Next chapter, and looking at where we are in the story, this will end up a little longer than I expected. I know some folks did not like Bingley telling Darcy off for things out of his control - poor Darcy was too stunned to defend himself, but he will have a friendly revenge in store later. For now however he has some apologising to do, so let's get on with it.

Chapter Five

The morning after his epiphany found Darcy riding alone at breakneck speed. He had slept badly, turning all of Bingley's words and his recent memories in his head. As he finally slowed down to give his horse a chance to rest, he spotted a young lady on her way up a steep hill. Miss Elizabeth Bennet, his Elizabeth, he would recognise her form and her walk anywhere, and could not resist directing his horse towards her to have a chance for a small conversation, and, should he be lucky enough, an apology.

"Miss Bennet," Darcy said stiffly with a small bow as soon as he had dismounted.

"Mr Darcy." Elizabeth was surprised to meet anyone on her morning ramble.

"I hope I am not interrupting your solitary walk." He said, desperately searching for the right words to say.

"You are, but it does not signify the interruption is unwelcome."

Mr Bingley had visited Longbourn while Elizabeth and Mary were at Lucas Lodge with their cousin, but Jane had shared most of the conversation with her closest sister and confidante late at night in their shared bedroom. Their mother and the younger girls were aware of the set down Jane had given her suitor and of his reaction at the time, but Elizabeth, knowing her sister's feelings and hopes for the younger gentleman, was keen to study his friend. Perhaps she could gain some insights into Mr Bingley's reaction to Jane's uncharacteristic outburst from Mr Darcy.

Not knowing what to say, Darcy decided to apologise directly, rather than wait for her eyes and wit to distract him, as they so often did. "Miss Elizabeth, I believe I owe you an apology. No, I should say several apologies, but I am likely to forget some."

She tilted her head to the right, observing his discomfort. "Then perhaps, you should start with the most important apology you believe I deserve and we can see where the conversation goes."

Her teasing smile was nearly enough to distract him once more, but Darcy managed to retain control of his thoughts for now. "I believe you heard my very ungentlemanly words at the assembly the night we met. I cannot recall what I uttered that evening without abhorrence, for these words were not only incredibly hurtful, they were also entirely untrue." He looked at her, begging her silently to see the truth in his eyes.

Elizabeth smiled sadly. "I believe we did not officially meet until two days later, for you declined all introductions, but yes, I did hear your opinion of my looks and prospects for the evening. I will not deny that I was hurt, or that I wondered what I might have done to earn your contempt in that manner before we even exchanged the most basic of greetings."

"You had done nothing, the fault lay entirely with me. I had arrived from London that same day, having left my sister behind unhappily. It does not excuse my behaviour, however. I did not even really look at you that evening, for if I had I could not have said such awful words. Even so, I should never have even thought such words about any young lady, and I despise myself for this. You must know they were untrue, you must realise that I have considered you one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance for some time now."

Elizabeth blushed brightly and barely whispered her answer. "I accept your apology, sir."

"You are generous, much more than I deserve, Miss Elizabeth. But it is not the only example of my conduct I wish to speak about." Darcy continued, "May I assume your sister has informed you of her discussion with my friend yesterday?"

She nodded.

"Bingley is a good man, Miss Bennet, a kind and gentle soul with a sound intellect. His greatest fault is a distaste for conflict, which I expect you have observed. I am afraid I have been a poor friend to him, and if I damaged his chances of winning the heart of your sister, I am very sorry and must beg for your help in repairing my errors. I cannot tell you how disappointed I have been in myself since Bingley opened my eyes to my failings these past weeks. I do not believe I betray his confidence too much by saying he is in love with your sister, as he told her himself; you must believe me when I say he would be a good husband to her, true and faithful, everything you may wish for her. I know she clearly cares nothing for his income, and for once I wish a lady was a little more mercenary so that his chances of winning her were higher." His eyes were down, staring at the ground between them.

Elizabeth reached out her hand and placed it on his sleeve. "Mr Darcy, the fact that you recognise your actions fell short of the expected behaviour of a gentleman and friend ensures my willingness to help. I also happen to believe Jane could be happy with your friend, and that is without regard to his fortune but depends on Mr Bingley managing to control his sisters better. You should not blame yourself; your aloofness was not as harmful or contemptible as their rudeness and perfectly audible snide comments."

"He is, or he will; forgive me for I am not making myself clear, Bingley does mean to control his sisters, he will do anything he must to ensure your sister is never uncomfortable in their home, should she forgive him." Darcy's mind was so preoccupied with the small hand on his sleeve that he struggled to form coherent sentences.

She smiled at him, a bright, friendly smile, so different from any she had previously directed at him. "Now, enough of these ladies, I believe if you wish to improve your reputation with my neighbours, I can provide you with a few topics to start the right conversations with and they will accept you fast enough."

Mr Darcy was humbled by the help Elizabeth was offering, for not only was she willing to forgive him, she appeared ready to help him with the whole community.

"Miss Elizabeth." He breathed out, unable to proceed any further.

