Page 6

ELIZABETH WINS THE BET…

E lizabeth played her part better than Darcy could have expected for the next week. She had not been able to say anything on the walk home. Mr and Mrs Bennet walked side by side angry at Elizabeth’s display, while Jane, Mary, Catherine, and Lydia huddled together to gossip and speculate on what Darcy’s kiss had meant and why Elizabeth seemed to exude anger.

“I suppose you have an explanation for us, Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet asked the moment they got home.

Elizabeth shook her head. “I cannot explain what is going on, for I do not know.”

“You spent half the evening in that man’s company, how can you not know?!” Mrs Bennet demanded.

“Because he asked impertinent questions and despised everyone around him with his answers!” Elizabeth explained. “I believe that he is arrogant and proud! I think he thought that simply because you, mama, were declaring his interest for him he had a right to kiss me! Trust me I do not think that we will see him return to Hertfordshire any time soon, if he ever does!”

“That is unkind, Lizzy! Mr Bingley said his friend has a lot of problems on his shoulders right now,” Jane argued.

“All the more reason that he will not return to a place where he felt nothing but distaste and disdain for those around him. You did not hear his conversation, Jane! He is going back to London and I doubt we will ever see him or Mr Bingley again!” Elizabeth informed the family. In truth, despite his words, Elizabeth was unsure whether he would return. She knew that he was not as bad as she had just portrayed him, but she would not betray his confidence about the worries he had over his sister.

“Aye, we all thought that after he had told Mr Bingley that the whole neighbourhood was ridiculous and not worth bothering about that he would not make any overtures to any of you girls. We were, of course, wrong,” Mrs Bennet observed. “He must have some interest in you, Lizzy. Otherwise, why kiss you like he did?!”

“Because he’s an arrogant man!” Elizabeth loudly snapped. “He was very much offended that his private affairs were being shouted about in public by his friend.”

Mrs Bennet took a deep breath. “If he was so irksome, why did you not leave his side for so long?”

Lydia smirked. “Did you not see the way he stopped Lizzy from leaving when she tried? I bet he wouldn’t allow her to leave. The officer I was talking to, Mr Wickham, said that he had known Mr Darcy all his life. Mr Wickham said that Mr Darcy likes to have his way in everything.”

Elizabeth wanted to roll her eyes. That was not the man she had been talking to. “Whatever he may or may not be, makes little difference. We are unlikely to see him again.”

“Go to bed, Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet snapped. “Your father and I will have to consider what your punishment is going to be.”

Elizabeth left the parlour and trudged up to her room. Despite the surprise she had felt at being kissed so suddenly and abruptly, she had enjoyed that kiss. She wanted to feel hopeful that it was an until we meet again kiss, but she had slight misgivings. She could not understand why he would promise to come back having seen the display her family made.

* * *

D arcy was proven correct when the next day the Lucas’s visited and the previous day’s events were discussed. The Lucas’s canvassed well Darcy’s slight to the community and Elizabeth was left with nothing further to add. Indeed, even without her saying anything, she would have been considered to have won the bet for a very cryptic letter arrived from Miss Bingley addressed to Jane.

My dear Miss Bennet,

It seems that my brother is to go to London for the next week. We are not sure why or what the urgency is. He and Mr Darcy have not chosen to share their reasons with us. However, they have requested for us all to accompany them on this excursion back to London. When or if we are to return I have no idea. However, I do not believe that once my brother gets back to London he will be in any hurry to leave it, not with the delightful Miss Darcy there. I must confess that my brother is quite delighted with her and I have high hopes that I shall soon be calling her my sister.

Jane did not read out the signature as she flung the letter to the side as though she had been burnt. “Well, Lizzy,” she said once their mother left the room. “It appears that you won this bet!” Jane announced, in bad humour.

“What if they come back?” Elizabeth asked.

“ If they come back we’ll open a new bet. One that you will not be a part of!” Jane snapped.

“Why would you….” Elizabeth gasped.

“Because you will have an unfair advantage over us! Only you know what you told Mr Darcy last night,” Jane angrily retorted.

