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The two days since the dinner at Haye Park had not been easy for the residents of Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet had overheard Darcy’s harsh words about her favorite daughter and was displeased by what she viewed as that gentleman’s rudeness.

“I do not understand what a kind and obliging gentleman like Mr. Bingley sees in a rude and ill-mannered person like Mr. Darcy. The nerve of the man, insinuating that my dearest Lydia is childish! He called her wild!” Mrs. Bennet repeated the same refrain to everyone who would listen.

When Elizabeth, her least favorite daughter, tried to explain how Darcy might feel as he did, the matron refused to hear her.

“You would do well to stay away from him, Miss Lizzy. Do not think I did not notice you speaking to him last night. I will not have it.”

Knowing that it was nearly impossible to change her mother’s mind when the woman had it set on something, Elizabeth desisted.

I suppose it matters not, she thought. I admire him greatly but I have nothing to offer a man such as he.

She sighed. Would that things were different.

Knowing they were not and that pining after something she could not have would lead to melancholy, something she was not made for, she put it out of her mind the best she could and focused on what was before her.

Later that day, Mrs. Hill announced a visitor.

“Mrs. Hurst to see you, ma’am.”

The Bennet ladies rose as Louisa entered and curtseyed.

“Welcome to Longbourn, Mrs. Hurst. Do come in. Hill, a tea tray, if you please.”

Elizabeth heard her mother’s words but was more focused on their visitor. Louisa displayed a similar tentative timidity to the one she had the previous evening.

Mrs. Bennet gestured to a chair nearby. “Please be seated. It is so good of you to come visit us here.”

Elizabeth did her best not to roll her eyes. She was quite sure her mother was more interested in promoting Jane to Mrs. Hurst’s brother than she was in actually befriending the woman herself.

“Thank you for having me.” Louisa perched on the edge of the chair. She smiled at the ladies around her. “You have a very nice home. It exudes comfort and warmth.”

Mrs. Bennet looked around and returned her guest’s smile. “Thank you. It has been an age since I decorated, but it has worn well, I think.”

“That points to your wisdom in choosing quality materials.” Louisa fidgeted with her bracelets. It seemed to Elizabeth that she did this without thought.

Mrs. Bennet preened at her guest’s compliment. “I purchased the best I could find and I am happy I did. Five daughters can be rather rough on the furnishings.”

Louisa chuckled. “I should imagine so.” She looked around at the aforementioned girls. “I hope to have several children myself one day so that I can say the same.”

Elizabeth and her sisters laughed with their guest and jumped into the conversation. Mrs. Bennet made sure to steer it towards the gentlemen at Netherfield, especially Mr. Bingley. Eventually, the other girls grew tired of hearing of him and began asking about Mr. Darcy and Mr. Madison.

“My brother has gone out with his friends today for some sport, and Mr. Hurst went with them, so I thought it the perfect time to make some calls.”

“We are so glad you did.” Jane leaned toward Louisa. “We do enjoy visitors.”

“We do!” Lydia fairly bounced in her seat. “You must tell us more of your brother’s friends.”

Louisa’s brows rose and fell. “I know very little of them, to be honest. I am ashamed to admit that, until recently, I paid little attention to the friends of my siblings.” She blushed and looked down, biting her lip.

Elizabeth tilted her head. Her brow creased as she watched her guest. “Do you have other brothers, then?”

Louisa’s countenance became a deeper shade of red. “No, I have a sister. She is away for a time, visiting our relations in the north. We have a maiden aunt who took a fall recently, and Caroline went up to assist her as she recovers.”

“What a nice thing for her to do!” Elizabeth smiled. “Have they always been close?”

Louisa shook her head. “Not always, but the timing was right, as my sister is recovering from an illness herself, and so off she went.”

Elizabeth sat back. “It was still a very nice thing to do, especially since she herself was recently ill.”

Lydia apparently had enough of listening to a conversation about a woman she had never met, because she suddenly burst out with a question. “What about the other gentlemen? I think Mr. Madison is sweet on our friend Charlotte.”

