"Excuse me sir, Miss Elizabeth informed me I might be able to find something to read in here." Looking up he saw Mr Darcy spoke from the doorway to Mr Bennet's study the following day, and the man marked his page before setting the book down, a grin on his face as he caught the young man staring at his books in astonishment.
"I would not be surprised were you to find one out two to your liking." The man spoke before going back to his own book. When he heard the man pause in his perusal off the books, and saw him studying the chess board in the corner. "Do you play Mr Darcy? That is currently Elizabeth's game with her uncle, they play through correspondence."
He took pleasure in seeing the young man's astonishment. "I did not know she played, and judging by the layout they are both quite skilled."
"Yes, my Lizzy is more than just a tolerable face." To his surprise, there young man almost seemed offended at his repeated words, "Perhaps if you do not want your words used against you, you should avoid speaking them where they may be overheard." He spoke with a raised eyebrow.
"My words a sir?" The man looked genuinely confused, and Mr Bennet's amusement grew instantly.
"I believe your words were that she was tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt you to dance with. Then I believe you followed that up with something about not giving consequence to women who were slighted by other men." He watched as confusion turned to recognition turned to abject horror.
"Mr Bennet sir, I can not apologize enough for my not only unkind but also untrue words. That they were overheard is clear, but I can only hope they never made it back to Miss Elizabeth." The young man seemed truly contrite so he took pity in him.
"I am afraid she was the one that overheard you and spread word of what was said, but you need not worry overly much. By her own admission, nothing was hurt overly much, but her own pride. In fact, I believe her mother was more offended with your remark that she was. Mrs Bennet prides herself on having beautiful daughters, so your comment was a hit to her ego." This did not alleviate the younger man's concerns. "If this truly troubles you, then you can always apologize. Though if I may offer a bit of advice, it may be best to wait until right before you leave, or else every mother in the county will be throwing their daughters in your path. Indeed, your reputed taciturn nature has been the only thing holding them at bay."
"Absolutely not, I will not repay your family's kindness with disrespect by letting this slight go any longer without an apology. Indeed, it is very much my wish that my sister and your daughters will develop a close enough friendship as to require we purchase a home here so she may visit as often as she like. Truly, I have never in my life seen her as happy as she is here." This statement was shown true when some notes were botched on the piano forte down the hall, and peals of laughter followed. "I should like the neighborhood to welcome her and myself if and when we return."
"I see no trouble with that, indeed, your sister has already been enveloped into my own family, she will have no struggles finding love and acceptance here. As for you, should you apologize, and perhaps grovel a bit, I am certain all shall be forgiven."
Charles stared at the closed door in front of him in shock and dismay. He had come to call on the family to inquire about how Miss Bennet was doing, but had been informed by the butler that they were not at home to visitors that morning. He knew his to be a lie, as he had seen Lady Lucas and her daughters leaving as he rode up the lane. He could also hear laughter coming from inside the house, and could have sworn he saw a curtain flutter from the Master's study.
Nothing left for him to do but turn around and return home, he was surprised to hear a familiar voice calling his name. "Bingley," Darcy called as he stepped through the front door, far too casually dressed to be just visiting. "I am surprised to see you hear."
"The feeling is mutual, when you left so suddenly, I thought the note the housekeeper had slipped you had driven you to return to your sister in London." Caroline had been beside herself when the man had left, raving about how he should have done everything in his power to convince him to stay. Calling him a fool for his inability to act in his own best interests, and by extension hers. God only knows what she meant by that, as he has been telling her for years that Darcy would never marry her, not when he could have any woman of the ton.
"It did, my sister and her companion were sent to me at Netherfield by my aunt. They just so happened to arrive during the Bennet ladies' visit, and were unceremoniously turned away by you sister. Fortunately, Mrs Bennet heard it all, and had my sister brought here to wait for me. She and I have been invited to stay, and I find the Bennet ladies have had a positive affect on her so here we shall stay for the time being." His friends words stunned him, but no more so than the contented look on his friend's face. Truly, he had never seen his friend more relaxed, and it puzzled him.
"Do you not find it troubling to live in a house with a woman you are half in love with, but who doesn't return your feelings?" He asked out of genuine curiosity, remembering all of he times he had thought himself I love, and the woman wanted nothing to do with him. This would be a new feeling for his friend.
