The success of the outing was celebrated that evening by Mrs Bennet, who demanded every detail from her daughters. Satisfied that Mr Bingley's preference was fixed, she settled into her chair and sent smug, approving smiles and pleased looks at her most favoured daughter.
As they readied themselves for bed that night, Elizabeth joined her elder sister in her chamber. Settling on the corner of the bed and leaning up against the dark wood of the post, she watched Jane brush out her hair. Finally, she gave voice to a question that she had considered most of the day as she had successfully diverted her mother's attention.
"When will you tell Mama that you are courting?"
To her surprise, an expression of guilt and chagrin crossed Jane's face.
Jane laid down the brush on her dressing table before turning to face her. "In truth, I confess I had hoped, well, forgive me, Lizzy, it seems selfish, but I had hoped that if at all possible, I would not."
"Would not?" Elizabeth repeated in shock.
"Yes." Jane bit her lip, wringing her hands together. "Only there is no issue of consent. I am of age and Charles, that is Mr Bingley." Jane broke off, blushed, then sighed. "It would bring Mama such joy to know that we are courting and it is selfish of me to keep that from her. Especially when, well, should Mr Bingley ask to change our courtship to an engagement he is assured of my agreement in the matter. But should Mama be told, then… Oh Lizzy, this time we have now, that Papa has granted us, it is wonderful."
"You cannot think that being engaged would not be equally wonderful?"
"Oh, I am sure it shall be, but the expectation… Mama will want to focus on the wedding. On plans and clothes. I am sure I shall enjoy that when the time comes, but now, as we are, there is time. I do wish to marry him, you understand, but once I have done so, I must leave Longbourn, my sisters, Mama, Papa. Once that step is undertaken, it cannot be undone. Once Mama knows about the courtship, she will want an engagement, once we are engaged, she shall want a wedding.
"Being married will allow you all the time in the world to spend with your Mr Bingley," Elizabeth pointed out, smiling softly.
"Yes but as his wife. Mrs Bingley," Jane blushed as she uttered the title, "is not Jane Bennet. I wish to know Charles as Jane Bennet before I become Mrs Bingley." Jane twisted her fingers tighter in her lap, an earnest look upon her face, imploring her sister to understand.
"It is not for much longer," Jane added. "We thought before our Aunt and Uncle leave after Christmastide an announcement of our engagement could be made. That would allow us at least two months for our engagement then we could wed in late March or early April."
"Goodness, I had not known that your plans are so set between you both," Lizzy said with a mischievous glance.
"Well, we had some time to talk today, and we have discussed the fundamentals during Charles' visits."
"But you intend to keep your courtship a secret from Mama?"
"Yes, I know I should not."
"No, Jane, dearest sweetest Jane, you should. It is possibly the most selfish thing I have witnessed you doing, and I congratulate you for it. Mama is as she is, and if you wish to spend some time as Jane Bennet being wooed by Mr Bingley, then you should, and you shall. Papa will not say anything, and all your sisters will keep your secrets."
"Thank you, Lizzy."
"You do not need to thank me, Jane. Your happiness is enough reward."
When the Netherfield party entered the parlour the next day, Mr Darcy was among the party. Lizzy stood from her seat and approached the gentleman as Mr Bingley and Georgiana settled themselves into their favoured seats with their preferred companions.
"Mr Darcy, my father sends his regrets. A tenant matter has demanded his absence, and thus he will not be able to engage you today in a rematch himself."
She watched closely as Mr Darcy took in her message, his eyes flickered around the room as if evaluating the necessity of remaining. "Perhaps," she continued, "if you should wish, you might engage me in my father's stead?" She gestured to the smaller chess board set up on a side table with two chairs drawn up to it.
Mr Darcy looked at the setting then at her, his gaze assessing. Elizabeth fought her blush at her bold offer to the gentleman who she was still sure didn't entirely approve of her, and raised her chin slightly in an unconscious challenge.
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth." He took a step towards the table, then gestured her ahead of him. "Your father taught you to play?"
"Certainly, he did," Elizabeth agreed as she took her seat.
"Have you been playing long?"
Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow at her opponent as he settled into his chair. "For some time yes, though the length of time that someone is familiar with the game cannot be said to reflect on the ability of the player."
Mr Darcy nodded, then as Elizabeth had taken her place behind the black pieces, made his opening move.
Elizabeth watched him as they exchanged moves. Papa had suggested that she play against him after confessing that Mr Darcy had employed a gambit that he hadn't seen used very often. Intrigued she'd waited for the opportunity.
"You have selected Hobson for your defence Miss Elizabeth. Is that a preferred strategy?"
"Not at all," she demurred.
"But it is not a common choice. The opening is easily defended against."
"Yet you have not taken the necessary steps to do so Mr Darcy, perhaps because you own strategy while unknown to me requires a rigid opening gambit."
"Ah, you have spoken to your father about our games."
"Indeed, Mr Darcy. You do not think he would send me unarmed against you. He says you are a worthy opponent, but I am not at my father's level of skill, so I hope I shall not offer too poor an opponent."
