Daniel

Daniel--Prologue et. Chapter One

Posted By: Dawn R
Date: Thursday, 13 July 2006, at 6:17 p.m.

Blurb: Families love, families protect one another, and sometimes the responsibility one feels to family can be all consuming. Somewhere along the way, Elizabeth Bennet has lost herself to this notion of duty as her brother is being groomed to inherit her family estate.

When a man from the northern country enters their lives, will Elizabeth even notice his silent observations of her? Or has the woman in Elizabeth been overshadowed for so long by the role of devoted sister that she is now unreachable?

This story was born from the imaginations of the group of women who attended the HG gathering in Wisconsin in July 2005. It was then written by Dawn R and edited by Debbie S.

~~ Prologue ~~

My diary,

I have no defense to offer that would be credible to justify my negligence. The past fortnight has presented a flurry of activity to which we are unaccustomed, and it is only now that I find myself with an opportunity to sit before you with my writing instrument in hand.

The month began with the arrival of my dear friend, Charlotte, and her husband, Mr. Collins, in Meryton. They are visiting with her parents and are not scheduled to leave for another week which, I must admit with regret, is not soon enough. Sadly, I understand why Charlotte wed my elder cousin, for she is not the first woman to marry for material comforts, but how she can tolerate his daily presence I cannot fathom.

In the past, I have dwelt on my less than generous regard for Mr. Collins’ character and find the need to continue my abuse this day. I have not formed a fresh opinion of him; he continues to be too smooth in his words and actions—too pleasing in his speech to us. My father and I have, once again, concluded that a distance must be maintained between Mr. Collins and our family, for he has the tendency to ask questions that border on intrusive.

Three nights ago, our family was invited to Lucas Lodge to join a small party in honor of Charlotte and her husband being in the neighborhood. We all attended with the exception of Lydia. Unfortunately, any expectations that Mr. Collins would improve in manners were thwarted shortly after our arrival. We had not been in residence one half-hour when Mr. Collins sought out my father, brother, and myself. What began as a dissertation praising the merits of our estate and the bounties which Longbourn produced, soon turned hostile as the object of his questioning turned solely to Daniel.

I am not so naive as to be indifferent to the fact that, had my brother not been born, Mr. Collins would be next in line to inherit Longbourn, according to the entailment that surrounds the property. Certainly, this might raise his curiosity about what could have been his, but this evening in particular, his tone was harsher than I have heard him use in the past and the delivery of his questions verging on severe. My father and I both were left with the impression that Mr. Collins was searching for more than idle conversation about the land or the tenants. Perhaps I could have excused my suspicions as baseless, for Mr. Collins is not that well known to me, and might have overlooked his boldness, had my father not acted on his own instinct. The conversation abruptly ended with my father removing himself and Daniel to my mother’s side, leaving me alone with our cousin.

“You must harbor hesitation about Daniel’s capability to govern a manor as grand as Longbourn,” he dared voice to me.

I cannot reflect kindly on my behavior, for my tongue was sharp and used weapon-like against our relative, when he went against propriety to pose an inquiry about my brother that was more of an insinuation than familial interest. If Mr. Collins was ever in doubt about Bennet family loyalty, he was not when I was finished with him. I could not tell from his intonation, nor did he detail where he thought my concern should lie, in Daniel’s age or elsewhere, but by what right did this man pose such a question? Was it ignorance or arrogance that motivated him?

I was in the midst of reminding Mr. Collins that concern about my brother was none of his affair when Jane came to me with Charlotte in tow. My time alone with Mr. Collins terminated, and thankfully, there were no other opportunities during the remainder of the evening for us to be alone.

I do not trust him, but cannot state a reason for feeling thus. By all outward appearances he leads a respectable life. A parson on a large estate in Kent, Mr. Collins can quote the Bible like a man of God, but could there be greed lurking underneath the surface that is shadowed by the exalted occupation he embraces?

