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Chapter 1: An Incident at Netherfield

“Thank you for your help, Miss Elizabeth.”

“You are welcome, Mrs. Nicholls. I still think she needs to be seen by the apothecary, but I have patched up the injury as best I can.”

“Miss Bingley refused to allow us to call for Mr. Jones.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips.

“No doubt because she did not want others to know she caused such an injury to the maid. She will need this evening off, probably the morning as well, and she will need to be careful of that hand for a time. If she begins to run a fever or red streaks begin to show from the wound, that will indicate an infection, and Mr. Jones will definitely need to see her then. I know the cook has a good poultice that will help, but still…”

“I will do what I can. Perhaps if I approach the master instead…” Mrs. Nicholls trailed off as she heard the floor creak outside the library where Elizabeth was treating the maid.

“Pardon me,” came the deep, solemn voice of Mr. Darcy.

He looked between the three women and noted the bandages around the maid’s wrist and the evidence that Elizabeth had been helping to care for her.

“Is the apothecary needed? I can send a footman to town if needed. One of my servants would not mind going if Netherfield cannot spare anyone.”

“Miss Bingley refused to send for one,” Elizabeth said tartly.

Darcy frowned at that.

“What happened?”

“Apparently…” The startled glance from the maid and Mrs. Nicholls caused Elizabeth to stop.

“Never mind that. She had a shard of porcelain embedded in her wrist. I helped Mrs. Nicholls pluck it out and then cleaned and bandaged it. I believe she may need a stitch or two, but I am not equipped to do that, and Miss Bingley refused the request to have the apothecary called to do it. I did what I could, but I worry it will not be enough.”

His frown deepened.

“Did the shard come from some objet d'art thrown by Miss Bingley in a fit of temper? Honestly, that woman…” he trailed off as his cheeks reddened as he realised what he had said. “Forgive me. I should not criticise my hostess. Please send for the apothecary, and I will pay for the girl’s care. I will also cover her wages if Miss Bingley objects; she will likely need several days to recover from her injury, and someone will need to be certain she does not take a fever.”

Elizabeth looked at him with her mouth agape for a second. He quirked his brow at her, and it caused her to recover her wits. “I was just saying that. We used alcohol to clean the injury, though Mr. Jones may desire to do it again before he sews the cut. If she takes a fever or if the wound becomes infected, she will need to be seen again. ”

“I will arrange for it. Mrs. Nicholls, will you inform me if the apothecary needs to visit again or if Miss Bingley gives you any trouble.”

“Of course, sir. Also, Mr. Smith asked me to thank you for the assistance you arranged for him and his wife. They are growing older, and since the manor has not had an interested master in some time…” The look on Mr Darcy’s face made her trail off.

“It was nothing. Bingley is the master here, although he knows little about how to care for the tenants yet. The tenants have been cared for well; is it typically you who does that?”

“No, sir; it is mainly Miss Elizabeth. I think Miss Jane and Miss Mary help some, but ever since the Pattinsons’ closed the house five years ago, Miss Elizabeth had tended to the tenants as she does at Longbourn.”

This time, it was Elizabeth’s cheeks that flamed. “Mrs. Nicholls, you know I do very little. It is simple to do the same for Netherfield’s tenants as my family does for ours at Longbourn.”

Darcy gave her a searching look at that comment but did not say anything. Mrs. Nicholls finished gathering the supplies, and she and the maid both curtsied as they left the room.

“Why am I not surprised to learn that you visit not only your own tenants but those on the neighbouring estate as well?” Darcy asked after a moment.

Elizabeth looked at him quizzically. “You are an enigma, sir.”

He arched that eyebrow again, which made Elizabeth grin. “What does that mean?”

“Mrs. Nicholls has said much about the way you have,” she cleared her throat, “ assisted Mr. Bingley as he learnt to manage this estate. You appear to be very helpful and interested in estate matters despite the fact it is not yours, and from what I have heard of you, ensuring Molly has the care she needs is not outside of the norm for you. ”

“Why do I hear a ‘but’ in there, Miss Elizabeth?”

