Another Woman ~ Section I

    By Cosima

    Section I, Next Section

    Part One

    Posted on Monday, 14 June 2004

    At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid.
    (Friedrich Nietzsche)

    Be not too hasty either with praise or blame; speak always as though you were giving evidence before the judgment-seat of the Gods.
    (Seneca)

    Victoria Tennyson had never been fond of dancing and society and today's ball certainly made no difference. Balls at the assembly room merely disturbed her peaceful life at her parents' estate, Gwynn Hall, where she spent most of her time nurturing her passion to write novels under the name Victor Kailey. Her books dealt with the things she observed in society and her surroundings, even little Emily Bennigton's romance with a vicar from Shropshire had been deemed worthy as a story, the novel "Devotion and Desire" was a current favourite among the ladies of the time and whenever one of her friends urged her to read her own novels Victoria, or Vicky as she was lovingly called, had a good laugh. At the age of twenty-six she was past the time where girls used to dress up to find a husband and while still dressing in silk and velvet she was no longer urged on by her parents whose attention had turned to Victoria's sisters Adrienne, Laura and Nicolette.

    The four sisters rarely caused any uproar at the local balls because they didn't even attempt to outshine the ever present Bennet sisters, something they were very proud of. Their mother, a sensible, mature woman, had raised them with the Bennet sisters being the bad example with the exception of Jane whose gentle nature and mild temper were a pleasing novelty among the rather shallow if pretty rest. Victoria herself saw nothing special in the rather intrusive younger sisters or the bland Mary Bennet but she had most amicable feelings for both Elizabeth and Jane; her mother's dislike for the open minded and forward Elizabeth Bennet troubled her but as long as her parents didn't mind their friendship Victoria felt no need to worry.

    While watching the others dance Victoria spotted Elizabeth close to the much awaited Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, it seemed that she was listening to their conversation. Strolling over she overheard Mr. Darcy saying "...but she's not handsome enough to tempt me!". Victoria boldly glared at him for a moment and moved away from him with a chuckle to talk to Elizabeth. But before Elizabeth was able to relate Mr. Darcy's scandalous words to her friend Charlotte Lucas Mr. Bingley asked Charlotte for the upcoming dance. Giving her an approving smile Elizabeth let her eyes wander in search of a friendly face and when her eyes rested on Victoria's face she came towards her happily.

    "Victoria! I have so much to acquaint you with!" Elizabeth said after kissing Victoria's cheek.

    "I believe I can guess at least a part of your news, Lizzy!" Victoria's eyes were sparkling as she spoke, their target being Mr. Darcy who was obviously sulking. Let him! she thought and returned her attention to Elizabeth.

    "So you overheard?" Elizabeth asked rolling her eyes.

    "Well, part of it, I have to admit. Will you tell me the rest?" Victoria asked eagerly for as much as she had matured, her enjoyment of gossip equaled that of every lady in society.

    "Well, Mr. Bingley was so kind to ask his friend to dance with me. He seems to enjoy Jane's society and wants his friend to be equally happy at least. Why, of all women present, did he have to choose me as a target? I wouldn't dance with a man like Mr. Darcy if he were the last man on earth!" Elizabeth vowed.

    "Even you have to admit that he's handsome and a brilliant match for every young lady!" Victoria chuckled.

    "He is tolerable I suppose! But he's not handsome enough to tempt me!" The corners of Elizabeth's mouth were twitching as she repeated the insult and Victoria immediately understood her meaning.

    "He said that?" Victoria brought her gloved hand to her lips to hide her chuckle. "I wonder what brought him here if he thinks himself so far above his company!"

    "I don't even care. Vicky, were you introduced to him?"

    "Briefly, yes. Mr. Bingley introduced him to my parents who in turn presented us to him. Yes, all four. I am positively sure that Mr. Darcy seized looking at us when my mother started talking. I swear he doesn't even know my name!"

    "And that is an honour, isn't it?" Elizabeth laughed. But before Victoria could answer she beheld Mr. Darcy approaching her and Elizabeth. His eyes were resting on her but his steps led him to Elizabeth.

    "Miss Tennyson, would you honour me with the next dance?"

    The proposal was so surprising that Victoria stared for a moment, not believing what she had heard. Her first impulse was to accept his offer but on the other hand she remembered his treatment of her friend and his obvious indifference towards everyone around him. Even Mr. Bingley didn't succeed to dissuade him from his obvious point of view and she certainly had no reason whatsoever to tolerate such an offense, especially with her friend as its target. Seeing him getting annoyed she decided to refuse his offer and was glad of it.

    "You must excuse me, Mr. Darcy. I have no inclination to dance at present. I thank you for the honour of asking me to stand up with you but I'm certain that many handsomer ladies than I will find it to be more tempting." Her words were accompanied by a haughty smile and a movement with her fan that couldn't be misunderstood. He bowed and left them without saying another word, obviously offended by her impertinence.

    "Vicky, that was absolutely delightful!" Elizabeth cheered her on. "Did you see his jaw tightening as you quoted what he said about me? I am willing to bet a fortune that from now on he'll think twice before insulting a lady!"

    "You don't think that I was too impertinent?" Victoria wondered.

    "Absolutely not, all you did was refuse an offer to dance. It's about time that someone taught him a lesson! Just because he's Mr. "high and mighty" Darcy doesn't give him the right to expose everyone to ridicule! If you're not impertinent in his society you'll grow afraid of him and whatever you do, do not give him this satisfaction!" Elizabeth stated resolutely.

    "Still, there's no need to insult him, Lizzy. Just because he offended you doesn't give us the right to do the same to him. At first it may feel clever but in fact such behaviour is childish and not at all superior to his manners." Victoria responded thoughtfully.

    Elizabeth's eyebrows flew up. "Well, Vicky, whatever you say. Sometimes I doubt that you're only five years older than I am. Still, I refuse to believe that treating Mr. Darcy as he expects us to treat him will do any good. He has no right to degrade either of us, nor does he have the exclusive right to our respect just because of his wealth and illustrious position in high society!"

    "Lizzy, we don't know him well enough to judge him. And being Mr. Bingley's friend does increase his being in people's favour. If not for propriety's sake, try to fight your hostility towards him for your sister's sake. Look, Mr. Bingley just asked her for another dance!" Victoria's eyes rested on Jane who had just gladly accepted an offer to dance from Mr. Bingley. Her lovely face was glowing with anticipation and for a moment Victoria felt a sting of jealousy.

    "They make a beautiful couple indeed!" Elizabeth conceded cautiously.

    "I've never seen Jane as happy. I'm truly happy for her, Lizzy." A hint of bitterness clouded her meaningful words and Elizabeth didn't miss it. Putting her arm around Victoria's waist she gave her an encouraging nudge. "I never regretted my decision to remain unmarried but seeing your sister so happy surely makes it appear a foolish idea..." Victoria sighed quietly.

    "Indeed not! Vicky, you were right to act as you did! Concerning myself, I am determined that nothing but the very deepest love will determine whether I'll accept a man or not."

    "That's not very reasonable, Lizzy!"

    "That may be but I couldn't swear to love a man until death separates us if I wasn't feeling this love in my heart. No reason in the world suffices for pretending something you do not feel!" Elizabeth's eyes were flashing as she spoke, she meant every word of it.

    "So reason and romance do not fit together?" Victoria inquired.

    "I wouldn't say that but if I am ever so fortunate to be the happy exception nothing could stop me from grasping my fortune. If reason and romance merge, you're blessed and it would be a sin to let such happiness pass by!"

    "You're right... Beautifully said, Lizzy!" But Victoria's thoughts were elsewhere already and not even Mr. Darcy's intense glance could tear her away from her thoughts. Victor Kailey had found a new topic for a novel, she herself had already spelled out the title. "Reason and Romance" would be it, she swore. Her blooming fantasy had already given a face to the romantic hero and whether she liked it or not, it resembled Mr. Darcy's features quite a lot.

    Part the Second

    Posted on Friday, 18 June 2004

    By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.

    (Socrates)

    To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.

    (Voltaire)

    When the four Tennyson sisters were alone, Victoria, whose mind was already working on "Reason and Romance", reflected the past evening's events and surprisingly it turned out that the main role did not go to Mr. Darcy but to his friend Mr. Charles Bingley. Her sisters went on discussing how handsome and rich Mr. Bingley's friend was and their fantasies about his much lauded estate in Derbyshire made it appear as glamorous as Whitehall itself. Here the difference of age between Victoria and her younger sisters was most apparent, the second daughter, Adrienne, being only nineteen. At times Victoria felt more like a mother towards them than a sister and truthfully she envied them a little for having time on their side. Yet, when dancing with Mr. Bingley she felt young again even though he didn't give her the attention the older Miss Bennet received from him.

