AN: Chapter 5 with apologies for the long delay and thanks to those who are still with me. Real life has been difficult the last few months. I hope from here I will be able to update more often.

To my great vexation, won't do superscripts and changes the endnote numbers into regular numbers. I was replacing them with asterisks but that gets a little unwieldy in this chapter, so I've tried putting brackets around the number instead. I hope this isn't too distracting.

The Gentlemen had been dining with the officers and were returning home early, much to the disappointment of Mr. Hurst who said, "I thought there would be cards. One would not have expected the officers to keep such early hours."

"Their duties must get them up early," said Bingley, "but we will certainly have time for a rubber or two upon our return. The Ladies will not have gone to bed."

This was an unwelcome idea to Mr. Darcy, who hardly wished upon leaving one group of people to meet with another, and whose only consolation of the evening had been the lack of female company. "If you will excuse me, I would like to check on Georgiana. She has lately been extremely agitated."

As he spoke he looked significantly at Bingley who, with a slight shake of his head, indicated he had yet to feel any interest from Eleos. He said, "Of course, I do hope the source of her discomfort will soon be rectified." He then spoke to his brother-in-law of the dinner they had eaten and Colonel Foster's luck in procuring so fine a cook, leaving Darcy to his own thoughts. He was even so considerate as to instruct his driver to let Darcy out at the aerie.

It was not until breakfast the following morning that Darcy learned Miss Bennet had dinned at Netherfield the previous day, had taken ill, and as a consequence was still in the house. Mary Jones, the local witch had been to see her that morning and left her with some brews, two for drinking and one to be boiled on the fire in her room. Darcy expressed his wish that she would soon be well, as did Bingley with much more gravity though he had been informed of it last night.

"And what do we know of Miss Jones?" asked Bingley, "Is she well thought of?"

"According to Hodges," said Miss Bingley, "she knows her trade well." This recommendation from his housekeeper seemed to relieve Bingley's concern despite Miss Bingley adding, "I did have some doubts myself about putting my friend in the hands of a 'Mary Jones', one expects a witch of any skill to have a name like Althenea Ravencroft or Belladonna Willows."[1]

Darcy might have questioned whether Miss Bingley had many acquaintances among witches but they were interrupted by the announcement of Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

She was announced. She was among them. Darcy caught his breath. He heard the others as if from a great distance, expressing their surprise…she had walked three miles… the exercise had given her complexion such brilliancy she almost glowed….in such dirty weather… her petticoat attested to it but the skirt had been let down and kept him from seeing how high the dirt went, surely not as high as it would have if he had thrown her to the ground…all alone, so early in the day…her hair had come loose much like it might if he had run his fingers through it…surely the occasion did not justify her coming so far alone… her breath came fast as she asked after her sister…she was magnificent much as she had appeared to him in certain dreams… now she was frowning as she was told her sister was feverish and had slept ill…

"Of course, I will take you to her immediately." Miss Bingley led her from the room.

She was gone.

Darcy sunk back into his seat, grateful for the reprieve. He needed to get hold of himself.

"Will you be shooting with me today or flying?"

Hurst had directed his inquiry to Bingley but Darcy answered, "I believe I will join you."

A day away from Georgiana would give him a chance to clear his head and separate his own emotions from hers. A day shooting had the added advantage of keeping him away from the house for the entire Morning. By the time they returned to dinner, Elizabeth Bennet would be gone.

(0)

Elizabeth Bennet was not gone. She had joined them for dinner. What could Miss Bingley be thinking inviting her to stay? Surely she did not want her here. Was this all some elaborate plan on Mrs. Bennet's part? He would not be surprised. He would simply have to be extra vigilant.

As if to do penance for his earlier lapse in self-control, Darcy allowed Bingley's sisters to engross his attention for the whole of the meal. Finally, the younger Miss Bennet returned to her sister and he breathed a sigh of relief. She was here to care for her sister, with the exception of dinner he would hardly see her. He would simply put her out of his mind.

Darcy's resolution might have met with more success if Bingley's sisters had not begun abusing "Miss Eliza" as soon as she was out of the room. The last thing Darcy needed was to be reminded of her appearance that morning, but the ladies seemed to find great amusement in reciting every detail from her blousy hair to her muddy skirts.

Bingley was quick to defend her. "Your picture may be very exact, Louisa, but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."

Remarkably well indeed, but how Bingley could miss the dirty petticoat was beyond comprehension.

"You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum."

"It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said Bingley. "Surely if Louisa were ill in a strange house you would do the same."

To have the image of Elisabeth Bennet replaced with a picture of Miss Bingley in a similar state was the dash of cold water Darcy needed to recover his wits. "Bingley, you are too good a brother, I am sure, for such an action to be necessary. You would send your sister in the carriage or escort her yourself." Which begged the question of why Mr. Bennet had not done the same for his daughter. Was he so careless of her safety?