“You care for the tenants and servants of an estate your friend has merely leased, yet you disdain those of the gentry who live here. You appear friendly and at ease in speaking with those who serve you, yet nearly every family who lives here has felt the sting of your scorn.”

He looked stunned by her comment. “Scorn? Disdain? How have I demonstrated these?”

Elizabeth cleared her throat and deepened her voice. “She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me,” she replied.

Darcy’s mouth fell open. “Who said that?”

She let out a small laugh. “You did, sir. It was nearly the first thing most of our neighbours heard you say. At the assembly, you barely spoke to anyone at the assembly, and when your friend encouraged you to dance, that is what you said. You continued to stalk the edge of the room for the rest of the night and spoke to no one outside your party.”

“I did not know anyone,” he defended.

“Neither did your friend before he allowed himself to be introduced to those in attendance.”

“I feel awkward in company. I heard the whispers of my estate and my income on everyone’s tongues, and it added to my unease.”

“I can understand that, Mr. Darcy, but your words were hateful. They formed many in the area's first impression of you, and quite frankly, your actions today seem to contradict the man I thought you were.”

“I need to apologise to the woman. Do you know who she is?”

She laughed nearly hysterically. Briefly, he worried she would stumble until she finally plopped down on an armchair.

“I do,” she said when she finally regained her composure .

“Then will you tell me who she is so I can make my apologies? Obviously, I did not bother to look at her. Bingley was prodding me to dance, and I simply wanted to be left alone.”

Elizabeth stood and faced him. “Think back for a moment, Mr. Darcy. What else do you remember Mr. Bingley saying to you?”

He did as she asked and pondered. “He was dancing with Miss Bennet, I think, and he stopped to speak with me between dances. He, uhh, said it was one of her sisters…” he trailed off, his face becoming pale. “Please tell me it was not you who sat there,” he begged.

She looked him directly in the eyes. “It was,” she replied, and after a moment, her eyes dropped. “Can you imagine how it felt to have the most handsome man I had ever encountered speak of me as ‘tolerable’ and ‘not handsome’? Is it not enough that my mother has told me my entire life that I am ‘nothing to Jane’ only to have it confirmed immediately by some arrogant man? Granted, you are wealthy and have all sorts of connections and are no doubt pursued by many for those two attributes, but to have Mama’s words confirmed by you was incredibly hurtful.”

“I am sorry, Elizabeth, so very sorry. Obviously, I scarcely looked at the woman before I spoke. You are extraordinarily tempting, and I have had to remind myself frequently in the last month that it is my duty to my family to marry for wealth and connections. If not for my sister, I would have been tempted to make you an offer already.” Both noticed his slip in calling her by her Christian name, and their cheeks flushed a little, though neither commented on it.

Ducking her head slightly to cover her blush, Elizabeth retorted: “Sir, there is no need to flatter me now. I know what you think of me, and it is pointless trying to convince me otherwise. I would prefer the blunt truth.”

“The blunt truth, Elizabeth, is I would have asked you to marry me when you arrived at Netherfield two days ago if I had only myself to consider. You are enchanting, and I have rarely seen you as beautiful as you appeared when you arrived that day to enquire about your sister. While Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst laughed about the little bit of dirt on your petticoats, all I could think of was how the exercise brightened your eyes and made your cheeks flow. It took great restraint to remain a gentleman at that moment.”

She blushed, recognising the implication in his statement, even if she did not fully understand it. “What does your sister have to do with your not making me an offer? Not that I would be inclined to accept one from you at this moment since both Jane and I have always sworn to marry only for the deepest love. I am not even certain I like you at this moment.”

Darcy gulped. “Forgive me for stating the matter so baldly. Since childhood, my parents impressed upon me that my duty was to marry to increase my family’s wealth and status by choosing a woman with dowry and connections. My aunt likes to tell me that she and my mother spoke of marriage to her daughter, the heiress of Rosings Park in Kent, but I know that is not true. Mother would not have objected to the idea of joining the two estates but would not have forced me to marry against my will. However, she did impress upon me the importance of marrying well.

