Dear readers: Please keep in mind that this story has 28 chapters and an epilogue. Once I've finished rewriting it, I'll leave it for two days and remove it from this site.

Chapter 19

Mr. Darcy disliked how Caroline spoke to Elizabeth and immediately clarified the situation. "Miss Bennet is Georgiana's good friend, which is why she is in this house. My sister and I invited her to spend the afternoon with us. It is not your prerogative to question who does or does not come to my house, Miss Bingley. I hope this is the last time you talk to my guests in my home like you did to Miss Bennet," Mr. Darcy said forcefully.

Elizabeth smiled at Caroline's enraged face and replied, "Good morning, Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley." Then, so as not to be rude, she introduced her uncle. "Please, allow me to introduce you to my uncle Walter Baker."

Mr. Bingley stared at Elizabeth's uncle and finally remembered the gentleman who accompanied Elizabeth. "Professor Baker ..."

But he could not finish what he wanted to say because Caroline interrupted him to make a malicious comment. "Mr. Darcy, is Miss Eliza's tradesman uncle a family friend, too? Since he is here at your home as a guest of honor?"

Walter could not help but smile at such a comment. Evidently, the young lady was one of the many social climbers that abound in London, and she had her eye on Darcy. Indeed, she saw lovely Lizzy as a rival. "Miss, I am not dedicated to business, not because I consider something wrong with it but because my interests go elsewhere. As for the guest of honor, my host must determine that."

"Of course, you are a guest of honor, Professor Baker. It is truly an honor that you have accepted my invitation and that I can have you in my home," said Mr. Darcy sincerely.

"Professor Baker, do you remember me? Bingley, Charles Bingley! Caroline, Professor Baker is one of the foremost historians in the country, and he was my professor at Cambridge," added Mr. Bingley, a bit embarrassed by his sister's attitude.

The only thing Walter Baker remembered about Mr. Bingley was that he was a mediocre student but always very friendly. Still, he said a few words to his former student to make him notice that he did remember him: "It is nice to see you again, Bingley."

As expected, Caroline did not admit her mistake, and seeing that Elizabeth had an uncle she could boast of, she immediately decided to change the subject. She began to flatter Mr. Darcy with feigned interest until she remembered the real reason for her visit. "Mr. Darcy, I need to see my dear friend Georgiana. I imagine she must be craving company with similar interests and from the same social circles," Caroline added as she looked back at Elizabeth with contempt.

Mr. Darcy overlooked Caroline's subtle insult because his mind was elsewhere. He was very nervous when he heard his sister's voice approaching the room. He knew Georgiana would be devastated if Caroline saw her injured countenance, let alone her impertinent questions. Fortunately, Elizabeth also heard Georgiana's voice approaching, and she could see Mr. Darcy's nervousness. Suddenly, their gazes met, and Elizabeth understood what he was thinking.

"Mr. Darcy, if you will excuse me, I shall see if Miss Darcy is well. Uncle Walter, I shall return soon," Elizabeth said, leaving the room immediately.

In the corridor, she met Georgiana, who hugged and warmly greeted and thanked her for the visit. However, Elizabeth did not have time to reply because she wanted to warn her friend about the newcomers. "Georgiana, Miss Bingley, and her brother are in the drawing room. So I think you should return to your bedroom and wait until they leave."

Georgiana immediately became very nervous and covered her face with her hands. "Georgiana, do you want me to escort you to your bedroom?" asked Elizabeth.

"Yes, please," Georgiana replied nervously. She was horrified to think of the rumors Caroline could spread if she saw her swollen face.

Elizabeth took Georgiana by the arm and led her upstairs. Once they were in the bedroom, she told Miss Darcy's maid that she should inform Mr. Darcy that his sister was not feeling well and that she would rest.

In a few minutes, the housekeeper informed Mr. Darcy about Georgiana's illness. He explained to his guests that seeing Georgiana would be impossible because she was not feeling well and would stay in her chamber for the rest of the afternoon.

