The reimagining of Pride and Prejudice in More Discerning offers a fresh perspective on beloved characters and themes while retaining the essence of the original story. By exploring the dynamics between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, the novel delves deeper into their motivations, challenges, and evolving relationship. This variation allows for a more nuanced portrayal of Regency-era society, showcasing the complexities of social class, family expectations, and personal desires.

The story invites readers to reflect on familiar moments from Pride and Prejudice while introducing new plot developments, character arcs, and conflicts that enhance the narrative. The focus on Elizabeth's agency, Mr. Darcy's inner turmoil, and the dynamics with supporting characters, such as Lady Catherine and the Gardiners, enriches the reader's understanding of the characters' growth and the societal constraints they navigate.

Ultimately, More Discerning celebrates the enduring themes of love, prejudice, and self-discovery, offering a captivating and thought-provoking retelling that honors Jane Austen's original work while presenting an original narrative that resonates with contemporary audiences.

Great News

Pegasus, UK is publishing my book! Soon...

Take  a peek into the novel 

Chapter 1

Tuesday, 15 October 1811

At the Meryton assembly

Elizabeth's lips quirked as a quiet amusement danced behind her eyes. Mr Bingley's company appeared to be relatively small. It consisted of his two sisters, and out of all the other reported gentlemen, only two appeared, one of mature years and married. The matrons of the ball only had themselves to blame, as this was what gossip could do. The families of Meryton were so hungry for new male prospects that they let their desires cloud what they had heard. The local four and twenty families just did not have enough sons to provide possible husbands for their daughters. Therefore, great was the disappointment reflected on the faces at the assembly. She looked where her mother stood. Elizabeth could see she was quite indignant; she had such high hopes for her girls and this evening.

Elizabeth surveyed the newcomers with deliberate attention, as was her habit. She valiantly wanted to create her first impressions, but her eyes kept glancing at the tall, single gentleman of the group. He stood out not only by the nature of his height but also by his almost regal comportment. He stood in the back with his head held high; he appeared somewhat detached from his surroundings. The gentleman peered straight ahead and did not look around like others would do in a new place full of people. She felt an urge to dismiss him as arrogant, a gentleman who believed himself above others; on the other hand, she could not ignore the prevalent whisperings that he possessed an income of at least ten thousand a year and a grand estate in the north.

A flicker of discomfort crossed his face; he, too, must have overheard.

The gentleman only danced with the ladies of his group in contrast to Mr Bingley, who seemed to enjoy himself immensely. He danced every dance with a massive grin on his face. Elizabeth, typically an impartial observer, found herself questioning the severity of judgment upon this man. It was true that he did not seem to enjoy himself, but he was there, probably in support of his friend. Maybe he did not like crowded places, like her father. He had stopped attending assemblies altogether. She thought it admirable that, possibly against his inclination, he did his duty by his friend and the ladies of his group and danced with them.

If Elizabeth had been faithful to herself, she would have admitted to finding the gentleman attractive. He had a noble mien, a very handsome face, and deep brown ringlets of hair framed his perfect face in a dishevelled manner. He could have been made into a statue of the ideal male. Even his garments graced his body in perfect harmony, not like most men, whose clothes always seemed too small for their figures.

It was his eyes that Elizabeth sought to discern. His eyes would tell her more of himself, she was certain. For some reason, she wanted to decipher this man.

He was so different, so unapproachable, and so alone. She wanted him to notice her, look her in the eye, and smile. She wanted to lift his spirits as if saying, 'You do not have to be alone. Come, I understand you.' She imagined that he might glance at her and halt in his tracks.

Well, the way it happened was not exactly how she imagined it.

She was obliged to sit out two dances as there was a scarcity of men at the assembly. She was used to it and permitted other ladies their turn, gracefully removing herself from the dance. She sat down. Mr Darcy – that was the gentleman's name – happened to stand close to her. She was about to continue her quiet observation of him when Mr Bingley approached the gentleman and coaxed him into dancing.

"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable," Mr Darcy answered his friend.

This was the first time Elizabeth had heard him speak. She thought he had a pleasant, deep baritone voice that seemed well-suited to his imposing figure. So, the gentleman is a bit…reserved. She wondered why a man of the world would have trouble meeting new people. Any crippling disability called at her sympathy, however. He seemed to avoid everybody so that he did not have to converse with them. She wished the people at the assembly would notice that he was uncomfortable. That such a man would feel that dancing with strangers was such a burden made her want to help him. Probably, his handsome face had something to do with it, which she acknowledged with surprise.

She was mortified at how the scene played out eventually. Mr Bingley offered her to him as a dance partner. He was already indignant when he turned, and their eyes met for a moment. He immediately turned back as if burnt and said the harshest thing possible to her ears.

"She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

Elizabeth wanted to scream that she was sitting out the dance so that others could enjoy the dance also. She had been considerate! She just wanted to help the other ladies! Elizabeth was indignant to the heavens. At the same time, she wanted a hole to appear and swallow her whole.

He walked away, and Elizabeth was left there reeling.

It hurt; it could not be helped. This handsome gentleman had just rejected the opportunity to know her. She fervently hoped it was his awkwardness that made him say such a rude thing, as she did not want to consider the other option that, indeed, he found her only tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him. Nevertheless, she had no friendly feelings towards him just then, her sympathy forgotten momentarily.

She endeavoured to laugh it off, though the sting was too near. All her life, she had been listening to her mother proclaiming that her beauty was nothing to Jane's, her elder sister. Mrs Gardiner, her aunt by marriage, tried to balance it by saying that she was just as beautiful and should not forget that Jane took after her mother. Of course, her mother would prefer that. Not to mention that Elizabeth was more like her Bennet grandmother. Her mother's relationship with the demanding, gentle-born matron was not the best.

It is always easier to believe the negative things, though; therefore, she always felt inferior regarding her looks. If a noble gentleman then proclaimed her only 'tolerable,' it would not be taken lightly.

She needed friendly consolation, so she stood and went to her best friend, Charlotte. Elizabeth told her what had just happened. She laughed, but it did not reach her eyes. Charlotte, ever observant, saw that Elizabeth was hurt and became indignant towards the gentleman for injuring her friend. She told her not to make too much of it, as he had not been in the best of moods after all; he had probably just lashed out at his friend. She acknowledged that he should have been more circumspect in his speech. Elizabeth felt justified hearing Charlotte's estimation of the arrogant comment.

***

The evening soon ended, and Mrs Bennet fanned herself with satisfaction, after all. She felt validated by the attentions bestowed on her daughters. In her opinion, no one was as well dressed and coiffed as her girls – well, maybe except the ladies from town. She was especially pleased about the attention paid to her eldest daughter by the Netherfield party. Mr Bingley, bless him, danced with her twice! She even told Mrs Lucas that they were the best thing that had happened to the neighbourhood. Truth be told, she already imagined wedding bells. She proudly looked at her eldest. She knew she was not beautiful for nothing.

The tenants of Netherfield had turned out to be a promising connection. Jane was flattered by the attention; only she was too modest to give it voice – her dear mother provided that. Loud was the journey back to Longbourn, as their mother reminisced over flowingly about the evening, and the two youngest also felt it their duty to announce every dance they danced, with whom, and how they enjoyed their conversations.

