The next morning Elizabeth rose early as was her want. She dressed and retreated down the servant stair to the kitchen. Cook usually left out a bit of bread fresh from the oven and a pot of tea cooling so she could take a cup before leaving on her walk.
This morning the bread and tea were waiting as usual, but they were not alone.
"Sir?" Elizabeth said in shock at seeing her father waiting at the kitchen table, his own repast in front of him. The servants bustled around him, intent on their tasks but sending covert glances towards their Master whenever they could
"Lizzy, I wondered if you would be walking this morning. Come, my dear, sit, Cook has kindly put aside some food and tea for you." Mr Bennet said wryly.
Elizabeth poured her tea, sitting next to her father as she drank it. The roll was wrapped in a clean handkerchief and placed in a pocket for later. Elizabeth glanced up to see her father watching her with an amused smile on his face.
"Very sensible Lizzy."
Elizabeth nodded then gulped down the tea placing the empty cup on the table once more. She stood reading to leave and noted her father was also standing.
"Very well then. How many miles are we taking this morning?"
"You are to accompany me?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.
"Yes Lizzy," Mr Bennet said as he headed for the kitchen door. Outside he glanced up at the sky before drawing his great coat on and fastening it about himself. When Elizabeth had affixed her bonnet and pulled on her gloves, Mr Bennet offered his arm. Elizabeth took it and indicated her path through the gardens.
"I said that you were not to walk unaccompanied. As I only ascertained to my satisfaction yesterday that steps should be taken, it would have been wrong to deny you your walk on such short notice. I shall insist henceforth that you keep to the park, or take one of your sisters with you Lizzy until Mr Darcy has declared himself or quit the area."
"Do you think it necessary Papa?"
"Yes, my dear, you are not certain you like the gentleman. I do not believe that you would risk your reputation or that of your sisters, but the gossip of a meeting without a chaperone will compromise you just the same, no matter the truth. I would not have you forced into marriage in such a way."
They fell into a comfortable silence as they proceeded through Longbourn's Park. Elizabeth in deference to her father decided that she would lead them through the small wood where her father's lands met the Goulding's. The walk was gentle and only three miles all round, it would allow them to return well before the rest of the household rose for the day.
"You are going easy on me," Mr Bennet commented as they came upon the wood.
Elizabeth smiled at her father. "Perhaps, but this is a very pretty walk, and I do not mind taking it with you."
Mr Bennet harrumphed but patted her hand kindly. They shared the roll that Elizabeth had placed in her pocket and spoke of the novel that Mr Bennet was reading. They espied no one else on the roads and paths they traversed and as they returned to Longbourn it was clear none of the family was yet risen for the day.
The first callers to Longbourn that day were Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy. Mrs Bennet eagerly greeted Mr Bingley, apologising fulsomely for missing his call the day before. To Mr Darcy, she offered no such apologies and coolly invited him to take tea. Elizabeth bit her lip fighting the blush that wished to clamber her cheeks at her mother's behaviour
However, her mortification was not yet complete. Mr Bennet had instructed the housekeeper that he was to be informed of all gentlemen callers to Longbourn. Hill, upon showing the gentlemen into the parlour with Mrs Bennet and the Miss Bennets, dutifully knocked upon her Master's door to inform him of the callers. Mr Collins, who had spent the morning sequestered with Mr Bennet much to the elder gentleman's annoyance, upon hearing Mr Darcy's name mentioned, rose from his chair and hurried from the room to greet the nephew of his patroness. Mr Bennet, thankful to have the man gone, did not feel the need to halt his progress or follow on to witness the event. Instead, he happily poured a small measure of brandy and selected a book from his shelves.
Mr Collins entered the room and immediately crossed to stand in front of Mr Darcy. He executed a low bow towards Mr Darcy and thus began Elizabeth's complete humiliation at the hands of her family. An interminable length of time passed where Mr Collins allowed no reply nor interruption, utterly convincing Elizabeth that Mr Darcy could never look at her with anything approaching kindness. Mrs Bennet had, as Mr Collins effused over Lady Catherine's good health turned to Mr Bingley and enquired how he was finding Netherfield. That had been the cue to Lydia and Kitty to begin whispering together and Mary to pick her book up once more.
Desperate to stop Mr Collins speaking any further Elizabeth stood up abruptly.
"Mr Darcy, forgive me, I had quite forgotten to select the book of landscapes you professed an interest in while we were at Netherfield. If you would, I can show it to you now?"
Mr Collins stopped speaking at Elizabeth's interruption and turned to reprimand her for it. Before he could start talking Mr Darcy nodded.
"Thank you, Miss Elizabeth I would be most appreciative of seeing it. Shall we?" He ignored Mr Collins hopeful look and walked to the door gesturing Elizabeth through it. Elizabeth nodded and led the way to her father's book room. She knocked briefly and opened the door.
