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A few days of rain prevented any visits between Longbourn and Netherfield. Darcy was grateful for this brief respite from the tantalizing company of Elizabeth Bennet. However, he spent the interval observing with increasing consternation as Georgiana continued in her efforts to captivate Bingley.

When Miss Bingley could wait no longer to see her friends, she invited the Bennets to dine at Netherfield; they were to be accompanied by a cousin of theirs who had come to visit.

Darcy spoke with his sister for the second time about moderating her behavior, and for a second time she ignored his counsel.

He ought to have known she was up to some mischief when she excused herself just before dinner was called.

No sooner had Darcy begun to consider the interesting luck of finding himself seated at Miss Bingley’s right, with Elizabeth on his other side, than he observed his hostess frowning between Richard and Miss Bennet on her left.

“I hope you will not think me rude, Miss Bennet, when I observe that I had intended to place Miss Darcy near her guardians this evening. With four companions so fond of reading, the colonel may yet be persuaded to take up the activity.”

Richard’s pithy reply was lost on Darcy, who followed Miss Bennet’s mournful gaze down the table, where Georgiana was sat at Bingley’s side, chatting merrily with him and the two youngest Bennets. He internally groaned at such lamentable placement.

“I shall take better care with my placecards next time we have the pleasure of hosting you all.” Miss Bingley maintained her droll face for a moment longer before sipping at her wine.

She recovered herself and, to her credit, she did her best at encouraging lively conversation at their end of the table - she was nearly successful at drowning out the prattling of Mrs. Bennet and the relentlessly inane Mr. Collins.

Darcy was relieved to be seated at a distance from the babbling idiot that his aunt had selected for her parson, for mere minutes into their acquaintance Darcy had already tired of hearing Lady Catherine praised.

That Mr. Collins had dared mention the preposterous rumor of Darcy’s engagement to Anne was as infuriating as the mere notion of the toady parson staying under the same roof as Elizabeth.

But this was where any semblance of contentment ended.

Mr. Collins had given voice to Lady Catherine’s favorite delusion in the presence of Elizabeth, and she spoke scarcely a word to Darcy over dinner.

He often felt her gaze upon him, and would turn to see her looking away with such strange looks as puzzled him exceedingly.

It ought not to matter. However well he thought of her, he could never align himself with such a family.

But he was very sorry for the many glances of commiseration he saw her bestow on Miss Bennet, who was too forlorn even to smile at Richard’s attempts to amuse her - when he was not flirting brazenly with Elizabeth.

Darcy was relieved when the evening came to a close, though his torment was far from over.

When Darcy and Richard accompanied Bingley to the billiard room - after first ascertaining that the library was quite empty - Darcy hoped he might be coaxed from his ill humor.

Instead, he was soon venting it on his cousin.

“I thought Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth looked remarkably well tonight. You gentlemen must forgive me for enjoying the attention of the ladies you admire all throughout dinner.” Richard waggled his brows at them as Darcy missed his shot and scowled.

“I take comfort in supposing that Miss Bennet was yearning to be at my side this evening - just as I was longing to be at hers. The ardent stares we exchanged all night prove she must have scarcely noticed your impudence.” Bingley swaggered confidently toward the sideboard to pour himself a drink. “That is what Caroline said.”

“And she is the fount of all wisdom, despite the, er, mishap with the placecards.” Richard cast a wary glance at Darcy, who nodded; they would not discuss Georgiana in Bingley’s presence, lest it make Bingley uncomfortable.

“And what of your Miss Elizabeth, Darcy? You and your fair lady exchanged such odd looks all evening, but scarcely said a word to one another. Has Collins and his nonsense caused a rift between you?”

Bingley sputtered as he took a sip of his drink. “Darcy? And Miss Elizabeth? But I thought you liked her - you flirted with her all night, and when we were in London….”

Darcy glared at his cousin. “You would tease me, yet Bingley is right - and if your intentions are not serious, which surely they cannot be, you ought not raise her expectations. Her mother is already quite determined.” Darcy shuddered at the calculating glances Mrs. Bennet had fixed on Richard all evening.