When they arrived home, Mr Bennet had to listen to all that transpired at the assembly, starting with the detailed description of the Netherfield party. By the end of the recitation, he regretted not going to bed while the house was empty.

The younger girls, Catherine ('Kitty' in the family) at seventeen and Lydia, barely out at the tender age of fifteen, immensely enjoyed events like the assembly. Although these were not frequent enough for their taste, their pleasure came from dancing most of the dances and being dressed in their new gowns. They were also happy for their eldest sister, Jane. She was their big sister, and if anybody deserved a suitor, it was her.

Elizabeth also celebrated Jane's success, as she was devoted to her. She knew very well that the opportunity to meet an eligible man was rare in the neighbourhood. She only hoped that their lack of dowries would not prove a hindrance.

***

When the two elder sisters finally found themselves alone in Jane's room, they further discussed the evening's events and their impressions. Jane, finally able to be herself, shared her thoughts about Mr Bingley and his sisters; however, she still expressed herself in ladylike understatements. She said that she found Mr Bingley everything a gentleman should be and that she admired his happy manners. She then talked about Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst, how they had a pleasant conversation, and the sisters seemed genuinely interested in her.

Elizabeth did not share Jane's enthusiasm about the sisters. In her opinion, they were hugely overdressed for a country assembly, possibly with the intention of showing off. She found their sentiment inconsiderate and their actions arrogant. It was clear to her that the local female populace would either view them with awe or envy. She felt them petty that they would want to create these feelings in the ladies of the neighbourhood.

"I also have the feeling, Jane, that they asked so many questions from you because they wanted to know about whom they must deal with after their brother paid you considerable attention."

Jane just blinked at her sister's harsh judgement.

"Towards Mr Bingley, I feel favourably, if for nothing else but that he noticed you, my dear sister. He is a good dancer; he danced with me, too. I found him an exuberant, joyful spirit…but he did not make my heart beat faster."

Jane listened to Elizabeth because she often had good insights, so she promised herself to guard her heart towards the new acquaintances.

Elizabeth then told her sister about her unfortunate episode with Mr Darcy, although she was reluctant to share how much his insensitive comment hurt her. Jane could hardly believe that a friend of Mr Bingley could be so cruel! She was adamant that he could not possibly mean it. They examined his every expression and action in an effort to excuse him, concluding at last that he must have felt discomfort at the assembly, as every mother was whispering about his income. Still, they did not approve of his attitude to give offence just because he felt like it or because it was convenient. They wondered if such conduct was typical of a wealthy gentleman. At the same time, they also agreed that if he had chosen to dance with Elizabeth, their mother would have sung about a second marriage in the making.

"For the preservation of my own peace, I must concur with you. I hope we caught him in a bad mood. I should find it very disagreeable, indeed, that a gentleman like Mr Darcy would reject me out of hand. Let us see how he will behave in the future."

"I think you have the right of it, Sister, and may I say, it is rather magnanimous of you… I wonder how two gentlemen with hugely different temperaments could be such good friends. Mr Darcy, although older and a member of the first circle, has joined Mr Bingley to help him with his first attempt at learning about having an estate. I find that quite peculiar."

"Is that why he is here? Mr Darcy, I mean."

"Yes, Mr Bingley told me himself. He cannot be that arrogant if he has a friend whose fortune comes from trade, can he?"

"Well, that was a rather rational observation, Jane. I may have thought better of what you said and disregarded it because you never see the bad in anyone. This, however, I cannot dismiss. It is curious indeed. I shall have to defer my judgement."

Chapter 2

Mr Bingley was well pleased with his choice of new home. As he trod its corridors, he felt a new sense of purpose.

True to his nature, he viewed the property, especially the house, and within half an hour, he made his decision to take the lease.

He was, for good or ill, a gentleman of easy temperament. Older friends often warned him to deliberate carefully on matters of significance, such as leasing a house. However, his youth, inexperience, and enthusiasm often led him not to take their advice. Not because of malice, oh no. Mr Bingley was not an evil fellow. His friends often asserted that there was not a malicious bone in his body. It was just his way. He had been lucky, and even his business decisions, measured with less attention than they deserved, had worked well for him. This gave him a false sense of power that he could do no wrong and that things were considerably easy – not to say that he was not good at negotiations.

This occasion proved no different. He had not prepared the requisite questions for some reason and, therefore, relied wholly upon the agent's descriptions. He praised the house; thus, Mr Bingley liked the house – and he liked it very much. To be honest, he was as a child presented with a trove of delights; he was wholly enchanted. This was what his parents had always wanted for him.

The agreement was concluded, and now he counted himself among those lucky to be born into the gentry.

The drainage problem on the far end of the property was left for another day.

***

Netherfield, indeed, was a handsome building[1] in an even more handsome land. It was relatively new; therefore, it was in particularly good shape. The house drew one's eyes by the unity of its design: it was built of a slightly greyish-white stone with a square footprint. The place radiated understated elegance: it was simple yet harmonious.

The main building had a ground and a first floor. The entrance further gave a classical feel to the building, with a triangular shape of the tympanum on the top and four evenly placed simple ionic columns to the height of the ground floor. Above the entrance were three large windows and two more on each side. On both sides of the building, in the front, there were two one-story wings with beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows, which were a sight to see as they gave the building a light, airy feel. On the right was the conservatory, and on the left was the ballroom. The kitchens, service areas, and servant rooms were not visible from the front – they were cleverly hidden behind the main building.

The surrounding garden told a different story, one that contrasted sharply with the house itself. Once, it may have been a place of elegance, but now it lay in quiet neglect. The park did not complement the house, its paths overgrown and its once-proud flower beds nearly indistinguishable from the wild grasses encroaching upon them. No professional hand had touched it for quite some time, and the signs of abandonment were unmistakable. Any accidental beauty that remained was owed to the few resilient perennial plants, bushes, and trees that stood as the garden's last sentinels.

The house was built by the first owner for pleasure, you see. So close to the capital, it was the perfect place for small house parties and short getaways from the capital's noise. As was often the case, such a lavish lifestyle often went with poor financial management, and the owner was forced to sell it only after five years of using it.

The second owner tried to establish some income from the land. Such fertile land was going to waste. Therefore, tenant houses were built on the property, and the farmlands were appointed. Unfortunately, by the time the first tenants could have moved in, the second owner had to sell as well due to a bad investment.

The third and present owner had lived on the land and installed families to create income. An unhappy marriage led to neglect as the family moved into their London residence and simply wanted to get a good lease on the place to resurrect any investment before selling it.

And so came Mr Bingley. He never deigned to ask about the circumstances of the estate, as he was enchanted by the idea of being the landlord of such a manor house, so he did not learn about the neglect and the dwindling number of families still around. The property desperately needed investment if any money was to be made, not to mention the unhandled drainage situation.

***

His two sisters were very eager for him to take the next step. It would be much easier for them to join the ton if their brother had his own estate. The so-called 'ton' meant the first or top circles of society[2]. Their mercantile[3] origins had rendered them a source of disquiet, and they believed that having a family estate was the missing link between them and the desired ton. For the sisters, an estate simply meant they could finally join in with their heads held high. They were unaware of the true implications of owning an estate.

