She was fidgeting in her seat next to Lizzy, so much so that her cousin sent her several questioning looks, and at one point her mother had asked if she was suffering from an exposed spring in the seat she sat on. She dismissed the question with a curt, “of course not,” but she was in actuality wishing it was such an easy thing that bothered her. As it was, she could barely contain herself and needed desperately to speak to Lizzy alone, yet she wondered when she might find the opportunity to do it.

She could not divert her mind from what she had witnessed at Clyne yesterday. Not only Mr. Darcy’s obvious anger when he had burst into the room, but more importantly, what she had overheard from outside the door to the billiard room when she had gone to tell Lord Brougham that she could wait for him no longer. She had tried to tell Lizzy about it all evening, but her cousin had been in no mood for intimate talk and had let her know it in no uncertain terms, so she had left it most unwillingly until later. However, she was determined to pull her cousin aside at the first opportunity today, no matter what.

The old stone church stood on a small knoll in the middle of the village, and the local population, decked out in their Sunday best, were gathered out in front well before time, much preferring to stand in the sunshine, exchanging news and gossip of the neighbourhood, to going inside and taking their places on the cold, hard benches. And so it was with a barely disguised glee that those gathered there noted the arrival of Vian’s carriage. The sight of the French Catholic coming to their Protestant church once again with the imposing local widow, Mrs. Tournier, on his arm, gave them enough to discuss and debate for at least the coming week, and they would have been disappointed to have missed such a scandal.

Miss Lucy Steele, however, greeted the sight with more elation than anyone there, for she had not seen anything of Miss Bennet or Mr. Darcy since last Tuesday’s fair, and she was eager to reacquaint herself with the latest news on that front. So it was with a skip in her step that she took herself to Elizabeth’s side and linked arms with her in order to personally escort her inside.

While Elizabeth was delayed, Vian escorted his godmother and her daughter inside where they preceded him onto the bench. When Miss Bennet belatedly followed, with Miss Lucy still attached to her arm, he did not miss the effort she made to have the girl slide onto the bench before her. However, when her several hints and gestures failed, she reluctantly took her place beside him, leaving a wide space between. This gap, however, was soon greatly minimised when her aunt forced him to move over so she could turn in her seat and speak to someone behind her. Elizabeth turned her back to Monsieur Vian, choosing to use Miss Lucy as her excuse to search the incoming parishioners for the one face she wished to see most of all.

She gave Lucy only cursory attention, for her mind was chiefly occupied with thoughts of Mr. Darcy. Anything else was an annoyance to her now. She wanted to speak to him more dearly than she could remember wanting anything else, and yet she was forlorn at the lack of opportunity before her for such a meeting to take place. She felt that the regret that now tormented her for remaining so distant yesterday was a just punishment, but it was nothing compared to the confusion she had felt before his arrival to Rosefarm – nor had his own words regarding Miss Patience provided any clue or relief to her. She longed to let him explain as he had said he could, but she was, at the same time, angry that he would accuse her of desiring Mr. Vian’s touch. She wanted to kick herself for reflexively taking that man’s arm at such a moment, but she had simply not known what she was about at the time. Would he believe her if she told him that? Could she believe the explanation he would give her? Yes, she thought, she knew in her heart that she could. He had never lied to her before, even when it would have behoved him to do it. He always told the truth.

When there was no sign of him after what seemed like an impossibly long time had passed, even after all the locals were all finally seated, she worried that he would not come. And just as she wondered what was keeping Mr. Darcy, the crowd pondered what was delaying the service. They busily split their attention between the pastor and the door to the church, obviously wondering what was keeping the already arrived Torence party from coming inside, for certainly it was for those rich patrons that the rest of them were being kept waiting.

“We will be late,” Darcy examined his watch.

“ I am sorry. You know I never attend while in Scotland.”

Their carriage rounded the square in front of the church, and Brougham looked out of the window as it came to a stop. “It seems that Sir Tristan is waiting for us.”

