A/N: I keep going rogue. Maybe outlines are not for me? The shape of the plot is the same but I keep adjusting and improvising. Ah well. I know a bit about piano, classical music, and singing/voice so I got a bit lost in the weeds with picking songs. Hopefully the detail is not distracting. But do let me know! See the ending note for more stuff on my research on regency music.

Please let me know your thoights on the pacing of these past few chapters in Kent.

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Elizabeth presented her idea the next morning to Jane who was uncertain as a lullaby was not what Lady Catherine would no doubt expect of her as suitable for a performance. She did agree to add it as her one piece she'd sing unaccompanied as she needed Elizabeth's support for pieces they had started working on the past week. A familiar tune and words would allow her to focus on her breath and tone. Elizabeth also added that Jane would be much more often singing to comfort parishioners or children more often in her future than in the parlors of the upper gentry. The song had always calmed her which would be welcome amid her stress. The majority of the morning was spent writing down the words they remembered from the lullaby. Jane recalled the last lines having fewer words that extended over more notes: "So sleep, rest / be blessed"

Along with her own selections of Mozart's sonatas, Mary had obligingly sent Elizabeth's mostly empty songbook which included pieces she had worked on including Beethoven's calm and almost soaring Pathetique 2nd movement, his Six Variations - of which she could only play the first three but she was relying on the ignorance of her audience, Clementi's simple and pleasant Sonata op. 36 no. 4, as well as the piece she had dabbled with most recently, Mozart's Voi Che Sapete. Jane would sing the English lyrics, which is what they had been practicing the past several days, and Elizabeth would play the accompaniment. Her original intention when she had started on the piece at Longborn had been to play and sing but she was aware her voice was stronger, making the inevitable comparison unflattering.

As she walked, she was not able to fully enjoy the nature surrounding her as she was looking over the pieces to recall the difficult portions which most needed practice. There was no pianoforte at the parsonage so her time would be limited at the instrument which she intended to make the best of. She was then taken by surprise when Mr Darcy greeted her such that she started and placed a hand at her chest nearly dropping the music. It was mortifying and she observed the tightening of his lips and slight squinting of his eyes and concluded he was silently amused and thinking all manner of mocking sentiments. She took a steadying breath, curtsied, and replied in kind attempting to seem unaffected.

Regardless of her efforts, assuring him she knew the way and recommending other paths to enjoy, he walked with her for some time. He chose to discuss music and with this her hopes of an uneducated audience died. Although he did not play or sing, he was familiar with a handful of the pieces in her book and had heard his sister play the Clementi.

"I am sure Miss Darcy's performance is excellent and I warn you not to expect such perfection from me. Although I will endeavor to play pleasantly, you already know I have not the practice that she has dedicated significant time and effort to. You are familiar enough with the pieces to be able to detect any mistakes but your countenance is unreadable and your presence often a silent one. Thus I have no fear that your awareness will disclose these moments to others. Unless they are enough to make you speak or derail the composition in so obvious a way your aunt, with her elevated but untrained taste, will be unable to overlook them."

"I would not have you worry on that account. Beyond familiarity with your repertoire, I consider your past performance in the art to be representative of what you will show in a fortnight."

"Indeed I suppose it will not surprise you."

They lapsed into a silence then and she wondered at Mr Darcy's close proximity. He walked closely such that had not she been carrying her music in both hands it would have been expected for her to take his arm. Before they exited the wooded area to approach the house, he made his excuses and took his leave of her, turning to continue his walk. Moving into the clearing and approaching the manicured lawn, Elizabeth wondered at such odd behavior.

The next several days, Mr Darcy joined her either for her walk to or from Rosings with few exceptions. He discussed seemingly unconnected topics with her "about her pleasure in being at Hunsford, her love of solitary walks, and that in speaking of Rosings and her not perfectly understanding the house, he seemed to expect that whenever she came into Kent again she would be staying there too. His words seemed to imply it. " (ch. 33)

When he accompanied her home she felt obliged to invite him in for some refreshment, which he had waved off until one particularly warm afternoon he accepted the offer readily. This ought to have been natural and predictable, but Elizabeth found herself ill at ease and surprised. This feeling of disquiet was amplified when upon entering the parsonage she was informed the other principle inhabitants had recently started walking into town. She had tea brought with other refreshments and served them both. Using the food and drink as cover, she let the silence linger uninterrupted by either of them for ten minutes. She was tense but observed that Mr Darcy seemed the opposite and nearly absent minded. The maid came then, announcing Colonel Fitzwilliam who then strode into the room and greeted Elizabeth warmly. She, having stood to receive the guest, inquired if he like his cousin would benefit from refreshment as the day was rather warm.

Colonel Fitzwilliam then turned to see Mr Darcy sitting in a chair positioned such that it was not in view when entering the room. He replied he would enjoy some tea in an amused tone and once she had poured his cup, she inquired after the source of his mirth as she dearly loved to laugh and had not had the opportunity in days. Fitzwilliam settled where he could observe the two others which were of course the source of his continued entertainment but he did not own this to either party and allowed the conversation to move naturally onwards without his definitive reply.

Elizabeth was quick to explain how they had come to the parsonage not many minutes past after having chanced upon one another as she returned for her daily practice on the pianoforte and were both surprised the rest of the inhabitants had gone to town. The contrast between the gentlemen's reactions to this was comical, the Colonel was as invested as one could be whilst the other was again seemingly lost in thought rather than attending to her words. She decided to test this, adding "is that not so, Mr Darcy?" to which he merely nodded.

"We would have continued in silence no doubt but for your timely arrival Colonel Fitzwilliam" she declared, sending him a conspiratorial look.

"I well believe it," replied he, observing his cousin, "and am happy to provide such relief, Miss Elizabeth."

She laughed then, and the visit continued in a pleasant manner with both of the active conversants subtly mocking the third occupant of the room, who continued on in his silence broken only occasionally by brief comments.

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A/N: research notes on music

For anyone interested, the lullaby is https/en.m./wiki/Schlafe_mein_Prinzchen_schlaf_ein which is a German lullaby that has been historically attributed to Mozart. Olivia Newton John recorded a version "Sleep My Princess (Mozart's Cradle song)" that my mother sang to me so in my search when I heard the tune while searching for lullabies that predated the regency I perked up. There are loads of variations of the words to the song and I combined a bunch of them and condensed it to one verse.

I watched a bunch of Venheteiro videos on "songs you've heard but don't know the name of" but lots of "classical" music is later than 1812. I think Lizzy would love Chopin but he's quite a bit later.

I also read this blog about music in BBC's P /pride-and-prejudice-1995-enjoying-the-music

And to clarify, hymns were only illegal in Anglican Church services, not other situations. There were lots of different offshoots of religion and hymnology was increasingly popular at the time throughout England in Methodist and other separatist congregations. So popular they had to change a law in 1830 allowing hymns in Anglican Church services.