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Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments. I have received so many suggestions on who you are all imagining this Darcy and Elizabeth to look like. Darcy is definitely more ruggedly handsome and Elizabeth is more sultry. I definitely have a preference for the BBC adaptation as it was the first one I was introduced to when I was younger as my mother loved it! I then became obsessed and read the book and since then endeavour to read every variation I can get my hands on!
To the readers who don't enjoy the steamier variations, I have made mention of that in the blurb so you may move straight past this fic... or perhaps, you enjoy them but don't wish to admit ;)
Thank you to the kind reader who highlighted to me that I had fudged the dates... I seem to do that every time ahhh! I will go back at some point and fix this. Sorry!
As always, enjoy this next chapter and please leave a comment to let me know what you think x.
Chapter 4
"How do I look?" said Jane, twirling before her sister to show off her new frock. It was a beautiful pastel green colour that brought out the green flecks in her hazel brown eyes. She had her golden hair piled high upon her head with curls framing her face and upon their mother's insistence, Jane was wearing the family pearls about her neck.She must look her best for Mr Darcy! Thought Jane rolling her eyes.
Elizabeth looked up from putting her shoes on, "Oh Jane! You are going to steal every gentleman's heart and make all the ladies envious of your beauty!" she said proudly.
"I wish you would not say such things, Lizzy. You are incredibly beautiful and what is more you are also know and appreciated for your intelligence too! People care to know your opinions about things, but alas, I am meant only to be an accessory to a man and not his equal…" she said with a rare sadness flickering into her gaze before it quickly turned into concern. Elizabeth knew of how her sister did not enjoy being only known as a beauty. She knew, if it were herself, she would hate for people not to know of her intellect and her opinions on matters that she cared deeply about…
"But Lizzy, how are you? I have left you be for a few days, but I cannot help but feel that something happened before we found you when we visited atDarcy have not been yourself and before you talk over me or change the subject, you cannot lie to me!" she said giving her a shrewd look.
"You are right. I have not been myself." sighed Elizabeth. "If I am being honest,Mr Darcy put me out of can Hugo and Ella be so warm and welcoming, and he be so cold and aloof? He did not even try to put us at ease and converse with us! I confess I do not know what to make of him…" she broke off chewing at the inside of her cheek distractedly.
"I agree and found him a little disconcerting myself. I did try to find out more from Ella when you had left us alone, but she dismissed my subtle concerns and probing, by saying her brother has always been that way.I believe her exact words were that'hisbark is far worse than his bite'." said her sister with a small shrug, as she gestured for Lizzy to stand, so that she could secure the purple ribbon to the waist of her lavender dress. "I hope that she is correct for I feel Mama does not care and will see me married to him by the end of the week!" Jane joked as Elizabeth turned to face her.
"But Jane, is that what you want?" asked Elizabeth.
"I fear that what I want does not matter. It never has really and now that our Aunt Gardiner has said of his large estate in Derbyshire and the rumours that his income exceeds ten thousand pounds per annum, my fate is sealed!" she said partly joking, but there was small look of defeat and resignation in the depths of her eyes that she failed to hide.
"Oh Mama! I am a little ill at ease that she will be in attendance tonight, but it might go in our favour. She may meet the steely Mr Darcy and change her mind… Though perhaps she might be a match for him frighten Mr Darcy off!" after a brief pause, both burst into a fit of giggles. Their mother would marry them off to camel if she thought it would secure their futures!
"Girls, we will be ready to leave in ten minutes!" called, – no, yelled their mother from downstairs, a habit she always knew her genteel Aunt Gardiner did not like.
"Are you sure you are well enough to go Lizzy?" asked her sister hopefully.
"Are you?" she countered, raising her brows.
"No!" she said, eyes wide before pulling at one ofLizzy'scurls and chuckling.
Three hours later as they were waiting for the dessert course to be served,Elizabethhad surprised herself at having thus far kept her temper in check throughout the dinner. Looking down the large dining table and resisting the urge to launch herself at Mr Darcy, who coincidently, had placed her near the other end of the table as far as politely possible from himself seated to his left with Mr Charles Bingleynext to her. His brother Hugo was to his right with Ella beside him.
Their mother had exceeded all expectations and throughout dinner Elizabeth could see and hear her mother loudly dominating the conversation with constant comments on Jane's looks and kind disposition. The worst offence had occurred just moments ago, when Mrs Bennet had been whispering (loudly) to her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner of how she and Mr Bennet had always known that Jane would be their blessing and would undoubtably make a superior match with either Mr Darcy! Poor Mr Bennet had been doing his best to quieten her down, but Mrs Bennet was so excited to be a guest in this house, that she was desperate to impress its owner,the great Mr Darcy of Derbyshire! However, instead of speaking politely with his guest's Mr Darcy seemed much too preoccupied with himself. He had acknowledged her mother's conversation very little, if only he would but look up and simply offer a smile or a few words, their mother would have calmed a little!
