To Conquer Mr. Darcy

Georgiana's eyes lit up. "That will be wonderful!" she said. "Excellent," agreed her brother. After discussing the arrangements at some length, he asked, "Will your travels be taking you to Matlock as well?"

"Yes, indeed," Mr. Gardiner replied. "We are looking forward to seeing it, and walking in the Peaks."
"Perhaps I might impose on you and join you briefly while you are there, as my own aunt and uncle have expressed an interest in meeting Miss Bennet, and it would seem to be an excellent opportunity for that to happen, if you would be willing to join me in paying a call on them."
Elizabeth turned to stare at him in shock. Did he not realize that he might just as well have announced his intentions to the room at large? "I am afraid they might prove to be too exalted company for the likes of us," she said quietly, her voice barbed.
Darcy turned to her with an unreadable look in his eyes. "My aunt and uncle are quite amiable, Miss Bennet; I feel certain you would like them."
Mrs. Gardiner, sensing the sudden tension between the two, as well as the complete silence of the rest of the room, decided to intervene. "Your aunt and uncle live in Matlock, then, Mr. Darcy?"
He looked back at her, grateful for the distraction, but before he could respond, Elizabeth said in a flat voice, "Mr. Darcy's uncle is the Earl of Derby."
"Well," Bingley jumped into the sudden silence these words left behind, "this does sound like a marvelous trip! I have only been through the Peaks briefly, but you will find Pemberley to be truly delightful. The grounds are some of the loveliest I have ever seen, and I have spent many a happy hour there." He rubbed his hands together, and smiled boyishly at the company.
"Yes, I remember your sister telling me about a trip you took there," Jane said, with a worried glance at her sister. "When was that?"
"That would have been last spring, would it not, Bingley?" said Darcy.
Elizabeth sat seething as the conversation continued between the Gardiners, Darcy, Bingley, and Jane. How dare he go against her express wishes in this way? How could the man she had allowed to hold her, to kiss her, to caress her, then turn on her in such a way? The look on her mother's face showed the damage had indeed been done, and she could foresee precisely what would happen the minute Darcy left. If this was his idea of not rushing her, she had a great deal to say to him on the subject. Why did I allow myself to trust him? I knew perfectly well how much he likes to have things his own way, and how readily he will disregard the wishes of others; why did I think that he would treat me any differently? Why was I so foolish as to allow myself to care for him? She felt ill as she considered the position in which she now found herself.
Darcy attempted to address her several times, but she responded with as few words as civility would allow, leaving him in an agony of distress.

smile. “I imagine you would know far better than I, sir; after all, you live there and I have never been north of Hertfordshire.”

He could come up with no response to this beyond a bemused smile.

perhaps not quite so calm as it might have been, yet with a civility that could not be denied.

She hardly knew how to respond. “You are most welcome back to Hertfordshire, sir. I hope you find it pleasing at this time of year.” Bringing all of her courage to the fore, she forced herself to look up at him, and