Mr Darcy nodded in acknowledgement before turning his attention to the board. Conversation between them ceased as they both applied themselves to the pieces before them. Elizabeth watched with great curiosity as Mr Darcy set forth towards his mid-game. Her father had only told her of the turning points from opening to mid-game, then mid-game to end-game, so that she could recognise them. Everything else he had left for her to discover herself, and she was keen to learn if it were a strategy she would be able to master and use.
As the game had progressed, Elizabeth had decided that the strategy Mr Darcy employed was quite devilish. She had nearly been caught twice by him and only succeeded in almost capturing him once. It was, she decided, going to be a close-run thing as they entered the beginning of the end-game. They held the board mostly evenly—the tactic she had chosen being more flexible against the domineering strategy Mr Darcy was employing. Papa had hinted that it was such an approach, and she had decided before ever inviting Mr Darcy to play and hoping he would accept, that she would have to employ something that allowed her flexibility as she went against him.
As Mr Darcy considered his move, Elizabeth took her gaze from the board for the first time since they had sat down. The rest of the room had entirely faded from her consciousness as they played. There had been a little conversation between them for what, she was startled to discover, was nearly half an hour. From the face of the clock, her eyes flitted about the room, to her very great surprise other than Mary, who sat at a table with a book, it was quite empty.
"Mary?" Elizabeth questioned, drawing Mr Darcy's attention from the board also.
Mary smiled faintly. "Jane and Mr Bingley chose to take a walk around the garden. Kitty and Georgiana are with them as they wished to practise their sketching. Mama is with Hill, and I remained here. Shall I call for some tea? You have both been quite engrossed and may wish for some refreshments."
"Yes, please," Elizabeth answered with a glance at Mr Darcy.
Mary crossed to the bell and rang for the tea before venturing closer. "I confess that I have not seen your strategy before Mr Darcy, and so have not paid a great deal of attention to my book."
"Please," Mr Darcy said, "allow me to draw your chair closer so you may have a better view. Do all the Miss Bennets play chess?" He selected a chair and positioned it closer to their table, before taking a moment to stretch his limbs subtly.
"Well," Elizabeth said, also standing and taking a minute to stretch her limbs. Sitting without moving for so long did not bother her, but it was pleasant to take a moment. She was only surprised that they had not been interrupted before now. "Papa taught us all. I believe that neither Jane nor Lydia practise or play as often as Mary, Kitty or I."
"Does Georgiana play?" Mary asked as she settled into her chair, taking a closer look at the play laid out before her.
"I have not taught her," Mr Darcy admitted looking a little chastened. "I did not believe that she wished to play as she has never made the request to me. That is not to say that one other of our relations has not taught her. I have not found many ladies of my acquaintance who play and fewer still who have a deeper understanding of the game."
Elizabeth re-took her seat, Mr Darcy, joining her. "We are fortunate in Papa being such a willing tutor, though I rather think it is a little self-motivated. While he maintains many games via correspondence, it is not quite the same as sitting over the physical board."
The tea was delivered with a plate of small pasties. Mary poured and served out a selection of the edibles on to plates, before laying the cups and filled plates on a small side table reachable by both parties sat over the chessboard. By unspoken agreement, Elizabeth and Mr Darcy kept from picking up their game while they partook of the refreshments.
A light conversation on the topic of each person's preferred pastry, to which Mr Darcy politely demurred showing favouritism to any selection, while praising Longbourns cook for their skill, took place while they ate. The game only resumed when the plates were finally empty, and Mary had poured the second cup of tea. Elizabeth made her move, and the quietude of concentration began to fill the room again.
It was just as she made her move to capture Mr Darcy's king that the sound of the door opening and the chattering of quiet conversation broke in sharp contrast across the silence.
Elizabeth jumped slightly, catching a suppressed flinch mirrored in her opponent. Their eyes met in rueful amusement, before his fell to the board once again, then flickering over the new company.
"Lord, Darcy, are you still at it?" Mr Bingley's jovial voice exclaimed as he came over to the board with Jane happily on his arm. Elizabeth caught her sister's glance as it flickered over their little party of three and smiled slightly to indicate that all was well.
"Still at it indeed," Mr Darcy replied distractedly, he examined the board, a look of dawning surprise on his face as he saw the effect of Elizabeth's last move. "In truth, you have timed it quite badly. Had you been but five minutes later I could have told you that Miss Elizabeth has performed admirably and that the game was an enjoyable way to pass the time."
"Pass the time? You've sat over the table for over an hour!" Mr Bingley interrupted.
"Yes, quite a short game. Well, due to your quite abysmal timing," Mr Darcy continued wry humour colouring his tone, "you shall now have to witness my capitulation to Miss Elizabeth." With that, he knocked over his king. "You had me," he said to her. "I confess it though I should much have preferred that Bingley not see it."
Elizabeth did not get the chance to puzzle out that last statement before the answer became self-evident.
"By Jove, you mean to say Miss Elizabeth beat you?" Mr Bingley exclaimed loudly.
"Yes," Mr Darcy said with obvious sufferance.
