Hello people, my sincere apologies for having left the story paralyzed I was doing a very demanding job the last months that prevented me from continuing in that moment, for now I give you a new chapter and other going to be publish in the week.
I appreciate your comments and let me known if you like it or dislike, it is a reason to continue
Thank you and enjoy your reading
Chapter 9
Other day in Netherfield
The second dawn of the Bennet sisters in Netherfield the rain prevented any activity outside, the day proceeded to be similar to the previous one the Bingleys probably visited Jane, who was almost recovered, however, when leaving there a Louisa separated Caroline before After joining the library to continue spending the morning, Louisa directed Caroline to the conservatory as they headed there she whispered -We need to talk-
An impatient Caroline, upon arriving at the greenhouse, questioned -What is so urgent?-
You must listen to what my husband told me last night- said Louisa
-Louisa, what your husband says can matter to me- I blurt out with disdain
-Certainly you care, you must modulate your behavior before Charles's guests- Louisa said dryly
-What are you saying modulate my behavior, your husband has nothing to say about what I do or not, besides there is no reason to change the treatment of those Bennets, they don't even deserve a greeting from me- he said in time as he shook his head with superiority
-Clearly you don't know who they are and you don't remember who you are- said Louisa somewhat annoyed by Caroline's rudeness
-Of course I know, they play at being ladies when they are coarse peasants without a penny, while I am a refined heiress raised in London- she said and moved her body to leave
Lousia took her by the hand and stopped her saying –You are wrong, you are not a refined heiress and they are ladies from one of the oldest magical houses, here and in London they are the aristocratic ladies, you didn't even notice that they wear charms on their bracelets that we can never use due to lack of magical qualities typical of aristocrats-
Caroline closed her eyes in mortification of course she had noticed, but she couldn't and didn't want to accept it, indignantly she said - Our mother was noble, we have been raised in the best institutions, we have a prominent heritage, they only have a name and a magical power, they are not more than us, they are not more than me-
-Caroline, don't fool yourself, I'm not like you anymore, I may not wear the aristocratic bracelet but I belong to the Choles house by marriage, instead you haven't taken that step, you know where we come from and money or education don't change that, improve your behavior show yourself as a true lady otherwise you will be left ignorant even of your own condition-
At this point Caroline was simply angry and took the first plant within her reach throwing it with force, Louisa breathed and watched the outburst of her sister who stormed out of there, she knew she would not take it well she had always been capricious and spoiled she was not easy to accept limits from anyone.
While in the breakfast room Darcy handed Elizabeth a book of spells but did not converse with her much, the day passed slowly and uneventfully in the afternoon Elizabeth joined everyone else in the drawing room. Darcy wrote a letter to her sister Georgiana and Caroline sat beside him following the course of his letter, interrupting him with messages for him sister. The other gentlemen were playing piquet, and Mrs. Hurst watched them. Caroline fawned over Mr. Darcy, she spoke of his neat handwriting, his magnificent house, his wonderful library. Elizabeth was too engrossed in what was happening to ignore her reading.
-Has Miss Darcy grown since spring?- Caroline asked. Will she be as tall as me?
-I think so. Now it will be the height of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, or taller. - Darcy said
-How I long to see her again! She is so dear to me. What a figure, what manners and what a talent for her age! She plays the piano in an exquisite way.-
-It amazes me,- said Bingley, -that young girls have so much patience to learn so much, and become as perfect as they all are."
-All girls are perfect! Charles, what do you say? – His sister questioned him
-Yea, all of them. They all paint, line screens and make mesh bags. I don´t know anyone who doesn´t know how to do all these things, and I have not heard of a young lady without being informed that she was perfect. – continued Charles
-Your list of what these perfections commonly encompass,- said Darcy -certainly applies to women whose knowledge is none other than making mesh bags or lining screens. But I am far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. Of all the ones I've met, I can't boast of knowing more than half a dozen who are really perfect.-
-Neither do I, of course, –– Caroline followed.
Hearing that comment, Elizabeth intervened saying–– It must be that your concept of the perfect woman is very demanding. ––
––Yes, it's very demanding –– he said, fixing his gaze on her.
-Oh, indeed, - exclaimed Caroline, ––nobody can truly regard himself as perfect unless one exceeds what is normally found. A woman must have a profound knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and modern languages. And also possess something special in her air and way of walking, in the tone of the voice, in the treatment and way of expressing oneself; otherwise it would not deserve the qualification more than half. Smile looking like a winner
––He must possess all this, –– added Darcy, ––and to this must be added something more substantial in the development of her intelligence through extensive reading, without forgetting that she should have some special or magical quality, –– he said as he looked at the book in her hands and gave Elizabeth a small smile.