It is possible that the sister in me worries needlessly. I adore my brother, and as anyone who cares for another, it is quite natural to wish to protect him. Daniel will be a fine master of Longbourn when the day comes. Of that I am confident.

I have not yet told you, but Netherfield Park has been let. Mr. Bingley and his sister arrived less than a month ago from London and have taken up residence. The fires had not yet been lit on their first night when rumors about the man began to circulate. He is a single gentleman of good fortune and temperament in need of a country estate. Luckily for him, not only could Hertfordshire provide a fine property, but as my mother has said, if he needs a wife to share in his fortune, we may also accommodate that need. Of course, she did not say this with Jane present in the room. Mother still senses that my sister’s heart is not healed from the passing of Edward last spring, although I feel that Jane has shown a return to her former self. Oddly enough, the uplifting of my sister’s spirits coincides with the arrival of Mr. Bingley. Time will tell what his introduction into the neighborhood will signify, and I will not speculate too much.

I pity any single man who dares step foot in our county, for the present stock of bachelors is in very short supply and fresh blood is always welcome. Mr. Bingley seems to be taking the attention bestowed upon him in stride and maintains a cheery disposition, according to all reports. My mother pressed that both Father and Daniel be introduced to Mr. Bingley, with the reasoning that if the man did indeed purchase Netherfield Park in the future, they would have already formed a connection. I agreed with her logic, and after a bit of nudging, my father agreed to meet with Mr. Bingley.

There was another gentleman present on my father and Daniel’s second visit that truly sent the town awhirl. His name is Mr. Darcy, and he hails from Derbyshire, near the town where my Aunt Garner was raised.

I can not report much about Mr. Darcy for I have not had the leisure to judge his personality, regardless of the exposure I have had to him. I believe he and Mr. Bingley have come to call on us four times since he arrived. I may have missed a visit or two, depending upon what day of the week it was that they called. From my observations, Mr. Darcy speaks rarely and appears more content to observe rather than participate in any of the liveliness around him. I have no qualms with this behavior, for as I grow older, I find myself doing the same. There is talk that Mr. Darcy’s country estate is easily four times as large as ours. This leads me to believe that he has matters on his mind that take precedence over who has spoken to whom or the latest preparations for Mr. Bingley’s ball. At least I would hope so, for irresponsible men are the worst offenders of their sex, in my opinion…

Noting the darkness looming out her windowpane, Elizabeth Bennet laid the pen down before rising to don her robe. It was her practice to bid goodnight to her family every evening, and not to do so because she was writing out her judgments of others seemed very wrong.

“You are late.” Daniel informed her as he came up the stairs, wearing a concerned expression on his face that made him appear older than his eighteen years. Cupping his chin, Elizabeth smiled at her brother and assured him that although she might be a creature of habit, even she could lose track of time.

Daniel Bennet was a man blessed both in material assets and good health. The dark coloring of their father had been inherited by three of the four Bennet children, yet it was Daniel who wore it to its greatest advantage. Elizabeth had often teased that her brother was indeed the most handsome of them, but she did not credit that to one unfamiliar with their family, she could easily pass for his twin despite being two years older.

They were a pair—Elizabeth and Daniel. It was rare to discover one without the other being nearby, and as they ventured deeper into Meryton society with the passing of years, it became acknowledged that to approach the future heir of Longbourn one must also be willing to address his sister. There was a time when it was not unheard of, for individuals acquainted with the family, to express their unsolicited opinion that Thomas Bennet might be too indulgent a father toward his second-born daughter. He allowed Elizabeth a man’s education and did not hesitate exposing her to realities most deemed too harsh for the fairer sex. The conviction expressed by outsiders was that to allow Elizabeth the liberty to be present in the realm of men could be nothing but detrimental to her and her development as a woman.

She proved their predictions incorrect and maintained all those qualities found in her counterparts, yet there was a distinct mark upon Elizabeth. When given a choice, her interests were more parallel with those of her brother than her sisters. While other young women were sitting with their needlework daydreaming about when they might someday be married, Elizabeth was out on horseback inspecting her family’s property. She preferred outdoor pursuits to decorating bonnets, mathematics to music.

