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“I had not even had the displeasure of meeting you when I ascertained your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. This morning you were riding with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Hurst in Meryton, correct?” He nodded dreading what he suspected she was about to say.

“I was exiting the haberdashery as you were passing, my two footmen were not dressed in livery so to not stand out and my companion was still in the shop.

You, who had never met me, knew nothing of my circumstances, assumed based on my clothes!

“Have you never seen one that you are acquainted with dress informally when the situation called for it? Did that make them less than themselves and an object of derision for you to sneer at?” ‘ My God, my dear mother, when she works in her rose gardens at Pemberley, if one did not know she was the mistress of the estate, you would think her a servant by how she dresses, Oh Lord help me! ’ He begged in silent prayer, knowing that not even God could help him at this moment.

“What kind of ‘ gentleman’ refuses to be introduced to anyone in a new place, slights the host, and stalks off with his nose in the air as if the place was malodourous?

You are no gentleman, sir. You may be a landowner, may even be wealthy, but in behaviour and manner, you are anything but what a gentleman is supposed to be!

“If all of that was not bad enough, when I chose to sit out the second set as there are far more ladies than men present, if you had bothered to look, you would have seen that easily enough, but you were too busy being arrogant and disdainful so that when Mr. Bingley tried to urge you to dance, your response was to insult me !”

The Duke considered stopping his daughter from flaying the man in public, but he remembered some of the things that his friend Matlock had told him about his nephew, so he did not interfere, thinking that the man needed to be taken down a peg or three.

“I was ‘ slighted’ by no one, I chose to sit out the dance so that others would have the opportunity to participate. Unlike you, I care about the feelings of others! Then again, without any knowledge of who I am, my family, or my situation, after you insult my looks you then vocally and publicly claim to be above me! You are so far below me that you would strain your neck severely to view the heights that we inhabit!”

Lords Birchington and Netherfield stepped forward threateningly so that Lord Tom was inches from Darcy’s face, with Lord James right behind him.

Lord Birchington hissed, “If it were not illegal and would bring scandal to my family, I would call you out! Who do you think you are? I, too, observed the abject arrogance you have portrayed since you entered our assembly. You looked on our neighbours and friends as if they were dirt on your riding boots. Unlike you, they are all good, honourable people who have never done anything to deserve your disdain. I would suggest that you retire to my brother Lord Netherfield’s estate.

You are no longer welcome at this assembly! ”

“I too would like to call you out,” Lord James chimed in.

“You are a guest of my tenant in my house, and you strut around like a peer of the realm looking down on all, ignoring the actual peers in this hall! You are a disgraceful example of a true gentleman! You deserve whatever Lizzy unleashes to punish you. As my brother said, begone; you are not welcome here,” the normally serene James added hotly.

Like his sister Jane, woe the person that hurt anyone that he loved, and he loved his sister Lizzy very deeply.

The marquesses did not have to tell him twice.

Darcy could see the disgusted looks directed at him, so made as creditable bow as he could, and then turned and walked out of the hall with as much of his battered dignity that remained.

He summoned Bingley’s driver and requested that he convey him back to Netherfield and then return to wait for the rest of their party.

When he at last reached his chambers and Carstens had help divest him of everything except his breeches and shirt, he fell into a chair with a snifter of brandy in his hand.

‘ How could I have been so very mistaken? Miss Bingley and Bingley both tried to warn me that there were people of quality in the area, but I would not let them finish. I made an assumption and substituted my own judgement for the facts! ’ As he thought he made a painful realisation, ‘ Good Lord above, Collins said the estate that was entailed upon himself was Longriver in Herefordshire, NOT Longbourn in Hertfordshire!

The Family is Benet descended from family in France, not Bennet!

I thought he had nothing of worth to say so I did not pay attention as I should have.

What will the cost be to myself and my family for this arrogant folly?

‘I would love to say that Lady Elizabeth was wrong in her estimation of me, but it is now obvious she was close to the mark.

She does not know of my worry about Georgie, but as she pointed out, a gentleman would not behave the way that I have been.

How am I going to explain this to Mama? Oh.

No. Is it one of these ladies Andrew is betrothed to?

One of the blond beauties, Mary, Miranda, no Marie, Lady Marie Bennet.

I think that Uncle Reggie and Aunt Elaine are friends of the Duke and Duchesses, even Aunt Catherine admires them!

“Have I allowed myself to become such a man? Yes, I have been hunted relentlessly and had to suffer attempted compromises, but should it follow that it gives me leave to assume that everyone will treat me thus? I have developed this mask to scare anyone off to get some peace, but have I not become the type of person that I was trying to protect myself against? Mother and Father taught me right from wrong, but as an only child for twelve years I started to look down on those that I considered below us as I became spoilt. Then Georgie was born, and as a much older brother and heir, I did not amend my behaviour. I always see fault in others but have been blind to those in myself. ’

Darcy did something that he had not done since his beloved father died after falling off his horse and breaking his neck five years previously, he cried.

He was not crying for a mistake or the massive error he had made that night, but for the realisation of the man that he had allowed himself to become.

Once he had released the pent-up emotions, he made a pledge then and there that he would strive to become a better, less judgemental man.

He knew that he had a mountain to climb, and it would start on the morrow when he would present himself at Longbourn and prostrate himself before the family to offer his sincere apologies.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

As the music commenced once again at the assembly, the Bingleys and Hursts gingerly approached the Bennets. “Your Graces, My Lords and Ladies,” Bingley said tentatively with a bow, “on behalf of myself and my family I offer my sincere and deepest apology…”

He cut himself off as the Duke raised his hand, “What is it that you have done to apologise for, Mr. Bingley?”

“For Darcy, your Grace. He is my guest and my responsibility, and he insulted your family, especially Lady Elizabeth, and all of the good people from the area most grievously.” He bowed again as he completed his statement.

Lady Elizabeth interjected, “You did not make him behave in the reprehensible manner that he did.” She countered. Bingley and his party took comfort at her words, only to have the worry return as she continued. “Although it is true that we are judged by the company that we keep.”

‘ I will kill the man! ’ Miss Bingley thought. ‘ Of all of the woman to insult in the realm, he had to choose this one. I have heard that she is faithful to a fault to those she loves or counts as a friend, but heaven help you if you cross her. I have heard that she is not quick to forgive. ’

“We will not censure you for your friend’s words or actions,” said Lady Sarah, looking at her first-born daughter with a warning to withhold her piece, “however I suggest that you make sure that Mr. Darcy does not repeat his behaviour.”

No one had noticed the two gentleman that were approaching them from the entrance to the hall, one tall with light blond hair and blue eyes, was very handsome and impeccably dressed in a fine form fitting tailored outfit, and the other not quite as tall, but much broader, with the same colouring.

Though not quite as handsome as his brother, he dressed in his scarlet regimentals with the epaulettes informing one and all that he was a full colonel.

“Hello all,” Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale intone.

, “Sorry that we were delayed but we did arrive sooner than we thought that we would.” His eyes locked on those of his betrothed as he spoke, gratified to see her joy at his arrival followed by a shared look of pure adoration.

A similar look was shared between Richard Fitzwilliam and Lady Jane Bennet, which was not missed by Bingley.

‘ There was no chance that a daughter of a duke would have accepted me;, she is an angel, but I see that she is not available, based on the look that I just saw between her and the Colonel. ’ he noted, as he turned to greet Darcy’s cousins.

Before he could, the Colonel spoke, “What was it that you were saying about William?” Seeing the questioning looks, he clarified with an amused chuckle, “Darcy.”