“In other words, I am right that you are betting on his interest in me !” Elizabeth sighed. “Let me put your mind at rest, there is none!” Elizabeth knew that was a lie. However, she would not give them the pleasure of knowing that and hoped that if Colonel Fitzwilliam did come to visit he would not have any interest in Elizabeth. It would be quite entertaining to see them think Darcy had lost interest in her for the moment.

“After that kiss last night, you cannot deny he has an interest,” Jane stated. “What I don’t understand is how you knew that mama had driven him away.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “He was disgusted at what he saw and he told me so to my face!”

“And yet he kissed you,” Jane reminded her sister. “Why would he do that?”

Angry Elizabeth stalked over to the window and glared outside, before answering her sister. “How should I know? I do not read minds. Maybe you should ask him. No. Wait. You cannot because he has left the area. That is it. I do not know his mind and nor do you.”

“Lizzy, I think you are withholding information from us,” Jane said. “I have to pay you for getting it right that mama would drive them away after only two days. However, I am not going to let you take part in any more bets to do with those particular gentlemen.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Very well.”

* * *

F or the rest of the week, Elizabeth began to feel lonely. Her sisters speculated if the gentlemen would return or if they had gone permanently. Elizabeth had to play her part in Darcy’s ruse perfectly, but she worried that he had been letting her down gently when he told her about his business concerns taking him away from the area. She also saw that her sisters did not drop the ruse of exaggerating their characters. Lydia’s flirting seemed to increase and Mr Wickham encouraged her antics. This, too, worried Elizabeth as she hoped that Lydia’s unguarded behaviour would not lead the family into ruin and disgrace. However, on Thursday evening, Elizabeth received a letter that put her mind at rest.

Dear Miss Elizabeth Bennet,

I am Georgiana Darcy, the sister of Fitzwilliam Darcy. My brother arrived in London safely on Monday and has been working frantically in his study for long hours to be able to return and keep his engagement with you on Saturday. He wishes me to convey to you that his attempts were a complete success! He has managed to clear his diary for the following two months. My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and my brother have allowed me to join them in a visit to Mr Bingley’s home and we shall all be arriving there either by late on Thursday or early Friday. I have been asked to assure you that my brother is most anxious to return and that he will be adding a short note to this letter.

I am not sure why, but my brother has asked that the servants smuggle this letter to you rather than it being posted. So if you have this letter in your hands, it will mean that we are already at Netherfield.

Yours etc.

Georgiana Darcy

Elizabeth grinned. The fun was about to begin. If Colonel Fitzwilliam was coming with them, then Elizabeth would need to be careful as only she knew what to look for between the gentlemen. In most instances, due to their gloves, there would only be one way to distinguish them. Elizabeth wondered how Darcy had persuaded Bingley to get back so quickly. With a sigh, she was about to put Miss Darcy’s letter down when she noticed the unfamiliar handwriting on the back of the sheet of paper.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet,

If you are reading this letter, then our servants have done their task. We are all well and back at Netherfield. Did you do what I asked? If so, thank you. I know that you must be confused as to why I was willing for you to do that. I promise to explain fully another day. However, I wanted to apologise to you. I hope that you did not get into too much trouble because of our kiss. I have to apologise for executing it in the way that I did, however, I knew that the surprise you felt would be more genuine and your reaction less forced that way. I hope that you will forgive me for taking you by surprise. I hope that you and I may improve our acquaintance now that we are back. I meant it when I said I had an interest and would like to improve our acquaintance. Fitzwilliam is with me, he does not know that I have told you of the differences between us. Please do not tell him you know. My sister does not understand why I wanted her to write to you and I am getting many questions from both my cousin and my sister as to where my interest tends.

