Chapter 3

Elizabeth's Bedchamber

Longbourn

15 th October, 1811

The light from the window fell across the bed, on which lay the gown which Elizabeth planned to wear that evening. The two ladies moved purposefully around the room, which was, while perfectly adequate, not particularly large. Aside from Elizabeth's wardrobe and dressing table and accompanying stool, she had a bookshelf along one wall. Some dozen books sat in pride of place on the top shelf – the ones she had purchased outright with her carefully hoarded allowance. The lower shelf was reserved for the books she had taken out from the lending library or otherwise borrowed. Behind them, the fire cast light and warmth over the simple blue carpet in the middle of the floor, nudging up under the side of the four-poster to provide a welcoming environment to cold toes first thing in the morning.

There was a soft tap at the door, and a moment later Mrs. Bennet stepped into the room and smiled at the sight of her two eldest daughters, both of whom were bent industriously over the dress.

"What are you doing with your gown?" she asked Elizabeth.

"I have removed the yellow lace and replaced it with a darker green," the girl said, lifting the light green dress and displaying the lace sewed onto the neck. "What do you think?"

"I think it is marvelous, my dear. It freshens up the gown considerably. And Jane, you are adding silver lace to your blue gown, I see?"

"Yes, Mamma."

"You will both look lovely tonight at the assembly," Mrs. Bennet said.

Jane and Elizabeth glanced at one another, and Elizabeth said, "Thank you, Mamma."

Mrs. Bennet sat down on the cushioned window seat, and her lips curled up slightly. "You know what I am here to say."

"Yes," Elizabeth said patiently. "We should attend the assembly tonight and enjoy ourselves, while behaving with propriety, and there is no need to chase after Mr. Bingley, or any member of his party, in search of a hasty offer."

"Precisely," Mrs. Bennet said, and then chuckled ruefully. "I realize, my dears, that I say the same thing whenever we are in company of new gentlemen, but with your father's determination to marry you off, I want you to know, to assure you, that there is no reason to rush into marriage. I have been investing my pin money for many years now, and when your father passes, we will be able to live in frugal comfort."

Jane and Elizabeth sighed in symphony. Their parents' marriage had not been a happy one for some time, and while both of them hoped to one day marry, they understood that it would be unwise to leap into marriage as their parents had. On the other hand, Elizabeth, in particular, was eager to leave Longbourn and her father's constant criticism.

"I daresay Mr. Bingley will not be particularly interested in any of us anyway, assuming he does attend the assembly," Jane remarked.

"Lady Lucas visited but an hour ago and brought news that Mr. Bingley has returned from London with a party of twelve ladies and seven gentlemen," Mrs. Bennet said drily.

Elizabeth laughed and said, "I think that must be mere gossip. Surely he will not bring so large a party?"

"We will see," her mother replied, and she then turned her attention on Elizabeth. "Lizzy, my dear, your father has an appointment with Mr. Jones tomorrow at noon. If you could rise before then, you could enter the library and make a record of Mr. Bennet's new books."

"Of course," Elizabeth promised. This was one of her normal duties, and she rather enjoyed it. The books, obtained using Longbourn funds, did not fall under the entail, and thus when Mr. Bennet died, his widow would legally be permitted to gather all books purchased during her husband's life and sell them.

"And in a few weeks," Mrs. Bennet continued, "your father will be done with them, and you can borrow any that appeal to you."

Elizabeth's cheer gave way to discontentment. If she came across a particularly fascinating book, it would be hard to wait, but her mother was right; she could not directly ask her father for a book. She must delay until he had more or less forgotten about it.

"You can always find something of interest in the lending library," Jane said kindly, and Elizabeth nodded but did not speak. She was fond of novels, but she also enjoyed scientific treatises, and could even read Greek and Latin moderately well thanks to Mrs. Montgomery's instruction, but such books were not generally available at Meryton's lending library.

/

Netherfield Hall

15 th October, 1811

Darcy glanced around the gravel drive as he stepped out of the carriage, noting the neatly trimmed flowerbeds lining either side, and he pondered what he had observed on their way through the estate. The land seemed good, signs remaining of a fertile harvest even as the fields now lay fallow for winter. He had seen no evidence of poor drainage, which pleased him.

He offered one arm to his sister, and his other to his cousin, with Mrs. Annesley following placidly behind as the party mounted the broad, shallow stone steps to the great front door. Tendrils of ivy crawled around the north corner of the red brick house, and Darcy noted with approval that all the shutters were in good repair. He had not been at all confident in his friend's choice when Bingley had written that he had leased Netherfield after a mere few hours of inspection, but Darcy found himself cautiously optimistic. It was too early to make a full judgment – after all, the place might have damp cellars and chimneys that smoked, or fireplaces that gave off no heat and warped floorboards. But the outside was heartening, certainly.

And heartening, too, was the occupant. Charles Bingley was a good friend, and a friendly, cheerful soul. It was a rather downcast party that had traveled from Matlock House, and Darcy thought, as he lifted the great round knocker in its gryphon's head, that they could all use some cheer.

