DEBORAH E PEARSON
Independently Published.
First Publication June 2022
Paperback ISBN:9798435521641
Hardback ISBN: 9798435522174
Copyright © 2022 Deborah E Pearson. The authors moral rights have been asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover design ©2022 Deborah E Pearson.
“Go over the plan one more time,” Miss Bennet demanded. Elizabeth sighed. “I do not like this, Jane. They have barely been here for two weeks. I do not know why you are willing to risk so much! After all, you are risking everyone’s good name to do this. Why on earth do you think that you can keep this quiet? Goodness knows, that Mr Jones loves to gossip as much as anyone else in Meryton. There is no way that you will manage to keep this secret! Besides, do you not think that Mr Bingley will be hurt when he finds out?”
Miss Bennet glanced towards the fire and chewed her lip. “Lizzy… it was… it was his idea. He has not been courting me – he was interviewing me. They wanted to know if I would be a good fit. This is a job, Lizzy. You will not ruin it for me with your moralistic and romantic ramblings. I will have a good life if this works. I will not have to worry like mama does. I will be secure. As for timing, what does it matter? I have already agreed to do it. I will be signing the paperwork this afternoon, when I go to visit with Caroline.”
“What if it does not work? Are you sure you want to give up your chances of a home and children of your own?” Elizabeth probed. She
was convinced that her sister had not thought her plan through.
The two girls could not be more opposite if they had tried. Elizabeth was outgoing, petite, dark-haired and slightly less refined than her sister. The reserved Miss Bennet was a tall, willowy girl of twenty-two who was everything that defined beauty.
Miss Bennet glared at her sister. “It is my decision! And don’t you dare tell anyone what I am doing. We will maintain the ruse of Mr Bingley’s courting me until after the visit, where I will become close friends with Mrs Hurst and Caroline. I am happy to be able to give him children when she cannot. Remember, Lizzy, they have been married for the past seven years without children.”
“Have you considered the problem may not be Mrs Hurst?” Elizabeth argued. “Besides, I cannot imagine why you want a feckless, lethargic, drunk in your bed who is married to someone else.”
“Mr Hurst is not that bad, Lizzy. He only became that way since the marriage failed to produce any children. He can be a very witty and intelligent man.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Miss Bennet would say the same of anyone. “I am not convinced. He has never seemed to have much conversation while we were dining in company. I have decided notto join you at Netherfield. It is too riskful an adventure, Jane. Besides, on this one, I agree with Mary’s morality.”
“Mary is a prude,” Miss Bennet scoffed. “A true bluestocking. As for why it’s too dangerous, you worry too much about your little ‘problem’. It has been years since you tried to ‘wander’. I even wonder if it was genuine that you had such a problem. After all, you always seemed to be more aware of your surroundings than I was.”
Elizabeth chewed her lips. “I know. However, what if….”
Miss Bennet laughed. “You are being silly! I can barely remember the last time ithappened, all will be well. It must be you who comes to Netherfield. Nobody else. Lydia’s behaviour is bad enough. She would ruin us if she knew what I was doing and you know how prosaically, judgmental Mary can be! It will only be you and the Netherfield party who will know the truth of my situation. Who knows, perhaps Mr Darcy and you will stop denying your attraction to each other! Maybe you will get your romantic relationship you have always, stupidly, dreamed about.”
Elizabeth snorted. “It will not be with Mr Supercilious, Smug, Darcy! He is rude and thinks himself to be so much better than anyone else!”
“You have not forgiven him for that remark at the ball. A remark that Mr Bingley says is Mr Darcy’s typical way of fending off the harpies who would try to compromise him, just for his ten thousand pounds a year! Apparently, it’s Mr Darcy’s defence everywhere he goes! It was not intended to be a slight about you personally. I am convinced that he did not even look properly.”
Elizabeth turned her head away and studied the counterpane. “It is a very hurtful way of protecting him, Jane. I do not understand why he stays. He makes no effort to get to know anyone and always stares at me until I think I must have something wrong with my dress.”
“Judging by your dreams, Lizzy, I would say that he affects you as nobody else can or ever will. You need to let go of the hurt and the pain of that first encounter and try to get to know him,” Miss Bennet advised.