Caroline began to suspect that Elizabeth somehow prevented her from seeing Georgiana and tried to pressure her host. "I understand, Mr. Darcy. But perhaps I can visit my dear Georgiana in her room. I want to see her, and I am sure she will happily spend time with me. I know she misses me as much as I miss her." Caroline wanted to alert Mr. Darcy, and so she dared to add. "In addition, you must be more careful with the friendships you promote for a young lady as delicate as your sister. Because of her youth, she can be easily influenced by people with dubious intentions."

Mr. Darcy got very angry when he realized what Caroline was trying to imply and said, "I assure you, Miss Bingley, that I am quite careful with everything concerning my sister's well-being. Besides, she cannot receive visitors for at least two more weeks, so I shall beg you not to insist, or I shall be forced to ask you not to return to this house unless you receive an invitation." And looking at his friend, he added, "Bingley, I am sorry, but Professor Baker and I shall be in the library discussing his latest book, and I guess you and your sister are not interested in the subject."

"No, of course not. Caroline, it is time to go. Please give Miss Darcy our best wishes for a speedy recovery." Mr. Bingley left before his friend and former professor started discussing tedious and complicated topics. Unfortunately for him, his sister did not give him a second of peace in the carriage home. She did nothing but speak against Elizabeth and her entire disgusting family.

P&P

Roger Daniels sat on a bench, claiming he was a little tired and wanted to review the medicinal plants book he had just bought. The truth was that he wanted to leave the young people alone, or rather, he tried to give each of the couples time to speak more privately. He was old, mature, and experienced, so he realized that his grandson Peter could not stop looking at the beautiful Miss Bennet and that his granddaughter Emily could not hide her admiration for the young and charming Mr. Reed. For Roger, his grandchildren were the most important in his life, and he would do everything possible to see them happy. Besides, if he had to be honest, he liked both Miss Bennet and Mr. Reed very much.

Jane listened carefully to what Peter was telling her. He was pleasant, kind, and very attentive. "And what do you like more, Mr. Daniels, the business world or working on an estate?" asked Jane, genuinely interested. Peter told her he should maintain both roles due to his paternal family history.

"To be honest, Miss Bennet, I have no preference. Both worlds have their positives and negatives." Then, seeing her questioning face, he decided to explain himself. "You see, on my estate, I feel connected to the land and the people who work there. I do not greatly enjoy city life because most of the time, I prefer the tranquility of the countryside. But from time to time, I like to get out of my confinement and have the opportunity to attend the theater and the opera and meet new people," he looked at Jane and smiled at her.

"Something very similar happened to me," Jane responded impulsively, smiling at Peter as well.

"I shall be honest with you: Our land in Derbyshire is not very productive, and my involvement in the business world helps keep my estate and tenants financially stable. Even if I wanted to, I could not afford to dedicate myself exclusively to farming," added Peter. He was happily chatting with Jane, so he had not even realized that his sister and Albert had gotten so far ahead that he could hardly see them anymore.

"I understand, but one should always try to find balance, and I think you have succeeded in that," said Jane sincerely. She was glad she had come to the fair. It had been a long time since she had had such a pleasant evening. The Daniels and their grandfather were undoubtedly people worth getting to know better.

"Although I must admit, Miss Bennet, that I must constantly deal with criticism from my mother. She does not want me to get involved in business matters," Peter explained.

"And how do you deal with these criticisms?" Asked Jane curiously.

"I make it very clear to her that I am a grown man in charge of my life, regardless of her opinion. I am the one in charge of the family's well-being. Also, I reminded her that I am the one who makes the important decisions, not her," explained Peter forcefully. But realizing that it had sounded a bit harsh, he clarified. "I love my mother very much, but she has many ideas that I do not share, and I have no problem making her see that despite my love and respect for her, I am not willing to accept that she tries to control my life."