This brings me to a confession. There is something I have withheld from general knowledge. I did so because I do not feel bound by duty, honour or anything else to honour what I am about to tell you. But should it come down to the most serious of relationships I should not wish for you to hear this from anyone else. When I was about three, my mother’s sister gave birth to a girl. The only child that she and her husband would have that would survive. I digress. For a reason that only they understood, my mother and her sister began talking about a betrothal between myself and my cousin. My mother always said it was meant to be a light-hearted speculation about what would happen should we grow up and fall in love. My aunt, however, believed it to be an informal engagement between us. My cousin is sickly and cross. I describe her thus to explain that I do not and never did, intend to honour my aunt’s imagined engagement. I have not visited under false pretences, though this admission might well appear to be such. I merely wished to warn you that should word of our kiss and my interest reach my aunt’s ears, then we might have trouble and wished for you to be aware of this.

Until we meet again,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

Elizabeth shook her head. What was he doing? If anyone knew of this letter’s existence they would be forced to marry, if by no other reason than honour. She agreed that he should have told her about his aunt’s perceived engagement between him and his cousin before the kiss, but she was not angry with him. She had not asked any questions. She had enjoyed his kiss. She sighed. It was not likely that he would repeat it, but she would cherish it. She reread his apology around it. He had been careful not to apologise for kissing her, only for taking her by surprise. Excitement now rose in her breast and she began to take a little more interest in her appearance than she usually did in the lead-up to a ball.

* * *

B ingley had needed little persuasion from Darcy to take part in the ruse. It was amazing to Darcy to discover that his friend had been much offended by the Bennet matron’s behaviour. The day that they had left, Bingley had uncharacteristically been rather scathing about the neighbourhood. Darcy had ignored the Bingley sisters' unflattering and catty remarks. Wherever they went the Bingley sisters were just as mean-spirited about those around them. However, Bingley’s comments concerned Darcy and it took more persuasion for Bingley to return from London quicker than Darcy would have expected. Darcy knew that there was much that he should do. However, both men had their business cleared in record time and were now ensconced in the Netherfield parlour.

“Bingley, did you request any dances from the ladies for Saturday’s ball at the assembly rooms?” Darcy asked.

Bingley looked at his friend, surprised. “I did not. I’m not sure if I am going.”

“You love dancing, why would you not?” Darcy could not understand his friend’s reluctance.

“The only girl who I might otherwise be interested in dancing with here was not very forthcoming with me,” Bingley complained. “As for the rest, after you monopolised Miss Elizabeth Bennet for the evening, the majority were either dull or stupid. You were right about the people here being ridiculous. Perhaps keeping the social interaction to a minimum would be best. It seems I had a lot more time to observe them than you did. Tell me, did you realise that Mrs Bennet was proclaiming the whole night that her girls had attracted us?”

“I knew!” Darcy snapped.

“Were you not offended? We had barely even met the girls. Besides it’s you who has more to lose through raising expectations,” Bingley reminded Darcy.

Darcy shrugged. “Of course, I was offended! However, punishing the Miss Bennets because of their mother would have only meant making myself look proud and horrible, while injuring our whole group in their eyes.”

Bingley openly stared at Darcy in shock.

“Surely you can’t mean to infer that you desire to interact with these people?!” Miss Bingley blurted.

“Why not?” Darcy asked.

“You never wish to socialise! You’re too fastidious for any society!” Bingley answered.

Darcy saw his sister about to say something and shot a warning glance at her. Georgiana looked down at her hands and blushed.

“Darcy was taken by Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s observant and kind nature. She took pity on him when he didn’t deserve it. He’s finally fallen in love,” Fitzwilliam announced.

Darcy glared at his cousin. “I am not in love!”

“Then you’re a good way to it,” Fitzwilliam teased.

Darcy blushed and wished he could kill his cousin. “You are far too quick to jump to that conclusion.”

“And you’re far too slow to enjoy life,” Fitzwilliam returned. “Life is far too short to go at a snail’s pace. Nick was already married and had two children by our age.”

“That’s because your parents arranged his marriage so that the family line could continue! Your older brother didn’t exactly want that marriage at first! Besides, you’re my age and I don’t see you falling in love and getting married,” Darcy returned.

“I enjoy women too much for settling down with just one,” Fitzwilliam told him, forgetting himself in front of the ladies.

Darcy shook his head. “Army life has not done you any favours.”

