Chapter 5

They walked back to Longbourn in a companiable silence again both deep in thought. Zeus was handed to a stable hand and they both entered the house together. Quickly divesting themselves of their outerwear. Entering the breakfast room all the sisters and Mr Bennet were gathered there. Lydia quickly set another place for Mr Darcy next to Mr Bennet and they all ate whilst Jane and Elizabeth described the evening before for their sisters. An occasional remark from Mr Darcy regarding the evening proved his enjoyment.

Mr Bennet passed a letter to Lizzie from her aunt in Cheapside so Lizzie put it in her pocket for later, Mr Bennet had already opened his mail and cleared his throat. "I have had a letter from my sister, they along with the Chalmers are going to visit before leaving for the season."

The girls were thrilled their aunts Lady Chalmers and Lady Lewis had dropped everything when their mother had passed to looking after them and their father.

"Are Jeffrey and Robert coming too" Lydia was fairly bouncing at the news of seeing her cousins

"Yes, they will be opening Stoke House whilst they are in the area, your uncle Christopher wants to do some shooting" their father replied whilst perusing the letter some more. Both his sisters had made good marriages Lady Julia Lewis and Lady Bethany Chalmers. He had been lost when his wife had been taken and he had such injuries, his five daughters the youngest being just nine years. They had rallied staying in the house with them. They had turned his study into his bedroom as stairs were no longer a possibility for him. He was surrounded by his loving family and his beloved books.

Darcy listening to the conversations going on around him the atmosphere was comforting no snide remarks or Miss Bingley and her unwanted attentions to him. He always felt suffocated in her presence and her cloying perfume was an assault to his senses. He remembered both Jeffrey and Robert from Cambridge the Bennets had even better connections than he had realised. Lord Lewis and Lord Chalmers had seats in the North and were active in Politics his uncle he knew would welcome the connection to his family.

Mr Bennet opened another letter and Darcy could feel the change in him immediately a growl emanated from him "Damn the man"

The girls were quick to ask their father what the problem was

"My cousin Collins is demanding that I let him visit, I have told him he cannot stay here but he is insisting his Patroness a Lady Catherine de Burgh is demanding he heal the breach" Mr Bennet was furious "Well if he does arrive he can stay at the inn and not in a houseful of unmarried women"

The girls were relieved to know that their father still had their best interests at heart.

Mr Darcy said "Lady Catherine is my aunt, and loves nothing better to interfere in people's lives. I haven't been to Rosings in some time, we have had a minor falling out so I don't intend to go there anytime soon."

Mr Bennet threw down his napkin and turning to Darcy asked him if he fancied a game of chess.

Darcy grinned and agreed he helped the older man to his study which the maid had set in order and they settled into two very comfortable chairs between them a handsome chess set. Darcy remarked on it.

"Yes, a friend of mine gifted it to me due to some help I was able to extend"

They were soon playing in earnest. Elizabeth entered the room at some point and studied the board and smiled, her father was playing a typical strategy. Her father looked up at her and winked. Darcy stared at the board as he acknowledged the checkmate. "I did not see that coming"

"Would you care for a glass of wine?" asked Mr Bennet "We could set them up again"

"Both would be very welcome" said Darcy

"Red or white" asked Mr Bennet

"either would be fine" Darcy said

Mr Bennet looked at Lizzie "Yes Papa"

Lizzie gathered two glasses from a shelf and went to the decanter and poured out two glasses of mead. Setting them on a side table and the decanter with it. She settled down to watch the second match. She always enjoyed a game with her father and regularly won, they were fairly evenly matched. The men settled down to their game and Lizzie picked up her book and settled into her chair ready to while away an hour or so.

Darcy lifted his glass and raised it in a silent toast to the older man. He felt very comfortable here, a log fire a comfortable chair and intelligent company and now a glass of wine. He took a sip and savoured….honey. His eyes widened this was mead he hadn't had mead in a very long time. In fact the last time was with his father. It was one of the many memories he treasured.

