There they were. After having spent one day in the Bingleys’ carriage with Jane and Charles, she had arrived in London and was nearing Mr. Darcy’s town house. Elizabeth felt strangely calm. She thought that it might be from the storm of feelings she had felt since deciding to come here: it was now the calm following it. Indeed, during those three days, she had regretted accepting to come as many times (and they were numerous) as she had been glad of it. She had imagined as many happy endings as painful confessions. She had mentally written as many comedies as tragedies. She derisorily thought that it had definitively been helpful for her novel!

When the carriage stopped in Holland Park Avenue(1) in front of a large well-built house, the butler opened the door and Mr. Darcy and his sister appeared. Bingley exited first from the carriage then he helped his wife and his new sister came out last.

Only when he beheld her figure so dear to him, did Mr. Darcy actually believe Elizabeth had come. He had so much prepared himself for the disappointment of not beholding her in town that he was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude: gratitude towards his friend for the idea, gratitude towards God, chance or whatever powerful force was involved for urging her to make the decision to come and hold to it. Nevertheless, as master of the house, he had to come to his senses; and, duty guiding him, he eventually managed to be the first to speak. "Bingley, Mrs. Bingley, it is a pleasure to have you here. Miss Bennet, thank you for accepting my invitation, I take it you made a good trip."

"Darcy, the pleasure is all ours. Yes, our trip has been very pleasant, at least for me: I was in very good company."

"Mrs. Bingley, I would like to introduce my sister Georgiana. Georgiana, this is Mrs. Bingley. And you remember Miss Bennet."

Shyly, Miss Darcy answered, "Mrs. Bingley, welcome to London. Miss Bennet, I am very happy to see you again. Shall we get inside?" And indeed, Georgiana was very happy. She had liked Miss Elizabeth Bennet – as she had been introduced – when she had first met her in Pemberley because she was not scornful, as was Caroline Bingley, but very lively and witty. Georgiana had almost felt at ease with her. Moreover, since her brother’s return from London that evening of August, she had been his confidant. She knew what had happened between Miss Bennet and him in Hertfordshire and in Kent. She knew what he had done for Miss Bennet’s youngest sister and Wickham. And she knew that he was very unsure but decided to try his luck.

In the hall, she added, "I think you might be glad of settling down, Mrs. Harper is the housekeeper, she will show you your rooms. Would you like to take some refreshments before dinner?" She was blushing at the end of such a long speech but her brother’s admiring and encouraging look was a satisfying reward.

Soon after, the guests rejoined their hosts in the drawing-room. Tea was poured and conversation started to flow. Bingley wanted to introduce his delightful wife among his London acquaintances so he suggested ideas of entertainment. Jane expressed the wish to call on the Hursts, Elizabeth, to call on the Gardiners, even Georgiana, continuing her efforts, suggested doing some shopping with the Bennet sisters. Mr. Darcy was courteous, attentive and agreeing to all the ideas. He was having a hard time trying not to stare continuously at Elizabeth and was succeeding – most of the time. The lady was having a good time so far, feeling almost at ease because the mood was light enough; but her poise abruptly fled with Charles’ next words.

"Darcy, Elizabeth has a special request for you. Her motive in coming here was not only to enjoy the Season but also to seek some advice from you."

While a severe blush was coming onto Lizzy’s face, Mr. Darcy answered: "Miss Bennet, I would be very happy to help you in whatever way you may need me. But I must confess I am at a loss at imagining how I could be of any help to you." In fact, he had some ideas but none very proper or very credible, considering their present relationship.

"Mr. Darcy, I… I have started to write a novel…" she didn’t know how to come to the point.

"Really, how exciting, what does it deal with? Is it a love story? When does it take place? Are there some ghosts?" Georgiana’s sudden burst amazed everyone, including herself. In fact, she had started to read Mrs. Radcliff’s novels and was very fond of them. Elizabeth was grateful for their young hostess’ interruption since it allowed her to regain her composure.

"Miss Darcy, thank you for your interest, I’m sure it doesn’t deserve it."

