Part One
Darcy was restless. He didn't want to go home for it was so silent and dreary since Georgiana had gone to visit Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam at Matlock Manor.
He looked at Bingley sitting slumped in a chair, a brandy snifter in his hand but paying no attention to it's contents. He didn't think Charles had taken two sips of the drink since he sat down. His dearest friend was still quiet, one could even say morose, still pining the loss of Miss Jane Bennet.
He cursed himself under his breath as her words came back to him. "Your arrogance, your conceit and a selfish disdain for the feelings of others."
How very right her words were, his interference had caused pain and heartbreak for Bingley and justly, even for himself.
"You are an arrogant fool, Darcy," he thought, "as Elizabeth said what right did he have to decide how his friend was to find happiness."
The thought that such a sweet young woman as Miss Jane Bennet had been caused pain was another burden he must bear. What arrogance he had displayed assuming that she had no feelings for Bingley only because she did not make her feeling known to one and all.
"Who would have guessed that you had the same feelings for her beautiful sister, Darcy, he thought. You certainly showed no inclination toward her. Just as you made no display of your love neither did Miss Bennet show hers for Bingley."
Taking the glass from Bingley's hand he said, "Come Bingley, let us go down for a bit to eat and then go to the theater. I do not wish to go home so early and I have been told that the play at the --- is a very good lighthearted comedy. I think you do not look forward to a dull night at home either."
"The theater," Bingley blinked, "dressed as we are. If I am to go home to dress for the theater Caroline will want to come along, especially if she knows I am going with you."
"I think we should go as we are," Darcy answered. "Truthfully Bingley I would not care to spend the evening in the company of Hurst. We will be fine as we are, it is not a night that many of our friends chose to go to the theater and we will be in my box, so let us do it."
"Fine, fine," Bingley said with little enthusiasm.
As they seated themselves in the box Darcy noted that a great deal of attention was being paid to one of the boxes near them. Leaning forward he scanned the boxes to see what or who it was that could be the cause of so many young men standing and gazing up into the boxes, some of them throwing flowers in an attempt to attract the attention of the occupants. He could scarce believe his eyes. There in the box of Sir Robert Carter were the two elder Miss Bennets with a very well dressed fashionable couple who he had never seen before.
"Well, Darcy," he smiled, "opportunity knocks. Even if you are never to have the woman you love you can make sure Bingley finds the happiness denied him by you these many months past."
Turning to his friend he said, "Bingley I have a confession to make. You may never wish to see my face again after I have finished but hear me out before you say anything."
With a deep breath he confessed to his friend that he had been wrong about Jane Bennet's feelings for him and that she had been in town at Easter time and had come to call. When he told him that his sister Caroline had returned the call and told Miss Bennet that he knew she was in town but was too busy to call on her, Bingley rose from his seat in anger and started to leave.
"Wait, Charles," Darcy pleaded, catching his arm. "I tell you this now because I have seen her just now in the box of Sir Robert Carter. If you wish you can go there now, but I would wait until you have calmed down if I were you. Your face is like a thundercloud and I fear you would frighten her if you go over there looking like that."
Bingley sat down. Putting his head in his hands he whispered, "I cannot believe that you could know that she was in town and not tell me, Darcy, you know how much I love her. It doesn't matter to me if she returns my feelings or not, I want to marry her. I want to spend my life with that dear sweet angelic face before me every day.
"I can understand Caroline lying to me, she wants me to marry someone she finds suitable, but I would never have thought it of you, Darcy."
"I know, I know," Darcy sighed, "It is my deepest regret that I have been so arrogant to think that I should be the judge of where your happiness lies."
"I can assure you though that she returns your feelings. I have the word of her sister Miss Elizabeth."
"Miss Elizabeth," Bingley quizzed, "when did you see Miss Elizabeth that she should tell you of her sisters feelings."
"She was visiting Mrs. Collins when Fitzwilliam and I went to visit Lady Catherine last Easter," Darcy answered.
"Damnation, it is too late to go to their box now," Bingley cursed, "the play is beginning."
"Why," Darcy laughed, "I have never known anything so trivial as that to stop you when you are determined, Bingley. Go, go, man, you have wasted too much time already."
"You are right, Darcy," Bingley grinned, "I have been too long from her already. come Darcy let us go over there now, at once."
"No, you go by yourself," Darcy said quietly. "I fear my presence would not be welcome."
"Nonsense," Bingley took his arm, "I insist you come with me," and dragging his friend by the arm he was out the door as quickly as possible.
Knocking on the side of the door of the box as he put his head inside Bingley said with a grin, "I could not believe Darcy when he said you were here, may we join you."
"Mr. Bingley," both Jane and Elizabeth gasped.
"Yes, it is I and I have brought Darcy with me," Bingley said as he stepped inside.
"Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, may I present my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gardiner," Jane said, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, your are most welcome, please do join us," Mr. Gardiner rose to shake the hands of the two young men who entered.
Elizabeth turned to smile at the them with a nod to Mr. Darcy and a look of gratitude. Darcy could scarcely breathe, she was so lovely. Dressed in a beautiful white silk gown with a necklace of small amethysts and a silver comb in the front of her hair from which dangled a stone of the same color to match her remarkable eyes.
Elizabeth watched with pleasure as her Uncle and Mr. Darcy conversed quietly in the back of the booth speaking of fishing and hunting in Derbyshire, Paying no heed at all to the play below.
"Lizzie," her aunt whispered, leaning over to speak in her ear, "I see nothing of such pride and aloofness as you have told us. Mr. Darcy and your uncle seem to get on as if they had known each other all their lives."
"Yes, Aunt," Elizabeth answered, "I fear I was all too wrong in my assertions to you about Mr. Darcy."
As the play came to a close and they left the box Mr. Bingley begged to be allowed to call the next day.
"You will be most welcome, Mr. Bingley," Mr. Gardiner chuckled, "and you too Mr. Darcy."
"Oh yes, Mr. Darcy," both Jane and Mrs. Gardiner said, smiling their welcome.
Darcy looked at Elizabeth and saw a look of welcome on her face too. With a bow and a grin, which showed his dimples, he thanked them and assured them that he would be happy to accompany Bingley whenever he chose to go.