Fitzwilliam shrugged. “It gave me employment and an independent income. Now I am a man of leisure. Perhaps I might see if maybe I can gain some other kind of employment. I could always purchase another commission in the future – should the need arise.”

“That was not what I meant,” Darcy muttered. “You don’t respect women.”

“Why would I respect them when I haven’t met any that respect themselves enough to insist on doing things ‘properly’?” Fitzwilliam asked.

Miss Bingley blushed at the inference that Fitzwilliam had just made. “I hope, Fitzwilliam, that is not your opinion of the present company?” She asked.

“Not mine,” Darcy replied.

“If the shoe fits,” Fitzwilliam answered at the same time.

Bingley chuckled at his sister and friends.

“Miss Darcy,” Miss Bingley turned the conversation. “Tell me, how do you put up with these brutes?”

Georgiana giggled slightly. “My brother is not a brute. As for Fitzwilliam, he’s a puppy underneath. They’re both caring and just wonderful.”

“I’m not a puppy!” Fitzwilliam objected, growling slightly at his cousin’s impertinence. “I simply did not see you for a few years. Remember your behaviour is still under advisement and your privileges limited.”

“At least let me go to the ball on Saturday,” Georgiana pleaded.

“You are not out and therefore should not be attending the ball. However…” Fitzwilliam glanced over at Darcy. “Very well, you may go. Only because we do not trust you home alone and since your brother is already engaged for two dances and I do not wish to miss this because of you ! Remember, you are to behave yourself and act with decorum. Because you are not officially out you can only dance with myself or Fitz. Any more outrageous behaviour of any kind and you will be expected to stay home with one of us while the other socialises.” Fitzwilliam’s voice became tight and full of anger. “Do I make myself clear?”

“You would not do that to me,” Georgiana quipped.

“Try us.” Darcy and Fitzwilliam both folded their arms across their chests taking identical poses and identical tones of voice.

Georgiana huffed and sank into her chair.

“If we have to stay home to supervise you, I promise you will regret your behaviour!” Darcy turned to the colonel. “One of us is going to have to keep her in sight at all times on Saturday night.”

“Mrs Annesley will be with me,” Georgiana objected.

“Mrs Younge was with you in Ramsgate,” Darcy snapped.

“What happened in Ramsgate?” Miss Bingley asked.

“Nothing!” Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Georgiana, and Mrs Annesley emphatically denied together.

“Miss Darcy is merely a young lady on the cusp of womanhood and her guardians wish to keep her safe and well.” Mrs Annesley’s quick thinking smoothed the situation, by giving a plausible explanation without any further elucidation of the events of the previous few months. “They are being a little overprotective at present.”

Darcy thanked his lucky stars that his slip up there had been smoothed by Mrs Annesley. The conversation was dropped almost immediately.

* * *

T he ballroom glittered. Colonel Fitzwilliam had arrived early and found himself a dark corner where he would be able to hide throughout the night. He did not trust his youngest cousin to behave with dignity and he wanted Darcy to relax and enjoy the two dances that he had planned to have with Miss Elizabeth Bennet that evening. He watched as the ballroom filled up and listened to the conversations that were being carried out. No amount of flirting and enjoyment of the company of women could cover the deficiency of this neighbourhood. The fashions were not of the latest style from Paris, but the neighbourhood was well dressed. However, everywhere that Fitzwilliam turned there was ignorance, pride, and vanity.

The rest of the Netherfield party arrived together and Fitzwilliam felt as though he wished to hit some sense into them. Mr and Mrs Hurst were escorting Miss Bingley alongside their brother. All four of them looked at those in the ballroom with disdain written clearly on their faces. While Darcy and Georgiana wore semi-expectant looks. Mrs Annesley guided the group around the room to where Fitzwilliam was sitting and slid into the chair next to his.

“I have a bad feeling about this ball, sir!” She said.

“So do I, Mrs Annesley,” Fitzwilliam agreed.

They watched as Darcy led his sister over to introduce her to Miss Elizabeth Bennet before the dancing began. Fitzwilliam’s jaw dropped.

“My cousin has lost his mind,” he observed, slowly.

“In what way?” Mrs Annesley asked.

