Spring Challenge

by Kara Lou

Firthness Challenge Entry - 2004

Part One - An Excerpt from Master Under Good Regulation


When the carriage returned from Lucas Lodge, I eagerly scampered out to greet my master and paid keen attention to his demeanor. I wondered whether he would exhibit the same unsettled behaviour that seemed to plague him after the assembly. While his quick strides up the stairs gave me little inclination, there was something rather odd that caught my notice. He was whistling. But it was not the familiar whistling to which I was accustomed when he would call me, but rather it was melodic, with little sounds that flowed in lively variance.

As we reached the top, Miss Bingley called from downstairs, "Mr. Darcy, will you sleep well tonight or be kept awake with thoughts of fine eyes?"

His whistling stopped and he turned abruptly, looking down at her, a noticeable flush permeating his face. Making no response, he continued to his room as Miss Bingley and her sister twittered with laughter.

Once he was dressed in his nightclothes and his man dismissed, a very contented smile found its way to my master's countenance.

"She does have fine eyes… very fine eyes! I see no harm in admiring a lady's fine eyes, do you, Reggie?" He took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Perhaps the harm done was confessing my admiration to Miss Bingley. At the time, my mind was too agreeably engaged to consider how imprudent making mention of it to her would be."

He turned and looked at me. "She does have beautiful eyes. Dark… intelligent… beautiful."

Did someone attend this assembly that he has found worthy of his admiration? I wondered. Was it some superbly accomplished young lady? My tail wagged in eager expectation of hearing more!

He extinguished the candles and walked over to the window, crossing his arms in front of him. I patiently waited.

His eyes remained steadfastly gazing out the window as he began to talk. "How could I ever have deemed her merely tolerable?"

My tail began uncontrollably wagging now, as I realized it was Miss Elizabeth who had him so captivated!

He walked over to the bed and sat down, propping himself up on one elbow and began scratching me behind my ears. "I admit at first sight, I saw nothing fashionable in her form and carriage." He shook his head. "But tonight, I recognized her figure as light and pleasing. Moreover, her manners have an easy playfulness to them I found most appealing."

He laid down, putting his hands behind his head and staring into the darkness. "Her eyes are only one of the many attractive features on her face. However, I must confess, Reggie, that my behaviour towards her tonight was not exactly that of a gentleman."

My heart sank as I pondered what he might have done this evening that would put him further into Miss Elizabeth's disapprobation.

His voice took on a soft, meditative tone and he appeared preoccupied and thoughtful, as if recollecting something from earlier that evening. "I could not take my eyes off of her the whole of the evening. I unabashedly stared at her as if I was some besotted youth! In addition, I found myself hard pressed not to eavesdrop on a conversation of hers, which did not escape her notice, I am afraid."

He turned towards me and brushed his hand down along my back. "I had no wish to refrain from looking at her and I cared little what anyone thought. Surprisingly, I did not even care when she refused to accept my invitation to dance."

I chuffed in sympathy, and he continued. "She was only repaying me for the insult I paid to her at the assembly. But I confess I only cared that I was able to gaze into her eyes."

He rolled onto his back, taking the same pensive position as before. "I do believe that the moment she refused me was when I found her most beautiful!" He turned his head towards me, "Do you think that odd, Reggie?"

I let out a whimper to assure him that I did not. For in that moment, I realized part of Miss Elizabeth's charm was that she did not hold him in reverence due to his wealth and status. She had no wish to use her arts to draw him in; in fact, she was doing quite the opposite… but with the same results!

My master continued, "Unfortunately, it was then that Miss Bingley accosted me. I was meditating on Miss Elizabeth's fine eyes and pretty face. If I had more sense about me, I would never have confessed those thoughts to her." He groaned and scathingly spit out, "Afterwards, Miss Bingley was relentless in her comments wishing me marital felicity and what a fine mother-in-law I would have! Now I must endure her teasing, when…when in truth," he suddenly became quite wistful. "It is really nothing, nothing at all."

He lifted his head and took his pillow in both hands, plumping it up before crashing his head down upon it again.

"Marriage to Miss Elizabeth? I barely know her!" His voice took a rather sullen turn, "I do comprehend that she is completely unsuitable for me. Her relative family situation is insupportable. Her connections…" He paused for a few moments, his deep breathing the only sound I could hear and I wondered whether instead of merely informing me of her unsuitability, he was making an attempt to convince himself of it.

In an even softer voice, filled with something like regret, he continued, "But I cannot dismiss what a joy it was tonight to observe a lady who not only is pleasing in appearance, but is intelligent as well. She is well informed on almost every subject and able to articulate herself admirably."