Darcy sighed and urged his friend to open the door.

“ Good morning, gentlemen. Since I know Lord Brougham does not hold a pew, I thought to offer mine,” Sir Tristan ushered everyone into the church, holding his arm out to his wife and motioning for the gentlemen to escort his daughters.

Miss Torence took her place at Brougham's side, and Darcy held the door for Miss Patience. Once inside, Darcy concluded that the situation proved even worse than it had seemed outside. The pastor had decided to wait for his most illustrious worshippers, and all the believers were already seated and waiting in anticipation for the service, or perhaps rather for Sir Tristan and his party to fill his pew. Darcy once more silently admonished Brougham for the delay and deliberately followed Miss Patience across the nave. The gentlemen waited for the ladies to sit down and then took their own places.

Once the pastor commenced the ceremony, Darcy allowed his eyes to skim the pews in search of Elizabeth. His sight halted on Vian, who had just turned to look at his neighbour. Darcy followed the path of the man's eyes only to find Elizabeth was their object. He frowned. He hoped to catch her attention, but instead watched with growing uneasiness as she turned and whispered to the man beside her. They all rose for the first psalm and she was lost from sight. Brougham’s loud and unmelodious voice distracted him then, and Miss Patience’s sharp glance at his friend proved that Darcy was not the only one to cringe from the clanging sound. She then looked past Brougham and smiled at Darcy.

Lizzy would have been offended at Monsieur Vian’s comment about the late arrivals had she not been so nonplussed at whom was escorting whom. She had just wits enough about her to comment about how a few minutes tardiness was nothing much to take note of when the service began and she was forced to rise for it. She sang the first psalm by rote, a purely mechanical undertaking, but she put no feelings into the words, for she had none to spare.

When Mrs. Tournier noted Mr. Darcy’s arrival, she had some choice thoughts of her own.
All last evening she had uncharacteristically worried that she had made a mistake in her approach with Lizzy. She had briefly wondered at her own propensity to always be so outspoken with her own opinions. It was not that she questioned the validity of them, not at all, for she was certain she was right in her conclusions about Mr. Darcy, but she rather wondered if her methods at making her point were the right approach with someone like her niece. Could it be that old age had sneaked up on her in such a way that she had forgotten the obstinacy of youth? Had she not herself been exactly the same as her niece, so certain of her own beliefs and actions that she would not to be driven from them simply because someone else told her she was wrong? Had not such adversity in the face of her own convictions only driven her to embrace them all the more tightly when she was Lizzy’s age? Considering how stubborn her niece was being about this whole affair, it seemed that at this point there was no approach that would have much of an impact on the girl other than to let time and Mr. Darcy’s own behaviour do their inevitable work. And now, quite happily, here the fine gentleman was, fulfilling her wish in such an open and intractable way that she suddenly realized she had wasted time on worrying about her own actions at all. The man was going to make Lizzy see the error of her ways and all she had to do was sit back and watch the show. She sent Lizzy a look that literally screamed I told you so, which her niece studiously ignored.

When the psalm was over, Elizabeth took the opportunity to turn and look towards Mr. Darcy. Their eyes caught for a moment, hers filled with questions and pain, his with worry and frustration, although they were both too far away to read anything with any degree of certainty.

Brougham always sang loudly and ardently in church, but this time perhaps he did it with too much enthusiasm, for he earned a side look not only from Darcy, but from Miss Patience as well, but he ignored them both and pressed on, for he liked to sing. When the psalm was at an end, there were bible citations and the Reverend Troth was performing the liturgy with studied pomp and ceremony, giving knowing looks to selected members in the front pews and wearing such an expression of haughty saintliness that Brougham wished he would turn towards the altar and direct his theatrics to a higher audience.

