Hertfordshire… September, 1809

Chapter One

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

Determined to watch the faces of those to whom she was being introduced, she curtsied and gave all a look of concern to alert them her mission was one of compassion. Mr Roberts, who had announced her, had smiled at her when she arrived. She took that to be a good sign. He had known her since a child, so she hoped he would be discreet enough to allow the information she was here visiting her sick sister not to be spread about town until she was safely back in London.

The one she assumed was Mr Bingley, first appeared confused, then his face switched to the practiced amiability Jane had mentioned in her letter. His older sister, Mrs Hurst, seemed mildly unsure who and what the person before her was, while her husband, Mr Hurst, barely looked up from his newspaper. Mr Bingley's unmarried sister, first glanced over at the tall handsome man in the room before adorning her face with a poorly repressed look of disdain. He had a look of similar disapproval that seemed to melt into a startled expression. He probably just saw the mud on her skirt. Finally, the last gentleman wore regimentals. He greeted her with a simple welcoming smile.

"I am Miss Bennet's sister. She wrote a note asking for my company. Would someone please show me to her room? I am sorry to have disturbed you."

Mr Bingley spoke. "Welcome, Miss Elizabeth. My sisters will show you the way. We have been so worried about Miss Bennet's health. I am certain you will be a comfort to her."

With those words, his sisters schooled their faces in concern. However, Miss Bingley, in particular, seemed unable to disguise her annoyance. The tall handsome man looked as though he was trying to determine if she was here to commit mayhem, while the man in uniform had a genuine look of concern for her mission. Mr Hurst was still not paying attention.

Dearest Jane did indeed look quite poorly, but also extremely pleased to see her. A touch to her brow said she was definitely feverish. Both knew they would need to be alone before speaking freely, so she advised her sister to spare her voice for the time being. Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley seemed curious about her, so Elizabeth spent the time while waiting for Mr Jones, the apothecary, answering their questions about why they had not met her as best she could without causing too much detrimental speculation.

"I currently live in London. It was only yesterday I travelled to Hertfordshire. My sister knew I was to arrive, so this morning a note was delivered from her about being ill and desiring my company. I made haste to visit her before I leave again."

Jane whispered a plea to the two sisters. "Please let her stay with me until she must go. She will be able to retrieve anything I may need… and keep your maids from having to go up and down stairs. We will have someone at Longbourn send some clothes."

Elizabeth could tell Miss Bingley was not pleased. She did not even seem to like the idea of Jane staying another night. However, as Mrs Hurst said it was 'only proper,' and so it was settled.

Not much later, Mr Jones was shown in. Smiling and nodding toward Elizabeth, he spoke. "I did not know you were home, Miss Elizabeth. Your presence will be a boon to allow Miss Bennet to recover quickly."

Jane whispered "It is so fortuitous she was visiting."

After his examination, his words were for Elizabeth. "She has a violent cold. I will send over some draughts for her. Tell your parents what I have said. Also, she will be more comfortable if you ensure she consumes plenty of liquids."

After the apothecary left, the two ladies finally allowed the sisters to be alone.

"Who knows you are here, Lizzy?"

"Uncle Phillips. Our aunt was not awake when your note came. He is sympathetic to your need for my company."

"When I send word to Longbourn, I will direct my request to Mary to procure what I need. She will not question my choices, and we should be able to share. Unfortunately, none of my shoes or slippers will fit you."

"Dearest Jane, Mama would never have allowed me to see you. As sad as I am you are feeling feverish, it has at least created the opportunity for us to be together again. In a month, they are sending me somewhere far away. Who knows how long we will be apart?"

"You do not know where?"

"No, but I have arranged a way for us to learn of each other"

"How?"

"Aunt Gardiner has agreed to allow me to include correspondence to you when I write. She feels this whole business has been handled badly and will include my letter when she communicates with you. It will not be as often as I would like, but at least we will not be completely deprived of information about each other."

"Oh Lizzy, I am so disappointed in Papa. He should have fought for you."

"Yes. I thought he loved me… and you." The tears were pooling, but she refused to allow herself to appear less than resilient. "And yet, he seems only to care about not having to put up with our mother's histrionics. He went along with her vindictiveness for his own comfort—preferring to ignore his responsibilities to his daughters."

"Since Mama and Uncle Gardiner decided what should become of you, he is even more often shut away in his bookroom. He cares little for what Kitty and Lydia do. I struggle to be civil to him."

"Jane, you seem to have ceased finding the good in all."

"I definitely have. Their treatment of you opened my eyes."

"I believe my situation has been decided permanently which is why I was summoned here to sign some papers. Perhaps, I have been disowned and written out of our family as though I never existed. Uncle Phillips has promised to explain it to me before I leave. He told me the major legal point of my situation is the money I had for a dowry is being forfeited."

"I may have become more pessimistic than you remember, but I have not lost the belief we will be together again."

