Many thanks to my beta reader and co-author Sam. H.
PPP
Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth and Kitty arrived at Netherfield Park after 7:00 P.M. Caroline greeted them formally, and then invited them to the main dining room to serve dinner.
Bingley sat down next to Elizabeth, and they began to talk animatedly. Darcy had to settle for sitting next to Miss Bingley and Mrs. Bennet. Caroline chattered incessantly during the meal about subjects that were of no interest to the others. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet said very little, scowling at Bingley and Elizabeth.
Kitty was seated next to the Hursts, but due to the differences of age and interests, they did not converse with her during dinner.
After dinner, which only Bingley and Elizabeth enjoyed, Caroline invited the ladies to the music room, and Bingley went with Darcy and Hurst to the library for brandy.
Twenty minutes later, there was a loud noise outside, followed by thunder, and it began to rain. Worried, they looked out the window and saw that lightning had split a tree in half, both sides falling to block the entrance to Netherfield.
In a state of panic and fear for her daughters' safety, Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, "Lizzy, Kitty, we must leave immediately before the storm gets any worse!"
Darcy looked out of the window and realized it would be unwise for the ladies to leave the safety of the house at this time. With a firmness in his voice, he said, "Mrs. Bennet, it is very dangerous for you to leave at this time. The wind is very strong, and it may yet cause more trees to fall. There is very little visibility, and you would be putting your life, and the life of your daughters in danger if you were to attempt to return to Longbourn."
"But we cannot stay here any longer. My son and youngest daughter are waiting for us at Longbourn. I am sure they are worried about us by now." She responded, alarmed.
"Mama, Mr. Darcy is correct; it is too dangerous for us to go out into that weather." Elizabeth looked out the window, worried as she said that.
Bingley and Darcy looked at Caroline pointedly, and resignedly, she made the invitation, "Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Darcy is correct; it is dangerous for you to return home tonight. It will be a pleasure for us to have you stay the night at Netherfield."
Reluctantly, Fanny understood that it was indeed not prudent for her and her daughters to return to Longbourn. Smiling weakly, she replied, "Thank you very much, Miss Bingley. We accept your kind invitation."
Caroline nodded and said, "I shall speak to the housekeeper to have bedchambers prepared."
Half an hour later, the housekeeper escorted Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and Kitty to their respective bedchambers. Caroline and Mrs. Hurst lent them nightrails so they could sleep more comfortably.
It was a long and sleepless night for poor Mrs. Bennet. At her request, her daughters locked the doors to their bedchambers, but that did not guarantee Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy would not have copies of the keys. She was so afraid either of them would try to enter one of her daughters' bedchambers; she chose to sit against the door that led to the hallway to hear any movement in the hallway. By 5:00 in the morning, Fanny was exhausted and finally fell asleep, leaning against the door. She woke up 3 hours later, tired and uncomfortable and climbed into her bed, exhausted.
PPP
Elizabeth had a habit of waking up at dawn, and that day was no exception. She quickly dressed in the same dress from the day before and went to the library to look for something to read.
To her surprise, Mr. Darcy was in the library, sitting in a comfortable armchair engrossed in a book. Elizabeth hesitated whether to leave or stay, but Mr. Darcy, seeing her, greeted her cordially, "Good morning, Miss Bennet, I see you are up early as well."
"Good morning, Mr. Darcy. Yes, I have a habit of waking up at dawn. What are you reading?" she asked curiously.
"The Republic or the State."
"Plato." Elizabeth smiled. "In my opinion, it is his best work."
"You may have noted my surprise when you mentioned you had read Plato, during our conversation at Sir William's home. You are the first woman I have known who has a genuine interest in reading the works of the great Greek philosophers."
Elizabeth smiled at him and said, "My habit and love of reading is mainly due to my father's influence. When I was twelve, he encouraged me to read every book in Longbourn's library. After which, we would spend hours discussing each book I read."
"What do you like most about this work?" He held up the book he was reading.
Elizabeth thought for a few seconds, "Hmm, I liked the book as a whole, but if I had to choose one part, I would choose 'the allegory of the cave.' And you?"
Darcy nodded in agreement. "I agree with you. As you see," he pointed to the library that was practically empty, "the Netherfield library has very few books. If you would like, I can lend you some of the ones I brought with me."
Surprised, Elizabeth replied, "Your offer is most kind, Sir. What books did you bring?"
At that precise moment, Mrs. Bennet entered the library looking for Elizabeth, and they ended the conversation.
