Hi

I appreciate all your comments.

To answer a few questions.

There will definitely not be a HEA for D&E. Darcy's attitude in this story is actually very much like the original. The difference is that this time he does not lower himself to propose to Elizabeth.

Both Oxford and Cambridge (and their students) think that they are better. It is an old rivalry. Some people just take it more seriously than others. 😊

For once I have even an outline. This story will probably be about novella length. Unless of course I do a Wade and end up with scope creep. 😉

~O~

Chapter 2

As was her habit, Elizabeth rose early and after being presented with a roll by the cook, she went out for her usual morning walk.

During her visit she had become familiar with many of the paths around Hunsford and Rosings and thoroughly enjoyed exploring this new territory.

This morning, she appreciated the opportunity to consider the visitors to Rosings without the distraction of Charlotte's opinions.

Elizabeth had enjoyed meeting Colonel Fitzwilliam, as he was everything a gentleman should be. He was polite, friendly and an engaging conversationalist. It seemed quite inconceivable that he could be related to Mr Darcy, because they had been in complete contrast.

Mr Darcy was as aloof and haughty as he had always been. From their first encounter, when he had declared Elizabeth tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him, until the day on which he left Hertfordshire their encounters had always been contentious.

She hoped that Lady Catherine was too proprietary of her nephews' company to invite the residents of the parsonage to dine during their stay.

Elizabeth chuckled to herself as she thought of the inhabitants of Rosings. Lady Catherine was loud and overbearing. Miss de Bourgh on the other hand was completely overshadowed by her mother. She appeared sickly and cross and it amused Elizabeth to imagine Mr Darcy shackled to such a creature.

As she came to that conclusion, she reached the point where she felt the need to turn around, to allow her to return to the parsonage in time for breakfast. While she had enjoyed the bread roll which cook had given her, it was wearing off and her exercise was giving her an appetite.

She had not gone far when she came to a place where another path joined the one which she was traversing. And seemingly as if her thoughts had called him, one of the gentlemen from Rosings approached her with a big smile.

Colonel Fitzwilliam hailed her with a wave and lengthened his stride to catch up with her. 'Well met, Miss Bennet. I had reconciled myself to a lonely walk to get my morning's exercise, but I am delighted to encounter you. Please say that I may accompany you.'

'Good morning, Colonel. How could I possibly deny a plea like that. I have to warn you though, I have just turned around to head back to the parsonage.'

'Still, half an hour in pleasant company is significantly better than walking on my own.'

'Some people might disagree with you and say that at times even the best company is an intrusion.'

'Are you one of those people?'

'Sometimes, but you are fortunate that today is not one of those days.'

They set off at a leisurely pace towards Hunsford and Elizabeth was surprised that instead of offering his arm, the Colonel walked with his hands clasped behind his back.

Being used to a brisker walking pace she commented, 'Colonel, you do not have to keep to a ladylike stroll for my sake. I assure you that, unlike the delicate flowers of society, I can keep up with a decent walk.'

Fitzwilliam glanced at Elizabeth in some discomfort as he said, 'I never doubted that you can, Miss Bennet, but I have two reasons for strolling rather than striding. One, it will afford me more time in your company and two, I am still not fully recovered from my injuries and therefore incapable of a sustained walk at speed.' He shrugged and added, 'Which is also why I did not offer you my arm. I suspect that you are steadier on your feet than I am at present.'

'Forgive me for forgetting that you were wounded on your last campaign,' cried Elizabeth in mortification. 'But your manner is all that is energetic, making it hard to remember.'

'In truth, I prefer people to forget about my injuries as I despise the pity it engenders.' In an effort to change the direction of their conversation he said, 'Miss Bennet, while I was flattered that you would remember my exploits, I wonder how you came to know about them.'

'You have an exceedingly proud father,' Elizabeth replied with a bright smile, just as eager to discuss happier topics.

'I had not realised that my father exchanges personal information with his chess partners.'

'While our fathers usually confine their correspondence to chess moves, occasionally they include noteworthy snippets of what is happening.'

'And your father shares such snippets with you?'

Elizabeth blushed but explained, 'I act as my father's secretary and read all his mail.'

Fitzwilliam observed the blush and could not help but ask, 'There is more to it, is there not?'

'Yes, there is, but it would be most ungentlemanly of you to insist on an answer.'

The Colonel laughed. 'Let me guess. Your father dislikes dealing with correspondence as much as mine. If it were not for his chess games, he would rarely put pen to paper.'

'I will neither confirm nor deny your supposition,' Elizabeth said primly but with a suspicious twitch to her lips.

