A/N - I don't often post with an author's note, but wanted to say a huge thank you for your reviews. This story has morphed into something much more than I expected when I started writing, and I have really appreciated your pointers. There's been a couple of scenes I missed until you said you wished you'd seen them (case in point the first part of this chapter - thanks to Sooty85 for keeping me honest), and it's helped me massively to have you sense checking some of the period inaccuracies. I don't have an editor / beta, so you see raw, unfiltered words here - thanks for keeping yours kind.

There are two more chapters after this one (and maybe an epilogue...), I'm going to be a bit bereft once it's all posted! Hope you've enjoyed so far.

Chapter 24

Meanwhile, and wholly unbeknownst to a dancing Elizabeth and a confrontation bound Mr Darcy, Mrs Bennet had chosen her moment to seek out the company of a certain gentlewoman. The elder of the two meant to ensure that the return missive she had sent to Caroline Bingley had been heard and attended to. When they had met at the door, she had deliberately avoided making a scene, though her anger at seeing the disagreeable woman arose rapidly in her chest. Intellectually, she was aware that both parties had secrets that would not do to be shared in such a public space. After being introduced to the good colonel, she had purposefully avoided overindulging at the punch bowl, as she often would at these kinds of gatherings, intending to be at least halfway sober by the time she found a route into her confrontation with Miss Bingley.

The moment arose for Mrs Bennet to accost her when Caroline had finished a dance with one of the Lucas sons and was making her way to the refreshments.

"Excuse me, Miss Bingley," she said, her tone overly honeyed.

"Mrs Bennet," she curtsied, "I hope you are enjoying your evening."

"Very much, Miss Bingley. I wonder, could you please escort me outside for some fresh air. The warmth from all the dancing has left me quite overheated, but Netherfield is so delightfully grand I am worried I would become lost on my way to the outdoors."

Miss Bingley correctly read the subterfuge in Mrs Bennet's request, knowing her to be an intelligent sort of woman. But with witnesses to her hosting, she did not want to outwardly refuse any guest when it was within her gift to see to their desires.

"Of course, follow me," she replied with the same false sweetness as her companion, laced perhaps with an edge of nervousness.

When they had gained the cool night air of the terrace at the back of the house, Mrs Bennet began to speak with an edge to her voice that spoke of the impropriety of what Caroline had done in her anger and hurt.

"Miss Bingley, you can be at no loss to understand why I have requested a private audience between the two of us."

Caroline nodded, afraid that her voice would betray her if she tried to speak.

"I can see no other reason why you would have sent me such a letter as you did unless you were under some deep disappointment or madness," Mrs Bennet's voice softened upon seeing the discomfort and youth in Miss Bingley's face. She continued, "so you shall not find me unnecessarily cruel." She paused to make sure she was being attended.

"But be that as it may, let me be frank with you. You have already received my written reply, and I have not since heard so much of a whisper from you. I sought you out this evening to ensure your continued silence on the matter contained within the letter you wrote me."

The threat was clear in Mrs Bennet's tone and body language.

"I-," Caroline began, and then tailed off as if unsure what to say. Mrs Bennet continued, undeterred by Caroline's uncharacteristic quietness.

"Elizabeth has assured me that the extent of her compromise was not anywhere near so bad as you described, and I am inclined to believe her given the blushes she gave when I tried to explain to her what to expect once she is married." She paused, considering how to delicately approach the next. "So I do not understand what provoked you into such a detailed description of what had clearly not occurred, with information that a young unmarried gentlewoman such as yourself should not have yet been privy to. Either your brother has interesting tastes in literature that you have adopted, or the situation you so untruthfully described for my daughter is instead autobiographical. If the first, I should encourage you not to share your learnings. If the second, I am most shocked and concerned at your behaviour."

Caroline blushed bright red and put her head in her hands.

"Now, you are a young woman - and fortunately for you, I am not in the business of running around and spilling other people's secrets," the censure in her voice was clear, and Caroline sank further into her shame. Mrs Bennet pulled Caroline's hand away from her face and smiled gently at her.

"We are all raised learning that second chances should be offered to those who are truly repentant. And I too believe that you deserve to move beyond whatever it is that has shaped you this way. Whatever forlorn hopes you had for my daughter's fiancé, however, must stay in the past with your previous dalliance, if such a thing did in fact occur. On this matter you shall find me unmoving."

Caroline was still uncharacteristically silent, though she seemed to have lost some of her earlier fear.

