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Elizabeth should have gone down to dinner fifteen minutes ago.

Instead, she relished the blessed silence around her as she sat at the vanity table in her room at Netherfield.

Had this been Longbourn, she would have no doubt had to endure the muffled shrieks and laughter of her younger sisters as they dressed.

She brushed her hair, imagining Kitty's whining as Lydia purloined a new ribbon or a pair of gloves, and then Lydia's provocative replies.

But inside this room, there was a balanced share of peace and quiet.

Elizabeth realized she had been fiddling with the string of pearls around her neck and rose from her cushioned chair, sighing.

She thought she looked presentable in her new gown, an early gift from Jane. It was a daring color for her; a deep wine-red, edged in black lace with tiny winking beads. But Jane swore it added a saucy blush to her lips and cheeks, while simultaneously throwing her dark curls into sharp relief, and underscoring the smoldering glow of her brown eyes.

She reminisced as to how Darcy had once complimented her eyes.

Smoothing her hands down her sides, she strode from the room towards the stairs, determined to face the source of her consternation.

The Bingley sisters.

Darcy.

Soon, she would face an entire room of people who did not know Elizabeth had rejected his proposal. Would they sense the tension between them? Would he cut her in public?

She did not think so. Ever the gentleman, Darcy would consider such behavior boorish and beneath him. She reflected that she was the only one who had thought the verbiage of his proposal insulting. Even Jane had looked at her askance.

Nothing he had said was untrue.

She frowned slightly.

"Lizzy!" her mother chirped behind her.

A door opened and shut. Elizabeth turned with a soft sigh.

"Since you are so late coming down, you may accompany me," Mrs Bennet said. "I fear I shall get lost in such a grand home! Honestly, how can I be expected to find my way around? Such an immense place! You would think they would have sent a footman. I am the mother of the mistress of the estate. I fear I am getting a headache already," she prattled.

"Mama, perhaps you should stay abed?"

Silently, she willed her mother: Please, stay in bed. "If you are ill, we must see that you are rested in order that you may recover."

"Nonsense. But you may take my arm, I do feel faint." She grabbed Elizabeth's arm with vigor, leaning her weight on her daughter.

Elizabeth braced herself.

"But I must do my duty by Jane. I cannot leave her alone to host dinner without her mother present to support her. Not with those—well, I shall not say any more. No more shall I say."

Elizabeth escorted her mother down into the waiting crowd.

When they entered, the rest of the family was already gathered. Mr Bennet slumped in a chair in a corner, peering at everyone from behind spectacles. Kitty and Lydia giggled in a corner with a wide-eyed and much quieter Miss Darcy, and Mary stood several lengths away, silent and scowling.

"Lizzy, dearest, I was about to come up for you," Jane said, approaching.

"She had a headache," Mrs Bennet announced. "And I insisted she rest, as a loving mother should, but she would not miss dinner on account of a headache."

Jane's blue eyes wrinkled in concern. "If you are not feeling well -"

"I am fine," Elizabeth said, voice dry. "Almost as if the headache had never been."

"I see. Well, in that case." Jane turned, a smile spreading across her face as her husband joined her at her side.

"Dear sister!" Charles took her hands. "I have not seen you in some time. Was London agreeable?"

"As agreeable as it could be, considering the weather. I enjoyed my aunt and uncle's company," Elizabeth said with a smiled.

"Of course. But now it is our turn to enjoy your company. Jane has been desolate without you."

"Surely not, Mr Bingley," Mrs Bennet interrupted, "for she has had her dear mama. And nothing can make up for a mama, not even a sister."

"Certainly, Mama," Jane said, ever dutiful.

"Miss Bennet," a cultured feminine voice said. "So pleased to be in your presence again." Her tone, of course, implied the opposite.

Elizabeth could avoid the others no longer. She steeled her spine and turned her head as the trio approached.

Darcy. Caroline. Louisa.

Two of them her least favourite people, and the other . . .

Darcy held himself slightly apart from Bingley's sisters, and as Georgiana walked up to his side, it was clear that distance was intentional. As his sister approached, he paused, his expression softening. A warm gleam entered his blue eyes as he stared down at her.

Georgiana smiled as lovely as Elizabeth remembered from meeting her at Jane's wedding.

"Miss Bennet, I am so happy to see you again. Jane and I have become like sisters, and I feel I already know you so well."

No mere mortal could resist the impact of that sweet smile. Elizabeth returned her greeting, infusing all the warmth she felt. "Jane wrote and told me you were at Netherfield, and I hurried home, so I would not miss you again. I fear you have ousted me from my elder sister's side," Elizabeth added teasingly, "for she will not stop writing of you."

"It is a delight to be in such happy company," Jane said. "We never lack for sunshine at Netherfield while Miss Darcy is present."

"How kind of you to say so, Jane," Miss Darcy said, blushing.

"Yes, so kind," Caroline Bingley said, sounding as if she meant the exact opposite.

