Georgiana couldn't be surprised by how amiable Miss Mary was. The young woman had reappeared alone, soon after her brother and Miss Elizabeth had left, making some excuse for Mr Collins' absence. Mary had said that he had needed to think over some things, and Georgiana couldn't help but hope that that meant that her words had had some effect - however unlikely that seemed.

At first, Miss Mary had seemed quiet and unwilling to be friendly – Georgiana couldn't say how relieved she had been to discover that the young woman was merely shy like herself. They had moved across to the pianoforte and managed to amuse themselves quite well for the short interlude attempting to play duets - Georgiana had been fortunate enough to remember Miss Elizabeth saying something about Mary playing. Miss Bennet – Jane – had even come across to watch them. Georgiana had half expected criticism, but Jane had apologised for being so poor at playing that she could not hope to join them. Mr Bingley had soon recaptured her attention of course - although they stayed near enough that both groups could join in the others conversation, should they so wish.

Georgiana was somewhat relieved that Miss Mary realised the cruelty that would be inherent in doing so though. It was rare for an undeclared couple to have copious free time in which to talk to one another. She didn't want to intrude upon that.

Miss Elizabeth returned finally, without her brother – but Georgiana could only assume that meant that he had still had business to discuss with Mr Bennet, and chose not to be worried. Miss Catherine rushed in only a second or two later in gales of laughter – from all that Miss Elizabeth had said, Georgiana wasn't sure that that wasn't her standard state of being.

"Oh, Lizzy!" She sounded out of breath too, as though she had been rushing about. Even Mr Bingley and Miss Bennet's conversation was disturbed. "You'll never guess what has happened. Lydia was being such a bore and refusing to talk to me about it – but you'll be amused I know you will..."

The young lady flopped with startlingly little grace onto one of the chairs, her face dancing with amusement much as Miss Elizabeth's so often did. It was an odd contrast to say the least.

"Perhaps Kitty," the addressed said with far more measure. "You should tell us all what has actually happened?"

"Oh! But I saw Mr Collins and Mary in the garden talking?" She giggled once more. "And for such a long period of time – luckily Mama quite managed to miss them, but can you imagine? Mr Collins and Mary..."

Beside her, Georgiana could tell that Mary had stiffened up, and her entire face had turned away. Georgiana wished she knew what had happened – whether the lady was embarrassed or annoyed or hurt.

"Why is that so ridiculous?" It was Jane who spoke. Mr Bingley almost looked out of place, his eyes flicking almost uncomfortably from Mary to Kitty to Jane and round again. Of course, he would be in a position that he might have been able to tell what was going through Mary's mind – and more he was always attempting to be so good and kind that perhaps he was put off that he had no idea as to how he was supposed to act. "Do you not think that Mary would be able to gain the attentions of a man – if even that is what it was?"

"No of course!" Kitty became far more serious in an instant. "Mary might not be as lively as Lydia and I, but she is so clever?" Mary turned around suddenly to stare straight at her sister. Kitty seemed to suddenly spot her presence. "I mean, you know something about everything – I have never learnt to be anything – a wise man would always pick Mary over me..." Her lips turned up again, and it looked like her laughter was hardly far away. "But, Mr Collins?" The giggles poured out again as she turned to look at Elizabeth once more. "He is so ridiculous and pompous and..." She covered her mouth in an attempt to stay modest even amidst her giggles.

"He's..." Mary's voice was quiet, barely even reaching Georgiana, but Georgiana turned to attend to her anyway. "He's not... not entirely anyway." Mary had a small self deprecating smile on her face even as she spoke. "He is foolish and prone to speak on to those who would rather not hear – and he is not at all handsome as a man might be supposed to be – and more he seems entirely too comfortable in being lead by those who he thinks are his superiors..." She shook her head as she spoke, but it seemed to be almost a fond expression. "But he is not a bad man – he is clever and he does care about his parishioners – indeed, they were what we were discussing in part. He was wondering if I might have any insight into what could be done for one of his families." Mary was evidently attempting to hide her smiles and didn't mind in the least that Georgiana wasn't saying anything in return. "No one ever asks for my advice – not when there is Lizzy and Jane around."

Georgiana wished she knew something of equal magnitude to reply to her newest friend, but she struggled to find any words at all. Instead she asked if they should turn their attention back to their music, and was glad to discover that the other woman was as content to do so as she was herself.

.