"Lizzy, Mr Darcy, is there something I can help you both with?".
"No Sir, I have offered to show Mr Darcy the landscapes Uncle Gardiner sent at Michaelmas."
Mr Bennet sent a long look towards his daughter but waved a hand at the shelves. "Very well. Show Mr Darcy the book Lizzy, then you may return to the parlour. Mr Darcy will no doubt find appreciation easier to come by with your absence."
Elizabeth sent her father a grimace at the thought of returning the parlour having affected her escape but dutifully handed the book to Mr Darcy before taking her leave.
Mr Bennet turned to Mr Darcy waving him towards the stand of decanters on the sideboard. "I rather suppose Mr Darcy you have no notion of what that book contains. While you discover its contents feel free to help yourself to some libations."
Elizabeth returned to the parlour to hear Mr Bingley invite the family to the ball at Netherfield. Mrs Bennet Lydia and Kitty all expressed their joy at such news loudly, and with an amount of squealing and giggling that was unbecoming to a matron with five daughters. Elizabeth was glad Mr Darcy was not present to witness their reactions.
Mr Bingley after accepting the thanks of each member of the party stood and made his excuses. He glanced about the room realising that Mr Darcy was not present. He looked to Elizabeth who smiled.
"Mr Darcy is still with my father sir."
"Indeed, would you perhaps show me the way, Miss Bennet?" Mr Bingley asked turning to Jane.
"Oh yes Jane, take Mr Bingley to Mr Bennet's library. We are very grateful for you coming to call Mr Bingley, and for your kind invitation." Mrs Bennet enthused happily.
Jane led Mr Bingley to her father's room. Her knock was answered with permission to enter.
"Papa, Mr Darcy," Jane said curtseying.
"Mr Bennet," Mr Bingley greeted heartily. "It is good to see you, sir."
"Mr Bingley, from the noise coming from the parlour I believe you have come with good news?"
"Yes sir, I am to host a ball at Netherfield. Your family would be most welcome guests."
Mr Bennet sighed. He moved to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy for himself and another. He held out the second to Mr Bingley. "It seems there are things that you young men have yet to learn. In a house, full of women such as Longbourn, a ball is never good news!"
"Papa," Jane admonished. "Mr Bingley is very kind in inviting us."
"Yes, yes, Jane he is. But I shall hear nothing of lace and ribbon and shoe roses until the ball. Then for two weeks after as they speak of everyone else's lace, ribbon and shoe roses. Come, Mr Bingley, take a seat, your friend has been an animable sort in keeping an old man company, you can do no less I am sure. He has said but three words since entering the room and I heartily congratulate him for it. It is not often I get to spend time with sensible young men. Now, Jane, you may go and tell your mother I've sent for the carriage for her already. She will wish to visit Lady Lucas as soon as she may."
Jane smiled fondly at her father and excused herself to return to the parlour. Mrs Bennett greeted the news of the carriage already been made ready with excitement that quite put from her mind that the gentleman who brought such happy news was still ensconced within Longbourn's walls.
Their arrival at Lucas Lodge was most fortuitous as Lady Lucas was calling for her own carriage just as the Longbourn equipage was spotted. Mrs Bennet and Lady Lucas settled over tea to discuss the upcoming event attended by Mr Collins while Kitty, Lydia and Maria gathered in one corner to giggle and gossip over which of the officers would be in attendance. Jane, Elizabeth, and Charlotte Lucas collected in another.
"Lizzy, I am glad you came, I was hoping to speak to you for I heard some news and thought perhaps with your family's familiarity with the militia you might have better intelligence."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Charlotte. "Kitty and Lydia are hardly more in the company of the militia than Maria. Why can she not answer your questions?"
"Oh no, do not mistake me," Charlotte said. "Mrs Goulding has called this morning shortly after Miss Bingley came to deliver our invitation. Your Aunt Philips held a small party last night I believe. To which members of the militia were invited, it is to this I was referring. You may recall that the eldest of Mrs Golding daughters was present?"
"Evangeline? I did not know she was returned from the seminary. I do not remember seeing her," Elizabeth replied.
"Yes, she called along with her mother this morning. She was in attendance, but I believe she spent more of the evening conversing with the gentlemen than seeking out acquaintances that were 'hiding in the corner'."
"We were not hiding! Is it so terrible to wish for one's conversations to be private?"
"Perhaps not, but a card party at Mrs Phillips does not strike me as the most likely place for that to be so. Evangeline spoke to a Mr Wickham there as I believe so did you briefly. What was your impression of the gentleman?"
"Mr Wickham?" Elizabeth frowned. "He seemed amiable enough although I confess I hardly attended him at all. Jane would be better able to say." Elizabeth and Charlotte both turned to Jane.