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, Jane. First impressions are usually the correct ones. He told Meryton that he despised us all. He has not given us any reason to think that he has changed his mind. I will go
to Netherfield, if I must, but talking to that arrogant man is beyond anything I am willing to do.”
“As you wish, Lizzy.” Miss Bennet outlined her plan to her sister one more time, before the sisters left their room to face what the day would bring.
CHAPTER 2
Elizabeth was worried. She knew that her mother did not suspect the true reason that Miss Bennet had been invited to tea at Netherfield that afternoon, but the rain was too convenient. Mrs Bennet’s enthusiasm to put Miss Bennet in Bingley’s way only reinforced Miss Bennet’s determination to carry out her plan. Elizabeth left the drawing room where the ladies were sitting and slipped into her father’s study.
“Papa,” she began.
Her father held his hand up, before Elizabeth could say anything. “I know about Jane’s plan. I do not agree with it, but she is of age and it is a good position for her.”
“But….” Elizabeth could not believe that her father was so calm. “There is so many things that could go wrong for her and our family.”
Mr Bennet turned a penetrating look on his second born and favourite child. “Is it what could go wrong for the family that concerns you? Or is it that you may have to admit some things about a certain young man at Netherfield? Not to mention that Jane’s plan will bring you into closer association with him?”
Elizabeth huffed in exasperation. “Why does nobody believe me, when I say that I hatethat man?”
Mr Bennet said nothing, but only raised an eyebrow.
“What, papa? He is nothingto me. Nothingat all,” she screeched.
Mr Bennet held out his book to Elizabeth, pointing at the line he wanted to make his point.
‘The lady protests too much, methinks’1 Elizabeth read. She glared at her father, but said nothing.
Chuckling, Mr Bennet turned around his book. “I think Shakespeare has made my case perfectly well.”
“Jane deciding to behave like a tramp does not have any bearing on my attitude to Mr Darcy! Please, can we return to the fact that Jane is on a course to ruin?”
“Lizzy, you forget that being a recognised mistress is not the same as a young girl who abandons her family to marry without permission. Jane is accepting the first position, not the second. She has chosen her course. Now, youmust choose yours.”
Elizabeth’s face hardened further. “Why it should be more acceptable to play a whore, I do not understand! Besides, Jane will not be a recognised mistress! She will have to hide until the child is born.”
Mr Bennet sighed. This was an attitude he would have expected to hear from his middle daughter, Mary, not Elizabeth, who was more cynical about people and laughed at their foibles. He shrugged his shoulders. “I do not know, Elizabeth, I only know that it is the way of the world.”
Elizabeth’s mood soured further. “Why does mama not know about Jane’s plan?”
“Because, Elizabeth, your mother refuses to believe that the world is not black and white. She does not understand that there are
shades of grey in the world. Also, your mother is not discrete in what she says to others. Remember, Lizzy, any child that Jane carries, Mrs Hurst will claim as her own.”
“I know! I could never give up my own child,” Elizabeth loftily delivered the insolent judgement on her sister.
“That is what separates you from your sister. Now, Lizzy, I suggest you take a deep breath, find yourself a book to read and… calm. Down.”
Elizabeth knew that her father was concerned about what would happen if she became too stressed. “I am well, papa. It has been years since anything happened and then it only happened twice.”
“I know, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth grabbed her favourite book from the shelf. Father and daughter stayed reading together for the rest of the day, while the rain hit the windowpanes with the steady pitter-patter that spoke of an early winter’s evening.
The glare of the winter sun woke Elizabeth early. However, she awoke to the same concerns about her sister as she had gone to bed with. It was useless to dwell when her sister had no way back from the course she had chosen. Elizabeth shook her head and snuggled down further under the covers. She had woken from a dream where Darcy was pleasant. Yet, in waking life he was aloof, proud and unpleasant. She could not stand the man and could not understand why she always dreamt of being loved by him. Yet since the Meryton Ball it had been only Darcy in her dreams and they always ended the same way – she and Darcy would resolve their differences and end up kissing. Elizabeth let out a frustrated huff –
that was not likely to happen! She needed to get rid of those fantasies that ran through her head. Every romantic hero now morphed into Darcy. Elizabeth dragged herself out of bed and dressed in her warmest day dress. She knew that Miss Bennet had promised to summon her during breakfast so that their mother would not question Lizzy going to Netherfield afterwards.
