A/N: Alrighty, next chapter up! The story is coming along splendidly, I'm about ten chapters ahead of what I post, hoping that gives me plenty of room to make changes if I need to. Cheerio!
"Do not worry, Lizzy," Jane tried to assure her sister after having been lectured about not losing her heart to the Colonel. "Believe me when I say I am more protective of my heart than before. I had already guessed he would not be free to marry where he chose and I am not in haste to fall in love."
Elizabeth wasn't fully convinced, especially after the next day when a package was delivered to the Parsonage for Jane. Curiously Jane tore at the paper and opened the box to reveal that very bonnet she had yearned for from the other day. Seeing a folded note at the bottom of the box Elizabeth reached for it and read the contents:
Though fair indeed
this bonnet be
to buy, I could not abstain.
I gift it thee,
though lovely,
no more beautiful than Jane.
It was signed Col. Fitzwilliam!
"He is writing you poetry!" She declared, thrusting the note in Jane's face who had been busy inspecting the bonnet.
Jane gently placed the bonnet back in the box and read the note herself, a slight flush creeping over her face. "He cannot mean it...not really."
"Oh, I have a few choice words for him," Elizabeth threatened.
Jane placed her hand on Elizabeth's arm, "Lizzy, there must be a mistake. Or perhaps he is merely teasing me again."
"For his sake, I hope so," Elizabeth turned to Jane who stood there staring at the bonnet. "You cannot keep it. You must send it back."
"I know," Jane sighed. "It is lovely, but I cannot accept a gift from a man I just barely met."
Elizabeth helped her wrap the bonnet back in the tissue and boxed it up. She told Jane she'd keep it in her room and when the men were out of the house have it delivered to Rosings. Colonel Fitzwilliam will get the meaning behind it, she hoped. That evening they had been invited to Rosings for supper and Elizabeth was determined to confront the Colonel about his gift.
It seemed Elizabeth didn't need to wait, for while on their walk that afternoon they came across the Colonel and Mr. Darcy, both atop their horses.
"What have we here?" The Colonel asked upon spying them. "Cousin, guard yourself, they are wood nymphs seeking to lure us to our doom."
"Good afternoon Mrs. Collins, Miss Bennet," was Darcy's dry reply.
The men dismounted their horses and the Colonel explained that they often rode out inspecting their Aunt's land, discussing ways in which to improve the farms and productivity.
"There was a blight last year which desiccated nearly ten acres of once good farm land. The tenants had to move and it has laid fallow ever since. We were on our way to inspect the land and cottage."
"Do not let us keep you," Elizabeth said.
"And give up the chance to walk with two such beautiful creatures?" The Colonel scoffed. "I think not. But Miss Bennet, did you not get the package this morning?" It seemed the Colonel had just noticed Jane was wearing her plain bonnet instead of the one he had sent her.
Jane cleared her throat, "No, sir, I could not accept such a gift."
"Truly?" He asked, hurt. "Why ever not?"
Jane's cheeks flushed, unable to answer. "Because," Elizabeth stated, "it is improper for a single man to send gifts to a single woman who is not related to him."
Mr. Darcy's head shot up at this, glaring questioningly at his cousin. "You sent Miss Bennet a gift?"
The Colonel rolled his eyes, "I saw that she liked it but had not the money to purchase it after getting those gifts for her sisters. I wished to make her happy, so I bought it."
Darcy looked disapprovingly at the Colonel, but said nothing further. He then scrutinized Jane, to which Elizabeth took umbrage.
"I am afraid we are due back at the Parsonage," she said, then taking her sister firmly by the arm, walked away from the men.
"You did not need to be so terse," Jane admonished once they were out of earshot.
"Jane, the Colonel is well on his way of making a fool of himself, I will not step aside and have him drag you with him."
When they returned home they were told by Mrs. Shaw that Mr. Collins had stepped out to visit a parishioner, while her Father was in the sitting room reading the paper. She told Jane to go to their Father while she took care of some business. She hurried up to her room and grabbed the package with the offending bonnet, then, to make sure no one saw her, she took the servants stairs down to the kitchen and out the door.
She was about to exit the kitchen when she saw her husband just outside the door, inspecting the herb garden. Drat, she thought, sneaking back inside. Mr. Collins and Cook were looking over the garden, Elizabeth could see from the window, and didn't appear to be in any hurry. She snuck back up the stairs and safely deposited the box underneath a blanket in the closet. It would have to be returned later, she determined.