“That girl is the daughter of the loudest and most obnoxious woman in this room. She is not ugly, but she’s not pretty either!” Fitzwilliam groaned.

“Cheer up,” Bingley stated. “You could stay in the shadows all night and force Darcy to take part in the whole ball.”

Fitzwilliam gave a slight grimace. “He’ll revert to form and insult somebody.”

“He’s already done that!” Bingley laughed.

Just then, they noticed Darcy lead Elizabeth onto the dance floor as the first strains of the dance began. “Wait… Fitz is dancing the first?” Fitzwilliam asked disbelieving.

“And the last I believe,” Bingley answered.

Fitzwilliam grinned. “He has lost his heart.”

“It’s the only explanation. Especially, as he caused a bit of a ruckus by kissing Miss Elizabeth at the last function we were at,” Bingley carelessly told the colonel.

“He did what?” Fitzwilliam asked. “Do we need to run interference? Our aunt will be furious if she finds out.”

Bingley shrugged and stood up. “I am going to go and find myself someone to dance with.” With that, he was gone.

Fitzwilliam drew further into the dark corner. The open window at his back allowed a cool breeze. Standing up, Fitzwilliam withdrew to the balcony. The sounds of the ballroom drifted out on the night air through the open windows, leaving Fitzwilliam cringing. He had crept in and was waiting for the chance to swap places with his cousin, but the more he heard and saw of the behaviour of the area made him less willing to take part in their society.

“Time for you to go and dance,” Darcy said behind him, making Fitzwilliam jump.

“I do not wish to do so,” Fitzwilliam grumbled. “You have lost your mind to be taking part in this society, Fitz.”

Darcy shook his head. “Tell me that once you’ve interacted with the people here. They are not so bad.”

Fitzwilliam snorted. “I am not going to court Miss Elizabeth Bennet on your behalf,” he grumbled.

Darcy chuckled. “No, Elizabeth would know that it was not me. She is the only person here who knows what to look for to tell the difference between us.”

Fitzwilliam’s surprise was great. “You are joking.”

“I told her myself,” Darcy admitted.

Fitzwilliam took a deep breath and turned around. “Very well. I will give them a chance, but I do not believe that this is going to end well.” With that, Fitzwilliam turned around and re-entered the ballroom. Almost immediately he found himself accosted by a young lady who was only a year or two older than Georgiana.

“There you are, Fitzwilliam. Are you going to dance with Lizzy again?” The young lady demanded.

Fitzwilliam turned to her, distaste written over his every feature. “Not at the moment. I am afraid that I need to decide who I am to dance with next.”

Confusion crossed her face and then she giggled. “There’s something different about you. Tell me are you so easily displeased by everything that you see?”

Fitzwilliam was not sure who he was speaking to, but he began to relax. “No, I am not. I apologise. I have not had a very good day. Perhaps that is influencing my behaviour.”

“Oh no, I hope that you will be able to relax and enjoy the evening,” the young lady retorted.

“Thank you. I am afraid that my ward is rather troublesome at the moment. I cannot afford to relax too much,” he answered.

“Your ward is here?” she asked.

“Kitty, do not monopolise Fitzwilliam’s time. I apologise, my sisters can be rather forward.” Elizabeth tried to nudge Catherine to move away. “I hope that she is not disturbing you.”

“Not at all.” Fitzwilliam turned to the young lady Elizabeth had called Kitty with interest. “Would you dance the next with me, please?”

“Thank you, yes. I will,” Catherine said. “May I ask why your ward is being troublesome? Perhaps there is a way that my sisters and I can help.”

Fitzwilliam instantly frowned as he observed Lydia’s excessive flirting. “Forgive me for asking this, I likely should already know. However, is that your youngest sister?”

Catherine giggled. “You are not Fitzwilliam. Who are you?” She demanded. “About a week ago we met Fitzwilliam Darcy who asked us to call him Fitzwilliam. You are not him. You do not behave like him and you do not speak like him. So before we dance, I want to know who you are.”

