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“It is healing well,” Elizabeth said. “And I must thank you again for sending the carriage. The open air was just what I needed.”

Mr Darcy glanced at her sharply, but said nothing. Jane turned to Mr Bingley and smiled.

“And your sister?”

“She sends her regards. She was most disappointed not to come herself.”

Conversation flowed more easily than Elizabeth had expected.

Jane and Mr Bingley’s ease buoyed the atmosphere, and even Mr Darcy seemed less guarded than usual.

Still, Elizabeth could not help noting the glance he gave her foot, or the way he hovered on the edge of speech more than once, only to think better of it.

Mrs Bennet, meanwhile, fluttered with barely restrained pleasure at having two such eligible gentlemen in her drawing room.

She pressed tea and cake upon them both with almost comical urgency, extolled Jane’s recent recovery with much feeling, and steered the conversation at every opportunity toward Longbourn’s charms and the availability of fine estates in Hertfordshire.

“We passed two of your sisters and a gentleman on the way here,” said Mr Bingley, after accepting his cup from Jane.

“Yes, Mr Bennet’s cousin, Mr Collins has come to stay,” Mrs Bennet exclaimed. “He insisted on accompanying them to Meryton.”

Mr Bingley smiled. “Indeed? And is he long with you?”

“Oh yes,” said Mrs Bennet, “he has taken a few days to visit us from his parish in Kent.”

“Hunsford, in Kent,” Elizabeth supplied. “He holds a living on the estate of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

Mr Bingley’s eyebrows rose. “That sounds very grand indeed.”

“It is exceedingly grand,” Mrs Bennet said quickly. “Lady Catherine is his patroness, and quite devoted to his welfare.”

There was a slight pause. Mr Darcy stirred, but said nothing. His gaze shifted briefly to Elizabeth, unreadable.

“Is he a close acquaintance of the family?” Mr Bingley asked.

“A cousin,” Mrs Bennet replied. “He is to inherit this estate.”

Mr Darcy’s gaze moved to Mr Bennet’s empty chair. For a moment he seemed to weigh a response, then bowed his head and looked away.

Their visit, though brief, left behind a pleasant stillness. As the gentlemen took their leave, Jane sat back with a sigh and a smile.

“They did not stay long,” Elizabeth said, though her tone was not one of complaint.

“No,” Jane agreed. “But I think they will come again.”

As soon as the door closed behind them, Mrs Bennet gave a triumphant little gasp and turned to her daughters with glowing cheeks.

“Well! If that is not the most particular attention! To call the very morning after your return-so early, too! My dear Jane, you may depend upon it, he is quite smitten. And to bring Mr Darcy with him-though he says little, you may be sure he would not have come without encouragement. No, no, this visit was all Mr Bingley’s doing, and it speaks most exceedingly well of his intentions. ”

“It was thoughtful,” Jane admitted softly, still pink in the cheeks.

“Thoughtful!” Mrs Bennet repeated. “It was the act of a man in love, that’s what it was.”

“And Mr Darcy,” she went on, fanning herself, “though rather more reserved, is very fine-very fine indeed. Ten thousand a year, they say! No wonder he carries himself so grandly.”

* * *

Netherfield – Darcy’s Rooms – Darcy

The door closed quietly behind him. Darcy stood still for a moment, the silence of his rooms a stark contrast to the warmth and noise of Longbourn. The fire had not yet been lit, and the air held a faint chill, but he did not ring for his valet.

Instead, he crossed to the writing desk and opened the drawer where his private correspondence lay.

He withdrew a half-finished letter to Georgiana and stared at it for several moments before setting it aside.

His thoughts were not in Pemberley-or even with his sister-but still lingering at Longbourn.

Elizabeth had looked well-pale, yes, and clearly still fatigued-but steady in spirit. She thanked Bingley for the carriage with quiet sincerity. He had watched her hands, the careful adjustment of the pillow beneath her foot, the subtle wince she tried to hide.

She had spoken kindly to him. Had smiled.

And then there had been her mother.

Darcy allowed himself the smallest of sighs.

