Pride and Prejudice doesn't belong to me.

Thanks Miriam1 for all your help.

Quiet Musings

Mr. Darcy got out of the bath tub and dried himself. Russell, Bingley's German shepherd, was raising a ruckus outside his window. After dressing, Mr. Darcy walked to the window to see what the matter was with Russell; he hoped the children from the village who sometimes wandered onto the property were not throwing stones at him. Darcy liked his mornings quiet that was the time that he reserved for his business, especially when he wasn't at home; the rest of the day was usually taken up entertaining visitors, or visiting the neighbours, or some equally tiresome activity.

He wondered how long it would take before Bingley got tired of Netherfield and they could leave. He was getting bored with the society; most of the people here were dull and too interested in drinking and dancing, something Darcy never did unless he absolutely had no choice.

What he saw outside the window shocked him: Elizabeth Bennet was playing with the dog, and they both looked like they were having a great time, too. There was something seriously wrong with that girl; what business did she having playing with a dog at that hour? Surely she should be caring for her sister, although thinking about it he realized that only the two of them were up at this time, the Bingleys and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst being late risers.

In spite of himself, he continued to watch her. At first, he had only seen that her shoes were dirty, as she'd probably taken a walk in the still muddy road, and that her face was flushed. But now he saw that her flushed face looked bright and healthy, and as for her eyes, they were sparkling and she was smiling. It really was a fine sight.

Elizabeth Bennet was breathtaking in the morning.

Seeing the turn his thoughts were taking, Darcy quickly left the window and went to Bingley's study. He had work to do before the others rose for breakfast, very urgent work.

Over the next three days, Darcy found himself drawn more and more to Elizabeth Bennet; she was bewitching – at least her smile and laugh were, her eyes always drew him, he wanted to know the secrets they were hiding. But it was her conversation, when she did say a word, which wasn't often enough for him – her voice was very captivating, too – that enchanted him. She challenged him like no one ever had; it was both infuriating and exciting.

He was finding Elizabeth Bennet a distraction.

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They stood outside the house watching Jane and Elizabeth Bennet enter the carriage to go back to Longbourn. Finally, her distracting presence was leaving; he could go back to his normal life.

"Goodbye, Miss Elizabeth," he told her, as he helped get into the carriage. Darcy felt something go through him as he looked up at Elizabeth Bennet. He was unsettled yet thrilled as he recalled his parents talking about feeling like that but it couldn't be, could it? He hardly knew the girl and she was infuriating most of the time.

He had to convince Bingley to leave Netherfield – and Jane Bennet – before it was too late, before Bingley fell into the bind that Darcy now found himself in.

He was in love with Elizabeth Bennet.

It was a good thing that Caroline and Louisa also didn't like the Bennets, it would make the job of convincing Bingley that they had to leave and soon so much easier.

He had to get away from Elizabeth Bennet before he lost himself completely.

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