    "Vicky, you seemed to enjoy yourself a lot, why are you so silent? I was sure that you would comment on Mr. Bingley's engaging manners towards everyone!" Adrienne observed. She herself had danced with Mr. Bingley and found him to be quite agreeable but to her Victoria's approval was necessary to really like the man. She knew that she was relying on her sister too much when it came to such matters but Victoria never grudged it, quite the contrary, she always welcomed it warmly.

    "Indeed, he seems to be sensible, lively and he has happy manners. But Adrienne, I must say that there was nothing special about the way he treated us for he seems to have the same sort of manners for everyone around him. He bears with people's follies as much as he enjoys being in their company, he isn't selective at all.." Here it was, the reason for the odd feeling she was having ever since her introduction to both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. The two friends may have treated her as differently as day and night but the approach was the same. The same sort of manners for everyone around them, Mr. Darcy even treated his friend's rather haughty sisters with distance and, to her sensitive eyes, biting sarcasm.

    "Vicky, what are you talking about?" Laura, the second youngest, cried. "He certainly is an asset to our community, something you couldn't possibly say about this friend of his, I dare say that Mr. Darcy or whatever he calls himself only was accepted because he's Mr. Bingley's oldest friend! Yet I cannot comprehend his choice in this matter, one cannot help to have two of the most arrogant sisters but to have such a..." Laura was obviously forgetting who she was speaking to and Vicky saw it fit to reprimand her for her error.

    "Laura! Remember to whom you speak and what you're saying!" For a moment she felt compassion for Mr. Darcy, it wasn't a pleasure to be universally hated by someone and more than one member of the community had been rather brusque towards Mr. Darcy because they had heard some malicious chatter about him. How quickly society mistook superiority of mind for pride and vanity... But what was she thinking? She had only met Mr. Darcy today, how could he possibly have impressed her so, having hardly spoken a word?

    "All I'm saying is that he treated us coldly, he didn't even look at us!" Laura said, her eyes bashfully dropped.

    "I agree with Laura, there was no harm in her meaning!" Even the rather quiet Nicolette spoke up. Nicolette was the youngest of the four sisters, being merely fifteen. Having just had her debut she felt insecure in society and found much relief in Victoria's company who, it seemed, never had to deal with her youngest sister's problems.

    "I didn't mean to say that you meant harm but remember not to judge a man at first sight. I concede that his manners leave a lot to be desired but we must not stoop so low to deem ourselves clever for talking maliciously about him. There is a big chance that our opinions won't ever matter to him and if we can't persuade ourselves to approve of him, why waste good time and our thoughts?" Listening to herself Victoria suddenly felt very old but only for a moment. "I must say though that I too wasn't very impressed by his manners, yet neither was I very much impressed by Mr. Bingley. The reasons you already know." Victoria concluded.

    "There is one thing in his favour, I have to agree!" Laura smirked wickedly.

    "And that is?" Adrienne asked curiously.

    "He's definitely the handsomest man I've ever seen!" The phrase was underlined by a yearning, yet mocking look.

    Letting her sisters chatter Victoria returned to musing over the evening. Elizabeth positively disliked Mr. Darcy and she had a good reason for it, yet if pressed to dance while not at all being in the mood who'd react affably? Wouldn't it have been hypocrisy to ask Lizzy to dance? Nevertheless, there was no reason to rebuke her so cruelly, especially within Lizzy's hearing, for he had done it on purpose, of that she was sure. Why was she the only one having rather lukewarm feelings for the ever cheerful Mr. Bingley? Was it his attitude to approve of everyone and everything he laid eyes on? It certainly wasn't jealousy for she couldn't be happier for Jane to have found a suitor so agreeable in nature and temper. But wasn't it too early to...

    "Vicky, stop dreaming and tell us what you think!" Adrienne suddenly came towards her and gave her a playful nudge.

    "Think of what?" Victoria was confused.

    "When do you think Mr. Bingley and Jane are going to get married?" three voices echoed in a laughing unison.

    Just at this moment Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson joined their daughters to bid them a good night. Mrs. Tennyson was exhausted from the ball and all its effects, one of the reasons Mr. Tennyson had avoided the ball at all costs. Both radiated calm and maturity, yet for their daughters there was always a certain warmth they never displayed in public. Mr. Tennyson had already been married twice before marrying Victoria's mother at thirty-eight while his wife had been married once before marrying Mr. Tennyson at twenty-nine. Neither of them had had children in their previous marriages and this fact only added to the love they felt for their four daughters.

    "Laura, you know I do not want you to make idle gossip flourish, don't you?" Mrs. Tennyson reprimanded her lively younger daughter, yet her tone didn't lack motherly affection.

    "I'm sorry, Mama. Vicky already told me.." Laura's cheeks reddened to deep scarlet.

    "Yet you never listen to your sister, do you, Miss Hothead?" Mr. Tennyson chuckled, making his daughters smirk.

    "No matter how much you were enjoying yourselves, it is time for bed. You too, Vicky. You're dreaming already, aren't you?" Mrs. Tennyson could read in her daughter as she would read in a book. She knew Victoria's moods and behaviour, it was all too obvious. All four kissed their parents good night and went to their rooms to go to bed while Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson started talking again.

    "They're growing up so fast. Only yesterday Nicolette was a baby on my hip and now..." Mrs. Tennyson sighed.

    "Now she has grown to be a pretty girl, just like her mother used to be!" Mr. Tennyson attempted to soften her.

    "You didn't even know me at fifteen!" She acted as if she were sulking but he could see the glow in her still beautiful eyes.

    "Oh, but I wish I had!" he admitted tenderly, no mocking chuckle this time.

    "So do I... You missed something rather rare tonight, my dear!" She was smiling again.

    "What is that?"

    "I believe our Vicky has met someone special. I cannot tell who it is because she is far too stoic for that but something changed tonight and I'm sure it's in that direction!"

    "It's not like Vicky to be smitten by someone so soon! You must be mistaken!" Mr. Tennyson barely hid his surprise.

    "Maybe you're right. It's just a feeling I have. Well, maybe it's nothing. But if it were to be Mr. Bingley I wouldn't object!" She chuckled lightly.

    Victoria had already changed into her nightgown but didn't go to sleep as yet. Her mind was far too busy to rest, she was sitting at her desk and writing a draft of the first chapter, she had decided to fill in the details as the story progressed. One major difficulty was to comprehend her hero's mind. His qualities were obvious, he was intelligent, honest and seemed to be severe in his judgment while not being vicious or downright insolent. He saw the world through critical, sharp eyes while his friend tended to glorify each situation, had he been at a farmer's party he would have deemed it the most exquisite social event he had ever attended. What were her hero's flaws so far? Maybe his downright hurtful honesty, as seen in the case involving her friend Elizabeth, his distant behaviour, his way of making people feel afraid with a mere glance of his sharp eyes... So much to consider and so much to unite. Well, experience would bring clarity and whether she approved of it or not, she would have loved to know what the Netherfield party was saying about them at present for it was clear that they didn't approve of retiring that early.

    Part the Third

    Posted on Saturday, 19 June 2004

    It is with our passions, as it is with fire and water, they are good servants but bad masters.
    (Aesop)

    Men must be decided on what they will not do, and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do.
    (Mencius)

    Not being used to retire so early the Netherfield party was sitting together in the music room at Netherfield. Miss Bingley was playing on the pianoforte while the Hursts were making conversation with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. Of course the ball they had just left was the main topic of their conversation and even though Mr. Darcy hardly talked he received the most questions. After finishing the piece Miss Bingley joined them, making Darcy feel like standing before the Spanish inquisition. Indeed, he would have preferred to answer to the inquisitor himself for heresy if only to be free of this chattering.

    To add to all this Mr. Bingley's constant praise of Jane Bennet mercilessly tore at his nerves. He saw nothing angelic in her rather bland smile, as a matter of fact he couldn't recall a moment where she wasn't smiling, thus robbing the gesture of its possible magic. Her family's total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly, betrayed by her mother and her younger sisters were certainly not a charge to lay at her door but they didn't add to her qualities.

    "Bingley, you astonish me. I saw little beauty and even less breeding! I concede that the eldest Miss Bennet is certainly very pretty," Darcy said, his arms crossed.

    "A fine concession! Come man, admit it, she's an angel!" Bingley cried in defense of his lady-love.

    "She smiles too much," Darcy observed coldly.

    "Jane Bennet is a sweet girl but her mother spoils whatever delight her daughter's company could be. I heard Victoria Tennyson described a local beauty, what do you say to that, Mr. Darcy?" Caroline Bingley asked, smiling broadly.

