"I have been on a ride, where I met Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and asked her for a courtship," admitted Darcy sheepishly.
Bingley's face was blank for a moment, and then he began laughing, a full bellied bellowing laugh that went on and on and eventually dissolved into uncontrollable giggles. He hung on the arm of a chair and eventually collapsed in it, which did not become Bingley at all, as he manfully attempted to compose himself. He nearly accomplished it, but the moment he thought he had mastered his expression, he dissolved into mirth again, to the disdain of his friend. He went on like this for some time,hiccuping, with tears streaming down his face as Darcy regarded him stonily.
"All right then, Darcy, enough with the jokes, where were you really?" As Darcy continued to glare at Bingley, his friend's expression turned from one of mirth to astonishment. "You did not, Darcy! You did! What did she say! Of course she said no… SHE SAID YES! I cannot take it in. I thought Miss Elizabeth disliked you exceedingly!"
"Yes, I am aware," came Darcy's chagrined answer. He gave Bingley a short explanation of his conversation with Elizabeth, and Bingley kept exclaiming over and over, "You and Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" until eventually a screech was heard outside the door of the study. Bingley grinned mischievously, tiptoed to the door, and opened it suddenly, as Caroline tumbled into the room.
"Well Caroline, it looks like you have lost on both counts. Darcy is courting Miss Elizabeth, and I plan to visit Longbourn this very morning, before leaving for London, so that not even one more day shall pass without me telling Jane how I feel, and discovering for myself how she feels in return!"
"But I have already written to tell her of your leaving!" cried Caroline.
"Do not worry, Caroline. I can still make my trip to London after I have asked Jane for a courtship," smiled Bingley.
"Charles, howcanyou ruin my chances for a good marriage like this?" cried Caroline Bingley.
"If anything, I am helping, dear sister. If all goes according to plan you will be a sister by marriage, after a fashion, to Mr and Mrs Darcy. Such connections can only help you in society. I congratulate you on your good fortune! You should have a husband in no time, now!" Bingley laughed at his sister, and giving another strangled shriek, Miss Bingley rushed from the room, screeching for her sister.
Darcy became serious when Miss Bingley was gone. “In regards to your question about Miss Bennet, Bingley, I can only say that I sense that she and I have being excessively reserved in common. Like I am called to attention by my fortune, so is she by her beauty and her mother, so she never shows her feelings. I believe that I know a mask when I see one. Most ladies would never be able to prevent some evidence of their regard from showing, but she is not one of them. On the chance that you might leave, and she would be under the scrutiny of the neighbourhood, she hides her feelings carefully. I cannot tell you if she loves you; she will never betray her feelings for you until you have declared yourself, giving her the security of knowing that her sentiments are returned before risking the exposure of her own to all and sundry. Miss Bennet is truly all that a lady ought to be in manners, elegance, and kindness. You will have to risk your heart to know hers, but if you feel that the risk is worth it, I believe that you will be rewarded. I will say that I heard her sister in conversation with Miss Lucas last night, saying that if you could not perceive her interest, that you are a simpleton. If anyone were to know the lady’s heart, it would be her dearest sister. And apparently those two ladies have vowed only to marry for true affection. I do not believe that you would need to fear that the lady would allow her mother to force her to accept you.”
CHAPTER 12
Strathpeffer, Scotland - 1129 AD
In a small villagein the highlands, a group of Gaelic-speaking peasants gathered around a stone. Sticking at least four feet out of the ground, there were ancient carvings in the stone of an eagle, with an arch, or perhaps a horseshoe, above it.
There had been sickness in the village, and each time the small community attempted to return to their usual habits, another case of plague would turn up. Theirs was a small community, but in the last months it had been reduced by more than half.
A man dressed all in black stood behind the stone, speaking ancient words and praying ancient prayers, in a dialect of Gaelic so old, even the oldest amongst them barely understood it.
At length, the man in black led the villagers to the well, and encouraged them to drink from it. Bucket after bucket was drawn, the villagers drank heavily, and at the man’s demands, began to bathe themselves, and each other, in the icy water.
Some time later, the villagers realised that the man in black’s instructions had ceased, and that he had disappeared, seeminglyright before their very eyes. A debate rang out – was he a healer? Could he have been one of the fae? Half of the village was of the belief that he had been an angel, and the rest were convinced he had been a demon, or some such evil entity.