Breakfast was a nightmare. Between Jane’s situation and Lydia’s flirtatious behaviour, Elizabeth would be surprised if Christmas arrived without scandal in the family. The way that Catherine and Lydia spoke about the officers was extremely intimate. It seemed to Elizabeth that the girls were heading for trouble. Maybe, Mary’s bluestocking tendencies were rubbing off on her. The expected missive from Miss Bennet arrived halfway through breakfast. The only shock was that Miss Bennet claimed to be sick. Elizabeth wondered if that was true, but she had to agree that it was a good way to make sure their mother did not ask any questions. In the end, it made no difference. Miss Bennet would not be returning to Longbourn. Elizabeth knew that. In Elizabeth’s opinion, Miss Bennet had made a deal with the devil. A deal that Elizabeth was sure would not end well.
Elizabeth chose to walk to Netherfield. The longer that she could put off being in such a potentially dangerous situation, the better in her opinion. The cool autumn wind chilled her which made her hurry to Netherfield, where her arrival was greeted in an unenthusiastic manner. Mr Hurst was missing from the breakfast parlour, as was Miss Bennet.
“Jane!” Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise, when she was shown into Miss Bennet’s bedroom discovering her sister still in bed.
Miss Bennet gave a knowing smile and got out of bed, wrapping up in a warm dressing gown. “Lizzy, I do not know why you should
be surprised. It was part of the plan that I should request that you join me.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Jane, when I agreed to come to protect your reputation, I did not expect to be told that you are sick. Nor did I expect to find you in bed in the middle of the day.”
Miss Bennet whirled around and narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Where did you expect me to be, Lizzy?”
“I was shocked that you would be well and send a letter saying that you were unwell. I guess that your situation with your new friends has influenced you. How quick will your recovery be? Also, how are we supposed to stay beyond that? This, is a poorly considered endeavour, Jane. The longer it goes on the less comfortable I am with it. What exactly is my role supposed to be anyway? Nobody seemed happy to greet me when I arrived. I do not feel welcome,” Elizabeth said.
“Oh, Lizzy. Of course, you are welcome. You are here to make sure that there is no smudge on my reputation. Since this is a business arrangement, you may do anything you like during the day – as long as we are in the house. When I recover and we rejoin society you will be amongst the group as a way of showing that there is nothing untoward going on. The presence of the Hursts also helps with that appearance, but we all thought that having you with us would be an added layer of protection for my reputation,” Miss Bennet explained.
“In other words, I am to be a caged animal to do your bidding. Am I supposed to ask permission to walk into Meryton, should I need anything?” Elizabeth sourly responded.
“You will have as much freedom as you always had, Lizzy. You will simply return to Netherfield and not to Longbourn,” Miss Bennet said.
Elizabeth sighed and looked away. It felt as if the sister she had always known was slipping away and in her place was a woman that Elizabeth could barely recognise.
CHAPTER 3
Darcy stalked the halls of Netherfield. He had known Bingley for many years, but had never known the man to be devious. However, the Miss Bennet situation was beyond Darcy’s understanding. Why did the Hursts not apply to any of the young widows from the war who would likely be appreciative of the money involved? There was certainly no shortage of war widows. Why take a young woman who had not yet had the privilege of marrying and having children of her own? There was a petty vindictiveness in this that escaped Darcy’s comprehension.