"I do not...that is..." His friend stuttered, trying to find the words, "How did you know?"
"Darcy, you have been the very best of friends to me, and hope to do everything in my power to be even half as good a friend to you. I should like to think I have come to know the man you hide behind the mask." Seeing the shocked look on his friend's face he continued, "I've seen the way your eyes automatically go to her when you or she enters a room, how intently you stare at her. Indeed, I would be quiet put out if you looked at her elder sister like that, but I think Miss Elizabeth would be a wonderful match for you."
He could see his friend was about to argue, so he stopped him before he could. "You've always been worried about doing what society expects of you, whether or not it will make you miserable. Now with everything going on you have the chance to do whatever you find will make you happiest. Society is already against you, and those who won't behave as such are only interested in your money. No, take this time to court a woman who is truly worth pleasing, you will be better off for it." He was so proud of his advice till he saw the indulgent smile on his friend's face.
"You and I are of the same mind on that. I had already decided to pursue Miss Elizabeth. However, her father has already told me I have made a mess of my chances with my own arrogance." He then went on to explain that the young lady had heard his unkind remarks at the assembly, and as such had a very low opinion of him.
"Lucky for you, I happen to have some knowledge in wooing the opposite sex, so can help you once you've made your apology." He couldn't help but grin wildly, when his friend gave a relieved smile.
"If you can help me win the heart of my lady, perhaps I can help you win back yours." He couldn't help but feel eager to gain any help in getting back into his angel's graces. "First thing you need to do is get your household in order." He winced at that.
"You have allowed your youngest sister to go far too long unchecked, and she has come to have too high of an opinion of herself. Not only that, but she also drags your other sister down with her. She thinks herself to be a member of the gentry, but most will only see her as a tradesman's daughter. This will likely not change even if she were to marry a member of the gentry, however, at this point I doubt there are many of even the lowest members of the gentry on the ton who will have her."
"Surely it is not as bad as all that?!" He could not help but be shocked at his friend's words. Sure his sister could be difficult, but she never seemed to find herself without entertainment in town, nor did it appear that people actively avoided her. In fact, ladies were always calling on her, eager for gossip...and to catch a glimpse of his friend. How had he never realized that many of these ladies could be using his sister to get closer to Darcy, much like she used him. "Never mind, I believe I have just discovered the answer for myself."
"I feel I must warn you my friend, if you do not get your sister under control, I believe you will likely find it very difficult to find a wife of your own to settle down with. No woman would willingly play second fiddle to her husband's unmarried sister."
It was unsettling to hear Mr Darcy claim to be in love with her. Indeed, she hadn't intended to over hear the conversation between the two friends, but her curiosity at the mention of her name got the better of her. However, that would not be the most shocking thing she would encounter that afternoon, that distinction went to finding her mother in room rummaging through the books her bedside table.
"Are you looking for something specific Mama?" She asked, causing the woman to jump.
"Oh! Lizzy, my how you startled me. I was just speaking with Mrs Annesley, about the sort of things a lady of the gentry must know. I must say it was quite eye opening, and I dare say, most distressing to know how far all of my girls will have to come to be able to catch husbands, especially since so many of our boys are off to war. What is even worse, is to have anything close to the level of comfort you girls are used to you need to have the same knowledge and skills other girls have been learning for years. It all made me realize how horrible I have been as a mother, and how much danger I have put you all in by not seeing you all taught to the standards of the ton."
"Mama, I'm sure we are in no true danger, papa is healthy, and our aunts and uncles would surely help you and any unmarried daughters." She spoke trying to placate her mother.
"Oh you're right, of course you are." However, the terror in her mother's eyes was very real, and belied her words.
"Now, what is it exactly you were looking for in my books?" She asked hoping the change of subject would help calm her mother.
"Oh, well, Mrs Annesley spoke of how well read many of the ladies of the ton were, and I thought I would try to improve myself so that if you out your sisters make good matches I didn't embarrass you." Her mother was so proud of herself, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile.
"Well, I have one here I think you would enjoy, and perhaps when you finish we can discuss together." The smile that lit her mother's face warmed her very soul.