"Why must you lease, Charles? That is not much better than being in trade," Miss Bingley, Caroline, would complain. Even the elder sister, Mrs Hurst, Louise, who had married into the gentry a few years ago, did not understand the necessity to try things first; they were impatient to claim what they believed their rightful place in the ton.

Although Louisa's husband was a landowner's son, their estate was relatively minor, so he could not really advance the sisters. That only became evident after the fact. For that reason, Mr Hurst lost Caroline's respect immediately.

Regrettably, a fine opportunity for learning was lost. Bingley was not inclined to study old Hurst's estate management, though they passed ample time there. All Bingley could say was that it offered great shooting. Old Hurst would have welcomed the interest that his son never showed. The young Hurst was typical of his status, waiting idly until it was time to take things over; only many failed as they never learnt how things lay. The old Hurst often told his wife that he was afraid to imagine what would happen to the estate once his son took over. He never considered that all he would have to do was to take his son's allowance away while giving him the reins in managing the estate, which would make him learn the ins and outs of it.

It was Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley's friend, who made it possible for the Bingleys to associate with some of the ton. He sponsored his friend in his club and was often kind enough to make Mr Bingley's family his party or ask for an invitation from the host of whatever event he attended. Many of the ton did not understand his fascination with Mr Bingley and his family. They were found to be true outsiders, people tainted by trade and desperate to please. Mr Bingley himself was more accepted due to his easy manners, but his sisters only tentatively.

The ton, you see, dear Reader, was an interesting entity. It needed the trading class more and more, but it wanted to avoid associating with them. On the other hand, the trading class, especially the successful ones, demanded to be noticed and demanded the same lifestyle they saw among the affluent gentry. They wanted their part of the ton, as they often became more affluent economically than their gentlemanly counterparts. And that was the crux of the matter. Being gentry – having a piece of land from which one gained income – was risky. One lousy year could decimate an estate if there were no backup funds, often due to bad management and the luxurious lifestyle. The sons that lived an idle life waiting for their turn usually were even more catastrophic than a bad year in agriculture. They gambled, and some gambled excessively. The need to keep up with the dandies of London was also a hindrance.

The Prince Regent himself was a terrible example. He lived a lavish lifestyle while he did not contribute to anything. He let others do the work. He repeatedly created extensive debt despite living on over a hundred thousand yearly. Parliament or the king had to bail him out several times. No money was enough to satisfy his hunger for grandeur. He gambled with high stakes and made his friends follow his example.

The trading class, on the other hand, was clever. They had worked for their wealth; many remembered what it was like to start their businesses. They did not gamble, or if they did, they gambled then namely only with small stakes for the company's sake. They did not have an estate to fall back on because their business was their livelihood. Therefore, while the trading class was closing in on the gentry, the gentry started to lose its importance. The estates could earn so much while businesses could grow. And they did.

Times were changing. Those who did not take notice of it would be left behind, often bankrupt. This was the changing world in which the two friends had to navigate to keep afloat and prosper.

***

As Jane had observed, Mr Bingley and his friend, Mr Darcy, were indeed almost opposites. One honestly wondered how they could be so devoted to each other.

As it happened, Mr Darcy was attracted by Mr Bingley's easy manners and unassuming, jovial nature. He found his friend fascinating, as he had traits he indeed lacked. He was serious, fastidious, and rather reserved. Talking to others never came easy for him. If the person in question was unknown to him, the chance of him not even trying was high. Still, many people found him because of business, politics, or matchmaking. His station in life made him a target that he bore as best as he could. Nevertheless, he often relied on his friend to make the conversation.

In return, Mr Bingley admired his older friend. He admired his poise, his clever mind, and his generous heart. He quickly discerned that Mr Darcy was different from most of the ton. Their friendship promptly became fast, as both genuinely liked the other, and no other motive was involved.

For his solitary nature, Mr Darcy's upbringing was probably to blame. As an only child sequestered at Pemberley, he did not meet many people for many years, and his mother spoiled him as much as she could. On the other hand, his father believed a gentleman should be disciplined and never show his feelings. The contrast in the two quite different approaches –especially in his later years, only his father's – made him this taciturn and introverted individual. He was clever, so he was aware of his own social inadequacies. He was also aware of his importance and heritage; he let this sentiment grow until his manners became uninviting. He did not realise it was a way to protect himself. It was instinct. In the same way, he never realised, or he did not care, that his manners often gave offence.

Mr Bingley had proved to be immune to his unfriendliness, and he managed to break through Mr Darcy's defences. Since then, they had been two sides of a coin in their friendship.

Therefore, it was typical of both of them how they spoke of the assembly on their way back to Netherfield. Mr Bingley was incredibly pleased with the dance. Of course, he never met pleasanter or prettier ladies! The people of the assembly all proved to be hospitable and interested in his person. Overall, he had the best of times, and last but not least, Miss Bennet was an angel.

Mr Darcy rolled his eyes subtly and certainly had a different opinion. He shared it with a bored expression on his face. "I did not see any beauty or fashion among the attendees. The music was mediocre at best, and the people were common." He had to be mortified to learn that his assessment was almost identical to that of the Bingley sisters as they nodded fervently to his proclamation. He agreed Miss Bennet was pretty, but she smiled too much for his taste. Unfortunately, that only confirmed his disposition to be unsatisfied with everything.

His friend just smirked at him; nothing could ruin his jovial mood.

***

The next day, many people around Meryton visited one another. Friends and neighbours came together to discuss their thoughts on the assembly. This was a tradition and a need for the female mind that they could not imagine acting otherwise. Not even heavy rain could have separated the gossipers. Miss Lucas, therefore, not surprisingly, showed up at Longbourn just after breakfast in the morning. All were up and fed by then in the house and were ready to discuss the event.

Mrs Bennet took the lead and bragged about Jane's success with false modesty. They all patiently listened to her. When they discussed Mr Darcy, Mrs Bennet declared, "I have never seen such disagreeable manners. Who does he think he is? Just because he has ten thousand a year[4] and a grand estate in the north does not mean he is better than us. Mrs Long told me she had the misfortune to sit close to him for half an hour, and he never said anything the entire time."

"Mama, I saw him talking to her while they sat beside each other," Jane intervened.

"That is because she asked how he found Netherfield."

"Then he did answer her, Mother."

Mrs Bennet did not like that her point was overturned. "Yes, but the truth is that he did not deign to talk to anybody in general."

"And why should he? If I had heard my income banded around like was his, I might have become upset about it, and the enjoyment of the event would have been over for me." Elizabeth became indignant on behalf of the gentleman. Why am I protecting him? She was stunned at herself.

"I heard from Miss Bingley that he never speaks much unless he is among those he considers intimate acquaintances." Jane shared what she had heard.

Elizabeth thought about this information, as it supported her first impression of the man. Possibly caught on a bad day, but he must be of a reserved nature in general, she thought. As her disposition was in total contrast to his, it was somewhat difficult for her to understand how someone could go through life without levity. She hoped they had not seen everything there was to him for his sake. She would have to pity such a person, good looks or not.