He shifted his weight on the bench, the old pews were too small and short in the seat, not to mention far too low for his tall frame. His knees almost touched the back of the pew in front and he was uncomfortable. It would not have mattered much if the service had been anything but undistinguished and the pastor’s address inspired by anything other than the upholding of his own reverence in the eyes of his congregation. Brougham did not go to church to be pressed down in his mortality or made to feel undeserving as God’s creature, he went to be encouraged and find beauty and meaning in his faith and life. Therefore his attention wandered and he found he could only concentrate on his uncomfortable bum.

Brougham’s constant fidgeting was playing on Darcy’s already stretched nerves, and he grunted several times and sent him a number of very stern looks, but his friend kept ignoring them. Finally, he addressed him through clenched teeth, “Will you not stop?”

“What?”

Upon realising his friend’s meaning, Brougham directed an irritated glance towards him. “It’s not me. It’s these bl… stupid pews. They are uncomfortable.”

“It is not the first time you have had to deal with such a thing and it won’t be the last. Bear it with dignity, man!”

Brougham returned the arch look but refrained from answering since it was time to raise their voices in harmonious praise once again, and he supposed he could find some solace in the simple act of standing, not to mention the fact that he would enjoy singing once more.

When the service was finally over, and it seemed that Miss Lucy was determined to follow them until they finally made their departure, Holly stopped at the door of the church where the Reverent Peter Troth stood, firmly taking hold of the girl’s arm as she tried to follow the others out, and made polite conversation. She began by touting how much Miss Lucy had claimed to enjoy the service and admired his strong message to his followers. This led to more direct questions from the man to Miss Lucy, and while she was thus engaged, Holly slipped away to find the others.

Darcy strode outside as soon as the service came to its completion, leaving Brougham behind to make his apologies to the Torence family. His eyes were fixed on the entrance as he waited at the side in anticipation of seeing Elizabeth. He saw the Rosefarm party emerging from the door and slowly proceed into the centre of the square. Mrs. Tournier was engaged in a discussion with some acquaintance of hers and Vian lagged behind next to Elizabeth. Darcy chose that moment to approach.

He offered brief greetings to everyone and looked at Elizabeth intently. “I was hoping to be granted the privilege of walking you home, Miss Bennet.”

“ Thank you, Sir,” Miss Tournier answered, appearing as if from nowhere, “but we arrived in Monsieur Vian's carriage, so we will not require an escort.”

Darcy glanced at her, dumbfounded, but said nothing and looked back at Elizabeth.

“ Thank you, yes, that would be a pleasure.” The look in her eye did not reflect that exact sentiment but rather one of anticipation instead.

“ Miss Tournier, Miss Bennet, Monsieur Vian.” Brougham joined them with his jovial greetings. “A splendid sermon, was it not?”

A few more similar opinions were exchanged before Brougham took his friend aside.

“ Yes,” Darcy was impatient.

“ Sir Tristan invited us to tea.”

“ I do not yet know my plans for the afternoon.”

“ He invited us to join him now.”

“ I am walking Miss Bennet home, Brougham.”

“ He was very insistent.”

“ Then go.” Darcy smirked.

Brougham looked uncomfortable, clearly sent with the task of bringing his friend along. “What shall I tell him?”

“ That is not my problem.”

“ Come now, Darcy. This man was nice, waited for us especially, shared his pew and now is kindly asking us to tea.”

“ Brougham,” Darcy's irritation grew, “if you think that I will let Elizabeth down simply because for half of the morning you could not find your neckcloth and later some nice chap waited outside in order to offer me a piece of wood to sit my arse on, you must be insane.”

“ Yes, well, I… I did not mean that. I will think of something.”

“ Very well. I will see you later then.” Darcy looked at Sir Tristan and his party and nodded his farewell.