Elizabeth’s physical attractiveness won her the admiration of many a man in the neighborhood, yet she never encouraged their attention beyond a casual acquaintance. Left unsaid was the speculation that her heart was untouchable and that she was not seeking out any matrimonial prospects. Most doubted Elizabeth would ever leave Longbourn in her lifetime, for to date, there had not been a man who appeared to even tempt her to take a second look.

Elizabeth knew full well what was being said about her when people thought she was not listening. The Bennets were not wealthy by the standards of the day, but Thomas Bennet led the comfortable life of a gentleman. This did grant them the privilege to be mildly eccentric if they so desired, as long as it was kept under good regulation. The Bennet family did, and theirs was a home where felicity appeared to be in abundance.

Maintaining the smile on her lips, Elizabeth and Daniel engaged in light conversation while standing alone in the hall. Being that it was Monday, Elizabeth had spent her morning in the parlor at her mother’s request and had not yet had the opportunity to ask Daniel how he enjoyed his ride with their father.

“Where did you two venture off to while I was listening to Mrs. Long describe lace?”

“Sheldon’s Pass.” Although content with his answer, Daniel could sense by his sister’s expression that she desired more information. “We met Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy along the way.”

“Did they join you?”

“Oh, yes.”

“How did you find their company?”

“Father carried most of the conversation with Mr. Bingley.”

“Was there mention of Jane?” Folding her hands in front of her, Elizabeth waited patiently for Daniel’s reply. He was not the best conversationalist in the family, but she knew how to get him to divulge details that he had mentally deemed too insignificant to share.

“I could not tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Mr. Darcy and I took a trail while they stopped to rest.” Laying the subject aside for the moment, Daniel changed the topic to a matter more important to him. “What shall we do tomorrow, Elizabeth?”

“Ah, tomorrow. Here is my plan. We will rise at our usual time and go about our morning routine. Once breakfast is over, you and I will get our horses so we may tour the northern land visiting with the tenants along the way. Of course, that is if it does not rain.”

“You dislike riding in the rain.” Daniel reminded her.

“Yes, I do!” Elizabeth laughed. “Afterwards, I hope to be home before luncheon so that we can share the meal with our family. When it is over, you and I will join Father in his study and report our findings. We must return before two in the afternoon because it is my wish to take a short rest before preparing for Mr. Bingley’s ball.”

“Shall we depart for Netherfield at seven?”

“Yes. It should give us plenty of time for travel.”

“And we must attend this ball?” Casting his sister a weary glance, Daniel did not hide his regret at having to devote his evening in such employment. He, like many other young men his age, could devise much more pleasurable ways to spend his time.

Daniel continued to question Elizabeth about why people felt compelled to hold balls, since apparently no one but the ladies appeared to enjoy them. His sister informed him that was exactly the reason why their existence continued and that no amount of male logic could change it. Just as she had finished convincing one of the men in her household why it was important for him to be in attendance at Mr. Bingley’s ball the next evening, Elizabeth had to face yet another reluctant male. With this one, she knew, victory would not be hers.

“I am told, sir, that you are unable to attend Mr. Bingley’s ball this evening due to a complaint of indigestion,” Elizabeth said the next evening while perched in the doorway of her father’s study with her arms crossed.

“That is true, Lizzy.” Thomas Bennet nodded his head while remaining seated behind his desk. There was a book in his hand and a glass of port beside him, hardly making his explanation of illness convincing. “Please offer my apology to Mr. Bingley and his sister.”

“If I remember correctly, you suffered from the same ailment last month for the assembly.” Noticing that the room was warm and her father’s cheeks flushed, Elizabeth went over to a window to open it. She was not surprised by his sudden inability to go with them this evening, for it was becoming commonplace ever since Daniel reached the age to be able to escort the family.