Those who believed that the man in black was a good man, sent to help them, brought their families to the well, bade them drink and bathe, and found themselves inexplicably cured.
CHAPTER 13
At Longbourn, Elizabeth's absence had been noticed, and was the talk of the entire household, because Mr Collins had been looking for her to ask her advice on a matter pertaining to Mary. Her mother was distressed by her disappearance. A letter had come from Netherfield while she was gone, dashing Jane's hopes for Mr Bingley, and now Mrs Bennet was delirious in attempting to find Elizabeth. Somehow, Mrs Bennet had forgotten in her terror of the hedgerows that Mary was being courted by Mr Collins. The man wished to speak with Elizabeth, and Mary or no Mary, Mrs Bennet was frantically determined that Elizabeth would hear him.
Mr Bennet was more sensible, he knew his daughter's habits, and that Collins was not about to offer for his second daughter, yet he found his wife impossible to calm. For once he had no desire to needle her. As Elizabeth came into the dining room, he thundered at his wife, who was beginning to chastise Elizabeth, "Enough Mrs Bennet! It is obvious that our daughter has been on one of her daily morning rambles, and there is nothing so astonishing or inappropriate about her usual habits! Now! Whatever it is that Mr Collins has to say to Elizabeth can wait until a civilised hour when the entire family has broken theirfast! We have all been out very late, some of us imbibed more punch than they should have last night," he said as he eyed Kitty and Lydia sternly, "And I'm certain we could all do with apeaceful family breakfast!" Mr Bennet glared at his wife as he snapped open his paper, and the family began to enjoy their meal.
Mr Bennet's speech brought the family twenty minutes reprieve during which Jane was able to pass the letter from Netherfield to Elizabeth for her perusal, before Mrs Bennet began managing everyone's morning. Kitty and Lydia were to walk into Meryton and collect her order from the butcher. Mary was to practise the pianoforte, and Jane was to help Mrs Bennet in the stillroom immediately after breakfast. Elizabeth was to stay in the dining room when everyone left, and hear whatever Mr Collins had to say.
Mrs Bennet was so certain that Mr Collins was going to propose that she began to speak of the engagement as a settled matter. Mr Collins looked panicked, glancing between Elizabeth and Mary, the latter of whom appeared ready to cry, as Mrs Bennet blathered on about wedding clothes and flowers until finally, in a moment of desperation, when Mrs Bennet paused for a breath, Elizabeth cleared her throat and spoke demurely.
"Papa, I beg yours and Mama's pardon exceedingly. I am uncertain what Mr Collins wishes to speak to me about, but I am certain that it is not the conversation my mother imagines. Even if it were, I am not at liberty to hear Mr Collins' addresses."
"Not at liberty? Lizzy, am I to comprehend correctly that you are telling me that you already have an understanding of a romantic nature with another gentleman?” asked her father incredulously. “And if the answer is yes, when can I expect this gentleman to call upon me?"
"Yes, Papa. He is to call upon you today, sir," Elizabeth whispered modestly.
Mrs Bennet began to deride her. "Mr Bennet, the girl is obviously embellishing a falsehood in order to avoid Mr Collins. Who else would have offered for Lizzy?"
"She has yet to do very much embellishing, Mrs Bennet," Mr Bennet observed wryly. "Who indeed is intelligent enough to recognise Lizzy for the prize she is? Perhaps it is Mr Darcy. You boasted to your friends for nearly an hour last night of his affinity for her when he singled her out for a dance. What say you, Lizzy? Should you like to be the mistress of the deplorable half of Derbyshire?"
Elizabeth flushed pink, and her father choked, spraying his coffee across the breakfast table. "Lizzy, you are joking!" Elizabeth's cheeks flamed further, and she bowed her head in mortification as her sisters all began to exclaim in excitement. This was not precisely how she had planned to tell them, and indeed she had not planned to tell them at all until Mr Darcy came, in case he changed his mind. But she could not stomach the discomfort of her sister or Mr Collins for another moment.
Elizabeth's sisters began immediately begging for fripperies from Lizzy's future allowance, a drawing master, visits to London. Mrs Bennet clapped her hands and cried, "Mr Darcy! Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! ‘Tis as good as a lord!"