He returned to Elizabeth, and they both impatiently scanned the crowd for Mrs. Tournier. They did not have to look for long, for upon spotting Mr. Darcy beside Elizabeth, the lady came to them herself. She returned his greeting and looked at Elizabeth inquisitively while he began to explain his plans. A clear sign of the defiance that had been exhibited the day before showed in her niece's eyes, and not wishing for a scene in front of all of these people, Arabella acquiesced.

“ Mrs. Tournier.” Brougham appeared again, this time with company. “Sir Tristan, may I present, Mrs. Tournier, Miss Tournier, Miss Bennet, Monsieur Vian.”

The whole party looked on in surprise, and Holly‘s chin rose in defiance as she responded, “Count du Poitou, my Lord.”

“ Yes, indeed,” Brougham smiled bashfully.

“ I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Darcy's suspicions of Sir Tristan's words was as great as the surprise of the ladies Tournier at even being addressed by that man.

“Lord Brougham has just explained the nature of your acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. I hope you will do me the honour of accepting my invitation to tea.” He looked at Mrs. Tournier expectantly.

Clearly intrigued by the idea, and more pleased with it than with Lizzy's walking home in the company of Mr. Darcy, she readily accepted, and it was agreed that they would all go to Sir Tristan's manor directly.

Once they arrived, Miss Patience took Elizabeth's arm and led her inside.

“ Lord Brougham informed us of the upcoming marriage.”

Elizabeth was taken aback. “Indeed?”

“ You must be thrilled.”

She gave Miss Patience an uncomfortable look and hesitantly replied, “I am very happy.”

“ Of course you are. This must be great news to your family, and such a distinction.”

“ If you think so.” Elizabeth was not sure what she should say. That this woman had news of her engagement before her own family did seemed insupportable.

“ Oh, Miss Bennet, his money may have been made in trade, but surely the sum is more than desirable for someone like your sister, and with connections with men such as Mr. Darcy his social standing must be more than she could have ever expected.”

Elizabeth smiled as comprehension dawned, her eyes sparkling. “How can one be sure that my sister’s connections will not be the more valuable to him in the end? She has three unmarried sisters after all, and it is quite possible that one of them will make an even better match. In fact the sheer number of them make the odds greater than they are for his own sister’s chances.”

“ Although I am a romantic myself,” Miss Patience smiled cordially, “I am afraid that in this case her chances are rather multiplied by the number of times her dowry exceeds yours than by the number of single daughters bereft of any substantial inducement on their behalf.”

Elizabeth smiled as well. “Of course that is possible. I suppose only time will prove one of us correct.”

“ You are not keen on logic then?”

“ On the contrary, I am great admirer of it.”

“ Mr. Darcy,” Miss Patience noticed his approaching them with undisguised pleasure. “I was just telling Miss Bennet that I am a romantic myself. I think you could best attest to my words.”

“I will agree that you are a romantic, I am not certain that Miss Bennet is.”

“I think she is, since she refuses to see the logic of the advantage of monetary value over that of youth and beauty.”

“I am not sure how you would wish for me to answer. Should I prove you unromantic or Miss Bennet illogical?”

Miss Patience laughed. “Indeed, it seems I have cornered myself.” She looked at Elizabeth. “Mr. Darcy entertained me with conversation over dinner the other day, and although I must say he is a very pleasant companion, his mind often takes most unusual turns. I found myself quite challenged.”

Before Elizabeth could respond Holly came up as well, and hooked arms with her.

“If you will excuse us for a moment. I need to speak with my cousin about something.”

Darcy saw Elizabeth’s leaving their company with concern. He wanted to talk to her, but the opportunities appeared limited. It was difficult to find her standing alone, and now he would have problems with disentangling himself from Miss Patience’s company. He thought it would be best to indulge her with conversation for the time being, hoping that once they had covered all possible topics she would move on to converse with her other guests.

“Lizzy, do not look at me like that. When you hear what I have to say you will thank me for pulling you away.”

