Chapter 1

E lizabeth was close to the house when the sound of a carriage made her look over her shoulder and step away from the road. She had taken a long walk to escape the chaos of her home; Longbourn had become too crowded in the two days since Mr Collins arrived.

The cousin to whom their estate was entailed claimed he had come with good intentions and with the desire to bring the family together. He seemed to mean well, but the ridiculous formality with which he broached every subject and the mention of his patroness — Lady Catherine de Bourgh — every other minute made his presence irritating and tiresome.

Even worse, he had informed her mother he was determined to find a wife — as his patroness had requested — and was considering choosing one of the Bennet sisters. That pronouncement had become a vexing torture for Elizabeth.

Mr Collins — unaware of his ridiculousness — had first considered Jane, but their mother had explained that her eldest daughter would likely be engaged soon. In the next moment, Mr Collins had turned his attention to Elizabeth — much to her despair and her father's amusement and mockery. Mr Collins's main qualities were the ability to flatter and to hear only what he wished to, regardless of what was said.

So as soon as she had found a moment to escape, she had left the house and walked as far as she could. It was time to return, though, and she expected a severe rebuke from her mother — to which she would only pretend to listen, as usual.

The carriage was now close, and she turned to look at it. It was unknown to her — large and elegant with a crest on the door. Four horses pulled it, and it passed her before stopping a short distance away.

"Miss, do you happen to know whether Netherfield is far from here?" the coachman called out.

"Not far. About three miles away. If you keep to this road, it will take you there."

"Thank you, miss!"

While Elizabeth wondered who might be travelling to Netherfield, a window of the carriage was opened, and the head of a gentleman of middle age appeared and asked in a worried voice, "Miss, are you alone here? Are you lost? Can we take you home?"

The man gestured to a servant, who hastened to open the door, and he stepped out. He looked to be about her father's age; his figure was still handsome, and there was a peculiar familiarity about him that she could not place.

"Oh no. I thank you for your offer, sir, but I am not lost. I am just taking a walk. My house is just over there. Longbourn, it is called."

He glanced in the direction she indicated, then gave her a nod of understanding. "I am Lord Matlock. I am looking for the home of Mr Bingley, if you happen to know him."

Elizabeth curtseyed. "I am honoured to make your acquaintance, my lord. I do know Mr Bingley." She wondered where she had heard his lordship's name before.

"Oh, you do? What a lovely coincidence. I shall tell him that you pointed me in the right direction," the earl said with a friendliness that made Elizabeth smile.

"I am sure you would have found it by yourself, sir," she replied.

"Probably, but I believe it was a lovely coincidence, nevertheless."

"You are very kind, my lord. My name is Elizabeth Bennet. My father, Thomas Bennet, owns Longbourn. As I said, Netherfield is only three miles away."

The gentleman looked thoughtful for a moment, and a frown appeared between his eyebrows.

"Thomas Bennet, you say? This is a coincidence, indeed. I knew a Thomas Bennet when I studied at Cambridge. He was a good friend, but I have not seen him in more than twenty-five years. Could it be him? Meeting his daughter by chance would be unbelievable good fortune. But it is a common enough name."

"My father did study at Cambridge," Elizabeth answered, intrigued and amused. "But it is a common name, indeed."

"How entertaining! I shall be at Netherfield for a few days. Just ask your father if he happens to remember a Henry Fitzwilliam, and if he does to send me a note."

"I certainly shall, my lord."

"Good day, Miss Bennet."

"Good day, Lord Matlock." Elizabeth gave another curtsey, and the gentleman bowed and departed.

She continued her walk with a light heart and a smile on her lips. She was certain her father could not be the Thomas Bennet Lord Matlock spoke of. She had never heard him mention anyone of that name. But he would be amused by the coincidence, to be sure. And her mother would be thrilled and agitated hearing an earl was visiting Mr Bingley. Perhaps she should speak to her father in privacy, to avoid more chaos.

"Lizzy, where have you been?" her mother scolded her as soon as she entered. "Mr Collins has been asking about you!"

"We wanted to go to Meryton, but Jane would not come without you, and Papa would not allow Kitty and me to go alone," Lydia interjected. "There are some new officers that have just joined the regiment, did you know? I hope Mr Bingley will invite them all to the ball!"

"I must speak to Papa. There is something I have to ask him," Elizabeth responded hastily, leaving the room before anyone could respond. Nobody followed her as Mr Bennet was strict about his privacy. At her entrance, he put his book down and smiled at her.

"So, you have finally returned, Lizzy. Your mother has turned the house upside down trying to find you. And Mr Collins tortured me until half an hour ago when I requested he leave and allow me to rest."

"I am sorry for your suffering, Papa," she teased him. "I have a little story that will surely entertain you enough to forget the pain."

"Do tell. I certainly need some entertainment."

"Just as I was returning to the house, a carriage stopped. A gentleman was looking for Netherfield, and I gave him directions."

"I am not amused so far."

"Ah, but you will be. The gentleman told me his name, and I told him mine. When he heard it, he was stunned, and he claimed he had been friends with a man at Cambridge named Thomas Bennet."

"Did he?"

"Yes. And prepare to be amazed. He is an earl, but quite an amiable and pleasant one. Lord Matlock is his name. He asked me to ask you whether you remember a man named Henry Fitzwilliam. Did you have such illustrious friends at university?"

Elizabeth was ready to laugh, but her father remained serious.

"Henry Fitzwilliam is here? I certainly do remember him. What is he doing in Hertfordshire?"

"He is visiting Mr Bingley. Do you really know him? Did you know he was an earl?"