'Very well. I shall not press you for an answer,' the Colonel replied with equal mock severity. He was thoroughly enjoying the banter with this delightful lady.

In a change of subject, he asked, 'How do you find Kent?'

'I confess I did not find it at all. I simply trusted the coachman to deliver me to the proper destination. I expect that he used a map,' Elizabeth teased with a bland smile and twinkling eyes. Somehow, she felt that the Colonel would not mind her impertinence.

She received confirmation when he responded with a hearty laugh.

'I thank you, Miss Bennet, for providing me with the best laugh I had in some time,' Fitzwilliam said at last. Perhaps the joke was not so funny in itself, but the unexpectedness of it delighted him.

Elizabeth felt just a little smug. 'I gather that you do not abhor impertinence as some others do,' she said as another gentleman came to mind, who she was certain would have glared at her for her jest.

'It is certainly refreshing after dealing with all those bland misses who abound in polite society.'

'You just condemned and yet explained why most young ladies appear bland… society demands it of them. Did you not know that it is a capital crime for young ladies to have feelings and opinions of their own?'

'Surely not. They would not be put to death for displaying a sense of humour,' protested Fitzwilliam.

'Perhaps not, but they could suffer a fate worse than death… spinsterhood.'

The Colonel suppressed the quip which had come to his lips and paid Elizabeth the compliment of thinking about her statement. At length he said, 'As much as it pains me to say this, but you are correct. Society is most unfair to those ladies.'

'Which is why I am perfectly content to live in the country where I have a little more freedom to be myself… much to the abhorrence of my mother.' Elizabeth gave an unrepentant grin.

As they had reached the parsonage, Fitzwilliam bowed and said, 'We appear to have arrived at your destination, but if you permit, I shall be delighted to continue this conversation another day.'

'I would be pleased to do so if we have another chance encounter.'

~O~

In the afternoon a few days later, the parsonage again hosted the two visitors.

This time in addition of pleasant conversation from Colonel Fitzwilliam and stoic silence from Mr Darcy, the gentlemen also delivered an unexpected invitation to dinner for the evening two days hence.

Mr Collins was overwhelmed by the gracious condescension of Lady Catherine to invite his humble self and his even more humble relatives to break bread with her and her illustrious relations.

~O~

In the afternoon two days later, Elizabeth was pleased that she had sent for a trunk of dresses which she kept in London.

Coming to Hunsford, she had not expected to need any dresses other than what she normally wore at Meryton. But the first time they had dined at Rosings, she had noticed the air of superiority and suppressed glee with which Lady Catherine had examined her outfit.

Remembering that Mr Collins had emphasised how Lady Catherine liked to observe the distinction of rank, Elizabeth decided that the reason for that attitude was that the lady liked to have a reason to look down on her company. Since then, Elizabeth was determined that she would not give the lady that satisfaction again.

Fortunately, her godparents ensured that she had a few elegant dresses available when she was in London, as she liked to go to the theatre and the occasional outing or function which required her to dress for the occasion. Those were the dresses she stored in London, as she had long ago learnt that anything she wanted to keep out of Lydia's greedy hands, she had to keep away from Longbourn. The first and only time she had brought two new dresses home, Mrs Bennet had them altered for Lydia.

After that first dinner at Rosings, Elizabeth had sent for her trunk. Today she would reap the reward when she could see Lady Catherine's reaction to the green silk dress she was going to wear. As she dressed, a stray thought intruded, Today even Mr Darcy should not be able to find fault.

~O~

As usual, Mr Collins was anxious to arrive on time, which by his standards was fifteen minutes before the appointed time.

Due to the somewhat cool temperature, Elizabeth was able to add a light cloak over her ensemble, hiding what she was wearing. She suspected that Mr Collins would insist that she should change into an inferior gown to emphasise her inferior station before his munificent patroness.

When they arrived at Rosings, she managed to hang back just enough that when a footman removed her cloak, Mr Collins was already heading for the drawing room, leaving behind all the ladies, and did not see her.

Maria quietly exclaimed, 'What a lovely gown,' while Charlotte merely raised a brow and suppressed a smile, before following her husband. Elizabeth and Maria brought up the rear.

~O~

On entering the drawing room, Mr Collins bowed low before his patroness, thanking her for the dinner invitation in the most effusive manner possible.

The ladies following in his wake greeted the assembled company politely and added their own, much less effusive, thanks. Lady Catherine accepted their greetings and thanks graciously until she caught sight of Elizabeth, when her mien darkened.