Louisa seemed relieved to have the subject changed, for she heartily embraced the new topic of conversation.

“Charlotte is Miss Lucas?” When the Bennet ladies confirmed that fact, she continued.

“He did mention that he enjoyed his dances and conversations with her. My brother has said he has never seen him pay so much attention to a lady before, so you may be correct.”

Kitty looked up from her place at the table nearby, where she had been sketching while she listened. “I understand he is from Essex?”

Louisa accepted a cup of tea from Jane, who was serving while her mother poured. “I believe so. His father passed away at about the same time as Mr. Darcy’s did. Their circumstances are very similar, except Mr. Darcy has only one sister and no parents at all.”

“Charlotte heard from her father that they are wealthy gentlemen.” Lydia tucked a foot under her.

To Elizabeth, Louisa looked uncomfortable again. “Yes,” she replied hesitantly. She shrugged. “They do travel in the highest circles.”

“Then, if our friend were to marry Mr. Madison, she would be very well set.” Elizabeth sat back a little with a satisfied smile. “She deserves it. She also deserves love, and if her recent behavior is any indication, I think she is well on her way to being so.”

Lydia fell back into her chair, feigning a swoon. “I hope a rich man falls in love with me.”

Everyone laughed at her antics and the conversation moved on. Soon, it was time for Louisa’s visit to end. They said goodbye with promises by the Bennets to visit her at Netherfield soon.

After their guest was gone and the ladies had separated to their own pursuits, Elizabeth took a book and wandered out to the garden, to the folly in the center of the little wilderness area at the far end of the rose beds.

She settled in there and opened her book but did not actually read.

Instead, she pondered what Louisa had said about Mr. Darcy.

It really was nothing she did not already know, though to have his income confirmed was at the same time comforting and disheartening.

I know he will look elsewhere for marriage, no matter how well he might like me, she thought with a sigh.

I need to forget these silly thoughts that keep entering my head about him.

With another sigh, she allowed herself to mourn the loss of a love she had not really had, and when she was certain she could keep herself under good regulation, she went back into the house.

Longbourn

October 23, 1811

Elizabeth watched her mother scurry about checking the tables for the card party they were hosting that night. She shook her head. Mrs. Hill knew what she was about and her mother was aware of it, but it did not stop her from allowing her nerves to get the best of her.

Hoping to avoid more of Mrs. Bennet’s dramatics, Elizabeth escaped to the gardens, where Jane was cutting flowers to add to the table.

“Finally made your escape, did you?” Jane’s brow rose as she cut the thorns off a rose.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I did. I feared becoming ensnared into doing something to help prepare.”

Jane laughed. “As I have?”

Elizabeth shook her head but could not prevent a giggle escaping. “Exactly. But, at least this is something you enjoy.”

“I do like it. I find it relaxing.” Jane gestured with the scissors. “It is so quiet and peaceful out here that I am able to order my thoughts quite nicely.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth replied. “I agree. Certainly, trying to make sense of anything in the house is nearly impossible with the noise and arguing.”

Jane tilted her head. “We have a large family. Noise is to be expected.”

“We have a boisterous family.” Elizabeth raised a brow as she corrected her sister. “There are many families much larger than ours with quieter houses.”

“I concede your point. Our sisters and mother are rather expressive and that can make for a lively home.”

“Oh, Jane. You could make a sow who has wallowed in cow droppings seem as pure as snow.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she laughed. “Let me carry that for you,” she said as she took the basket.

“I only say what I think.” Jane’s lips lifted in her typical serene smile.

Elizabeth grinned. “I know. That is why everyone loves you so much.”

Hearing her name, she turned to see Mr. Bennet walking in her direction. “Yes, Father?”

“Your mother finds that she needs a few last-minute items from the grocer in Meryton. I have told her you will go into town for them in her stead. I have had the gig hitched up.” He took the basket Elizabeth was holding.