“You are very observant.” Fitzwilliam grinned. He leant down and quietly informed her, “Calling me Fitzwilliam is perfectly correct and please continue to do so. However, I am the cousin of Fitzwilliam Darcy. My name is Christopher Fitzwilliam. My father was the brother of Fitz’s mother.”

Catherine’s laugh was contagious. “That must get confusing. You look so like him.”

“What told you I was not my cousin? Most people don’t pick that up,” Fitzwilliam asked.

“Aside from you not talking in the same way that he does, the way you looked at Lizzy just now. While your cousin was dancing with Lizzy, they were laughing and joking in such a way that they had no time for anyone else. You looked at her as though she was a bug to be squashed. Tell me, do you think so badly of my sister?” Catherine asked.

The strains of the next dance began and Fitzwilliam led Catherine onto the dance floor. Lowering his voice he whispered, “I do not know your sister or anyone else. In truth, I have not even been introduced to anyone.”

“I will aid you a little, but you are going to have to simply behave as if you know who is talking to you and know what they are talking about – unless you want to admit that you are not your cousin,” Catherine told him.

“We usually reveal it after a short while, but I honestly do not know when we will do so this time,” Fitzwilliam admitted.

Just then the dance separated them and Fitzwilliam noticed Catherine looking around as though she was slightly bored. He wondered what it was that was attracting her attention and glanced around. It was all he could do not to burst out laughing. It would be worth maintaining the ruse just to be able to watch the neighbourhood without them even knowing that they were under observation. There was something that Fitzwilliam was suspicious of. He could not understand how a community could behave so ridiculously. He would also need to keep a closer eye on Georgiana with Wickham in the area. He and Darcy could do that easier if the area did not realise that two different Fitzwilliam men were visiting. Wickham, of course, could be their undoing. However, if he truly had changed then perhaps, he would once again take part in their pranks rather than exposing them. Perhaps, just perhaps it might well be like the old days.

* * *

E lizabeth wanted to kick herself. Darcy had told her what to look for and also that he would be switching with Fitzwilliam, yet for a brief moment Fitzwilliam’s coldness had hurt her. That he did not like anyone in the area, was written on his face. She felt sorry for Catherine. She was not sure why her younger sister had sought the colonel out, but the moment Elizabeth had seen the two of them talking she had felt a sense of disappointment, before catching herself. It seemed silly to Elizabeth, especially when she considered that even if it had been Darcy she would have had to share his conversation with others.

“You look pensive, Lizzy,” Jane told her.

“Lydia is making us look ridiculous. Mama is bad enough, but Lydia is taking this whole thing too far,” Elizabeth muttered.

Jane looked her sister in the eyes. “Is it Lydia’s flirting or Kitty dancing with Fitzwilliam that you are upset about?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “It’s a ball, Jane. Fitzwilliam is going to dance with others.”

“He seems to be getting on with Kitty rather well, don’t you think?” Jane teased.

Elizabeth scowled at her sister. “That should be a good thing, don’t you think? Rather a man be agreeable to those around him.”

“Did you not want us to believe that he is proud and above his company?” Jane argued.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and glared over at the colonel. “If you had observed his expression this evening then you would know that what I said was accurate, His face tells everyone that not only does he not want to be here, but that he despises everything he has observed so far. I do not believe that there is much that pleases him,”

“You and Kitty please him,” Jane observed.

“What about Mr Bingley?” Elizabeth asked. “Do you think he is pleased?”

Jane blushed. “We are not talking about him.”

“Then leave Fitzwilliam alone,” Elizabeth snapped.

Elizabeth withdrew to the side of the room to observe everyone. Jane had given her something to think about, but Jane did not know very much. Catherine was drawing Darcy’s cousin out of himself and seemed to be getting on well with him. Elizabeth retreated to the balcony.

“Careful, Miss Bennet,” a rich baritone voice said behind her, making her heart leap.

“Fitzwilliam,” she whispered.

Darcy chuckled. “It’s safer for me to hide out here. I can keep an eye on my sister and she doesn’t know where I am. Inside she keeps looking over at our table, which would give away that my cousin is entertaining your sister and not me.”