    "I'll soon hear her being described an intellectual author too, I wager!" Darcy responded icily, not knowing how near he had come to the truth.

    "Mr. Darcy, you're too cruel. I found her to be the only acceptable woman in the room. Her family is well bred and her behaviour is refreshingly noble," Miss Bingley cried.

    "Acceptable isn't astounding, it's to be expected! I found her to be rather uninvolved and shrew!" Darcy got up at approached the fireplace. Staring into the fire he recalled a pair of fine grey eyes surrounded by beautiful brown curls. The only time he had seen her eyes sparkle was when she was told about what he had said about her friend. A deed he deeply regretted now.

    "Darcy, she was delightful! An exquisite dancer and her skills at conversations are certainly above average!" Bingley defended Miss Tennyson.

    "I have to agree with my brother, Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Hurst spoke up. "Miss Tennyson was the only person worth going to this ball. Miss Bennet certainly was delightful but her family is more than one can bear!"

    "What about Eliza Bennet? I have heard her praise sung by more than one person!" Miss Bingley sneered.

    "She certainly was a delight..." Bingley began but dropped it after meeting his friend's gaze, it was filled with contempt.

    "Bingley, to you everyone you meet is universally charming and delightful. I shall never comprehend why you go through the world determined to be charmed and delighted by everyone you meet, no matter who it is!" he said without even looking at him.

    "And I shall never understand why you are so fastidious and constantly displeased! I wouldn't be as severe as you are for a kingdom!" Bingley cried, this time in his own defense. "You call Miss Tennyson uninvolved and yet you surpass her in that aspect, like a king does a pauper!"

    To that Mr. Darcy gave no answer and let the others chatter on while he returned to musing over the past evening. Miss Bennet and Miss Tennyson seemed to be so unlike each other, yet it was clear that they were intimate friends. The first was all fire and smoke while the other was as clear and refreshing as an untouched mountain stream. Her grey eyes were like melted diamonds, no matter how ridiculous it sounded. There was a wisdom in those eyes that was crying to be tested, yet it wasn't a dormant well. Her entire appearance was of stoic elegance, it seemed that she rarely ever became emotional, watching her without listening certainly didn't tell him much while Miss Bennet's gestures were as clear as a sunlit meadow. That Miss Tennyson had refused him still baffled him for he had been sure that she would accept him, was it her friend's presence that had forced her to reject him? Pondering over these questions he didn't notice that both Mr. Hurst and Bingley's sisters were retiring for the night.

    "Darcy, you're not one for chatting but tonight you are even more so! I've never seen you this way! Are you ill?" Bingley sounded worried.

    Darcy returned from the fireplace and gave his friend a little smile. "I'm perfectly alright. I beg you to excuse me now. Good night, Bingley!"

    "Good night, Darcy. I'll see you tomorrow!"

    With that they parted company and both retired for the night. But while Bingley rested peacefully remembering Miss Bennet's angelic smile Darcy remained awake for quite some time until he too found time and tranquility to rest.

    The Tennysons not only dined with five and thirty families but were also known for their picnics. Even if they turned out to be indoor affairs as did the present one nobody objected because the intimate flair Gwynn Hall offered to all its guests were most enjoyable. Only a few days after the ball at the assembly room Mr. Tennyson had decided to overcome his dislike for social activities and began to prepare another picnic. Among the families and neighbours invited were Mr. Darcy and his party as well as the Bennets, the Lucases and their friends, the Sheltons. Colonel Shelton's younger wife Magde, named after a relation of the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, was one of his wife's best friends, she had taken her under her wing as soon as the marriage was announced. Yet, that had been twenty years ago and now young Magde was of the same age as Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas. The Sheltons had but one daughter, Sophie, and it was only natural that she was their Adrienne's best friend. The two girls complimented each other well and were rarely seen apart. Among them was also Maria Lucas, Charlotte Lucas' younger sister.

    "It's wonderful to be here, Vicky. It seems that even the Netherfield party isn't displeased!" Elizabeth remarked.

    Victoria, who couldn't help but wonder why she of all women was the target of Mr. Darcy's smoldering eyes, let her eyes wander to Mr. Bingley and Jane who were in deep conversation. Both of them seemed to find the other agreeable but Victoria saw nothing of the budding romance everyone around her was decided to observe.

    "Indeed, Lizzy, but it seems that even our hospitality couldn't cheer Mr. Darcy's mind. He seems to be determined to dislike his surroundings..." Victoria observed casually.

    "Mr. Darcy looks at you a great deal, Vicky!" Elizabeth said, suddenly in earnest.

    "I cannot think why. I sincerely hope he'll find something else to do in time!" As usual Victoria had found a perfectly stoic answer and this time she meant it. Mr. Darcy's silent attentions touched a vulnerable spot within her, a spot she didn't want to be stimulated and least of all by the inspiration for the romantic hero of her current novel. Of course Emily Bennignton's lover had been totally enthralled by Emily's gentle grace, he had not even looked at Victoria. This was an entirely new situation and it didn't please her at all.

    "Vicky, you said so yourself, he's handsome and an excellent match!" Elizabeth teased with an even sassier smile.

    "Indeed he is but I hardly know him and I do not wish to alter this situation!" Victoria said.

    Elizabeth, astounded by her friend's rather rare flash of temper, took a look at Mr. Darcy herself and no matter how much she disliked him personally, when he was looking at Victoria his stern features appeared softened and his piercing eyes more mellow and warmer.

    Darcy himself witnessed Miss Tennyson's outburst being totally astonished. Seeing Miss Bennet walk away towards Miss Lucas he left his favourite spot by the window and joined Miss Tennyson by the fireplace. After about five minutes of awkward silence Miss Tennyson broke the ice by asking him how he liked Netherfield thus far. Her voice was far more melodic than her friend's, especially when she wasn't in her company.

    "My sisters and I enjoy being in society very much. May I ask, do you have siblings, Mr. Darcy?" Victoria inquired.

    "Yes, I do have a sister. She's your sister Nicolette's age but she hasn't had her debut yet," Talking of Georgiana always put him at ease.

    That he remembered her sisters so well astonished her, remembering what she had said at the ball she felt ashamed and ridiculed because of her quick judgment. As their conversation progressed her opinion of him improved remarkably. He seemed to be a loving brother and a caring father figure to his young sister and when he told her about Pemberley he was remarkably emotional. When asked about her own home she gave a warm answer.

    "Indeed, I am very fond of Gwynn Hall. Certainly it's no match for more illustrious manor houses but it's home and I love it's simplicity and homeliness," Victoria admitted with a smile.

    "To have a home to return to is a blessing indeed. But you wouldn't want to remain always near Gwynn Hall, would you?" he asked.

    Victoria was puzzled. Where did he think she would live? Settle elsewhere? Never!

    "Excuse me," she said. "I have to look after my sisters!" With that she was gone, leaving him to wonder why he had asked this question. Thankfully the picnic didn't last too long and the Netherfield party went home giving Darcy more time to think of the two women who had so suddenly crossed his path.

    Part the fourth

    Posted on Wednesday, 23 June 2004

    Nothing contributes so much to tranquilizing the mind as a steady purpose - a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.
    (Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

    If you would marry suitably, marry your equal.
    (Ovid)

    The ladies of both Longbourn and Gwynn Hall soon called at Netherfield to wait on Mr. Bingley and his sisters which was accepted with pleasure by the master of the house while his sisters clearly showed their admiration for the eldest Miss Tennyson and Miss Bennet but their distaste for the younger Miss Bennets' behaviour was evident and rather displeased Victoria who, despite her dislike of foolishness, was fond of her friend's sisters. Of course they had always been the bad example Mrs. Tennyson would use to point at what a true lady had to avoid but they were still children in Victoria's mind and didn't deserve such contempt. Obviously neither Kitty nor Lydia Bennet noticed how they were despised and shunned by their new neighbours, as long as some redcoats where nearby they were happy and nothing could spoil their sunny disposition. Victoria was very fond of Netherfield with its extended gardens, beautiful ponds and flowerbeds, nature being her prime inspiration to write and now, while observing society, she felt the urge to go outside. Leaving both Charlotte and Elizabeth to talk she went towards the window to enjoy the beams of the sun.

    "Delightful weather, is it not?" Mr. Darcy observed.

    She had not heard him coming and for a moment she was irritated at being talked to while enjoying the sun's warmth on her face. Turning to her right she saw him standing there, arms crossed while his eyes were resting on her face. Blushing under his gaze she smiled and pointed at the vegetation spreading below them until the horizon blocked one's view.

    "Delightful? Mr. Darcy, this has to be one of the loveliest days this year!"