“When she passed away, my father took up the refrain. My duty to my family was to care for Pemberley, its staff, its tenants, and all the hundreds of other people who rely on the estate by marrying well, fathering a son or two, and keeping the accounts of Pemberley flush. Nearly his last words emphasised this and reminded me of my responsibility to care for and protect Georgiana. He also did not favour the match with my cousin since, by then, she was known to be sickly and frail, and he doubted her ability to carry a child.”

He sighed deeply. “I broached with him once during my university years the idea of marrying for love, and he mocked me for it. He said love is what you feel for mistresses and courtesans; ‘a Darcy marries for duty.’ My duty was to raise the family’s status by marrying someone who would add to our wealth or connections – though preferably, she would bring both. He married with those considerations in mind; my mother was the daughter of an earl and brought a substantial dowry with her. My uncle, Lord Matlock, has reinforced these ideas in my mind. Each year, he and my aunt identify a few debutantes they would like to match me with, and I grudgingly complied and allowed myself to be introduced to them.”

Darcy shook his head as though clearing it. “However, they are all the same; they can speak of the weather, a novel or two, the latest fashion and gossip, but they can speak of nothing of substance. That is why I have refused to marry any of them. I do not want a marriage that would require me to seek someone or something outside my marriage to find…well, anything. I want a marriage with a woman who is an equal partner, one who shares my interests, and one with whom I can debate. I have enjoyed my conversations with you tremendously, even when we debate, since you have made me reconsider my thoughts on several matters, and have even bested me a time or two. You do not defer to me or merely agree with whatever I say to make yourself agreeable. I like that you are willing to challenge me.”

Elizabeth grinned at him. “You like me because I am impertinent. You would grow tired of that over time, if you could overcome your objections to my lack of wealth and connections,” Elizabeth said, her tone sounding a little wounded as she finished her speech.

“I would not. I adore your kindness towards others; for example, how many others would walk three miles to tend to an ill sister? You would make a magnificent mistress of an estate, even one so large as Pemberley. I have heard much good spoken of you as I visited the tenants here.” He sighed deeply. “For the first time, I have considered throwing over all my lessons regarding my duty to my family and allowing my heart to lead. Perhaps it is best that you would not accept me anyway. ”

“You never answered the question of why your sister prevents you?”

“If I marry as I desire, would it limit my sister’s ability to make a good match? She has had a…a troubling summer and has unfortunately learnt a lesson I would have rather she not had to learn just yet. A…a rake, a former friend even, attempted to importune her and convince her to elope to Gretna Green. I was able to prevent it, but her heart was injured in the process. He only wanted her for her thirty thousand pound dowry. As you can imagine, as a young, sensitive girl, she was terribly distressed at this realisation and still believes no one would ever want her for any other reason. You…you would be very good for her, I think. If anyone could cajole her out of her doldrums, it would be you.”

She flushed scarlet again. “Why is that?”

“I cannot imagine you remaining sad for very long. You would tease her and prod her into being happy. You would know the right thing to say to her to convince her that I am not disappointed in her and that she is worthless. I am angry about what occurred, but mainly at myself. It never occurred to me to warn her that our former friend, my father’s godson, was a rake who might attempt to injure her someday. Clearly, I should have done a better job of preparing her for the world, but how do I speak to my innocent, much younger sister about such things? Do you know how difficult it was for me to speak to her when she began her courses?”

This time, he flushed brightly, though the blush that had faded on her cheeks burned once more.

She choked back a laugh. “I cannot imagine. It was painful enough to have that conversation with my mother; it would be impossible with a brother.”

“I had not even given thought to her mortification on the subject, only my own. It was terrifying. ”

Elizabeth could not hold back her laughter this time, and after a moment, he joined in. “You would be good for me as well, Elizabeth. I have never felt this at ease with anyone else.”

