Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy had a headache.

No, to call it a mere headache was insufficient, rather like calling a torrential downpour a misting of rain. In truth, his head throbbed with pain and felt as if it would burst right open. He rather wished it would and so put him beyond the misery.

Of course, the headache had blossomed too late. Had it come on earlier he could have used it as an excuse but now it was simply a liability. Somehow that consideration made the ache even worse.

It had just been THAT kind of a day, right from the very start…

Darcy's friend, Charles Bingley, had recently leased an estate in Hertfordshire called Netherfield Park. It was situated near the small town of Meryton which was near but not directly on the main northward road.

Bingley was a wealthy young man, though from a background in trade, who wished to raise his family's status by becoming the owner of an estate. On Darcy's advice, his friend chose to begin with a lease to see if he was truly ready for the responsibilities involved. Without the full commitment of an outright purchase he could get a feel for the life yet retain the ability to leave without a major loss of capital if it did not suit. Darcy came from a long line of landed gentlemen and well understood the duties involved in managing an estate from experience with his own home, Pemberley. He offered to visit and help his friend to settle in and learn.

Netherfield was a good starter opportunity in Darcy's opinion. He had visited it briefly with his friend when Bingley was deciding whether to take the lease. The manor house was in good condition. The steward was competent. The land appeared productive and the tenants responsible and hard working. Darcy could foresee few major issues to overwhelm Bingley. He would learn from the day to day challenges the skills needed to handle later crises.

Bingley had arrived at Netherfield Park a week previous. He had already met several of the local gentlemen and been given good welcome. Being a cheerful and amiable man, Bingley enthusiastically accepted their offers of hospitality and left a very good impression on his visitors.

Darcy had originally planned to arrive with Bingley. Urgent business had come up just before their scheduled departure which required him to stay in town for an additional week. While his business had been concluded, the results were not what Darcy had hoped for. While he had not lost a great deal of money in the venture he was frustrated because what he had lost was due to poor management by his business partner. Darcy was very conscientious in fulfilling his responsibilities. He had little patience for working with others who did not behave the same.

The delay in town had another unfortunate consequence, at least it was unfortunate for Darcy. Once she found out Darcy would not be arriving until later, Bingley's unmarried sister suddenly found she also had obligations which kept her in town for another week. Miss Caroline Bingley had long desired to become Mrs. Darcy and took every possible opportunity to promote herself despite a complete lack of encouragement from her victim. When no opportunity was present she did her best to create one. If she could have arranged to travel from London to Netherfield Park - or any other destination, say Gretna Green, for instance - she would have grasped the opportunity with both hands. She had no issues with such a breach of propriety, but Miss Bingley knew well enough that Mr. Darcy would never agree. She convinced her married sister, Mrs. Hurst, to remain in town with her while ensuring Mr. Hurst traveled with her brother. Mrs. Hurst's company could provide the appearance of proper chaperonage when both ladies invited themselves to travel along with Mr. Darcy.

Darcy knew he shouldn't have allowed himself to be maneuvered into providing transportation for Bingley's sisters. And maneuvered he had been. After all, he would never have volunteered to spend several hours in a carriage with them, not even as a favor to his friend.

To Darcy's dismay he was trapped. The ladies simply declared they intended to travel with him and presented their plan in a time and manner which left him no option to protest without being outright rude and hurtful to his friend. Bingley embraced the plan enthusiastically, much as he embraced life itself and didn't seem to notice it was his sister's plan, not Darcy's.

Darcy wished now that he had objected anyway. Surely Bingley would have forgiven him eventually. Miss Bingley took advantage of her brother's good nature and the young man had simply become oblivious to her poor manners.

An early departure was set for that morning at Darcy's insistence. Given his choice that would have meant as soon as possible after sunrise. He supposed the ladies felt they HAD left as soon as possible although that wasn't his view of it. At least it was closer to ten than eleven of the clock when they finally set off, though not by more than a few minute's margin.

Once on the road Darcy had to endure the carriage ride. More specifically, he had to endure Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst engaged in non-ceasing chatter during the trip. A ride of less than 50 miles should not have felt so very long.

