Sorry if this is posted late. School is still busy. Anyways, enjoy reading :)

SIX

Lizzy woke up early the next morning. It was a good thing too for her things had been delivered and Hannah helped her get dress into a much more comfortable gown and styled her hair. When the maid left, only then did Lizzy opened the note attached to her trunk. Since it was sealed with wax, it was probably from Mama. Her mother had always been cautious with new people – in this case, their new neighbours.

Lizzy,

I do not know whether to be happy – for checking on your elder sister at Netherfield – or be vexed with you – for leaving your poor mama at home worrying – child! Have you no pity for my poor nerves? You could have at least told me that you were leaving. But no, you chose to talk to Hill instead of your poor Mama. And you walked! You could have had the carriage, headstrong girl! I only let you walk around because your twin, your Papa, or your horse was always with you. What if you encounter a scoundrel along the way? What would happen?

Noticing that her mother's usually neat handwriting became a little sloppy, Lizzy felt guilty. Among the four of them, Jane was the one who was easily sick so it was only natural for her to worry. Mama probably wanted to check on Jane too but was waiting for the road to get dry. Mama never liked muddy roads for fear of having an accident so Lizzy chose to walk. Papa and Frances had been busy helping Mr. Abbot, one of their tenants, who had been injured. It was never Lizzy's forte to sit and wait and so she took action and went ahead to see her elder sister, only telling Mrs. Hill where she was going.

Sighing, she continued reading the letter.

I am not mad at you Lizzy but I am most anxious for your return. We do not know our new neighbours at Netherfield well, Lizzy. What if Mr. Bingley was only pretending to be amiable? You have seen how haughty his sisters acted at the assembly. Are those girls treating you well? If not, then do not hesitate to send a note and I shall fetch you and Jane myself despite the unforgiving weather.

Your Papa was unsure whether to risk Robert's health – though he is the most immune to bad weather among our footmen – just to deliver your trunks to you but I managed to persuade him, with help from your brother and sister. While I know that Jane could easily borrow from Mr. Bingley's sisters, you, on the other hand, would not feel comfortable wearing them. I do hope that you managed to restrict your movements for a whole day Lizzy – assuming that Miss Bingley lend you some clothes it would either be too tight, or if the a maid adjusted it, then too loose.

Lizzy read the last sentence twice. Her eyes widened in realisation.

She had been satisfied with herself when she had left the billiards room last night. She had just revealed to Mr. Darcy that she could play, that was an uncommon ability for a young lady. Surely, that would make him remember her.

Now, Lizzy remembered leaning her body forward towards the board to make her shot. Her face flushed as she realised that the bodice of the gown that Miss Bingley had lent her was a bit loose. Goodness, had Mr. Darcy seen more than what he ought to when she had leant on the billiards table?

She blanched.

What must he think of her? Lizzy wanted to scream at herself for her foolishness. But instead of doing so, she bit her lip and continued reading her mother's lengthy note.

You are lucky if the gown fitted you just right, however, I doubt that it could happen. You and your sister take care of each other Lizzy, and do pray for the rain to finally stop so that you could go home as soon as possible. Your father and your siblings miss you both as well.

Affectionately yours,

Mama

Lizzy collapsed on the bed with her mother's letter still in one hand. She was mortified. How could she let this happen? She shouldn't have entered the billiard room. She should've left the moment she saw him playing alone.

Foolish girl!

Knowing that further chastising would not do her any good, she folded her mother's note and hid it in her trunk. What's done is done and she needed to move on from it – no matter how embarrassing it was.

Her courage would always rise at every attempt to intimidate her. Lizzy will not let her embarrassment from last night become a hindrance to her plans of proving Mr. Darcy wrong on his insult towards her person. No, she had done so much already and giving it up all of a sudden would be pointless. Of course, she would take a break for a day or two before continuing her plans again. She needed to focus, but right now - with Jane sick and Apollo probably feeling lonely due to the dreary weather - she could not. Mr. Darcy would have to wait.