He shook his head. This was why the Bingleys had come into this neighbourhood. Bingley learning estate management was secondary. Darcy felt that he had been invited on false pretences. It was hard for his friend not to lose his good opinion. If Miss Bennet had not been the sister of the woman who stalked his dreams, Darcy would have left the place of deceit immediately. How could he leave when the actions of one sister, no that was not true – it was the actions of two sisters, that could damage the reputations of their whole family. Darcy refused to admit his attraction to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, but he could look out for her and limit the damage that the Hursts and the militia could do. He, at least, could stay behind the scenes
making sure that Elizabeth and her sisters, Miss Mary and Miss Catherine Bennet, had the opportunity to make the best matches that they could. He knew he was not being truthful. There were few reasons that stood between himself and Elizabeth. The most important one was the influence that her family would have on his younger sister, Georgiana. Everything else he could ignore. He did not need his future wife to have a large dowry and her lack of connections would be more than made up for by the fact that he had a wide association of friends and family whose connections were of the first degree. He smiled. Being the grandson of an earl certainly had its advantages. He sighed. If he was honest with himself even the family’s ties to trade were only a superficial impediment. She herself behaved impeccably and was the daughter of a gentleman, thus she was his equal.
Darcy paused in his musings and glanced out of the window. Coming across the manicured garden, from the fields beyond, was the embodiment of his dilemma. The woman who haunted his dreams. The diminutive little woman whose presence in the room was so large it gave him pause. He promised himself that he would look out for her and be the one who would protect her from this vanity fair she was walking into. The breakfast gong interrupted his thoughts. With a heavy heart Darcy went down to breakfast. Miss Elizabeth was about to turn his world upside down and he felt powerless to stop it happening. On his way to breakfast a footman found him and handed him a letter. Idly, he took the letter and broke the seal.
I do not know if you are aware of the scheme my eldest daughter hasagreed to, but Ibegyou to protect Elizabeth. She is distressed about what Jane has agreed to and has a history of sleepwalkingwhenupset.Ibegforyourhelp, asIdoubtthehonour
ofthe familythey willbestayingwith.Please,protectLizzyandher secret.SheisnotasbrazenasJaneorLydia.Shedoesnotsharethe liberalviewsonmoralitythatmostofsocietyholds.
AlanBennet
“Neither do I,” Darcy whispered. He folded the letter, worried. His valet and Bingley were the only ones who knew why he locked his bedroom door at night. The valet always hid the key so that Darcy would not find it. Darcy balled his fists. How could he protect Elizabeth and keep his own secret? Bingley had offered to give Darcy’s valet the key to the guest wing, where Darcy was staying, in order to hide his secret. An idea slowly formed in Darcy’s head. After breakfast he would make sure that Bingley knew exactly what he thought and how far he would go to protect both Elizabeth and himself from the grasping, morally dubious family that he had found the Bingleys to be. He was a moral man and would protect the ebullient young woman who had been committed to his care.
A malaise hung in the air as the small group broke their fast that morning. As expected Miss Bennet had taken a tray in her room. Elizabeth appeared on cue in the middle of breakfast, but she did not partake in food. The look on her face told Darcy that her father’s letter had more than a single grain of truth. She demanded to see her sister and then disappeared. Darcy wondered if it would be possible to protect her. After breakfast Mrs Hurst disappeared to join the Bennet sisters.
Bingley rose from the table at the same time as Darcy. “I thought I might visit the shops in Meryton this morning. When we were last there, I saw a showpiece in the window of the gun shop that I thought might make a nice addition to my collection,” Bingley announced as the two men walked to his study.
It was now or never. “Before we go, Bingley. I urgently need to discuss something of importance.”
The grave look on his friend’s face told Bingley that he was in trouble. Never had he seen this look turned on him. Bingley swallowed. “Very well. We can discuss it in the study.”
They made their way to the study, but as soon as the door closed behind them Darcy began, “What the devil do you think you are doing?” His anger exuded out of him. “Your family is ruining the chances of one young woman to make a decent match and possibly even have children of her own. You are putting her sister at risk as well. Bingley, if you expect me to stay here and aid you to understand estate management while this level of risk and immorality carries on, you are mistaken. Be assured that I will make sure that Miss Elizabeth leaves this house as well.”
“You are overreacting, Darcy! Miss Elizabeth is here solely as a cover for Miss Bennet’s true purpose. There is no danger to Miss Elizabeth, I promise.”
Darcy snorted. “She is already in danger. You simply refuse to admit it.”
Bingley looked at his friend. He had suspected that Darcy had been interested in the young woman, now Darcy’s protectiveness only proved Bingley’s suspicions to be correct. “I promise, Miss Elizabeth is in no danger.”
