“I am not about to share the event with my sister, Darcy. Besides, I still do not understand what Caroline could have against Miss Elizabeth.”

  “Bingley. Your sister believes I am gullible enough to propose to her. It will never happen. She knows I admire Miss Elizabeth; therefore, she sees Miss Elizabeth as her competition and enemy. She would do anything to ruin Miss Elizabeth as a perspective bride in my eyes. You must keep careful watch on your sister. I fear what she might do thinking it would advance her chances with me.”

  “I believe you think too highly of yourself, Darcy. My sister might see you as a possible suitor but she would never do anything improper or unladylike to attract your attention.”

  Darcy gave a displeased chuckle, “Bingley, you amaze me. Are you so blind you have not seen the way your sister throws herself in front of me? Have you not seen how she attaches herself to my arm without being invited to do so? Can you be so gullible, you believe everything she tells you?”

  Bingley was ready to argue Darcy’s point, but recalled his earlier realization about his sister being a fortune hunter. How he had forgotten such an important fact made him frown. When Jane entered the room, he immediately recalled how both his sisters had tried to make him believe his angel did not love him and how they had declared she would not marry him for any reason but his wealth and her mother’s orders. Darcy’s concerns were valid, he acknowledged. His sister had acted improperly the last time she resided at Netherfield; he vividly recalled her throwing herself at his friend. Bingley would watch his sister closely for she just might act irrationally in her desperation to gain what she most desired – becoming the mistress of Pemberley.

  Elizabeth’s memories of Miss Bingley proved correct. From every interaction with the lady, she could tell Miss Bingley not only disliked her but the lady resented her. It took only two encounters for Elizabeth to realize why the lady resented her. Miss Bingley did everything in her power to draw Mr. Darcy’s attention to herself. Elizabeth also did not fail to realize Mr. Darcy had absolutely no interest in Caroline Bingley. In fact, she noticed he went out of his way to avoid the lady even to the extent of ducking in a closet so their paths would not cross. Observing the event from an open doorway of the music room caused Elizabeth to laugh for the very first time. Georgiana had been with her at the time. The laugh surprised Georgiana; she remembered, during his first visit, her brother writing about the enjoyable laugh of a young lady he met. He compared her laugh to the bells they once heard at a musical event held in their local town. The bells’ tonalities had differed; and one set had a high clear tinkling sound. A pleasurable sound she never forgot. Hearing Elizabeth’s laugh reminded her of those bells, just like her brother had described.

  “Miss Lizzy.” Georgiana attracted her attention. “What did you find so humorous, if you do not mind me asking?”

  Elizabeth’s speaking had improved with use, and the more she spoke the less it hurt. It pleased her when her voice slowly became stronger and her voice did not sound so gruff.

  “Your brother hiding from Miss Bingley.” She still spoke soft and slow, but she kept it even softer so she would not be heard by anyone but Georgiana.

  Georgiana replied softly for the same reason. “She has been attempting to trap him into a marriage from the first day her brother introduced him. Mr. Bingley made the mistake of telling his sister my brother had a large estate and was the nephew of an earl. Miss Bingley wants to improve her place in society and believes by marrying my brother, she will become the toast of London and a sought-after London hostess. What she does not realize is my brother hates society, and if he could, he would only visit London out of season, never attend any social events, and only visit the theater, museums, and book shops.”

  Both ladies laughed softly not wanting to draw attention to themselves, but Mr. Darcy, who just then chose to enter the room, heard their soft laughter.

  “I hope I am not interrupting,” he spoke to both ladies.

  “No,” Georgiana informed him. “Miss Lizzy was just saying how she saw you hiding from Miss Bingley. It was very ingenious of you to make such good use of a linen closet.” Georgiana laughed again.

  “Well done, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth chimed in with her own laugh following.

  “I am pleased I could entertain you both.” He too felt his actions of avoiding Miss Bingley deserved a laugh, but he tried not to laugh too loud for he did not wish to attract the unwanted lady’s attention.

