Battle of the Dragons Chapter 26, a pride and prejudice fanfic

FYI I'm changing the scene where Bingley tells Caroline that he has met Sir Edward Gardiner to remove the mention of Netherfield.

Btw please keep in mind that this story is set in 1812. Mr Bennet is a man of his time. You cannot apply 21st century standards to him. For his time, he is actually not too bad. He doesn't beat anyone, and the women are pretty well looked after… at least until he dies. No one in that period had ever considered the concept of psychological abuse.

~O~

Rebellious Dragons

Darcy presented himself at Deveril House at the crack of dawn.

He had learnt that Elizabeth kept country hours even when she was in town and having a convenient venue for walking just across the street, she continued with her routine of walking every morning before breakfast.

As they set off, with Elizabeth on Darcy's arm, he noticed the resigned look on the face of the footman who was to accompany them. Once they were striding across the park, Darcy commented, 'Our chaperone does not seem to be too happy.'

'I am afraid that the staff would prefer if I kept town hours… at least for my walks.'

'It should not matter to them since they are usually up before dawn, no matter what. At least going for a walk is easier than cleaning fireplaces. But I suppose they are used to ladies from the ton who promenade at the fashionable hour.'

'I prefer to walk while I do not have to worry about an audience. I can at least get the illusion of the solitude I used to enjoy at Longbourn.'

Darcy felt like he had been slapped. 'Are you saying, ever so politely, that I am intruding on your enjoyment of nature?'

Elizabeth became flustered as she realised that her casual remark might have been misunderstood. 'While you are intruding, I did not say the intrusion is unwelcome.'

Darcy felt relief washing through him and hesitated for a moment but then decided that this was an opening too good to miss. 'Does that mean that your opinion of me has improved?' he asked cautiously.

Elizabeth glanced up at him past the edge of her bonnet and gave him an almost shy smile as she said, 'My feelings about you are quite the reverse of what they used to be.'

Darcy stopped, forcing Elizabeth to come to a halt as well. Turning to face her, he took a deep breath and asked, 'In that case, will you still think me presumptuous if I ask to formally court you?'

The anxious look in Darcy's expression gave Elizabeth a feeling of power. It was in her control to make this devastatingly handsome man, who had everything society deemed important, miserable or happy. 'I would be most pleased to be courted by you,' she replied softly and was rewarded by a brilliant smile. To cover the strength of her response, she quipped, 'You really should patent that smile as a lethal weapon.'

Darcy's smile became even wider if that was possible and became tinged with a touch of mischief. He covered the hand which was still on his arm with his free hand, as he asked, 'And what, pray tell, could I slay with merely a smile?'

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled as she replied, 'I cannot tell you as that would give you too great an advantage.'

'After all the mistakes I have made, I could use all the advantages I can get.'

'Perhaps I will enlighten you one day soon,' Elizabeth suggested, not wanting to admit how much the smile and his closeness had affected her.

They remained in that position for another minute until Darcy remembered they were in public, even if there was no one around. He removed his right hand from Elizabeth's and gestured towards the path. 'Shall we continue?'

'I believe that to be a most excellent idea,' she replied, and they set off again.

Darcy enjoyed walking with Elizabeth in blissful silence as he did not trust himself to speak, lest he destroy the accord they had reached. He absentmindedly noticed a rider across the park going at a full gallop until he heard Elizabeth laughing.

'What is so funny?'

Elizabeth indicated the rider. 'Aunt Isabella has found a way to display the birthday present Jane and I bought for her birthday.'

He paid closer attention to the rider who appeared dressed in a frockcoat and Hessians, topped by a round hat. The striking part of the ensemble was that the coat and hat were both a matching dark green. 'That rider is your aunt?'

'Indeed. I was wondering if I would see her in the park, exercising Galileo.'

'Does your aunt have an interest in science to choose a name like Galileo?'

'Actually, she chose the name because Galileo was something of a rebel in his time. My aunt likes rebels.'

Darcy looked back at the rider who was fast dwindling in the distance and joined Elizabeth in laughter. 'I think I can see why.'

Since the appearance of Isabella had lightened the mood between them, they fell into a lively discussion. Darcy could only shake his head when he discovered what birthday present Isabella was proud to display.

