Today would mark the seventh day of Daenerys' stay in Netherfield. In just another seven day's time, there would be a ball; and after that she would be sent back to her home. Back to her father and her brother… back to her continuous duties. She couldn't help from waking each morning with a number in her head and she felt herself dreading each night she slept for it would mark the end of the previous and the coming of the next.
Even with the looming countdown hanging over her silvery head of hair and Cersei's insufferable disposition she found joy while in their company. Charles was a gracious and kind host: He always made sure that Dany was satisfied and comfortable and the more she got to know him, the more she enjoyed the idea of Sansa choosing him to spend her life with. If anyone would be good enough for her best friend, it was sure to be Mr. Bingley… If only they could be free of his sister.
Cersei had as usual spent most of her time pining for the affection and attention of Mr. Snow. The other half, she spent drinking and misusing his name… Dany wondered if that type of behavior usually worked on a man, but something told her it very much didn't and that Mr. Snow was not only disinterested but he was also rather unimpressed. Which, granted wasn't much different from how he usually behaved…
"Miss Bennet, would you care to join me for a walk? If I recall you're rather fond of it." Cersei asked smoothly as she approach Dany. Her hair was fully up, aside from a few ringlets at her shoulder. Her dress was a light green and made her light eyes glow brighter. She held a smile that was not nearly as believable as she intended and as always held a small glass of wine between her fingertips.
"Of course." Dany replied with a passive smile, far more sincere than she felt and as she stood placing her book on the table beside her she wondered what Miss Bingley was on about. As she scanned the faces around her she noticed the side glance that Jon tossed them.
They had all been in the garden enjoying lunch, the sun was out and the temperature was as close to perfect as could be that time of year. As Daenerys stood Ghost joined her, tossing his red eyes towards his owner before stepping closely at her side. Cersei pulled Dany's hand around her own arm and began walking a wide circle.
Before they made it but five paces though, Cersei turned sharply towards the tables addressing Jon directly. " Do join us won't you, Darcy?"
Jon looked at her under his usual furrowed brow as he turned in his chair, pulling his hand to his mouth and chin as if in a deep thought. He didn't speak at first but after a moment he stood walking over to them studiously, his dark black coat following behind him. Once he reached them he leaned down and pet Ghost affectionately on the head, scratching behind his large white ears to much affect. After another moment he stood looking to Daenerys then fixing his eyes on Cersei's.
"I can think of but two reasons of your asking me to join, Miss Bingley." He said pointedly, being sure to emphasize her own name formally, knowing she disliked it so. "Both of which, I'm afraid I'd only interfere."
"Whatever could you mean?" Cersei turned to face him directly blinking slowly, enjoying the attention of his gaze.
Cersei knew what she was doing, Dany had to give her that.
"I dare suspect asking him would satisfy him far too much." Bingley called from his seat behind them sporting a wide smile as he watched attentively, ignoring his hand of cards as they fall to the table in his distraction.
"I have to admit, I suspect your brother is correct. For who else might know Mr. Snow better?" Daenerys replied looking to Cersei sporting her own perfect smirk of innocence. Knowing hers was far more convincing than Miss Bingley's had been.
"Oh, of course. The both of you are right, I really shouldn't… But I never was one to disappoint you was I, Darcy?" Cersei said looking assuredly towards Jon again. She was used to choosing her words with precision, and even now as she indulge him she seemed to have a footing on it all. "Do tell us then, the suspense of it all is quite arduous… Unless you've an objection?"
In the quick moments Cersei speak, Daenerys felt her face twinge at her choice and delivery of words. What could she have meant by that? It was far too pointed to have not been deliberate, wasn't it? But in the quick seconds that followed, she realized how much it didn't matter to her…
"I've not one. If you wish me to explain them, I shall do so willingly." Jon looked away from Cersei as he pet Ghost softly atop the head before turning and walking towards the tables as he continued speaking over his shoulder. "You either chose a walk with Miss Daenerys because you're in each other confidence, and have something you wish to discuss in private," With a pause he stood before his chair with back towards them and one hand resting on the table lightly. "The second would be that you're aware that your figures appear to their greatest advantage in walking…"
Jon turned sitting in his chair gracefully. He sent the smallest smile as he lean back and pick up the book beside him— the book Daenerys had been reading from. "If the first— which to be honest with you, Miss Bingley: I doubt— I'd be in your way. If the second, well," He paused again leaning forward only slightly in his chair, this time looking directly into Daenerys' eyes as he finished. "I can admire you much better from here."