“Tis your mother’s menus I blame,” Thomas defended himself. He already knew he was forgiven for his trespass by the way Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in mischievous disbelief. “Too many heavy foods are the culprit. My poor stomach cannot tolerate them anymore.”

Elizabeth wished to remark that her mother’s menus were obviously pleasing to her father if she used the happy paunch about his midsection as an indicator, but she held her tongue. “We must remedy that so you are not denied the simple pleasures in life of dancing and communing with your neighbors.”

“The music…the noise! Will you be able to manage without me tonight?”

“I will muddle through, father. But next time either you need to be more creative in your ailments or I will throw a tantrum in the hallway like Lydia.”

“I will get no rest tonight. She will bombard me with her whining and crying because she is too young to attend, and I will have to do my best to ignore her. That is until Lydia locks herself in her room in protest. It almost seems the lesser of two evils to attend the ball.”

“You think we women are that predictable?”

“I know it,” he replied absently as he worked the muscle in his left arm by stretching it out.

“What happened to your arm?”

“I strained it while riding out with Daniel yesterday. He prefers a quick pace, not realizing that I am an old man, but my pride will not allow me to fall too far behind. I am content to go at a slightly faster trot if the ground is level. No need to concern yourself, my dear. I promise to have no enjoyment this evening and will be in bed before the sun sets.”

“Are you that tired, Father, or is it a case of ‘I do not wish to attend a ball’ that has fatigued you?”

“Perhaps a bit of both, Lizzy.”

“You sleep well and we will tell you all about our escapades in the morning.” Walking over to where her father sat, Elizabeth leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead before heading toward the door to leave.

“Is this Jane’s first outing since Edward died?” Thomas asked quietly just as Elizabeth’s hand reached out for the doorknob. The period of mourning had long passed for Jane since the death of her fiancé, but it had taken her several months more to reacquaint herself in society. In truth, her father should have been the man this night to be at Jane’s side. By all rights, it was his duty, yet the conviction of the obligation was not quite strong enough for him to vacate his chair to spend an evening at Mr. Bingley’s.

“Yes. I will have Daniel escort her. I doubt Jane will be on his arm long, though. Mother told me she has already accepted Mr. Bingley for the first two dances.”

“You take good care of us, Lizzy. Go to your ball and enjoy yourself. Dance!”

Smiling over her shoulder, Elizabeth bid her father good-bye and shortly thereafter, left with the others.

~~..~~

The navy blue material that composed Elizabeth’s gown rustled as she walked by the dancers with a punch glass in her hands. Unaware that the eyes of more than one man were upon her, she caught sight of her sister being led to the floor once again by Mr. Bingley, and her happiness for Jane brightened her face. If she had done more than give a cursory glance in the mirror before she left home, Elizabeth would have realized that this evening she was beautiful and smiling only made her more so.

Her skin had an olive tone to it, and when she chose to wear dark colors, which was often for reasons more practical than fashionable, the effect was lovely. Elizabeth knew she was not unattractive, but for a woman who spent minimum time each morning at her dressing table Elizabeth did not make an issue about how she looked as long as she was presentable. Perhaps that was what made her pleasing to some men; she did not fuss so that she might always appear as near to perfect as possible.

There was one man in particular that could not stop staring, regardless of his mind willing him to do so. Fitzwilliam Darcy, or William as family and friends called him, had been engaged in the occupation of watching Miss Elizabeth Bennet for the majority of the evening. When she traveled a few feet in front of him, it appeared as if he were about to address her, but Elizabeth passed by him so quickly, that William had not the chance. Elizabeth went to her brother’s side, not too great a distance from where William stood next to an open door, leading out to a balcony.

“Daniel, perhaps you would like to ask one of the ladies to dance during the next set?” Elizabeth suggested after surveying the people mulling about in the next room.

“There is no one present who could tempt me to do so.” The son’s dislike of dancing was obviously a trait inherited from his father.

“You should not say that aloud. It could be interpreted as rude.”

“Why so, when it is the truth?”