The door opened and Jane popped her head round the door she looked at Lizzie and said "our aunt is here"

Lizzie popped in her bookmark and excused herself from the two gentlemen. Entering the parlour with a smile for her aunt and sisters. Their companion Mrs Jackson was already in conversation with their aunt. Mary sat with her book and Jane had some mending. Lydia and Kitty were at the table with what looked like their lessons in Mathematics. Mrs Hill brought in the tea tray and Emily brought in the cakes and biscuits. Lizzie started pouring and Mary jumped up to help. Lizzie smiled her thanks to her sister and Mary grinned back.

They heard the door again as Mrs Hill left to answer it. Some minutes later Mr Bingley entered the parlour his eyes searching the room and seeing Jane smiled. Jane introduced him to her younger sisters apart from Elizabeth and her aunt having been introduced the evening before. Mrs Hill entered with another cup saucer and plate. Jane poured him a drink offering cream and sugar. Mary offered the cake stand for him to choose a pastry or biscuit.

"Are your sisters well" Jane asked Mr Bingley

The gentleman smiled at her "Oh yes Miss Bennet, Mrs Hurst is resting but Miss Bingley has been called back to London, she left just before I came here"

"Oh, no problems I hope" Mrs Phillips asked of him

"No no, she has some engagements in her diary. She only came to see us settled" the young man was clearly uncomfortable. Jane turned the conversation back to the evening before.

"Oh yes, I did enjoy the assembly and met such charming people" Bingley's smile lit up his face and Jane thought that she had never seen such a handsome man.

Charlotte Lucas with her sister Maria arrived then so Jane called for fresh tea. Their aunt then decided she wanted to call on The Longs so Lizzie went to the still room for a jar of the rosehip jam that her aunt had requested. With that aunt Philips wished them all a good morning and left the young people to chat.

Lydia mentioned that Mr Darcy was playing chess with her father and Lizzie could feel Charlotte's brain moving this information around. Bingley was also surprised to hear this. He was now torn he wanted to stay with the ladies but also wanted to see his friend. The decision was made for him when the two gentlemen came into the parlour carrying their glasses. Darcy was still congratulating Mr Bennet on two wins. Mr Bennet seeing all the ladies in the Parlour said "I think we could make another strategic retreat back to my study"

Darcy smiled at his sally as he helped the older man to his chair. Mr Bennet was then introduced to Mr Bingley.

After inviting everyone to stay for lunch Jane went to speak to cook. Kitty and Lydia finished their Mathematics and removed to the dining room to set the table. Mr Bennet offered some more mead and Bingley also accepted a glass. He also voiced his appreciation for the drink "So this is mead, I have never tasted this before, it's very nice indeed"

Lizzie acknowledged the compliment "our staff make it and if you like this then you will love our elderberry wine, we are also experimenting with rhubarb and apple"

Darcy and Bingley looked impressed "what else does your staff make" asked Darcy

"we'll there's the jam and the pickle, the wines of course both a hard and a soft cheese the normal cakes and biscuits and we will be partaking of cooks wonderful pies" Lizzie told them.

I would love to be invited back to partake of the elderberry wine" Darcy said.

"well play me in chess and I am sure I can spare a glass or two"

"you forgot the essential oils" Lydia spoke up. "the rose and the lavender oil" She and Kitty arrived back in the parlour to hear the last of the conversation.

"our estate is entailed away from the female line so Papa bought the farm opposite when the farmer could no longer maintain it so we now call that home farm and we mainly have farm animals and grow a lot of vegetables from our farm shop. Kitty told the two men.

Darcy nodded his head in agreement he also supplied a farm shop but more jams and maybe some wine would be a good idea of looking into.

"Mary looks after our hives and our orchard" Lydia said she noticed how her sister blushed at the praise. Mary was the shyest of them all.

Jane arrived back in the parlour and you could literally see Bingley almost jump to attention. The others shared a smile at the two of them.

After an enjoyable lunch the two men left as they rode away Darcy turned to his friend "any problems this morning"

Bingley smiled grimly "no she tried to backtrack but I had already sent word to my attorney so she knows to contact him he has all the other instructions too, also to my housekeeper"

"That is wonderful news Bingley, Mrs Hurst will be an admirable hostess".