"That is interesting," mused Charlotte. "I say if Mr Bingley has the right to be merry and to talk to everyone easily, then Mr Darcy has the right to be the opposite. We cannot expect everybody to behave similarly, after all. Besides, he has a lot to be proud of." Charlotte thought he had the right to be proud anyway, as he was a fine young man with family and fortune.

To this, Elizabeth commented quietly that he could have his pride all he wanted, but she resented that he had hurt hers.

Charlotte gave her an indulgent smile. "Come on, Lizzy, be more forgiving."

Elizabeth sighed. "You are right. I should let this go. Nothing good can come out of it if I keep a grudge. A gentleman like Mr Darcy should be given the chance to redeem himself. I must say, though, that he deserves a set-down; he should have known better, but I shall take your advice and be more generous." Lizzy looked down and demurred. Now, if she could make her heart follow this good advice!

"What is it you are talking about, you two?" Mrs Bennet wanted her share of the conversation.

Charlotte and Elizabeth looked at each other, and with a hardly perceptible shake of the head, Elizabeth let her friend know that she did not want her mother to know about the unfortunate incident. That would have been all she needed. If she knew, she would have new munition for her displeasure with the gentleman. Also, everybody in Meryton would learn about it; Elizabeth shivered. She just wanted to forget the whole thing. "We are just talking about how men were scarce."

"Oh yes, that is quite unfortunate. I keep telling your father to take us to London, but he will not have it. Uh, your father has no compassion for my nerves! How am I going to marry all of you? There are no prospects in the neighbourhood. The Netherfield party also let us down. We were promised several unattached gentlemen."

The girls knowingly looked at each other.

Well, Elizabeth agreed with her mother's sentiment. It was true that there was only a tiny chance for them to find their partners in the neighbourhood. That was why it was crucial to find out whether Mr Bingley could prove to be a worthy gentleman. Mr Darcy, his arrogant, taciturn behaviour aside, was too much out of their league. Even Elizabeth knew that. He was safe from their attentions, yet something made her sigh.

***

In the following days, the ladies of Longbourn paid a visit to the ladies of Netherfield. However, Mrs Bennet's presence somewhat hindered the flow of cheerful conversation. Having an agenda, she constantly made comments designed to advance her eldest daughter while disparaging other neighbourhood ladies.

The sisters quickly got the measure of the matron and started to ignore her.

Jane and Elizabeth were of two hearts about their mother's behaviour. For one, they felt mortified at her trying so hard, as she was not particularly subtle, and tact was not her strength. They also understood her desperation – if only she could be more circumspect. Elizabeth understood that she said those things, hoping the sisters would share her information with Mr Bingley. She would have to tell her mother that that was a wasted effort. Those two would not do such a thing if her first impressions of them were correct. Their mother, however, deserved their hosts' respect. The two ladies from London were too full of themselves to give what was due to a guest. In Elizabeth's eyes, this lack of manners was a sure sign that they were not true ladies.

The Netherfield ladies returned the visit. Both parties were taking each other's measures. The sisters genuinely seemed to like Jane and, to a lesser degree, Elizabeth and deemed them the only ladies worth knowing in the neighbourhood. Jane thought their conversation was all politeness. Elizabeth acknowledged that they could please when they wanted to.

Whenever the gentlemen were present, it was pretty clear that Mr Bingley only had eyes for Elizabeth's elder sister. To her, his enthusiasm and attention to her sister were a bit too much when he only just met her and did not know much about Jane. He seemed like he did everything with enthusiasm. His dancing with Jane twice at the assembly when they first met was an excellent example. Then maybe his interest was more because of his generally happy nature rather than a genuine wish to know her. She could imagine him doing the same with other ladies wherever he went.

He reminded Elizabeth of a Mr Johnson, Mr Gardiner's associate. The man was somewhat odd in Elizabeth's eyes. When they met, he praised her, Jane, and the food. "I have never seen such beauty. I have never seen such a performance. I have never eaten such good food." At first, hearing these from him made them favour the man, but when the second and third time, everything was thought of as never seen, never heard, never tasted, his praise lost its appeal very quickly.

However, this remembrance and comparison dissatisfied her, and she hoped she was not correct in her musings. She also observed her sister, who was a different story altogether. Outwardly, she did not show much, but Elizabeth understood that Jane was guarded and uncomfortable. She did smile and seemed to accept Mr Bingley's continuous attentions with some pleasure, but Elizabeth was not entirely convinced.

Elizabeth and Jane had made a pact that they would only enter marriage if love and respect existed. This was a novel notion; they might have even been naïve, but they were in love with love itself. They really hoped they would recognise it when it came. They both wanted a different marriage than their parents and some of their neighbours – that they knew. They often found themselves questioning the societal norms that dictated their parents' marriage. Their mother wanted to become a wife of the landed gentry, and their papa most likely fell in love with their mother's looks and liveliness, for instance. Even now, she was an attractive woman. They had their moments, but it never lasted. Unfortunately, they did not have much in common. The resulting marriage was lacking in much respect. Their father often disrespected and mocked his wife in front of their children. She did not like this side of her beloved father. Having said that, the girls knew that their father and mother still shared their bed regularly; at least, there was that.

Thank heavens, they also had another marriage before them, for a good example. They had spent considerable time with their mother's brother's family, the Gardiners, in London. Uncle Edward was in trade but quite successful. Their uncle had married a lovely lady from the north, who had become their second mother, in truth. The Gardiners' household was a stark contrast to the Bennets'. It was a place of order, discipline, and mutual respect. For many years, Jane and Elizabeth spent much time with them, partly to give breathing space to the Bennets, who were having first Mary, then Catherine, and finally, Lydia, and partly to give their aunt company. Their yearly two trips had become a habit even after. Finally, the Gardiner children were born, four in number. Indeed, their uncle and aunt considered them their own children, so close they all were.

In secret, both girls loved their times in London. It was a world apart from the chaotic nature of the Bennet household. In London, their times were highly regulated – not suffocating, but regulated, nevertheless. Their aunt and uncle had them study various subjects and even paid for masters to teach them as the years passed. They took their roles very seriously. The Gardiners were aware of the lack of discipline in the girls' lives, so they tried to give all the suitable advantages that young ladies should have in this time of age. Their balanced and rational tutoring and the calm and authoritative atmosphere of their home created Jane and Elizabeth, who then tried to instil what they learnt into their sisters, unfortunately, only with minimal success.

[1] See the imagined building on the story website, link at the front

[2] This meant the top four hundred gentry families and the aristocracy, who often kept a London residence as well.

[3] This means that the family's money did not come from their property (land) but from trade, including manufactured goods. Many landowners had investments of all kinds, but it was not appropriate to talk about it; they pretended that the world was not changing.

[4] A yearly 10,000 income today would be about 553,000 pounds, with a better buying power than today.

Chapter 3

About two weeks after the assembly

As often happened, Charlotte joined Elizabeth for a little walk in the countryside. This time, quite a debate ensued between the two friends. Charlotte was of the opinion that, speaking of Jane, a woman should show more interest than she felt to encourage a potential suitor. This was an intriguing premise, but as Elizabeth thought it through, something nagged at her that there was a mistake in Charlotte's argument. She had always respected Charlotte's thoughts, as she was seven and twenty compared to her only not yet twenty, but she never let that fact blind her. After all, she liked a good debate.