Elizabeth sat down on the settee she had been led to in the corner and tried to remain civil to her cousin, whose behaviour had only seemed to justify the smugness with which the Torence party had already greeted them. After all, it was abundantly clear they were only invited for the sake of having Mr. Darcy’s attendance assured. And what business was it of Lord Brougham to tell anyone anything about herself or her family anyway, she unhappily mused. Did he so enjoy gossip that he could not help himself?

She worked at keeping her frustration out of her voice. “Holly, are you quite certain that your news is of such import that it cannot wait until a more appropriate time?”

“Lizzy, it cannot. It is of dire consequence to you.”

“If it is of such import, then perhaps a less public setting would better suit.”

“What I have to impart will have an effect on your actions today. You would not wish to be made a fool of, would you Lizzy? Not here of all places.”

Lizzy knew full well that there was no stopping her cousin when she was so determined, and that it was better to just let her speak her mind, therefore she especially regretted that she had put her off last evening.

“You have my attention now, Holly. Speak.”

“Finally!” she breathed. “A voice of reason can be heard coming from you, Lizzy!

“Yesterday, while I was at Clyne, who do you suppose bolted into the room, angry as a wet hen?” When it became apparent that her cousin was not going to venture a guess, she pressed on. “Mr. Darcy of course! I assume that since Maman told me he had come to visit, that it was right after that. He very rudely took Lord Brougham away from his instructions to me about the library, and I must say after witnessing his behaviour that I begin to sincerely sympathise with Lord Brougham as never before! It is his friend, Mr. Darcy, who is the disagreeable one after all, Lizzy, and his actions and tone in my presence is surely proof enough of that.”

Lizzy was unmoved by the revelations, especially now.

“Mr. Darcy, arriving angrily back to the house he is a guest in, probably unaware that you were there, is proof that he is a disagreeable man? Holly, one cannot always be on one’s best behaviour, nor can one judge another on one incident alone. I am sure he had his reasons.” In fact she knew he did.

“I might agree with that assessment if that were all I witnessed, but there was more, and it is far more damaging and convincing.

“Since I could no longer simply stand around waiting for his Lordship’s return so I might continue my work, I went to find him in order to inform him I would return on Monday. When I arrived outside the billiard room, their voices were raised so high that I could not help but overhear Mr. Darcy berating his friend for having informed you of their evening plans. His words were so despicable that they were practically engraved in my memory. He said that he was upset his friend had told you that he wanted to pursue another, and that he admired that other, and that you, yourself, could not possibly stand up to a comparison with the other woman! He was speaking about Miss Patience.”

Elizabeth, who already felt defeated by what she thought she knew could hardly feel any worse by hearing this, for it served to confirm her own doubts of the moment, only stared at her cousin in response.

“Lizzy!” Holly whispered vehemently, “Do you not see that he wished to hide the fact that he is enamoured with another from you? It is as if he wishes to keep you dangling on the off chance he has no luck with Miss Patience so that he might still have someone around to entertain him when he is bored! You cannot be so thick as to miss such a thing? The man plays with your affections as he would play at a game.”

Elizabeth was angry now, as much at Holly as she was by the circumstances and people who kept her from speaking to Mr. Darcy himself. She was hurt and angry enough on her own, and every new attempt at interference by others only made her all the more incensed. This continued succour and support was becoming insufferable.

“And what else did you glean from your eavesdropping, Holly? Did he say that as well? That his fun was being spoilt by his friend’s propensity to speak out at inopportune times?”

Her cousin was indignant at the implication. She had only been trying to help after all. She folded her arms on her chest. “I would not know! Of course I left immediately. I do not behave in the shameful manner of a spy, nor would I intentionally listen in on private conversations!”

Lizzy breathed a small sigh and turned in her seat in order to put her hand on Holly’s arm in an effort to appease her. They were not at Rosefarm, and this was no place to outwardly show their anger, yet Holly was growing visibly heated. Besides all of this, she knew it was not right to take out her own frustrations on her cousin.

