Lady Catherine had never been more surprised, as she was when a renowned herbologist as well as his son, who also happened to be a doctor, was admitted into the Bennet's parlor just days later, clearly having ridden hard to arrive in a timely manner. To find out the older man had been a friend of Mr Bennet's from Oxford, as well as Miss Mary's godfather, had been most eye opening.
It was clear both men had dropped everything to offer their assistance, and had done so for the love they held for the Bennet family, and not for the rank of the patient. It got her wondering if anyone in her life had ever cared for her the way that these Bennets seemed to have others care for them.
She had always been told that not only was it rude to eavesdrop, but it could also be dangerous too, for one does not always hear what one would like. She had never believed in said dangers until listening to her daughter tell Miss Elizabeth Bennet how she felt her current illness was her being punished for her own wrong doing. She had watched as the young lady comforted her daughter, telling her that someone else's wickedness was not to be seen as a punishment for her own bad deeds, but Anne had been adamant that this was her punishment. To hear her daughter break down and confess to being the one to expose Georgiana's folly to the world had been hard enough, but to listen to her explain her reasoning behind it had been devastating. To find out that Anne had done so in the hopes of a scandal being enough to stop her mother from trying to force an unwanted marriage on her and and her cousin. That she hadn't thought of the ramifications to her young cousin until it was too late to go back, as the express had already been sent to the papers. Hearing this was what finally opened her eyes to what a terrible mother she was. That her own selfishness, and grasping nature could have cost her the thing most precious to her...her daughter.
It was this revelation that caused her to watch the only other mother with daughters at disposal to her. She watched closely as Mrs Bennet watched her own daughters and Georgiana interact with a loving smile. She watched how she would build the girls up and encourage them with loving, if excitable, words and gestures.
On one of the outings she had been encouraged to join, she had watched the woman fuss over her plainest daughter and spend time at the dressmakers going over samples with the countess to try and find the girl the most flattering colors. When the girl admitted she liked what her next oldest sister wore, and that she was often disappointed that the dresses she wore couldn't be passed down to her, as Elizabeth was much smaller than her, Mrs Bennet and Lady Susan sprung into action, requesting to see many blues, yellows, and greens.
The way Mrs Bennet's face fell when Miss Mary requested not to have anything too nice or fancy, stating her youngest sister's penchant for stealing anything that appealed to her as the reason, caused Lady Catherine much discomfort, knowing she had never felt remorseful for anything oversight she'd made in her own daughter's care. Her sister in law then asked about the embroidery that often appeared on the elder two Miss Bennets' gowns, and the younger girl commented that the two sisters would never have the time to embroider her as well as their own, explaining she did not have the talent her older sisters had for it. Lady Catherine was quite sure she was the only one who had noticed the eldest Miss Bennet in the doorway of the shop listening to every word.
"Is there something I can do for you Your Ladyship?" Elizabeth spoke quietly so as not to wake the young girl sleeping in hers and Jane's bed, her voice startling the woman out of her revelry. The sisters had all taken turns sitting with Miss de Bourgh so that she wouldn't be alone when she was awake, each of them bringing something to occupy their time while she slept.
"I apologize, I was just woolgathering." It was clear the lady had more she wanted to say, but did not know how to express herself. "That color is very similar to one of the swatches your younger sister favored."
Elizabeth looked down at the work in her lap, trying to hide the blush. "I'm afraid Jane overheard much of the conversation in the dress makers shop, and we've decided to be wicked and use that information to our benefit." She said, trying to make light of the situation.
"I have trouble seeing how you could use what was said against Miss Mary..."
"Oh no, we would never use it against Dear Mary. It is only we heard her talking about her fear of her dresses being commandeered by younger sisters, and her thought of us not having time to work on a dress for her. As such we decided to combine some of our pin money to purchase a dress for Mary to wear to my wedding." Again she couldn't help but blush when she realized she had brought up what was likely a sore subject to the lady.
"As Mary hasn't grown in the past year, we are embroidering it in just a way so that it can't be let out for our younger sisters to wear. We also know this is Mary's favorite shade of blue, and indeed her favorite color over all, but as the material was too expensive in her opinion, she wouldn't have chosen it, for fear of being a financial burden to our parents. We worked it out with the dress maker to let us do the embroidery before the dress was assembled, making it easier to stash smaller pieces so as not to he caught, and Jane and I have been working on the skirt in the early mornings while everyone is still abed. We hope to have it ready in time for Mary's birthday next week."