"What if one did not feel much in the first place? When does such practice turn from being practical to becoming disingenuous, even mercenary?" Elizabeth posed a tricky moral question. One would have to get to know the other person first, she debated.

Charlotte's answer was quite simple: she thought it was better to know very little of one's possible partner in case that would hinder the connection.

Elizabeth could not but laugh. "Come, Charlotte, you cannot possibly be of that opinion. It is just so…against good reason; it is too practical. We are discussing the prospect of two individuals entwining their lives! Of course, it is important that they can live together in harmony. It is not harmony when one finds out something terrible about the other, but by then, it is too late, and he or she has to put up with it for the rest of their life." She understood Charlotte's viewpoint; she really did, but she could not identify with it. It struck her as too pragmatic and devoid of feeling. Real feelings were not even mentioned regarding what was needed for a marriage.

Am I naïve? she pondered. True, most marriages she knew were not love matches, or love must have faded by now. When she pictured any man in their neighbourhood, she could not envision living with them, talking to them, and being intimate without some genuine feeling. Mr Darcy's image flickered in the back of her mind. Would she mind being attached to such a man? As quickly as it came, she swiftly dismissed that image.

"It is too early anyway. Jane has only just met Mr Bingley in company," she argued. "It has been only a fortnight. He has not called on her to demonstrate his interest." In her opinion, Jane should take her time to see if he was a man she could come to love.

There was no winner in their debate. None could really affect the other. Charlotte seemed to consider marriage a means to an end in her mission to escape from her home, while Elizabeth considered marriage a great journey that one wanted to share with the right person. Elizabeth felt sympathy towards her friend's sentiment, while Charlotte thought Elizabeth was naïve to think of life romantically.

***

Thinking about marriage brought to the front one thing that kept intruding into Elizabeth's mind lately.

The dowry.

She could no longer disregard the issue because of youth or naivete. This world they lived in was a harsh one.

How could one make a love match when money would surely be a consideration? The Bennet daughters had basically nothing to offer in that quarter. Well, some one thousand pounds, but even that was only after her mother's death. When she first heard of it, the concept was so foreign to her: waiting for one's parent's death to have access to some meagre sum. It was unacceptable. In her mind, she considered that she had no dowry.

How was one supposed to marry without anything to her name? Even men in love needed some money to live on. Smaller landowners would want at least a little dowry to contribute to the marriage. She had even considered marrying a tradesman lately. Maybe their lack of dowry could be compensated by their being of the gentry. She could only hope there was somebody like her uncle out there. She knew her mother would not approve, but paupers could not be choosers.

The questions in her head bubbled to the surface more and more. Oh, she knew her place; she did, but she could not accept her father's lack of planning and sacrifice. She had debated the topic with Jane, but their conclusions were not near satisfactory. Elizabeth could not fathom her father's inaction. He had five daughters and not a farthing saved to forward their marriages. No wonder their mother was in nervous spirits every time a potential suitor showed up, which was not often to begin with.

Elizabeth had made calculations. She calculated that if their father had invested fifty pounds a year since his children's birth, with the minimal four per cent interest, she and her sisters would now have one thousand and five hundred pounds to their names, not counting the money after their mother's parting. If he had invested a hundred a year, the amount would be three thousand after twenty years. If he had invested the money with a successful enterprise, that money could have been easily doubled or more.

If the lesser amount had been used, that would have translated into a yearly investment of two hundred and fifty pounds for them. That could have been done with a little economy, or if their father had put more energy into his estate management, he could have earned the extra money.

When she turned fifteen, her mother declared her 'out.' Following Jane's example, she began using her pin money to buy items other than her garments. If they could not have money, at least they wanted something of value to offer. So, they purchased material for tablecloths and, with painstaking embroidery, especially for Elizabeth, who was not particularly good at that, made beautifully decorated pieces. They created pillowcases, handkerchiefs, and more. These items were pressed and folded nicely in the bottom of their wardrobes. Jane had a nice set of wine glasses and lovely silver cutlery; Elizabeth had a beautifully painted tea set with teaspoons waiting. With time, Mary followed their example. Despite their financial constraints, they were determined to improve their situation.

Their mother reported to their father what their daughters were doing. After interviewing them, he felt so guilty that his daughters had to resort to this in fear of not having anything to offer for when they were getting married that he increased their yearly pin money by fifteen pounds each. That was the extent of his dealing with the problem.

Despite all this, Jane and Elizabeth did not despair, thanks to their Gardiner relations. When each girl became eighteen, they were invited into their uncle's office and told of a secret. Whenever the girls would stay with them, their uncle required their father to cover the cost of their stay, including their tuition. Mostly, he did not use the money, however. He invested most of the money straight into his business, which was partly about investing in other ventures. In time, they also invested some of their own money for Jane and Elizabeth, fifty to begin with and sixty pounds per annum in later years. Both girls had a little more than two thousand pounds as the investment stood. Their uncle did not want their parents to know about the money, but they wanted the girls to relax a little about their situation. Jane and Elizabeth could hardly believe their uncle and aunt had done this for them. The Gardiners had to explain that, no, they did not take the money from their own children. They assured them that they were doing the same for their own. There was nothing to worry about, as there was plenty of time for their money to grow for them.

Every time Elizabeth thought of what her relatives had done for Jane and her, she wanted to cry. It told her beyond anything that they were important to her uncle and aunt. So important, in fact, that seeing that their own father would do nothing, they made sure that they provided for them. Their kindness and generosity touched Elizabeth deeply.

And that was the crux of the matter: How much did their father love his children if he did nothing at all?

She used to adore her father. He always had this quiet presence in her life that allowed her to discover the world through books. An escape from reality – their reality. Her favourite thing was to sit by the small fire in his book room in the worn-out armchair that was big enough to pull her legs up and lose herself in history, Shakespeare's world, or a poet's imagination. When she would look up, her father would quietly snore in his tattered chair with his book on his chest, or he would puff a luxurious tobacco while turning the pages of his latest acquisition. She loved the smell of his pipe.

Yes, she used to adore her father.

Then came the painful awakening. It took several years and reluctance, but eventually, although she still loved him, her respect for him lessened to some extent.

The reason was not only their non-existent dowries but also his role as a father figure and husband to their mother. He always seemed to take the path of least resistance. This meant that the children ended up doing as they wanted. This was why it was difficult for her and Jane to tutor their younger sisters on anything they had learnt in London.

The other reason why Elizabeth started to resent her father somewhat was his treatment of his wife, their mother. She rarely saw eye to eye with her mother, but that did not mean she did not love her, as she knew that she loved Elizabeth in her own way. She started to have less and less patience with her father's subtle show of disrespect that played on the ignorance of their mother, who often did not realise she was being disrespected. If she had given her more credit, then sometimes it felt that she very well understood the barbs, but she had gotten used to them. Either case was just incredibly sad and unnecessary.

***

Now, there was a new situation. A rich, single man had leased Netherfield, and already the town was whispering a possible attachment due to the gentleman paying considerable attention to her sister in public. Apparently, the gentleman inherited almost one hundred thousand pounds, which he would use to acquire an estate. If the man did not do anything and did not invest it in some business, the bank interest would provide him with close to four thousand pounds in income annually. If he had bought an estate, it would be similarly three to four thousand per annum, but only if he knew what he was doing, which, by his admission, was not the case yet. In either case, the man was worth three to four thousand pounds if he had no other investment. That was twice what Longbourn brought in every year.