Darcy bristled. “Can you promise me that if you were in a situation where she seemed to be awake and willing, you would not take advantage of her? Or if you did that you would marry her? I cannot trust your morality anymore.”
Bingley shifted. “I cannot answer you. I have never been in that situation. I do not know how I would react in such a position.”
Darcy looked into the flames. He had to protect Elizabeth. “Then I have no choice. I must insist that later today when Miss Elizabeth is invited to stay, as per your plan, she cannot be placed in the same part of the house as her sister is. She must be placed in the guest wing that I am in and my valet given the key to lock us in that part of the house at night,” he said quietly.
“Why should I do that?” Bingley snapped. “I cannot put Miss Elizabeth in such a situation. How do I know what it is that you do behind that locked door?”
Darcy locked eyes with Bingley, fear in his eyes. “Bingley, you know that I wander in my sleep when I am under a lot of pressure. I have had a letter from Miss Elizabeth’s father, asking me to protect her. She is worried about the situation with her sister, Miss Bennet. Apparently, she is known to wander in her sleep when under stress. I cannot vouch for what might happen. However, I am an honourable man and will stand by whatever happens. My valet is used to handling me should I wander. We will hand-pick a light sleeping maid to stay with Miss Elizabeth.”
“You are making a lot of presumptions here,” Bingley argued. “You forget that I am the master of this house. I will make the decisions about what happens in my home. Caroline is my hostess and therefore she will place Miss Elizabeth in whatever room she sees fit.”
“Then you leave me no choice, but to leave this house tomorrow and make sure that Mr Bennet recalls Miss Elizabeth to Longbourn. Fail to protect Miss Elizabeth and I willmake sure that my aunt and uncle spread around Town that neither you nor Miss Bingley are welcome in my homes and therefore you are not to use my name to gain entrance to society,” Darcy stated. Miss Bingley’s snide comments and lack of appreciation for anything was wearing on all
around her. Thus, Darcy knew that should he remove the ability of the Bingleys to use his name then Miss Bingley would become completely unbearable.
“Very well, we will do things your way. I will speak to Caroline directly,” Bingley grumbled. Bingley knew that if Darcy carried out his threat it was tantamount to the Bingleys becoming persona non grata around Town. Bingley stood and began to leave the study, muttering under his breath about how easily his friend manipulated him.
“Thank you. By the way, you willkeep this knowledge about Miss Elizabeth’s secret, just as you keep my secret. I will not have Miss Elizabeth despised by society nor will I have the worst happen and she end up in Bedlam. You know the fear our condition causes,” Darcy said as Bingley left.
“Of course, Darcy. I have never betrayed your secret,” Bingley answered, disappearing out of the room.
CHAPTER 4
Caroline Bingley looked like she had a lemon in her mouth. Elizabeth felt like an unwelcome guest as the two girls hid in the orangery. Elizabeth had, unceremoniously, been ejected from her sister’s room after breakfast. Elizabeth shrugged. She wanted nothing to do with the real reason that Miss Bennet was at Netherfield. The only thing that she wanted was to go home, where she was safe. At home she had a maid that watched in the corner of her room, just in case.
“Miss Elizabeth…” Miss Bingley began. “I… I am sorry that this situation has arisen.”
Cautiously, Elizabeth looked at her companion. “I am sure it is not your fault.”
“No, it is not.” Miss Bingley exhaled and looked frustrated. “If our parents had survived, this could not have happened. Charles is weak. I do not know why he has agreed to this. I know that Mr Darcy thinks ill of our family. If this becomes known, how will I find a decent husband?”
Sympathy flooded through Elizabeth. “Miss Bingley, you and I find ourselves in the same situation. I do not have any answers for you. If anything….” Elizabeth looked out over the fields. “If anything
my situation is worse. My sisters and I do not have large dowries. Only disreputable men would look at my sisters and I for purposes that are not honourable.”
“You have one advantage that I do not,” Miss Bingley softly muttered.
“I do not know what that is,” Elizabeth said. “I have no way out of this.”