She watched the woman study her stitching, and was surprised when she commented on it, "You have a very fine hand at stitching Miss Bennet, had I ever learned I am sure I should be quite proficient myself."
"Why don't you learn now?" She asked the lady and received a shocked look in return. "I know you have spent much of your time at your daughter's bedside, surely you would enjoy to have some type of occupation for while she sleeps.
"I believe you will find I am well past the age of learning new things." The Lady spoke as if Elizabeth should have already known that.
"I have found that one is never truly too old to learn, should they truly wish too." She challenged the woman, and it seemed the woman was ready to rise to the challenge.
After finding some old fabric, and showing the woman a few simple stitches the two worked in silence for a short while. "Miss Bennet, I confess to being surprised at the kindness shown to myself and my poor daughter, these past days. Especially after..." She trailed off, clearly struggling to find the right words.
"I confess, had it been just you here, you may not have found such kindness your ladyship. However, seeing the state your daughter was in, as well as the struggles she has had has brought out our protective instincts. Seeing your fear and care for her, well, that has also softened us to you." She didn't pull any punches, wanting the woman to understand the chance she was being given.
The woman was quiet as she seemed to ponder this for a moment. "You and your sisters all seem to be relatively close to your mother. Indeed, even my own niece has come to see her as a mother figure." She paused again as if searching for the words. "I have often wished for a similar relationship with my own daughter as well as said niece, but have always come up lacking."
Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder how candid she should be with the Lady, for it was true she would very soon be her own aunt. "Pardon me, your ladyship, we girls, my sisters and I, know that everything my mother does is out of a desire to see us well settled, and therefore safe from the hedgerows she has long feared. I will confess, that in the past some of her methods and behaviors were hard to stomach or even understand, but eventually we, I myself especially, have come to understand her fears, and helped her to see how her projecting them on to us has done more harm that good.
"I feel the same could be said for you, your daughter, and your nephew. It is your desire to see a union between them, but it has never aligned with their own desires. You continuing to push said desire has done naught but force them to push back to maintain their own happiness. The level of disconnect this has created, while not insurmountable, will take time to repair, should you so desire it.
"As for Georgiana, the dear girl is simply shy, and you have a rather commanding presence that she can't help but be overwhelmed by." She tried to speak gently, hoping the woman would be open to self reflection.
Later that afternoon, while walking in the gardens near Longbourn she almost let out a cry of alarm when someone reached out from behind a hedge and pulled her easily into a pair of strong arms. Indeed, the sound would have escaped had it not been for the set of lips sealed perfectly over her own. The owner of said arms and lips became quickly apparent, causing her body to relax into the warm firm chest, and her arms to climb upwards to wrap around the owners neck. The moment her fingers found the curls at the nape of his neck, the gentleman deepened the kiss, and she happily gave herself over to it.
"I thought your business in town was going to keep you a few more days." She spoke when they broke apart.
"I found I had ample enticement to finish it quickly." He spoke before leaning down to steal another kiss. "I should hope you are not too disappointed to have me returned here earlier than expected." His teasing comment earned him a light slap to the arm.
She then leaned back in for another kiss, waiting until his eyes slipped closed before gently pushing out of his arms. Turing quickly she took off at a run her laughter ringing through the air. His followed quickly as what had just happened caught up to him, and he took off after her.
Her laughter increased as he caught her and spun in circles with her in his arms. "These next two weeks had better pass quickly." Mr Darcy spoke as he looked into Elizabeth's smiling eyes.
From the window if her father's study another couple watched on. "Should we put a stop to that, it isn't exactly proper?" Fanny Bennet asked her husband, wringing her hands.
"Let them have their fun, they aren't doing anything too untoward." Her husband spoke with a smile. It was at that moment that their eyes truly met, and both realized just how close they had been standing. As it pulled together by an unseen force their lips met in a gentle kiss.
"I'm sorry, I forgot myself for a moment there." Mr Bennet spoke as they broke apart.
"I'm not, I found it...rather enjoyable." His wife said with a timid smile, which was rewarded with another gentle kiss.