They arrived by carriage this time, as to not repeat the mistakes of the past. When they arrived there was already quite the party assembled, there was a familiar face Lizzie was thrilled to see in Colonel Fitzwilliam. She smiled to him as they entered the room.
They were introduced to the six other new members of the party. There was Mr and Mrs Taylor, Mr Taylor was a former classmate of Mr Bingley and seemed amiable enough. Mrs Taylor was incredibly timid and would not even make eye contact. Then there was Ms Burney who seemed to like being the centre of attention. She came with her sister, a Mrs Roberts, whose husband was overseas so unable to join. Mrs Roberts seemed like a far more sensible woman than her sister. Then there was Mr Lewis who was a cousin of Mr Hurst and a barrister in London, his demeanour matched his profession: precise, keen attention to detail, and prone to asking questions. Lastly there was Mr Parker, he was the son of an Earl and embodied a gentleman of leisure.
Jane was happy to socialise with the newcomers, but Lizzie found Colonel Fitzwilliam and engaged him in conversation. "Any progress on your secret army business?" She asked, sitting beside him.
Darcy, who was talking with Mr Parker across the room, kept glancing over at them. "Less than I would like." The Colonel admitted, "But don't tell the King."
Lizzie feigned seriousness, "I would hardly find the time in our many meetings." She laughed, unable to keep a straight face. Darcy leaned more towards the pair.
"Have you met any of this party before?" Lizzie asked.
"Many times, we all run in the same circles in London for the most part. Ms Burney and I are fierce competitors when it comes to games." Fitzwilliam made a playful face at his claimed adversary, she responded in kind.
"I look forward to watching the spectacle, is this some sort of annual tradition or what is the occasion for this affair?" Lizzie inquired.
"Ms Bingely had been trying to set up for a while, then Bingley had a cracking idea of moving it here." The Colonel moved in closer, eyeing his cousin from across the room. Mr Darcy wasn't hiding his interest in their conversation well. "Really I would say it was Darcy who had the idea, for some reason Ms Bingley really wanted to remove her brother from this house but Darcy seemed happy to work against her. You wouldn't happen to know why, would you Ms Bennet?"
Lizzie smiled at him, and then looked to her sister and Mr Bingley happily conversing in a corner. "Army business, Colonel, vague army business." She joked.
"Touche, Ms Bennet. Now you've bested me in wit, should we start the games?" He asked, standing to assemble the group. "I guess I should really be looking to our host to make that decision." He said turning to Mr Bingley who heartily agreed.
They played a variety of card games, then there were a few yard games the staff had set up in the ballroom. It was almost time for dinner, the group was deciding whether to continue with their escapades or call it a day.
"One more!" Parker insisted loudly. "Sardines,'' he said mischievously, looking at Ms Burney. Throughout the day it had become clear that Ms Burney was very eligible and very desirable amongst their group.
"I couldn't." Mrs Taylor responded panicked by the notion.
"No, Amelia, us either." Ms Bingley chimed in with Lousia joining her. "And I am sure the rest of the women would agree."
"I wouldn't," Ms Burney said with a cocked eyebrow, "I'm not about to be afraid of some close quarters."
Mrs Roberts agreed, if only to watch her sister closer. Mr Hurst was already napping elsewhere so he was out. Mr Bingley needed to see to some arrangements and asked Jane to come and provide her opinion. The Colonel had happily nodded when the idea was introduced, so that left Darcy and Lizzie.
"Well Ms Elizabeth, are you brave enough to join us?" Parker asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Sir, the only way you could scare me is by threatening to share more of your poetry with us." She poked fun at him.
Parker mimed being stabbed in the heart, "You wound me, Ms Bennet, you wound me." Lizzie dismissed his theatrics, "And for that, you are the first sardine." Lizzie tried to protest but Parker had already started counting. She embraced the challenge and set off to find a hiding spot. She found the library and hid herself behind a shelf. She was waiting a minute when she heard the door open. Staying as still as possible, she waited hoping they would leave but the steps neared and then finally she saw a face staring back at her.
"Mr Darcy." She said surprised, she wasn't even sure he was playing. "You found me rather quickly."
He joined her in her hiding spot, "I suspected you would head towards the library. It was a good guess as it turns out."
"I am ashamed to be so transparent." She responded.
"I doubt anyone could accuse you of that."
"I've been accused of worse." She jested. Mr Darcy got serious.
"Ms Bennet, I know I have said some harsh words, but I hope you know what I wrote in that letter, I meant all of it." He whispered.
"Thank you, I appreciate your openness, Sir. It was not necessary, but I do value your trust in me."
He looked into her eyes earnestly, "Ms Bennet, Elizabeth, I don't trust you, I mean, I don't just trust you. What I mean to say is, or rather–" It was a sight Elizabeth never thought she would see, a flustered Mr Darcy. As he continued to stammer, they were interrupted by Mrs Roberts.
"How cosy." She quipped as she joined them. All conversation ceased between Lizzie and Darcy.
They were on opposite ends of the dinner table, and then the gentlemen retired and did not rejoin the women for the remainder of the evening.
The next morning, Darcy still felt rattled, he had come dangerously close to proposing and though he wanted to with every fibre of his being he also was not one to make rash decisions. Before Elizabeth came down for breakfast he decided to have a ride to clear his mind.
He rode out a few miles and as he rounded back he encountered Mr Wickham. He attempted to blow past him, but Wickham called out to him.
"I'm glad I picked well." He provoked him. Darcy stopped.
"Last warning, if you leave town now and never show your face again I won't have you arrested." Darcy threatened.
"For what exactly? I have done nothing illegal."
Darcy gritted his teeth, "I'm sure there are many to choose from."
"You can try, but I thought you would have wanted to thank me for your new paramore." Darcy didn't respond. "Lizzie, she and I are quite close. I thought you might like her and I'm glad I was right." Mr Darcy dismounted and walked towards him furiously. He paused before punching, trying to be the better man. "If she isn't to your taste I'll take her back and find you someone else."
And with that Darcy was no longer the better man, he punched Wickham directly in the face. "A feeble lie, desperate attempt for your standards. Admit defeat, leave, and I won't have you imprisoned." Darcy threatened and walked away. Wickham continued to yell lies and profanities.
Darcy was sure it wasn't the truth, how would he have even arranged such a thing? It couldn't have been before Ramsgate… but if he had returned after Darcy chased him out of town. After he had berated Elizabeth, she may have agreed to get revenge. But he couldn't believe she would ever go as far as Wickham was implying.
But there was the situation her family was in, marrying a rich husband would certainly solve those issues. He shook his head, determined to not be poisoned by Wickham. His head wouldn't stop replaying their interactions, she has also defended Wickham. And they sat so closely at the Philips affair.
He had started back towards Netherfield determined it was a gross falsehood, and as he arrived back he could be swayed either way. Entering the breakfast room he made eye contact quickly and then immediately diverted his gaze with a troubled expression.
He avoided her the entire morning, nearly running across the morning room to avoid catching her eye. She was confused, she had thought, maybe hoped that they were becoming friends but now he refused to acknowledge her existence.
Mr Darcy was struggling to control himself around Elizabeth, each time he looked at her he wanted to throw doubt and caution to the wind. He couldn't think like that however, he had Georgiana to think about, and if he was wrong he could ruin her as well.
After another close call, he was decided. He needed to step away from this environment, from her, get sense back and then make a decision. He left for London, only taking enough time to tell Bingley and Fitzwilliam of plans. Lizzie watched out the window as his horse departed, more confused than before.