Goodness knows that her thoughts certainly needed a break from that man.

First, vexation and anger, then confusion and now, shame. What else could he make her feel?

-p&p-

Fitzwilliam Darcy should be thanking his lucky stars that his interactions with Miss Elizabeth Bennet were lessened that morning. They only exchanged polite greetings before breaking their fast and then she had left to check on her sister. They met again in the drawing room before luncheon but she was preoccupied with a book. If he didn't know any better, he would think that she was avoiding him.

But why would he care? In fact, it would be better if she was, indeed, avoiding him. However, he took pleasure in knowing that if it appeared that way, it was done so unintentionally. Of course, she would be busy. She came to Netherfield for her elder sister, not for him. It was only natural to think of her sister's comfort first before joining the company.

Why was he bothered by it anyway? Who cared if her constant absence that day was intentional or unintentional, he was getting what he wished for, was he not? Annoyed at himself for not being able to remove her from his thoughts, he shook his head.

This would not do.

Perhaps a ride would help him clear his thoughts. Unfortunately, a single glance at the windows told him that it was impossible. It was still raining heavily and riding in such weather would be ridiculous. But maybe he could spare some time to visit his horse. That would be better than sitting around in his room and trying not to – and failing – at clearing his thoughts from Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

With an apple in hand, courtesy of his brief detour in the kitchen, Darcy headed to the stables. However, it seemed that the odds were not in his favour, for standing there by the horses was the very woman who haunted his thoughts. Her hair was pinned up, though some curls still managed to escape her pins and were dangling over her shoulders. He could not see her fine grey eyes yet but he knew that it would still be in its charming state.

"Oh, what a sweet magnificent creature you are," she heard him saying to his horse, her fingers running through its mane. His gelding, Boreas, neighed approvingly to show his agreement. "Yes, here you go." Darcy watched as Elizabeth held out an apple to his horse, who happily accepted the treat.

She then turned to face the other horse which, Darcy knew, belonged to the Bennets. "See that, Apollo?" One of her hand was placed on her hips while the other was gesturing to the horse with her pointer finger pointed up. He could imagine that her eyebrow was also raised as she continued to speak with the horse, in a scolding manner.

"If you had not brought yourself and Jane to this predicament, then I would have also given you a treat like Mr. Stranger there." Elizabeth gestured to Boreas who was busy chewing his apple. "Alas, you just had to be so stubborn and now Jane is sick and we are all stuck here at Netherfield."

To Darcy's surprise, the horse seemed to be taking Elizabeth's chastisement seriously for when she finished talking and crossed her arms, Apollo began nuzzling her side. The nudges were accompanied by soft whines. It's as if he was apologising to her.

Stubborn woman that she was, Elizabeth turned from the horse. At the sudden movement, Darcy hid himself by the doors of the entrance as good as he could master with his tall frame. He did not want to make his presence known just yet.

Apollo didn't stop his actions and Darcy could see that Elizabeth was fighting a smile. After a few more seconds, and with Boreas copying Apollo's antics, Elizabeth rolled her eyes fondly before turning back to the horses.

She turned to Boreas first. "I see how it is, Mr. Stranger. I thought that after giving you a treat you would be by my side but it seems that you are loyal to your friend. Very well, as disappointed as I am that you chose Apollo over me, I believe loyalty deserves another treat." With that, a carrot was held out and Boreas neighed in appreciation.

"Now, to you Mister," Elizabeth was now facing Apollo who looked so down that Darcy would have given the horse the apple he was holding to cheer it up. Apollo whined again and Lizzy sighed opening her arms to embrace the horse. "Oh, don't look at me like that! You know I could never stay mad at you for so long."

The horse nuzzled her hair and Lizzy smiled. "Just do not try to escape again when I'm not home, alright?"

Apollo bobbed his head in response.