~O~

Bingley had spent the evening at his club, getting drunk. By the time he returned to his house, he was in no fit state to speak to his sisters.

In the morning, he was nursing a sore head with the liberal ingestion of coffee. It was in this fragile state that Caroline encountered her brother. She gave him a disgusted look and asked, 'Did you go out celebrating your engagement to dear Jane?'

Bingley briefly raised his eyes to give her a disgusted look. 'No, I went out drowning my sorrow.'

'You cannot mean to tell me that Jane would refuse such an advantageous offer as yours?'

'You may not believe it, but Miss Bennet has no wish to associate with someone who is not a gentleman. And before you say it, it was not because of our father. It seems that she, as well as her family and her neighbours found our behaviour at Netherfield to be wanting. But the reason I went out to get drunk was to forget for at least one evening that you are my sister.'

'How dare you say such a thing. You must still be drunk.'

'In vino veritas,' muttered Bingley and even his sister knew enough Latin to understand.

'I bet she only claimed such nonsense to encourage you to prove your devotion to her… probably with expensive presents.'

Bingley gave a mirthless laugh. 'Unlike you, Miss Bennet is not mercenary. The reason for her poor opinion of me is that you closed Netherfield without properly paying the servants and did not provide references for them. Of course, all of us leaving without properly making our farewells also branded us as unmannered cits.'

'Surely, all you have to do is reopen Netherfield and you will be in a position to change her mind. I am certain that Mrs Bennet would be overjoyed to welcome you back.'

'You are wrong on two counts. I resigned the lease on Netherfield which is the property of Sir Edward. Miss Bennet's uncle was not impressed with our handling of his estate. And for your information, I shall offer reparations to the staff via Sir Edward, and the money will come out of your allowance.'

'You cannot do that to me,' fumed Caroline, her voice rising into the upper registers. She was furious. How could it have happened that word of what she had done at Netherfield had reached her brother? She had been in need of funds and the excess household budget seemed the perfect way to replenish her own coffers.

As she was fuming, it slowly penetrated that Charles had said that Netherfield was the property of Jane's uncle. It was the most inconvenient coincidence that the Bennet relation had inherited that particular estate.

Despite his sister's protests, Bingley was determined. 'I can, and I will. I also recommend you keep your voice down, otherwise I will double the amount due to them.' Bingley raised his head to look his sister in the eye. 'The second reason why Miss Bennet has no more interest in me is because she is engaged to be married… to Darcy's favourite cousin.'

'You are lying. Everyone knows that the Colonel needs an heiress,' exploded Caroline. She had managed to get her brother away from Jane because this way she could keep Eliza Bennet away from Darcy. It was unthinkable that the Bennets would now have an even closer tie to Darcy via his cousin.

'It seems you are not as well informed as you always pretend to be,' Bingley finished the conversation, leaving the room and Caroline to wonder what he meant.

~O~

Caroline was thinking furiously.

If it was true that Jane Bennet was engaged to Colonel Fitzwilliam, chances were that Darcy would be spending time with them and by extension with Eliza Bennet. She could not allow that. She must find a way to break up the couple. Since she did not know the Colonel, she would have to speak to Darcy to bring that man back to his senses.

It should not be too difficult. While they were at Netherfield, Darcy had been quite unimpressed with the Bennets. Except of course for Eliza's fine eyes. But it had been months since they had seen each other. Surely by now he had overcome that infatuation.

Yes, now that she was thinking calmly, she knew just what to do. She would go and see Darcy and get him to help detach Jane from his cousin, especially when she told him how that chit had carried on in town.

~O~

Darcy had reluctantly returned to his own home and was attending to business in his study when Bingley was announced.

Taking one look at his friend, he exclaimed, 'Bingley you look like hell. What happened to you?'

'I discovered that I made a big mistake listening to Caroline.' Bingley grimaced before adding, 'I should not have listened to you either, but at least you only expressed an opinion without pushing the issue.'

'I think you had better sit down and have some coffee, before you tell me what happened.'

Darcy put away his papers and waited until Bingley had sipped some of the hot brew which had been delivered by Darcy's efficient staff.