"Come, Lizzy, you cannot say that although it is not finished and nobody has read it! Please, answer Miss Darcy questions."

"You’re right, Jane. Well, it happens at Queen Elizabeth’s court. It’s a love story between an impoverished but courageous knight and a young wealthy lady. But the father of the lady doesn’t believe in the pure nature of his interest and he proves it, by saving her, after her father’s refusal, when she is ransomed by some theieves; and he shows thus that he is worthy of her. I’m afraid there is no ghost, Miss Darcy…" she finished smiling.

Watching Mr. Darcy’s expectation, she added, "I would like to write about some fencing fights but I have no idea about the fencing practice. I had asked Jane if Charles could help me…"

"But I told her that you are much better than I am at that kind of thing, and that she should ask you, instead of me, for some advice!", interrupted Mr. Bingley.

"I am delighted to be able to help and am, Miss Bennet, at your service."

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy". Elizabeth’s blush was coming back, as he had locked his gaze with her in giving his agreement.

Eventually, their looks parted and he suggested: "Shall we take a turn in the house before dinner?"

The house was huge, the furniture, although a little bit newer than in Pemberley, gave the same impression of comfort and taste. Nothing was tawdry. Everything was cosy. A thought Elizabeth had already had, came once again, And of this place, I might have been Mistress as well! There was even a ballroom; it had not been used for a long time, but Mr. Darcy explained that he was happy to be able to give his sister’s coming out ball in his own residence. It was not planned until the year after but they had already started to talk about it.

Because of the fatigue from the trip, dinner was a quiet time and the guests retired soon after it. The Bingeys discussed the events of the afternoon and didn’t really find anything supporting their theory. Elizabeth was doing likewise in the loneliness of her room. His conduct had been perfectly courteous. He had been an attentive host. She remembered the way their eyes had met and the words he had used to agree to the fencing scheme. It still made her shiver. But this had been the only time and could have been a trick of her imagination. And to think that she was in his house, that she was in a room he probably knew perfectly, that she was lying on a bed where he might have sat. How extraordinary! How frightening! How delicious! O God, how she loved him! After two full hours of tossing and turning, she finally felt asleep.

Meanwhile Georgiana and her brother were having their usual conversation in the library. Georgiana was enthusiastic about Miss Bennet and was sure that her brother had a very good chance to have already conquered her heart. On the contrary, he was still unsure but still resolved to find the truth. This evening, her conduct had been perfectly courteous. She had not been the Elizabeth he had fallen in love with, always saying her mind and teasing him as soon as she could. She had been the Elizabeth he had last seen in Hertfordshire, still witty, still teasing, but only as long as he was not the one to be teased; this night, she had teased Georgiana about the ghosts. He dearly loved this seemingly more thoughtful, certainly calmer Elizabeth.

She was writing a novel! In his mind, she was a heroine, not a writer. And what about her subject, just exchange the fortune and there they were. True, he no longer had a father to prevent a wedding, but Lady Catherine would probably be furious if he were to announce such an event. His pride, too, at first, had been as much in the way of his happiness as the lady’s father was in his daughter’s. And, he, Fitzwilliam Darcy, was to teach her how to fence! That was another twist of fate if he knew any. How was he supposed to fight the woman he cherished the most in the world? Of course, he had never killed anyone with his sword (with anything else either, for that matter), but he might hurt her. This sometimes happened in his trainings… He would be very careful, he vowed to himself, he wouldn’t hurt her in any way. On the other hand, those lessons meant being together, one challenging the other, just as it was, more than a year ago, in Netherfield. He anticipated the pleasure he would feel during those gatherings. It was very late when he left the library, and even later when finally, Morpheus(2) visited his room.

(1) I definitively don’t know if this street existed in the Regency London but I didn’t want the house to be in Grosvenor street (where, IMHO, the Hurst town house is) and I read about another Darcy whose house was there. So, this will do the trick!

(2) It’s actually a French expression: "to fall into Morpheus’ arms" meaning to fall asleep. My betas allowed me to keep it, if I put some explanations :-)

The Fencing Lessons, Chapter 4