"I understand, Mr. Daniels," said Jane. "My mother is also very different from me, and she has many ideas that I do not share, too. But, of course, I have never openly opposed her decisions. She has a very strong personality, and I am rather reserved. But I think deep down I do the same as you; I listen to what she says, but I try to act according to my own convictions, "explained Jane. She could not recall having such a deep and sincere conversation with a gentleman.

Mr. Daniels was undoubtedly a captivating gentleman, and without knowing why, Jane wanted to continue listening to what he was saying and sharing a little more of her thoughts with him.

Albert looked at Miss Daniels between intrigued and charmed. She spoke animatedly about the last time she had accompanied her grandfather to Liverpool. He did not have a significant experience with the fair sex, but he had noticed that Emily was looking at him in a particular manner, with a different sparkle in her eyes. But most of all, he had seen how she had blushed when he stared into her eyes.

If Mr. Reed had been honest with himself, Miss Daniels would not have managed to get his attention. She was not particularly beautiful like Jane or Elizabeth Bennet and was also quite reserved most of the time. But at that moment, he realized the shyness disappeared when she felt comfortable and conversed animatedly. Her face illuminated, and she was much prettier than at first glance.

"I must assume then that you enjoyed spending time at your grandfather's house much more than at your parents' estate," Albert asked, a little surprised.

"Indeed, for me, the ideal is to live in the city and spend the holidays in the country," Emily replied. She felt delighted walking beside the most wonderful man in her acquaintance. Also, he took the time to chat with her for the first time since he knew her.

"I always thought that every young lady's dream was to marry a landowner and become the mistress of an estate," added Albert, a little curious.

"It may be, Mr. Reed, but I assure you that is not my dream," Emily replied.

"So, what would your dream be, Miss Daniels?" Albert asked, smiling.

"I do not have a specific dream about my future life. I just know that I would like to do something more than be in drawing rooms gossiping about stranger's lives. If I ever get married, I want to be with a man like my grandfather." Before Albert could ask, Emily added, smiling, "He allows me to help him with his business accountings. And you, Mr. Reed, what is your dream?"

"I do not know," Albert answered honestly. "I have spent much of my life with my head stuck in accounting ledgers or study books. I suppose my dream is to succeed in business, and I believe I have achieved it so far."

"And you do have any dreams not related to your business?" Emily asked curiously.

Albert felt a bit uncomfortable at such a direct question. He had never thought deeply about life outside trade. Like every man, he wanted to meet a charming woman, marry her, and have children. But he had never reflected on how that woman should be. He always assumed that she would be someone who would attract his attention for her beauty and sympathy, as Elizabeth Bennet had done recently. He could not answer that question, so he decided to change the subject to avoid an awkward moment. "We have walked a little fast, Miss Daniels! Shall we wait for your brother and Miss Bennet?"

"Yes, indeed," Emily said, a little disappointed. She understood that Mr. Reed did not wish to discuss personal matters with her and felt foolish for believing he was enjoying her company.

Albert began to ask her what her favorite exhibition was, and that way, they chatted for a few minutes until Jane and Peter caught up with them. Then, the whole group searched for Roger, and he invited them to have tea at one of the most exclusive tea houses in London, owned by an old friend. There, they conversed and laughed, listening to the anecdotes of old Roger.

Despite being cordial, Albert realized that Emily did not want to speak directly to him for the rest of the afternoon, and without knowing why, he could not help feeling guilty.

P&P

Mr. Bingley was furious with his sisters, his friend Darcy, and everyone but himself. He had gone to Cheapside to see his angel, and she was not there. Instead, she was visiting a fair with friends, thanks to his sisters and Darcy, who gave him horrible advice. At least Darcy had been remorseful while his sisters insisted on meddling in his affairs. Unfortunately, he had not yet reflected on his immaturity and why he allowed others to interfere in his life so easily when he was almost twenty-five.