Mrs Bennet’s conversation had been almost intolerable.

Her hints about marriage, her enthusiastic praise of Bingley, her effusions about Longbourn-he had barely managed a civil silence.

It had taken every ounce of his self-command not to flinch when she began speculating aloud about his income.

Very fine indeed-ten thousand a year, they say! No wonder he carries himself so grandly.

He could still hear it, ringing in his ears.

And then there was the cousin. The clergyman.

Darcy had not been introduced to the man.

He had seen him only briefly, standing beside the younger Bennet sisters as they went on their walk, and heard only the most general account of his connection to the family.

But the way Mrs Bennet had proudly identified him as their cousin, had made Darcy uneasy.

He knew the sort of clergyman Lady Catherine favoured.

That uncertainty-his own ignorance-rankled more than he cared to admit.

Would she entertain such a suitor, merely to satisfy her family’s expectations?

He hoped not. But he did not know.

Darcy moved to the window and looked out across the grounds. The sky was still grey, the paths damp. He knew the weather would keep the party indoors at Netherfield. It would be a quiet day.

He should write to Georgiana.

He should think of something else entirely.

But he stood there for some time, unmoving, with Longbourn still in his thoughts.

* * *

Longbourn – Sitting Room – Elizabeth

The sound of voices and footsteps on the gravel drive woke Elizabeth from a light doze. The fire had burned low and the tea things had long since been cleared away. She blinked once, orienting herself, then sat up straighter on the settee.

The front door opened and the house was suddenly filled with the high, laughing tones of her younger sisters.

“Oh Lizzy, you missed everything!” Lydia burst into the room with Kitty at her heels. “There was a new officer in town and he is the handsomest creature you ever saw-so charming, so genteel!”

“Mr Wickham,” Kitty supplied breathlessly. “Mr Denny introduced us. He’s just joined the regiment.”

Elizabeth smiled faintly. “And was he as handsome as all that?”

“More so!” Lydia declared. “Even we were surprised!”

Mary looked up from her book with mild disapproval. “I hope you did not make a spectacle of yourselves.”

Mr Collins, bringing up the rear, looked flustered and slightly pink about the cheeks.

“Mr Wickham,” he said, “is indeed a very well-mannered gentleman. Though I cannot say I approve of the girls being so forward-Miss Lydia especially-”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “Was there impropriety?”

“Certainly not!” Kitty protested. “We merely conversed. He was introduced to us quite properly.”

“And he asked after you,” Lydia added, flopping into a chair. “Mr Denny told him you were recovering from an accident and he said he hoped to meet you soon.”

Elizabeth blinked, surprised. “That is very kind of him.”

“I should be glad to speak further with Mr Wickham,” Mr Collins said, “and learn his views on the moral duties of the officer class. ”

Elizabeth leaned back into the cushions, amused despite herself-though something in Kitty’s breathless praise made her curious.. “Well. I suppose I must meet him myself before forming an opinion.”

Lydia sat forward suddenly. “Oh! I almost forgot-Aunt Philips is having a card party tomorrow evening. She says we must all come. She invited Mr Wickham, too!”

“She asked particularly whether you and Jane would be well enough to attend,” Kitty added, looking toward Elizabeth with hopeful urgency.

Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Jane, who had just entered with fresh tea. “I suppose that depends on how we are tomorrow.”

“I promised we would go,” Lydia said blithely. “Mr Wickham will be there. You must come!”

“Oh! And I must say,” Mr Collins added earnestly, “your sister Mrs Phillips is a lady of the most refined manners.” Addressing Mrs Bennet. “I was received with extraordinary civility and attention, and she was so good as to invite me to a card party tomorrow evening. Such elegance! Such warmth!”

“She does her best,” Mrs Bennet said, clearly gratified. “It promises to be a merry gathering.”

“She expressed particular hope,” Mr Collins continued, “that Miss Elizabeth might be well enough to attend. It would be such a loss to the evening’s civility were she absent.”

“I shall pass along your kind concern,” Mrs Bennet said smoothly. “Lizzy has been much improved-if she is well enough to attend, I am sure she will be delighted.”