She spoke softly, “I know you mean well. I do. And perhaps it would have been better this one time if you had behaved as such a person would, for it is one situation where more information might have been helpful.

“Holly, I have done nothing but jump to conclusions, and incorrect ones at that, for many months now. If I have learnt nothing else at all, I do know that as easy as it would be to surmise many things from what you have said, I find that I cannot at present allow myself to do it.

“I thank you for wishing to aid me, I know your heart is in the right place, but this is one area that I definitely do not desire it. Please, for the sake of our friendship, you must respect that.”

Holly appeared crestfallen. “And so I am to sit by and watch you make a fool of yourself?”

Lizzy sat quite still for a moment before answering, breathing slowly to calm herself, wondering if a fool was exactly what she was being.

“Yes. If that is how you see it, then yes, that is exactly what you must do. It is all I ask of you.”

Holly shook off Elizabeth’s hand and would have replied but was not able to because their privacy was suddenly interrupted.

Brougham observed the movements of everyone as he briefly spoke to his host about a possible hunt together in the future, and was considerably grateful when he finally found himself at liberty to move about the room.

All of the guilt he was already feeling for his earlier meddling was now compounded. Darcy having been forced to attend this tea against his wishes was not at all what he had intended to have happen. He had only tried to relay to the Torences, after much continued and bothersome insistence on their part that they both come, that Darcy had other plans. Their questions were numerous and fired at him too quickly to fend off without providing some answer or other, and so he gave what he thought were safe and satisfactory ones. No one could have been more stunned than he himself when Lady Torence insisted that her husband march over and invite Mrs. Tournier and her party as well. Embarrassed by the turn of events, Brougham followed the man over to bear witness to the results of his own latest blunder.

The look on both Darcy’s and Miss Bennet’s faces had been enough to tell him that he would later pay for this unfortunate turn of events, and Darcy’s stern countenance and his few curt words on the way over only confirmed that he had assumed correctly.

And now, he noted with some consternation, that it might well be nearly impossible for his friend to have a few words with Miss Bennet here, since her cousin had taken her immediately to a corner and seemed determined to stay there with her. He sighed, took a deep breath and began his journey to that part of the room, deciding that there really was nothing to be done but to try and repair the damage he had inadvertently caused. He simply had to find a way of removing Miss Tournier from her cousin’s side.

When he arrived, he noted that the lady in question seemed even more out of sorts than he had observed from across the room. He almost lost his nerve, but stayed the course when he saw the look Miss Bennet gave him. It seemed to be an expression that mixed relief with trepidation, if that was possible. He realised that he definitely had his work cut out for him where she was concerned, and the least he could do was make this small beginning.

“Miss Bennet, Miss Tournier. I hope you are both enjoying yourselves.”

“Yes, we are, Sir.” Elizabeth replied, as brightly as she could manage under the circumstances.

He was hardly convinced by her words, for his own scrutiny told him that her cousin, at least, did not seem to be enjoying herself at all. Still, he persisted in his objective and plunged ahead.

“I thought I might entice you toward the tea table, Miss Tournier. If you will forgive my forwardness, I notice that you look a little pale, and I thought perhaps some sustenance might be just the thing. It has been a long while since breakfast, and while I cannot speak for you, I know I tend to feel a bit under the weather when I wait too long to eat.”

To his surprise she did not take offence, as he was certain she would.

“It is very kind of you to offer, Sir, but I do not feel the need for food. I am well, thank you.”

“Some fresh air then? They have some lovely gardens here and some very confusing plants that I think you might be able to enlighten me about since you are a gardener yourself.”

Holly rose up from her seat. “I would be delighted to answer any of your botanical questions if I am able to.” She took his proffered arm and turned to give Lizzy a hurt and angry look as they moved away toward the garden door.

Lizzy watched her cousin go with a degree of sadness. Yet she could hardly entertain Holly’s hurt feelings for long when her own were in such turmoil.