I noticed his eyes close and I closed mine with a great sense of satisfaction and anticipation of a good night's sleep.

But then he added very softly, almost as an afterthought, "And she is delightfully lively…"



Part Two - A Friend to Confide In

Here is my second entry, written quite quickly and without the benefit of a beta. As before, it is written from the perspective of Reggie, Darcy's dog.

"No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly group'd, and appear to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a fourth. Good bye."

Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were content with Elizabeth's response to my master's suggestion that the party take the avenue instead of walking along the narrow path. Miss Elizabeth had been effectively excluded from having a walking partner when both the sisters engaged an arm of my master.

In unison, they turned so that my master was forced to walk away with each lady on an arm. I watched as he guardedly turned his head to see Miss Elizabeth unaffectedly and gaily run off. When he returned his attention back to the ladies, I decided to leave him and follow my new friend.

She ran only for a short while and stopped. Looking down, she noticed me and laughed. "Why, Reggie! What are you doing here?"

I dutifully sat a short distance from her, wagging my tail in earnest, and offering up a paw to her in apology for the rudeness to which she had just been subjected. She stooped down and beckoned me to come. When I approached her, she cupped my face with her hands.

"Reggie, how pleasant it is to witness such gracious and affable manners! How is it that you are so polite when he is so ill-mannered?"

She picked up a stick and I waited with great expectancy for her to throw it. But instead of letting it go, she held onto it, resolutely pounding it into her open palm.

"He certainly is an enigma, Reggie. If he is not brooding and silent, he is critical of everyone and everything he sees."

I found it difficult keeping my eyes adhered to the stick while wishing to incline an ear to her words about my master. Unfortunately, the words were neither heartening to me nor complimentary to him.

"One would think that a man of education and striking advantage would somewhere along the way have acquired even the most basic civilities." She paused contemplatively. "Perhaps he does not oblige himself to attend to those for whom he sees no advantage to himself." She let out a breathy laugh. "If that is the case, Reggie, I can hardly expect that he would concern himself with satisfying my demands for well-mannered behavior."

"And his idea of an accomplished woman! Has he ever met a woman who has attained all that? I would imagine that even all the ladies he has met in the ton would scarcely meet his unrivaled expectations."

I sadly realized that she was completely unaware that my master considered her to be most accomplished. Miss Elizabeth may not possess all the skills Miss Bingley added to his list of accomplishments, but she certainly possessed the ones my master deemed essential.

She unexpectedly gave the stick a fervent toss and with a great laugh, called out, "Fetch!"

My legs responded with little thought as I quickly set out to retrieve it. But at my old age, my eagerness to please her propelled me more than my vigor, and I returned to her panting, but gripping the stick in my mouth.

"Good boy, Reggie. You are a good dog," she affirmed, as she took the stick and patted the top of my head.

"You must see how he looks at me, Reggie, when I am petting you. I am quite sure he is of the opinion that a fine, well-bred woman should refrain from bestowing such attentions on a mere dog!"

A whine escaped as I realized I had seen that look as well. But I believed it was due more to his imagining that instead of her fingers combing through my fur, they were running through his hair.

"Forgive me, Reggie. I did not intend to refer to you as a mere dog. You are clearly quite special and it is only for that reason that I enjoy bestowing my affections on you." Her voice softened. "Besides Mr. Bingley and my dear sister, you are the only other friend I have at Netherfield."

She threw the stick again and then walked over to a fallen log, upon which she sat. I returned the tossed stick to her and rested my head in her lap.

"Tell me, Reggie," she whispered. "What secrets can you tell me about your master?" She looked at me with her big, dark eyes sparkling. "I pride myself on being an excellent studier of character and he has proven to be the most difficult I have ever encountered."

It was difficult for me to give any thought to what she was saying as her fingers found the place behind my ears that caused me to unwittingly moan in ecstasy. At any rate, she did not seem inclined to wait for an answer on my part.

"Last night he seemed to take great delight in arguing with me about whether Mr. Bingley would readily yield to another friend's request, whilst in the next moment, he asks me to dance a reel!"

She stood up laughing, taking my two front paws in her hands. Pretending to dance, as little Georgiana did with me when she first learned, I gladly became her partner. "Dance a reel! In the drawing room! But I would not let him get the better of me! I cleverly foiled his attempt to discredit me. I remained silent and refused to accept his absurd request."

Taking several more steps forwards and backwards, she abruptly stopped, a puzzled countenance overtaking her. "And yet there was something else..." More softly, she said, "A hint of gallantry, perhaps?"

She looked down at me, the sudden sound of her laughter as refreshing to me as a spring rain. "Mr. Darcy gallant?" She laughed again. "Ludicrous, Reggie! Simply ludicrous!"

