Do not own Pride and Prejudice.
New Chapter! I might have to put up one of those rules...you know, the ones where people are like "I have to get this many reviews before I post a new chapter." I am not sure yet...Anyways I am not even sure where I am going with this. I must confess I am just writing scene after scene and seeing where they take me.
Darcy was near Longbourn...that much was sure. He had ridden his horse in the early hours of the morning towards Longbourn, after a relaxing sleep in Netherfield. He was excited to finally see Elizabeth today and watched as the sun came up, reveling in it's warmth, he was happy.
He raced back toward Netherfield and had a light meal with Charles as they discussed the call on Longbourn they were to be making as soon as they broke their fast. Darcy rushed Charles and teased him for being such slow eater.
"Charles, did you know that if Lord Wentworth and yourself were to compete on who would be the first to finish eating and everyone was placing bets...I would choose Lord Wentworth in a heartbeat."
"But, Lord Wentworth has six or seven teeth missing and he can't even chew without food dribbling down his-oh! Of course! You want to see your Miss Elizabeth!" He said laughing at Darcy.
"Charles she is not my Miss Elizabeth...I just want to see the countryside more..."Darcy trailed off as he got out of his chair and pulled Charles along with him.
"When am I to receive my invitation?" Charles jested as they put on their coats.
"Invitation? To what?" He asked pulling Charles to the carriage.
"The wedding of Miss Elizabeth Bennet to a Mr. Fitzwilliam George Darcy?" Charles responded with a laugh.
"Do you need me to help you into the carriage like the gossiping lady you are acting like or can you do it...Chuck?" Darcy shot back knowing Charles hated the nickname he was bestowed upon during their years in Cambridge.
"Oh hush now...Fitzie." Charles said remembering Georgiana's childhood name for him.
Darcy scowled at his friend and kicked him as he settled into the carriage. He wasn't prone to acting childish, but Charles just brought out the child in him, perhaps it was because he was three years younger.
He grinned as Charles let out a small yelp of pain.
Darcy was starting to feel anxious as the carriage neared the Longbourn estate. One more turn and they would soon be in the gates.
Everything seemed deathly silent as they knocked on the door. The housekeeper answered and informed the men that they weren't excepting any callers due to an illness in the family. "May I ask, who has this illness Miss?" Darcy dared to ask, his heart pounding like a million butterflies.
"Miss Lizzie. Oh we never thought she would be so fragile. Come 'round in two days time, the family will be in a better state to receive visitors." Mrs. Hill responded with a sigh.
And so the men left. Both feeling quite worried.
John Williams watched the two men leave the estate and went to ask the housekeeper Mrs. Hill who the man with Mr. Bingley was. He quietly walked into the house. Everyone was most likely sleeping from yesterday's trials. Lizzie after spraining her ankle seemed to have contracted the flu for being out in the cold air for so long. The apothecary, Mr. Jones gave her laudanum for sleep, and tried to break her fever, to no avail. Everything seemed hopeless for now.
"Mrs. Hill?" He quietly asked
"Yes?" She said turning to face him, her eyes looked a bit glassy. Mrs. Hill loved Elizabeth Bennet, that much was true. She had lost her only daughter, she only had sons now. She always wanted a daughter. Elizabeth Bennet and Mrs. Hill practically raised Mary and Kitty. No wonder they were so sweet, Elizabeth Bennet was the light in Gracie Hill's cloudy life. Now, who knows what might happen?
"Who was the man accompanying Mr. Bingley?"
"Mr. Darcy. I believe he is quite taken with our dear Lizzie." Hill said trailing off as she went to go dust off something or other.
John went back to the stables and started brushing the horse of Mr. Bennet. He thought of the name Mr. Darcy...where had he heard it before? Oh yes! The militia man, Mr. Wickham...he didn't quite trust the fellow. He had told his sob story during the first moments of meeting him. Intimate details such as the ones he chose to voice after such a short meeting...left much to be thought on the Mr. Wickham's character. The town did not seem to believe his stories as well, and ignored the loud man in the red coat.
Darcy and Bingley returned to Netherfield in silence. On Darcy's entrance, Caroline walked down the staircase to greet him.
"Oh Mr. Darcy, where did my brother and yourself leave to in such a hurry?" She asked as she got ahold of his arm.
"Longbourn." He replied curtly.
"I assume the visit was unpleasant?" She looked up through her lashes. Darcy hated when she did that, it reminded him of a painting he once saw of a demon smiling as he caught his prey and dragged him into the depths of Hell. He shivered.
"We couldn't see the family today Caroline. Miss Elizabeth was not well, and the family seemed to have stayed up all night trying to put her in the best of health again." Charles said as he sighed.
"How...sad." She said simply.
"Charles, I am going to rest. I feel quite tired. Good day Miss Bingley, Charles" Darcy said as he removed his arm from the women and went upstairs. Goosebumps started to form on his arm as he remembered the look Caroline Bingley gave him...he shivered again. That women would give him nightmares were it not for Miss Elizabeth in his every thought.
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