“A very honourable man is already in love with you,” Miss Bingley said, enviously. “I can only wish that I could attract such a man.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I do not know anyone who is in love with me.”
Their conversation was cut short by Bingley arriving to talk with his sister.
Elizabeth left the orangery and exited the house almost directly into the overgrown maze. She had no desire to be at Netherfield. She was here for only one reason – she had to be. This was the last place she wanted to be. Stuck in a house with people she did not respect, covering for her sister who was behaving like a whore. What was worse was that the one man who she had even a chance to respect, she was sure, hated her. She was sure that this would be the worst time of her life. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She was stuck. There was no way that she would be able to go out and socialise or even visit with her best friend, Charlotte Lucas. All because she had to cover her sister’s indiscretion. She sighed. Elizabeth kept emphasising the things that could go wrong. When she reached the middle of the maze, she found it had nothing but a simple stone bench. She sat down and went to sleep.
After Bingley had left the study, Darcy had hidden in the library. This was the one part of the house that he could guarantee he would not be disturbed. None of the Bingleys were readers and Bingley’s study was on the opposite side of the house. From the moment Darcy had entered Netherfield just over two weeks ago, the library had been his. When the door opened and someone quietly slipped into his quiet domain, he was shocked. It amused him when he realised that it was Elizabeth that had joined him.
“Good afternoon, Miss Bennet,” Darcy greeted her.
“Mr Darcy.” Elizabeth dropped a quick curtsey before taking a seat on the sofa opposite him.
“How are you?” It was bland, but he wanted to break the silence that lapsed between them.
Elizabeth laughed. “I am well. Thank you, Mr Darcy.”
Silence again lapsed between the two of them. However, Darcy was surprised when Elizabeth reclined on the sofa and went to sleep. Darcy sighed. He had not recognised that she had been asleep. Looking out for her would be more difficult than he had thought. “How the devil does my valet cope with telling the difference?” He whispered. Darcy was transfixed as he watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept the rest of the afternoon away.
Darcy woke Elizabeth an hour before dinner. “Miss Bennet, it is time to dress for dinner.”
Wide-eyed and embarrassed, Elizabeth looked at Darcy. “I should be going home.”
“That will not be necessary. I am sure that Mr Bingley has already planned for your stay here,” Darcy assured her.
“No, you do not understand.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I do not know how I got here. I… I went to sleep in the middle of the maze.
I hope I did not do anything embarrassing.”
“No, you did not. Miss Bennet, I understand how confused and embarrassed you feel right now, however, there is no need to be. You have no control over what happens when you sleep.” Darcy shifted uncomfortably.
“Mr Darcy, if this is happening again, I really must go home. If you understand what is happening, then you know that most people do not understand,” she said, “you know that I am damaged.”
“You are NOT damaged. Nobody knows why some people do what we do,” Darcy replied.
Elizabeth eyed him warily, but missed his confession. “Thank you, Mr Darcy, but I have not been formally invited to stay. So, I still must go home.”
At that moment, Bingley rushed into the library. “Darcy, have you seen….” He turned finally realising Elizabeth was sitting in the library. “Miss Bennet, I was looking for you. When I could not find you, I took the liberty of contacting your father and telling him you would be staying here for a little while to keep your elder sister company. I can see by your frown that you are not happy with me.” The easygoing smile faded from Bingley’s face. “Please tell me you will be staying.”
Darcy watched Elizabeth carefully, but she said nothing. Her assent to staying was given in the tiniest of nods. Bingley opened his mouth, but Darcy interrupted. “Miss Bennet has given her agreement. Which room is she to be placed in?”
“She will have the room opposite to yours. Everything is in order,” Bingley snapped and left the library.
Darcy shook his head. “I am sorry, Miss Bennet. The situation at present has caused more than a little friction in the house. I am afraid I do not approve of the contract your sister has with the
Hursts. I expressed my displeasure a little too forcefully earlier. I did not mean to answer for you.”
“Thank you. I… I was accepting the invitation to stay. However, I do not like this situation – at all,” Elizabeth said.
The two of them left the library together, as Darcy showed Elizabeth the way to her room. They separated in the hallway, both sensing a slight change towards friendship. However, Elizabeth remained convinced of Darcy’s distaste towards her.