"It is getting late, Mr Darcy, so it will need to wait for a better time." She said, removing her hand from his arm and leaving him to feel the loss. "I must return to Longbourn soon before I am missed at the breakfast table. You do not have to worry at all about my mother and sisters for I will talk to them and they will help as well. Seeing you in friendly conversation with all of us will do wonders to erase any previously perceived haughtiness."

"Why would you or your family help me when I treated you so horribly." His voice was barely above a whisper.

She laughed. "Because you admitted you were wrong, and it will make Jane happy; she keeps telling me you must be a good man to be Mr Bingley's particular friend. Now that you are attempting to prove her right, which naturally she enjoys being, we can do nothing less than to support your effort."

He smiled at her, gratefully. "Before you go, may I ask one more thing of you?" he asked, "yesterday I saw you in the company of George Wickham in Meryton. Please be careful, do not trust him and do not let your sisters near that man. As you said, we do not have time today, but will you allow me to explain my family's relation to Wickham on another occasion? I will also talk to your father at the earliest opportunity."

Puzzled by the intensity of his request, Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Sir, I would prefer if you say nothing to our father; I will explain at our next meeting, but Mr Bennet is not the right person to protect my sisters and our friends in Meryton. I will ensure all my sisters are aware and weary of his attentions," she answered, "perhaps you will be able to accompany your friend on one of his visits? It would give us more time to discuss that gentleman without any risk of impropriety."

After his agreement both returned to their friends or family in time to break their fast in company, their minds full of the other.

Elizabeth only had a few moments that day to tell her mother and sisters of her unplanned meeting with Mr Darcy and her improved opinion of the gentleman as an issue with one of Longbourn's long-term tenants required her full attention for most of the day and they were to attend their aunt's party in the evening, but she promised to share all the details with them at the earliest opportunity.

The six Bennet ladies were once more sitting in the pink parlour at the back of the house, enjoying some quiet time the morning after a late night spent in card games and dancing at Mrs Phillips' house in Meryton. Colonel Forster and several of his officers had attended as expected, including the newly appointed Lieutenant Wickham.

"Lizzy, you seem to have been in conversation with the very handsome lieutenant for quite some time at Aunt Phillips'." Lydia said teasingly, "Will you tell us what your conversation was about for it looked very serious?"

"First, sister," Jane interjected, "you did promise to tell us about your meeting with Mr Darcy on your walk in the morning."

Elizabeth happily recounted her accidental discussion with the northern gentleman the previous day, including his hopes for his friend and Jane. Her elder sister blushed very prettily at hearing of Mr Bingley's love via the man's best friend.

Mr Darcy's concerns about the newest member of the Militia led Elizabeth to move straight to her aunt's card party.

"This warning from Mr Darcy made last night all the more puzzling. I am tempted to believe him over Mr Wickham after his honest and open apology." Elizabeth was still mystified about the previous evening, but perhaps Mama and her sisters could help her sort through her thoughts.

"As you observed, Mr Wickham sought my company during the card party. Not expecting more than normal civilities, for we had only met the previous day and barely exchanged ten words, I acquiesced without thinking." She was frowning, attempting to recall all her feelings as well as the words the man uttered. "He turned the conversation towards Netherfield Park and its inhabitants very quickly indeed and asked about my opinion of our new neighbours. I did not want to share any of my feelings with a man I had just met, so only replied that Mr Bingley had instantly made a very positive impression on the community around here, while the rest of his party had not. I believe that was all the opening he was looking for."

She sighed. "Had Mr Darcy not apologised and assured me that he would support his friend's integration in Meryton's society that same morning I might have been taken in by the pretty story that man wove, but as it is my head and my temper were calm and collected enough to immediately see the inconsistencies in his tale, though I played along quite well I believe. The summary of it all is that Mr Wickham was old Mr Darcy's godson, being the son of his faithful steward; his godfather paid for his education and intended to see him set up for life with a valuable living near Pemberley, Mr Darcy's estate. Mr Wickham claimed that after the reading of the will, the current Mr Darcy disregarded his father's wishes and the living was given elsewhere."

"Oh, poor Mr Wickham!" Catherine exclaimed, her hand flying to her heart in shock.

"But that is the thing, Kitty, is Mr Wickham a victim here or just making himself appear so?" Elizabeth had thought about this story for a long time before falling asleep. "His tale is not consistent. He started by telling me that until he could forget the father, he would not expose the son, yet that is exactly what he did. He expressed his wish to have the living, but he does not appear to have taken orders; or if he is ordained why is he now in the Militia? Why has he not looked to secure another living? Mr Collins has managed very well despite having no connections to help him and being far less personable. And how would Mr Darcy be able to go against his father's will? These legal matters may be complex, as Uncle Phillips reminds us often, but if there was any hint of dishonest activity, Mr Wickham could have asked a solicitor to help sort things out. I do not know why he decided to share such a personal tale with a complete stranger, on only our second meeting as well, but it does not inspire confidence. His pretty words around my beauty and how he felt he knew me already and could trust me are so much wind and noise to hide his true purpose, and I cannot yet understand what he wished to gain."

Fanny Bennet sighed and answered her daughter's unspoken question. "Kitty said you met Mr Wickham the day before yesterday, and that Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley came upon you at that moment in the village. I suspect that young officer must have noticed that Mr Darcy's eyes were drawn to you, as they usually are."