Would a rich man consider marrying without much of a dowry? Would Mr Bingley? It would be a step up for him to marry a gentleman's daughter, but the fact of the matter was, if looking at it objectively, that he could marry someone with better financial circumstances. She sighed. Her musings were not overly optimistic. One must genuinely love someone to overstep general expectations.

Elizabeth thought of her acquaintance in London, a few houses away from the Gardiner residence. The family came from trade, but it was prosperous. About two years previously, their daughter, Emily, met a gentleman from the ton who was the heir of a landed family. Elizabeth was half witness, half listener of their romance. It seemed hopeless, but the feelings between the two just grew. Finally, the gentleman went against his whole family and asked Emily to be his wife. The family, the all-so-loving family of his, gave him the money put away for the younger son, ten thousand pounds, and showed him the door. What was unique in all this was that the gentleman had known that this would happen or something worse, and he still chose what he thought would make him happy. So, he stepped down, joined his father-in-law's business, and never looked back. Now, they were expecting their first child, of whom Elizabeth would be godmother.

That was love in Elizabeth's eyes.

***

In the evening, Elizabeth told Jane about her debate with Charlotte. Jane immediately believed that a lady should not show more than she felt and not more than the gentleman had expressed.

"Jane, that sounds more like something from Mary's sermons. I do agree that a lady should be delicate in her expressions, but Emily, for instance, was an open book regarding her feelings. Was that not proper?"

"Not the same, Lizzy. She had a suitor who did express his love in many ways."

"True. What of you, dear Sister? What sentiments do you harbour towards your suitor?"

"First of all, he is not my suitor." She put down her embroidery. "This is what worries me, if anything. Everybody believes he is, while he, other than paying me much attention, I admit evident attention, nevertheless has not yet called on me.

"My feelings? I do not know. I am flattered by the attention, but that is all there is for now – I do not want to presume anything. Is he someone I could love? Well, again, I do not know. I have learnt that he is a joyful person – happy and straightforward, with no pretensions. I like that. It attracts me, but I am a much quieter person, am I not? I do not like attention, while he thrives in it. I like to muse over things, while he is more spontaneous. Maybe this could be a good thing; we could compensate each other. Who knows? He is only one year older than me; he has much growth to do, but he has potential.

"Would I welcome his suit? We must be honest with ourselves: can I afford not to welcome his suit?"

Elizabeth gazed at her elder sister in astonishment. Such maturity, such self-awareness! It dawned on her: they were no longer children, no longer young misses who looked at the world with wonder. It was not as romantic an answer as she had hoped, but it was honest.

The famous white soup

Served at balls - This chicken soup recipe - as featured in Pride and Prejudice - is rich in flavour but beautiful in its understatement.

https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/white-soup/

Angelo's - Chapters 20, 21

The picture is from 1791. Henry Angelo, son of an Italian fencing master made his establishment a household name at the time. He strongly believed that fencing improved general health.

Chapter 24

Tea served, Chapter 32

Tea in the afternoon did not actually become common until the 1700's. By the Regency Era, the custom had long since caught on, and the upper class had afternoon tea at about four o'clock, which was before the fashionable time to promenade in Hyde Park if one was in London. Afternoon tea included, of course, tea served hot. Also served with tea, one would find small finger sandwiches (thin and crust-less), biscuits, seedcake, and small cakes sometimes called fairly cakes with butter icing, which, were probably not much bigger than mini cupcakes. There has been much discussion among Regency enthusiasts as to whether scones with jam and clotted cream (also known as Devonshire cream) were served during the Regency or if that become more common during the Victorian era, when High Tea became such a grand affair.
https://donnahatch.com/english-afternoon-tea-jane-austen-style/<br>

Chapter 41

Elizabeth's engagement ring

The idea of an engagement ring is a new idea at this time. Regency brides did not receive engagement rings.
Diamonds were extremely rare at this time. From the 1730s onwards, they were only mined in India and Brazil and reserved for royalty.  

Hungarian Hussars

Mentioned in chapter 54.

https://dailynewshungary.com/the-story-of-the-hungarian-hussars-photos/

After their marriage

Dear Sir,

A peek into Dear Sir, 

Chapter 5

Ices at Gunter's and Hard Truths

Darcy, suddenly, felt very tired. He would have continued to sit in his chair if not for a knock at his study door. He instinctively knew it was his faithful Mrs. Carter.

'Come in,' he called out. 'What can I do for you, Carter?'

'I just did not want you to forget that there was a lovely lady visiting with your sister. Do not keep her waiting too long, Sir.' She hesitated.

'Yes?' asked Darcy. Mrs. Carter looked embarrassed.

'Is it... her?' she finally asked. Darcy looked into her eyes, and slowly shook his head. She sighed.

'It is her sister,' Darcy found himself saying. Mrs. Carter's eyes opened wide.

'What happened, my boy?' she went closer to him as she asked.

Darcy looked at the kind old woman, hesitated, then said, 'I proposed and she rejected me.' He shrugged while she gasped and was left speechless.

'You, Fitzwilliam Darcy, ... you were rejected?... Is this girl a fool?' She was in full indignation on behalf of her master. 'How can anyone say no to my darling boy?!' she exclaimed while shaking her head. She raised her finger, 'Well, if she does not know what is good for her, then it is her loss.' She punctuated her statement with a decisive nod. She was fiercely protective of her boy as she sometimes called him. Darcy did not mind. She used to clean his scraped knee after bad falls. 'You, on the other hand, gather yourself and go see to this lady. She seems to be a nice one, and good for Georgiana.'

He smiled in spite of himself. 'Yes, ma'am.' Good for Georgiana? he repeated to himself. Interesting.

'On second thought, Mrs. Carter, could you change your garments and accompany me while I see her home? I have things to discuss with her, confidentially.' She smiled and nodded.

'I shall arrange for the carriage.'

***

'Oh, Fitzwilliam, Miss Bennet has just told me that they are going to the theatre tonight. May we join them?' Georgiana blurted out as soon as he stepped into the room.

'Oh?'

'It is our last night in London, Sir, my aunt and uncle are taking us to the theatre at Covent Garden.'

'May we go?' Georgiana could hardly keep herself seated.

'Georgiana, they may want to celebrate on their own.' At that, she looked at Jane beseechingly. Jane did not know what to say. She looked at Mr. Darcy in return.

'Miss Bennet, my housekeeper will serve as a chaperone as I take you home. I hope that will be adequate.' Jane nodded. He turned to Georgiana with a look, 'I will see if we can attend.' She understood that the discussion was over. She sighed.

***

Once they were all in the carriage, Jane asked if they could make a stop. She wanted to get some biscuits or cakes from Gunter's. She had used that as her destination in the morning. Everybody would appreciate that at home; they all had a sweet tooth. Her mother, especially, would be ecstatic about it. Gunter's Tea Shop at Berkeley Square, London was known even in Hertfordshire.