She glanced around the room then and saw Mr. Darcy walking Miss Patience to a settee. He took his place beside her, engrossed in conversation. The young lady seemed to laugh delightedly at his every word and the sound grated in her ears. She stood and began to move across the room, hoping beyond hope that he would at least notice her presence in it.

“Miss Bennet!”

Elizabeth was startled by Miss Torence’s voice suddenly addressing her.

“You simply must help me convince Monsieur Vian of my sincerity when I tell him his performance at the fair must have been simply splendid. He does not seem to agree with my assessment. Perhaps he will agree with yours.”

“Why, madam, that is not so.” Vian remarked with a polite smile. “I thanked you very much for the sentiments, in fact.”

“Well, I for one was most impressed when I heard of your skill. I do not think I saw a finer match than the one I heard described in every detail. Both you and Mr. Darcy seem to be naturals at the sport.” She turned to Elizabeth, “His match was well done, was it not so, Miss Bennet? Far superior to any of his opponents, even our fine friend, Mr. Darcy, or he would not have won the tournament! Come now, you must help me convince him I mean what I say.”

“Surely Monsieur Vian performed to the best of his ability.”

Miss Torence gave her a scandalised look. “I assure you Monsieur, that regardless of Miss Bennet’s lack of enthusiasm in her choice of words, she meant to say that she wholeheartedly agreed.”

Elizabeth met her look and replied dryly, “Please do not presume to know my mind or way of thinking, Miss Torence. I assure you I had no idea who was a better fencer and was quite content to find out along with everyone else in the audience. However, I am not sure winning a tournament is enough to know such a thing for certain.” Her eyes moved to Vian’s. “I would also add that someone's ability to duel well or not is not something of great importance to me in general. It is only a skill, nothing more.”

Vian replied quietly, “I also did not know my opponents’ skills then as I do now. I thank you for your confidence in my abilities, Miss Torence. I am glad to know that you would have enjoyed the performance, but as you can see, Miss Bennet was not very impressed.” Vian glanced briefly at Elizabeth.

She was uncomfortable, but it was not the first time and it would likely not be the last where this man was concerned. This was awkward, but it was also important to her to stand up to him regardless of how it sounded to this stranger in whose house they were now guests. She attempted a small smile at Miss Torence, but then looked directly at him when she spoke.

“No, I am afraid I was not impressed. Something like that reflects only on what one can do physically. I find that I do not measure a person based on such things. Others may. This view, however, does not make me right.”

Vian looked at her in surprise. “So you do not take into consideration how much such a performance depends on one’s intelligence?”

Lizzy heard what he said with some degree of amusement. “You do have a point when it is looked at in that light. I think that one’s intelligence can be used to help one win at such a contest, but I can also see how one’s intelligence can allow one to lose at one as well. Sometimes the winning is not everything, and if one loses for the right reasons then they show skill of a different sort that I can admire more than the physical kind alone. So it then becomes the intelligence, or the judgement if you will, that I admire and not the physical prowess once again.”

He looked into her eyes. “Do you insinuate then that Mr. Darcy lost the duel on purpose, or do you simply say that you would have approved of my performance more if I had let him win?”

She was surprised at his response and realized she should not have been. She held his gaze and replied calmly. “You may take it as you wish, Monsieur, or simply as a hypothetical answer. Yet I might now ask how either of you allowing the other to win would lead me to approve or disapprove of your own performance? I did not say that I was not impressed with your skill in duelling, only that I was not impressed by whether or not one wins or loses such contests in general. If you and Miss Torence will insist upon putting words into my mouth, then you also must accept the fact that I myself may not choose to take up the meaning you attempted to place there as well.”

Vian retorted in a serious voice, “On the contrary, madam, I think I understand you very well. And yes, I believe you are right. The outcome of the contest could not influence your general impression or approval.”