"But," Mr Bingley spluttered as he began to smile broadly. "Ho!" he exclaimed. "Ho! Well, this is a memorable occasion, is it not? I shall think my timing fortuitous indeed. For all the world I should not have missed this. Miss Elizabeth, please, allow me to shake your hand." He approached with his hands outstretched.
Puzzled, but more than a little amused, Elizabeth gave over her hand to Mr Bingley who shook it firmly. She sent a querying look over to Mr Darcy who sat back in his chair, a small smile curling the corner of his lips at his friend's antics.
"It is hardly as rare as all that, Mr Bennet has given me several good games in these last three weeks. Some of which I've lost."
"You mean to say this is not the first time you have lost a match since coming to Hertfordshire?" Mr Bingley said, staring in amazement at his friend.
"No," Mr Darcy acknowledged.
"You said nothing of it."
"Might I ask Mr Bingley, why Mr Darcy's defeat has caused you such joy?" Elizabeth interrupted.
Mr Bingley turned to Elizabeth. "Well, it is a matter of a small wager between us. My friend there has some little skill in chess. Quite popular an opponent during his days at Cambridge. Might have won a match or two for the school's honour—that sort of thing." Mr Bingley grinned at his obvious chaffing of his friend. "Since he has such a prodigious talent-,"
Mr Darcy interrupted, openly scoffing.
"No, no. Come, Darcy, you must not interrupt. As I was saying Miss Elizabeth, since he is such a prodigious talent, it became something of a challenge to find a worthy opponent. Darcy and I have a small ongoing wager, nothing serious you understand, that I should be the one to find him opponents and if they should manage to triumph over my friend, then I should be the winner of our wager. In this instance, I think I have won on two accounts. Since it is on my behalf you were introduced to Mr Bennet and Miss Elizabeth."
"Yes," Darcy said. "Indeed Bingley, you may take credit for both."
"Excellent!" Mr Bingley said, smiling widely. "One does like to be of service to his friends where he can."
The small party laughed at the joke. Mr Bingley led Jane over to the settee as Mary headed to call for a fresh pot of tea. Mr Darcy held out his arm to Elizabeth.
"I congratulate you on your win," he said quietly. "Bingley did not allow me the opportunity."
"I thank you. It is enjoyable to have new people against whom to play. I hope that despite Mr Bingley making much of my victory, which I believe was down to some luck, that you would play against me once more."
"It was not luck," Mr Darcy replied earnestly, guiding her to a chair within the grouping where the rest of the company had settled. "I made a mistake, and you were astute at recognising and capitalising upon it. Indeed even had I not, I am not sure that I should have won our match in any case. I would like to play against you again, although I think perhaps there is not time today. I should not wish to outstay my welcome."
"You are welcome to return at any time Mr Darcy," Elizabeth said, colouring lightly at his praise. "I should be happy to have a rematch. Tell me, do you often prevail against the opponents Mr Bingley finds for you."
"Often," he answered. "Which is why Bingley is so pleased to find you have beaten me. As your father does, I participate in matches via correspondence. Though fewer than I have noticed your father seems to play. It is usually only when Bingley and I are in Town together that he may introduce me to others, and those occasions are not many."
"Then I am glad that your stay in Hertfordshire has granted you the opportunity to play."
"Indeed, I shall I believe, ask Mr Bennet if he would engage in a match by correspondence. He may not wish to, considering the number he already is participating in, but I would enjoy the opportunity."
"I'm sure he would agree, and if I may be so bold as to reveal one of Papa's secrets, some of those games he is not playing." Elizabeth's smile was mischievous.
"Is that so," Mr Darcy smiled in return. "Is there no concern of discovery?"
"Not at all," Elizabeth replied. "I am reasonably sure that should the scheme be discovered the gentlemen may find they would not believe it. And you must own that they can have little cause to complain when they are not winning."
Mr Darcy threw back his head and laughed. The sound startled the other occupants of the seating, and at Mr Bingley's enquiry of the joke Mr Darcy waved him off.
"In that case, Miss Elizabeth, perhaps I might apply to your father for permission to begin a game by correspondence directly with yourself and save you the subterfuge."
"And spoil Papa's little joke? That will never do Mr Darcy. However, should you apply to Papa I am sure he will allow you to engage him, and then possibly let the task of replying fall to me."
Mr Bennet did not return by the time the Netherfield party rose to take their leave. Mr Darcy saw no need in leaving a note for the gentleman, sure that he would have the occasion to speak to him in the future. As the party moved to the door, it was disclosed that the gentlemen had some matters at Netherfield to attend to over the following days. This meant the next time they would be able to be in company with the Bennets was to be the evening of the Lucas' party four days hence. Georgiana would be in attendance as it was to be a small intimate party, and Lady Lucas had gone so far as to invite her personally.
Satisfied that they would soon all be in company again, Mr Darcy handed his sister into the waiting carriage, followed her in, and waited only an extra minute before Mr Bingley joined them. The Bennet sisters remained on the covered porch until the carriage had travelled around the bend in the drive and was no longer in sight.
AN: I'm not dead, and this story isn't abandoned.