"Oh, Charles would not wish for me to make such a display." Miss Bingley assured him and then in a half whisper she added, "I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes."

"Not at all they were brightened by the exercise."

Miss Bingley had no reply and after a short silence Mrs. Hurst spoke of the Miss Bennets' low connections, a topic both sisters continued to speak of with considerable mirth, and though Darcy was well aware of their hypocrisy he was glad of it. It was much better he think of Elizabeth Bennet's uncles in trade than her muddy petticoat.

(0)

Elizabeth returned to Jane as soon as dinner was over. Finding her still very poorly Elizabeth rang for more hot water and brewed more of the herbs Martha Jones had left. She poured a cup and propped Jane up with pillows. When it had cooled sufficiently she held the cup to Jane's lips.

Jane turned her head and said softly, "No more, Lizzy, it tastes horrible."

"Just a few sips, it will make you feel better."

Jane took a tiny sip and made such a sour face that Elizabeth smiled despite her worry.

"A little more. Please… for me.

"Why you should wish it on me…" but Jane took a slightly bigger sip.

"A little more."

Jane turned her head away again.

"Just a few more sips for…for Mr. Bingley."

Jane laughed weakly. "Nonsense."

"He is so very worried about you. Please let me tell him you drank the brew. I would be such a comfort to him."

"Silly." But whether for the sake of Mr. Bingley or because she was too weak to argue. Jane did take another sip. Lizzy continued to coax and compel her sister until at last she had taken the whole cup.

"Now you should sleep."

Jane gave her a small smile, and closed her eyes, while Lizzy stroked her hair. But it was several hours before Jane fell into a deep sleep.

Now that she had the comfort of seeing Jane asleep it appeared to Elizabeth rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs. On entering the drawing room she found the whole party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to be playing high, she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

"Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he; "that is rather singular."

"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else."

"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Elizabeth; "I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things."

"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; "and I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well."

Elizabeth thanked him from her heart and then walked towards a table where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her others - all that his library afforded.

"And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit, but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever look into."

Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.

"I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, "that my father should have left so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!"

"It ought to be good," he replied; "it has been the work of many generations."

As he spoke Elizabeth turned back from having selected her book and noticed, what had not been in view before, a white feather sticking at an awkward angle out of Mr. Darcy's hair. It was so incongruous on the haughty, well-dressed, man that she giggled.

Mr. Darcy raised his eyes with a look of curiosity and rather than have him think she was laughing at his library she said, "You must forgive my ignorance, is that the latest fashion in town?"

Still looking confused he touched his hair and withdrew the feather, "Ah, Georgiana." With a small smile he put the feather carefully in an inside pocket."

"Dear Georgiana!" Cooed Miss Bingley, "how I adore her! I do not know her equal for splendor and elegance. How highly she must think of you, Mr. Darcy, to give you such a feather[2] and little wonder when you are so devoted to her care. Charles when you finally purchase your estate I hope you will do half so well in providing hunting grounds for Eleos."

"I hope I will."

"Nothing can match the beauties or nobility of Pemberly to be sure. It is an estate as worthy of Georgiana as Georgiana is worthy of Pemberley. But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighborhood and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer country for a Griffin than Derbyshire."

"With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it."

"I am talking of possibilities, Charles."

"Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imitation."

Elizabeth was so much caught by what passed as to leave her very little attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew near the card table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister, saying to Mr. Bingley, "Until you do, I hope your bonded is finding the grounds of Netherfield to provide tolerable hunting."

Bingley grinned, "Eleos, is delighted with Netherfield and with the neighborhood as well."

"Much like yourself Bingley," said Mr. Darcy, "Eleos is delighted with every place he happens to land. But so small an estate would not serve your needs long term nor the needs of future generations."

Elizabeth could not help feeling this as a slight but answered in an arch tone, "Large and small are relative terms. The Longbourn estate is smaller than Netherfield but Daskalos has found it more than adequate for his needs for two generations."

She had the satisfaction of seeing Mr. Darcy look surprised, "Is your father his second bond?"

"Yes. After my Grandfather."

"That is unusual."

"No more unusual than a Griffin named Georgiana."

Mr. Darcy replied only with a brief nod and Mr. Bingley said, "Or a Griffin with four paws instead of front talons. We must not leave Eleos out if we are talking of oddities."

"In Eleos' case," Elizabeth replied, "I would call it a rarity rather than an oddity. His four paws make him distinctive and add to his magnificence."

Mr. Bingley grinned, "He would be glad to have you think so I am sure."

"And now that you have so graciously provided Bingley with the compliment to his bonded, that he asked for, we may return to the topic at hand. Daskalos' delight in Longbourn aside my friend should anticipate the need for future generations to provide for more than one Griffin."