  Since he stood by the door, he closed it behind him before he proceeded further into the room.

  Darcy and the two young ladies spent an enjoyable three hours closeted in the music room. Elizabeth, whose memories still returned only in bits and pieces, spent time with Georgiana relearning to play the pianoforte. Darcy enjoyed listening to the ladies he held dearest practicing techniques and duets, so he spent much of his time with them.

  While the trio enjoyed their uninterrupted time, Miss Bingley searched inside and outside of the house for Mr. Darcy. Finally frustrated beyond her own endurance, she called her lady’s maid into her bedchamber. Bingley happened to be walking by her slightly open door when Caroline began her rant.

  “I want you to locate Mr. Darcy. Ask all the servants if you have to, but find out where he is. I will not allow that country chit to use her arts and allurements on him to keep him from seeing I would make him a better wife. I want you to discover why she is here. Something is not right about her, and I want you to find out every bit of information you can about her presence here. I also want you to discover what the staff thinks of Jane Bennet. I must find some way to get my brother away from her. Maybe I can find a way to end the marriage. He could have done so much better. Jane Bennet is nothing. She has no connections to advance my cause, and she brings nothing valuable to the marriage. She must have tricked my brother into marrying her.”

  Bingley did not stay to hear any more. He should have held tight to his latest realization of his sister being nothing but a fortune hunter. He conceded his sister would try to trap his friend into a marriage, and she would try to discredit both Miss Elizabeth and his wife. He would not allow his sister to ruin his marriage or the happiness of anyone he called family or friend. As soon as he left the area of his sister’s room, he went to find Mrs. Nicholls, his housekeeper.

  “Mrs. Nicholls, you will direct all the staff not to share any information with my sister regarding my guests and this includes her lady’s maid. Remind them their loyalties lie with me and not with my sister or her maid. I pay their wages not my sister, and she holds no sway over dismissing any of my staff. Please let them know I will be extremely displeased to discover any staff sharing private information with either Miss Bingley or her maid. Remind them Mrs. Bingley is the mistress of the house so my sister’s orders are not to be followed. All household orders are to come from me or my wife.” Mrs. Nicholls nodded but hid a knowing smile.

  Miss Bingley’s presence in the house caused various frictions throughout the household. The first time she tried to overstep her bounds by ordering a servant, she found him denying her request and turning away from her. Because he did not follow her dictates, she threw some small delicate ornaments at the door through which the servant had retreated. Upon discovering the damage, Jane spoke to her husband about the destruction. He had the housekeeper begin an itemized list of objects his sister damaged or destroyed. He would hold her accountable for her actions, something he had never done in the past, but this was no longer her home, it was the home of him and his wife.

  Miss Bingley’s next act of cruelty occurred the following day when she found Elizabeth and Georgiana together in the music room. Miss Bingley informed Georgiana her brother wanted to see her in the drawing room. Being skeptical of the request, Georgian did not leave completely. Instead, she remained just outside the door, which she intentionally left ajar.

  “Miss Eliza, why don’t you return to your own home? You are not wanted here. Mr. Darcy will never offer for you no matter how you try to tempt him.” Miss Bingley sneered.

  Georgiana did not hear Elizabeth reply but knew she must have when Miss Bingley said, “I highly doubt that. I know your type, trying to work your way into his notice by flaunting your charms, batting your lashes, and gazing at him alluringly with your fine eyes. I will not allow him to fall for your tricks. I will protect him from you, and you will never become the mistress of his home. You are a country nobody, no better than a harlot showing off your charms. It will never work.”

  Georgiana almost screamed when she felt a hand touch her arm. Her quick turn before the scream revealed her brother standing slightly behind her.

  “How long has she been in there with Miss Elizabeth,” he whispered.

  “Long enough to thoroughly insult her,” Georgiana whispered back.