"Yes! Surely some man will come along and see how beautiful and kind you are. He will want you despite your paltry one-thousand-pound dowry, and the hint you have a disreputable sister that none in your family acknowledges even exists. His offer of marriage will take you away from our parents. It is with that eventuality I hold out the hope, he will allow your sister to come live with you. Remember to tell him I promise to teach your children to speak French and play the pianoforte."

"Currently Mama's plan is to have Mr Bingley make an offer. It was her scheme to have me caught in the rain and be forced to stay here so I could entice him into matrimony. I wonder if once I am wed to one such as he, she will cease being so obsessed with marriage for our other sisters?" Her eyes closed for a few seconds. Elizabeth could barely hear her as she whispered, "I am tired Lizzy. Allow me to sleep. Once I am feeling better, I will entertain you with my prospects."

"I am sorry for chattering away about my troubles. While you rest, I will go down to the kitchen and arrange for some broth and water with lemon and rosemary the way you like it. I will be looking forward to you telling me all about the gentlemen in this house."

Fitzwilliam Darcy spent the time while Bingley's sisters were with the patient and her sister pretending to read. Charles and Richard were playing some card game, and Mr Hurst was dozing. In actuality, he had been trying to bring into focus a hazy memory of a night in Vauxhall Gardens. It was almost two years ago and involved a young lady of dubious propriety. Not all was difficult to remember. The kiss and those lips often played a prominent role in his occasional lustful dreams. It was his favourite prelude to much more intimate intrusions culminating in a blissful release. But now, the conversation which had preceded it was what he was trying to recreate.

Certain events had been happening that nudged his consciousness, causing him to recall words spoken that evening. It had all started when several days before, Charles had persuaded him to attend a local assembly in the nearby town of Meryton. He had been determined to refuse until he thought he remembered hearing of the place before. They were after all in Hertfordshire. He was certain that was where she said she was from. A cloaked female with golden lips who said she had danced there, induced him to agree.

While attending the assembly, he learned the young lady Charles immediately became enamoured with was called Jane. Again, the anonymous masquerader had mentioned a sister so named. In pursuit of nothing he truly understood, he made it his mission to meet Mr Bennet, be introduced to his daughters, and dance with each of them. Unfortunately, none had lips as he remembered belonging to her. It had been a trail which led nowhere.

Now today, a young woman, obviously an excellent walker, as she had told him she was, was curtseying to them with rosy cheeks, muddy hem and brightened eyes—requesting to be taken to her ill sister. This one had the lips, but why had she not been mentioned by her father as one of his daughters. She also wore a dark blue wool cloak that bore a striking resemblance to her costume. Should he dare to unravel this piece of his past?

Still unsettled from Isabelle's rejection and Georgiana's near elopement, he wondered if her presence was a sign he best return to Pemberley. And yet, the desire to know what had become of her was quite strong.

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst rejoined them and the speculation about their mysterious visitor began. "Charles, I told you to be wary of becoming overly fond of Miss Bennet. They are a family with which we should not associate. Tell him, Mr Darcy. You danced with all her sisters."

"One set is hardly enough to judge."

"Come on Darcy, tell us your opinion. I have never known you to invite strangers for a turn before. What prompted you to do such a thing?"

"It was a spur of the moment experiment, Charles. I heard rumours Mr Bennet had the loveliest daughters in all of Hertfordshire. I wanted to see what these country folk deemed beautiful."

Caroline scoffed at his reply. "I did not have to become so close to determine they were neither particularly handsome nor were their manners worthy of recommending them… except for perhaps Miss Bennet."

Colonel Fitzwilliam spoke. "Miss Bennet was a most beautiful and gracious partner. I realize I spend most of my time with military men, but she would stand out in any of the Season's ballrooms. I believe you are too harsh on the sisters." Darcy wondered whether the words of an earl's son would temper Caroline Bingley's judgement.

"Colonel, I made an exception for her. The others though were nothing more than country bumpkins, whose clothes were dreadful, and with little understanding of proper behaviour."

"I also danced with Miss Lydia Bennet. She is quite attractive, but also very young and silly. Her admiration for redcoats needs to be cautioned against. On that we can agree."

Mrs Hurst attempted to strengthen her sister's case. "They are from trade. Their uncle is a country lawyer and another has a warehouse in London. Those types never provide proper supervision for their daughters. All they care about is money."

Darcy felt he should intervene with some information she was ignoring. "Their father is a gentleman. He is master of Longbourn, a neighbouring estate. I believe he said he too had been educated at Cambridge,"

"Yes, but did you meet the mother."

He knew Caroline had him on this point. Though quite similar in purpose to the matchmaking mothers of the London Season, her manners were an abomination. Twice he had heard her mention he had ten thousand a year and a grand estate in Derbyshire. "I did. I agree she has not been schooled properly in how to comport herself. She told her friends loud enough for the entire room to hear, I would be a perfect husband for her daughter Miss Catherine."

