A/N: Hey gang. This is the first of what I'll call my 'vocabulary' series. There's one more on the way (eventually). This centres around Elizabeth actually listening to what Darcy said at the pianoforte in Rosings. It's short and sweet, just 6K words in 4 chapters, and it's already done so no danger of scope creep.

Wade

"Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers."

"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" said Elizabeth, still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?"

"I can answer your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble."

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."

"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution."

Darcy smiled and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."

P&P Chapter 31

Elizabeth Bennet's previously teasing expression became thoughtful. Her fingers, which had been playing a simple tune as they conversed quietly, stopped entirely as her eyes squinted and she looked at Mr Darcy in puzzlement. She stared intently until the gentleman started to squirm.

After a short pause, she finally made a sigh to accompany an unladylike shrug. "Interesting."

Apparently, she was finished with that gentleman since she turned away. "What shall I play next, Colonel? My fingers await your orders."

The colonel laughed good-humouredly. "You cannot leave it at that! What do you find so interesting about my cousin's words?"

Feeling more embarrassed than anything, Elizabeth blushed. "Oh, I certainly can leave it at that. I should not have spoken at all."

"But you… you… you just cannot!" he said in mock exasperation.

Elizabeth looked flustered. "Pray forget I said anything."

Darcy said gently, "Whether you should have said anything or not, you cannot imagine either of us wish to intimidate or censure you," then he glared at the colonel, who looked a bit sheepish. "We obviously cannot insist, but if you could give us a hint of what you find so interesting, we would greatly appreciate it."

Elizabeth was struck by the sincerity of the words, and she had to admit it may have been the first time the gentleman had ever given any hint of such sentiments.

Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy: "Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn."

Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss de Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have been just as likely to marry her, had she been his relation.

Mr Darcy looked frustrated with his aunt. Elizabeth was happy that, at least in that regard, he could show an appropriate reaction to the meddling busybody he mostly ignored.

Elizabeth disregarded the superfluous instruction and continued until Lady Catherine apparently became fatigued with talking to herself and returned to her chair.

As soon as the grand lady was out of earshot, Darcy turned back with surprising softness in his voice. "Miss Bennet… might we beg your indulgence?"

Elizabeth sighed. "I suppose I may tell you. Recall, if you will, your last two significant sentences, Mr Darcy?"

"I said several things in the last few minutes. Might you be more specific?"

"Of course. You spoke two sentences that cleared up many of my misunderstandings. You said firstly that you 'have not the talent of conversing easily with those you have never seen before', and secondly that you, 'do not perform to strangers.' Is that a fair summation?"

"It is," he replied sheepishly.

The nervousness of his countenance was obvious to all, so Elizabeth spoke softly. "Fair is fair, so I shall trade like for like. I will repay your two sentences with two of my own that explain what I learned from this exchange."

"I would appreciate it."

She sighed and looked over at the colonel, who was staring at the pair as if the discussion was the most entertainment he had ever enjoyed at Rosings (not an unnatural surmise).

She turned back to Darcy. "Here are your two sentences, and then I believe it is time to return to the parsonage. Firstly: 'You are just like my sister Jane', and secondly: 'All Bingleys are alike.'"

With that she abruptly stood and returned the music to the shelf, which was fortunately a dozen yards from where the gentlemen still stood looking befuddled. Elizabeth left the room feeling embarrassed that she had spoken so forwardly, but excited that she had some new insight that would be very much to Jane's benefit.