Cersei's eyes flickered with displeasure as she watch him speaking to Dany directly in his confession. It was clear to the rest of the party as well what had happened, and Sansa let out a small laugh as she gasp placing her own hand of cards in her lap lightly. But it was not clear to Daenerys… she still could not move past Miss Bingley's remark and since then everything she'd heard had been skewed further by the possibility that something had happened between them.
You forget, we've decided to dislike this man, she reminded herself as she clear her throat and let a small chuckle escape her lips, discomfort leaving her porcelain face.
"Such bold statements, Mr. Darcy! How ever shall we punish you?" Cersei said again with a sly smile over her reddened lips, insinuating with her words severely and purposefully.
"I'd think you the expert, Miss Bingley," Sansa added sarcastically from her seat as she pull her hand forward looking over the cards, feigning disinterest. "as intimate as you are. Surely you know in which way is best."
"Unfortunately our… intimacy has yet to teach me that." Cersei sipped her glass of wine nearly glaring over her glass at Sansa, still holding Daenerys' hand around her arm tightly.
"We could always tease him. Have a good laugh at him for it." Dany didn't look to anyone in particular as she spoke this time, trying to change the subject for its discomfort grew heavier upon her chest.
Charles laughed almost too loudly as he lean back into his chair, his emerald velvet tailcoat nearly reaching the ground behind him. "Oh, no no, Mr. Snow is not one to be laughed at."
"Oh? And why is that?" Daenerys asked curiously as she use her free hand to trace her fingers through Ghost's head of fur, rubbing his ears between her thumb and forefinger in a small circles.
"The wisest can even be rendered ridiculous by a person who's object in life is a joke." Jon replied as he gaze into the book before him, not reading a word but also not wanting to look to Daenerys either, he felt he'd done quite enough of that…
"Certainly, I do not disagree with you. But I do not consider myself one of the people in which you refer… I never ridicule what is wise or good. The fatuity, vices, inconsistencies in others however, I find much more delight in." Dany smiled with a fire as she turned towards Jon addressing him directly this time, feeling bold in the nature of their conversation. She pulled her arm from Cersei's as she start walking back towards the table, Ghost following closely beside her long cream colored dress.
"I do what I can to be free of such weaknesses."
She pulled her lips between her teeth to hold back her smile. "And what of pride, Mr. Snow? Would you consider that a weakness?"
"I do not believe it is— within regulation. For pride, especially if warranted shall always be good. Vanity, in which you're confusing perhaps might be more wicked in nature." Jon turned the page of his book, still having not read a word of it. The lightness of his tone was the only thing blanketing his rudeness.
No one spoke for a few seconds, but they all watched carefully, especially Cersei. Her mask of a face was stone and diligent, but she somehow managed to looked mildly satisfied with the conversation. Her stoic presence didn't fool any one though, and all knew she was fuming within the confines of her tightened corset.
"So what is the verdict then? Does he deserve a laugh?" Bingley asked playfully from his table breaking the silence with ease.
"I fear not… I'm fairly convinced that Mr. Snow has no defect at all. He is true to himself, and without disguise." Daenerys answered as she step slowly closer to Jon's table. She meant it in part, but also she found his confidence more than slightly irritating.
"We all have our faults, Miss Daenerys." Jon slid his eyes from the words he'd been ignoring and to her own before continuing. "Those follies and vices in which you mentioned are not so easily forgiven by me; Nor are the offenses of others. You may wish to call it resentment if it suits you, but I deem it just. For my good opinion once lost, is lost forever."
Daenerys smiled as she look at him, now standing at his side. "What an uncommon advantage you have on us… You have chosen your fault well and I simply cannot argue with you. What a shame, for I dearly love to laugh."
"As I mentioned… We all have our defects. But not all of them may be triumphed over." His tone insinuating and calculated as he look up at her, the pages of the book folding open lightly with the wind.
"I may have been wrong… perhaps you do have a much stronger fault in your character." She pulled her hands together, locking her fingers in a braid at her navel with lilac eyes lined with provocation.
"You think so?" He asked rapturously still not moving his eyes from hers with a small smile daring to escape the corners of his mouth, for in those moments he was truly taken.
"That I do, Ser," She hardly returned his disposition as she rubbed her thumbs together at her waist with voice a little darker than any had been used to. Jon didn't respond but he raised his eyebrows lightly passing an assured nod signalizing she could speak freely. "Your defect I'm afraid, is a proclivity to dislike everyone around you."
Jon stood after a moment, a little closer than intended as he let the smile take hold before speaking. "And yours, Miss Daenerys… Is obdurately to misunderstand them."