"Mr Wickham was indeed amicable. He hails from Derbyshire and claims some acquaintance of the late Mr Darcy through his own late father. He recently joined the militia and is hoping to spend some time in society before his duties call him away. I know no more than that." Jane supplied readily.
"Well then, perhaps I shall be the one to impart the intelligence," Charlotte said. "Evangeline spoke to him at length. She would attest and agree that he claims to hail from Derbyshire. However, this is where the tales divert. Evangeline had it from Mr Wickham that the late Mr Darcy raised him as a second son. He provided an education at Cambridge to Mr Wickham and upon him taking Orders, the provision of a living in a village called Kympton. Mr Wickham was denied this living by Mr Darcy when it became available. With the elder Mr Darcy deceased it seems the jealousy of the younger Mr Darcy rose to deny the object of his jealousy his bequest."
"But surely that cannot be so," Jane protested. "Any bequest could be brought before a court, and in such a case Mr Darcy would hardly prevail. Why did Mr Wickham not do so?"
"Mr Wickham claims it worded in such a way as to be impossible. Mr Wickham is a steward's son in possession of a good education but Mr Darcy is a gentleman born, and his standing is that much more than Mr Wickham's," Charlotte answered.
"I cannot believe that Mr Darcy would risk so much for so little," Elizabeth said. "It is not sensible. The damage such a rumour would do is considerable."
"I did not know your opinion of Mr Darcy, to be so improved Lizzy. Last we spoke you were quite set against him."
"I hope Charlotte, that you as my dear friend might not begrudge a change in my opinion of the man?"
"No certainly I shall not, but what has brought it about? Was he so very different during your stay at Netherfield?"
"Perhaps he was not," Elizabeth laughed. "Perhaps he was as he has ever been. But I believe my understanding has shifted to allow me to acknowledge that I have been somewhat prejudiced against him. We shared a conversation that touched upon his wish for his sister to marry for love. I had not thought that a man such as he would wish for love over wealth and connections."
"Perhaps," Jane said with a sly smile. "Mr Darcy does not look so bad when compared to our cousin Mr Collins. Mama has it that Lizzy would make him a dutiful wife."
"Lizzy?!" Charlotte asked in shock.
"Yes," Jane agreed laughing.
"Mr Darcy might think I am only tolerable, but I find that Mr Collins is not even that. I would prefer to be tolerable to a man of consequence than sold off to one of the most foolish men imaginable to secure my mother's future," Elizabeth declared.
"Then Lizzy what of Mr Wickham?" Charlotte questioned.
"What of him? Any dispute Mr Wickham has with Mr Darcy is between them. Mr Wickham showed the poor manners to remark on a private conversation between Jane and myself before an introduction. Perhaps he is prone to such things and had wronged where redress cannot be made. Mr Darcy has confessed that once his good opinion is lost, it is lost forever. Perhaps if the wording of the bequest was such that legal recourse cannot be sought, then Mr Wickham has displeased Mr Darcy in a manner that cannot be forgiven. I do not pretend that Mr Darcy is as Mr Bingley is, but I have never found any reason to doubt his honour. Mr Wickham professed that the elder Mr Darcy was a true friend and perhaps he was more to Mr Wickham that his father's employer if he received an education. The militia is hardly the choice employment for an educated man. I cannot see the wisdom in it, but perhaps Mr Wickham seeks to discredit Mr Darcy as he has been unable to gain his forgiveness?"
"He can hardly have found a better place to do so for Mr Darcy has not made a favourable impression," Charlotte said.
"Indeed, and I shall own my part in that."
"Do you think Mr Darcy should be warned that his reputation is being gossiped about?" Jane asked.
"I hardly think it should matter to him. He has not come to make a good impression and has succeeded admirably. If he has come to view the society in Meryton with more favour than before perhaps something could be managed." Charlotte concluded with a sly smile. "What say you, Lizzy?"
"What say I? You do so vex me Charlotte. I have no notion if Mr Darcy finds me favourable."
"Yet he does look at you."
"Yes, he does," Elizabeth agreed a little wistfully.
Charlotte looked at her friend in shock before looking at Jane with an eyebrow raised in silent query. Jane smiled, tilting her head towards her sister then shook it slightly and lifted one shoulder in a shrug.
"If you like him, Lizzy, will you not encourage him? You know my view is that it is better to show more affection than less, and if Mr Collins is soon to make his intentions known would it not serve as a deterrent to that gentleman while encouraging another?" Charlotte offered encouragingly.
"I could not Charlotte, if Mama were to learn of it, she would throw Mr Collins over in an instant for Mr Darcy as much as she dislikes him. But I do not believe that Mama pushing for the match would do anything but lessen the chances of the event occurring."
Charlotte grimaced and shared a look of understanding with the Bennet sisters. It was a difficult conundrum and one that needed thinking on.