Battle of the Dragons Chapter 17, a pride and prejudice fanfic

I am pleased to see that the reviews are back so that I can read your feedback on my last 2 chapters.

I hope you enjoy this somewhat longer chapter.

~O~

Apologetic Dragon

At Ravenswood, on the same morning, Isabella asked, 'Shall I deliver you to the Hunsford parsonage to share your news with Elizabeth while I call at Rosings?'

Jane hesitated for a moment. She considered what she knew about Lady Catherine and decided that even if Richard were with the lady, she would probably not get a chance to speak to him, at least not privately.

And she was also eager to share her news with her sister. Not that it would be a surprise to Lizzy, who had been predicting this outcome for weeks. 'I would love to see Lizzy and Charlotte.'

Two hours later, Jane knocked on the door to the parsonage, asking to see Mrs Collins and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

When the maid invited Jane to enter, the young woman waved to Isabella, who waved back and signalled her coachman to continue to Rosings.

~O~

As soon as Jane was shown into the small parlour where Charlotte, Maria and Elizabeth were seated, Elizabeth jumped to her feet to embrace her sister.

'I already heard the news, Jane. I am so happy for you,' Lizzy cried before Jane had a chance to utter a syllable.

'How?' she eventually gasped.

Elizabeth released her sister and said, 'I accidentally encountered Mr Darcy on my walk this morning and he gave me the news.'

Charlotte and Maria added their greetings and wishes for Jane's happiness.

Jane graciously accepted the good wishes until she added to Charlotte with twinkling eyes, 'And I did not even have to pretend to feelings I did not have to attract the interest of the gentleman. Mr Fitzwilliam knows his own mind.'

Her comment caused laughter as the ladies took their seats again and Elizabeth asked, 'How come you to be here? I expected you to remain in London.'

'It seems Aunt Isabella forgot to mention that she owns an estate not five miles from here and decided to visit. But I am curious, you mentioned you encountered Mr Darcy. How did that meeting go.'

'You would have been very proud of me. I was all politeness, and I did not make a single snide comment.' A somewhat puzzled look crossed Elizabeth's features. 'I cannot account for it, but during our conversation he actually smiled… and his face did not crack.'

Charlotte just shook her head at that quip and said, 'I keep telling you, Eliza, that Mr Darcy admires you. It should therefore not be such a surprise that he smiled at you.'

'I guess it surprised me because he has never before done so.' Unwilling to discuss Mr Darcy, Elizabeth returned the conversation to Colonel Fitzwilliam, a subject on which Jane was prepared to speak for hours.

~O~

Lady Catherine was in her favourite drawing room, speaking to her brother. Or more accurately she was ranting about her perceived incompetence of doctors, physicians and apothecaries.

'They call themselves medical men, yet none of them has been able to help Anne. I am at my wits' end trying to keep that girl alive,' she fumed.

The Earl of Matlock gave her a hard stare. 'Are you concerned for your daughter or are you worried that you will loose Rosings if she dies?'

'What a horrible question to ask,' blustered the lady.

'Since you always congratulate yourself on your frankness of character, a frank question should not be a problem for you.'

Lady Catherine glared at her brother. Even though she did not want to admit it, her anger was fuelled by his perspicacity. No matter what she said, Lady Catherine did not wish to lose her brother's good opinion, such as it was. Admitting that she wanted her daughter to live for her own comfort and status would certainly show her in a bad light to someone as soft-hearted as the Earl.

She breathed a sigh of relief as the butler entered the room announcing, 'Her Grace the Duchess of Markham wishes to see you.'

Before she had a chance to order that the visitor be admitted, Lady Matlock entered arm in arm with Isabella.

'Henry, look whom I encountered in the foyer,' Lady Matlock said with a smile. The butler withdrew unobtrusively.

Matlock rose to his feet and bowed, 'Your Grace, It is an honour to see you again so soon,' he said with a smile.

'I am pleased to see you too, Lord Matlock,' Isabella replied with her own smile and an almost imperceptibly lifted brow at the formality, which Matlock answered with a sideways glance towards his sister.

Isabella suppressed a smirk and only smiled politely as she said, 'Lady Eleanor, would you be so kind as to introduce your sister.'

Lady Catherine lumbered to her feet, irritated not only by the fact that she was not the one who could graciously allow an introduction but also by the necessity to rise and curtsy. But even she knew it would be bad form to be impolite to a duchess.

Lady Matlock performed the introductions to which Isabella responded graciously. As they took their seats, the butler returned, accompanied by a footman who brought the tea which Lady Matlock had requested when she encountered Isabella.

Once the footman had placed the tray on a table convenient for all to reach, the servants withdrew.

Ignoring the tea service, Lady Catherine asked Isabella, 'What brings you to Kent? I cannot recall you ever visiting this area.'