  “Remain here,” he said before stepping around her and entering the room. “Miss Bingley,” Georgiana had heard her brother’s severe tone only once before, and it occurred when he faced down George Wickham. “You will cease this minute. Your slanderous insults are offensive to Miss Elizabeth and me. You owe the lady a sincere apology. I will also be informing your brother of your words and actions, and if he does not act immediately, I will. There will be consequences for your insults.”

  “Caroline Bingley, what have you done?”

  Miss Bingley had heard her aunt’s reprimanding tone more than once. Mr. Darcy already had her trembling; her aunt’s icy tone completed the job.

  “I think, young lady, after what I have heard and seen, it is time you finally retire to your Aunt Gertrude’s home in the north.”

  Everyone in and near the room heard Miss Bingley’s unpleasant sneer. “Aunt Gertrude has banned me from her home, so you will not be able to threaten me with visiting her.”

  “So I learned the last time we visited. My sister, however, owes me a favor. In fact, a very considerable favor, and she is already aware of what I was planning to ask. You must understand, it was only a matter of time before I knew you would need to be removed from society. Your lack of consideration for others already has offended too many important people, and this incident only reaffirmed my decision.”

  “Charles,” Miss Bingley turned to her brother who had been one of the people who had entered the room after their aunt. “You will not allow her to send me away, will you? You need me for who will make sure your home is in proper working order.”

  From the look on Bingley’s face, everyone present knew Miss Bingley had just said the wrong thing to sway her brother’s sympathy.

  “I agree with Aunt Alyse. It is time you suffer the consequences of your rudeness and cruelty. I will not allow my guests or my staff to be insulted or harmed in anyway by your actions and words.”

  “Please, Charles, I promise to change. I will do whatever you ask, only do not send me to Aunt Gertrude’s.” Miss Bingley feared her Aunt Gertrude more than any of her other relatives. The lady had a way of knowing whenever she lied, effectively thwarted all of her plans to achieve her goals, and ruled her household with an iron fist. She could never gain any advantages from her aunt’s servants. She knew if she appeared repentant enough, her brother would believe her – it had always worked in the past, so she suspected it would work now. By placating everyone, she would have time to find a way to rid herself and Mr. Darcy of Eliza’s unwanted presence.

  “Return to your room while I consider my options,” Bingley replied, but from his tone, Miss Bingley knew she would get her way.

  As soon as Miss Bingley left, Darcy asked, “How can you accept her word she will not cause any more problems. Her words to Miss Elizabeth were cruel and hurtful, and I for one do not believe she regrets the harm she might have caused.”

  “Mr. Darcy,” Jane, who had followed her husband into the room but not heard the cruel words hurled at her sister, interceded. “We must allow her a second chance. Everyone is capable of change, and I believe Miss Bingley is sincere about changing.”

  Elizabeth, who had suffered the onslaught of Miss Bingley’s insults, regained a memory of once saying Jane could think ill of no one. She remembered telling her sister, “You would have pleaded with God to give Lucifer a chance to change when he dared to make a throne and place it above God’s throne. You would have said no one could be so evil and not want to change.” The memory almost caused a laugh, but the seriousness of what occurred and the hurt from the cruelty of the lady’s words repressed the urge.

  Mrs. Bingley’s decision did not please Darcy, but he was not master of the household, and Miss Bingley was Jane Bingley’s sister-in-law. He could not understand Mrs. Bingley’s quickness to forgive considering the one who had been insulted and harmed had been Jane’s own sister.

  It surprised Darcy when Jane, Bingley, and Mrs. Gunther left the room leaving him unsupervised with Miss Elizabeth, and of Georgiana, he saw no sign. Taking advantage of the occurrence, Darcy sat down beside her but not too close, for he had noticed she often flinched when any man appeared too close to her.

  “Miss Elizabeth, I apologize for not having come in sooner. Miss Bingley had no right to speak so harshly to you. You deserved none of her spitefulness. I hope this will not hinder your recovery in any way.” He did reach out and take both her hands in his and was pleased she allowed the connection.

  “Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands and squeezed his slightly before looking back up at him. “Miss Bingley’s presence has caused a few memories to resurface. I seem to recall her previous behavior and expected very little welcome from her.”

