by Meg Osborne
In Netherfield Library and Other Stories
Meg Osborne
Published by Meg Osborne, 2017.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
IN NETHERFIELD LIBRARY AND OTHER STORIES
First edition. October 29, 2017.
Copyright © 2017 Meg Osborne.
ISBN: 978-1386595472
Written by Meg Osborne.
Also by Meg Osborne
A Convenient Marriage
A Convenient Marriage Volume 1
Longbourn's Lark: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Three Weeks in Kent: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Suitably Wed: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
A Visit to Scotland: A Pride and Prejudice Variaton
The Consequence of Haste: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
A Surprise Engagement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Fate and Fortune
Too Fond of Stars: A Persuasion Variation
A Temporary Peace: A Persuasion Variation
Pathway to Pemberley
The Collins Conundrum
The Wickham Wager
The Darcy Decision
Three Sisters from Hertfordshire
A Trip to Pemberley
An Assembly in Bath
An Escape from London
Standalone
After the Letter: A Persuasion Continuation
Half the Sum of Attraction: A Persuasion Prequel
A Very Merry Masquerade: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella
The Other Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella
In Netherfield Library and Other Stories
Mr Darcy's Christmas Carol: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Such Peculiar Providence
A Chance at Happiness
The Colonel's Cousin: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Captain Wentworth's Christmas Wish
Watch for more at Meg Osborne’s site.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also By Meg Osborne
In Netherfield Library | Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Mr Bennet Pays a Call
One Dance at the Assembly
Almost a Collision
Henry Crawford’s Redemption
The Rumour of an Engagement
Also By Meg Osborne
About the Author
In Netherfield Library
Chapter One
There will be no chance of taking a walk today.
With a wistful sigh, Elizabeth Bennet lifted one fingertip to the window, tracing the pattern of raindrops on the other side of the glass.
I ought not to be surprised, she reminded herself. It had rained steadily since Jane began her disastrous visit to Netherfield, and it was on account of that rain - or the ill-health it had wrought on her sister - that Elizabeth had determined on coming to care for her. She smiled, remembering the look of horror that had adorned her hostess’s face when she arrived at Netherfield, drenched to the skin and tracking inches of mud over their sacred threshold. Her smile became a grim laugh when she recalled the look of horror another of Netherfield’s tenants had worn upon greeting her, although Mr Darcy, to his credit, had at least been quick to hide his disapproval in polite enquiry. “Is there anything we might do for you, Miss Elizabeth? Anything you might require?”
“Is there something amusing in the grounds of our home, Miss Eliza?” This arch query had none of Mr Darcy’s courtesy, and Lizzy’s laugh became a groan. Somehow, despite her best attempts to remain invisible, Caroline Bingley had taken notice of her and that meant she was now fair game.
“Nothing amusing,” Lizzy said, turning and summoning a smile with which to face her companions. “I was merely recalling a conversation I had with my sister.” It was a lie, but only a white one and surely better than revealing the full truth of her thoughts, which would not, she fancied, be so amusing to the others.
“Your sister?” Mr Bingley visibly brightened, glancing up from his corner, where he was engaged in a lacklustre game of chess with Mr Darcy. “She is well, then, today?”
“A little recovered,” Lizzy said, touched to see the compassion that underpinned his question. She must make sure to tell Jane how he specifically asked after her health and the smile that widened when Lizzy confirmed she was doing better.
“Might we expect her to join us this evening, in that case?” Caroline asked. “I must inform the kitchen staff.”
“You are very kind, Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth said, with an impression of patience she did not feel. “But as I said, she is but a little recovered. I think it still too soon to expect her to join us for a meal and a whole evening of socialising.”
“Oh.” Mr Bingley’s face fell and Lizzy almost felt sorry for crushing the hopes that had been so recently raised in regards to Jane’s health.
“It bodes well for her joining us in future, though, and surely we must rejoice at any improvement.”
This was muttered in little more than a whisper, so that it took Elizabeth a moment to identify the speaker. Her eyes widened in surprise to realise that it had been Mr Darcy who spoke. He kept his eyes fixed on the chessboard, as if contemplating his next move with the utmost attention, but Lizzy fancied, not for the first time, but there was far more going on within Mr Darcy’s mind than was apparent on his features.
Caroline Bingley seemed poised to speak again, and Elizabeth felt a sudden urge to escape further scrutiny. Standing, she took a step towards the door.
“I hope you will excuse me,” she said. “All this talk of Jane makes me realise I have neglected her for too long already this afternoon. I shall go and sit with her an hour or two if that will not unduly inconvenience you.”
She made for the door before anyone could respond, before Caroline could say a word to stop her. Yet she was not quick enough to the staircase to avoid catching Mr Bingley’s parting request that she pass on their heartiest good wishes for Miss Bennet’s continued improvement.
