A/N: All characters belong to S. Meyer. Major plot line belongs to J. Austen.
A&A Chapter 11
"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil - a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
"And your defect is to hate everybody."
"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is willfully to misunderstand them." - Ms. Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 11.
After dinner that night, Bella ran up to see Alice, and seeing that she looked better, helped her down into the family room, where Irina and Tanya greeted her pleasantly. Bella had never before seen both women as agreeable as they were during the hour that passed before the guys appeared in the room, and she had to hand it to them; they were great conversationalists. They could describe a situation in great detail, tell a story with humor, and laugh along with Alice easily.
But when the guys arrived, Alice was quickly cast aside. Tanya's eyes instantly turned towards Edward, and she had something to say to him before he'd even crossed the threshold into the room.
"Alice, I'm glad to see you're feeling better," Edward said politely. James also acknowledged that he was happy to see Alice looking so much better, but deeper expressions of happiness and warmth were reserved for Jasper.
"Alice," he exclaimed, coming to sit next to her on the large sofa, "you look…radiant," he sighed helplessly.
"Thanks Jazz," Alice replied sweetly, flashing him a wide grin.
"Are you cold? Should I turn up the fire?" he asked, the concern deeply etched in his tone.
"No, I'm fine," Alice assured him, but Jasper wasn't so easily convinced.
"I think I'll turn up the fire," he said, "just in case." And quickly he got up and went to add some wood to the fireplace. Satisfied that the fire was burning hotter, he turned back to Alice, and reaching for her hand, pulled her up gently.
"Come," he asked with a sheepish smile, "let's go sit by the fire, where it's warmer."
Alice agreed with a smile, and he led her quietly to the other side of the room, next to the fireplace, and sat down with her on the small loveseat. Their conversation grew hushed and whispered, and Bella stole a few delighted glances at them from across the room.
After a short while, James grew tired of the pool table, and turned to Tanya, suggesting they pull out the poker table – a request which she quickly turned down, as she'd received privileged information that Edward had no intentions of playing poker that night.
"Come on guys, how 'bout a game of Strip Texas Hold'em?" James suggested enthusiastically to the group, to which he received only angry stares and crickets chirping in the distance. Having nothing else to do, James grabbed a bottle of Johnnie Walker and sulked quietly in a corner by himself before passing out.
Edward took up a book to distract himself from the picture Bella made - sitting off by herself on one of the plush lounging chairs, wearing a cream colored linen skirt with a soft white linen tank top, her bare feet curled under her legs carelessly, her dark hair fell in loose waves at her side and a soft smile played on her lips as she occasionally looked up from the book she was reading to watch her sister. It was obvious to anyone willing to pay attention how much she cared for Alice. Upon seeing Edward pick up a book, Tanya quickly did the same, and Irina busied herself by playing with her rings and bracelets and occasionally butting into Alice and Jasper's conversation.
Tanya's attention, however, was as much on Edward's book as her own.
"How's your book Edward? Are you enjoying it?" Tanya asked.
"I'm trying to," Edward answered dryly.
"I've heard lots of good things about it," Tanya returned. "Ooh, and I heard the movie kicks ass! The vampire guy's supposed to be hot!"
Edward didn't answer.
"What page are you on? Have you gotten really far into it?"
"No," Edward sighed, "Can't say that I have."
Tanya was dissatisfied with the way the conversation was going. Edward would barely answer her questions, and then read on. After a short while, she gave up any attempt at trying to actually read her own book – she'd only chosen it because it was the second book to the series Edward was reading – and after yawning loudly said,
"I can't think of a better way to pass an evening. There is nothing I enjoy more than reading. You simply never get tired of it! When I have my own house, it better have a huge library!"
No one answered. She yawned again, threw aside her book and looked around the room for some way to amuse herself. When hearing her cousin mention something about a party to Alice, she quickly turned to him.
"Hold on Jasper. Are you seriously thinking of having a party here at Netherfield? Piece of advice, before you decide anything, maybe you should consult the wishes of the rest of the people living here? If I'm not mistaken there are some of us present for who a party would be more punishment than pleasure."
"If you mean Edward," Jasper responded with a lopsided grin, "he can go to bed before it starts if he wants. But we will be having a party. And as soon as I can get my hands on a good DJ, I'll start sending out word."
"I'd like parties a lot more," Tanya scowled, "if they were carried on differently. But it's always the same thing; music and dancing, dancing and music. They would be so much more respectable if conversation was the main enjoyment rather than dancing."
"Maybe they would be more respectable, but then they wouldn't be much like parties, would they?" Jasper answered in amusement.
Tanya didn't reply, and growing bored again, stood up and started walking aimlessly around the room. She circled the sofa Edward sat in, swaying her hips from side to side, and although she had an attractive figure, Edward's attention remained steadfastly on his book. Desperate to capture his attention, Tanya turned to a last resort.
"Bella, why don't you walk around the room with me? You've been sitting there reading that book for hours now, why don't you stretch your legs a bit?"