  “I am happy your memory is slowly returning, but I regret the incident which brought an unpleasant memory to the surface.” He returned the squeeze he had felt from her.

  “I will overlook the regret if it means I regain a small portion of my memory.” He enjoyed the soft small smile she returned to him.

  “Have you had any other memories resurfacing? Maybe some which are more pleasant to remember?” Darcy was always hopeful of her regaining all her memories, but he hoped the pleasanter ones would return first.

  Elizabeth noticed his intense gaze; the look often surprised her, but she felt as if she had seen just such a look in his eyes before. If only she could remember.

  “I seem to remember more about Jane and Papa, mostly in relation to when I was younger. When Papa and Jane speak about my past, I recall bits and pieces, and a few times vivid pictures flash into my mind. It is like looking through a hazy window and watching the events unfold as they speak about them.”

  Darcy noticed her happiness and pleasure as she spoke. “Could you share one or two, which you found enjoyable?”

  He hoped her sharing would help bring other memories forward. In addition, he desired more knowledge about her and her life. He came into this situation with the intent to finally ask her to be his wife. He had made the resolve when Bingley first told him about the attempted murder of Elizabeth. He had shared his honest intentions with Mr. Bennet; he now desired Miss Elizabeth to return his feelings, but before she could, she needed to remember everything about her past.

  “One of the most vivid memories was sitting in Papa’s book room either reading or playing chess with him. As those memories clarified, I recalled some of the debates we had over something we read. I remember him teaching me, first how to read and later how to play chess. I am vaguer about our mathematics lessons, but I do know he taught me how to work with figures.”

  She looked thoughtful for a moment. He liked the way her nose scrunched up ever so slightly when she was deeply in thought.

  “I think,” she continued, “I helped with the financial accounts. In fact, I have a vague memory of working with his books. Spending time with Jane is another strong memory.” Here she smiled pleasantly revealing to Darcy it was a happy memory. “We often spent many hours talking after everyone else retired. I also vaguely remember picking flowers in our garden and working with her in the stillroom. I think I remember what my bedroom at Longbourn looks like, but I cannot affirm the memory without actually seeing the room.”

  “Do you miss your home?” He knew he missed Pemberley when away for long periods, but currently, he felt more at home sitting beside her.

  “Yes and no. I am enjoying being around my sister, and I enjoy Papa and Mary’s visits, but I do not seem to feel any regrets about not seeing my mother or Lydia.” She looked at him intently as she asked, “Is it wrong of me to feel this way?”

  “No.” His recalled she never seemed close to her mother, and Lydia seemed, in his opinion, a challenge to be around at even the best of times. “Maybe your relationship with them is not nearly as strong as your relationship to your father and Mrs. Bingley.”

  “Would you ever call her Jane?” It still seemed odd, to her, to hear her sister referred to by her marriage name. She regretted not being beside her sister when she married because another memory finally lingered on the boarders of her mind about the promise between them to stand up for each other when they married. What other promises have I failed to fulfill by losing my memory?

  “It would be impolite to be so informal with her. I do not even refer to Bingley by his Christian name.”

  “Why?” Her naturally curiosity, something else she seemed to remember about herself, was peeked. She seemed to recall other gentlemen calling her father Bennet. Absentmindedly, she uttered her thought aloud. “Do men always address each other differently than ladies?”

  “In what way?” He asked rather confused by her questions.

  Elizabeth stared at him confused. Did he read my mind or did I inadvertently speak aloud?

  Self-conscious about their hands still being joined, she gently pulled hers out of his hold and folded them in her lap.

  “You asked if men address each other differently than ladies address each other. I wondered in what way do ladies address each other.” He chuckled at her look of dismay.

  “Oh!” She chuckled in response. “I had not realized I spoke. It was only a momentary thought.”

  She then paused as she wondered whether she should answer him, but then found no reason why she should not. No secret surrounded about how ladies addressed each other.

 

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