Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Frerichs

Cross-posted on elizabethfrerichs dot com and wattpad


"Mr. Bingley is come!" Lydia called from her station by the window. "And it looks like he has someone with him! I think it might be that Mr. Darcy."

Elizabeth, who had been in the midst of needlework, stabbed her finger. Mr. Darcy was back? It had been an age since he had gone. Mr. Bingley had informed her that Mr. Darcy intended to come back on Tuesday, but then the weather had been terrible and the roads had been a soggy bog. Really, she could not believe he had ventured to Hertfordshire already, though she would certainly not complain about seeing her beloved.

"I wish he would hurry up and propose to Jane," Kitty muttered fretfully. "Then we would not have to stay at home all the time in case he calls; we all know he is only calling to see Jane."

"You just wish that someone would take the time to call upon you," Lydia jabbed.

Elizabeth composed her features and resolved not to make a scene in front of her family, despite the urge to run into Mr. Darcy's arms and have him catch her up, much the way he had on Wednesday.

She could not, however, stop the wide smile that insisted on appearing the moment their glances met, nor the tears that pricked her eyes. It had been far too long! What mattered that it was only sixteen days? Two weeks could be an eternity to the heart!

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Bennet," Mr. Bingley said. He clapped Mr. Darcy on the shoulder. "I found this half-frozen gentleman on my front porch earlier today and he insisted on accompanying me to call."

"Oh, why, any friend of yours is more than welcome, Mr. Bingley," Mrs. Bennet said after a moment's confusion. "I do hope you both will stay for dinner. It is but a small family dinner and not at all what you are accustomed to, I imagine," she said to Mr. Darcy, the warmth in her voice nearly gone.

Mr. Darcy smiled. "I would be most glad to be considered one of the family, Mrs. Bennet. Your neighbours have told me of your legendary dinners, and I have long wished to attend one."

Elizabeth swallowed a chuckle. That was true. Once they had begun trying to speak to her parents, Mr. Darcy had angled for a dinner invitation several times without success. Her mother had remained steadfast that she would not invite Mr. Bingley to stay for anything less than a four-course meal.

Mr. Darcy glanced over at Elizabeth longingly but seated himself next to her mother. "Bingley has not had the chance to tell me the neighbourhood's news, but I am certain you know far more than he does. What has changed in the past two weeks?"

Elizabeth stared in astonishment as her mother softened, her cheeks staining red. The care Mr. Darcy had taken to understand her mother over the past months was evident in the speed with which she responded.

"Oh, Mr. Darcy, well, yes. I would not at all cast doubt upon Mr. Bingley's information, but I am unusually well-informed on the goings on in the neighbourhood." She giggled. "Between my sister and I, there is little we do not know."

He nodded. "I imagine her husband's business gives her great insight into the local happenings."

"Oh, yes."

As her mother expounded upon the smaller bits of news, gradually growing more comfortable with Mr. Darcy, Jane and Mr. Bingley retreated to the far corner of the room and began their own conversation.

"But, Mr. Darcy, the most significant thing that has occurred in your absence is that Miss Lucas has become engaged to Mr. Collins," Mrs. Bennet said in a rush. "In fact, we shall be forced to house that cretin again next week while he visits dear Charlotte."

"I hope Miss Lucas will be very happy with him," Mr. Darcy said.

Mrs. Bennet shook her head. "I do not know how anybody can be happy inheriting an entail. An entail! I should be ashamed to gain my inheritance in such a fashion."

"I can see why you would be greatly concerned with entails in general and with the entail on Longbourn in particular."

Mrs. Bennet nodded vigorously. "I have long told Mr. Bennet that he ought to do something about it! If only I were a man, then I should do something myself. But I am not, and the only other person who could have rectified the matter refused," she said, glaring at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth focused on her needlework, her cheeks burning. At least Mr. Darcy would not fault her for refusing Mr. Collins, and he had known of her mother's wretched behaviour before he had proposed. Still, she would rather not discuss her refusal yet again. "Charlotte is quite pleased to be obtaining a home at Hunsford," Elizabeth put in.

"Ouch!" Lydia shrieked, popping a finger in her mouth and glaring at Elizabeth.

Mrs. Bennet blinked over at her. "Be careful with your needlework, my love." She turned back to Mr. Darcy. "Charlotte Lucas is more pleased to be obtaining this home! All those years I gave her free roam of our estate and this is how she repays me!"

Mr. Darcy leaned forward. "I doubt Miss Lucas was trying to hurt you," he said soothingly. "I have observed her, and she seems to hold your family dear in her heart."

"It is all Lizzy's fault," Lydia said, her finger miraculously better. "She refused Mr. Collins and now she will die an old maid." She laughed. "But really, can you see Lizzy married to Mr. Collins?" She laughed again.

The burning in Elizabeth's cheeks spread down her neck.

"I see," Mr. Darcy said, flashing Elizabeth a sympathetic look. "I imagine that has only increased your anxiety about the entail, Mrs. Bennet."

Mrs. Bennet fanned herself. "Oh, my nerves have not ceased their fluttering since the moment Lizzy behaved so foolishly. I have never met such a selfish girl in my life! She knows the perils of our situation, and she managed to alienate the one person who may save us! I do not know where we shall live—the hedgerows, probably."

Mr. Darcy leaned forward and put a gentle hand on her arm. "Mrs. Bennet, I can see that you are very afraid of what may become of you and your daughters after your husband's death. However, I believe your daughters are destined for more than to be the wife of a man who memorises his compliments."

Mrs. Bennet gaped at him.

Mr. Darcy pulled his hand back at once.

She leaned forward. "You do?"

He nodded. "I do not know what life will hold for them, but I believe, with the right skills and education, your daughters will go far. Have you thought about finishing school?"

Mrs. Bennet shook her head. "It is far too expensive to send all five of them to finishing school at once."

"Well, perhaps you might consider sending one or two of the younger girls. It is an excellent way to develop connections, and they have time before they are of marriageable age anyway."

Lydia scowled at him.

Elizabeth's smile grew as Mr. Darcy carefully followed the well-trodden path to planting the seed that finishing school was a worthy investment in ensuring that the Bennet girls would marry well. He was so kind: listening to her mother's fears, entering into her mother's worries as though he were her own son, and suggesting a well-considered solution.

He finished by appealing to Mr. Bingley, who chimed in with an agreement.

"Of course, Miss Bennet does not need to be finished at all, lovely as she as," Mr. Bingley added, smiling down at Jane.

Jane blushed prettily. "Thank you, Mr. Bingley. I am glad you think so."

"Yes, my Jane has always been beautiful," Mrs. Bennet said enthusiastically.

Mr. Darcy inclined his head. "You have certainly been blessed with beautiful and talented daughters." He turned to Mary. "How has your pianoforte practise been, Miss Mary?"


Darcy covertly studied Elizabeth throughout the evening, trying to decipher how she was doing. The love that shone from her eyes had alleviated his worries that someone as wonderful as she might have changed her mind about someone like him, but she seemed a bit wan, a bit quieter than usual. Clearly, Mrs. Bennet was wroth with Elizabeth for turning down Mr. Collins. Also, Miss Lydia had made several little cutting remarks and interrupted her sister at every turn. What had caused that tension?

Well, tomorrow morning, they would be able to speak freely. In the meantime, he could at least try to convince her mother that turning Mr. Collins down was a wise thing to do, rather than a blight on the family, even if they would lose Longbourn.


A/N: Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I very much appreciate it :)

If you notice something that can be strengthened, please pass it along! And I'm still looking for betas, so if you would be willing to read through previously unbetaed chapters, please message me.

See you on Saturday!