Netherfield part II

Thanks to the guests who reviewed. And Florasuten, you are mostly right. In my opinion, Georgiana still feels ashamed about her actions and doesn't want to see Will because of her own shame. She's also processing many things and sometimes emotions can get muddled up with one another. I think she feels a lot of things and is unsure how to navigate all of that and seeing Will makes her anxious in part because of her own shame, in part because of how the siblings left things, and in part because of other things under the surface of her own trauma. I think talking to her brother requires a kind of resilience that Georgiana is just starting to build after all her trauma. As far as Lizzy goes, her anger is mostly because of her own prejudice and at this point in her story she still thinks she's completely right about Darcy. I hope that helps your read of the story. I personally think that emotions are really difficult to navigate and it's not always easy to figure out reasons behind those emotions. They are often irrational, and many times, they just demand to be felt even if completely off base and random.

2 March 2024 - Continued at Netherfield

The next morning, Will woke up at 5 am as he normally did. He very much hoped that he'd be able to leave soon. But when he looked out the window, he saw that there was a sheet of snow more than a few inches thick. He sighed, hoping it would be warm enough for this to clear up or at least that the routes to London were clear. He had a quick shower putting on his old clothes and went downstairs. He saw that Jane and Elizabeth were already up. Jane was singing while mixing a batter in a bowl, Lizzy was humming with Jane but was completely lost in whatever she was reading on her laptop. Neither of them noticed him standing there. He saw that the table had some coffee and mugs next to it. He poured himself one while staring out the window trying to force himself to read the business section of the newspaper on his phone. He barely slept last night, and it wasn't for lack of trying. He just couldn't. He heard Jane come out to the table for her coffee too and looked up to see her smile sweetly at him. "I didn't know you were an early riser like me and Lizzy! It looks like it'll be a while before you can go anywhere. Make yourself at home. I'd offer Charles' clothes, I don't think they'll fit you well – but do think about it."

He tried to smile back. "I'm sorry I'm still here. I'll leave as soon as I can."

"Don't worry about it. Not all uninvited guests are unwelcome. Scones and cupcakes will be done soon. I wanted to do something special for Maria, don't mind the odd combination."

He tried to smile but didn't know what else to say.

Lizzy had finished reading the opposing counsel's brief that had been sent late last night. She needed to get out, go for a walk. She walked out of the kitchen to hear her sister talk to Mr. Darcy. He was of course still here, where could he go in this dreadful weather. She ignored them and put on Jane's snow boots and the thickest coat she could find, not caring whose it was and stalked off to the backyard. She'd always liked this manor house and how Charles and renovated it so carefully. She didn't notice the two people in the kitchen watching her through the large window that Charles had made for Jane in the kitchen. This back garden was huge, and she enjoyed plodding about in the snow, laughing as she did. She jumped in the fresh snow making footprints as she went along. She ran as if she was doing a steeple run, she had no idea why. The joy of the snow despite having caught her in a house with unpleasant people was unbounded. She thought of nothing except the moment and being in the present and what that meant for her. She ran with abandon until she decided that she was quite cold. She would be sure to bring her sisters out here later to play.

Inside the two people were having a conversation realizing that they were rather similar in many ways, quiet and reserved. But of course, they were also different, not only in the things that mattered to them but also in how that quietness manifested. With Darcy it seemed like disapprobation of everything, for Jane it was a serene politeness. Both of them also only ever let their guard down with very few people. Jane was lucky, she had her family. Will had Bingley, Richard, and Harriet.

He watched Elizabeth frolic outside, like a fox, jumping, running, lithe. No fox wasn't right, it felt like she was flying running from here to there, almost like a fae. What was it about this woman? As much as he needed something from her, he was worried that he was somehow intrigued by her. And intrigue was never good. "Is she always like this?" he asked her sister.

Jane looked at the man looking at Lizzy. She knew he wanted to find his sister. But she didn't understand the interest written all over his face. Her sister was a forthright person and if you asked her something she would respond unless there was a reason not to. Really all Will had to do was ask. Actually, that wasn't true, he had to apologize and perhaps grovel a bit. But if he approached her at work, she would help him. She wondered if she should say something. "Not always. But she is exuberant, and what she enjoys she enjoys with her whole heart. In many ways, she's figured out the secret of life that so many people struggle with."

Curious he asked, "which is?"

"Ah, well. You should ask her."