Her Aunt and Uncle and Mama and Papa were somewhere in the gulf between her and Jane but from where Elizabeth had been seated, she could not talk to any of them without having to address the whole table! At her end of the table Elizabeth currently sat next to the most condescending and rude woman in the whole of London; Miss Caroline Bingley! Her first impression had not been so bad of the lady, but once the word 'trade' was mentioned in association with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner her mask of affability had begun to slip. The final offence which caused her mask and gloves to well and truly come off, was thatMr Darcyhad banished her to the end of the table, clearly the designated area for those he did not care to converse with. Miss Bingley had spent the entirety of the dinner refusing to acknowledge anyone except those she had a previous acquaintance with. And so, Elizabeth took an inordinate amount of pleasure at the spinach currently stuck to her two front teeth.
It was such a pity really, because Mr Bingley was a very charming gentleman with a pleasant smile, he had been chatting away amiably about Hertfordshire and his hopes to lease the Netherfield soon. His pleasure genuine when Mr Bennet informed him that was only eight miles from their estate; Longbourn.
"It is settled then, Sir! Now that we are acquainted, I should be very pleased to solicit your guidance on the best spots to fish and shoot. I have been looking for a nice, friendly place in which to be situated in the country and now I know a friendly face, I believe Netherfield is becoming a very attractive prospect indeed." Mr Bingley said sincerely.
Mr Bingley's second sister MrsHurstand her husband had been seated opposite Elizabeth. They fascinated her; in all her life she had never come across such an eccentric and odd Hurst'shad chosen this evening to wear matching orange, by way of her dress matching exactly with his waistcoat. MrsHursthad been telling everyone it was a soft peach and would be the colour of the season! But in truth it was more a fluorescent carrot colour! It really was quite off putting, and it seemed wherever she looked out of the corner of her eye she could see the orange glow encroaching from her peripheral and distracting her.
Peering down the length of the table at towardsJane, she caught Mr Darcy staring down the table back at her, yet again. Was he so arrogant that he thought he did not even need to payJaneany attention, apart from seatingherby his side? He looked away from her to MrBingleywho had directed a comment at him, when she noticed Hugo say something to Ella who looked firstly to Mr Darcy and then atElizabethwith a to the conversation at her end of the table ignoring whateverthathad been about.
Elizabeth watched in annoyance as Miss Bingley fawned over an unimpressed Miss GeorgianaDarcy,who was trying very hard not to be corralled into performing after dinner. She had to marvel at the tenacity of Miss Bingley, it was becoming quickly obvious that she saw young Georgiana as her way of becoming a coveted 'Darcy'. Through her observations, Georgiana,in a larger social group and particularly when separated from her family, was terribly shy. One might even mistake her for being timid. Elizabeth knew this not to be the case however, as she had witnessed first-hand the young lady's good humour and chattiness before the arrival of the Bingley's and theHurst's.
"… but I must insist Georgiana that you play for us Darcy has told us all of your diligence in practicing and what other reason is there to practice, than there is to show off?" saidMiss Bingleywith feigned affection, "Do you not agree that Georgiana should play for us, Mr Darcy?"she asked crassly shouting above the din to the head of the table. Elizabeth saw Georgiana wince and shrink into herself in her evident mortification.
Mr Darcy,to his credit glanced briefly at Miss Bingley before his piercing blue gaze went straight to his youngest sister to ensure she was not distressed.
"Is that what you wish, Georgiana?" he asked gently, but nevertheless his voice carried such command that the table fell silent. Georgiana opened her mouth to answer, but Miss Bingley beat her to it.
"Of course, she does!" she said with finality. Not aware at how high handed and rude she appeared and failing to notice the withering lookMr Darcy and the twins aimed at as Ella was about deliver, what Elizabeth was sure to be a cutting remark, Elizabeth turned to Miss Bingley.
"I am sorry to cause any upset Miss Bingley, but I have already persuaded Miss Georgiana to allow me to play a piece after dinner and she has graciously agreed to turn the pages for me." Elizabeth interjected.
Georgiana looked to her positively beaming. Regardless of her feelings toward the master of the house Georgiana was innocent to her brother's behaviour.
"Well, surely that is not to take the entirety of our night?!" asked Miss Bingley incredulously.
