Thank you once again for all your encouraging comments.

This next chapter will be a little longer and more serious and I hope you will continue to enjoy the read anyways. It will get lighter afterwards again, I promise.

To the side, the poor forgotten gardener, who had been sweeping the yard, stood with his broom in his hands and watched with wide eyes as the Bennet ladies reached the house, while Mr Darcy looked after them, flushed with anger and mortification.

Some days later, confined at Netherfield due to rain, Bingley was growing impatient with his friend's poor mood.

Two days ago, they had been out to inspect some fences and he wanted to conclude the outing by visiting the Bennets. Darcy had, of course, been grumbling about it but went along. When Bingley had gone to relieve himself briefly beforehand, Darcy had offered to go ahead to see to their horses and wait for him at the gates.

Then, of course, Darcy had disappeared and Bingley had come across that strange spectacle that Mrs Bennet and Miss Elizabeth had been making. Knowing his friend, he had assumed that Darcy too had seen it and tried his best to stay invisible, wherever he was. Accordingly, Bingley was not overly concerned when he had not found either Darcy or his horse at the Bennets. However, something must have happened that morning because ever since, Darcy was being a bear.

It had been some time since they had separated from the ladies after dinner this night and Darcy was still scowling with determination at his glass of port, just as he had done the last few days. Exasperated, Bingley sat up, set his glass on the side table and slapped his hands on the armrests of his seat. Enough was enough. Looking at Hurst, he said „Excuse us please, Hurst. Why don't you rejoin the ladies directly and help them set up the whist table? Darcy and I have something to discuss."

Mr Hurst just raised an amused eyebrow and heaved himself from his seat. „Very well. You owe me for that, though." Mr Bingley nodded impatiently and waited until Mr Hurst had closed the door behind him.

Then, he stood and rounded on his friend. „Out with it, Darce! You have been scowling and snapping like a caged tomcat ever since I came back from the Bennets three days ago. You never told me where you disappeared to either. Whatever is the matter?"

Mr Darcy's scowl only grew as his friend stood besides him expectantly. After a minute however, when it became clear that Mr Bingley would not leave him alone, Mr Darcy sighed, deflating. He looked up at his friend and fixed him with a serious gaze. „Tell me something, Bingley. Do I ‚give offense wherever I go'?"

This unexpected question took the wind out of Bingley's sails and he let out a startled laugh. "Where does this come from?" he asked. Noticing his friend's serious mien, he quickly turned sober.

Contemplating his Darcy's question, Bingley refilled his glas and sat down again. „Well…" he said slowly. „You have certainly made it clear to the neighborhood that you would rather not converse with them." Bingley paused, carefully observing his friend's reaction. „If they were very charitable, I'd expect they could believe you to be merely shy or withdrawn. Considering your question now, however, I guess it is more along the lines of you not finding them worthy of your time, and you overheard something to that effect. Am I right?"

Bingley looked at his friend curiously. He actually did have a bone to pick with Darcy, but had not quite known how to address it until now. So, with the opportunity presenting itself, he continued carefully. „I would not blame them, honestly. You refused introductions and dancing outright and actively discouraged any attempt to draw you into conversation. On our first evening in Hertfordshire society, you even declared to the room at large that the ladies in general and Miss Elizabeth in particular were not handsome, and that is putting it mildly."

At Bingley's explanations, Darcy's expression had slowly adopted a resigned cast. At the last statement however, his head shot up and he interrupted Bingley indignantly, yet with uncertainty tinting his voice and expression. „I most certainly did not!" His friend eyed him warily. „Yes you did. I'm sure I can recall the exact words, if you want me to."

When Darcy made no move to answer and only seemed like he would start brooding again, Bingley continued carefully. „I am very grateful to the people here that they still extended their welcome after that. You and Caroline made quite the team. That also made it really difficult for me to remind her of her manners, by the way."

At that, Darcy stared at Bingley incredulously, horrified realization slowly creeping into his expression. The comparison between him and Caroline seemed to have struck a nerve.

Seeing this friend's reaction and knowing his words had had their intended effect, Bingley felt quite satisfied with himself. He decided to milk it for what it was worth and grinned slyly. „That being said, I expect you to request a few soirees and dinner partys from Caroline! It is high time we returned at least some of our neighbours' many kind invitations."

Seeing that his friend was still speechless, he waggled his eyebrows and added for good measure „How about that ball that Miss Lydia Bennet has recently been angling for? That would be just the thing, don't you think?"

Darcy stared at Bingley with shock, thoughts racing through his mind. As the last words settled in, Darcy barked a brief humourless laugh.

Then leaned back and covered his face with his hand. „I apologise, Bingley. It seems I really have undermined your efforts to integrate yourself into the neighbourhood. I'm sorry for that."

His friend regarded him calmly and then answered. "Thank you for your apology Darcy. It is, of course, accepted. Will you tell me now what happened two days ago?"

Darcy was silent for a little while. Then he sighed and said „I do not feel up to telling that story right now. I cannot regard it with any humour yet. I am sorry. Another time, maybe. I believe I will leave for London for a time. To sort a few things out and find some space to think." He hesitated briefly, searching for the right words. "That can be hard to find here, with your sister being such an attentive hostess, I'm afraid."

With these words, Darcy pushed himself upright abruptly. „In fact, I believe I will leave at first light tomorrow, if the weather permits it. Expect me back in a week or two. I have not forgotten my promise to help you with the estate. You could try to get those fences mended in the meantime, and maybe get started on removing the debris from the southern field."

Bingley regarded Darcy, searching for something in his face. Then he nodded. "Alright. I wish you a good journey and hope to have you back soon. I will also speak to Caroline until then. Again." The last word was muttered under his breath before he continued in his usual tone. "I know she has been making you uncomfortable."

Bingley held out his hand and Darcy grasped it firmly. "All the best, old chap", the younger man said and his friend answered earnestly. "Thank you for this Bingley. I really appreciate it."

Darcy made his way through the room. Upon reaching the doorway he paused and looked back over his shoulder. „When you next call at Longbourn, would you please give Mrs Bennet my regards? I fear I have misjudged her gravely."

In the next room, Miss Bingley stood, her welcoming smile frozen and strangely at odds with her horrified gaze. When Darcy noticed her, he paused. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched. He turned back to his friend. „In fact, I have come to admire and respect her immensely."

Behind him, Miss Bingley fainted.