Smiling, in spite of herself, Lizzy knocked twice at Jane’s door and pushed it open. Her sister was propped up in bed on a mound of pillows, but Elizabeth was pleased to note that there was considerably more colour in Jane’s cheeks than had been visible even a few hours previously.
“Lizzy?” she asked, weakly.
“I am here.” Elizabeth crossed the room, sliding into place beside Jane on the bed. “Do you need anything, dear?”
“How can I need anything when you are here?” Jane asked, her eyes sparkling with a glimmer of fun. “But since you ask, I would not refuse a cup of tea.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Elizabeth glanced around the room and was encouraged to see a tea tray sitting close to the fire. There would be no saying how warm it would be, but it was worth a try before disturbing the servants again.
She poured Jane a cup, testing the temperature of the teapot with her hand and determining it was still warm enough to drink, if not quite piping hot.
Returning to her seat, she handed Jane the cup and was encouraged to see her take a few healthy sips before passing it back to her.
“You are looking much better,” Lizzy remarked, returning the half-emptied teacup to the nightstand. “How do you feel?”
“Tired,” Jane admitted. “But more like myself than I have in a while.”
&nbs
p; “Mr Bingley will be so pleased.”
Jane flushed at the mention of their host.
“I don’t doubt he wishes me to hasten my recovery and go home!” She bit her lip. “Dear me, I must have been a dreadful inconvenience to them.”
“Nonsense!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “You did not deliberately fall ill. They invited you here, it is only right that they should want to see you well.” She lowered her voice to a mischievous whisper. “And in any case, I wager Mr Bingley’s interest in your health is altogether more personal...”
“Lizzy!” Jane hissed, unable to prevent a smile from lighting up her pale features. “What do you mean? I hope you have not been causing trouble in my absence.”
“No trouble at all,” Elizabeth said, smiling to see Jane so cheered by the mention of their host. “Mr Bingley is most courteous to both of us. He never ceases to enquire after your health and whether there is any small service he might offer to hasten your recovery. I rather think he is half in love with you already, Jane.”
“Now I know you are teasing me!” Jane said, her laugh becoming a cough that took a couple of minutes to subside.
Lizzy helped her to take another sip of tea, before she spoke again.
“You know that I admire him greatly, and find him to be a most agreeable gentleman.”
“And he is clearly besotted with you, as well he should be,” declared Elizabeth, who remained convinced that her sister was the brightest and most beautiful young lady in all of Hertfordshire.
“I cannot think too much on it at present,” Jane said. “I must work first of all at getting well, and be as small a burden as I can be to my hosts.”
“If either one of us is a burden, it must be me.” Elizabeth leaned back on the pillows next to her sister. “Poor Caroline is having a deal of sport in attempting to engage me in conversation.”
“I hope you are not being too unkind. Caroline has been very generous in allowing us both to stay until I am well enough to return home. I’m sure she did not intend on having houseguests quite so long!”
“Then that is a matter she must take up with Providence,” Lizzy remarked, nodding towards the window. “The rain has not let up for more than a quarter of an hour all day! How could she expect us to even contemplate returning home when we would get soaked on the distance from the front door to the carriage?”
“Is it still raining?” Jane asked, clucking her tongue in sympathy. “Poor Lizzy! You must be going out of your mind with boredom. Here you are, trapped in a house with people you dislike, caring for a sister who spends half her time asleep!”
“If you spent half your time asleep, you might recover could more quickly,” Lizzy said, with a teasing elbow into Jane side. “Mind you, I am grateful to find you awake just at present, for the sitting room had become interminable, and I sought an escape.”
“In that case,” Jane said. “You might care to tell me a little more of what Mr Bingley said...”
“WELL!”
Caroline Bingley’s muttered exclamation at Elizabeth’s swift departure was barely audible, yet Darcy felt certain that there was an unspoken invitation to agree with her quiet despair at Elizabeth Bennet’s lack of manners. He felt certain, too, that this unspoken invitation was directed largely towards him. He had never been permitted to forget his first assessment of Elizabeth Bennet, though he had come, more than once, to rue the speed with which he formed so unflattering an opinion. He had repented at his leisure of so quickly forming a judgement of their neighbour, based purely on a brief moment’s observation. He knew her better now, although still not as well as he might prefer.
“I do think it a pity that poor, dear Eliza cannot be pressed to spend more than an hour in our company. Surely it must be a great strain on her to always be nursing Jane. A servant might do the work just as easily.”
“Yet, Caroline,” Charles protested. “Do not you think it demonstrates the great sympathy that exists between the two sisters? I find myself very much endeared to Miss Elizabeth, upon seeing her concern for her sister which compelled her to walk all the way here merely to ascertain Jane’s well-being.”