He wasn't sure if this was about the so-called secret of life or about something else entirely. It felt like he could hear the double meaning in his head even if he couldn't figure out what it was about. Maybe it was about Georgie? And while he wanted to be that forthright, he wasn't sure if he could. "That's all. Ask her?"

Jane simply nodded watching the figure outside tramp towards the house.

Lizzy ran to the door, took off the boots and when Jane saw her, she started laughing. And hugged her sister holding on. "Oh Lizzy, I'm all wet now."

Lizzy giggled, not aware that she was being watched, "say snowball fight later? I know Charlie will help me organize it."

"As if you need help," said Jane playfully patting her younger sister's cheek.

A few hours later, Darcy was enjoying his cup of cocoa watching all the Bennet sisters and Charles run around and play outside. He was lost in his own thoughts about family and support and love. Had he missed out on all this? Growing up, barring some of the mischief he got into with George or Richard, the main thing drilled into his head had always been about family pride, and wealth, and social class. Here outside the window, he saw for the first time in his life an alternate version of what growing up could've been like. Maria and Mary were making a very small snow lady. Jane and Kitty were alternatively making a large snow man and defending it from snowballs being thrown at them with amazing accuracy by Charles and Elizabeth. They were all laughing and enjoying themselves.

Caroline had finally deigned to come down and had joined Darcy in the foyer where he was watching the others. "Can you believe this nonsense?" she asked, nose high in the air as if she smelled something terrible.

Will didn't respond. He was too lost in his thoughts.

"Charles has really let himself go if this is what they're like when they're together. I told him marrying into this family would only lead to his ruin."

Again, he didn't respond. She felt like she had to be more obvious and started talking about Elizabeth Bennet. "That woman, my god. Look at her, running about as if she were a child. Inches deep in the snow and mud. She has nothing to recommend her besides being an average lawyer and good at tramping around, because you certainly can't call that walking. There's no grace in her movements whatsoever." Caroline continued without the need for any response, "I won't forget her appearance today. She looks almost wild. Extremely nonsensical to be behaving like this. Look at her face, her hair completely in disarray. I'm sure you see this, Will. I'm certain you would never want Georgiana to make such an exhibition?"

He could admit only to himself, that he would give up his entire fortune if only he could see Georgiana today, frolicking or not. Just see her with his own eyes. So again, he said nothing.

"You must see, Will. That Eliza's behaviour is quite deplorable, not just today. But all the time. It's marked by an abominable show of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum. While Jane is a sweet girl, they have nothing else of consequence. I've heard it told that she's a world class baker, but I've seen nothing of that. You really should stay away from her."

"What I should or shouldn't do, is no business of yours, Caroline."

While Caroline was chastised for the moment her thoughts were all scattered, unsure of how to ensure that Will paid attention to her rather than Eliza Bennet. She knew he had an image to maintain. She didn't realize that with or without Elizabeth in the picture, Darcy would never be hers.

After their snow play, they followed Elizabeth in like baby ducks behind their mother. Jane poured them all cocoa, coffee, or tea and brought out her cupcakes. Each cupcake had a letter on it spelling out Olivia L. Bennet. Maria started crying almost immediately, "Oh Jane, it's so beautiful. You are the best sister, really."

Lizzy smirked, "and what are Kitty and I? chopped liver?"

Mary smirked and intervened saying, "Maria has decided that she doesn't want to keep the L in the name. It will only be Olivia Bennet."

Lizzy looked at Maria, concerned, "are you sure, my dear? I can always help change it later. But I thought you were making some progress with that?"

Maria nodded, "I'm not a Lucas anymore for the past few months, why should she be?" Maria had changed her name on the day of their civil ceremony a few months ago.

"But Char?"

"She agrees with me."

They all nodded. Lizzy kissed Maria on the forehead. Caroline looked at them as if they were disgusting. And no one paid her an ounce of attention.

The snow almost looked like it was starting to thaw and might melt. As soon as that thought occurred to Darcy, the snow started falling again like soft petals from the sky. He groaned. Another day, he would spend another day as an uninvited guest. Not knowing what to do with himself. He went to find Charles. "It looks like the storm won't give up just yet. I'm sorry, but it looks like I will have to stay here till the evening. Hopefully it will get better by then."