"Is it your expectation that my sister is to be our entertainment for the night and to be chained to the piano this whole evening, Miss Bingley?!" asked Ella, with a hard edge to her voice.
"No, of course not, I just know we would all enjoy hearing her play, she possesses such a talent of instilling emotion into the notes when she plays," she gushed quickly, trying to desperately to remove her foot from her mouth.
"I was not aware you had ever heard Georgie play." saidMr Darcy evenly, levelling her with his unwavering to work hard not to spill her drink from her mouth at his calling her out before everyone. Begrudgingly,Elizabethhad to allow a point in Mr Darcy's did not take kindly to anyone upsetting his family.
"No, I have not had that pleasure yet, but Mr Darcy, you have always spoken so hi-"
"Enough, Caroline. Leave Georgiana be." said Mr Bingley, cutting her short. "Miss Elizabeth, I look forward to hearing you play this evening and then Caroline as you are keen to have plenty of music this night, you shall play us a few songs we may dance to, if everyone is agreeable."
An agreeable murmur around the table sealed Miss Bingley's fate. It was plain for all to see she was furious at now being denied the opportunity of a dance withMr Darcy.A vein at her temple pulsing as she held her hand clenched around her wine glass, foretold a tantrum when they left here this evening!
Elizabeth could have kissed Mr Bingley for his genius! He peered around the guests and gave Georgiana an encouraging wink to which she bowed her head slightly, in thanks and then she turned to Elizabeth full of energy, enthusiastically talking about the pieces in which they could choose from. Elizabeth was delighted to discover they possessed similar tastes.
She looked back to the head of the table her gaze connecting withMr Darcy,as he subtly lifted his drink in cheers at her coming to his sister's aid. She hated that the heat in his gaze caused her to squirm slightly in her seat and she warmed under his gentle praise. And so, she reacted by not returning the salute, but allowing him to see her ire simmering within. She saw his features pull into a confused frown as she returned her attention back to Miss Georgiana, for the rest of the meal.
After dinner Ella and Hugo managed to get their own back further by, killing Miss Bingley with kindness, as it were. They insisted that no one could play the more complicated dance music as well as she, and then most surprising of all was Georgiana!
"Oh, please do Miss Bingley. We must have you play right away. I have heard my brother say that you play so well!" she had said. Affectively rescuing Elizabeth in return. Miss Bingleycould not refuse such an endorsement and at the mention of Mr Darcy, her chest puffed out and she made a show of sashaying over to the piano forte brushing so close to Mr Darcy, the feather in her coiffeuralmost took his good eye out!
Hugo said as much, causing their small group to giggle conspiratorially.
"Well now, what good is Miss Bingley's playing for us, if no one is dancing?! Come now, partner up everyone!" shouted Mrs Bennet loudly, causing Jane to touch her elbow in embarrassment in an effort to quiet her. But their mother just shook her off and took another sizeable gulp of her wine. Jane threw her sister a worried look, but both knew it would cause more of a scene to try to temper her, they would have to leave their mother to their father, who was thankfully now leading her over to the settee.
Elizabeth caught a discreet look between the twins and an elbow to Hugo's ribs, as he quickly rushed away and over to Jane to ask her to dance before his , in truth, Mr Darcyhadn't seemed to be paying Jane any attention noticed Elizabeth crossly. She could not work out which offence irritated her more. His bland and unflattering description of her dear sister, or his ignoring Jane after declaring his preference for her!
"Fitzwilliam,are you not dancing?" Ella asked him, as he was over at the sideboard to pouring himself a drink of water.
"I am guessing the correct answer is, yes!" he said, teasing his sister. She rolled her eyes and playfully punched his arm. He turned toward Georgiana and Elizabeth after a moment and Elizabeth let out the breath she had been holding in relief, when he his gaze settled on Georgiana!
"Excellent! You shall partner with Miss Elizabeth." Ella said turning her gaze about the room, "Now, where is Mr Bingley, he requested my hand for the first dance…" she added happily, more to herself than any of them.
BothElizabethand Mr Darcy froze.
"But of course, it would be my pleasure, Miss Elizabeth." he said politely offering his arm.
"Oh, but I would not wish to deprive Georgiana of a dance!" she hedged, imploring Georgiana to come to her aid once more.
"Not at all! Besides, it's no fun dancing with your brother," Georgiana said accompanying her words with a playful grimace. She then excused herself and went to sit, as Ella herded everyone to take their places in the centre of the room. Mr Darcy stood before here tall and proud in his expensively tailored clothes, looking her over and taking in every inch of her. She bravely returned his stare and when his eyes travelled back to her face, their gazes locking, her back stiffened and her brow arched, the cheek of the man, he did not even have the decency to look a little embarrassed at his open perusal of her person!