But he was willing to do whatever it took to see his angel again, so he planned to go the following day to visit Miss Bennet without his sisters. If Darcy received Elizabeth Bennet at his home, he wondered why he could not do the same. So, he planned to host a dinner at his house and invite Jane and her family.

With that new resolution, Mr. Bingley was reassured. He needed to keep a cool head because his solicitor had just sent him some documents to analyze. He enjoyed planning future business, and in the last year, he had made excellent investments that paid off. He was planning to buy an estate, learn the basics, and hire a good steward to take care of everything. In that way, his sisters would leave him alone, and he would continue to run much of the family business and earn money.

He was concentrating on analyzing some documents when Caroline abruptly entered his office. "Caroline, please, let me concentrate. After how you behaved with Miss Bennet's Aunt and at Darcy House, I am not in the mood to converse," Mr. Bingley growled.

"Do not be ridiculous, Charles! I am not here to talk about those horrible women or their aunt but about something much more pleasant. Lord Wilson and his daughter are here, Charles," Caroline said excitedly.

Mr. Bingley did not wish to entertain visitors that day, but as a good host, he had no choice but to go to the drawing-room to welcome the newcomers. On her side, Caroline was in awe that one of Ton's most influential men was visiting them at their home.

Baron Wilson was pleasant, amiable, and had no problem being cordial to people of all walks of life. But he did not feel quite as comfortable thinking about his daughter having to marry a tradesman. But he knew poverty was even worse, so he was willing to accept Mr. Bingley. At least the man was nice because his sister was quite dull, starting conversations about meaningless topics no one was interested in.

Sarah brought her father as a way to bond with the Bingley family. So far, her plans had not turned out well for her. Mr. Bingey seemed uninterested in her, and she did not quite understand why. She had researched him well, and everyone she knew told her that Mr. Bingley liked beautiful women, and she was one of the most beautiful in the Ton.

"Mr. Bingley, I have been reading the newspaper business section these last few days, and I must tell you that it is much more interesting than I thought." Sarah was cultured and intelligent and was sincerely interested in the subject. However, she had initially done it to have something to talk about with Mr. Bingley.

"Oh, very well, Miss Wilson," said Mr. Bingley and immediately began to converse with Lord Wilson to avoid further speaking with his daughter. He could not understand why that beautiful woman insisted on discussing things inappropriate for a lovely lady. In fact, every time she insisted on talking about such topics, she did not seem to be beautiful but rather ugly. Women like Sarah Wilson, who spoke about everything with such propriety, did not interest him but somewhat intimidated him. He was not like his friend Darcy, capable of engaging in dialectical banters with a woman as he did with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Sarah sat beside her father, quite frustrated and unsure of what she had to do to get Mr. Bingley's attention. She also had to endure Caroline and her inconsequential conversations for yet another hour. She had to change her strategy but did not know what to do if she was honest.

P&P

Richard came to his parent's home exhausted. He had so many things on his mind and did not know how to resolve everything he had to do in a month. But after speaking to Randall, more than ever, he realized that he and Darcy should talk to Georgiana, just as Mrs. Gardiner suggested. So he wrote a message to his cousin telling him he would go to his house the following day.

At least that night, he had dinner at the house of a friend he had not seen in a long time, which would help him rest. He had hardly slept the night before thinking about Georgiana, Wickham, and his cousin Darcy. That is why he planned to take a little nap before going to his friend's house.

But when he was taking off his jacket, he heard a knock on the door, and the butler, after apologizing, said to him, "Colonel, excuse me for interrupting you, but this message just arrived, and it is for you."

"Do not worry, Parker," Richard said and received the letter.

As soon as the butler left, Richard opened it and began to read it with great curiosity. When he finished, stunned, he said, 'It cannot be, Anne!'

P&P

Many thanks to everyone who leaves supportive comments and enthusiastically follows the story.

In the next chapter, Mr. Darcy will interact with Elizabeth and realize that he is madly in love with her.

Saludos,

Yo