Posted on Wednesday, 19 March 2003

“Miss. Bennet, Madam.” And into the breakfast parlour she stepped, looking wild and untamed, as, Darcy imagined a woman free from the watchful eyes of society would choose to look. Her eyes glittered in challenge and the tilt of her chin dared those before her to disapprove. She quickly asked of Jane’s health, and as her condition was recounted to her she became more worried by the minute and proceeded directly to where Jane was.

“ She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker…”

Mr. Darcy heard no more of this excellent speech as his able mind was singularly struck with the word ‘walker’. It had nagged at him when she first arrived also, suddenly he realised that was what he could sense whenever he was in the same room as her. It was her bridled energy straining all the time to break the leash of propriety, like his black stallion from its strict reins. He was surprised he had not noticed it before; she gave off heat like a flame it was both dangerous and enticing. He saw her eyes in his minds eye and saw why they glittered with light. They were the window to her inner flame of life and energy.

Miss. Bingley was talking at him rather than to him again and it was causing his mind to wander which was unfortunate; as when his mind had the chance to wander, which was seldom, it had a strange tendency to fixate itself upon a pair of fine, laughing eyes.

“What do you say Mr. Darcy? Caroline looked up at him questioningly and he realised he had not heard a single word of her recent discourse. He considered the possibilities: censure of the Bennets or some compliment about Pemberley, Georgiana or himself. Luckily he did not have to injure Miss. Bingley’s pride by confessing his inattention as Bingley rescued him.

“I think Netherfield’s grounds are progressing in a fine manner. Oh it’s early days yet and I’m sure they will never be anything to Pemberley but…’

Here Miss. Bingley interrupted, never missing a chance to show her favourable opinion of Pemberley to its owner.

“…Pemberley is what every estate aspires to, that is to say, perfection.” she smiled, pleased with the compliment she had paid and eager to see its effect on Darcy.

Alas for Miss. Bingley, Darcy had heard none of this high praise as the owner of the aforesaid fine eyes had just entered the room and instantly taken command of all his senses. She answered the questions about her sister’s health with composure but a discerning observer such as Mr. Bennet would have noticed concern troubling her dark eyes.

Darcy merely noticed that they were less vibrant than the last time he had seen them and also voiced his concern for her sister. Finding no easy way to fall into conversation with her as Charles, or indeed Caroline when she had the inclination, could; he walked over to the window and stared, unseeing out of it.

‘I should have said something more,’ he thought ‘perhaps something about how looking after someone can be a strain but never a burden.’ Although he knew this would have been appropriate, he shied away from its intimate nature. Even though Miss Bennet would not realise it, the statement was close to his sentiments when he tended to his father in his last weeks. Then he stiffened; he had said what propriety deemed to be sufficient. Why should he single out a highly independent girl from the country with no money or connections?

In Jane’s room Elizabeth checked the placement of her curls with unusual attention. Although she did not care for any of the host’s opinions particularly, she wished not to disgrace her sister in front of Mr. Bingley.

Jane looked at her sister and even through the misery of her fever she was proud of her. She knew she would go downstairs and enter into conversation with intelligence and wit, something which although she would never admit it, could not be expected from most of the other members of her family. At her sigh of relief she found Elizabeth’s pretty face bending in a concerned manner over her, testing her forehead with her cool hands and Jane thought how lucky she was to have such a sister.