"I most certainly know him. And yes, I knew he inherited the title from his late father. I did not own Longbourn at that time. I read in the newspapers that his wife, Lady Matlock, sadly died five years ago."

Elizabeth sat down beside her father, bewildered. "This is quite a coincidence, Papa!"

"It is. I hope we shall meet while he is in the area."

"Well, I believe he wishes that too. He wishes you to write to him at Netherfield. He looked quite delighted by the thought."

"Well, well… I shall send John to deliver the note. My old pal, Henry Fitzwilliam! By the way, do you know he is closely related to your not-so-good friend, Mr Darcy?"

Elizabeth's amazement increased.

"I certainly did not know that!"

"Henry was brother to Mr Darcy's mother, Lady Anne, and — prepare to hear the most shocking news — to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr Collins's noble patroness."

"No! Surely you are joking!"

"Not at all."

"But how? You knew all this and said nothing? You heard me talking about Mr Darcy and Mr Collins talking about Lady Catherine and did not say a word?"

"What use would there have been in mentioning it? It would only have caused a greater uproar. If you promise to keep the secret, I shall tell you that I was personally introduced to both Lady Anne and Lady Catherine after Henry's second son was born."

"No!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "Papa, are you quite serious?"

"Stop asking me that, Lizzy, it is most annoying. Let me send Henry a note."

Her father was obviously entertained, while Elizabeth's disbelief was complete. So many revelations in one morning was inconceivable and such coincidences intriguing.

"There. Give this to John to take to Netherfield at once. And let me think of a way to tell your mother, in case Henry appears here. I do not wish to risk her response scaring him or agitating her nerves."

∞∞∞

"Lord Matlock, I cannot believe you are here," Bingley said with a voice full of emotion. "Darcy mentioned you may come, but I am still shocked to see you. And honoured! Deeply honoured!"

"Calm down, young man. No such formalities are needed. I was on my way back to London, and knowing Darcy was here, I could not miss the opportunity to call."

"We are grateful you did! Are you pleased with your room, my lord? There are many others you may choose from, but we suggested that one because it is close to Darcy's."

"The room is perfect."

"Your visit is such an honour, and we hope you enjoy your time here, Lord Matlock," Miss Bingley interjected.

"Indeed, we are thrilled to have your lordship's company," Mrs Hurst added.

"I am pleased to be here too, ladies. This seems to be a good property, Bingley."

"Thank you. I like it very much. Darcy suggested this estate when I decided to rent, and I am very happy I listened to him."

"Darcy's suggestions in matters of business are usually worth following. I admit he is often better than me at judging such things," the earl admitted. "The neighbourhood seems pleasant too. By the by, I met a charming young woman who directed us towards Netherfield. A Miss Bennet."

"Miss Jane Bennet?" Bingley enquired hastily.

"No, Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Oh, Eliza Bennet. She knows all the paths through the wilderness," Miss Bingley replied. "She has a strange habit of wandering through the fields."

"She does not wander — she enjoys walking, which is good exercise," Darcy responded. Ever since he had imprudently told Miss Bingley about Elizabeth's pretty eyes, Darcy had been forced to listen to constant abuse towards the Bennets and continuous insinuations towards him. The woman was rude and tiresome.

"Yes, she mentioned she enjoys walking," the earl said. "And she told me she is well acquainted with Mr Bingley."

"She is," Bingley agreed enthusiastically. "In fact, her sister Miss Jane Bennet became ill while she was visiting my sisters, and she stayed here for a few days. Miss Elizabeth came to take care of her. They are very fond of each other."

"Such a bond between sisters is commendable," the earl admitted. "Now, I shall finish this drink and go and change for dinner."

"It should be ready in half an hour," Bingley said.

"Good. I shall be down on time."

A few minutes later, a servant entered and bowed.

"I am sorry to disturb you, but a servant has arrived with a note from Mr Bennet from Longbourn, for Lord Matlock."

"From Longbourn?" Miss Bingley enquired harshly. "How dare those people write to Lord Matlock? Such impoliteness!"

"Bring me the note," Lord Matlock requested despite the others' puzzled glances.

The note was handed over, and Lord Matlock opened it, read it, then began to laugh. "Well, I never! So, it is you, after all!" he mumbled mostly to himself. Then he addressed the servant, "Is the man who brought this message still here?"

"He is."

"Tell him I shall call at Longbourn tomorrow," the earl declared, causing deep shock to his audience.

Darcy gazed at his uncle, puzzled, wondering what sort of joke this was. He had avoided visiting Longbourn thus far — mostly because he was trying to keep his distance from Elizabeth — and surely his uncle had no reason to do so.

"This is the most astonishing coincidence, indeed," the earl mumbled as he left to change for dinner, while the other five looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What on earth have those Bennets done?" Miss Bingley burst out. "I am sure it is all her fault. She immediately told her mother she had met an earl, and now the entire family must be crowing with joy," she said with mockery. "What could Mr Bennet have possibly written to the earl to make him call? You must warn your uncle against the Bennets' schemes, Mr Darcy!"

"So you assume my uncle is a simpleton and easily fooled, Miss Bingley? If that is the case, I suggest you warn him. I would not dare offend him with such an assumption. If he intends to call, he must have a good reason, which I am curious to find out too."

"Oh, I meant no offence…it is just puzzling. Surely the earl cannot have anything in common with the Bennets!"

"My uncle's response suggested the opposite. We shall find out as much as he is willing to reveal," Darcy concluded. He was equally stunned, confused, and curious, but he refused to agree with Miss Bingley. However, he did plan to enquire further as soon as he had a moment of privacy with the earl.