Elizabeth grinned. “Safer, indeed.” She sighed. “The whole place thinks that you’re arrogant and playing with Kitty and me. Your cousin has not made a good impression.”

“He thinks I’ve lost my mind to be interested in you,” Darcy admitted.

Elizabeth winced. “He might be right.” She walked over and leant on the railing. “My mother is not exactly someone you’d want to be connected to. However, she is my mother and therefore we love her no matter what.”

Darcy stepped over and stood next to her. “Elizabeth, I would not expect anything less.” He took a shaky breath. “During this past week, I tried to decide whether or not to stay away. I tried to tell myself every reason under the sun why I should stay away. I found plenty of them too. Your mother, I have to admit to being one of them, but I could not find any that outweighed the one reason to return.” He exhaled. “Please tell me you do not hate me.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Why would I hate you?”

“Because I put you in an untenable situation last time we met,” Darcy told her. “I raised expectations without thinking and did not tell you the truth of my situation.”

Anger surged through Elizabeth. “Is that an apology for kissing me? Or is that you saying you have no further interest in me?”

“Oh God! Neither!” Impulsively Darcy stepped closer to Elizabeth and put his arms around her waist. “I do not regret our kiss at all. Nor has my interest abated. Actually, I have more interest.” He leant down and kissed her. “If anything, it was an apology for not telling you about my cousin and my aunt’s delusions.”

Elizabeth sighed and leant into his arms. “What are we doing?” She softly asked.

“That I do not know. My sister is a problem. If she knew about our kiss or that I was holding you right now, she would be impossible. I do not wish to rush you, but could I ask for a courtship?” Darcy asked.

“You may, Fitz,” Elizabeth whispered.

Darcy nuzzled slightly into Elizabeth’s neck. “Thank you. When my cousin returns I will approach you again.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “You have my last dance. I believe you will need to dance with other ladies too.”

Darcy groaned in Elizabeth’s ear. “I think you mean insult them. My social skills are rather poor!”

“And so are your cousin’s! If you both go round like bears with sore heads you will not only insult the neighbourhood, but you will make them actively despise you!” Elizabeth pointed out. “One or both of you will have to put away your pride and relax. There is only so much Kitty and I can do to smooth the way for the both of you.”

“Don’t be unkind, Lizzy,” Catherine said from the doorway.

Elizabeth and Darcy turned, but Darcy kept his arms around her waist. Framed in the doorway, almost a perfect mirror of the couple was Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth’s sister, Catherine. “I am not being unkind, Kitty. Fitzwilliam looked like he would happily shoot all of us when he emerged from the balcony to take the place of his cousin.”

Fitzwilliam lounged in the doorway while Catherine went to take a seat and then changed her mind. “Miss Bennet,” Fitzwilliam began.

Elizabeth and Catherine both turned their heads towards him.

“Cath…,” he tried again.

“Call me Catherine and I’ll never forgive you,” Catherine hissed.

“Kitty, Elizabeth. Fitz and I have happily switched places taking each other’s punishments as well as sharing rewards, since we were boys. However.” He swallowed hard. “While our choice of friends was similar, we never truly shared interest in the same people. Our characters are very different, though we can fake being the other for short periods. I am sorry I gave a poor impression before our dance. I have never quite met such a unique neighbourhood.”

“Your thoughts were clear to all,” Catherine snapped.

“As is the extreme flirtation of your sister Lydia with none other than Wickham!” Fitzwilliam retorted.

“What’s wrong with Wickham?” Catherine demanded. “We’ve only known him a week.”

“Everything,” Darcy growled. He turned to Fitzwilliam. “Do you think he’s a threat to Georgiana or her happiness?”

“I don’t know,” Fitzwilliam angrily spat. “I know that he’s arrived with the militia, but what his motivations are for his present behaviour or what is going to happen – your guess is as good as mine. I am worried on that score.”

Elizabeth stiffened in Darcy’s arms. “Tell us everything! Leave nothing out. If there’s a threat to Lydia we need to know. Kitty, since I seem to have been excluded from Jane’s bets this time around, you are going to have to get Jane and Lydia to call it off.”