The door swung open, and a grave butler pulled it wide and said, "Please come in, Mr. Darcy, Ladies."

Darcy guided the three women within, and he handed over his hat and cane and gloves to a nearby footman. The sound of hasty feet drew his attention to the corridor, and a moment later, Charles Bingley appeared, his handsome face stretched in a welcoming smile.

"Miss Darcy, Darcy, how glad I am to see you! Welcome to Netherfield Hall!"

Miss Darcy blushed and curtsied, and Darcy held out his hand to shake his friend's. "Thank you, Bingley. We are grateful for your invitation."

"It is I who am grateful, but please, will you not introduce me to the rest of your party?"

"Of course. Anne, Mrs. Annesley, my friend, Mr. Charles Bingley. Bingley, my cousin, Anne de Bourgh, and Georgiana's companion, Mrs. Annesley."

The ladies curtsied and Bingley bowed, and the latter said, "I am certain you all wish to freshen up, and here is Mrs. Nicholls to escort you to your bedchambers."

Anne was, indeed, wilting rather badly after the journey, and Darcy nodded encouragingly at Georgiana, who took her cousin's arm and followed the housekeeper up the great wide stairs which led to the upper floor, with Mrs. Annesley in placid pursuit. Darcy had noted that a second carriage, carrying the servants, had arrived within a minute of his own, so he hoped that the ladies' maids would soon be upstairs to assist them.

Bingley waited until the ladies had disappeared and then turned to his friend. "Do you wish to see your bedchamber, or would you care for a tour of the house?"

"Oh, by all means, a tour."

/

Study

Netherfield Hall

An Hour Later

A large fire had been built in the fireplace, which neither smoked nor was drafty. The room stood in need of a good dusting; there was a fine layer of fuzzy white on the solid oak mantle, as well as the leather covers of the estate ledgers piled on an oak desk and tall walnut shelves alike. The estate had been running on a skeleton crew of servants for the last couple of years, and considering that the steward was the only one who ever entered the study, and twice a year at that, it had not been high on the priority list for such small tasks as dusting.

Time enough, now, for that to change. At the moment, Bingley was filling two glasses with an excellent Madeira, and the brown leather wingbacked chairs before the fire were proving eminently comfortable. Darcy relaxed and stretched out his legs towards the blaze.

"Go ahead, Bingley," Darcy said with a grin. "I know you have been swallowing your curiosity for the last hour, and given how many questions I had about Netherfield, it is definitely appropriate for you to make your inquiries."

Bingley laughed and shook his head. "Your questions were pertinent to my life, and I am grateful. Obviously, there is much I do not yet know about the tenants, the land, and the house. But I do confess to being astonished and surprised that you did not wed Miss de Bourgh. What happened?"

Darcy shrugged and took a sip of wine. "She did not wish to marry me."

"But she accepted your offer!"

"She did, but that is because her mother, Lady Catherine, browbeat her into it. Anne is a gentle lady, and my aunt is not."

Bingley shuddered noticeably. "I have met Lady Catherine three times, and each time she looked at me as if I were an insect to be crushed under her foot. I can well understand that Miss de Bourgh was unable to withstand her. I am sorry, though. It must have been a great shock for you."

Darcy drained his glass and set it down, considering. He trusted his friend, and for all his jocular demeanor, Bingley could keep a secret.

"I was profoundly relieved, actually," he said.

"Truly?"

"Yes. I offered for Anne because my own mother tasked me to do so before she passed on. I thought I owed it to my mother and my cousin to fulfill what both our mothers desired. But Anne never wished to wed me, and in truth, while I care for her as a cousin, I have come to the realization that we are not well suited. I am incredibly grateful that Anne had the courage to call a halt to the ceremony before we were tied together in a marriage that neither of us wanted."

Bingley was staring at him intently, and Darcy straightened his back and narrowed his eyes. "Are you scandalized?"

"Not at all," Bingley replied instantly. "No, it is just you are such a strong willed, determined man that I am startled – but then again, perhaps I am not. You have always been a loyal individual, to your family and your friends. And from a practical perspective, it would have been a marvelous match. Miss de Bourgh is a great heiress."

Darcy blew out a breath and said, "Yes, and in truth, I belatedly realized that my aunt was in favor of our union because she knew that I was, of course, more loyal to Pemberley than to Rosings. She doubtless expected me to carry Anne off to Derbyshire and allow her to stay behind and rule Rosings."

"Would Miss de Bourgh…?"

"Have inherited upon her marriage to me? Yes. My Uncle Matlock is studying Sir Lewis de Bourgh's will to see whether Anne will need to wait more than four years to inherit as a single woman, or whether there is another alternative."

"I see."

"But enough about me. Tell me about the area. Have you met any of the locals?"

"I have, and I hope you will meet some of them tonight. There is an assembly and my sisters, along with my brother Hurst, and I intend to attend. You do not need to come, but if you would be willing…"

Bingley trailed off, and Darcy rolled his eyes. "Of course I will come, Bingley. Since I am still unmarried, I can continue to assist you in your search for the perfect wife."

"Thank you."