Charles laughed, "you take yourself very seriously old man. Don't worry about it. But do try and mingle a bit more. You wanted to know more about the Bennets, ask them, talk to them." Charles had spoken to Jane who had told him that they might encourage Will and Lizzy to sort things out among them. That both of them are rather stubborn and this would be the perfect opportunity. Charles wasn't sure, getting in the middle of something like this, especially when it concerned so many people Lizzy, Darcy, Georgiana, didn't strike him as smart. But Jane was extremely astute when it came to these things. He remembered the day that Maria had shown up at the centre, Jane had offhandedly remarked that she and Mary would do well together. He thought she meant that Maria would be a caretaker and when they got together a few weeks later, Jane had smiled at him and said, "see – I told you so." She claimed that being less talkative in a big family had allowed her to observe those around her. She learned, like Lizzy, from her father. Where Jane kept her observations to herself Lizzy and her father were more verbal about theirs. So, Charles knew he could trust in his wife to understand things in a way that he might not.

Caroline had tired of everyone, including Darcy ignoring her and so had taken some drinks and settled in front of Netflix.

The others played games in the living room in different groups and pairings. Darcy felt very unsure of himself and sat on the couch deciding to pick up a book from Charles' study. Luckily when Longbourn bookstore had closed, Charles had acquired some decidedly good books for a person who wasn't a great reader. Darcy had stalked the shelves earlier that day and found "Magister Ludi", a book he hadn't read since Cambridge but remembered enjoying. He settled on the sofa on the other end from Elizabeth who was devouring a cupcake with alacrity and so engrossed in her book that she didn't seem to notice anyone else. He saw that she was reading "Frankenstein". He thought of the last time he had just enjoyed a book for its own sake and wondered about how often his seating partner did that. He easily got lost in the book and didn't look up for a while.

Caroline had gotten bored of reality shows on Netflix. When she reached the living room, she didn't know what to do about the sight before her eyes. She didn't see the others in the background happily playing card games and on any other night would've joined them even if they were people she didn't like she did like poker. She was watching the two people on the sofa not sure how to break up their tranquility. They weren't saying a word to each other, completely arrested by the books in front of them. She wanted to go and plonk herself in the middle but knew that wouldn't be a good idea. She sat down on a chair near them taking a few sips out of her glass. Neither one of them noticed her, quietly turning pages, but their bodies were angled towards each other. She wondered if they even realized that. She decided to make her presence known, "you prefer reading to cards, Eliza. That is rather singular. But then again what can one expect from someone so provincial. 'Frankenstein' what a horrid book."

She looked up, not sure how long had passed. She'd always loved this part of the book, when the monster started telling his story about what had happened since his creation. The eloquent story moved her so many times. He spoke with so much emotion. And then to be pulled out of that by another creature, much more loathsome with a rather jarring voice was fairly frustrating. "Oh Caro, what do you know about provincial tastes? Where do you get book recommendations from? Or do you even read?" She chuckled.

Caroline tried to tease bordering on insolence, "Eliza Bennet, despises social media and anything fun. But she is a great reader and takes pleasure in nothing else."

Darcy looked up to see how she would respond. Elizabeth had to laugh at that bullshit. "I don't deserve such praise or such criticism. On one hand, that might make me terribly boring, and on the other it just shows that I know my own tastes and it would be ridiculous to condemn that. But then again, I forgot who I was talking to."

Caroline flushed at being called out so easily. Apart from that one time when they'd been in law school and Elizabeth was a first year, she had never been able to gain the upper hand. And that too in front of Darcy. She changed tact, "Will, I hope you are finding the library here to your liking. Mr. Bennet gave Charles many books, but he isn't fond of them. Surely you can tell him if they're good or not. You have the most delightful library at your estate in Derbyshire, don't you?"

Darcy had to say something at being addressed so directly. "You're right. It's the work of many generations of my family."

"And you add to it too. Always buying books."

"I do. The books I've seen here are marvellous. I'll have to ask Charles if I can take some of them from him or buy them."

Caroline responded, happy Will was talking to her. "I'm sure he'll be happy to give them to you."

Elizabeth laughed, "I'm sure he won't," she said to the point.

"And how would you know?" sneered Caroline.

"They're not his books to give away or sell."

"They're in his house."

Lizzy raised her eyebrow, "indeed, Caro, possession may be nine tenths of the law, but there is that scrawny one tenth to worry about. Those are my father's books. Netherfield has a big library, and it was sparse whereas his was overflowing when he sold Longbourn to Charles. So, he keeps them here. They're carefully leased to Charles, a contract written by an exceedingly good lawyer and all that, you know."

