Page 15 of His Pride and His Prejudice

Towards the end, Elliot found himself wishing that it was just the Bingley sisters and Mrs. Bennet in the conversation because when they began to draw the other members of the room into the topics under discussion it became quite difficult. More than once one of the younger Bennets said something that was just a little…off. Elliot had feared that would be the case because Louis and Christian took after their mama and did not seem to quite grasp societal conventions despite Jack and Elliot’s constant strictures that they needed to, and whilst this was not so obvious in Meryton society where they were well known and tolerated, it was here among more lauded company.

Jack’s behaviour was impeccable of course, and Elliot thought he had handled himself well enough simply because he had kept quiet most of the time and amused himself with his increasingly scathing musings on Miss Bingley and even the Hursts at times, and this was confirmed as they stood to take their leave.

“We would like to see you for tea again,” Miss Bingley said but her words included only Jack and Elliot.

Elliot smiled politely even as he smarted from the implied insult. He knew his family well enough. Mrs. Bennet was pushy, Marc morose, Christian inclined to flights of fantasy, and Louis…Elliot was increasingly concerned about Louis and his exploits. And yet, they were his family, and he did not like the implication that they were not worthy of spending time with even if that was sometimes the case!

Had Elliot been privy to Miss Bingley’s actual thoughts he would have been even more insulted. She was thinking that Mrs. Bennet was intolerable, that the younger brothers were not worth speaking to, but that Charles’ wishes meant they must become better acquainted with Jack and given the obvious closeness between the two eldest, why not both?

By Jack, this attention was received with the greatest pleasure. He had not noticed the insult to his mother and younger brothers because he was not looking for it.

“We would be delighted,” was all he said but Elliot could not agree and thought it unlikely he would attend such a tea again. In truth he found the Hursts dull and Miss Bingley not much better. There had, of course, been no sign of Mr. Bingley, who had, on the briefest of acquaintances, seemed more engaging. Or the detestable Mr. Darcy who Elliot preferred not to think about but had, in fact, considered more than once since entering Netherfield and not least because he could smell that faint, intriguing scent in the air.

They made their way from the receiving room, back into the main hall, and out to where their carriage was waiting for them. It was only then that Jack realised he had left his gloves behind. Mrs. Bennet acted quickly. “I’ll call for a servant,” she said.

Elliot however was keen to leave as soon as possible and waved her words away. “No need, it will take me but a moment to retrieve them,” he said, and that was what he did even as she protested, letting himself back into Netherfield and heading back to the dreaded receiving room.

His plan was to be in and out in no time, sharing only the briefest of parting words with their hosts. Unfortunately, it did not unfold that way, because on their way to that room also—eager to understand how the campaign had begun—and so destined to bump into each other once more, were Mr. Bingley and his determined companion, Mr. Darcy.

Eight

Darcy had known that the Bennet boys and their mother had been invited to Wednesday afternoon tea. He had been present in the room when the Bingley sisters had sent the invitation and had noted the date and time. It would have been perfectly proper for both him and Charles to attend the tea as well, but Charles was keen that his sisters begin to establish a friendship and in doing so learn what they could about the family. Asking this of a mated relative or a parent was a respectable approach, and the tea should have ended with only the Bennets, the Hursts, and Miss Bingley having spent time together.

Should have but did not.

Charles had insisted they obtain an update on the afternoon tea before going on their planned walk. He was quite convinced that he had worked out the timings correctly and they would catch Miss Bingley before she went for her afternoon rest. What they had not expected was for one of the Bennet brothers to be stood outside the receiving room, frowning at the closed door.

Darcy shot Charles an annoyed look as they approached, as this was not how he expected to spend the afternoon and he was oddly disconcerted by the change in direction. It was often the way with Darcy. He liked to lay out plans and then see them through to fruition. He did not enjoy distractions and was often wrong footed when they occurred. And yet there was a distraction right in front of him now.

Elliot Bennet.

Darcy was sure it was him. Brother to the omega that Charles was campaigning to woo. Not as handsome as Jack Bennet by any means but he did have that dark, curly hair that Charles had tried to tempt him with.

“Mr. Bennet!” Charles said as he too spotted the omega. “This is unexpected!”

“Apologies, sir,” Elliot said. “I did not expect to see you here.”

“I reside here,” Charles replied, laughing as he did so, and his easy countenance was, as always, infectious, prompting a smile from even Elliot Bennet’s cautious expression.

“Indeed, you do.”

“Then why are your giving your apologies?” Charles continued. “You were visiting with my sisters, were you not? I assume much tea and cake was consumed and news exchanged?”

“Perhaps too much tea and cake,” Elliot said. “Certainly, where my mother was concerned! Our visit finished some minutes past. I’m afraid that my brother Jack left his gloves behind. I am simply collecting them before we depart.”

“Where is your brother now?” Charles asked, looking around as though Jack might be hiding somewhere nearby and perhaps appear now that his name had been mentioned.

Darcy was not surprised. Charles had been distracted all morning, busy thinking about Jack Bennet’s visit and what might happen. Darcy had reassured him several times that there was very little that could happen during an afternoon tea, but it had made no difference, hence his need for an update.

“My family is waiting at our carriage for me to complete this errand,” Elliot said after a moment.

“I see,” Charles said, a pause and then, “And how is your brother?”

“He is well.”

“Did he enjoy his visit with my sisters?”

“I believe so.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com