Darcy was still sitting on the settee conversing with Miss Patience, but his eyes often wandered to Elizabeth. She was standing closely enough for him to hear her conversation with Vian. Although he had to admit she was fairing remarkably well, he could not stand by and allow Vian to disturb her any longer.

“Mr. Vian, Miss Patience was kind enough to mention a forthcoming fox hunt being held by her father. Would it not be an activity of interest to you? That is if you plan to stay in Scotland for that long. Do you?”

Miss Torence, who seemed relieved that Mr. Darcy had joined their conversation, eagerly replied, “Oh, yes. It would be lovely if both of you gentlemen stayed for the fox hunt.”

Vian held Darcy’s stern look while he gave his answer. “My plans are not fixed yet, Miss Torence, but I am always eager to participate in sporting events of any kind.”

Miss Patience smiled at this. “How droll that none of you gentlemen make any plans! Mr. Darcy has recently told me the same thing. Is it the new fashion for young men to not anticipate forthcoming events?”

“On the contrary, Miss Patience, I assure you,” said Darcy. “We do anticipate them. That is why we do not plan. Am I not right, Monsieur Vian?”

“Yes, I think you are.”

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth before his eyes returned to Vian. “However, I would be eager to hear of your plans when you have them fixed.”

“I am sure you would,” Vian responded dryly.

Lizzy longed to be away from all of these people at the moment, Mr. Darcy included, and looked toward the tea table which she had yet to visit, but before she could do anything more in that direction Lord Brougham came up and asked to speak with her, quickly pulling her to the side.

“Miss Bennet, I am truly sorry, but I think Miss Tournier is in need of your assistance.”

“Lord Brougham, you look a fright. Is my cousin all right? Has something happened to her?”

“I am sorry, Miss Bennet. Know that I truly am.” Brougham ran his hand through his hair without thinking of the effect it would have on it, such was his state of nervousness. “I did not mean to imply that she was hurt, only that she is not feeling well and she wishes you to go to her. I was to fetch you and then tell her mother that you and she would be walking home together. You will find her on a bench just down the path from the door there.”

Lizzy’s intense gaze found Mr. Darcy, who appeared to be observing them keenly, just before she turned on her heel and went in search of her cousin.

Brougham sought out Mrs. Tournier, who was engrossed in conversation with Lady Torence, each lady advising the other on the best methods to apply for raising daughters. Brougham mimicked his interest and offered some of his own suggestions, overheard somewhere else on other occasions in fact, before he found a lull in the conversation that was long enough to inform the lady that her daughter and niece had left for home.

She conversed for a while longer, moving from conversation to conversation until she found her nephew and expressed a wish to return home as well. Since the gathering was beginning to disperse, Darcy suggested they do the same.

Once in the carriage Brougham saw the questions in Darcy’s eyes, his own being filled with frustration, self-admonishment, but most of all, with confusion.

“I am afraid you will be even more vexed with me than earlier. Whatever you say, please just remember that I really wished to help. I have no idea how it came to this.”

“To what, Brougham?”

“She kissed me.”

“Who did?” Darcy looked at him with alarm.

“Miss Tournier. Well, I kissed her back of course, and then she slapped me. I would not have kissed her if I thought she would not like it. But well, I did not know. I suppose I was not thinking. She kissed me, so I kissed her back. It was rather, well, you know, mechanical.”

Darcy sighed deeply and looked out of the window. There was no sense in talking until his friend calmed down.

What was worse he knew how badly the visit must have appeared. He had hoped that if he paid Miss Patience enough attention at the beginning of his visit, she would not follow him once Elizabeth was alone and he might approach her for a private conversation. Instead his beloved had left quickly, no doubt with the wrong impression.

He leaned back in his seat trying to compose his thoughts and think of all the things that would have to be said once he met her. If he met her. He prayed for a clear sky and her good will to still wish to meet him on the morrow.

This story is written by Laura and Sylwia, and they own full © copyrights to it.

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