Caroline huffed, but what was she to say. She stayed quiet for a few minutes saying nothing and considering how to try a different tact, her last sally for the evening. "How is dear Georgiana?"

Darcy looked at Elizabeth and then recalled himself that Caroline didn't know that she was with Elizabeth, and said, "she's well."

Elizabeth didn't want to enter the conversation, so she pretended to read her book without actually looking at a word.

Caroline asked, "will she be back from the States soon, it's been very long."

"I'm not sure." Will replied feeling uncomfortable.

Caroline fluttered, "I do hope so. It's been so long since we last met, almost 4 years now. She's such a refined young woman. And so brilliant at the piano. Not like some others."

"Well, to get into the best universities these days you need extra curriculars. How people today manage it I'm not sure," said Bingley who had gotten up and wandered to them as he lost the game.

"Not everyone is so good at their extra curriculars, though," replied Caroline.

"Well, we have some of those who are more accomplished here," he grinned at Kitty. "Think about Kitty, she will be going to Sciences Po in just a few months, she speaks 2 languages apart from English and Klingon, though I'm not really sure people count that. She plays the piano quite well and her art is exquisite. You've seen some of her pieces all around here and at Longbourn. Just look at the one in front of you."

Caroline had a sour look on her face.

Darcy agreed, "yes, it's true, there is a lot more pressure on young people today. And these are excellent accomplishments. But I often see parents boast that their children have many extra curriculars when they actually just put things up on social media to seem that way. I don't actually know young people who are all that accomplished."

Elizabeth couldn't help herself at this conceited speech. While she generally agreed that many people today pretended to be accomplished for the sake of social media, she wanted to take him down a notch. It'd been good sport this weekend with Caroline here, but Mr. Darcy was a bit insufferable, "then you probably overburden the idea of what it means to be accomplished in today's world."

"I put emphasis on it. I don't believe I overburden it."

Caro, seeing her opportunity added, "Will is absolutely right. To be truly accomplished there is so much more than languages, music, and art. There must be a certain je nais sais quoi, or the word 'accomplished' loses something.

"I don't know about that. But I do think reading and honing the mind is just as important," said Darcy.

Elizabeth laughed but kept her thoughts to herself. How this man knew even a few accomplished young people was beyond her. They seemed to anyway be missing the most important accomplishments of being kind and generous. But couldn't help but say, "are you sure you know any people like that?"

Charles chimed in, "Liz, you do yourself a great wickedness there. Look at all that you do."

Caroline didn't want to talk about this anymore since the conversation had clearly gotten away from her. But before she could stop her brother he said, "you are a trained classical violinist, though everyone knows you enjoy playing Jazz more. You've hiked through most countries in Europe, speak several languages, and regularly do taekwondo, I don't know how you have time for that. You read voraciously. To add to all that you're one of the most generous and kind people I know, just look at your pro bono work. I don't know how you get any sleep with everything else on your plate."

Lizzy smiled at him, their eyes met full of gratitude. But she said nothing. Jane was the one who added, "our father had an old half size violin and Lizzy picked it up when she was 6 and never let it go."

Lizzy responded, "I did most of those things years ago, when using Charles' turn of phrase, I didn't have as much on my plate." She smiled and left for the kitchen.

"Eliza likes to undermine the character of those around her by putting herself forward. It is quite obscene." She was talking to Will, but it was Charles that responded, "if you notice, she didn't say one positive word about herself, Jane and I did. Put this nonsense out of your head. They're phenomenal women."

Darcy said nothing but couldn't help agreeing.

That evening, the Bennet sisters and Charles were in the kitchen singing Rudolph the red nose reindeer. Darcy walked in and found it a bit odd to be singing a Christmas carol when it wasn't Christmas. Lizzy laughed at his questioning look and said, "why does it need to be Christmas? I always rather liked the story of Rudolph, the odd one out, then realizing he was special because of his oddity."

At that moment Jane saw that Mrs. Bennet video calling. She answered and everyone could hear her shout through the phone. As soon as Lizzy heard who it was, she made her way out of the kitchen. After her stroke, their mother would yell about her nerves even more than before. The phone call, cooing about Jane and Bingley and how nice it was to take her daughters in in the storm and wondering about Maria, giving her opinion about Olivia's birth could easily be heard outside.