Taking a deep breath, she bobbed a quick and awkward curtsy as he gave a small bow, before they stepped to the centre, to circle with Hugo and Jane. Then swapping partners and stepping in and out and then moving in a circle together, before repeating the steps three more Darcylooked to Jane briefly and then with a bored sigh looked ahead with a humdrum expression.Well, at least she would not have to converse with the unpleasant man.Elizabeth thought to herself, glaring in his direction.
Fitzwilliam lookedover his shoulder at Ella and she threw him a smug grin when she noticed him looking at her. Then he turned his assessing stare to Hugo, who delivered him a winning smile… and he suddenly had the distinct and unsettling feeling that they were up to something!
"I am so glad that we have had the opportunity to dance this evening!" Hugo said, with far more enthusiasm than was warranted.
"I am afraid thatMr Darcydoes not share your zeal for the activity." said Elizabeth sarcastically.
"Nonsense, this is how he looks when he is enjoying himself!" quipped Hugo. Elizabeth gasped before clamping her mouth shut to stop her laughter bursting forth.
"If you had not learned already, my brother Hugo, is quite the comic!" drawledMr Darcy, glaring over at his brother, fighting an overwhelming desire to throttle him!Hugo made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort. Oh, they were most definitely up to himself with the thought that he had ways to make him suffer later.
His brother seemed to sense where his thoughts were going a gulped a little nervously, his Adams apple moving his neck cloth.
"Are you all right, Hugo? You are awfully quite all of a sudden. Guilty conscience perhaps?"Fitzwilliamsaid innocently, narrowing his gaze at him.
"No, no just a slight tickle in my throat brother!"
"Indeed, perhaps we should call the physician. I would hate for it to become fatal!" he murmured dryly, enjoying the shocked countenance of his partner, before the dance separated them all. He thought to himself, of the way Miss Elizabeth's behaviour towards him had been openly hostile. Then, he thought of how she had defended his little sister and stood up to Miss Bingley, which was no mean feat!
So far, from what he knew of her, she was no shy and retiring little miss. He decided that he would be patient as she clearly had something, she wished to say to him, and she would most probably do so as soon as the right moment presented itself. Normally, he would not entertain this sort of behaviour but there was something about Elizabeth Bennet that was intriguing to him, the more he looked at her the harder he found it to look away. He had barely even glanced to Miss Jane and in all honesty had quite gone off the prospect of marrying her. There was nothing wanting in her, but with Miss Elizabeth present she failed to capture his attention, he had tried to be present and hold a conversation with the elder Miss Bennet at dinner, but even when he was not looking at Miss Elizabeth, he found himself straining to pick out her voice or her laughter from the conversations surrounding him.
When their paths crossed again, he felt an odd need to fill the silence between them, again this was not an awkwardness he recognised in himself, in fact he normally enjoyed making others feel awkward in his presence, not in a cruel way, it was normally aimed at those individuals that wanted to extort something from him or his family.
Across the room, Mrs Bennet dropped her drink and was laughing brashly, almost falling from her chair, as Mr Bennet tried desperately to quiet her. Then she began to loudly call for her salts, distracting Elizabeth and causing her to stumble and step onMr Darcy'stoes.
"Sorry," Elizabeth mumbled, embarrassed and unable to meet his gaze.
"That is quite all right, I have rather robust shoes, Miss Elizabeth. I barely felt a thing!" he said trying to dispel her distress. "Do not worry, everyone else is oblivious," he added with a small flick of his head about the room.
And it was true, to Elizabeth's astonishment, no one else had noticed. She smiled up atMr Darcy, then recalled that she did not like him and scowled. Unable to hide the amusement from his eyes he looked down at her feet for a moment, they were so small and delicate that she would not have been able to cause any damage even if she had wished to. Looking back up at her he noted her displeasure. If she had seemed irritated by his presence before, she had now turned positively adverse!
"I see through you, Mr Darcy. I do not care for the façade of your sweet words you use on the ladies you wish to charm!" she declared, nostrils flaring.
"And just who said that I am trying to charm you?" saidMr Darcy,with a quirk of his brow.
Elizabeth blanched at her blunder and ground her teeth at his conceited comment. She vowed to herself in that moment that she would never allow him to marry Jane. Pursing her lips and holding her tongue she allowed her feet to move through the familiar steps to the dances end in silence. The quicker the dance was over the quicker she could get away and compose herself before she confronted him. She had to speak with him before the night was through, the sooner she put him straight the better.