Elizabeth made her way down the stairs, joining her Father and sister until her husband returned, where he admonished them to ready themselves for that nights supper, so as not to be late. After donning their newly made-over dresses, the women joined the men below and on foot they made their way to the Parsonage where they were escorted to the sitting room to wait for their hosts.
Darcy entered first, greeted the guests, then surprisingly made his way towards the empty seat next to Elizabeth. Mr. Bennet and Jane had taken up a small couch, while Mr. Collins always seated himself closest to the chair Lady Catherine favored, leaving Elizabeth quite alone. Elizabeth expected Mr. Darcy to speak to her, even if just an unremarkable topic, but he remained silent. The Colonel entered then, to which Elizabeth looked at her sister to gauge her true feelings for the man. She smiled at his entering, though there was no embarrassed turn of her head, or flush of cheeks. Satisfied that Jane was not enamored of the Colonel, she turned her head and caught Mr. Darcy staring at her.
"Why do you stare, so?" She rebuked him in a hushed voice.
Mr. Darcy smiled, "I was merely trying to detect the true color of your eyes."
Before Elizabeth could respond Lady Catherine entered with her daughter, "Darcy, come here, you must escort Anne into dinner, I will take the Colonels arm."
Both men rose reluctantly to escort the ladies. Mr. Collins, though put out by being denied his pleasure of escorting Lady Catherine himself, gladly took his wife's arm. They were followed by Mr. Bennet and Jane, and behind them Mrs. Jenkinson. Once seated at the table conversation was reduced to topics which pleased Lady Catherine, to which Mr. Bennet took up his past time of goading her. Now that there were other spectators to his sport Elizabeth felt ashamed and wished she had told her Father not to behave badly this night. She noticed, however, that the Colonel was delighted with Mr. Bennet's antics and took up his own sport, though widening his net, trying to capture Mr. Collins as well.
During the conversation Elizabeth couldn't help but steal glances at Mr. Darcy, who seemed occupied with the repartee. How ridiculous he must think her husband! She suddenly felt very ashamed of him, and guilty at her thoughts at the same time. She mentally rebuked herself. What did she care for Mr. Darcy's approval? She never sought it, nor would she have readily accepted it if given.
After supper the women retired to the sitting room while the men remained behind. Lady Catherine chose to speak with Jane, who was a shy woman and mainly listened to what Lady Catherine had to say, which suited her Ladyship just fine. Elizabeth was asked to play at the piano and it was during the second song in which the men entered. Eyeing the Colonel, she noticed he went directly to Jane. She hit a discordant chord, causing the room to look in her direction. She mumbled an apology then continued playing. Unbeknownst to her Darcy had risen from his seat and made his way to the piano.
"Do you need assistance in turning the pages?" He asked.
Before Elizabeth could reply he had sat next to her, his body flush with her own, and, she thought, he breathed in the scent of her hair. Elizabeth looked up to make sure no one could see them, but all the others had their attention on Lady Catherine who was expounding on the virtues of rutabagas.
"I would like to return the bonnet your cousin sent my sister, but without others of my relation, or servants, knowing about it. Would that be possible?"
"Yes," Darcy said, his breath caressing her neck, setting the small hairs on her skin to tingling, "do you know the meadow that runs along the east side of my Aunt's estate?" Elizabeth nodded her head, "there is a path that runs along the meadow and into the woods. If you take that path up the incline you find yourself overlooking the meadow and Rosings."
"I know the place well," Elizabeth reassured him.
"Good, meet me there early tomorrow morning, say 7:00."
They had said no more to each other and soon she had finished the song.
"Has the song ended, then?" Lady Catherine's voice startled them.
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy, who immediately rose, "Yes, Aunt."
Darcy walked away from her, excused himself from his Aunt, and left the room. With Darcy gone Lady Catherine grew visibly tired with her guests, and made a pretense of being too tired to remain. The party from the Parsonage left, as always, in Lady Catherine's carriage. It was already dark out, when they arrived Mr. Bennet declared his own intentions of retiring for the night.
While her family was staying with her Mr. Collins and forgone his nightly visitations to her room, for which she was thankful for, especially that night. She had laid awake in bed thinking over her conversation with Mr. Darcy and her plans to meet him the next morning. She would have to inform Jane where she was going and what her errand was, but no one else need know. The destination Mr. Darcy told her was a good twenty minute walk, which meant she had better be ready by 6:30, well before Mr. Collins rose.
Soon, she thought, as she snuggled deeper under the covers, sleep slowly taking over, we shall be rid of that bonnet.