“And why do you believe my intentions cannot be serious?”

Darcy ground his teeth as he took a shot and missed.

“Because you are the son of an earl,” he hissed, giving Richard a significant look.

The next countess of Matlock would face even more scrutiny than the future Mrs. Darcy - and more derision, should she be a woman of little fortune or connection, with a vulgar mother and sisters that ran wild, ripe for ruin.

“Would you wish for such a close connection to our aunt’s latest sycophant? ”

“If I admired her above every other woman, I would not care if she had a legion of foolish cousins who pledged their unyielding allegiance to Lady Catherine. But as it happens, I prefer redheads.” He gave Bingley a roguish grin before turning back to Darcy.

“I have only flirted with Miss Elizabeth because I thought it might make you confess.”

Bingley guffawed, but Darcy grimaced. “Confess what?”

“That you like Elizabeth Bennet . You, Darcy, admire her above every other woman, as I had never imagined you capable of. And from the way the two of you were sneaking such longing gazes at one another tonight, I must say that I think you may have raised her expectations yourself. Furthermore, I declare that there is no good reason why you ought not gratify those feelings.”

“I have already given you my reasons - her family….”

“Her family, who live at Longbourn, which is a considerable distance from Pemberley,” Richard drawled with a dismissive wave of his hand.

“I can hardly cut her off from them entirely; it would be cruel, and she would never consent to it. But I will not allow her silly younger sisters to influence Georgiana - your sisters have done enough damage.”

“Perhaps they all just require a stern talking to,” Richard said.

“Certainly your sister does; I have not seen any of the Bennet girls behave half so badly as Georgiana did tonight. Think of my sisters and their position - the countess has such troubles as likely haunt the worst of Mrs. Bennets’ fears.

Collins is the heir to Longbourn, and the woman clearly wishes to see her girls well settled.

When one, or perhaps two - eh, Bingley? - have married splendidly, she will settle the worst of her silliness. ”

Bingley set down his drink and approached Darcy.

“I know you think me impulsive and romantic, but I have given the matter a creditable degree of consideration. Once Jane and I are wed, if she will have me, I had thought to suggest hiring a governess for the younger girls, perhaps masters to teach them accomplishments and whatnot. Improve them so that they might do well in a few years. The middle one, moral Miss Mary, is not overly bold - I am sure she wants only a shopping trip of her own with Caroline, and perhaps fewer religious tomes.”

Richard gave a hoot of laughter. “And now you are cleverer than Darcy, old boy! Come, Darcy, let us hope for Georgie’s sake that frivolous young ladies do not remain such forever.”

“Even Caroline has managed to reform herself remarkably since our little performance,” Bingley agreed. “Though I sometimes fear she means to prove a point about it to Darcy.”

“I certainly hope her charming improvements have not been for the sake of this blockhead, for if she….” Richard halted his raillery with a sudden shifting of his countenance toward sullenness.

Bingley nudged him. “Fitz?”

Richard took a long draught of his brandy before levelling a contemplative gaze at Bingley. “For if she will not have me when I am a poor colonel, she shall lose the chance to be a countess.”

Their affable friend took an unsteady step backward, his face turning from mirth to shock, and finally concern. “What?”

“Roland is missing, last seen off the coast of Portugal. And… my father is dying.”

“I am damned sorry,” Bingley sighed, clapping Richard softly on the shoulder.

Richard narrowed his eyes at Darcy, his lips twisting with bitterness.

“I have entertained the same fears Darcy has charmingly expressed about the burdens of responsibility and perils of high society that may befall a young lady thrust into a higher sphere - a fate that will soon befall myself. But I care little for fortune or connection when I consider what sort of woman might suit me as a helpmeet amidst such difficulties.”

Darcy felt his cousin’s disdain sear into his chest. He realized the merit of Richard’s harsh rebuke, and considered what such a wife as Elizabeth might have meant to him when his father had passed, or when Georgiana had fallen apart after the events of Ramsgate.

Even now, as he struggled to control his sister’s contrary petulance - how might Elizabeth’s steady sense and coaxing humor ease the tension between her sister and his?

She could hardly do worse than his own abject failure.