Page 59 of Fortuitous Encounters

When their dance ended, another local man asked Elizabeth, and Darcy sat out so he could subtly watch her more.

Miss Bingley found him and poured about five minutes of poison in his ear about how tedious the company was, having not noticed him enjoying his dance with Miss Elizabeth, and even speaking with some of the other guests. For someone who watched him so assiduously, she certainly did not see anything that did not match her narrative.

He finally, perhaps unwisely, perhaps snidely, perhaps in self-defence, spoke as he excused himself to find more congenial company.

“Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman like Miss Elizabeth Bennet can bestow.”

On Foot

Pure happenstance allowed Darcy to meet Elizabeth as she approached Netherfield on foot.

“Good morning!” he said, startled. “I did not expect the pleasure of your company, let alone on foot.”

She curtsied. “Alas, I came to see my sister, who is ill.”

“She is?” he asked confusedly. “I had no idea. Had I known, I would have sent Bingley’s carriage for you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment. She does not seem to be at death’s doorstep, but I want to know how she is and if I can do anything for her present relief.”

Darcy was stunned by the fact that the mistress of the house entirely failed to mention Miss Bennet’s attendance the previous evening, let alone her illness.

Elizabeth looked around and spoke softly. “My mother sent her on horseback.”

He frowned. “May I presume she did not wrap her up in your father’s greatcoat?”

“You may.”

“Perhaps your mother hoped she would have to spend the night?”

She sighed resignedly and nodded.

Darcy frowned hard enough to crack stones but then brightened.

“Well then, let us get you to your sister.” He started to offer his arm, then paused and looked her over, “But first, I need to return a favour.”

Without elaborating, he took her hand and dragged her around the side of the manor, with her vacillating between suspicion and laughter the whole time. The manoeuvre was slightly untoward, but no worse than things they had already done.

He opened a side door and pulled her in, then came up short when he saw a servant enter the small room from another door.

Elizabeth was slightly startled to hear the man laugh gaily and speak emphatically. “Mrs Redgrave! What luck! I did not know you worked here.”

“Mr Darcy, Miss Lizzy, good morning. I do not usually, but my sister is ill, so I am taking her place for a few days.”

Darcy thought the mistress would have a fit over such a thing, in the unlikely event she ever knew.

“Is Miss Flora with you?”

“No, my husband has reluctantly accepted the onerous chore of her supervision.”

“Pity,” Elizabeth said.

Mrs Redgrave looked over at the pair and shook her finger at them. “Are you two up to some new tricks?”

“Not tricks, per se. Miss Elizabeth is here to visit her sister, and to do that she really should greet the family, and—”

“—and say no more. I can see you have a mud problem.”

“Exactly right as always,” Darcy replied with a grin, which set Elizabeth to laughing gaily.