The chair hard beneath him helped to Center his thoughts some, but not enough. Pen in hand, slowly losing himself to his own thoughts. No! He had to write to Georgiana. He was yet to fill her in on the ball almost a full fortnight ago. He had been painfully negligent since he arrived, too distracted, with the madness that he found himself in. He wanted to write to sister, but despite himself, he found his thoughts time and again being dragged back to Lizzie. He couldn't fathom why he found it so hard to speak to her. In his dreams he'd always be free to flirt merrily and although he never spoke of it aloud, he knew he showed his love for her in his actions, but that was when she was imaginary. It seemed that now he knew her as a flesh and blood being he couldn't help but stammer, and make a fool of himself. Not that Lizzie said anything of it. But flesh and blood she was and very much the woman you'd fallen in love with. In any ordinary situation marrying her would be unthinkable. Her lower social standing, lack of dowry and poor connections, would make them an unsuitable match. But this wasn't ordinary, they weren't ordinary. She was his world, his constant since adolescence. But any time he got near her he just couldn't speak his mind.
He heard her voice long before they entered the room. The screeching high-pitched whine, grated on his frayed nerves.
"And how is it I, as your own sister, get absolutely no saying this at all Charles! Do you not care for me at all? To marry her will lower my own chances. She is a no one! A country no one!"
The last was screeched as she followed her long-suffering brother into the formally peaceful room.
"Oh Mr Darcy" She'd spotted him at the desk. Her tone dropped the fishwife quality, but picked up an equally annoying, syrupy, sweet cadence. "Have you heard this? What my selfish brother wishes to do?"
"Indeed, in fact, I doubt anyone on this floor could've missed the fact" he really wasn't in the mood for her right now. " Am I to take it that my congratulations are in order?"
" Congratulations!?" Caroline repeated aghast. Both men ignored her.
"Yes, I gained Mr Bennett's consent first thing. Then went straight to my angel and offered to her, to my delight she agreed"
Miss Bingley gave a snort of derision.
"Well then congratulations, my friend. I know Miss Bennett to be a kind, good natured, gentlewoman. You are well matched."
"You know Miss Bennett to be? I had no idea you were so close with the Bennetts. Perhaps you should introduce them to your uncle, the Earl" Her fake cackling laugh reverberated around the room. Both men looked upon her with poorly masked disgust.
" I know for a fact that my uncle would find Mr Bennett most simulating in conversation" He turned himself away from her, intentionally, cutting having a conversation
" Do you have plans on the rest of the day?"
"Indeed Darcy, as I was trying to tell Caroline, we are to expect Miss Bennett, along with her father and sister for tea"
"Her sister?" Charles quirk a small smile at his friend.
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth will be joining us. The two of you appear to get on very well" Darcy refused to rise to the bait. Instead refocusing his friend with another question.
" Mr Bennett? Not Mrs Bennett?"
" Alas no. Mrs Bennett is unavoidably detained today. What with the preparation of Miss Mary's upcoming wedding"
"Of course. Well, I will leave for my room then. So I might finish my letter in time to ready to receive your guests" He gave a small bow and hotfooted from the room. He couldn't quell the excitement that bubbled up within him, such as it was whenever he was due to see Lizzie.
The air outside was bitter in the carriage it was not much better. Mr Bennett had never been so grateful that Netherfield was so close a neighbour.
"Now Lizzie" He turned to the younger of the two girls "Please remember we are in mixed company. So behave" The glint in his eye accentuated his teasing tone.
"Papa?" Jane asked curiously. It had become obvious to her as of late that her sister and father has been having secret conversations masked in seemingly innocent comments.
The only response she gained, however, was a hearty laugh from her father. She was beginning to suspect some type of understanding between Lizzie and Mr Darcy, as a gentleman had visited her father often since the ball and her sister joined them more often than not.
The room is thankfully warm as the guests were brought in.
"Mr Bennet, Miss Elizabeth" Bingley crossed the room to welcome the group " and my darling Jane." He reached out of class to hand in his.
" Mr Bingley, please, call me Lizzie. For are we not to be brother and sister?" They all chose to ignore the audible huff from the only other occupant of the room. Miss Bingley had not moved from her spot on the sofa.
" Only if you call me Charles" Was his good-natured response as he led the 3 to the comfortable seats close to the fireplace.
It was as they sat that the last of the group entered. Slightly flustered, but with long, insistent strides, Darcy crossed to the visitors.