    "I suppose you're right. One wishes nature's peace and calmness could be taken indoors!" His eyes had wandered from her face to a crowd of ladies who were chatting and laughing together.

    "You're severe on us, aren't you?" Victoria observed.

    "I admit my guilt in this matter but please allow me to ask whether you see it differently?" The faintest hint of a smile made him look roguishly handsome.

    "That is not the point..." Victoria's eyes were sparkling wickedly. His smile grew broader at her boldness. "Well, if it pleases you, I'll admit that I am not very fond of society's usual ways of communication. I regard it to be a rather superficial business, with a lot of cloaks and daggers involved. I care not whether those around me approve of me entirely but I despise the backstabbing in the mask of a friend who means well."

    His smile had vanished at her serious tone but his eyes, usually clouded and piercing with distrust, were as alert and intense as they could be. This lady certainly understood high society and if that wasn't enough, she mocked it with biting sarcasm that was underlined by a clear vision of how an ideal society should be. Plato Darcy thought, he was right when he said If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things. Miss Tennyson had obviously been educated by a prudent family and her own intelligence and longing to learn and to understand had sharpened her intellect and spirit. There was nothing of a busybody in her for she wasn't just a girl spilling quotes automatically but a woman who spoke her mind with the clarity of an educated person. His interest in her Utopia, in its best sense, grew steadily and if a unison of Plato and Sir Thomas Moore's Utopia were possible it might come close to what she was thinking.

    "Acutely observed, Miss Tennyson," he said, obviously impressed.

    "Actually it's not as much an observation as it is an experience. Mr. Darcy, haven't you ever felt lonely in a ballroom filled with people?" Here a mournful melancholy had diminished her sunny tone, other than that nothing hinted how intensely she felt about this subject.

    "To tell the truth I..." Here a jumble from the crowd interrupted him. Lydia Bennet and her sister were chased by some young soldiers while shrieking with laughter.

    "If you'll excuse me, Mr. Darcy, my friend Elizabeth is in need of my support," Seeing her plea granted by the slightest nod of his head she hastily left his side and went to Elizabeth who had withdrawn into a corner after having talked to Charlotte. Obviously she was mortified by her sisters' behaviour and in need of some gentle words. Usually her sister Jane was on the giving side here but at the moment she was in deep conversation with Mr. Bingley, it seemed as if she had barely noticed the current extravaganza.

    "Lizzy, shall we talk to them?" Victoria offered kindly.

    "I thank you for offering your support but I think that reprimanding them in public might lead to a scene and I'm not willing to risk it. How come Adrienne, Laura and Nicolette seem to enjoy themselves with such tranquility and poise? Honestly, Vicky, what's your secret?" her friend asked curiously.

    Victoria was torn between her desire not to offend her friend's family and her usual honesty. In truth she believed that both girls had been spoiled by their mother and their father's obvious disinterest in them. Urged on by their father's disrespectful behaviour towards their mother they had lost every ounce of respect they might have had for the woman who had given them life. This and their father's lack of authority had turned them into little brats who knew no bounds.

    "Honestly, my dear, I can tell you that you're definitely not to blame. They are a little out of control,that is all. Maybe if you talked to your father or Jane it might help," Victoria advised.

    As Jane's name was mentioned both women's eyes were fixed on the happy couple, still in deep conversation. Victoria felt a little pang of jealousy but also managed to be happy for her friend's oldest sister. The attention of a gentleman like Mr. Bingley certainly flattered her even though he behaved just as jovially with other young ladies and doubtlessly had been in love before. She herself had danced with Mr. Bingley and had enjoyed conversing with him, yet it had hardly been as poignant as her recent talk with Mr. Darcy.

    "I'm very happy for her, Vicky! I just talked to Charlotte about this and she thinks that Jane doesn't show enough affection, do you agree?" Her brow was wrinkled.

    "That depends where her regard lies. She is pleasant and obviously honoured by Mr. Bingley's attention. He can see that if he's not a simpleton," Victoria asserted.

    "Vicky, do you think that happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance?"

    "Now that is a puzzling question coming from you, my dear Lizzy!" Victoria laughed heartily.

    Now Elizabeth herself was laughing too, it was one of her most pleasant qualities that she wasn't above laughing at her own foolishness.

    "You're right but Charlotte seems to think so. I know it's not sound. You would never act like that just to secure your own comfort or to please your family, would you?"

    "That is an entirely different matter. As I am I can safely say that I'm not in the position that I need to find a husband to live in comfort or to fulfill my parents' dreams for me. Remember, dear, I'm twenty-six years of age, so I'm not young anymore. Charlotte is my age, we sometimes get lonely and say things we do not mean. I doubt that Charlotte would ever act so superficially. It need not be romance that can join a couple in matrimony but there needs to be respect on both sides or the marriage is bound to fail!"

    Elizabeth was baffled by the difference and yet the similarity in both Charlotte's and Victoria's opinions on matrimony. She had daily proof of a marriage that had failed for lack of respect on both sides and therefore felt closer to Victoria's opinion even though it couldn't possibly shake her determination to marry for nothing but the very deepest love. Finally she responded,

    "As Jane and I have daily proof!" She rolled her eyes and smirked distinctively.

    With Mary Bennet playing a dance at the pianoforte several couples joined the Bennet sisters on the dance floor, only this time both Mr. Bingley and Jane declined to join them. Mr. Bingley's friend stood by the fireplace, his eyes resting on Miss Tennyson's face who was conversing with her friend Elizabeth Bennet. Both women were a delight to watch, yet Miss Victoria outshone her friend when it came to poise and elegance, two virtues Darcy regarded to be invaluable. Miss Bennet surely had more sparkle and her big dark eyes certainly were beautiful beyond imagination. As he was standing there Miss Bingley neared him with a smug smile on her face.

    "I believe I can guess the reason of your reverie," she said intrusively.

    "I should imagine not," Darcy gave back with perfect indifference.

    "You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner—in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people!—What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"

    "I can assure you that your assessment is completely wrong for my mind was more agreeably engaged. I've been meditating on the very great pleasure a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

    "And dare I ask whose are the eyes that inspired such reflections?" She became insipid.

    Annoyed by her constant intrusion he decided to give her something to sink her teeth in, maybe she would be shocked enough to be quiet at last. And when he said it he surprisingly observed that, either way, he wasn't lying.

    "Miss Elizabeth Bennet's!"

    The name had its desired effects, yet it left a bitter aftertaste. He let his eyes wander to Miss Bennet who was still talking to Miss Tennyson and found her to be pretty indeed but calling her his favourite as Miss Bingley sharply suggested certainly was an honour someone else deserved. She had said I regard it to be a rather superficial business, with a lot of cloaks and daggers involved. Ever since hearing this he felt the urge to prove her wrong, a need he could hardly comprehend. But before he could ponder over it further Sir William suggested he should dance with one of the young ladies present, and honour he politely reclined.

    "What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy!—There is nothing like dancing after all.—I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies." Sir William tried to entice him by pointing out his duties towards society.

    "Certainly, Sir;—and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world.—Every savage can dance." There it was, no more cloaked daggers. But while this brutal kind of honesty certainly had its benefits and brought satisfaction it was a far away from the ideal Victoria had in mind, a sad delusion on both parts.

    Part the fifth

    Posted on Sunday, 4 July 2004

    Remember, that if thou marry for beauty, thou bindest thyself all thy life for that which perchance will neither last nor please thee one year; and when thou hast it, it will be to thee of no price at all; for the desire dieth when it is attained, and the affection perisheth when it is satisfied.
    (Sir Walter Raleigh)

    The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.
    (Horace Walpole)

    The Tennysons' property not only consisted in Gwynn Hall and the land surrounding the old manor house but also a house in town which was rarely used, not even the season was tempting enough to leave the tranquility and peace Gwynn Hall offered. The manor itself had its roots in the fourteenth century of which only the great hall had remained. The rest of the house was Elizabethan with a touch of modern beauty as the entire east wing had been re-built by Mr. Tennyson's father about thirty-five years ago. Being surrounded by countless flowerbeds and a beautiful pond it was a beauty to behold. The estate itself was about seven thousand a year if one excluded Mrs. Tennyson's fortune of about fifteen thousand pounds which consisted in her dowry and her inheritance of her deceased first husband. Their four children, each of a most enchanting disposition, meant everything to both Mr. And Mrs. Tennyson. Unlike other families at the time they didn’t leave their daughters’ education to tutors and books but supervised it themselves, choosing the tutors they did allow in the house with the utmost care. Mr. Tennyson insisted upon having his girls learn not only Latin to read the classics but also French and, so that they were able to read Greece’s masterpieces, Greek as much as Latin. Victoria absorbed each of these languages with a hunger for knowledge rarely seen in a girl. It was her ambition to read both More’s “Utopia” and Thucydides in their original languages. The Greek’s description of the Peloponnesian war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians might have been of little significance at that time but Victoria not only studied this most sadly ignored author, whom even Caesar praised more than his contemporary Cicero, for his historical value but the beauty of his style, his melodic flow of words and clarity of speech.