Bella was surprised, but with a shrug of her shoulders, stood up to join Tanya. The result was immediate; Edward looked up instantly. He was as curious about Tanya's sudden attention to Bella as Bella herself was, and unconsciously closed his book.
With a knowing grin, Tanya said, "Edward why don't you join us?"
Throwing his arms across the back of the sofa, Edward replied, "No thanks. There are only two reasons why the both of you would be walking around the room like that, and my joining you would interfere with both." He smiled coyly at Bella.
Tanya giggled as if the smile had been directed at her. "Do you have any idea what he means by that?" she whispered loudly to Bella.
"Not at all," Bella answered, "but trust me, he's trying to bait us. The best way to disappoint him is to ignore it."
But Tanya was as incapable of purposely disappointing Edward as she was of ignoring him.
"Care to explain what you mean Edward?" Tanya asked him with a flirtatious smile.
"'Course not," Edward agreed with a shrug of his shoulders. "You've either chosen to walk around the room together because you've got secrets to discuss with each other, or," – his eyes trailed over Bella – "because you're aware of how good you look walking around. If it's the first, I'll be in the way, and if it's the second, well, I can admire you much better from where I am."
Bella glared at him quizzically, his words causing a stir in the pit of her stomach despite herself. There was a teasing tone to his words, but his eyes were focused on her too intently.
"Edward!" Tanya scolded in feigned indignation, but it was clear that his words had delighted her no end. "That was really cheeky!" She grabbed a hold of Bella's arm and pulled her closer, whispering loudly at her while keeping her eyes on Edward, "How should we get back at him for that?"
Bella studied Edward, trying to figure out what was behind his amused grin. "Oh, it's gotta be something good," Bella answered, her eyes locked with Edwards. "Look at him. He's laughing at us. Turn the tables. Let's tease and laugh at him now. You know him so well, I' m sure you must know the best way to laugh at him."
"Oh, but I don't," Tanya answered, keeping her own eyes on Edward. "While I do know him very well, I've got to tell you, my knowledge of him doesn't run that deep. Tease someone so calm and in control? Impossible! I'm sorry, but I think he's got us there. And as for laughing at him, I, for one, don't want to make a fool of myself by laughing without a subject. No, I think Edward can rest easy on those counts."
Bella arched an eyebrow. "So Edward Cullen is not to be laughed at," she mused. "Boy, that's an uncommon advantage. And I hope it remains uncommon, because I personally love a good laugh and I'd definitely be disappointed to meet more people with such superiority."
With a smirk, Edward answered, "Tanya has given me more credit than I deserve."
'What else is new?' Bella thought wryly.
"The wisest and best of men," Edward continued, "or should I say, the wisest and best of their actions can be rendered a joke by someone whose main goal in life is a good laugh."
Bella narrowed her eyes. "I'm sure there are people like that," she answered, "but I hope I'm not one of them. I hope I never poke fun at what is truly wise and good. But absurdities and nonsense, caprice and inconsistencies do amuse me immensely , and I'll admit," she chuckled, "I laugh at them whenever I can." She smiled at him tauntingly. "But I suppose these are exactly the sort of things your wonderful character lacks."
"I don't think that's possible for anyone. But all my life I've strived to avoid those weaknesses which are often found amusing."
"Such as arrogance and pride."
"Yes, arrogance is a weakness. But pride – where there is truly something to be proud of – pride will always be kept in check."
Bella turned away and rolled her eyes.
"You're done with your dissection of Edward's character, I assume," Tanya said sharply. "What's your verdict?"
Bella raised her chin up and said, "I'm completely convinced now that Edward is absolutely perfect. He said so himself without a shadow of a doubt."
Edward leaned forward, his green eyes burning. "I said no such thing. I have plenty of faults, but they're not, I hope, of understanding. I don't even want to talk about my temper – it's too inflexible, I think, at least according to those who know me. I can't forgive or forget the stupidities and offenses of others as quickly as I should. I'm not as easily moved by my feelings as others are. I can be resentful. My respect, once lost, is lost forever."
"That is definitely a serious fault!" Bella agreed. "Inflexible bitterness is truly a dark spot on your otherwise commendable character. But you've chosen your fault well. I really can't laugh at it. You're safe from me."
"In every character there's a tendency to gravitate towards some fault – a natural defect which not even the best education can overcome."
The words rolled off of Bella's tongue before she could stop them. "And your defect is to hate everybody."
Edward's eyes widened and his head jerked back, but he recovered quickly and answered calmly, with a gentle smile. "And yours, Ms. Swan, is to purposely misunderstand them."
They held each other's gaze, both refusing to look away.
"I think it's time for some music," Tanya suddenly cried out, moving to the stereo and blasting it so loudly that it broke whatever moment had just passed between Bella and Edward. Tanya looked from one to the other, not at all satisfied with how the evening had progressed.
And Edward…after a few moments of contemplation, Edward realized he was not sorry for the interruption. He began to feel the great danger of paying Isabella Swan too much attention.
Reviews please and thank you! Let me know who you think will be making an appearance as Mr. Collins.