What Miss Bingley thought Darcy would find attractive about vicious gossip and inane commentary on balls, soirees, fashions and frippery he couldn't imagine. In some ways she was just as oblivious as her brother. Or perhaps she hoped to verbally batter him into a state where he would propose marriage just to give her a new topic of conversation. As if that would ever happen!

The conversation varied for a time when some trouble with a wheel caused a slight delay at a coaching inn that apparently did not meet her high standards of quality, though Darcy thought the service was quite reasonable for a small town. Complaints at the perceived inattentiveness of the landlord and servants occupied their short stop and the next hour of travel before the sister's conversation returned to the ebb and flow of gossip and lace.

Far later than he had hoped they finally arrived at Netherfield Park to be greeted enthusiastically by Bingley and with a grunt of welcome from Hurst. Bingley frequently reminded Darcy of an extremely excitable cocker spaniel Darcy's grandmother had kept as a pet. At least his friend had the advantage of being housebroken. Darcy wondered sometimes if Bingley would wiggle himself out of his skin one day in his excitement the way the dog had often seemed ready to do.

In Darcy's frustrated state his friend's unrelenting cheerfulness and exuberance was almost as challenging as the new refrain of complaints about the house and neighborhood being loudly voiced by Miss Bingley. To top it off came the news that the entire party was committed to an engagement that very evening.

"An assembly? Tonite? Oh, Charles, you cannot be serious!"

Miss Bingley's protests and indignation would have amused Darcy more if he had not been completely in agreement with her. That idea truly scared him, for to be in agreement with Miss Bingley on anything seemed the start of a very slippery slope indeed.

As much as he hated the idea of a social engagement Darcy understood the need to attend. Bingley was a part of this neighborhood while he held the lease and to stay away for anything less than a major emergency or life-threatening illness would be insulting to his new neighbors. Darcy just wished Bingley had not also accepted the invitation on his guest's behalf. Not a social person under any circumstances, Darcy would have preferred a quiet evening at home after the trials of the day. Still, uncomfortable, irritable and frustrated though he might be, he was not then ill enough to justify staying behind. Even if he had, he knew that Miss Bingley would insist on staying as well to "see to his comfort" however far from reality the result would be. Darcy swallowed his protests, changed into evening dress and entered the carriage when Miss Bingley finally pronounced herself ready only 45 minutes after they had intended to leave. If she hoped to impress him she was failing spectacularly. Darcy despised tardiness, fashionable or otherwise.

Now he shifted in his seat, trying to ease his stiff shoulders and throbbing head. Miss Bingley, sitting across from him in the carriage, shifted as well causing the scent of her perfume to waft over him again. It was all he could do not to gag and the band of pain around his head tightened even as his head felt more swollen. His eyes itched and he wanted to sneeze. A good sneeze could blow his head off and then he would never have to hurt again.

Thankfully, she had been too rushed when leaving London that morning to remember to apply her perfume. It seemed this evening she had bathed in the stuff to make up for the earlier lack. Miss Bingley prided herself on her blend of fragrance, which she claimed was made exclusively for her. Darcy hoped that was true. He would hate to encounter any other woman wearing it. He wished he didn't have to encounter Miss Bingley wearing it.

"Don't you agree, Mr. Darcy?" Miss Bingley asked in a sharp tone which penetrated the fog of misery around him.

He realized that he had no idea what subject she had been discussing. With some a vague answer could cover his lack of attention but that tactic was dangerous with Miss Bingley. She might have been discussing sleeve lengths, but she might just as easily been insisting that an autumn wedding was greatly to be desired. He would have to bite the bullet.

"I apologize Miss Bingley. I was woolgathering and lost track of the conversation."

She huffed, "Oh, it is of no matter, I suppose." Apparently it had been something of the general importance of sleeve lengths then. Darcy shifted again and wished he could open a window or simply return to Netherfield. He thought himself a courageous man, but this evening he dearly wished to take the coward's way out.

Retreat was not an option as they were just pulling up in front of the assembly hall. The dance had clearly long since started. The building was brightly lit and music poured out into the street to greet them. Darcy ground his teeth a little in frustration as he got out of the carriage. If had to come he should have come on his own instead of allow Miss Bingley's delay. At least then he would have been on time and less likely to be the center of attention immediately on entry. Of course, that was her plan and intention exactly.