Page 3 of When Elizabeth Said Yes

"You, Lizzy? You could never be a fool," Jane said, taking her hand for a moment. "We are resourceful. We will find somewhere new to live within our means, and we will marry well, and we shall live the lives that Father wished us to lead."

Lizzy sighed. "Do you not wish that our lives turning out as we want them to did not have to rely on us marrying well?" she said, anger at the whole situation, at losing her father, at the fact that the whole of Longbourn was entailed away from them just because they were not boys, rising and colouring her tone. "Does it not seem unfair that our fortunes must rest on the whims of a man – whether that man be Mr Collins or whomever our future husbands might be? Well, yours will probably be the charming Mr Bingley, I suppose, so you do not need to worry as much. But our sisters, I am sure, will lay it at my door for making a decision that will change their futures so drastically."

"It is the entail and Father's death which change their futures," Jane reassured her. Across the lawn, Jane watched as a rabbit hopped across the grass, illuminated by the moonlight, clearly unaware that it was being watched. "You had no control over either of those things, which our sisters and our mother will see."

Elizabeth gave a short, sharp, sardonic laugh.

"They will in time, I'm sure of it. Perhaps Mama is right about Mr Bingley. But I suppose if he does not want me because my fortunes have changed, then I must live with that and strive to find a man who thinks differently." She sighed. "I do not disagree with you, Lizzy, that the system is unfair, but it is the system. We cannot change it. And so I would rather be happy – well, I will be happy again one day, I am sure, although today is not that day – and live within the system than rail against it when it is not something I can ever hope to change."

"A far more sensible attitude to it than mine, I grant you," Elizabeth said. "And if Mr Bingley should change his mind because of your status, well, then he is not the man for you. But I have a feeling he will not be so inclined."

Chapter Two

Fitzwilliam Darcy sat in the parlour of Netherfield Hall, looking out across the fields in no particular direction.

He believed the estate in the distance belonged to the Bennets, those sisters – several of whom were rather silly and inappropriate – who had been at the Meryton Assembly the previous month. And then, of course, the eldest, the undoubtedly beautiful Miss Jane Bennet, had come to visit Bingley's sisters and had become unwell, thanks to being foolish enough to travel on horseback when rain was clearly brewing. She had then stayed several days recovering, and who should come to check upon her but the second Bennet in age – Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

And it was upon Miss Elizabeth Bennet that Darcy found his mind dangerously settled. There was something about the way she held herself, the way she conversed, those fine eyes, that set her apart from the rest of country society. Indeed, possibly set her apart from society altogether.

And yet he could not think like that. After all, look at the family she came from. He would be a fool to even give her a second thought, especially with what he felt he must say to Bingley – words that would undoubtedly not be well received, but that he must deliver for the sake of his friend.

For he had spent his time at the assembly, and whilst the two Miss Bennets had stayed at Netherfield, observing, and he thought he must share the results of his observations.

"Mr Darcy, you do seem to be very occupied with the view out of yonder window," Miss Caroline Bingley, Bingley's unmarried sister, said from the other side of the room. "Pray, is there something, or someone, out there who holds your interest?"

Darcy shook his head, blinked, and faced the room.

"I apologise if I have been neglecting to pay attention," he said, not really sure what Miss Bingley was implying by her question, but there was surely something. Well, there always was with her. She was a well-bred young woman. She knew how to behave, knew what was expected of her, but Darcy had to admit he did not like endlessly guessing what her comments meant. He would rather she spoke plainly. "Did I miss much of the discussion?"

"Caroline and I were discussing our plans for next week," his good friend Bingley said from his writing desk in the corner of the room.

The other occupant of the room was Mrs Hurst, Bingley's other, married sister. Her husband was away in another part of the house, sleeping off his overindulgence from the night before, as he so often did.

"Indeed," Darcy said. "Is there some society event to delight us all?"

The women tittered at his sardonic tone. He was not one for these society gatherings, although of course they must be borne, for they were expected. One did not take a house like Netherfield and hide away from society, even if one wished to.

Even at Pemberley – ah, his beloved Pemberley, his home in Derbyshire, which he longed to see again – even there he had to partake in some society, just to quiet the gossips and ensure no one said that the master of such an estate did not know what was expected of him.

But that did not mean he had to enjoy it.

"I wish to call upon Miss Bennet one day, so ensure you do not plan activities for me which preclude that," Bingley said.

Darcy saw both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst look a trifle uncomfortable and presumed that they too had seen the folly in the match. Never mind that Miss Bennet was so clearly not as wealthy as Mr Bingley. If love were involved, Darcy supposed those things could be overcome. And even the fact that her mother was clearly simply looking for a man of means to take one of her daughters – or, indeed, as many men of means as it took to marry off as many daughters as possible. Perhaps she wished one to stay behind to look after her and her husband in old age, but she certainly had no wish to support five daughters.

"We should discuss that," Darcy said, meaning not to say any more in front of the ladies, but Bingley frowned.

"Discuss what, good man? My plans for the week? You do not have to come along if you do not wish. Although when I saw you dancing with Miss Eliza Bennet, I thought perhaps..."

"Mr Darcy would not entertain the thought of becoming entangled with someone like Miss Eliza Bennet."

"Caroline," Bingley said, and Darcy almost winced at her harsh tone.

He had thought the same himself, but still...hearing it out loud sounded rather cruel.

No, he would not entertain such a connection, but it remained true that conversing with her had been the most fun he had had in months, possibly years.

"Come and walk in the flower garden with me, Caro," Mrs Hurst said, putting down her embroidery. "I wish to ask your opinion on centrepieces for the dining table."