'I am at your service.' Mr. Darcy gallantly tried to bow in the small space. Jane and Mrs. Carter chuckled. 'It is not far from Grosvenor Square. I will let the coachman know.' He stepped out.

Once he was back, Jane and Mr. Darcy smiled at each other. Darcy thought that it would be awkward to face her after what she wrote to him, but he found, as he was sitting facing her, that he felt, for lack of a better word, comforted. It was a somewhat light feeling. It has been a long time since he felt this way - cared for. It was a warm balm for his wounded heart.

Jane dreaded facing Mr. Darcy again. She felt a blush creeping into her face. While she conversed with Georgiana, half of her mind was reading the letter with Mr. Darcy. Was it too much? She castigated herself. I should have... What made her open herself up so? This was so unlike her... By wanting to help him heal meant that she had to share her thoughts with him more than anyone had known.

She realized that she liked that she did something out of character. It was time for her to take her life into her own hands. Well, writing a letter to a single gentleman may not be the best course, but he himself had written a letter to a single lady, so he could not object, she justified. Now, that she was sitting facing him, she strangely did not feel any embarrassment. Jane wanted him to know that somebody appreciated him, even cared for him. She felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders; it felt right.

The carriage was on its way slowly. They had to stop a few times because of traffic.

'Thank you for introducing me to Miss Darcy. It was a pleasant surprise.'

'Pleasant surprise?'

'I meant... well, ... I did not know what to expect.' She turned her head. Her hands clenched around her reticule. Mr. Darcy did not miss the movement. He looked up and said,

'Miss Bennet, what is it that you are trying to say?'

'Well, if you must know, I remembered Lizzy saying something she heard about her... According to that account, she was... different.' Mr. Darcy encouraged her with a further look. 'She was told that your sister was proud and arrogant, like you.' She looked away. Now she was embarrassed.

Mrs. Carter gasped and Mr. Darcy was taken aback. Darcy put his hand on Mrs. Carter's to stop her from the outrage that was sure to come. He himself took a deep breath. 'Wickham.' Jane nodded still looking away.

Nothing could keep Mrs. Carter from exclaiming then, 'Mr. Wickham? That scoundrel? Don't you believe anything he says, Miss. He'd had every opportunity to do well, but he wasted what he was given. A man's worth can be told by how he treats others, the servants. Well, let's just say that he always made us aware that he thought himself better than us. The two-faced devil, he is...' Mr. Darcy patted her hand. She looked at him in return and nodded.

'I am so sorry. I was not thinking,' Jane tried to backtrack. 'No, of course not. It took only one look at Miss Darcy to know that she is just a shy and lovely young girl.'

Mr. Darcy's mind whirled. Why did Miss Elizabeth even talk to Wickham about him or his sister? Did she not realize how improper that was? They had known each other for what, a day? She should have known better. Not so wise after all. She had heard many good things about his sister from the Bingleys, he remembered. No, she wanted to believe the worst. That hurt. That hurt badly.

How she stood up for him at the ball! A few days made her into his staunch defender. She brought him up during the dance knowing that it was a sensitive issue. She was not interested in his side, he realized; she tried to put him in place with her impertinent questions. Did I take care to be impartial? Huh, as if I had been some inexperienced youth in managing my things. She was not impartial.

Mr. Darcy was still considering Miss Elizabeth's behaviour. He looked at Jane, remembering her letter, 'you did not believe him.' Jane looked into his eyes.

'I do not like to think ill of anyone, but the matter sounded so outrageous. It did not make sense that you were good friends with Mr. Bingley who was also not of your station, yet you were there to help him. Also, I knew you did not shrink from your duty. You spent a lot of time at Netherfield corresponding. I imagine it was mostly business. You would not do something like that without good reason. Duty is important to you. That is what I believed.' Darcy looked at her with his eyebrows raised.

'Just how did you learn that about me - doing correspondence?' Mr. Darcy teased but was also intrigued.

'That is easy... from my sister and the maids. They talk, you know... and I might have asked around,' she shrugged. Then she continued, 'I warned Lizzy that we only knew one side of the story, and I offered to get some details from Mr. Bingley at the ball, if possible. Although he did not know much about the matter, he did say that Wickham had hurt your family badly.'

'And what did your sister have to say to that?' Jane hesitated, then looked away in response. She did not know what to say. She could not say anything positive.

'My comment really must have hurt her,' mused aloud Mr. Darcy. He had admitted to himself that that was badly done. He never considered the age difference. She was only twenty years of age. She seemed so self-assured, so mature. Darcy was glad for this knowledge. It helped to understand, to heal his heart.

'Thank you for speaking up for me and for knowing that it was not fair to listen to only one side.' Jane nodded.

'For what it is worth, I am sorry. I was trying to get Bingley off my back, that was all. I was not myself that evening. I did not even look at her properly to judge. Obviously, I found her quite the opposite.' Darcy sighed. Jane nodded.

'If we are talking openly,' she said, 'I wonder if you are aware that Miss Bingley wrote a letter to me when they quit Netherfield, and in it she mentioned Georgiana. She strongly suggested that she and Mr. Bingley were courting.' Mr. Darcy's head snapped up.

'Pardon me?!'

'Yes. It upset me then. But then I did realize that it was just a way to discourage me.'

'I cannot believe this. How dare she?! Georgiana is not yet sixteen. It is not true, of course. She is not even out!' Mr. Darcy was highly indignant. He took a few calming breaths. 'She was desperate. She did not want Bingley to offer for you.'

'I concluded that when she did not return my call for three weeks. What I do not understand is why. They are from trade. A connection to a long-time gentry family like mine would have been a step up for them.'

'Took her three weeks? That is highly improper. She showed you much disrespect. I did not know.' Mr. Darcy shook his head in disbelief. 'To answer your question, Miss Bingley... she wants more. She wants to belong to the first circle. She could have married a long time ago; Bingley told me that she had some offers. She, on the other hand, ...'

'Wants you.'

Surprised, he answered, 'Well, I was going to say that she wanted to marry above her station, but I guess that is true as well. It is not going to happen though. Not if I can help it.' Jane let herself giggle, but put her hand in front of her mouth to attempt to hide it. Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Carter joined in.

***

After a few moments, the carriage stopped, and Mr. Darcy got out in front of Gunter's.

Mr. Darcy, waving the footman away, helped Jane out. After that, he offered his hand to Mrs. Carter. 'Me, too?' she asked with wide eyes.

'Come on, Carter, let us have some ices.' He winked at her. She beamed.

'Thank you, Sir.' Mr. Darcy offered his arm to the old lady.

Jane saw their exchange. She smiled to herself and shook her head. Lizzy, Lizzy, how could a man be all that bad when he does things like this?!

The front above the door was decorated with a huge pineapple. The exotic fruit had become a symbol of confectioners who produced beautiful things only the rich could afford. That makes me rich, Jane laughed internally. As soon as Mr. Darcy opened the door for her, a heady sweet scent of vanilla and almond wafted toward her. She involuntarily stopped and closed her eyes to inhale deeply. At the next moment, Mr. Darcy bumped into her not expecting her to stop.

'I beg your pardon.' Mr. Darcy protectively steadied her.

'No, it was my fault.' Jane just laughed. Mr. Darcy looked at her in question. 'The smell. It caught me off guard. Is it not heavenly?' She smiled. Mr. Darcy could only agree as he inhaled.