"I suppose you deserve an apple now." This time the treat was offered to Apollo. However, unlike Boreas who had accepted the previous treats in an instant, Apollo seemed to hesitate and nuzzled Elizabeth's side once more. With a grin, Lizzy stroke the steed's mane. "Oh, alright, I've missed you too and I'm sorry for only visiting you today. Now eat."

The cream coloured horse seemed satisfied at her response and proceeded to munch on his treat. Darcy thought that Elizabeth would leave after that but he was wrong. The lady in question opened Apollo's stall and walked inside. As the horse chewed on its apple, Elizabeth circled around its body and inspected its fur, ears, mouth, eyes, tail, legs and hooves.

"I'm glad to know that you are well sweetheart." For a split second, Darcy was about to reply that she needn't worry for he was very well indeed, but then he realised that she was speaking to her horse.

What was wrong with him? Did he even want to be called her sweethea – no, Darcy shook his head, he better not answer that.

"I know that Netherfield's staff must have checked on you but now that I saw your condition, I feel much better. At least you did not fall ill…"

Before Elizabeth could continue, Boreas neighed at her.

"Of course, I have not forgotten about you Mr. Stranger." She turned to his black coloured horse and patted its head. "Unfortunately, I only have enough treats for you and Apollo so this last carrot was for him. Will a conversation make do in place of a treat?"

After Elizabeth gave Apollo her last carrot, she turned back to Boreas. "What shall be our subject then, Mr. Stranger? Ah, I know! Will you tell me who your owner is? Surely, it could only be Mr. Darcy or Mr. Bingley for I've heard Miss Bingley mentioned that she dislikes animals."

Boreas only bobbed his head in response. Elizabeth smiled playfully at his horse. "Ah, you want me to guess who it is, then?"

Boreas neighed.

"Very well, all I will say in the matter is that it does not matter which among those two gentlemen is your owner for I daresay that you are more handsome than them."

Darcy snorted, though whether it was from Elizabeth's apparent expertise at horse language or the fact that she thought a simple horse more handsome than him, he was not sure. He admired her care for her horse, and even for his, but if she esteemed those horses far more than he, then he was not so sure if her being a horsewoman was still an admirable trait on her.

As if her statement was not enough to injure Darcy's vanity – though he refused to admit it – Apollo whined from behind her. "Alright, the two of you are could not compare to the gentlemen here at Netherfield in terms of handsomeness."

The horses both bobbed their head in approval at this and Elizabeth laughed. "That is enough, you two. I ought to check on Jane soon but I will see you both on the morrow." With one last pat on each of the horses, Elizabeth slowly made her way outside.

Embarrassed at the possibility of being caught, Darcy hid himself behind the doors as much as his tall frame could manage. Thankfully, Elizabeth had not seen him.

However, as he walked towards the two horses he could not help the words that escaped his mouth. "Less handsome than a horse? I am more handsome than you." Darcy said to both Apollo and Boreas.

So lost in his thoughts was he (that and because of the pouring rain) that Darcy did not hear the soft laughter from the outside. Elizabeth Bennet smirked as she watched Mr. Darcy paced back and forth in the small stables how he was, indeed, more handsome than a horse.

'That's what you get for eavesdropping.' She thought. He probably thought that she was silly talking to the horses, anyway (why else would he stay silent and watch her?) so she wanted to vexed him in return. First, he had seen her six inches deep in the mud and now he had also seen her in a state of (almost) dishabille so it was only fair for her to see him so affected at her comment.

She very well knew that the other horse inside was his because Mr. Bingley's horse had been lent to Mr. Jones, the apothecary, as one of the grooms told her earlier when she had inquired. Satisfied with herself, Lizzy then walked back to the house looking positively smug. Who was not handsome enough now, Mr. Darcy?

What do you think?

The idea with Lizzy checking on her horse and Darcy seeing it was from elag (Thank You for the idea! :)) but I added a few tweaks of my own. I hope you all liked the outcome though...

Anyways, have a good day!