for the fact that I saw the Bennets earlier today..."
"You don't need to apologise for..." Georgiana interrupted him in her confusion, and she hardly worried about the action either, until he interrupted her in return.
"I meant to take you with me, but you wouldn't speak to me, and since I had promised we would call upon them, I had little choice."
Georgiana smiled at that, but didn't comment. She had wondered at the time why her brother had tried to speak to her earlier. Normally they were both more content to stew for a length of time.
"And secondly, we need not go, if you do not wish to – but that will become clearer as I explain."
Georgiana couldn't help if one of her eyebrows lifted in an attempt to urge him into speaking whatever he felt was so necessary to say.
"Mr Wickham is here."
Georgiana gasped, remorse turning over inside her. And she couldn't help but be annoyed at herself for how quickly she could recreate his features inside her mind.
"He has enlisted as one of the militia. If you wish we can leave now for London or Pemberley, and never have to interact with him again. Otherwise, I would like to send for Richard."
Richard was, of course, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, their cousin, and one of her brother's closest friends. He would hardly let them treat him as anything less anyway, even if he wasn't one of the few who knew of the true events of the summer and someone who could help them both.
Georgiana smiled, grateful for her brother's presence and thoughtfulness. In so many ways, it made her feel even worse for arguing as she had.
.
Elizabeth was certain of at least Jane's attention and thoughts the following day. She had not felt equal to sharing all she had heard in the evening - not least because Jane began to speak of Mary in her gentle and kind way, and since Elizabeth both truly did care about the experiences of her younger sister and hated to interrupt Jane when she spoke with that kind of warmth and surety - Jane had always been far too kind and too apt to listen to whatever anyone else might want to say to her. Elizabeth had begun long ago to attempt to counteract that effect and listen whenever her elder sister needed to speak.
Of course Jane had only felt equally shocked and thrown by the information Elizabeth had shared, and, in her good way, had tried even harder than Lizzy to find some way to make both men appear good. It seemed a fruitless task though, and neither sister could quite be upset when they were called in due to the arrival of Mr Bingley and his sister. They were very quick to personally invite all of the Bennets (and indeed Mr Collins) to the ball which was to be held at Netherfield.
Mrs Bennet had to fight hard to hide her raptures that they should have a personal invitation while their guests were present, an easily attainable goal since Mr Bingley's sisters seemed to have no sooner been seated before they must hurry away. Elizabeth couldn't help but pity her sister that she and the man who so evidently pursued her since they had scarcely been granted a single word together.
Somehow though Mr Bingley had been able to apologise for the absence of Mr and Miss Darcy, telling both Lizzy and Jane that he was sure they would be sorry to have missed the opportunity to see them both. Elizabeth had tried to quiet the questioning voice inside her that wished to know why Miss Darcy had chosen once more to stay away. Such thoughts gave her little comfort however and she tried to push them from her mind.
The weather seemed to be set against her too - for the next couple of days found Hertfordshire drenched in rain and Elizabeth could not even find respite in walking out. Instead she found herself tucking herself away in her father's library whenever everything else became too much and not even Jane gentleness, her father's wit or Mary's discussion of literature (which was far more comprehensive than Elizabeth had ever thought to expect) could draw her back into her normal light heartedness. At such times she almost wished that Netherfield had never been let - but then she would remember the joy it had brought Jane and she would hate her cowardice. After all, what kind of person was she if she struggled so terribly to accept that there was something she did not know?
It was on one of these such days when the rain suddenly ceased for a good hour. Elizabeth sadly had missed this point, so buried within the words of the book was she, and by the time she had spotted this once more, her mother had called her out for some purpose or another. Lydia and Kitty, of course, had no scruples about rushing outside as soon as they could prepare for it - and were luckily saved from Mrs Bennets admonishment that they could not go far for fear of the return of the deluge, as shortly after a small collection of officers saw fit to call upon them - Mr Denny and a few others.
Lizzy didn't even have time to find out what her mother had called her for when a carriage rolled into the estate. Mrs Bennet could hardly hurry enough to ensure that all of those remaining in the house were ready to receive guests. Jane was hurriedly told to neaten herself up and Elizabeth was promptly forgotten except for her mother to insist that she and Mary would stay out of the way and make the room look tidy.
One thing was certain though – Mrs Bennet had not expected them to receive the guests who did in fact arrive. Nor indeed did she have sufficient time to compose herself as the party came into the room. Mrs Bennet could only rise and begin her greetings to Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy, which were received with evident warmth – at least from the former – before her words fell to a halt once more.
"May I introduce my younger sister, Miss Darcy, who I do not think you have had the fortune to meet," Mr Darcy's speech took almost all of the room by surprise. He had never seemed prone to speak before if he could possibly help it. "And my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam."
It seemed it was only Mrs Bennet's fear in the face of so many distinguished guests that had her hesitating; Elizabeth couldn't help but be relieved nonetheless. She didn't want their acquaintance to be reminded of her mother's capacity for copious outbursts.
"We must also apologise for arriving so unexpectedly," The colonel spoke in measured and good natured tones. "We had barely arrived before Miss Darcy insisted that we must come here at once."
Georgiana in her turn flushed and looked down at the ground slightly. Still, the words had brought Mrs Bennet's mind back into action
"It is no trouble at all." Elizabeth wasn't sure whether to be worried or grateful for her mother's cheerfulness. Jane would have almost certainly scolded her for that. "We are more than happy to have guests. Here we have my daughters, Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Miss Mary – my two youngest are currently being visited by some members of the militia – and I am sure they will be more sad to have missed you." The party finally seemed to move more naturally into the room, although Elizabeth was mortified to have realised that Georgiana had paled at something her mother had said. Lizzy had been glad that her mother had been making so little trouble, and now she had to rethink the entire speech to discern what had been said which was of particular concern. "Oh! And here is Mr Collins."
The introductions began over once more. Mr Bingley seemed content at least, he had managed to find his way to a seat beside Jane – and although neither would be so rude as to contemplate ignoring anyone, they did seem a lot more relaxed, and could both very easily exchange looks if nothing else. As to Elizabeth's own confusion and bizarre embarrassment at the presence of the guests she could not comment.