"Let me be clear, Miss Bingley. I will not have you preventing the health or happiness of any one of my daughters. So whatever misery you are feeling over Mr Darcy, do not let it prevent you from doing the proper thing and staying quiet about what did not happen under those steps at the front of this house."

"I am sorry," Caroline mumbled, the words tumbling quiet as a breeze from her lips.

"I appreciate your apology, but I will require a promise to remain silent, please," came the reply, unmoving.

"I promise to not mention that day again," she said earnestly.

"Excellent," said Mrs Bennet. "Then we may forget that this conversation ever happened, and return to the ball you have so skilfully pulled together. You are forgiven for what you tried to do."

The tension left Caroline's frame at the last of Mrs Bennet's words. Seeing her companion had taken stock of her words, and not of a mind to prolong any unpleasantness when there was punch and dancing to enjoy, she made to return indoors. She was stopped by the younger woman before she made it to the door.

"Mrs Bennet," Caroline said in a small voice. She placed a hand on the lady's arm to prevent her walking away too quickly. "Were you in earnest when you spoke about second chances?"

"Indeed I was," she said, comforting Caroline with kind eyes. Caroline needed no further encouragement, and tears covered her cheeks as her words tumbled from her. She did not seem to be speaking to Mrs Bennet, rather speaking from herself.

"It happened shortly after my parents died. I must have been about seventeen. My sister retreated into her new marriage, and my brother was away seeing to his new inheritance more than he was at home. I was lonely," the word burned like vinegar in her mouth. "There was a man, he was not titled. But what he lacked in money he more than made up for in charm and pleasant manner."

"You do not have to share this unless you wish to," Mrs Bennet reassured her younger companion.

"No, I wish to. I have never told anyone, not even my brother. Sometimes it feels like I shall burst with keeping the secret."

"Then by all means continue." It did not take a great stretch of Mrs Bennet's imagination to see this motherless child who was of a similar age now to her own daughters, and her empathy was engaged.

"His name was George Wickham, and I believed myself in love with him at the time. He claimed to feel the same, and we ran away together for a number of days. It was an all encompassing experience, and I still think upon that time with fondness. To believe oneself so ardently in love, with such hope for the future. It was as heady as wine to one so young as I was." She paused, and Mrs Bennet allowed her the time she needed to disappear into happy rememberings. The person she had been then felt like a stranger to her now.

"When it ended, that is when the gentleman declared himself uninterested - for he had learned that I am but the daughter of a tradesman - I worried for months that some evidence of my time with him would stay with me. But some time passed, there were no lasting effects, and I was undiscovered. My brother believed me to have been with my Aunt in Cornwall and my aunt believed me to have been in town with him. My governess was absent to support her daughter through a birth. I have never mentioned it, not to another soul, until now, though it has eaten away at me. That is how I wrote such things in the letter, although at the time of writing I confess I was not thinking, so much as feeling my hurt at Mr Darcy's betrayal. For he is the only other gentleman of my acquaintance I have felt close to the same as when I was with Mr Wickham. It was much easier to pretend that I loved him only for his estate, for he did not so much as glance my way, though the occasions we were together were numerous. But I thought that because of the connection with my brother, he might have me despite my previous dalliance, as you so eloquently put it. And so when I came upon her under the stairs and under his coat, and then when he confirmed my suspicions that they were to be married, I could not contain it. I truly am sorry for the hurt my actions caused. I do not know your daughter but she is well received by all of my acquaintances, and I feel very foolish for lashing out at her as I have done."

Mrs Bennet was a compassionate woman, and her heart was stirred by the long speech from the younger lady.

"Miss Bingley, that is quite the story," she smiled through her shock and squeezed the hand that Caroline had thrust into hers halfway through talking, subconsciously seeking the comfort of a mother who was not hers. "I thank you for your apology, and understand the circumstances which have led you to where you are today."

"Thank you for listening," she replied. As if suddenly realising the precariousness of her situation, having just revealed very damning information to a woman who she had previously intended to wound with her words, she spoke the next with a great deal of hurry. "But of course, please do not repeat what I have said."

"It appears we both require each other's silence, Miss Bingley." Her tone was not mocking. "Well, you can be reassured of mine. Yours is not the first story that concerns a Mr Wickham and his rakish behaviour, and I do not believe you were at fault for believing him to be in love. It appears that he can be quite convincing. Though I have been given leave to understand that he suffered an accident last summer that has rendered him incapable of causing such future harm."