She gave Jane an oblique look; one Elizabeth would almost describe as jealous if it were not so absurd. Why be jealous of her own sister-in-law's relationship with Miss Darcy? Especially as Miss Bingley had known Georgiana first.

"You must be so happy to have Miss Darcy present for the holidays, Miss Bingley, as glowing an opinion as you have always had of her."

"Miss Bingley has always been very kind," Georgiana said softly.

"We were delighted to hear you would be joining us as well, Miss Bennet," Caroline said. "Absolutely delighted."

Elizabeth smiled and knew it looked genuine. She had been practicing ever since she realized she would be required to spend the holiday with Caroline. She wished to appear sincere, especially if it meant also spending time around Jane and Charles.

Mrs Hurst murmured something, and Elizabeth supposed it was meant as a greeting. Louisa held a wineglass in her hand, not even a quarter full. From her glittering eyes, Elizabeth could surmise this was not her first.

"I have been looking forward to this ever since Jane said she and Bingley were planning special festivities," Elizabeth said.

Jane looked at her husband again, her face glowing. "It is our first Christmas together! We wanted it to be special."

Caroline made a face. It was subtle, but enough of a departure from her usual studied elegance that Elizabeth noticed.

"Oh?"

"She has not told you all about her plans?" Louisa asked archly. "I would have thought—but perhaps it is difficult to maintain such closeness between sisters when one is wed, and the other is not?"

Was this meant to be a snipe directed towards Caroline? Caroline's mouth thinned, but she did not respond.

"I fully expect Jane to devote her time to her new family," Elizabeth said. "We could not be happier for her bliss."

"I said from the beginning, did I not, Mr Bennet, that Jane was meant for Bingley. Why, a girl of her beauty, it would have been a tragedy to throw herself away on a nobody!"

Mrs Bennet's prattle came to an end, and Elizabeth could no longer use the others as a distraction from finally facing him.

Elizabeth curtsied. "Mr Darcy."

His bow was perfect.

"Miss Bennet. I hope your travel from London was satisfactory?" His gaze pierced her attempt at aloofness.

"Quite. I was pleased the weather cooperated." She could not seem to look away, though she was aware of the others around them.

"I, too, was in London a fortnight past," he said quietly, drawing a little closer. He looked down at her, blue eyes grave. "If I had known you were visiting, I would have insisted you return with us."

"Those horrid stagecoaches," Georgiana said. "They are so uncomfortable. My brother would not have allowed you to endure it had he known. I am so glad we were able to travel on our own."

"Georgiana," Darcy said. It was not quite a rebuke, as he would never do so in public.

Elizabeth smiled at her, tearing her gaze away from his. "I quite agree. Private accommodations for travel are always ideal," she demurred.

There. The first greeting, the first meeting of gazes, the opening pleasantries were out of the way. Now she could safely ignore him, allow him to pretend she did not exist and refuse to acknowledge the aching tension between them both.

She refused to acknowledge that burning look in his eyes. A single, brief flash of connection from their shared history. At least, now, in his presence, one question was answered. He would not cut her, would not be cruel or unnecessarily cold.

Caroline, however, was less than pleased by Elizabeth's presence. Although Elizabeth took it as more of a general discontentment with Charles' marriage. Having her as a sister-in-law was a middling issue, more than her finding any specific objection to the second-eldest Bennet. Caroline outright ignored Lydia and Kitty—though no one could fault her for that—other than the occasional covert look of contempt.

Elizabeth stiffened her jaw and smiled, making polite conversation, helping Jane maneuver their mother so her complaints and boasts remained within the confines of tolerable discourse, and otherwise refused to be baited.

"Jane, dear, have you thought on my suggestion?" Caroline asked, placing a concerned hand on Jane's arm.

"Well, I have given it some thought but have not had time to. . . ." she began.

"Of course not!" she exclaimed. "No one would expect a newly married woman to have time to see to the proper decor of her home for the holiday festivities. And this is not the sort of thing you leave to a housekeeper."

"What's this?" Charles said. He looked around. The room was graciously furnished, and a bough of evergreen and holly lay across the fireplace mantle. "I thought we did decorate."

Elizabeth recognized some of the decor from items from Longbourn's annual celebrations. It made perfect sense—if the family would be at Netherfield this year, then Jane would have wished to use their traditional decorations.

"Well," Caroline said with a light laugh, "Jane made an admirable attempt, but you cannot expect her to know what is required of a house like Netherfield. I am sure your little family things are fine for what you are used to -"

"Fine, indeed!" Mrs Bennet exclaimed. She eyed Caroline askance. "Jane has done a charming job of it. I helped her myself."

"Jane does everything perfectly," Charles said, eyes adoring. "I cannot think of one accomplishment she has put her mind to that she has not perfected."

"She is a credit to her family," Darcy said, shocking Elizabeth with such high praise. "You are a fortunate man."

"Oh, Mr Darcy, you are far too gallant," Caroline said with a sweet smile. It was unlikely to be the last time that night her laughter would grate on Elizabeth's ears, unfortunately. "But come, tell Miss Bennet the wonderful news, Jane."