Jane looked around. She had never been there. It was not what she expected. Gunter's had such a reputation; it was the place to go. She even heard that this was where lovers went to spend time together after a walk in the park. Mrs. Gardiner had explained to her that couples could go there without a chaperone! The shop was smaller than she expected, but it was big enough for a huge counter, two big display cabinets, and a few tables and chairs. As it was still morning, it was not busy.

They sat down. The choices for ices were orange flower, jasmine rose, and elderflowers. Mr. Darcy ordered all three with tea and cakes. What a treat! Jane regarded all the delicious-looking treats quickly put on their table. Jane poured tea for everyone. The ices would not wait though, so they attacked those first. It was a bit strange, like eating snow. She had tried that once. Mrs. Carter grimaced because of the new cold sensation in her mouth but quickly went for a second bite. Mr. Darcy, like someone who was used to eating the treat, showed no reaction.

They chatted about nothing important; one cannot discuss serious issues while they had the most succulent flavour in their mouths.

As they finished, Mr. Darcy accompanied Jane to the display cabinets for her to choose the gift for her family. Jane showed and indicated her choices to the shop assistant. When it came to paying, Mr. Darcy took it upon himself to take care of that in spite of Jane's protest.

'Let me do this for you, Miss Bennet. It would mean a lot to me.'

'Mean a lot to you? Jane chuckled, 'that sounds like backward thinking to me.'

'Nevertheless, you will let me do this for you because you do not want to hurt my feelings.' Mr. Darcy bantered back. Jane looked at his smug face, and she could not say no to him. She nodded.

'Thank you.'

'You are welcome.'

When they were back in the carriage, Jane spoke, 'As you were so generous, Mr. Darcy, I would like to stop at yet another establishment. There is a bookshop not far from my uncle's house. There is a book waiting for me. Now I have enough money left to buy it. You would not mind, would you?' Jane beamed.

'By all means.' Mr. Darcy smiled, 'And what is this ominous book you have to buy?'

'It is actually a collection of beautiful prints of plants. It is for inspiration and technique. I am learning how to paint plants properly.'

'Indeed? That sounds very interesting. You mentioned that you study medicinal plants.'

'Yes, that is something I am very interested in.'

'How does one study them?'

'Well, I talk to people who have a better understanding of them than I do. Then I compare my findings. You have no idea how much knowledge is actually out there,' explained Jane. 'For instance,' she gestured to Mrs. Carter, 'I have questioned every housekeeper of the area around Meryton. For instance, I have collected several remedies for the common cold. They are fountains of useful knowledge.' Mrs. Carter nodded knowingly.

'Amazing. I would have not really thought about that. Although I know what you mean. It is not often we have to call the doctor.' He gestured toward Mrs. Carter, 'she concocts some awful-tasting tea, and the next thing we know we drink it, and the next day or so we are back to health.' They all laughed at that.

For a while, they journeyed in silence.

'Miss Bennet, I wanted to ask you...'

'Yes?'

'What did you think of... of what happened between your sister and me?'

There was a surprised pause.

'Sir, I do not think you want to discuss this.' Jane glanced at Mrs. Carter.

'Mrs. Carter knows.'

'Oh? Still, I do not think it is my place...'

'That bad, huh? Please. What is your opinion?'

Seeing Mr. Darcy's beseeching look, Jane said. 'I am not sure if you are ready to hear any criticism.'

'Please, Miss Bennet. I cannot discuss this with anyone. You know what happened. Help me make sense of it.'

Jane hesitated, 'I do not even know where to begin... I mean what were you thinking, Sir?'

'What do you mean?' Mr. Darcy did not expect a frontal attack.

'I mean did you really think you courted her properly?'

'I... courted her... I paid att...?' He drifted off.

'Yes, courting when a gentleman lets a lady know he is interested and does everything in his power to make the lady interested as well. Traditionally with flowers and chocolate. Did you do that? How was Elizabeth to know what you were about? You hardly spoke to her. A couple of walks and a single visit does not constitute courting, Mr. Darcy. What is more, you caught her totally off guard, just after she learnt that you boasted to your cousin about your success that you had saved your friend from me.

'Oh, no!' cried Mrs. Carter. Mr. Darcy shrunk in his seat.

'My sister is a lot of things: impulsive, stubborn, feels everything too deeply, but she has convictions, and she is no fortune hunter. She rejected you because you hurt her pride, you made a very bad first impression on her, because of Mr. Wickham's tales, and finally the perceived wrong treatment of her beloved sister. She did not even consider your offer for what it could have meant for her. Before you, she rejected an offer from our cousin who will inherit our home. That is Lizzy. Right or wrong... And after you called her a 'degradation,' you had no chance at all.' Mr. Darcy was stunned, but she had not finished.

'If you had really loved her, you would have considered her. You would have gone to her father, after you had known her better, for permission to court her, then asked Lizzy. At Hunsford, she was not even under her family's protection. I am afraid you only thought of yourself.'

'I thought she expected my addresses.' He said petulantly, not ready to accept total defeat.

'In that case, you ought to learn more about women, Sir. The first rule is to never assume anything.'

'Quite Right. Master William, is this true what I hear?' Mrs. Carter could not believe her ears. 'Is this how you were taught to carry yourself?' She shook her head, 'Your mother would be most displeased.'

'I am sorry, Mr. Darcy. Obviously, I know things from Lizzy's perspective, but based on that, this is what I think.'

'No, please, do not apologize. I asked for this... I asked for this.' Mr. Darcy contemplated Jane's words. 'I have been struggling with the events at Hunsford. You are painfully right. It was badly done. I cannot think about my conduct but with abhorrence.' He wiped his face with his hands. 'What must she think of me? I thought my letter would absolve me, and now I have to realize that there are many other things I should apologize for.'

'You are upset. Could you make the carriage stop, please? I shall step out to get my book. Why do you not step out too, take a short walk?'

They got out. Mr. Darcy kept walking next to Jane. Jane stopped, 'What are you doing?'

'What do you mean? I am escorting you, Miss Bennet.'

'Oh, no, you are not. Go in another direction. I will be back momentarily.'

'A gentleman does not let a lady walk alone in London.' Darcy pretended to be appalled at the suggestion. He enjoyed their banter.

'This lady, however, will just go thirty yards,' she pointed to the shop. I know what you are about, Mr. Darcy. You would pay for my prints. I cannot have that.'

Mr. Darcy had to smile at that. She caught him. He looked at her mischievously. As he looked into Jane's beautiful blue eyes, he realized that he liked being in her company, the situation notwithstanding. This woman had just told him off. She had helped him see things clearly. He really did badly at Hunsford. What was I thinking? That was just it. He did not think at all. He had selfishly offered for a young woman who was not ready for him, and he offered for a woman whom he did not know well. Miss Bennet was right. He did not consider Miss Elizabeth at all. What a mess!

He kept looking at Jane. Not just a beautiful woman. The way she just put him in place... Nobody dares to do that, only the Bennet ladies. He chuckled inwardly. His respect for Miss Bennet grew exponentially during the carriage ride.

'I promise I shall behave. I shall let you pay for your prints.'