“Well then, sir, you must decide whether your duty or your heart will have the highest place. Should you choose to court me, I think I would be inclined to let you, but, as I have said, I will not marry without love. However, before you ask, you must decide whether duty will take the highest place in your choice. If you decide against your heart, I will have a pleasant memory of an interesting conversation with a friend. Perhaps if your friend and my sister come to an agreement to bind themselves together, we will continue to encounter each other as friends. If you decide otherwise, well, then I do not know what the result will be. Perhaps none of these considerations will matter as when we know each other better, we will decide we do not suit, and we will remain as friends.“

I will only ask you this: what do you want? I think you know what your family expects, but what do those whose opinion matters most think? Would your sister want you to marry for duty and be miserable? Or would she want you to seek out someone who touches your heart? Are there others you care about who might give an opinion?”

Darcy sighed profoundly and stood silent for several long minutes. “I know what I want. But perhaps I should speak to Georgiana about what she wants. I would bring her here – she would adore you, and I think you would adore her in return — but she is a little afraid of Miss Bingley and would prefer not to share a residence with her right now.”

“Perhaps I can ask my aunt and uncle, and they will permit me to return to London with them in January. If you are in town, we could meet. I have four sisters and am quite used to cajoling them out of their doldrums.”

“How would I know?”

“How would you know what? ”

“If you were in London?”

She furrowed her brow. “I am not certain. I suppose I could have my uncle write to you.”

“I do not know him.”

“He is a tradesman named Edward Gardiner. He has several warehouses in Cheapside, but he and my aunt have probably been my greatest influences. He attended Cambridge and then married a gentleman’s daughter from Lambton, which is somewhere in the north. They are both well-educated and have had a significant influence on me and my elder sister.”

“Lambton, you say. That is but five miles from Pemberley.”

“Then perhaps you know her family. Her father was, oh, I think his name was Mr. Wright, but I cannot remember the name of his estate.”

“I recall the family, but they moved away quite a few years ago. I do not recall why, but it was more than a decade ago.”

“Then perhaps you can renew the connection with my aunt, which will give you a reason to call on my uncle and learn when I am to come, if I am to come to Town.”

“You will let me court you then?” Darcy asked.

“Have you decided to ask?” she returned.

“I am willing to try. I am uncertain of the result, but I would like to see what this between us might be. I have rarely enjoyed a conversation with a woman more than I have this last half hour, and, well, I think I would like to have a lifetime of conversations like this. If Georgiana can learn to have some of your poise and confidence, then perhaps my marrying with my heart will affect her prospects less than I fear. Not to mention, I suddenly realised I would not want to condemn Georgiana to the type of marriage I am proposing for myself.”

“Perhaps it is time to listen to your heart then? ”

“I think it is.”

She smiled broadly at him. Then she laughed. “I would have never imagined having this sort of conversation with you of all people. You are very different from what I believed. You will need to show me this side of yourself often, that is, if you want to make me fall in love with you.”

“Might I confess something?” At her nod, he continued. “Before you, I had never imagined having this sort of conversation with anyone. I have never spoken this openly to anyone before – not Bingley, nor even Richard. I share guardianship of Georgiana with my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, and before this moment, would have considered him my greatest friend.”

“Before this moment?”

“After such a conversation as this, can we be anything other than the best of friends, Elizabeth?”

She scowled at him. “It is unfair, sir.”

“What is?” he asked, confused at her sudden change.

“You have already begun to address me informally, but I do not know what else to call you other than Mr. Darcy. What is your Christian name? And can I assume I have your permission to address you as such, at least in private?”

“My name is Fitzwilliam; I was named for my mother’s family. Most people call me Darcy, but my mother used to call me William. Georgiana had begun to adopt that name as well. I would be honoured if you would refer to me by that name.”

The smile she gave him was beatific and transformed her face into an almost ethereal beauty. “I would be delighted, William. Now, we are in a library; tell me, what think you of books?”

The two continued their conversation for another half hour complete before Miss Bingley discovered them together and interrupted them. Both were displeased at the interruption, but the smile they exchanged led them to believe much had changed in their lives and hearts. It was the first of many diverting conversations, for the two would become the very best of friends, and before too long, far, far more.