“Not all truths should be made public. A lady without a partner could easily have overheard you and taken your remarks to heart. Even in the strongest of women, confidence can be made frail when faced with a handsome man declaring them undesirable.”

“I did not intend to offend anyone,” he apologized with sincerity after some thought.

“I know that, Daniel, but there are more ladies than gentlemen here this evening. If it pleases you, it would be kind for you to ask a lady to dance the next. It is a most unfortunate circumstance when a young woman returns home from a ball without having received an offer to dance.”

“Would you like to dance, Elizabeth?”

A hearty laugh preceded her explanation that she was not referring to herself. Soon thereafter, Daniel approached Mariah Lucas to solicit the next set, his sister watching him from nearby. It was then when another gentleman, who had overheard Elizabeth’s advice to Daniel, approached her.

“Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the honor of dancing the next set with me?”

“I…” Elizabeth turned her gaze from her brother to identify the speaker, only to realize it was Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth knew of the man only slightly because he had accompanied Mr. Bingley to their home on several occasions, but the surprise that a relative stranger would make such a request banished her usual response from her head making it difficult for her to form a refusal.

“It would be my pleasure, sir.” Elizabeth mouthed without thought. “Thank you.”

The dance had been agreeable, Elizabeth admitted to herself once it was over. Her partner did not miss a move, nor did he expect an excessive amount of conversation to be made to fill the silence between them. Before the dance, Elizabeth had not realized how tall Mr. Darcy was, or that he appeared to be slightly older than his friend, Mr. Bingley. There was a cultured elegance about him that bespoke of a privileged upbringing beyond that which Meryton society could offer, yet Elizabeth found it interesting that, at times, he hesitated before making a statement as if he were uncertain of himself.

As the supper was about to begin, Elizabeth excused herself to find her mother and Jane. They were both quite content with how the evening was progressing, and only once did her mother ask her about Mr. Darcy, commenting on his superior dancing skills. Strange, but Elizabeth felt embarrassed and did not reply when her mother teasingly asked if she thought Mr. Darcy handsome. With the intent of escaping unscathed, she soon left them to locate her brother. From across the room, Elizabeth noticed Daniel and Mr. Darcy in conversation away from the crowd. As she approached them, so did Mr. Collins, a man she had been happily able to avoid up to this point.

“I acknowledge that we have not been properly introduced, Mr. Darcy, but I feel as if I already know you,” Collins lamented with an air of false deference that Elizabeth easily recognized. “Your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is my most esteemed patroness…”

“You should not be addressing him,” Daniel energetically interrupted his elder cousin. “You have not been properly introduced.”

“I have admitted that to the man himself, Daniel. As I was explaining to Mr. Darcy, I am the rector to his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and have heard much about him.”

“Inconsequential.” Daniel retorted. “This rule should not be broken on the assumption that a connection has been made simply because you have heard about him.”

“Of course,” Collins admitted curtly. “You are quite right and undoubtedly my better in matters of propriety.”

“I will do it for you, Cousin. Mr. Darcy, may I introduce Mr. Collins from Kent. He is rector of Hunsford Parish and married to the former Miss Lucas, Sir William Lucas’ eldest daughter. His father-in-law’s estate of Lucas Lodge is not a mile from my own. It is a good property, but lacking acreage.”

Elizabeth placed her hand on her brother’s arm thus silencing him before daring to raise her eyes to gage Mr. Darcy’s reaction at the faux pas committed by her cousin and the reprimand that followed from her brother.

His countenance unreadable, a slight nod was given in the direction of Mr. Collins, and seconds passed until Mr. Darcy spoke. It was not to Collins that his words were directed, but to Daniel.

“I believe you were telling me about the horses you are breeding. I would appreciate hearing more, if your presence is not required by Miss Elizabeth at this moment.” Mr. Darcy turned his head to meet her gaze, as if waiting for her permission. With relief expressed by a warm smile, it was granted.

“Mr. Darcy, you may be at leisure to speak with my brother for as long as you desire, but be warned that it must be you who will need to end the conversation. My brother can talk about horses for hours.”