    “That is a lovely song, Nicolette!” Victoria lauded her youngest sister whose passion for the pianoforte was as intense as hers for writing and languages. Nicolette, being shy and very quiet, turned her fair head and smiled happily. Her oldest sister was like a mother to her and her approval was very dear to her, for it was hard to achieve. The oldest Miss Tennyson’s disposition was neither severe nor strict but when she gave praise it wasn’t but an empty gesture but an open declaration of approval and amazement. Her youngest sister, being merely fifteen, was not only very delicate and frail but innocent in the ways of the world and vulnerable when it came to her studies and passions. Her fair curls and dark blue eyes gave her soft cheeks and full lips the appearance of a toddler’s sweetness and its innocence.

    “Thank you, Vicky!” Nicolette’s cheeks were glowing. “What are you reading?”

    ”Oh, I’m just translating some Greek into English, it’s riveting. But not as beautiful as the song. You have an affinity for Mozart, don’t you?” Victoria teased mildly.

    “Well, I-I… Oh, don’t tease me, Vicky! You know very well how much I love his music!” Nicolette smiled, her blue eyes shining with love.

    At this point both Adrienne and Laura returned from a walk to Meryton, both were in deep conversation. But as Nicolette resumed playing, this time an aria by Handel, both hushed in awe, spellbound by not only the composer’s genius but by their sister’s playing, her long, graceful fingers seemed to fly over the keyboard, dancing a graceful dance. As her voice rose with the words “If thou hath no pity for me…” Victoria put down her book and let her mind wander to a pair of almost black eyes gazing at her intensely, she wondered if he was capable of feeling pity for a lady’s heart. He was looking at her too often, his eyes were always on her face as if to read her thoughts and when she lifted her gaze to meet his he didn’t avert his eyes.

    As the song came to an end Adrienne’s musical voice filled the air with laughter, soon joined by Laura and even Nicolette. They had met the Bennet sisters in Meryton, as usual in the company of the officers. Adrienne and Laura had joined them to chatter and to laugh, yet they never indulged in flirtation as roughly as the Bennet sisters usually did, their breeding forbade such foolishness and it seemed that the officers admired them the more for their respectful attitude, despite their joining the Bennet sisters in their games of flirtation and mirth. Laura, whose dark colouring so brilliantly contrasted with her milky skin, loved to tell jokes and her forward manner sometimes went too far but there was no evil in her words, only youthful, happy honesty. She spoke her mind freely and had no fear of even Mr. Darcy whom she found to be very handsome yet unbearingly proud and above his company.

    “Vicky, do you have to read this stuff even at leisure time? It’s tough enough to translate Plato when Papa is supervising us but to do it at a time like this?” Laura asked with a brisk gesture of disgust towards the book lying in Victoria’s lap.

    “I take pleasure in reading what Plato has to say on various things, Laura. Ignorance, the root and the stem of every evil. I don’t think I ever read anything more true or significant to our world.” Victoria gently held the book against her breast and smiled impishly. “And don’t you dare going to Meryton again without me, I wouldn’t want to miss the fun for anything in the world!”

    “Sometimes you puzzle me, Vicky,” Laura’s brow was arched in amazement as she spoke. “I declare that you read as much as both Mr. Bennet and Miss Mary Bennet combined, yet you neither have the sour air of the one, nor the annoying air of superiority of the other!” Laura meant no offense but to Victoria’s ears these words not only had the ring of truth but the bitter cut of a poisoned dagger.

    “Laura!” Victoria rose and barely noticed that both the book and her pen had fallen on the floor. “I’ve told you before to mind what you’re saying, if you wish to make a compliment there’s no need to insult someone else! I take no pleasure in compliments like this one and I have to admit that I’m puzzled at your cruelty!”

    Laura’s shoulders dropped, her eyes were wet with unshed tears. She had never seen her oldest sister in such a rage. Biting her lips she endured the censure and bent down to pick up her sister’s book and pen. Handing them to her she met Victoria’s gaze and saw her anger glowing in her magnificent grey eyes, darts flashing and her lips tightening. This caused her eyes to overflow and for the first time in years Laura, this girl of such a vivacious reputation, began to weep most mournfully. Feeling her sisters arms around her her body grew limp and she wept at her shoulder, Adrienne and Nicolette right behind her, patting her back and caressing her hair.

    “I’m sorry, dear, I shouldn’t have let my anger get the better of me. I didn’t mean to hurt you, will you forgive me?” Victoria soothed, holding Laura in her arms. She too had been shocked at her piercing words but even more so at Laura’s reaction, usually she shrugged off such censures in the blink of an eye. She had never seen her cry like this and it made her own eyes grow moist. At last Laura had found the stamina to let go of Victoria’s shoulder and brushed off her arms.

    “Vicky, you’re cruel. I meant no harm, yet you did,” her sister accused.

    Victoria felt a sting of guilt in her heart as she met her sister’s eyes, still shimmering with tears. She had not meant any harm but it was the tone that made the music and not the content and here she had failed miserably. Instead of remaining perfectly calm her tone had been icy and biting, which, as she should have known, caused the wrong reaction in her sister. Sighing she accepted her book and pen and sat down again without saying anything to defend herself.

    The next morning found Victoria in a much better mood and collecting all her utensils together she decided to go for a walk and to write some more. “Reason and Romance” had had a dashing start, yet her heart wasn’t really in it and she blamed herself for the neglect. Creating the hero, a Mr. Anthony Ferres, had not been that difficult but Victoria still struggled as to how to portray her heroine, a woman she had called Miss Elaine Bradford. Maybe nature would support her ever growing need of inspiration despite all the mud and rain. This morning the sun had finally struggled down the dark clouds and the puddles were already drying away. Being a magnificent if daring horsewoman she asked for her father’s permission to ride Aurora, his most temperamental mare and was allowed to do so with a command to be careful and not to jump the fences but to use the gates. Thrilled by the prospect of an exciting ride Victoria dressed herself in her favourite riding gown. It was totally out of fashion for it was not only black but had a tight waistline and a wide skirt, perfect for riding freely. The black fabric showed her to best advantage and her decision not to wear a corset underneath was a well hidden secret between her and her maid.

    Finding Aurora already saddled she winked at the boy holding the reins, it was clear that Aurora’s temperament scared him. Holding the reins tightly she mounted her horse, turned left and let Aurora fly by giving in the reins. Feeling the rush of the wind in her face and hair she patted Aurora’s neck with her hand and dug in her heels until Aurora had finally run out her first thirst for speed and allowed her mistress once again to control her movements. Knowing this grey mare like nobody else did she didn’t force her under her command but let Aurora decide whether she wanted to run or not. Like this they had grown fond of each other and it was Victoria’s shoulder and not her father’s that Aurora would rub lovingly with her velvety nose, a gesture of trust and love.

    “Good girl, good girl!” Victoria praised her and as the wind ceased to blow she felt her hair flowing down to her waist. Aurora had run with such speed that almost all her hair-pins had flown off, not to speak of her cap. Sighing she opened her little bag and tamed her wild hair with a satin ribbon, this would have to do for know. Just as she was about to go for another run she beheld Elizabeth Bennet climbing a fence some yards before her. Her white dress was muddy, her hair in disarray and her petticoat was perfectly ruined. Letting Aurora speed up she tackled the fence and Aurora had no difficulty with jumping for she loved it.

    “Why Victoria Tennyson, you’re jumping fences? And on such a wild creature too?” Elizabeth laughed but she didn’t come any closer.

    “Greetings, my dear Lizzy. Yes, Aurora and I love jumping, don’t we?” She nuzzled her mare’s mane. “But what are you doing, all covered in mud? Would you like to ride with me? Where are you going anyway?”

    Elizabeth blushed at Victoria’s description of her appearance but she knew that her friend meant no harm. “I’m going to Netherfield. Jane was invited there last night but has come down with a feverish cold, so I want to be with her as soon as possible. – You know I’m no horsewoman, Vicky, I definitely won’t mount a wild creature like this!” Elizabeth was positively afraid of horses, had she not been so she could have avoided this state of her appearance.

