Posted on 2016-07-20
Chapter 1: The Night Begins
Elizabeth's pale and drawn face reflected her dread as she, Maria and the Collins' approached the front entrance of Rosing's Park. Twisting her handkerchief between her hands, she looked up trying desperately to get her emotions in order. Charlotte turned briefly and gave her a sympathetic look while Maria took hold of her arm and squeezed it leaning close to whisper.
“Mr. Collins ought to have let you stay home. It would serve him right if you became ill like Jane did at Netherfield last summer. I would stay with you even though I find Rosings to be so intimidating.”
Elizabeth felt what little of her blood was left in her head drain completely away at the thought of having to stay at Rosings. It was most assuredly not an option. Still, glancing at the encouraging smile from Maria, she could not douse the girls good nature and mustered a small smile.
Turning to the door as the footman let them in, she prayed the evening would pass quickly.
* * *
Darcy paced in front of the window impatient to see Elizabeth again. He had been sorely disappointed this afternoon when his aunt had detained him on another one of her usual little discussions and numerous hints regarding his future marriage to Anne. It seemed that his aunt had her heart set on it to an extreme and she refused to regard the feelings of either her daughter or her nephew. He did not know how to convince her that such a marriage would never take place. Some three years previous, his quiet little cousin had cornered him and Richard and made her feelings known. She had no desire to marry for many reasons. First and foremost, she was utterly terrified of childbirth. At that point, she had broken down and begged them to speak to her uncle the Earl which that had in due course. He, of course, understood her fears having nearly lost his beloved wife twice to childbirth. Since then, Anne had been relieved and more relaxed in his company then she had ever been.
Still, he worried about her. Looking over at her, he worried about how much more frail she had become in the last year. She was thinner and paler and the dark circles never seemed to leave her eyes even when they lit up upon their arrival. He and Richard made it a point to come to Rosings, knowing their visit was one of Anne's few joys.
“So, are you going to ask Miss Bennet to play yet again?”
Rolling his eyes, he glanced at his cousin, “Stop being cheeky, Fitzwilliam.”
“I am not being cheeky, merely observant.”
Darcy raised an eyebrow and looked at his smirking cousin.
“You have asked her almost every evening she has been here and you have paid her particular attention.”
“I most certainly have not.”
“Now don't play games with me, I know you to well. You would never make a poor match for yourself.”
At the look on his cousin's face, Richard held up his hand, “Let me finish. Miss Bennet suits you very well and you are wealthy enough that you do not need to marry for money unlike myself or you would face stiff competition.”
Darcy blinked, “What?”
The colonel laughed, “You heard me. If I were as independent in fortune as you, I would be pursing Miss Bennet wholeheartedly. She is absolutely delightful.”
Shaking his head, Darcy let out a small laugh and smiled, “If that is the case, I am thankful in this instance alone that I have that advantage for I would not be able to win any lady you chose to pursue.”
“I would not be so sure of that, but you have my blessing and best wishes. Not to mention, I took the liberty of promoting your good nature to the young lady this very afternoon.”
“When did you find the opportunity to speak to Miss Bennet?”
“When I took my tour of the park as I always do. We crossed paths. It was an enjoyable walk. A shame that she did not feel well enough to walk farther.”
“She did not feel well?”
“She walked to far and it brought on a headache.”
Darcy froze, “Fitzwilliam, what exactly did you tell her?”
“Only about how great a friend you are and how your rescued Bingley from a terrible fate.”
Darcy groaned, “You did not tell her about that!”
“Why should I not?”
Before Darcy could respond, the door opened and the footman announced the Collins' party. Richard looked at his red faced cousin and then at the extremely pale Elizabeth, finally making the connection and realized his error.
“The young lady in question was her sister was it not?”
“Yes.”
“You imbecile.”
* * *
The evening passed abominably slow for all parties except Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins who were content to continue their own conversation with the lady doing all the talking and the gentleman punctuating certain statements with a nod or on braver moments an exclamation of praise on her wisdom. During this time, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Charlotte reached an unspoken agreement to keep Lady Catherine's attention away from Darcy and Elizabeth whenever she should turn to either of them. It was not easy on either of them and Elizabeth was forced to make a few slight comments, though Darcy, through his taking refuge at an obliging window, managed to remain more or less unscathed.