––I'm not surprised you know only six perfect women. I rather doubt that you knows any of her . –– She said without seeing that he was including her and she began to feel once again despised by him.
––Are you so strict with your own sex that you doubt that this is possible? –– he questioned raising an eyebrow
––I have never seen such a woman. I have never seen so much capacity, taste, application and elegance together as you describe. –– Elizabeth went on, the Bingley women protested against the injustice of their implied doubt, stating that they knew many women answering that description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, complaining bitterly that they were not paying attention to the game.
Ending the conversation, Elizabeth soon walked away and decided to leave the room - when a voice invaded her mind– Why are you angry? ––
––Why I can hear you if you're not talking to me?... it's invasive that you read my mind again–– said in her mind
-I'm not reading your mind, I'm talking to your mind Darcy went on.
––why don't you do it public?––
––I just want to talk to you––
She took the book and look him with determination, Darcy, feeling her gaze on him, smiled softly holding her gaze briefly. Caroline, having noticed the exchange of glances, was upset and trying to redirect attention to her, said to Elizabeth -Miss Eliza Bennet, let me convince you to follow my example and take a walk around the room . I assure you that she comes in handy after sitting in the same position for so long.-
Elizabeth was shocked, but agreed immediately. Miss Bingley accomplished what she had set out to do with her kindness; Mr. Darcy looked up at both women. He was surprised at the novelty of this invitation as Elizabeth herself could be.
––Oh my God, she's desperate to keep your good opinion- Elizabeth thought.
––sorry for her- Darcy continue answering the mental exchange
––Come on Mr. Darcy is your Lady with that special touch- she continued
––My Lady not at all, Caroline is far from being that-
––Definitely you are looking for a goddess-
––She's probably already walking around me-
She didn't know how to handle that comment and tried to silence her mind, she felt hurt for some strange reason, she also surprised herself because she didn't care what woman Mr. Darcy expected, she controlled her thoughts, she said to herself, she thought of something else quickly because she didn't know if he could be reading her mind...
Caroline trying to get the gentleman's attention invited him to walk with them, to which he refused, explaining that there could only be two reasons for them to walk through the room together, and if he joined them he would interfere with both. "What do you mean?" Miss Bingley was itching to know what the meaning of it would be and she asked Elizabeth if she could understand it.
-Not at all,- replied Elizabeth, -to divert his thoughts; but, whatever it is, it is certain that she wants to let us down, and the best way to disappoint her is not to ask her anything.
Caroline was unable to disappoint Darcy, and asked him to explain both reasons.
I don´t have the slightest inconvenience in explaining it, said Darcy. You choose this way of passing the time because you have to make some confidence, or because you know that walking around makes your figure look better; in the first case if I going with you I would bother you; and if it is for the second, I can admire yours much better sitting by the fire.- said with a small smile
-How awful! Caroline shouted. I have never heard anything so abominable. How could we give her what she deserved?
-Nothing so easy, if you're willing to do it - said Elizabeth - We all know how to annoy and mortify each other. Make fun of him, laugh at him. Being such a close friend of his, you will know very well how to do it.
-I don't know, I give you my word. I assure you that our friendship has not taught me its weak points. Making fun of a phlegmatic person, so cold-blooded! And as for laughing at him out of hand, I couldn't.
Elizabeth stared at Darcy, and Darcy stared back at her, but she didn't know how to read that look. What was there? She couldn't capture the real emotion of those beautiful blue eyes, not only did they change color slightly and became darker, there were emotions there, even a message perhaps, something in them was fascinating and hypnotic. She didn't want to give it another thought and she excused herself to go back to Jane.
Elizabeth got Jane up and talked to her sister that she was getting much better, they decided to write to their mother to have the carriage sent to them the next morning. But Mrs. Bennet had calculated that her daughters would be there until Tuesday, and she was not prepared to have them return before that date. Thus, her answer was negative, Elizabeth was impatient to return to her house, she was not willing to continue there no matter how much they asked her; she presumed that rather her visit was annoying, she begged Jane to ask for Bingley's car at once; and lastly they decided to state their plan to leave Netherfield the next morning.