    “Don’t be afraid, Aurora won’t bite!” She had meant it to soothe her friend but seeing a shadow of fear crossing Elizabeth’s face she knew that she had opened an old wound. “Shall we walk then? I hope you don’t mind my company!” Victoria felt very uneasy.

    “No, of course I don’t mind. I’d be happy to walk by your side but please don’t dismount, one dress being ruined is enough, I wouldn’t want you to spoil this beautiful riding gown. It suits you very well, Vicky!” Elizabeth couldn’t be happier to have a companion because other than Jane’s sweet company there was nothing to look forward to and even though she enjoyed Mr. Bingley’s company he always seemed a little tense when in the company of his sisters and his friend. Netherfield wasn’t far and it was in no time that the two young women had arrived in the park of the beautiful manor. Victoria remembered the short talk she had had with Mr. Darcy as she breathed in the sweet scent of nature until a rather puzzled voice interrupted her, a voice she would have expected and hoped for to hear at any time but now.

    “Miss Tennyson, Miss Bennet!” Mr. Darcy greeted them politely, his eyes fixed on Aurora and her rider. Coming towards her he stretched out his arm and when he was close enough he gently breathed into Aurora’s nose. “You like that, don’t you, young lady!” he said while patting Aurora’s neck.

    “Be careful, Aurora is afraid of men!” Victoria warned.

    “Not this man, right, my girl?” Darcy’s voice sounded as smooth as velvet and Aurora seemed to trust him almost immediately, melting under his caresses. Rubbing his arm with her nose she urged him on to massage her neck. Victoria could only stare at this obvious display of trust and affection while Elizabeth seemed rather annoyed, she had come to see Jane, not to watch Mr. Darcy bond with her friend’s horse. “What brings you here?” Mr. Darcy asked while massaging Aurora behind her ears. “Yes, you like that, don’t you? What a demanding lady you are!” he chuckled knowingly and produced a piece of apple from his pocket; he normally used it to feed his own horse.

    “Mr. Darcy, I came here to see my sister Jane!” Elizabeth responded.

    “On foot?” Mr. Darcy was aghast.

    “Sadly my abilities as a horsewoman are not quite as astounding as my friend’s, so, as you can see, I came here as I am,” her voice rang with wounded pride and the desire to mortify his own. “Will you be so kind as to take us to Jane?”

    Victoria let her eyes wander from Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth and back again, finding the sight to be a most sparkling one. Mr. Darcy eyed her as he responded and it made her stomach feel queasy all of a sudden.

    “With pleasure!” Stroking Aurora’s neck lovingly he teased Elizabeth,

    “Well, dear girl, at least you are happy to see me!”

    Victoria barely hid her smile as she looked down at him, her eyes shining with warmth and affection.

    Part the sixth

    Posted on Thursday, 8 July 2004

    Dignity and love do not blend well, nor do they continue long together.
    (Ovid)

    I choose the likely man in preference to the rich man; I want a man without money rather than money without a man.
    (Themistocles)

    The grounds of Netherfield were at least as pleasant as those of Gwynn Hall, giving it an air of light charm and natural beauty. Her fondness of nature being so nourished Victoria felt at home at Netherfield almost immediately. The weather had cleared even more and had it not been for Jane she would have gone for another ride. Halting before the main house she gladly accepted Mr. Darcy's offer to help her dismount and barely noticed that he kept his hands around her waist for just a little while longer after she had reached the ground. Without paying attention to his softened features she grasped Aurora's reins and handed them to a servant whom Mr. Darcy had called in a rather harsh voice. His tone of voice startled her, his tensed jaw and piercing eyes took her by surprise.

    "Thank you, I shall return in about an hour to ride back," Victoria said and followed Mr. Darcy into the house where they were greeted by Mr. Bingley and his sisters. Instead of listening to either their laments on suffering from a cold or their covered surprise at both the style of Miss Tennyson's dress or the state of her friend's. Their eyes were fixed on either the mud on the hem of Miss Bennet's or the waist of Miss Tennyson which, though petite and exquisitely brought to splendour by her gown, was a sight rarely to be beheld in those days. Finally being in Jane's company both young women were able to breathe more freely, Jane being rather ill caused them to worry and to treat her most kindly resulting their decision not to bring up either Miss Bingley's sharp stare or Mr. Darcy's plainly shown disdain.

    "Vicky, I dread going downstairs," Elizabeth admitted, her eyes flashing with emotion. "The superior sisters wish me miles away and not even Mr. Bingley's attention and politeness can make up for his sisters' pride Mr. Darcy's and insufferable conceit!" Elizabeth's meaning was clear, she didn't want her friend to leave her among the wolves and Victoria, while being disheartened by the prospect of such company, comprehended her friend's need of a friendly face.

    "I shall come downstairs with you, yet my present state will not really be of comfort to you," Victoria smiled. Her gown was dusty, her hair flowing down her back in wild curls, barely being held back by the ribbon she had used to order it. The long train of her riding-gown was wound around her arm while her collar of white lace was in disarray and her gloves more grey than white. Seeing her friend smile with gratitude she returned the gesture with a smile of her own. "Very well then, do you think Jane can be moved? If we were to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage we could bring her home!"

    Elizabeth declined her friend's request with an air of sadness, it had been her hope to find Jane well enough to take her home but since Jane was suffering from a fever and a sharp cough there was not even the slightest hope to move her anywhere soon. Victoria felt her heart sinking even further as she imagined being in the society of Mr. Bingley's sisters for longer than an instant. Brushing off the dust of her skirts Victoria led the way downstairs, closely followed by her friend. Had they known how they were spoken of they would not only have blushed but blanched with anger and shame.

    While being sincerely worried about Jane's state of health Mr. Bingley felt inclined to defend both her friend and her sister but to no avail. His own sisters found Miss Bennet to be lacking both style and manners and her impertinence and rural upbringing were highly disliked by everyone present but poor Mr. Bingley who thought her charming and of a prudent education. And while Miss Tennyson was regarded higher than her friend her state of appearance were just as shocking, her loose hair, her dusty dress and her riding such a wild creature was both despised and completely ridiculed. Comparisons to amazons were made to point out her lack of femininity and elegance, a point most sharply refuted by Mr. Darcy who mentioned Diana, this goddess of the hunt and most feminine of goddesses in his mind.

    "I declare Miss Tennyson is a very fine young woman despite her unfortunate way of clothing for a ride. Her relations are not as poor as Miss Bennet's and her behaviour is by far more acceptable!" Miss Bingley cried finally, a remark to which both her older sister and Mr. Darcy nodded while Mr. Bingley made no response of any kind. He was very overcome by his friend's hostility towards the sister of the lady of his heart, it disgusted him and, frankly put, wounded him deeply. His sisters he knew to be lacking any sort of kindness but he had expected more from Mr. Darcy despite his rather distant behaviour, he had not expected him to be so pitiless.

    "How a woman like Miss Tennyson can be so close to Miss Elizabeth Bennet I will never understand!" Miss Bingley huffed. "She has breeding, good relations and, I assume, she is educated well. What could have come over her to let her friend scamper around the country because her sister is suffering from a cold? Her hair was in disarray, her petticoat is completely ruined and her complexion is tanned beyond any sort of style and elegance! Brown, coarse, no style, no beauty, no breeding, just nothing to recommend her," Glowing with pride as those who were surrounding her agreed with her she sought Mr. Darcy's eyes with her own. "And I declare that her eyes are just as fine as Miss Bennet's. Am I right to suppose that this sort of adventure has diminished your admiration of her fine eyes?" The question was asked in a silken tone of voice while she gave him an intense look through her long eye-lashes.

    "No indeed, they were brightened by the exercise," His glare was intense and filled with disdain. "Being a good walker is one thing, being a brilliant rider is quite another!" With that the topic was closed and Mr. Darcy returned to his book, not paying any attention to what was said or done until Miss Tennyson and Miss Bennet were announced. Lifting his gaze to the door he beheld her coming in first, her black dress smoothed and her cheeks less hot. She was followed by Miss Bennet whose beautiful eyes were glowing indeed, there was a lucid warmth in them that touched him deeply, her muddy dress was of no consequence at presence.

    "Miss Bennet, how does your sister do? Is she any better?" Bingley cried, obviously worried. Victoria was touched by Mr. Bingley's worry for her friend's oldest sister and grasped the opportunity just to sit down without being noticed by anyone while everyone's focus was on her friend's responses to Mr. Bingley's frantic questions.

    Of course it was settled immediately that both Miss Tennyson and Miss Bennet were to stay at Netherfield until the eldest Miss Bennet's recovery. Victoria accepted this invitation but her heart wasn't in it, she felt out of place since it was neither her sister that was suffering upstairs nor had it been her intention to come here at all. Both Miss Tennyson and Miss Bennet excused themselves fairly soon to return to Jane and as soon as they had left Miss Bingley resumed abusing her younger friend while accepting Victoria as an equal, even praising her quiet elegance and dignity.