Lizzy hadn't noticed that Darcy followed her out. He hadn't said anything, but he saw the slightly furrowed brow, the reactions to the phone call inside. He heard when Mrs. Bennet asked about Elizabeth and 'how that girl always tried to vex her and why couldn't she be with the rest of her sisters so that she could see her too'. Lizzy rolled her eyes and as she did, she noticed that Darcy was watching her. And so, she said, "my mother loves me, and I love her. But honestly, we don't like each other very much. She, like you, doesn't understand my choices. She used to ask Jane why she didn't love in London, but you've seen Jane. It's tough to be mad at her and so I think my mother just forgot that she was annoyed with Jane's choices at one point. But then she met Bingley and in my mother's words 'settled down' and all was forgotten. She wasn't very accepting of Mary either, but with Olivia on the way that's forgotten too. So that just leaves me, I've always been the odd one out..." she sighed, "I have no idea why I'm telling you all this, Mr. Darcy."

The conversation inside forgotten with that. He realized that for the first time she wasn't running away from him and maybe he could find out more about her and about Georgie, two birds one stone as they say.

He spoke to her somewhat formally, "my sister would enjoy playing the piano to your violin."

"I suppose I should take that as a compliment," she spoke with one eyebrow raised in question and challenge.

He smiled briefly.

She continued, "she has access to a piano to play now. But no, I haven't told her that I play. I don't normally tell people about it. I play mostly for myself and my own enjoyment. That other people enjoy it too is just a bonus."

He looked at her curiously hearing the words but not understanding them. Seeing the look on his face, she continued, "oh, Mr. Darcy. That's not me at all. I enjoy my life, doing good things, living in a small town, with a decent income. It's more than most people can ask for. And I have it. I'm rather proud of this life and wouldn't give it up for anything."

He nodded, not really understanding this woman at all but realized that she was absolutely remarkable in a way that he had never known anyone else to be.

She was lost in her thoughts not realizing this was a conversation she could easily end. But she heard her mother's shrill voice in the background, took a deep breath and said, "do you know why I'm a good lawyer? A good musician?"

He was surprised at her words and that she was choosing to continue the conversation. He shook his head.

She smiled, "It comes down to the same thing really. I'm good at reading people, understanding their motivations. When I meet someone, it doesn't take me long to get a measure of them. With music it's always been the same way, I can understand the underlying feeling of a piece, I imagine what the composer was like, what their feelings were and put that into the music. The intricacy of the composer's character comes out in their music. The intricacy of a person's character comes out in their words and actions."

He was awed by her comparison, "I've never heard of someone comparing two things that in my mind contrast so much but are shown to have similarity that I'd never considered."

"I'm sure there're many things you've never considered," she smirked. She continued, "poetry is similar in its underlying intricacy to music. Jane once had a hipster boyfriend who considered himself a poet. What he wrote quickly helped Jane overcome any feelings she might've had."

"I agree that poetry and music have those underlying similarities. Though I'll say that I've never thought about that closely. I always thought women found it romantic to have poems written about them. Isn't it the food of love?"

"I'd say it depends very much on the feelings of the recipient. Poetry can effectively drive away love if it is a slight, thin, sort of inclination."

"Is that your opinion or are you simply saying so for the sake of a debate?"

"I am a lawyer, Mr. Darcy. I do enjoy a good debate when both sides are evenly matched."

"And are we?" Was she flirting with him? And more curiously, was he flirting back? He smiled internally still holding is mien in place.

"What?"

"Are we evenly matched?"

It was at that moment that Kitty came out of the kitchen. She was taken aback by the scene of her sister and Darcy talking to each other while openly staring at each other. She interrupted them thinking, damn, Lizzy was impulsive. "Liz, we're setting up monopoly, if you want to play."

She said, "darling, why don't you play. I'm going to read." As Lizzy moved towards the library having finished her favourite part in Frankenstein, she passed Caroline who'd been napping. She went out to the living room and saw Caroline sidled up to Darcy. She smirked and took a seat far away from them but also within earshot. She knew she would be amused at whatever was about to happen. She could almost see Caroline prepare herself. She saw Darcy on his cellphone typing away, an email she presumed. Caroline seemed to be watching him type. She began to make the most ridiculous observations, "you type so fast," "your typing is so consistent," "you write so much". The recipient of this one-sided dialogue said very little.

Caroline then said, "how odious to have to work on a snow day, Will."

"If you find it odious then it's a good thing, I haven't asked you about the Browns contract Joseph asked you to type up then, isn't it?"