Both Charlotte and the Colonel knew that the longer the evening progressed, the more likely it was for Lady Catherine to ask Elizabeth to play and that she was clearly in no condition or mood to do so. If Mrs. Jenkinson had been present, she would have provided the musical entertainment for the evening and alleviated the pressure that would no doubt be placed on Elizabeth as Lady Catherine rarely accepted 'no' for an answer. Neither could fathom a possible solution until a small, thin voice broke into the conversation.
“Mama?”
So surprised to hear her daughter's voice in company, Lady Catherine fell silent and stared at her.
“Yes, Anne?”
“I'm feeling a little closed-in. Would it be possible to impose upon Miss Bennet to walk with me in the atrium.”
Lady Catherine blinked, “Well, I think it would be better if Mrs. Collins . . .”
“I would prefer Miss Bennet, Mama.” Turning to Charlotte, she added, “I mean no insult to you, Mrs. Collins, but Miss Bennet's time at Rosings is far more short lived and I would like the opportunity to get to know her better before she leaves.”
Charlotte smiled, “No offense taken, Lizzy is far more lively than I and I cannot think of anyone better to accompany you. I do hope you will permit it Lady Catherine.”
The whole room held their breath waiting for her decision while the great Lady frowned as she stared at her daughter.
“Well, if your heart is set on it.”
“It is, Mama.”
Surprised at the confident response, she turned to Elizabeth who until this moment knew not what to make of this sudden turn of events, but was not about to miss an opportunity to leave a room occupied by a certain gentleman.
“Well then, Miss Bennet?”
“I would be happy to accompany Miss De Bourgh.”
Anne stood up slowly and walked over to her, “Thank you, Miss Bennet. Would you come with me now?”
“Of course.”
They quickly made their way out of the room and just as they were leaving, Anne whispered, “I appreciate this more than you know.”
Elizabeth's pale and drawn face reflected her dread as she, Maria and the Collins' approached the front entrance of Rosing's Park. Twisting her handkerchief between her hands, she looked up trying desperately to get her emotions in order. Charlotte turned briefly and gave her a sympathetic look while Maria took hold of her arm and squeezed it leaning close to whisper.
“Mr. Collins ought to have let you stay home. It would serve him right if you became ill like Jane did at Netherfield last summer. I would stay with you even though I find Rosings to be so intimidating.”
Elizabeth felt what little of her blood was left in her head drain completely away at the thought of having to stay at Rosings. It was most assuredly not an option. Still, glancing at the encouraging smile from Maria, she could not douse the girls good nature and mustered a small smile.
Turning to the door as the footman let them in, she prayed the evening would pass quickly.
* * *
Darcy paced in front of the window impatient to see Elizabeth again. He had been sorely disappointed this afternoon when his aunt had detained him on another one of her usual little discussions and numerous hints regarding his future marriage to Anne. It seemed that his aunt had her heart set on it to an extreme and she refused to regard the feelings of either her daughter or her nephew. He did not know how to convince her that such a marriage would never take place. Some three years previous, his quiet little cousin had cornered him and Richard and made her feelings known. She had no desire to marry for many reasons. First and foremost, she was utterly terrified of childbirth. At that point, she had broken down and begged them to speak to her uncle the Earl which that had in due course. He, of course, understood her fears having nearly lost his beloved wife twice to childbirth. Since then, Anne had been relieved and more relaxed in his company then she had ever been.
Still, he worried about her. Looking over at her, he worried about how much more frail she had become in the last year. She was thinner and paler and the dark circles never seemed to leave her eyes even when they lit up upon their arrival. He and Richard made it a point to come to Rosings, knowing their visit was one of Anne's few joys.
“So, are you going to ask Miss Bennet to play yet again?”
Rolling his eyes, he glanced at his cousin, “Stop being cheeky, Fitzwilliam.”