Mr. Bingley frowned at his friend while his sisters exchanged a look of delight. Elizabeth would not give Mr. Darcy the satisfaction of knowing how deeply his barb had wounded her. With her father's estate entailed away from the female line it was unlikely she or her sisters would have a chance to bond with a Griffin so it could hardly matter that her father's estate could only support one.[3] She was glad to be spared the necessity of a reply by Mr. Hurst calling them to order, with bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room. As the door closed behind her she heard Miss Bingley whisper, "Mr. Darcy you are too cruel."

For once Elizabeth was in complete agreement with Miss Bingley though she could not share in the other's delight. She tried to amuse herself at the absurdity of his rudeness but with no friends to encourage her, and tired from her worry for Jane, she could not find it in herself to laugh at him. These thoughts did not occupy her for long. She soon entered Jane's room and, finding her sister worse than she had left her, all thoughts of Mr. Darcy were forgotten as she turned all her attention to tending to Jane.

(0)

"Mr. Darcy, you are too cruel."

Darcy glanced at Miss Bingley in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Bingley replied for her, "Darcy you do know that Mr. Bennet's estate is entailed away from the female line."

"Yes. What of it?"

"You spoke of my future estate and the possibility of more Griffin bonds in future generations as if in contrast to her own family's situation."

"I was making no such contrast. Bingley, you must accustom yourself to having more than others. If you shy away from mentioning anything another might not have you will soon find yourself afraid to speak at all, which would be particularly troublesome to someone of your disposition."

Bingley only shook his head.

"Mr. Darcy said nothing that a reasonable person could find offensive." Said Miss Bingley, "Miss Eliza Bennet is one of those young ladies who pretends to feel slighted at every opportunity in the hope that a gentleman will feel himself to have wronged her and try all the harder to please. With many men, I dare say, it succeeds but, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art."

"Undoubtedly," replied Darcy, "there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable."

Miss Bingley dropped the subject and they continued their game in silence until Miss Bennet joined them again to say that her sister was worse and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mary Jones's being sent for immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country hedge witch[4] could be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent wizards or physicians. This she would not hear of but she was not so unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal. Her fears for her sister were clear, Bingley easily convinced her to let him send for the healer. A footman was dispatched and Miss Bennet left the room to return to her sister.

(0)

"Miss Bennet."

Elizabeth had just started up the stairs when Mr. Darcy called out to her. She turned back and he held out the griffin feather he had earlier. "You may ask Miss Jones if she can use this to help your sister. It was plucked just before tea."[5]

Elizabeth hesitated, torn between the knowledge of what this could mean for Jane and the impropriety of accepting something so valuable.

As if reading this in her expression Mr. Darcy added. "It would be wasteful not to use it while it is fresh. This was likely Georgiana's intention in giving it to me. She would know of your sister's illness."[6]

"You're bonded is incredibly kind."

"Do not attempt to use the feather unless Miss Jones advises it."

"Of course."

Mr. Darcy bowed. "You may return the rest of the feather to me at your earliest convenience."[7]

"Of course. You will wish to wear it in your hair."

It had been a feeble attempt at humor and Mr. Darcy turned away without acknowledging it. He strode quickly back to the drawing room. Elizabeth paused only a moment to puzzle at what Mr. Darcy had done before hurrying back to Jane.

(0)

"Of course. You will wish to wear it in your hair."

Darcy repressed a smile and walked away quickly lest she try to thank him. He had not given her the feather for any reason but to fulfill Georgian's wishes and because the sooner Miss Bennet recovered, the sooner Miss Elizabeth Bennet would go away.

1 Many more witches had common names like Mary Jones than Althenea Ravencroft or Belladonna Willows and those who did have more exotic names had often adopted them because it was good for business, or as in several cases, simply given up on getting anyone to call them by their real name.

2 Because Griffins do not lose their feathers it would be incredibly rare to simply find one, but a Griffin will sometimes pluck one of his or her own feathers and give it as a gift. Normally the gift is presented rather than stuck secretly in the recipient's hair.

3 The bonded of a mother Griffin is required by law to ensure that her offspring are provided with sufficient hunting grounds. While strictly speaking a Griffin chooses his or her own bond. Most bonded land-owners are careful to ensure that no one is present at the birth who cannot afford to provide for the Griffin.

4 Actually, those who were treated by a "hedge witch" (now more commonly called a healer) were more likely to recover than those treated by either of the others but, whether because Wizards and Physicians were male or because they charged so much for their services, very few people believed this.

5 When ground, the point of a Griffin feather has certain medicinal properties. Unlike the claw, it is only potent within the first day or so of its being plucked.

6 Griffins can sometimes sense strong emotions in humans other than their bonded. Georgiana may be particularly talented in this area and have either sensed Jane's suffering or Elizabeth's worry. Or Eleos might have told her Bingley is worried about Jane.

7 While only the tip of the feather had medicinal uses the rest of the feather would still be valued for its rarity and could be used for decorative purposes. Darcy may want it back for this reason, because of the impropriety of giving it to a Lady, or simply because Georgiana gave it to him.

AN: In the next chapter Elizabeth meets Georgiana.