"She was saying the same about Charles and Miss Bennet. How was your dance with Mrs Bennet's choice for your bride?"

"When I danced with her, she spoke not a word. Though, I was treated to a nervous cough several times. Still, she did not seem anything more than a girl intimidated by an older man with significantly more precedence. There was at least ten years difference in our ages., and our status… there is no comparison."

Miss Bingley added, "They are definitely beneath us, Charles."

Finally, her brother spoke. "I enjoyed my two dances with Miss Bennet. Her mother is not as polished as I would prefer, but she meant no harm."

Caroline shook her head at the weakness of her brother's defense of his momentary angel. "Now allow me to tell you about Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I had my maid ask some questions about her of the staff."

Darcy put on his mask of indifference as he eagerly listened to her gleaned gossip.

"She has been living in London for two years. It is a mystery why. One of the maids is related to Longbourn's housekeeper. She says there was some scandal. It is said, Mrs Bennet has forbidden her name to be spoken."

Darcy made certain his face betrayed no special interest in the topic when he asked, "Did any know what the scandal was about?"

"No, but she also said there were rumours she had married."

Darcy heard at least two different voices say precisely what he uttered to himself. "She was introduced as Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

Jane Bennet's breathing was laboured. She had been sleeping fitfully off and on all afternoon. During her moments of wakefulness her sister had fed her beef broth. As advised by Mr Jones, she insisted she must drink water or a bit of tea as well. Finally, around three in the afternoon, she awoke and managed to stay awake for more than a few minutes. Lizzy began to bathe her face with a cold cloth. "Dearest sister, I will be required to spend some time with the inhabitants of Netherfield. Tell me what you are able about them. If you have an interest in any of the gentlemen, I should know. I will do whatever I am able to further your chances… just in case."

After requesting more water, Jane Bennet began her recitation of how she evaluated their host, hostess and their guests. "I will start with the two ladies. They are hostile to me, but they try not to appear so. Mrs Hurst keeps Miss Bingley from being too obvious. I will explain why I believe this after I tell you about the men."

"I definitely felt they wished both of us were gone from here."

"Their brother is all practiced amiability. He asked me to dance two sets at the assembly. He is charming, handsome, and as Mama keeps reminding me, rich. I believe he may actually be a bit infatuated. However, he seems weak and his sisters and his friend, Mr Darcy, seem to have more influence on him than I would think appropriate for one of his age, financial means and station."

"He was pleasant toward me, but a bit cautious."

"I would assume his reaction to be because I had never mentioned you."

"That was my assumption as well. When I arrived, the only person who treated me with genuine friendliness and expressed pleasure you would be cared for was the military man."

"Yes, I believe his reaction to be genuine. I danced a set with him at the assembly, and he sat with Charlotte and me during dinner at a party at Lucas Lodge. I found him charming, but he made it clear he was not in a position to afford a wife. That seemed a bit presumptuous, but the impression I am left with is he seems honourable and honest. Though an earl's son, he did not act as though he was above our company the way his enigmatic cousin did."

"Tell me about his cousin."

"I need to rest for a few minutes. Why not use the time to tell me where you think they are sending you?"

"It will not be anywhere within a short distance of here. Aunt Maggie hinted her family was finding a position for me. She is from the Midlands. That is my best guess, but she also has relatives in Ireland."

"Do you believe they have found a governess position for you?"

"Maybe, but our aunt seemed to believe that possibility fraught with danger. She thinks I could be taken advantage of. Besides, I am hardly qualified. Companion to someone seems more likely."

"You must write as soon as you know what is to become of you. I am so worried something horrendous will happen."

"I have already been told they are having me ride the stagecoach alone wherever I am sent. Our aunt argued with uncle about me doing so, but he insisted there was no money for any other arrangement. I was sent here that way and will return as well. It is not so very terrible."

Tears appeared in her sister's eyes. "Oh Lizzy, I am unable to understand why Papa is allowing Mama and Uncle Gardiner to do this to you. You were his favourite."

"Obviously the only one he cares about, and I believe loves, is himself. I was wrong to allow that man in Vauxhall Gardens to kiss me, but it was a minor offense and absolutely no one but Uncle Gardiner knew who I was. To those who might have observed us, they would have probably thought two men were kissing." To keep from crying and frightening her sister, Lizzy laughed. "Even so, no one rushed to arrest us. Our uncle's business associates were not with him when he saw me. A 'loving' father would have refused to force me to marry for such a feeble reason."

"What was the man you kissed like?

"His name was George Wickham, but I am not certain it was he who kissed me."

"Why do you say that?"

"There were things at the time which did not seem quite as it had been… but to answer your question, he was quite handsome, extremely charming, and knew all the right words to say to persuade Uncle Gardiner he would do the honourable thing by me."

Jane yawned and whispered, "perhaps, it was best he stood you up."

"Perhaps. But before, I allow you to sleep some more, tell me about the honest colonel's arrogant enigmatic cousin."