The morning of – to use Fanny Bennet's words – "operation Netherfield" arrived all too soon, bringing heavy downpours of rain with it. Lizzy felt utterly justified in interpreting this as a bad omen, a sign if you will, that their little slumber party at Netherfield was a very bad idea.
"Lizzy you're being silly" Jane admonished gently as she tried to pull her sister out of her bed. "we are supposed to leave in a hour and you haven't packed or showered, c'mon give your poor old sister a break here!" Lizzy poked her head out.
"Firstly; you are only one year older than me Janie dear. Secondly; feel free to leave without me. I am perfectly happy to stay in this rather cosy bed all weekend" she disappeared under the blankets once again.
"please Lizzy I don't want to go alone"
"I'm sure Bingley wants you alone" her muffled reply earned her a whack on head. She reappeared rubbing it with her hand and grumbling "love makes you violent apparently". Jane shot her a death glare.
"I am not in love with anyone"
"Jane you haven't put your phone down all week! And I know you haven't been just 'checking Instagram'" Lizzy snickered.
"Fine, I have been texting Charlie a little. That means nothing we're just friends and you are coming with me!"
"Make me"
"MOTHE-" Jane began.
"sshhhhhshshhshs! What are you doing?" Lizzy hissed.
"Think about it Lizzy; if you don't come to Netherfield our Mother will have you for breakfast. She'll make some alone time with Will feel like a holiday in the sun" Jane teased.
"hey hey hey" Lizzy hastened to reply "I don't care about Darcy's presence. This whole weekend just …inconveniences me" she finished lamely.
Jane however could see right through her little sister. To her, it was as clear as day that Lizzy was affected by Will Darcy, unfortunately she seemed a little more negatively affected than Jane would like at the moment. She hoped this weekend could change that.
"We're leaving in 45 minutes" she said as sternly as she could manage.
"I won't be ready" Lizzy retorted stubbornly "you drive ahead. I'll wait for the rain to stop and then I'll walk over"
"it's a two mile walk Lizzy!"
"it's only a two mile walk Jane!"
"always so stubborn…"
"Yes" Lizzy grinned triumphantly "I'm going to shower, see you this evening" at that she ran out of the room before Jane could protest.
"Be careful when you walk over!" she called adding a fond "never change Lizzy" under her breath.
The skies cleared at around 3:30 that afternoon and Lizzy decided to make her way to Netherfield. Lizzy loved the outdoors and despite a slight sense of foreboding, she actually enjoyed the walk. That is until she was half way there and once again, the heavens opened.
"shit" she muttered as the rain quickly began to soak through to her skin. "why?" yelled at the sky "why are you raining in June? Urgh," finished with the melodramatics, she broke into a light jog in an attempt to reach her destination quicker.
It didn't help. The rain thickened and by the time she reached the Bingley house she resembled a cold, wet, shivering cat.
She ran the final length until she reached the front door and rang the doorbell three times in quick succession.
She could hear it chime elegantly throughout the house and watched - through the window beside the door - as the people within were alerted to her presence.
The door was flung open by an incredulous Charles and Lizzy did not even wait for an invitation to step onto the dry mat of the front hall. She looked up at the faces of those surrounding her; Jane – concerned, Charles – shocked, Caroline (presumably) – disgusted.
"sorry" Lizzy began "it wasn't raining when I left… the skys just opened out of nowhere… I tried to run but you know… I still got pretty wet…. Ehhhm" she was feeling pretty awkward "could I have a towel maybe?"
"oh yes!" her simple request spurred Charles into action "yes of course! Perhaps you would like a shower? I mean I'm not suggesting you need to shower! I just thought erm… will I show you to your room and you can decide what to do from there?" He was flustered and adorable, perfect for Jane Lizzy thought fondly.
"Thanks Charles, you're so sweet" she smiled and threw a grin a Jane who blushed "that would be great." She turned to his sister "we haven't met but I'm Janes sister, Lizzy. I'm so sorry for getting water and mud in your hall like this" she added as she noticed the puddle forming at her feet.
Caroline simply looked Lizzy over once and nodded.
"Come on Lizzy, I'll show you your room" Charles headed towards the stairs and motioned for her to follow him. Lizzy winced as she began to walk and her shoes squelched. "Don't worry about it" Charles reassured her but as she was half way up the stairs she could hear a distinctly malicious, high pitched giggle bring her. Instantly Lizzy knew, Caroline Bingley would not be her friend.
"This is where you'll be sleeping" Charles brought her to a door upstairs. "Jane is just down the hall and Will is right across from you" he told her indicating to the relevant doors "I think he's in the shower now but you'll see him later. Caroline and I are on the next floor" he happily pointed towards the ceiling. "the room is en suite, towels and everything are inside."
"Thanks Charles" she smiled.
"It's Charlie" he grinned "I'll leave you to it"
Eager to be in at hot shower Lizzy closed the door behind her, threw her bag at the foot of the bed and immediately stripped down to her underwear, leaving her sodden clothes in a pile on the floor.
She dashed over to the door of the en suite and pulled it open, only to find the small bathroom not only already full of steam but occupied by another, a man, a British man with only a towel around his waist.
"Elizabeth!" he spluttered. They both froze, quickly and appreciatively taking in the others form before both realising how scantily clad they were.
"oh shit!" Lizzy cried, now not knowing where to look. She retreated into the bedroom "I'm sorry I must be in the wrong room" she muttered, mortified.
"no no" he replied quickly "I'm sorry the shower in my room broke so I came in here… I didn't think you would be here so soon because of the rain… why are you wet?" Lizzy simply arched an eyebrow "right, rain you walked here in the rain?" he asked incredulous. Lizzy sighed and tried not to laugh.
"Fitzwilliam we're both practically naked" she stated rather bluntly as he blushed "I'm wet and cold, do you mind if I take a shower now?" suddenly he assumed the aloof, arrogant stance she had come to associate with him.
"of course" he muttered with all the dignity he could muster and went to leave the room.
"Fitzwilliam" she called once again, he turned back rather warily "we have to start meeting under more normal circumstances" he blushed once again but nodded coolly.
As he left the room Lizzy couldn't stop the girlish giggle that escaped her as she thought back over all she had seen… Fitzwilliam Darcy is in great shape, she mused.
Unbeknownst to Lizzy, the man himself was in the other side of the door, dying of embarrassment but unable to get the image of Elizabeth Bennet in her underwear out of his head. Upon hearin a rather musical giggle from within the room, he wished the ground would simply open up and swallow him.
A.N; Just want to clarify a few things were actually clear in my first draft of chapter 1 but I accidently left out; This takes place during the Summer holidays, Jane just completed her first year of college, Lizzy will start college this coming semester, Ivy League perhaps, she graduated with straight A's, Bingley is the same as Jane, Darcy is a year above him.
I hope you like my little story. It's simply light hearted and playful at the minute, I'm just testing the fanfic waters if you will! Let me know what you think or where you think I should take this. Thank you for taking the time to read "My good name" I write it with a smile on my face – when I have the time that is!