“I will take that into account, Miss Elizabeth.” The smile Elizabeth gave him because he made no issue of the errors committed by her family was then reflected back to her from the lips of William Darcy.

~~..~~

The following morning, William’s valet entered his room with a message that Mr. Bingley needed to speak with him as soon as it was possible. He dressed quickly, wondering why his friend was up so early, as it was obvious that the sun had barely risen. Making his way down to the library to meet him, William was not fully in the room when Charles alleviated his curiosity.

“Mr. Bennet passed away last evening.”

“Daniel Bennet?”

“No, his father.”

~~..~~

~~ Chapter One ~~

The rain, in unison with intermittent hail, thrashed against the roof of the old chapel making it nearly impossible for the inhabitants to clearly hear the minister speaking before them. In accordance with the explicit instructions outlined in Mr. Bennet’s will and testament, his body had been buried beneath the chapel floor within hours of his demise, and on this day, the third since his passing, an abbreviated memorial service was held.

The poor attendance of only eight men was attributable more to the weather than the popularity of Mr. Bennet in his township. Those without carriages found themselves prevented by the storm to venture the distance from their homes to the chapel, and the men with the means to travel were compelled to weigh the possibility of damage to their calash top against any allegiance to their former neighbor.

Shifting his weight to a comfortable position, William could not recall the last time he had witnessed a thunderstorm of equal magnitude, the cadence it produced as the rain hit the roof distracting him when he should have been in thoughtful reverence. He harbored no concern over his carriage when he and Mr. Bingley boarded it to make the journey from Netherfield that morning. At present, it was sheltered in the Bennet’s barn by invitation of Mr. Gardiner, brother to the Widow Bennet.

After a prayer for the departed soul of Mr. Bennet had been recited, the clergyman conducting the service released the congregation. Handshakes and words of comfort were exchanged while they tarried until a time when the storm would allow them safe passage to their carriages. As minutes ticked by, William’s attention continued to be drawn to the new master of Longbourn.

In William’s estimation, Daniel appeared nervous as evidenced by the young man wringing his hands together. Then again, William’s own habit of twisting his signet ring when uncomfortable, as he was doing at this time, could be perceived as an outward sign of his own uneasiness.

From their earliest acquaintance, William became aware that Daniel Bennet was a man of sharp intelligence. With facts and numbers he was brilliant, although other details seemed to elude him at times. It was true that Daniel did speak out of turn on occasion, but William attributed the tendency to his limited society and not a flaw in his character. When Daniel was in a group, it was rare for him to talk, but in the company of his sister or when conversing in confidence with a trusted friend, he was free with his ideas.

What can only be described as brotherly feelings flooded William when he dwelt on the younger man’s predicament. Thankful that Daniel had a sister like Elizabeth to watch out for him, William recalled with clarity what it was like for him to inherit the responsibility of running an estate at such a young age. His greatest desire for Daniel was that he would benefit from the sound guidance of a knowledgeable man as he had.

There was a total absence of brotherly feeling when William’s thoughts turned to Elizabeth. While their initial meeting reenacted itself in his mind’s eye, William recalled the image of Elizabeth riding up to him after he and Bingley had paid a call on her father. Her smile was bright and her cheeks rosy from the exercise she had recently undertaken. Bingley made the introductions before Elizabeth turned her full attention toward William to offer the hearty greeting one would express for an old friend. Though their first interaction lasted only a short time, it was long enough for her to make clever conversation laced with a touch of dry wit. William left Longbourn that day impressed by the second daughter of Thomas Bennet, and subsequent meetings had transformed his good opinion into one of admiration.

Drawn back to the present, William chided himself for the impropriety of his thoughts. It was neither the time nor place to contemplate the beauty of the deceased’s daughter. She had just entered her period of mourning, and out of respect for both Elizabeth and her father, William would cease daydreaming.