Miss Bingley's colour rose to learn that she had not been special, as he had told her so many times that she alone had stirred tender feelings within him. Alongside her hurt and anger came a new feeling, as strange as it was new. She had not, since her time with Mr Wickham, ever learned self-forgiveness. But under the gentle guidance of the mother who was not her own, she felt it keenly. It felt as though she could breathe for the first time.

Mrs Bennet reached into the folds of her skirt and produced an embroidered handkerchief which she gave to Miss Bingley.

"We should return before your duties as hostess are missed, my child. But here, let me help you right your appearance so this conversation may remain as clandestine as you should desire."

"Mrs Bennet, I do not pretend to understand why you have been so kind when I was so awful, but I wish to thank you for what you have done today."

Mrs Bennet smiled a wise smile, and winked at Caroline, whose answering smile was tentative but cheerful.

"When you are as old as me and have had five daughters, you will understand how unfair life is - to cause such irreparable damage to young girls who are learning about the world and are vulnerable targets for unscrupulous men. Especially those such as you who did not have older women in your home to guide you. I could not judge you for all that has happened."

She appeared to consider her next words with care.

"I hope one day you shall be as happy as my Lizzy," she said, her voice full of pride for her clever daughter who would save them from their precarious entailment. Caroline chuckled, and Mrs Bennet gave her a quizzical look.

"Mr Darcy is of one mind with you Mrs Bennet. He said the same words to me not half an hour ago."

"Then I think you should believe us, Caroline, and endeavour to relearn kindness to ensnare a gentleman who can fulfil those hopes you once allowed yourself."

"I think I shall," she said. She had not predicted the path of this particular conversation, but was very glad it had occurred in this manner.

"Then we best return to the dance hall, and begin to move forwards from past mistakes."

"After you, Mrs Bennet. Thank you for your council."

~.~

Mr Darcy had just about managed to regain his composure and rid himself of his anger towards his cousin and his arousal towards his betrothed before he was permitted a second, and final, set with his charming Elizabeth. Frustratingly, he had been made to stand up with both Bingley sisters, both other Bennet sisters, a Miss Lucas and a Miss Grey before he was allowed to hold her again. He had passed a pleasant dance with Miss Caroline Bingley, who seemed to have taken his earlier words to heart. It was truly the most enjoyable time he had ever spent in her presence, and he wondered at the power of his words.

Be that as it may, the many dances with relative strangers had had the effect that he was rather out of sorts when Elizabeth found him once again by the punch bowl, talking reservedly with her father and his sister.

"Mr Darcy," her voice caressed him as he gained her side. "May I have this dance?"

"Just like my daughter to be so modern, asking a gentleman to dance rather than waiting the interminable wait until you stop gawking and ask her," Mr Bennet addressed the gentleman wryly.

"Papa," she exclaimed at the same time as he apologised without really processing what Mr Bennet had said. He had been too busy drinking in her beauty.

"Miss Bennet, you may certainly escort me to the dance floor for the supper set. You do not know how long I have waited to hear those words." She could tell from his tone that the words were sincere.

"I should imagine about as long as I have awaited saying them," she smiled and he let out a deep breath.

"On you go then," Mr Bennet said gruffly. He glared at Mr Darcy in warning, as if to stop any improper thoughts or actions in their tracks. Mr Darcy heard the silent instruction and placed his hand very decorously on the small of her back to guide her onto the dance floor. She thrilled at his touch, and he felt the quickening of her breath in the rise and fall of her shoulders.

Once they were out of her father's earshot, she turned to him and whispered so that only he could hear.

"I very much enjoy dancing, in fact I have had a delightful evening. But I must confess that ever since I felt your touch upon disembarking my carriage at Pemberley all those weeks ago, I have wished for each and every excuse to be held by you again, and now. I have not longed for anyone's touch so completely as I am controlled by the waiting for yours."

It was exactly what he needed to hear, to put his concerns over his cousin to rest. But at the same time, it was exactly what he did not need to hear in a crowded room full of revellers, where he could not act on the fiery passion her words arose in him.

"Elizabeth, I-" he moaned softly, overwhelmed.

"You do not need to reply, just to dance with me," she requested, knowing she had the upper hand. Again, he heard her second sentence, silent as it was, as if it were shouted at him. You do not need to reply, just to love me, as I love you, she said, her eyes sparkling with the joy of her feeling.

"That, dearest Elizabeth, is a request which I am only too happy to serve."

He was certain, as the evening progressed towards its eventual conclusion, of the happy truth that he would fulfil all of her requests as they were asked of him. He was also certain that he would do so joyfully. For she deserved all that he could give to her, and she expanded his joy and secured his future.