'I was getting tired of the season and thought to escape its madness for a week or two. Since Ravenswood is close to town and I have not visited in some time, decades in fact, it seemed the perfect opportunity. Especially since I knew my friend was in the neighbourhood.' Isabella nodded towards Lady Matlock.

'You are sensible leaving town. I avoid that cesspit as much as possible,' Lady Catherine pontificated.

'While I agree that in summer town is most unpleasant, at this time of year it has much to recommend it to me. I do enjoy attending the theatre and similar diversions.' Isabella was not prepared to submit to this woman.

'I find enough entertainment in the country,' Lady Catherine declared as she gave Isabella a searching look. 'But I suppose young women are not yet settled enough to enjoy the quiet charm of the country.'

'I find quite enough excitement in the country when I visit my sons. My grandchildren have become quite lively.'

'Grandchildren? Surely any grandchild you have must still be in swaddling.'

'Hardly. Alistair is already ten years of age. He could even be older if my oldest son had not taken his time to marry.'

'You are most fortunate,' Lady Catherine grated and changed the subject. 'You must come to tea or dinner while you are here,' Lady Catherine offered. While she disliked being outranked, there was a certain cachet to entertaining a duchess, especially since her neighbours were always otherwise engaged or rather sickly.

'I think dinner would be better than tea,' Isabella said as she glanced at the still untouched tea service.

Lady Catherine noticed the look and turned irritably to the side and snapped, 'Mrs Jenkinson,' before realising the woman was not in sight.

'Mrs Jenkinson is attending your daughter,' Lady Matlock reminded her sister.

'She is supposed to be here to pour tea and ensure the comfort of my guests,' their hostess complained. 'Eleanor, I suppose you had better pour.'

Lady Matlock acceded to the ungracious request, knowing full well that Lady Catherine could never coordinate her hands to properly serve tea without spilling. Once they had enjoyed their tepid beverage, Isabella took her leave.

~O~

Still amused by her visit with Lady Catherine, Isabella stopped at the parsonage, where she was escorted to Charlotte's parlour.

Entering the room, she found it was getting crowded as Fitzwilliam and Darcy had come to call on the ladies. Isabella had the impression that while Fitzwilliam and Jane were happy to see each other, the interaction amongst the others was rather stilted.

Ignoring the somewhat strained atmosphere, Isabella gushed, 'My dear Mrs Collins, please forgive me for barging in, but I could not resist renewing our acquaintance as I was visiting Rosings.'

'There is nothing to forgive. I am exceedingly honoured that you would call on me in my humble abode,' Charlotte responded, unsurprised by the visit after seeing Jane.

Everyone rose to their feet to greet the latest arrival.

'You are most gracious,' Isabella said and looked around the room, nodding and smiling. 'Ladies, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I am pleased to see you again.' The girls curtsied in response and Fitzwilliam bowed.

Turning back to Charlotte Isabella requested with a nod towards Darcy, 'While I know most of your guests, would you be so kind as to introduce this gentleman whose acquaintance I have not yet made.'

Darcy stiffened when he heard this unknown woman demanding an introduction. His face took on its accustomed stony mask, thinking he should be consulted whether he wanted an introduction. He interrupted Charlotte when she started to speak. 'As a point of etiquette–'

Three pairs of eyes were watching Darcy like hawks as Charlotte ignored his interruption and said, 'My lady, this gentleman is Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. Mr Darcy, I have the honour of introducing to you Her Grace, Lady Isabella Deveril, the Duchess of Markham.'

Jane, Elizabeth and Richard were not disappointed when Darcy gaped for a moment in disbelief. The last thing he had expected to experience in the parsonage was an introduction to anyone of consequence and least of all a duchess. The next moment colour crept up his cheeks as he felt the full force of humiliation that he had been about to insult his hostess by claiming she did not know the rules of precedence.

Enjoying his discomfiture, Isabella turned to him and said, 'Mr Darcy, I have been interested to meet you. I have heard a great deal about you. Much of it from my son Patrick and some from other family members.'

Darcy recovered his composure enough to respond, 'It is an honour to meet you, Your Grace. I was unaware that Mrs Collins and the ladies had such an illustrious acquaintance.'

'Do you mean to say that if you had known about me, you would have minded your manners while you were in Meryton?'

Charlotte, on hearing that accusation, caught the eyes of Jane and Maria and with an inclination of her head towards the door, gathered her companions to lead them quietly out of the room, thus minimising the audience for the humiliation Mr Darcy was about to experience. The others were too engrossed in the conversation to notice their absence.

'My manners…' Darcy started to say when he caught sight of the smirk Richard wore. His brow furrowed but he could not think what might have occasioned such a statement. Being taken to task by a virtual stranger, even if she was a duchess, raised his ire. 'There is nothing wrong with my manners,' he blustered.

'All evidence to the contrary,' countered Isabella, who had caught his attempted interruption of the introduction.

'It is most ungracious of you to upbraid me in public and on such short an acquaintance, Your Grace,' Darcy declared as he drew himself up to his full height.