" Bennett!" He greeted the man he was happy to call friend. " Apologies I was just finishing up a letter to my sister"
Miss Bingley finally spoke. "Oh yes, how is dear Georgiana? It feels an age since I last visited with her at Pemberley." She over emphasised the last two words in an attempt to show off her superior connection. Darcy stared on blankly. Only Lizzie knew him well enough to have noticed the fast flash of disgust crossing his features. "Oh yes, I was quite an raptures over the wonderful canvas she painted of the rose garden outside the library window"
Lizzie couldn't control the scoff as she automatically corrected the annoying woman.
"Study"
" Lizzie" Will whispered
"I'm sorry?!" Miss Bingley demanded.
" The Rose Garden sits outside the study window. The library has an unobstructed view right along to the lake" she sighed slightly, really she shouldn't let Caroline get to her so. Mr Bennett watched on, a wicked smile on his lips, while Will rather unsuccessfully tried to hide his laughter with a cough.
Miss Bingley went an alarm in the shade of red is rage filled her.
" I think I know where the Rose Garden is. I have been to Pemberley! Dined in its Hall and slept in its beds. Have you?" She sneered.
"No" Lizzie answered simply " but that fact doesn't change the location of the roses, does it?" Her arched eyebrow was the final straw that sent Caroline into a rage storming from the room the occupants heard her stomping feet, and the slamming doors until she reach the sanctuary of her room.
Thick silence filled the room.
" Lizzie" Will growled out, still looking at the door.
"Yes I know, I know… I'm not wrong though"
" That is beside the point child" Bennett chuckled
Jane and Charles sat waiting, but once it became clear that no further explanation would be forthcoming, they chose to simply ignore them. Darcy and Bennett set out a chessboard, and Lizzie sat close, but not too close, to the new couple. Peace washed over them all.
The room was empty, no book nor pen lay on his bed. What confused her however, was that his bedding had clearly been pulled back. As though someone had climbed out of it.
"Will?" She called out. No response. Taking a breath she made for the door hoping to find sign of him.
Oh, how she had missed this house. The halls and library were empty. His study too, but as she turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of something that made her smile.
"The rose garden?" She asked as he caught sight of her as the breeze rustled her skirt. The moon hung bright in the sky illuminating the whole garden for them, plucking one from its stem he went to her.
"It seemed apt. There were questions you know, after you left."
" I'm sorry. Caroline Bingley just….. she brings out the worst in me"
" And you hide it so well" He barked out a laugh as a slight flush crept up her face.
" Jane asked too. I simply said that you and Papa had spoken of Pemberley and I'd remembered."
"Really Lizzie. You are to be the death of me!" she laughed at this " but I am glad you are here. I need to speak to you" he met her expectant gaze. She didn't like the expression he wore. " I'm returning to London, it's Georgiana…she's not doing so well"
" You were just writing to her. What has occurred? Is she is unwell?" Lizzie couldn't hide her concern.
"She's… down. An express arrived earlier this evening from my Aunt Alice in London. I'm going first thing tomorrow." Lizzies face fell, disappointment clear upon it.
"She needs you Will. It's been wonderful having you here. In person I mean. But she obviously reached the limit and needs you back." Her features softened "Will you return for the wedding?"
"Charles and Janes? Yes. Mary's? I'm afraid not. Your father invited me, and I did intend to go, but… Could you pass on my apology on to him?"
"Of course"
And there they stood for a time. A heavy, though not awkward silence between them. Neither could look at the other. Instead Will focused on the rose in his hand, and Lizzie on the moon large over the lake.
"I'm going to miss you" Will bluntly stated as Lizzie asked "Why do you still sleeping in your boyhood room?"
Her "You will?" Collied with his " I don't"
Another silence followed. It stretched out between them until a low rumble broke through. Lizzie looked up at her friend as his rumbling chuckle became full unbridled laughter. She watched him somewhat puzzled although a small smile made it to her face.
"Of course I'll miss you Lizzie. This dream world is great, but in the real world. There, you are amazing." And with not a moment to think Will leant down and captured her lips in his.
After a time he rested he forehead against hers "And for the record, I left that bedroom when I was 18 and left for university" Still breathless and a little startled from the kiss Lizzie could only nod her understanding.
It was their first kiss, beautiful and pure, yet neither could quite forget the fact that it wasn't real.