Elizabeth had been wondering yet again if Lady Catherine had attended the same seminary as Miss Bingley, as they favoured similar styles of fashion, when the lady addressed her. 'Miss Bennet, What do you mean by your choice of ensemble Do you not know the difference between a dinner and a ball?'

Keeping a straight face as Lady Catherine was far more elaborately dressed, Elizabeth answered, 'My lady, I was taught that propriety requires me to honour an invitation by wearing a gown appropriate to the occasion. If you were hosting a ball, I would of course have worn a ballgown, but as this is a dinner, I have chosen a simple evening gown.'

'But your gown is silk!'

'You have an excellent eye for fabrics, my lady. And I must congratulate you on your choice of silk brocade for your own gown and that of Miss de Bourgh. I would never have the courage to wear such a… sophisticated style.'

Her moderate words mollified the lady while, to his great amusement, the Colonel noted the slight hesitation and substituted the word ostentatious in his mind.

Darcy on the other hand was torn. He thought that Elizabeth looked utterly exquisite, but he also agreed that she appeared more elegantly dressed than his aunt. Not being a connoisseur of fashion, he could not work out why Elizabeth in her relatively plain ensemble outshone Lady Catherine in her elaborate dress. All he knew was that he felt uncomfortable.

~O~

Dinner was sheer torture for Elizabeth. Not because the food was not to her liking… it happened to be delicious. Not because Lady Catherine was pestering her with questions, as she mostly ignored Elizabeth. And since Colonel Fitzwilliam was sitting next to her, Elizabeth even enjoyed a pleasant conversation.

No, Elizabeth's discomfort was caused by Lady Catherine because she sounded so much like another matron as she addressed her nephew.

'Darcy, do you not agree that Anne looks exceedingly well today?'

'Darcy, when I was speaking to Lady Metcalf the other day, she commented that the man who marries my Anne would be an extremely lucky man.'

'Darcy, you could not wish for a better mistress for Pemberley than Anne.'

It went on in that vein throughout dinner. Even Mr Collins could barely find a pause during which to praise the meal.

Elizabeth struggled to maintain a polite expression while being unable to ignore Lady Catherine's paean to her daughter. The Colonel noticed her barely concealed mirth. 'I have never seen Lady Catherine having this kind of effect on anyone before,' he said quietly.

Suppressing yet another chuckle, Elizabeth answered, 'I was just wondering if Lady Catherine could be in any way related to my mother.'

'Why is that?'

'Because she sounds identical to how my mother speaks about my oldest sister whenever there is an eligible gentleman about.'

The Colonel proved his hard-won control, which Elizabeth assumed he learned when dealing with superior officers on the peninsula, as he did not burst into laughter.

~O~

After dinner the gentlemen eschewed the separation of the sexes as neither Darcy nor the Colonel had any interest of spending time in conversation with Collins.

Trying to escape his aunt's importuning Darcy addressed Elizabeth. 'I hear that your father is a keen chess player,' remarked Darcy. 'Do you perchance play as well?'

'Yes, I do and have done so since my father taught me as a child.'

'With whom do you play?'

'At home I play with my father, of course. But I also play some games by mail. My godfather has indulged me in this endeavour for many years. And for almost as long I have also played with a lovely lady of our acquaintance.' Elizabeth smiled in her mischievous way as she said, 'Although I suspect that Mrs George's husband does not approve of her playing chess with me, because she always sends her moves via my godfather, and I respond in the same way.'

Before Darcy could comment on his disbelief that a tradesman would have the ability to play chess, Lady Catherine demanded, 'Miss Bennet, instead of playing chess, I would have you play the pianoforte and entertain us.'

Darcy shot his aunt a sour look for interrupting his conversation. Elizabeth saw it and interpreted it as his displeasure at her ability to play chess. But she smiled pleasantly and agreed to Lady Catherine's demand.

As she sat down at the instrument and went through the scores for a piece of music which she knew how to play, Colonel Fitzwilliam approached. 'While I am not yet up to dancing, may I turn the pages for you?'

Elizabeth gave him a bright smile as she asked, 'Do you know how to read music?'

'No, but Georgiana always nods when she wishes for me to turn a page.'

'Georgiana?'

'My ward. Darcy and I are guardians to his sister.'

'In that case I shall be pleased for your assistance, and I shall use the same method.'

For the rest of the evening, Elizabeth entertained the company, ably and pleasantly assisted by Colonel Fitzwilliam, until Lady Catherine called for a carriage to return Mr Collins and the ladies to the parsonage.

~O~

~O~

Checkmate (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2024