We continued to dance and I suddenly caught my master's scent, and discovered him, disengaged from the sisters, watching us furtively and quite intently from up the road.



Part Three - A Man Without Peace

We sat silently in the cold darkness of the library at Netherfield, the only light a small flickering flame from a single candle nearly burnt out. The house was peaceful and still as everyone had retired for the night. I was sure that but a few hours remained before the sun would make its morning appearance. My master nursed some strong drink from a goblet he held tightly in his hand. I looked up at him with grave concern as he stared across the room. His eyes were fixed to the place where Miss Elizabeth had stood earlier that day as she looked through the small selection of books for something suitable to read. Yet in spite of the good amount of time that passed in the close proximity of the room together, neither had spoken barely a word to the other.

I rested my head upon my paws, fighting the urge to close my eyes as I was feeling the effects of not sleeping well these past few nights. The pacing back and forth in the early hours of the morning, the tossing and turning in his bed, and the debates my master held with himself on the merits or defects of Miss Elizabeth had not only wearied my physical body, but elicited downcast feelings, as well.

He filled his goblet again and took another sip. His unexpected words, though softly spoken, startled me, causing me to look up.

"So she leaves on the morrow? So be it! Let her depart this house and allow me peace of mind again!"

His voice was slurred, to which I attributed his drink, but I surmised that rather than numbing his feelings, as was likely his desire, it was heightening them.

"So you displayed your country manners, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, by walking three miles through muddy fields and along soggy roads only to boast a glowing countenance when you arrive! Did you suspect the effect that would have on me?"

His rigid and erect comportment, to which I was so accustomed, was slumping gradually into his chair with each sip of his drink.

He lifted up his goblet into the air. "Challenge me on every thought and opinion, even when I am extending a compliment your way!" He lowered his glass and swirled its contents, looking down into the liquid. His person swayed as well, as if every fiber of his being was in a swirl of conflicting thought and emotion.

"Then astonish me by defending me to your mother when she misunderstands me! You clearly comprehended my intent when I stated that in a country neighborhood one moves in a very confined and unvarying society."

He shook his head. "Refuse my offer to dance a reel or walk into the avenue. Laugh at my attempt to placate the incivility directed at you by Bingley's sisters."

"Disappoint me by remaining silent when I wished so much to hear your lively voice and your clever and thought-provoking opinions."

"Tease me that I am without those follies and nonsense that allow for teasing! Examine me, Miss Bennet, and proclaim all my defects!"

He brusquely ran his hand through his hair. "Torture me with your relations! How can one be so suitable for me in so many ways while at the same time be so unsuitable because of her family connections!"

The flame of the candle extinguished and he set his goblet down. In a whisper, he declared to himself, "Come tomorrow, all will return to the way it ought."

He looked down at me. "Reggie, I think it is time we retire."

He began to stand up, but just as suddenly, he grabbed for the armrests of the chair. Bringing one hand up to his head, he crumpled back down into it. "Perhaps not."

He sat quietly for a moment, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

At that moment, the sound of soft footsteps could be heard approaching. My tail unwittingly thud against the floor several times as I caught the scent of Miss Elizabeth. I was about to get up to greet her when a large foot came down upon me, successfully preventing any movement on my part, and my master whispered, "Quiet!"

I was sorely tempted to disobey, but thought the better of it. For Miss Elizabeth to see my master in the state he was in would not improve him in her thoughts. We sat quietly, in the back corner of the library as she walked in.

She was carrying a single candle and walked directly to a bookshelf, apparently returning a book to its place. She had on a long white nightgown, modestly covered with a shawl. As she lifted her arm to place the book on the shelf, the shawl accidentally slipped from one shoulder. She was unable to retrieve it until she set the book down. My master took in a sharp breath and held it until she had returned the shawl to its proper place.

I have never seen an angel before, but I would have to surmise that she must have looked exceptionally comparable to one. Her long, dark hair was let down and highlighted by the flame of the candle. Her white gown practically glowed against the darkness of the room. Her graceful movement across the floor, as she turned back to the door, made her appear to float rather than walk.

We both remained steadfastly silent, listening to each footstep that walked away from the library and then up the stairs. At length, we heard a door close.

My master's voice shook with derision. "Dare to despise me Miss Bennet, for admiring your figure clandestinely in the darkness of this room! I own that as a true fault of character! But as I sit here, fighting every urge to act on my impulses, one fault you will never be able to ascribe to me is ungentlemanlike behaviour towards you!"

After a moment's pause, he said, "So depart, Elizabeth, and give me peace!"

Copyright held by Kara Lou - 2004