Darcy's Passions by Regina Jeffers

tomorrow could not come too soon.
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    â€œEliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, when the door closed on Elizabeth, “is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.”
    Darcy found it amusing how Elizabeth’s presence affected Caroline to the point she repeated herself. If she could see herself as others see her, Darcy mused. Caroline criticizes Elizabeth for using wily ways to entice men when her flamboyant displays border on rudeness at times. “Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, realizing Caroline made her remark for his address, “there is a meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation.Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.” Caroline’s countenance took on a disturbance and an agitation; her remark won her no new ground with Darcy. Meanwhile, Darcy thought Elizabeth’s allurements genuine where Caroline’s were purely for show.
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    Elizabeth made another brief appearance saying her sister felt worse, and she begged their pardon for she would not leave Jane
again. Bingley once again urged Mr. Jones’s being sent for immediately. His sisters, feigning true concern, said a dispatch for a more eminent physician should be sent. Elizabeth declined the offer for the time being, but she agreed to let Mr. Bingley send for Mr. Jones in the morning if Miss Bennet felt not more herself. This news made Bingley quite uneasy. Darcy noted although Bingley’s sisters claimed to care about Miss Bennet’s well-being, they consoled their unhappiness, however, with duets after supper.All these questions into what he accepted as appropriate behavior created more turmoil in Darcy; he could not rely on what he always assumed to be accurate portrayals of a person’s character.
    Darcy wondered if either Caroline or Louisa took ill, would they be concerned for each other or would they turn to the pianoforte instead. In his estimation, Elizabeth Bennet proved herself a remarkable woman. She traversed on foot the distance of three miles in poor conditions to give service to her sister. She refused to be intimidated by Miss Bingley’s so-called social mores and his verbal challenges to her. She battled him with an unaccustomed quickness of mind. If Fitzwilliam Darcy chose a “sister” for Georgiana, he would choose the qualities displayed by Elizabeth Bennet over those of Caroline Bingley. As he slid his long limbs under the counterpane that evening, Darcy pictured Elizabeth Bennet standing on the staircase at Pemberley; it was the first peaceful night he had in some time.
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    Rested at last, finding Bingley up hours before his usual appearance in the breakfast room surprised Darcy. Bingley looked distraught; his concerns for Miss Bennet’s health played havoc on his normal affability. “Bingley, please sit down.You are wearing a path in the flooring,” Darcy teased, trying to distract his friend’s distress over the woman.
    â€œDarcy, what should be done for Miss Bennet’s well-being?”
    â€œCharles,” Darcy switched his tone to one more soothing and intimate to help assuage his friend’s fears,“one may trust Miss Elizabeth to do what is best for her sister. She will, I am sure, send you
word shortly on Miss Bennet’s progress.”
    Nearly as soon as the words left Darcy’s mouth, a housemaid brought Mr. Bingley a response from Elizabeth. Miss Bennet’s health appeared much improved, but Elizabeth wished a note sent to Mrs. Bennet to visit Jane and to form her own opinion on her eldest daughter’s health. Bingley dispatched the message immediately. As he did so, Darcy’s composure took a turn; he did not need to be reminded of Elizabeth’s connections after finally getting a good night’s sleep. He