'If you look around, we are not exactly in public. And I did not think you would have an issue with a public forum. After all, you consider that insulting a lady in public is acceptable.'

Darcy was surprised to notice at last, that the only occupants of the room were now limited to the Duchess, his cousin and Miss Elizabeth. But he needed to answer the accusation. 'I would never insult a lady, especially not in public,' he defended himself again, confused at the direction the conversation had taken. He was even more confused when Isabella nodded at Elizabeth.

Seeing the perplexed look on Darcy's face, Elizabeth grimaced slightly and sighed. This was not the time she would have chosen to air that issue. But since Isabella did not give her a choice she said, 'She is tolerable I suppose but not handsome enough to tempt me and I am in no humour to give consequence to ladies who have been slighted by other men.' She tilted her head in query.

There was something eerily familiar about those words as Darcy wracked his brains to place what was obviously a quote until suddenly, he remembered the assembly. 'You heard me?' he blurted out.

'As if you did not know. You looked me straight in the eye when you uttered those words,' Elizabeth reminded him.

At that reminder, Darcy remembered with complete clarity. He had been irritated with Bingley's importuning. He was frustrated with the comments from strangers about his income, and he wanted to put a stop to all of it. At the time he did not care whom he insulted or hurt. He had lashed out in frustration. Now those offensive words had come back to bite him.

There was no help for it, he had to apologise. Therefore, Darcy said, 'Miss Elizabeth, I most humbly apologise for my ungentlemanly behaviour. I should never have said what I did, no matter the provocation.'

Elizabeth carefully watched his demeanour and could easily tell the reluctance with which he spoke. Even while apologising, he seemed to be making excuses. She replied with equal reluctance, 'I am afraid that I cannot accept your apology since I do not believe it to be sincere.'

'I assure you, I am most sincere in my regret for my unkind and untrue words.'

'Mr Darcy, if you truly regretted your words, you had months to apologise for your abhorrent behaviour. Most recently this morning… when you could have done so in complete privacy. But while you thought that I was a country nobody of no consequence you did not think me worthy of an apology. It is only now, when you have been prompted by a duchess, that you bother to apologise. Quite frankly, I think you only utter empty words.'

Darcy opened his mouth to refute that statement but could not find the words as Elizabeth's estimation was quite accurate.

Richard smirked as he said, 'She has you there.'

Darcy's first instinct was to rage at his cousin for his comment and Elizabeth for not bowing to propriety which demanded that if an apology was offered, it must be accepted… no matter how insincere.

But seeing the expressions on the two ladies gave him pause. Neither looked angry.

Even though she did not show it, Elizabeth had become angry. Her instinct was to eviscerate the arrogant cretin. But the manners she had learnt from her aunts came to the fore and she took a deep breath before answering.

'Mr Darcy, before you say anything else, I would like to pose a question to you.'

'Certainly, Miss Elizabeth.' While that was not what Darcy had expected, he was prepared to throttle down his anger to discover what Elizabeth had to say.

'Excellent. Now I would like you to give due consideration to the question I need to ask. I imagine you will require some time to examine it from all angles. Therefore, I suggest that once I have asked, you go away to think about it without distractions. We can then discuss it tomorrow, if you feel so inclined.'

'I cannot imagine that I would require a whole day to give you an answer, no matter the question.'

'Perhaps. But as I said, I would like you to take the time to think carefully. You should not be guided by excessive emotion.'

While Darcy could not imagine why he would react strongly to whatever Elizabeth wanted to know, he agreed.

'Mr Darcy, I believe you have a sister.'

'Yes, Georgiana.'

'Please imagine that if she were out in society and she was at an assembly where the women greatly outnumbered the men because many of the locals had joined the army. To allow all ladies a chance to dance, every lady voluntarily sits out a set or two. Then along comes a visitor who acted towards Miss Darcy the way you did in Meryton. What would you think of that man?'

Darcy paled at the thought of that scenario. He straightened and his head snapped up as his features contorted in anger. 'I would–'

'STOP. I asked you to consider this calmly.'

That sharp command quelled Darcy's outburst. He stopped reacting to the image that scenario had evoked. Georgiana would have been devastated by a comment like he had made about Miss Elizabeth.

Then realisation suddenly hit him. He looked at Elizabeth. 'You do not like me.'

'Not particularly. And in case you are wondering, that is an improvement, since I despised you while you were at Netherfield.'

Suddenly the fight went out of Darcy as comprehension of the consequences of his actions became clear to him, and he collapsed into a chair. He watched Elizabeth's face as she in turn observed him and waited patiently for his reaction. 'I am so dreadfully sorry,' he said quietly. 'My pride was definitely not under good regulation.'

Elizabeth tilted her head as she considered the change which had come over Darcy. She gave him a small smile as she said, 'I think I might be able to accept this apology.'

~O~