PPP
After breakfast, Mrs. Bennet was ready to return home with her daughters. Hours earlier, a footman had gone to Longbourn to deliver a note from Mrs. Bennet to Lydia and Mrs. Hill.
The footman informed Darcy and Bingley of some fallen trees blocking the main road, and of other trees at risk of falling over due to the strong winds.
Darcy and Bingley had horses saddled and cautiously made their way down the road toward Longbourn. They found that, in addition to the tree downed the night before in front of Netherfield, two other trees were blocking the road. They would need to be removed from the road before Mrs. Bennet's carriage could pass. However, it began to rain heavily again, so they returned to Netherfield.
Fanny was anxiously waiting for them, and Darcy was in charge of breaking the news to her.
"Mrs. Bennet, there are two more trees blocking the main road, making it impossible for a carriage to pass." He gestured toward the window, "When it stops raining, we will arrange for their removal, so you can go home. In the meantime, you and your daughters may remain at Netherfield."
"But… it may continue to rain all day..."
"Unfortunately, that is a strong possibility. The wind is very strong, and it is risky to be out in the open. I am very sorry."
Resignedly, Fanny nodded, telling her daughters that they would have to stay, at least, until the rain stopped.
Of all the people who were at Netherfield, without doubt, the one who was most pleased that Mrs. Bennet and her daughters needed to continue their stay at Netherfield, was Bingley. Every day, he became more fascinated with the pretty Miss Bennet and thoroughly enjoyed her company. His fascination with one beautiful lady after another was in the past. Elizabeth was different, she was not his usual blond-haired, blue-eyed angel. What he liked most about Elizabeth was not her physical appearance – although she was very handsome – but her character, her kindness and intelligence. She had a way of making him laugh that no one else could.
During a light lunch, Bingley sat next to Elizabeth again, and Kitty sat next to Miss Bingley. Kitty listened attentively to Caroline's comments about London...
"I have not yet had the opportunity to visit London, but my father has promised I may accompany him the next time he goes on business." Kitty said enthusiastically.
"It is a shame you have not visited the city. It is so superior to Meryton. Bond street has some of the best dressmakers and shops in the country." Miss Bingley smiled and added, "You must attend the theater and walk in Hyde Park."
"I have heard of Almacks. Have you ever attended a ball there?" asked Kitty.
"No, I have not been fortunate to receive an invitation. But surely that will change soon."
After lunch, Caroline asked her brother to accompany her to speak with the housekeeper to go over some of the damage to the house from the storm the night before. Elizabeth went to the library to look for a book, and noted there was a chess board and two chairs set up near one of the corners. With curiosity, she approached and looked closely at the position of the pieces on the board.
"Do you play chess, Miss Bennet?" Darcy asked curiously.
Elizabeth, who had not seen him in the library, was startled when she heard him. But quickly recovered, and answered, "Yes, I learned several years ago. My father taught me, so he might have a willing victim whenever he wished to play, but I am no expert."
"What do you think of this match?"
"Black seems close to winning. Whose turn is it to move?"
"It is black's. What move would you make?"
Elizabeth smiled. "I would move the Bishop to D4, and Check. Depending on white's move, it could be checkmate in a move or two."
Darcy nodded.
"Do you know who was playing this game?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
Darcy nodded again, "Bingley and myself."
"Who played with black?"
"Me." Darcy smiled, and after vacillating for a moment, he asked, "Would you care to play a game with me?"
Elizabeth hesitated, but finally nodded. She enjoyed playing chess, and had very few opportunities to play with good opponents, aside from her father, who had been a champion at the University.
Gallantly, Darcy said, "You can play with white."
Elizabeth nodded, and they began to play.
Shortly afterwards, Bingley joined in to watch the game. The match was closely tied, but Darcy eventually won.
"I am very impressed, Miss Bennet. You play very well."
"Thank you, but not quite well enough to win, Mr. Darcy." She smiled sweetly to show no hard feelings.
"Darcy was a chess champion at Cambridge, Miss Bennet, and he won second place in the last tournament at White's." Bingley said very enthusiastically.
"My father was champion at Oxford two years in a row. Perhaps you might play a game with him someday, Mr. Darcy."
"With pleasure, Miss Bennet..."
The rest of the day went by without any sign of the rain letting up, to Fanny's growing anxiety. Caroline had to invite them to stay overnight yet again, which only served to distress Fanny even more. Just like the night before, she sat leaning against the door, listening for any signs of movement or noise in the hallway. However, her lack of sleep from the night before took its toll, and she succumbed to sleep quickly.