    The next morning found Mr. Darcy in high spirits and, following an impulse, he decided to take a ride. Still remembering how Victoria, for in his thoughts he addressed her with her Christian name, had looked at him as he had been bonding with her fantastic horse he was looking forward to some solitude, something he couldn't value highly enough when being Bingley's guest. Dressing himself all in black except for a white, silken shirt he left out both vest and coat for comfort's sake. With his dog at his heels and his walking stick under his arm he left his bedchamber while everyone was still sleeping. He took this stick everywhere he went, used it to knock and to intimidate if necessary, the silver lion's jaw on top was as beautiful as it was threatening. Passing the gardens a white shadow crossed his vision for a moment causing him to look closer with sharpened eyes. Making out the figure of a young woman he stepped closer and, to his utter surprise, beheld Miss Elizabeth beneath an apple tree, playing with a cat.

    So absorbed was she in her game and the cat's happy purring that she didn't notice him and innocently continued to caress the grey cat lying in her lap. The cat had her head in the crook of Elizabeth's arm, totally content. Hearing her hum a sweet little song to the cat he watched her getting up and leaving the shade of the tree. Not wanting to be caught he quickly left his hiding place and went towards the stables, he was in no condition to face her now. But as he came closer he heard her humming from within and wondered what she was doing in there.

    Opening the door he beheld her in front of her friend's horse's stable, not able to near Aurora. Her eyes signalized fear, which didn't go unnoticed by the horse. Aurora was restless, fearfully walking around and making noises. Leaning against the doorframe he watched this spectacle with a pitiful smile on his face until he saw her turning towards him and his smile vanished promptly. Neither of them was in any state to be in society and both knew it only to well. After regaining her composure she neared him with a crooked smile.

    "I didn't know you to be an early riser, Mr. Darcy," she observed most sharply.

    "Obviously I can say the same, Miss Bennet. It is a quality most rarely encountered!" Mr. Darcy parried smoothly.

    "Indeed, as one might say about all qualities and virtues in certain cases!" said she, her arms crossed defensively.

    "I might say it about your love for horses then?" said he with a crooked smile of his own.

    At this she blanched, the glow in her eyes became stale and obviously bitter. He pitied her, he had not meant to crush her armor like this but the challenge had been too enticing. Nearing her as much as he could without violating propriety he gave her an encouraging look. "Shall we try it together?" he proposed most kindly.

    "What do you mean?" asked she, her eyes widened.

    "Approaching horses isn't that difficult, Miss Bennet. Obviously you wish to overcome your fear and I'll gladly be of service to help you, should you be in need of assistance!" said he, his arms crossed.

    Of all the things she had expected from him, this sort of offer wasn't one of them. He appeared sincere, so rejecting this offer would have been rude. Not willing to appear like a coward to his satirical eye she accepted and took his arm, allowing him to lead her towards Aurora. Following his advice she approached her from the right instead of the front and found Aurora to be far more agreeable like this.

    "Were you ever bitten by a horse, Miss Bennet?" he asked most carefully. Seeing her shoulders slump at this question he knew he had guessed her secret when it came to horses, a need to protect this fragile girl filled his heart all of a sudden. "Give me your hand, Miss Bennet!" Standing behind her he offered her his hand to guide her movements which she accepted after but a moment of hesitation. Feeling her hand in his their eyes met for a moment until he led her hand to Aurora's mane. "She's like a cat, she only wants to be fussed over!" said he with an ironic smile.

    Elizabeth allowed him to guide her hand until Aurora turned her head towards her causing Elizabeth to withdraw her hand in terror while jumping back. Her back hit Mr. Darcy's chest and her head landed on his hard shoulder, for a moment she was breathing faster, all engulfed by the smell of his cologne, the hay and the horses. Her hand flew back to support herself and, for a moment, striated the skin of his chest. Feeling him breathe in hastily and deeply she blushed and averted her eyes, those eyes that usually glowed with mirth and laughter.

    "I'm sorry!" she apologized, her gaze on the floor.

    "No need to apologise! Shall we try again?" he proposed.

    Despite its innocence all this had a touch of the forbidden and Elizabeth began to feel uncomfortable. Being here with a man she positively despised meant a risk she wasn't willing to embrace. Stepping back from both Aurora and Mr. Darcy she shook her head No and hoping that the servants wouldn't notice her she opened the door to leave only to slam it shut and to rush back to Mr. Darcy.

    "What is it? What is going on?" He was clearly worried.

    "It's Miss Bingley and my friend Miss Tennyson. They must not see me here! Quickly, where can I hide?" She was clearly in terror.

    "Don't you fret!" These words were spoken almost fatherly. "I shall be with my horse, as if we didn't meet at all. You stay here in front of Aurora's stable!" Before she could utter a response he had left her wondering why her heart had skipped a beat when resting against his shoulder even though it had been by chance. Battling down her rush of emotions she brushed the folds of her dress and just as the door opened to reveal Miss Bingley and Victoria she felt Aurora's nose on her shoulder. Victoria's eyes widened as she saw her friend so close to her horse without any sign of fear, something Miss Bingley obviously ignored. The three women quickly began a conversation and neither Miss Bingley nor Victoria noticed or overheard Elizabeth gently whispering Thank you! towards the direction where she suspected Mr. Darcy to be.

    Part the seventh

    Posted on Sunday, 11 July 2004

    I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of imagination. What the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth - whether it existed before or not.
    (John Keats)

    He conquers who endures.
    (Persius)

    With their eldest sister gone both Laura and Adrienne were seen more and more in the company of the Bennet sisters, a fact that displeased Mrs. Tennyson who also missed her eldest daughter's support and company. It was Victoria's kind yet firm voice that kept the excellent brood as Mr. Tennyson used to call it teasingly in order and with that lacking both Adrienne and Laura enjoyed their newly found freedom while Nicolette was pining for her sister's tenderness and kept to her room most of the time. In the fifteen years of her life she had rarely ever been without Victoria watching over her so the mere fact of her absence did much to displease her. Being torn between the safety she felt due to her sister's unmarried state and her pity for the same's loneliness she did everything in her power to follow her sister's steps, be it in education or society. After breakfasting with her family she returned to her room and, to allow herself some leisure, began to read a book all of her friends had recommended to her - Devotion and Desire - written by Victor Kailey.

    "Nicolette, how can you stay in here all day?" Laura asked, her eyes sparkling with mirth and laughter. "The weather is pristine, nature's is calling! Why won't you join us, we're going to walk to Meryton to buy new shawls and gloves for our new ball gowns!" Adrienne chimed in while arranging her bonnet.

    "Thank you, dear, but I'd much rather stay in here and enjoy my book. Vicky told us not to meet Kitty and Lydia too often and I'm positively convinced that she would be displeased if I were to break my promise!" Such a firm tone was rarely heard when Nicolette spoke, the timbre of her voice being soft and of melodical flow and yet she was capable of such a speech. Both of her sisters were unmoved by the reference to their eldest sister's wish, there was no harm in meeting the Bennet sisters in Meryton. All they were going to do was to buy new gloves and shawls, without doubt more entertaining when in company than by themselves.

    "Don't you want to buy your shawl and gloves?" Adrienne was aghast. "Mama and Papa were so kind to allow us to have new ones, why not accept such a gift?" she added, brushing a loose curl behind her ear.

    "I'm very well satisfied with those I have, thank you. Adrienne, Vicky told us to stay away from them in her note, why don't you see that?" Nicolette closed her book and looked up to her sister with gloom and wounded pride.

    "Nicolette, our sister merely advised us not to be in their company exclusively. She herself seems to enjoy Miss Eliza Bennet's company and is nursing Miss Jane back to health at present. What more proof do you need that she won't mind us meeting Kitty and Lydia?" Laura attempted to dissuade her.

    "Indeed, and I am positively convinced that we'll find a most wonderful shawl for that new gown of yours. Come on, dear, I've let you have the pink chiffon and the white silk for your gown, now let me have the honour to pick out the right shawl for it, maybe we'll even find a stola for the gown!" Adrienne's words mollified Nicolette and the idea of a stola for her dress was most enticing indeed. Seeing her sister put down her book Adrienne clapped her hands together and smiled happily for nothing was as enjoyable in her mind than dressing up her little sister whose gentle and rosy beauty was too enticing as to be left uncared for.