Unfortunately, the exchange taking place between the gentlemen in attendance was of the dullest variety, and William soon found it impossible to be an active participant. Mr. Collins was recounting, yet again, the story of his father-in-law’s unfortunate injury to a bone in his foot the day before, stressing how disappointed Sir William Lucas was at not being able to pay his respects to his finest neighbor. The recitation was far too tempting to ignore, and glancing about him, William discovered that he was not the only man with a wandering mind.

As if remembering something of importance, Daniel told the gentlemen that he was required to express gratitude to the minister for his service. Neither uncle accompanied him, instead nodding their heads in agreement as he went off alone. During Daniel’s absence the topic of conversation within the small group changed to the weather, and it was broached with an enthusiasm not given to the previous dialogue. Seemingly disinterested in the topic at hand, Mr. Collins wandered off to explore the small chapel.

Perhaps Mother Nature was pleased with the men’s attention because suddenly the rain began to let up. Two of the gentlemen, who would not be returning to Longbourn, excused themselves, leaving William and Mr. Bingley as the sole mourners apart from the family. Mr. Gardiner brought the pair into the tęte-ŕ-tęte he was sharing with his elder sister’s husband, Mr. Phillips.

“We should follow their example,” Mr. Phillips said in reference to exiting the chapel, after what seemed like a long wait. Many minutes had passed since Daniel had left their company, certainly enough time to say what needed to be said to the minister. “I will fetch the…”

A shout of ‘No’ coming from the next room stopped Mr. Phillips from finishing his sentence. It was repeated a second time with even more vehemence and agitation, and a look of recognition passed between him and Mr. Gardiner. As the men rushed in the direction of the voice, a third cry directed them to an antechamber where they found Daniel and Mr. Collins. William halted as soon as the sight of the young man came into view, his arm reaching out to keep Bingley from advancing on the scene. Daniel Bennet was facing a corner and banging his head against the wall.

Mr. Gardiner went directly to his nephew, lifting his hands as if he would touch Daniel’s shoulders, but instead, he placed his hand against the wall, palm out, to buffer the blows Daniel was administering and protect him from further harm. In hushed tones his uncle spoke softly to him while Mr. Collins took several steps back to give the two more space.

“I found him this way,” Collins stated under his breath to William, pointing in the direction of his younger cousin. “I asked him a question about his sisters, and he started this.”

William did not make a reply, but silently considered the inconsistency in Collins’ account.

Mr. Gardiner continued in vain, his efforts not convincing Daniel to halt his actions. Different approaches were attempted, all of which met with the same failure, until a shaken Mr. Gardiner turned to Mr. Phillips and requested that Elizabeth be brought to the chapel.

“I am a competent runner. I will go.” Mr. Bingley offered. Without waiting for permission from the elder man he dashed out the nearest door. While he was gone, Mr. Phillips also strived to console his nephew by taking hold of Daniel’s shoulders in an effort to distract him. The effect was the opposite of what he wished to achieve, and soon it became apparent that the harder the two men tried to restrain him, the more agitated Daniel became.

From his vantage point in the background, just out of Daniel’s sight, Mr. Collins watched the scene before him unfold with a countenance which expressed more curiosity than concern for the young man.

Mr. Bingley made true on his claim of speed. Elizabeth, stained with watermarks on her black gown and mud splattered on the hem, soon materialized. No details or suggestions were necessary for her, nor did Elizabeth make any special requests of the men. She simply went to Daniel’s side and began to talk.

“Daniel,” Elizabeth whispered gently. “Daniel.”

Bewitched by the woman who reached out to her brother only with words, William did not remove from the antechamber. He was not compelled by curiosity to remain, but rather it was a protective instinct against the unknown. William thought Elizabeth’s voice acted as a balm, but if Daniel turned his violence towards her, he and the others would be there to control him. William vowed to himself not leave her until convinced the situation presented no danger to Elizabeth.

Seeming to recognize the voice of his sister, Daniel suddenly stopped what he was doing and turned to Elizabeth. Eyes dull, they stared through his sister into nothi...