She shrugged and changed conversation, "if you speak to darling Georgiana, do tell her I miss her."

Darcy said nothing, his lips drawn into a thin line. What could he say really? He looked at Elizabeth who had an inscrutable expression on her face.

Caroline went to watch tv before dinner, which was just an easy way to say that she had been thinking about how to reduce the conversation and intrigue that Will seemed to have with Eliza. She paced around the room hoping that Will was watching her. She always prided herself in her figure. She looked at Eliza and asked, "come, why don't we walk around the room a bit?"

"No thanks, Caro. If you're in need of exercise feel free to take some snow boots and have a walk in the back garden."

Will looked up and smiled softly at Elizabeth's polite yet obvious remark.

Seeing him smile at her made her think about her own thoughts about this man. In the past two days the two had spent some time together. Even during their first meeting she felt like she hadn't completely understood him. She'd had preconceived notions about him and though she was right about somethings she was also wrong about others. She had always prided herself on her discernment. And the man sat in front of her was odd and beguiling. She did want to understand him a bit better. It was a complicated character and her need to understand human nature left her dissatisfied at the little she knew about him.

A little while later, somehow, they found themselves caught in the discussion of human folly and human nature. Perhaps it was because of Camus in his hand and that Caroline had asked his opinion on him. When Caro said, "you are rather perfect, Will. You don't have such flaws."

Lizzy said, somehow surprised at herself for having joined their conversation. "All people are flawed to some extent. It isn't possible to have a perfect person. And if there were, that person would be rather boring would they not? I'm quite amused at the flaws in people especially when they don't see it themselves." She wished she could laugh at the man, because like her father she had not given up the idea that she enjoyed laughing at people and their follies, but he seemed an overly serious man, and she hadn't yet figured out his flaws maybe this conversation would give her some insight.

"I don't think it's polite to laugh at Will," said Caroline coming to his defence.

Will spoke up, "I don't deserve such credit, Caroline. I'm far from perfect." He then turned to Elizabeth and said, "I agree that it's good to laugh every once in a while, but even the most intelligent might be considered ridiculous if their first object in life is a joke."

She felt indignant at the jab, unsure if he were stating an opinion or commenting on her character, "sure, such people exist. People are interesting and that is what I enjoy – understanding human nature. I'm sure if I wasn't a lawyer, I'd want to be a psychologist."

"And what have you uncovered in your quest to understand human nature?" asked Will.

"People's characters are varying, and the shades of that variation are interesting. I think there's some rather unforgivable flaws and motivations, vanity the excess of which might be pride, and of course greed." Lizzy tried to poke a hole in his character from what she'd seen.

"Aren't you proud of the work you do? Or the way your hands dance on the violin? Where there is genuine superiority what's the matter with pride?" retorted Will, enjoying this debate. Perhaps they were evenly matched.

She was getting increasingly riled up by this conceited man! "When pride in yourself to the exclusion of others becomes ingrained into your personality it's insufferable and rather ridiculous. Look at this home. Jane has reason to be proud of her skills, but it doesn't overtake the rest of her personality. She isn't guided by it. Her aim isn't to be famous. Her aim is to enjoy baking and bake delicious things so that if you're having a bad day and you eat one of her creations your life becomes a bit better in that moment. And your fatal flaw, Mr. Darcy – what do you think it is?"

He was glad she gave him an out, he didn't know how to respond to her statement about Jane and insufferableness. He wondered if he was insufferable. Caroline, vain and proud of her looks certainly was. Was that how other people saw him? Was that statement meant to be an assessment of his character? "I believe I've got faults like everyone else, a terrible temper is one of them. I can hold a grudge rather easily. I'm sure in your book these are flaws. I suppose yours is wanting to wilfully misunderstand people." He had always considered himself above some of that pettiness because his grudge holding, while resentful, was proof that his opinion was right. His face fell at thinking about Georgie and the grudge he held and what that had cost him.

She wanted to say that his flaw was hating everyone as a retort to what he said about her. Instead, when she saw his face fall, wondered at it, and changed the topic of conversation to their departure tomorrow. She didn't understand herself and how she was reacting to him. How was it that she disliked him and felt protective of him at the very same time. Why did she change the topic of conversation if not to distract him from thinking about G, as it was obvious that was what he was thinking about.

I'm having such a bad week. This has been the most fun part of that shitty shitty week. So thanks all. 3 I hope you enjoyed it as much!