Dinner that evening was a desultory affair. Miss Bennet had decided to join the family for dinner and Elizabeth made a studious effort to ignore her sister. Invisible lines were being drawn between the guilty and those who disapproved of their actions. Miss Bingley made a valiant effort to try and bring the group together on something mutually interesting, but after a few attempts at neutral conversation she gave up. Miss Bennet disappeared after dinner while the rest of the party sat, playing cards, in the drawing room. Elizabeth sat out preferring to read. Darcy watched carefully protecting her as best he could. He enjoyed sparring with her throughout the evening as the conversation evolved naturally. The Hursts were extremely quiet and Darcy soon forgot that they were in the room. For a few hours, he and his companions were able to forget the circumstances that had brought them together.
CHAPTER 5
Elizabeth had left the drawing room early. She was tired and had experienced an emotional day. Darcy grabbed a book and excused himself to go to bed at the same time. His plan to protect her would only work if the door to their wing was locked before either of them had a chance to wander. He was not tired. Therefore, he decided that he would change for bed before reading until he was ready to sleep.
Henley had been a faithful valet since Darcy had been a young boy of ten. The first few times that Darcy had wandered in his sleep had scared his mother, which had resulted in his father hiring a valet for him much earlier than most boys hired their first servant. Henley had frequently stayed awake to make sure that Darcy did not hurt himself, but his mother had made sure that he only had access to certain parts of the house during the night. After a while, it had become clear that Darcy’s wanderings were tied to times of great stress. Now, after locking the appropriate doors at night, Henley could sleep through the night waking only if he heard Darcy moving around.
“I could not find a suitable maid to look after Miss Elizabeth Bennet. None of the maids here have proved their loyalty sufficiently
to be trusted with such a secret, sir,” Henley informed Darcy, as he helped his master with his nightly ablutions.
“Thank you, Henley. Did you contact Mr Bennet about possibly sending over the maid who usually watches over Miss Elizabeth?”
“I did, sir. Apparently, it has been a sufficient amount of years since Miss Elizabeth has wandered that sharing a bed with her eldest sister is considered to be precaution enough,” Henley answered. “There is a maid who stays in the room, but she is required to remain at the house as there are not enough maids for Mrs Bennet and the girls.”
Darcy frowned. “Thank you. Would you mind staying in the hallway tonight after locking the passageway door? At least that way you can keep an eye out for both of us.”
“Of course, sir.” Henley tidied up before waiting to be dismissed.
Darcy dismissed Henley and was about to settle down to his reading, when he called the man back. “Henley, Miss Elizabeth fell asleep in the maze this afternoon and wandered into the library during her sleep. I need you to be extra vigilant, make sure that she is in her bed before you lock the door to our wing.”
The faithful servant nodded his head and discretely made his way to the end of the corridor where he locked the door to the guest quarters. All was well, Elizabeth was in her bed and Darcy was reading in his room.
Darcy looked up from his book. The door to his room opened and in walked Elizabeth.
“Mr Darcy, I want to know why you dislike me so very much!” She demanded.
Darcy raked his hair with his hands. There she stood this fantasy of his, in a nightdress that left almost nothing to the imagination. Was she awake? Was she asleep? Darcy was not sure. He would
proceed as if she was awake, but be as careful as if she was asleep. “I do not dislike you,” he whispered. Lust crept into his voice as he continued, “It is quite the reverse, I promise you. I….” He could not say anything else, as she lunged into his arms. All rational thought fled as he kissed her. One kiss became two. Two kisses became four. It was heady, it was exciting, but he was not sure if she was awake or asleep. Eventually, he pulled away. “Elizabeth, you need to go back to your room. I fear you may not be awake.”
Elizabeth gave no response, but she did not go back to her room either. The next words out of her mouth undid his resolve. “Mr Darcy, I was attracted to you at the Meryton Ball. I overheard your hurtful comment and made a joke out of it. I convinced myself you disliked me. I convinced myself I hated you. I guess I do not hate you.” With that she kissed him again. Darcy picked her up and placed her on the bed, before crawling in the other side. He wanted her. He promised himself that he would simply lie next to her and allow her to make the decision when she woke up later. He changed his mind. Elizabeth closed her eyes and was sleeping now, so Darcy picked her up and carried her through to her own bed. Having put her to bed, he returned to his room. He crawled into bed, blew out the candles and went to sleep.