At dinner Jane joined them, she was quite warm and Charles reveled in attentions, the news of her departure provoked a variety of reactions; Caroline feigned regret, it was better for her that they left because the jealousy and dislike she felt for one Bennet outweighed the affection she felt for the other. Charles was sad to learn that they were going to leave and tried insistently to convince Jane that it would not be good for her, because she was not yet fully recovered; but she Jane was firm when she knew that she acted as she should.
Darcy on the other hand, was disappointed, he wanted to get to know Elizabeth, but Miss Bingley was rude to her and with him more annoying than ever. He proposed to ensure that no sign of admiration for Elizabeth escaped him in Carolin's presence, besides as much as he felt in a certain way attracted to that strange lady he considered that nothing could make Elizabeth believe that she had any influence on his happiness, he knew that he had to choose well and he preferred not to create expectations. He was aware that with his recent behavior could have suggested such an idea, he had to prevent her from creating expectations, that until now he did not believe he could fulfill them, he would only teach her to know about the magical power of a hilmen, that would be enough.
That night Darcy was distant and did not speak to Elizabeth at all, he just looked at her distantly and decided to leave her a note in the book that he had lent her….. You can continue reading, if you want to continue with the practices, arrange where and how…FD
After the Bennets left, Darcy also excused himself, but he hadn't gotten to his room well, he heard... -Darcy, we can talk for a few minutes- said an agitated and restless Bingley.
-Yes, of course, come on- Darcy fired his valet, to attend to his friend
Charles ran his hand through his hair and walked trying to organize his ideas, -How to say it?... uhmm, what do you think of the Bennets? I don't know how to explain it but the ladies seem to be one thing and then another and another. ...
Darcy raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
-I don't understand, I mean, is that because they are multiforms? I don't have that much experience, but today they seem to look one way and then I perceive them differently, and then another way, their behaviors are all that they should be a lady but there's something there i haven't seen before
-You are right, -Bingley looked at him expectantly- They use a concealment spell, it is their aura that changes, not their person or their character, nor their form in this case, you see different the two girls because their magical aura are change
-Since when do you know? Why do they do it?
-Since the first day I saw them, and I guess it's a protection measure—
-Protection?
-Mr. Bennet considers, to my mind, that if they show their true nature they are susceptible to unscrupulous men.-
-I see, now I feel relieved, Mr. Bennet is a high-ranking and respectable magician but with limitations to protect them, I thought it was a stratagem of those that you warn me so much about to catch one... he smiled.. I really want to get to know they better-
-Be careful, I didn't say there isn't a possibility of a ploy behind it-
-I don't think so, be calm... eh thanks -
In another room, Elizabeth was while she finished gathering her things, she took the book and she saw a paper that overlapped between its pages, She took it and read Darcy's message, for a moment she thought about not continuing, but she really wanted learn more about magic, turn around her fingers the note, then wrote in the same paper her answer, ….. Tuesday at the limits of Longborn in the big holm, at dawn…she wrote but she didn't know how to return an answer in that moment. The next morning when they were leaving he took her hand to help her get into the carriage and she at that moment passed the note to Darcy, looking deep into his eyes.
When he can read the note, a smile born in his face and a feel or expectation is growing too. The words said by Bingley that night left Darcy are continuing round his mind, his friend was getting too interested, so in the days following the departure of the Bennet ladies, Darcy reviewed the history of the magical houses and confirmed what he already knew at first: 10 houses, founded in the Tudor era, some had been divided and another merged, he remembered the Bennet name of some magical house but it would be about 100 years ago, he book not explain why the house disappear, he supposed that it happened as it would happen today with the Fitzwilliam house, no Hilmen male who kept the name and power of the house for more than 6 generations made it disappear in the hands of another, if the name changed so long ago it is because the 6gth had passed.
If that information is correct, it was fortuitous then that she was a Hilmen healers, the Bennet ladies would only be daughters of a knight, and the little protection they showed having such qualities is because they were outside the protection of a magical house... that implied that even the lands of the family, unless it had been inherited and disassociated from the magical house, were in the power of someone else, their magical quality was certainly valuable, their offspring were favorable, apparently they did not have great wealth and did not show that they had been raised with teachers and governesses as the ladies of high society were…. he thought of his friend if he was interested in Jane Bennet in a serious way, that alliance could bring Charles benefits in his offspring and his friend would become a landowner, although from the lower circles of the aristocracy, he would be a Gentleman ... It was not a bad position for Charles, who was not yet established as such in the aristocracy, but it was unattractive to Gentleman of social higher position like Darcy.