Elizabeth tried not to wonder anxiously about the time that her father and Mr Darcy were taking together – after all, they had seemed to be getting along amiably when she had left them. Still she could not entirely shake the worry that something must have gone terribly wrong to keep them talking for such an extended period of time. In fact, were it not that her mother was sitting talking at her about everything that seemed to come into her mind, allowing neither herself nor Kitty any reprieve, she might have returned to check. As it was she had to comfort herself in hoping that they would not stay away for too much longer.

Her wish was eventually granted. Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam returned together with Mr Bennet following only slightly behind. Mrs Bennet was fast to greet them most effusively – Colonel Fitzwilliam in particular. Elizabeth almost felt bad that the other man had been thrown into such a situation; it seemed that that was the peril of appearing to be polite around her mother.

Perhaps Mr Darcy had been onto something of note when he had seemed so stern about her. Certainly, Mrs Bennet did not find it necessary to fawn over him.

"Was your conversation fruitful, sir?" Mr Darcy had sat near to her – and she couldn't help if that was the only topic that came to mind.

"Very much so." He smiled slightly – Elizabeth wasn't sure if she had never seen him smile before, or if she had been too blind to notice it, she hated how much she suspected that it was in fact the latter. "Although the eventual appearance of my cousin did little to limit the length of our meeting."

Elizabeth smiled and nodded. The Colonel appeared to have been highly effective in managing to turn the entire conversation with her mother around, so that he was the main speaker, calling upon Mrs Bennet and Kitty equally. It was a rare skill, and Elizabeth could see that her father's attention had been entirely taken up in amusement at the same event.

"I wonder, Miss Elizabeth..." Darcy hardly knew if it was vastly improper to speak as he would, but he had to know. It all seemed so important now. "At Netherfield, I remember you remarking that you enjoyed studying the characters of other people."

Elizabeth allowed it to be so.

"And have you had any chance to map my character?"

"No – indeed you act so differently as to confuse me greatly." Elizabeth – Miss Elizabeth – sounded almost as surprised by the confession as he was. But it was not a negative thing; he had to trust in that. And since it seemed they would spend their time with the Bennets – especially considering some of the conversation he had had with Mr Bennet before his cousin had shown his face – Mr Bennet was nothing if not protective of his daughters it seemed – he had to be sure that she did not dislike him. He didn't know if he would be able to bear that. A sudden idea struck him and it was all he could do to follow it through. It could be mortifying to do so – and yet the urge was still there - the unusual optimistic hope that it would all work out well.

"Then we must do something to remedy this most serious of troubles." Mr Darcy seemed almost mischievous and that was confusing enough to Lizzy. She didn't think she had even seen a glimmer of that kind of attitude from him before. "Perhaps we should begin our acquaintance again?" Mr Darcy's voice was still low and inherently sensible, but Lizzy knew she was being teased. Mr Darcy wasn't supposed to be like that – not that she could entirely say she objected, merely that she had never seen such a facet to his character before. "Shall I be Sir Lucas? And I'll introduce us," He cleared his throat somewhat dramatically. ""Mr Darcy of Pemberley, may I introduce you Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn?"" His voice had been pushed theatrically low and it was all Lizzy could do to restrain an uncharacteristic giggle escaping. "Then I shall act as a gentleman ought and tell you that it my greatest pleasure to be introduced to you – and, were we at an assembly, I would be certain to ask you for your first dance, as it is I suppose I can only ask for that at the Ball Mr Bingley is throwing."

Elizabeth could not help but smile at his actions, but more embarrassingly she was almost positive that a blush had risen up to cover her face. What exactly the cause was she could not entirely say.

"Will you not reply to my invitation Miss Elizabeth?" He too had blushed, though Elizabeth had a suspicion that that was caused due to his embarrassment at having been so unashamedly silly. But he still perfected his face into the most solemn of expressions. "It is most cruel of you to ignore a man's poor attempts at being civil."

"It would be my pleasure, Mr Darcy, although it cannot be the first set, for Mr Collins has already claimed that." She could hardly believe that Darcy of all people would have the capacity to be livelier than herself, and yet that was what she saw. It was all she could do not to reprimand him for hiding such a side of himself for so long. But that would be highly inappropriate. "And I suppose I must also extend my pleasure at being introduced to you, or else your performance would have been all for naught."

Elizabeth couldn't help but feel glad as Mr Darcy matched her own smile - a brilliant and hopeful expression.

All of a sudden, the prospect of the ball seemed far more enticing.

This was the end of the story originally - but is no longer. :)