'I gather you have discovered that Miss Bennet is now engaged to my cousin?'

Bingley nodded as he said, 'It seems that you were right when you said Miss Bennet did not have feelings for me.' He was trying hard not to remember everything the lady had said to him the day before. If he thought of it, he would not be able to shift the blame.

Darcy considered sparing Bingley's feelings but decided it was time the young man took some responsibility for his actions. 'I recently discovered that my judgement of peoples' feelings is quite flawed. I thought that Miss Bennet had no special feelings for you, but that Miss Elizabeth liked me rather well. I was wrong on both counts.'

'I cannot understand that if Miss Bennet had feelings for me, why would she now be engaged to your cousin,' Bingley reiterated stubbornly.

'You jilted her. Do you expect all the women whom you have jilted to carry a torch for you for the rest of their days?'

'All those women?' spluttered Bingley.

'I am afraid I never paid much attention to the effect you had on all those women with whom you fell in and out of love.'

'But…'

'Bingley, you raised expectations and then just walked away… on several occasions. A gentleman does not do that. Why do you think that I have been so standoffish around women?'

'Because you are a miserable sod who thinks every woman wants something from him?'

'I would not have put it quite that way, but you are essentially correct. At least I did not raise expectations which I had no intention of fulfilling.'

'But I meant to go back for Jane!'

'Then why did you not?'

'Because you and Caroline both said she had not feelings for me.'

'Did you think she had feelings for you? After all, you spent more time with her than anyone else.'

'Yes, I thought she did.'

'You could have gone back to find out.'

'But Caroline…'

Darcy gave him a reproving look.

Bingley sighed. 'If I had been a gentleman, I would have gone back to at least say goodbye. If I had at least been a man, I would have gone back to find out for myself.' Bingley sat quietly for a minute or two slowly accepting that Darcy was not at fault for a situation of his own making.

At last, in an attempt to distract himself, he remembered something else Darcy had said. 'What did you mean when you said you found out that Miss Elizabeth did not like you? Even I could tell that. You two always argued.'

'You were obviously more perspicacious. I thought we were debating and was thoroughly enjoying myself.'

'You like Miss Elizabeth!'

'I do, and I just spent a fortnight trying to win her good opinion.'

'No wonder Caroline is so set against that family. She did not want me near Jane to keep you away from her sister. Although, since she found out about her uncle, she has changed her tune.' He wrinkled his brow. 'Did you know that their uncle in trade just inherited a title and an estate?'

'Yes, I do know that. And you think that is the reason your sister is now in favour of Miss Bennet?'

'I think so. Which is quite a change in attitude as only a few weeks ago she was telling me that she had seen Jane carry on with an officer.'

Darcy chuckled. 'By carrying on, I gather she means that she saw Jane walking in public with my cousin.'

Bingley shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He did not want to ask, but he had to know. 'Why would your cousin escort Miss Bennet into a house on Park Lane?'

Darcy raised his brows at the slur implied by Caroline. 'To return her to her aunt's house after taking a fully chaperoned stroll through Hyde Park with her intended.'

Bingley was uncertain if the emotion roiling through him was relief or fury at his sister. Instead of worrying about it he asked, 'She has an aunt with a house on Park Lane? How is that possible. Sir Edward received me in a house in Gracechurch Street.'

'My apologies, I should have been more accurate. I should have said Jane's great-aunt lives on Park Lane. That great-aunt is the aunt of Sir Edward.'

'I see,' replied Bingley even though it was obvious that he did not understand but was prepared to accept at last that Jane was beyond him.

Darcy was thinking furiously. Disguise of every sort was his abhorrence, but sometime it was a necessary evil. 'How do you feel about your sister?'

Bingley grimaced as he said, 'I know some of what happened was my own fault for letting her manipulate me. But I kept hoping she would return to be the lovely girl I used to know as a child.'

'Did you know that your sister wrote a letter to Jane when she closed Netherfield. In it she claimed a connection between you and my sister.'

'WHAT? I am sorry, Darcy. I knew nothing about this. That really is the last straw. After everything she has done or tried to do, I really wish someone could cut her down to size.'

'There is a way…'

~O~