Elizabeth started to protest, but her mother stopped her with a wave of her hand and a warm smile. "I know, I know, the man is highly unlikely to act on his preference, and you cannot give free reins to your imagination where he is concerned, but Mr Darcy can admire you without having any matrimonial design. If those two grew up together on the same estate, Mr Wickham will have recognised this attraction, and I suspect he was attempting a little mischief; for by turning your opinion completely against the man he so evidently dislikes, he may have hurt Mr Darcy. And I doubt he cared for a moment that you may also have been hurt in the process." Mrs Bennet looked sad, and her daughters just listened.

"I am afraid I did you all a disservice, my dear girls. You see, there was another regiment of soldiers stationed in Meryton nearly five and twenty years ago, and I kept some overly romantic ideas about them and did not warn you as I should have when Colonel Forster and his men arrived. Some are indeed wonderful gentlemen, brave men ready to defend our country, and they are the ones I decided to remember. But some are not at all decent people and I should have protected you better. I am sorry my darlings."

"What do you mean, Mama, the officers are all handsome gentlemen doing their duty to the King, are they not?" Fifteen years old Lydia was not yet able to see past the men's appearance.

"No, Lydia, my pet, they are not even all gentlemen, for it is quite common for the rich and privileged to simply pay other men to take on their duties. Take Mr Wickham as an example, he may have the right education, but he is no gentleman at all; a steward's son is no higher in society than any of our tenants." Lydia gasped, her mouth hanging open in surprise.

"Their status," her mother continued, "is not what you need to be protected against, for a lowly farmer or shopkeeper can often be a good and trustworthy person. No, it is their nature and character that is my concern here. While most of the officers would not wish to harm anyone in Meryton, there will be some who have no such scruples; men who will not hesitate to talk to a girl about love for a while and leave her ruined when the militia departs."

Fanny Bennet looked at each of her daughters in turn, finally resting her eyes on Elizabeth. "That man may have wanted to use the pity induced by his tale of woe for more than revenge against Mr Darcy, he may have wanted to make you feel sorry for him so that he could seduce you, Lizzy; we know he would never have succeeded, yet the attempt itself revolts me. He may try the same with any of our neighbours, and at this moment we may be the only people in the entire neighbourhood who will not believe everything that comes through that man's mouth, thanks to Jane's discussion with Mr Bingley and his friend's plea to you, my girl."

"Then what can we do to protect our neighbours?" Mary asked quite sensibly.

"We use my sister and Lady Lucas and start rumours, my loves." Mrs Bennet's face was suddenly sporting a wide grin. "We remind them of the debts and other transgressions of the previous regiment long ago, as my father and old Mr Lucas shared with us at the time, and let rumours take care of this new set of soldiers."

Elizabeth waited until most of her sisters were engaged in their usual activities to sit beside her mother.

"Mama, I have been wondering about how I can assist Mr Darcy in repairing his reputation in Meryton, and what to do besides informing you and my sisters and helping him start conversations," Elizabeth asked quietly.

"I believe you do want to help him, my Lizzy, don't you?" Mrs Bennet was observing her daughter closely. "I am sorry his position in life is so far from our own, my love, but as it is you must keep enough distance between the two of you; men of his class marry for status and riches, not for love, and despite our best efforts your dowries are still only three thousand pounds apiece, with another thousand when I am gone, which is not enough for such a man even if he knew of it. You can help him for a week or two when we are at functions together, but do not allow yourself to get too involved; I like your idea of making him talk more with our neighbours, as this will be a small punishment in itself for his initial indifference and I believe that just having the six of us and my sister being more friendly towards him will go a long way towards helping. You must promise me not to speak with him alone as you did yesterday again." She raised her hand to gently caress her daughter's cheek. "I know it was not done on purpose, but you have a reputation to protect, not just a heart. I think if you ask her nicely, Mary may be persuaded to walk with you in the mornings; it will do her good as she stays indoors too much, and with the militia about it would be safer in any case."

"I will, Mama," Elizabeth sighed, "I do like him. I did from the first moment I saw him, but I know you are correct. He has behaved properly at all times, even when he was too haughty and proud, so I do not fear him hurting me willingly, or harming my reputation; now that I am no longer trying to despise him, I do see the danger, Mama, I do. I will be careful, I promise." Fanny could see the unshed tears in Elizabeth's expressive eyes and her heart constricted for her child, who just like herself so long ago may have already fallen for a man she would never be able to marry. Elizabeth continued: "I had not thought of the changes a camp full of soldiers would bring to our community. I usually remain on Longbourn land or stray a little on the edges of Netherfield or Lucas Lodge, but there's no saying whether any of the soldiers or officers would even know where they were riding or walking. I will not walk alone outside the gardens around the house, you can be sure of it."

She rallied her spirits and smiled cheerfully at her mother. "I think I will go to town with Kitty and Lydia this afternoon; the bookshop has received some sheet music recently and Mary may enjoy having new material; after all, I may need to bribe her into getting up earlier. And we will stop at Lucas Lodge on the way back to talk to Charlotte."