“I am not being cheeky, merely observant.”
Darcy raised an eyebrow and looked at his smirking cousin.
“You have asked her almost every evening she has been here and you have paid her particular attention.”
“I most certainly have not.”
“Now don't play games with me, I know you to well. You would never make a poor match for yourself.”
At the look on his cousin's face, Richard held up his hand, “Let me finish. Miss Bennet suits you very well and you are wealthy enough that you do not need to marry for money unlike myself or you would face stiff competition.”
Darcy blinked, “What?”
The colonel laughed, “You heard me. If I were as independent in fortune as you, I would be pursing Miss Bennet wholeheartedly. She is absolutely delightful.”
Shaking his head, Darcy let out a small laugh and smiled, “If that is the case, I am thankful in this instance alone that I have that advantage for I would not be able to win any lady you chose to pursue.”
“I would not be so sure of that, but you have my blessing and best wishes. Not to mention, I took the liberty of promoting your good nature to the young lady this very afternoon.”
“When did you find the opportunity to speak to Miss Bennet?”
“When I took my tour of the park as I always do. We crossed paths. It was an enjoyable walk. A shame that she did not feel well enough to walk farther.”
“She did not feel well?”
“She walked to far and it brought on a headache.”
Darcy froze, “Fitzwilliam, what exactly did you tell her?”
“Only about how great a friend you are and how your rescued Bingley from a terrible fate.”
Darcy groaned, “You did not tell her about that!”
“Why should I not?”
Before Darcy could respond, the door opened and the footman announced the Collins' party. Richard looked at his red faced cousin and then at the extremely pale Elizabeth, finally making the connection and realized his error.
“The young lady in question was her sister was it not?”
“Yes.”
“You imbecile.”
* * *
The evening passed abominably slow for all parties except Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins who were content to continue their own conversation with the lady doing all the talking and the gentleman punctuating certain statements with a nod or on braver moments an exclamation of praise on her wisdom. During this time, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Charlotte reached an unspoken agreement to keep Lady Catherine's attention away from Darcy and Elizabeth whenever she should turn to either of them. It was not easy on either of them and Elizabeth was forced to make a few slight comments, though Darcy, through his taking refuge at an obliging window, managed to remain more or less unscathed.
Both Charlotte and the Colonel knew that the longer the evening progressed, the more likely it was for Lady Catherine to ask Elizabeth to play and that she was clearly in no condition or mood to do so. If Mrs. Jenkinson had been present, she would have provided the musical entertainment for the evening and alleviated the pressure that would no doubt be placed on Elizabeth as Lady Catherine rarely accepted 'no' for an answer. Neither could fathom a possible solution until a small, thin voice broke into the conversation.
“Mama?”
So surprised to hear her daughter's voice in company, Lady Catherine fell silent and stared at her.
“Yes, Anne?”
“I'm feeling a little closed-in. Would it be possible to impose upon Miss Bennet to walk with me in the atrium.”
Lady Catherine blinked, “Well, I think it would be better if Mrs. Collins . . .”
“I would prefer Miss Bennet, Mama.” Turning to Charlotte, she added, “I mean no insult to you, Mrs. Collins, but Miss Bennet's time at Rosings is far more short lived and I would like the opportunity to get to know her better before she leaves.”
Charlotte smiled, “No offense taken, Lizzy is far more lively than I and I cannot think of anyone better to accompany you. I do hope you will permit it Lady Catherine.”
The whole room held their breath waiting for her decision while the great Lady frowned as she stared at her daughter.
“Well, if your heart is set on it.”
“It is, Mama.”
Surprised at the confident response, she turned to Elizabeth who until this moment knew not what to make of this sudden turn of events, but was not about to miss an opportunity to leave a room occupied by a certain gentleman.
“Well then, Miss Bennet?”
“I would be happy to accompany Miss De Bourgh.”
Anne stood up slowly and walked over to her, “Thank you, Miss Bennet. Would you come with me now?”
“Of course.”
They quickly made their way out of the room and just as they were leaving, Anne whispered, “I appreciate this more than you know.”