    "Well, alright, to satisfy you both," Nicolette put her book aside which, when eyed by Adrienne and Laura, was picked up by Laura whose face brightened at the title. "Why, little sister, I never thought that you would read a book like that! It's most romantic, is it not?" Seeing her little sister blush Adrienne put her arm around her. "No need to blush, dear, everyone has read it, not even Vicky seems to disapprove!"

    "Well, but isn't devotion a very important part of the book, as opposed to desire?" Nicolette attempted to explain her fondness of this particular story.

    "Oh but it's desire that can bring about devotion to a man, don't you think?" Laura teased meaningfully.

    "How am I supposed to know that?" Nicolette declared bashfully.

    This morning had not been a pleasant one to Victoria as she had accepted Miss Bingley's offer to ride with her despite her being a rather inexperienced horsewoman, a fact Miss Bingley never seized to lament. It was her hope, she declared, that being taught by a brilliant rider such as Victoria this deplorable fact would soon be amended. Victoria felt the selfish root of a desire such as this and soon grew tired of biting her lips to lock a rather nasty response away. Being dressed in her black gown once more she had tamed her long hair with a silvery net of silk and velvet. Despite Miss Bingley's puzzled face she was wearing neither spurs nor a rod, there was no need to wear either in her opinion when the rider knew how to treat a horse and even less a reason or a justification if such was not the case. As if to add another surprise to the one mentioned formerly she found her friend Miss Elizabeth Bennet in the stable with Aurora's head resting against her shoulder. While still tense there seemed to be no sign of fear and Aurora's seemed to enjoy Elizabeth's tender shoulder.

    "Good morning, my dear Lizzy!" Victoria greeted her with a gentle nod of her head while Miss Bingley merely stared.

    "Good morning, Victoria," answered Elizabeth, "Are you going to take a ride?" And with a gentle nod towards Miss Bingley she added,

    "Good morning, Miss Bingley!"

    "Oh yes! Do you have any plans for this fine morning?" Victoria asked.

    "Maybe she would care to join us?" Miss Bingley chimed in, clearly not desiring an affirmative response.

    Seeing her friend's face fall at this sneer Victoria felt a need to leave Miss Bingley behind in order to enjoy some time with her friend but seeing it in a prudential light she knew that the injury to her friend would only be increased by such an action. What she couldn't know was the presence of another soul who shared her need as well as her opinion on the matter; had she known she might have felt differently altogether. Yet Miss Elizabeth didn't seem to care about diplomacy, something Victoria valued highly, yet to a certain degree.

    "I thank you for your most kind invitation but I'll have to decline most gracefully. I can assure you that my abilities are far too inferior as to keep up with such a reckless or should I say brilliant rider as my friend!"

    Victoria barely concealed her smile at this which she knew to be not an offense but an attempt to spare her from having to share her morning ride with Miss Bingley. And indeed, Miss Bingley blanched at the prospect of a reckless ride and suddenly felt a severe headache preventing her from a ride she had been looking forward to all day. Elizabeth smiled and seemed to understand Miss Bingley's feelings on this subject and, after seeing Miss Bingley to the door, winked at her friend, a gesture another soul present found to be most wicked if uniformly charming in a delightful way. He would have felt like doing just the same but not been able to summon the courage for such an act.

    "Lizzy, that was a most artful thing to do!" Victoria smiled thankfully, thus refuting the reproach of her words.

    "Was it? I believe the service was all yours, was it not?" Elizabeth parried with a sparkling smile.

    "Alright, dear, you're right. I'm most thankful for being spared, as is, I believe, Aurora. Aren't you, love?" Nuzzling Aurora's mane she gently caressed the horse's nose. "Yes, we shall go for a run, my girl, never doubt it!" Elizabeth smiled at such a partnership, thanks to Mr. Darcy she had finally seen that there was no evil in a horse that her friend seemed to adore so much. "Lizzy, what made you go near Aurora like that? I thought you were afraid of her?"

    "I followed most friendly and charming instructions. No, don't press me for an answer, lets just be happy about the fact that I can near your friend without as much fear as I used to feel!" Elizabeth responded warmly thus putting her friend's heart at ease and warming another heart beating faster at her words. "Please excuse me now, I shall return to Jane immediately!"

    "Of course, my dear. If you like I shall take you for a ride in the time to come!" Victoria smiled affectionately. Seeing her friend nod thankfully she returned her attention to Aurora and, after hearing the door slammed shut, got ready for her ride. Yet before she could saddle Aurora Mr. Darcy stepped outside his hiding place and greeted her, much to her amazement.

    "Good morning, Miss Tennyson. I take it that you're getting ready for a ride?" Having his question answered in the affirmative he invited her to join his morning ride, an invitation she gladly accepted.

    The three Tennyson sisters joined both Lydia and Kitty Bennet at the entrance of Mr. Beck's shop in Meryton. There was a big fuss and jumble on both gloves and shawls and all of them soon had their materials and excellent new finery, all except Nicolette who was still looking at materials without making even an attempt to decide. Being joined by Adrienne she quickly found a beautiful pair of gloves but the search for a shawl still continued without success. So many shawls were discarded until she found a most lovely silken one which complimented the colours of her gown most incredibly.

    "Adrienne, don't you think this is a little expensive though? Pink Indian silk with silvery embroidery, it's most exquisite to be sure but..." Nicolette mused with pleading eyes.

    "Oh, come now, Nicolette!" Lydia crowed. "This is hardly your worry! It fits your blue eyes most wonderfully!"

    "Indeed, Lydia is right," Adrienne confirmed, though a little annoyed by Lydia's response without being asked.

    Of course the shawl was bought and as they left the shop Lydia rose to her full height as she laid eyes on Captain Denny who was conversing with a man she had never seen before, yet without being it regimentals it was hard to win her favour or her memory. Crowing with delight both of the Bennet sister's won the young men's attention and while the Tennyson sisters felt rather miffed at being associated with such manners they were delighted to be introduced to the Captain's friend, a Mr. George Wickham who had come to Meryton several days before his planned arrival. Nicolette felt his eyes on her face more than she was used to by any other man and blushed, a feeling she both welcomed and feared on equal terms.

    Riding in the early sunrise had always been one of Victoria's favourite ways of starting her day and with an excellent rider such as Mr. Darcy by her side it was all the more enjoyable. Both being rather reckless when it came to riding didn't mean that they couldn't enjoy riding at a slower pace, indeed any sort of conversation would have been impossible otherwise. Victoria not only admired Mr. Darcy's ability as a rider but also the stallion he was riding. It was a black, noble creature with the fiery dark eyes of an Arabian, yet the strong back and legs of an English bred, Victoria assumed that it was the result of most particular care.

    "You have yourself a very fine horse here, Mr. Darcy!" Victoria lauded most sincerely.

    Letting his eyes wander over her horse and its passionate rider he returned the compliment with adding much praise for Aurora and her abilities as a horsewoman. "I'm very impressed with Aurora's speed and her spirit, may I ask, was she born at Gwynn Hall or did your father buy her elsewhere?"

    "To answer this honestly I might have to shock you, Mr. Darcy," she began and, with a look of pride and love continued thus, "I bred her myself. Her father and mother are still at Gwynn Hall, both belong to my father. He leaves much of this business to me because it's my dearest passion except for..." Here she paused, patting Aurora's neck nervously. Acknowledging that she didn't want him to pursue this subject further he expressed his admiration of her family.

    "Mr. Darcy, may I inquire why you seem to need a rod for an exquisite horse such as this one?" The question was impishly asked and graced with a poignant smile.

    "Old habits, Miss Tennyson. I rarely ever use it but, as they say, old habits die slowly!" He did not return her smile but didn't seem to be displeased.

    "I dare say it's time to shed them then. Old habits do die slowly, yet if one helps them along, the result might be favourable!"

    "Spoken like Diana indeed..." he mused, his eyes fixed on the lovely lips that had uttered these words.

    "I beg your pardon?" She was clearly puzzled.

    "Diana, the goddess of the hunt. I dare say you ride as well as she!" The compliment was sincerely meant, though not taken as such.

    "Do you claim goddesses to be among your acquaintances then?" she teased, smiling wickedly.

    "I might, though they never disclose themselves as such!" he parried with a smile of his own. "You take delight in not taking people seriously, don't you?" The smile was gone, replaced by a look of amazement and admiration.

    "An old habit, I have to admit," Victoria asserted.

    "Time to shed it then, I dare say!" Hearing her own words of advice returned Victoria presented him with a respectful nod and the most daring glitter he had ever seen in a woman's eyes. Digging in her heels she increased Aurora's speed to a reckless gallop, what else could he do but follow her to keep up with her rate? It was both a delight and a privilege to enter such a race which had become more than a tournament of horses but a duel of minds and hearts.

    Continued In Next Section

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