“Go in and get the list. By the time you are ready to go, the groom will have brought it around to the door for you.” He paused, laying one hand on her shoulder.

“I know you will benefit from the exercise of driving. Be careful taking the turn before Netherfield.”

“I will, Papa. Thank you.”

Elizabeth hurried into the house. In short order, she had her mother’s shopping list and was climbing into the equipage.

With a nod to the groom who handed her up, she gathered the reins and slapped them on Gracie’s back.

Soon, the gates that closed off the home’s driveway were flying past her.

She grinned when she gained the open road, urging the mare to pick up speed.

Elizabeth loved the feel of the wind against her face and the pull of the animal against the reins.

She loved going fast and there were few in the area who did not know it.

There had been many times in the past when she would end up racing one young buck or other who was out in his curricle.

Sometimes she won and sometimes she did not.

It did not matter a whit what the result of the contest was. Elizabeth enjoyed the race itself.

A few minutes later, as she reached the edge of Meryton, she slowed down. She felt the flush of joy in her cheeks and was aware that her smile stretched from ear to ear. Bless Papa, she thought. I needed that.

~~~***~~~

That evening, Darcy entered Longbourn between Bingley and Madison and in front of the Hursts.

He took a deep breath and braced himself.

He knew that when he laid eyes on Elizabeth, everything else was going to cease to exist for him.

He blew the breath out and twisted his neck to move the restricting cravat a little out of his way.

The group handed their outerwear to a maid and then greeted their host and hostess before moving on to the daughters of the house.

As Darcy had expected, once he saw Elizabeth, he could think of no one and nothing else.

It was only Madison’s shove to his shoulder that got him moving again, a blush covering him from his neck to his hairline .

He bowed to the younger girls and then followed Bingley into the drawing room, where a servant was busy passing out drinks.

The three gentlemen found a quiet corner in which to observe the rest of the guests. They were soon joined by the Hursts.

Bingley had positioned himself so that he could see into the hallway. “Did Miss Bennet not look absolutely lovely?”

“All of them did.” Louisa stood quietly beside her husband as she observed the guests filling the room. She smiled at those who greeted her.

“I confess I did not pay Miss Bennet much notice.” Darcy sipped his port.

Madison snorted. “That is because you could not take your eyes off Miss Elizabeth.” He laughed, as did Bingley and both of the Hursts.

Darcy felt himself grow hot all over. “All the Bennet women are beautiful in their own way.” He glared at his friend. “I see you staring at the door as much as Bingley is. Waiting for someone specific, are you?” He nodded when Madison turned as red as he was.

“Now, gentlemen, no arguing.” Hurst chuckled as he tucked his wife’s hand under his elbow. “There are enough pretty girls here for everyone.”

Darcy rolled his eyes as Bingley and Madison teased Hurst for his comments.

He turned his attention back to the doorway, watching for the ladies to enter.

As he waited, he reminded himself of all the reasons an attachment to Miss Elizabeth Bennet was probably not a good idea.

He repeated over and over in his head the strikes she had against her: wildly inappropriate sisters, a loud and brash mother, little to no fortune, and no connections worth noting.

His brain was fully convinced against her.

It was his heart that objected. As usual, however, all his good intentions went out the window the moment he looked into her eyes.

“Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy bowed to her, holding his breath as she curtseyed and then smiled at him when she rose.

“Mr. Darcy. How good of you to come. Do you enjoy cards?” Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled as she lifted the corners of her lips into a small smile.

“I like them as much as any man, I suppose.” Darcy could not resist the twitch of his lips in response to hers. “I am more skilled with some games than with others.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, her mother entered the room and called for everyone’s attention.

In the end, Darcy was able to spend precious little time with Elizabeth.

At first, he made up a fourth at whist at Mrs. Bennet’s table, wondering at her cold treatment of him.

Then, after that, he partnered with other people for other games.

The night ended without him doing more than watching the object of his affections from the other side of the room for most of the night.