“I cannot, Lizzy. If I do, then Jane will begin to get suspicious,” Catherine pointed out. “Besides, how am I going to get Jane to call it all off without exposing that there are two Fitzwilliams?”

“Would you prefer that we appear together? Put an end to the ruse?” Darcy asked.

“No!” The two girls said together.

“It’s rather fun not having the world know what we do. However, I do have one rule.” Elizabeth turned in Darcy’s arms and looked him straight in the eye. “Even if you are pretending to be the colonel, no kissing Kitty! And you, Colonel, no kissing me!” She grinned at the two men, who both looked uncomfortable. “I do not believe the issue will arise with Kitty for a while. However, Fitzwilliam and I have just entered into a courtship. He needs to gain papa’s approval.”

Catherine shook her head. “Don’t approach papa for a while. He is angry enough as it is.”

“That was why we were coming to find you both. Mr Bennet cornered me after my dance with Kitty. He thinks I’m Fitz.”

“Technically you are,” Darcy grinned.

“We know that. However, he thinks you and I are the same person. After my dance with Kitty, he cornered me and warned me not to break Elizabeth’s heart.”

“He called Fitzwilliam some awful names,” Catherine added. “He does not know what is going on and is confused. However, he would go mad if he saw how you are standing right now.”

Darcy frowned. “Our switches in the past were harmless fun. However, I would not like for either of you to get hurt.”

Catherine glared at Darcy. “We know the truth. Also, I’m not sure how I knew, but without being told what to look for I knew that Fitzwilliam was not you. As long as you two do not get too brazen with your flirting and affection towards each other, we should be able to pull this off. I agree with Lizzy, though. I don’t want you, Fitzwilliam.” She pointed at Darcy. “Kissing me, any more than Lizzy wants you to. I have one more rule, to save our emotions. I saw how even with the knowledge Lizzy felt a small amount of hurt. I want you two to do one thing for us. Take your gloves off and allow us to see your signet rings. It’s not quite as overt as showing us your left ear or your right hand. One of you wears it on the right pinkie and the other on the ring finger of their right hand.”

“Well observed, Kitty,” Darcy laughed. “I broke my right pinkie finger as a young lad and couldn’t fit the ring over its knuckle, so my father had it adjusted to fit my right ring finger instead.” He pulled his glove off and showed them the right pinkie.

Elizabeth followed the curve of the little finger. “You do not need to take your glove off. The finger curves towards the right slightly.”

“Whereas mine is perfectly straight,” Fitzwilliam strode over and held his right hand out.

Elizabeth looked and recoiled slightly.

“Are you well, Elizabeth?” Darcy asked.

Shaking her head, Elizabeth stammered, “I am well. Just being silly. For a moment… Fitzwilliam’s hand seemed to be dripping with blood.”

“You are not being silly,” Darcy told her. “He has killed many men in battle.”

“It was more personal,” Elizabeth muttered.

“You are right. I can’t tell you much about it, but you’re right there is blood on my hands,” Fitzwilliam admitted. “It’s one of the reasons I retired from the army. Something happened and someone I had thought to be a close friend betrayed our whole regiment. His blood is on my hands because I failed to spot he was a traitor. Almost sold the whole of the British Army to Napoleon.”

“Do you turn on your friends that easily?” Catherine asked quietly.

“I do not. I begged that my superiors would place another man in my stead, but my entreaties were denied. I was forced into action. When suspicion first arrived at my friend’s door, I had hoped it was not true. I even tried to find evidence that he was being framed but in the end, the evidence was overwhelmingly against him. I was devastated by his guilt,” Fitzwilliam told her.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. “The other thing is that between us we need to distinguish between you two.”

Fitzwilliam laughed. “In private that is easy. He’s Fitz and I’m Christopher. In public, it gets trickier. He should be Darcy and I Fitzwilliam.”

“But to keep the ruse going, you’re both Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth emphasised.

Fitzwilliam bowed. “Judging by how close you two are, I’m guessing that you, Elizabeth, will start calling him Fitz or Will soon.”

Elizabeth blushed, but the couple did not deny the surmise.