“Yes, and probably catching the same cold herself in the process!” Caroline said, archly. She must have sensed the flash of disapproval that crossed both gentlemen’s features, for she tempered her comment with further reflection. “Not that I would blame her, of course. Jane is so dear, and it is obvious a great deal of sympathy exists between them. They are sisters after all!” She punctuated this with an airy little laugh, which grated on Darcy’s nerves.
With a sigh, he knocked his king on its side.
“There, Charles. You have bested me.”
“Have I?” Charles scanned the board as if there was some riddle hidden in its pieces that he had heretofore missed.
Darcy strove to keep a smile from illuminating his own features. That had been an easy win, facilitated in part by his own desire to forfeit the game from their first move. He was a better strategist than Charles by far, but did not take advantage of any one of the several mistakes his friend had made in the early moves of the game. Now, he wanted Charles to win. He noticed, even if Miss Bingley did not, that her brother was suffering almost as greatly as Elizabeth Bennet in concern for Jane’s well-being. Unlike Elizabeth, however, he did not have permission to run upstairs and enquire personally after Jane’s health at hourly intervals. He must spend his time in the company of others, and wait to be informed of Jane’s fate.
When he had begun to fancy Charles had an affection that Jane Bennet, Darcy had not been pleased. In fact, he had been poised to separate the pair as soon as possible, fearing Charles about to make a very unwise match. He had seen it too often amongst his friends. A wealthy, goodhearted bachelor, ensnared by an amoral, grasping young woman. And at the same time he made so hasty and unflattering and assessment of Elizabeth Bennet, he had done the same of her sister. Oh, Jane Bennet was the beauty of Meryton, that much was plain. She was also poor, and belonged to a family of five sisters. What other option was open to her, than ensnaring a gentleman for her husband?
It had been Miss Bennet’s behaviour on this fateful visit to Netherfield that had convinced Darcy that her feelings were, despite his prejudice, genuine. She had held her ground under severe scrutiny from Caroline Bingley, never once returning a veiled insult or rising to the slights Caroline fired at her, all under the disguise of friendly conversation. Darcy smirked. There was nothing friendly about Caroline Bingley’s approach to the Bennets. She wished to keep their enemies close. More than that, she wished to portray herself in such a good light by comparison that any gentleman present could certainly not fail to fall under her spell and spurn the bewitching Bennets.
“Well, Darcy!” Charles said, abandoning his quest to understand his genius, and accepting the win regardless. “Shall we play again?”
Darcy shrugged his shoulders. He had no great desire to remove, and at least when facing the chessboard, he could ignore as much of Caroline Bingley’s attempts at flirtation as he wished to.
They fell to playing, first one and then another making their opening gambit.
“I think it rather a pity,” Caroline began again. “That no other members of the Bennet clan were concerned enough with Jane’s fate to visit her.”
“How could they?” Darcy remarked, irritated by her determination to criticise their neighbours, and to draw both he and Bingley in on the campaign. “You acknowledged yourself that it has scarcely stopped raining for an hour these past few days. Would you wish for them all to arrive soaked and sneezing?” He punctuated his sentence with the move of his knight, a challenge to Charles, but not an impossible one to overcome.
“Yes, be fair Caroline!” Charles remonstrated. “You have hardly let a day pass without some veiled complaints about Elizabeth Bennet’s presence here, in addition to her sister. Would you really welcome an extra five people under our roof?”
He neatly sidestepped Darcy’s advance, stealing a piece and s
miling a little at his own cleverness.
There was silence for a few moments, as Caroline would not dignify either comment with a response.
At length, she sighed, an invitation for enquiry that neither gentleman accepted. Their focus was on their game, much to Caroline’s irritation.
“Perhaps I will play for you,” she suggested, not waiting for any response. She crossed to the piano, noisily shuffling through her music, before at last selecting a piece and commencing to play at speed.
Darcy swallowed the grumble that rose at such a racket. If Georgiana were here, she might well have played while he and Charles attended to their game. But she would have made a wiser selection, perhaps choosing something pleasant and peaceful, that added to the environment of the room. Caroline’s performance dominated, or sought to dominate. She played to be heard, and praised.
Their game came to a rapid conclusion after that, for Darcy had little patience to remain in the room under such audible assault. This time he did not surrender entirely, but conceded to Charles’s check. He might have evaded it, bought himself freedom, spun the game on for a few moves more, but at that moment he sought personal freedom rather than victory.
“Well, Charles!” he said. “You are the better player today, it seems.”
Charles beamed, flinching slightly when Caroline missed her notes, hitting a sharp instead, in a loud crash of discord.
Chapter Two
Elizabeth had appreciated the sanctuary of her sister’s room, the quietness of her company. But Jane needed to rest, and Lizzy was glad that she slept. She nursed her thoughts in silence for a little while, eventually realising she had no way of getting comfortable without disturbing her sister. She edged onto her feet, and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door carefully behind her so as not to disturb her sister.