CHAPTER 6
Elizabeth woke in the middle of the night and sought the chamber pot. She had drunk too much tea today. It was boredom. Netherfield held very little for her. She shook her head. Nobody was behaving the way she expected they would. Had it only been a day since Miss Bennet had revealed the full, disgusting, truth about what she was doing? Elizabeth finished up and returned to bed. She had woken on the wrong side. She never slept on the left. She must have gotten in on the wrong side or just rolled too far in her sleep. She was about to go back to sleep, when Darcy barged into her room.
“Miss Elizabeth, you must allow me to tell you that I love you, passionately. I cannot live without you,” he declared.
She shook her head. He had to be drunk. Either that or else she was dreaming. She quietly whispered, “I love you, too. Now, go to bed.”
Darcy turned and left the room. Elizabeth snuggled under the blankets and went back to sleep.
Morning dawned clear and bright. Elizabeth woke to the memory of Darcy standing in her room telling her that he loves her. She shook her head. No, she was dreaming. She had to be. Her dreams were vivid enough for her to think that she was awake when she was not. She was not sure what had happened the previous night. She had woken early and felt uncomfortable, but not so much that it would interfere with her day. She thought about Darcy’s declaration and assumed that she had dreamt it. She must have gone back to sleep earlier than she thought. She shrugged. It would not change the way that she interacted with him. She had dreamt of him declaring himself often enough. She could not afford to admit to a different sentiment to the one that she openly espoused. She despised the man. He was arrogant, he was rude. Surely, he was the epitome of everything she did not want in a man?! Yet, her heart whispered the opposite was true. She was just not, yet, willing to admit that she had fallen in love with him at the ball. She could not. It made no sense, it was a dangerous thing to admit.
Taking a deep breath she rose, washed and dressed before leaving her room to go downstairs. Her stomach growled, but it would be impossible to do anything about it. She did not know the housekeeper and breakfast would not be for a few hours.
“Miss Bennet, go to the library. I will sort out some food for us,” Darcy said from behind her. “The Bingleys will not be around for a while.”
When he had joined her she was not sure, but was she was thankful for his presence. Elizabeth laughed conspiratorially. “Thank you, Mr Darcy. I am used to sneaking into the kitchens at home to grab a snack before I go out for a two hour walk. I get home in time for eight, when my family will have breakfast.”
“I like to ride early and, like you, I usually eat before I go out. Since I have been here, the housekeeper is used to my calling for something light. However, Miss Bingley refuses to have breakfast at normal times for the country and keeps her table working on Town hours. I am afraid that you and I must wait for breakfast until ten,” he informed her.
She looked away and chewed her lip. Late breakfasts did not suit her constitution. Elizabeth could move the rest of her meals around during the day. However, if she did not eat breakfast before eight she would be unwell for the rest of the day. Shyly, she looked up at Darcy, “Since you are able to get food for us….” She looked away embarrassed. “Do you think it would be possible to have something a little more substantial – a mini breakfast if you will. I get some unpleasant reactions if I eat breakfast too late in the day.”
“I am sure that will not be a problem. Meet me in the library and I will have the food brought to us.” Darcy then disappeared, leaving Elizabeth to get lost as she tried to retrace her footsteps from the day before.
Elizabeth found the library quicker than she thought she would and had settled down with an interesting book of poetry when someone flew into the room. The speed and noise that accompanied them made Elizabeth think that Lydia had arrived suddenly.
“Thank God! You’re on your own, Lizzy,” Miss Bennet stated.
Calmly, Elizabeth looked at her sister. “I do not understand.”
“You can stop doing your disapproving impression of papa, it’s just you and me here. You do not know what it is to put up with a man’s attentions. I never thought this would be such a messy business. What makes it worse is that I cannot say no at any time.”
“Stop right there, Jane. I do not want to know! This is your affair not mine. You are the one who chose to do this and you are the one
