Author's Note: I dedicate this chapter to Arjun who was the first to encourage me to write my own story.
"Jane!" gasped Elizabeth as soon as they retired to their room for the night. "You promised! You cannot sacrifice your dreams of love and marriage for us!" Elizabeth said accusingly.
"Lizzy! You are misundertanding me! My interest in attending in Meryton Assembly does not mean that I intend to throw myself at this Mr. Bingley. All I intend is not to miss an opportunity for this me and this said young man of fortune to meet. Lizzie, you have to trust me, I will marry for love" said Jane soothingly.
"If you say so Jane, I believe you. But I warn you beforehend, I shall be watching you. I cannot let my dearest sister live a life devoid of marital bliss," said Elizabeth determinedly.
"Yes, Lizzie dear, watch me all you want. Now tell me what are your expectations from the Assembly? What if this Mr Bingley falls for you?" teased Jane.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Jane and was just about to burst out laughing when a sudden reflection changed her very countenance. All humour left her eyes and was now replaced by melancholy. Noticing the change in her sister, Jane rushed to Elizabeth's side and embraced her.
"Oh Jane! How can I ever fall in love again when the man who I thought loved me, ran away with my sister and is now responsible for her death as well that of my father? Jane, I can never trust any man again!" cried Elizabeth in anguish.
Sensing that Elizabeth was in no condition to see reason at the moment, Jane gently tucked Elizabeth in bed and smoothed her hair till Elizabeth cried herself to sleep.
...
A shopping excursion to Meryton was decided at breakfast to secure the best gowns possible for Jane and Elizabeth. "Kitty dear, bring your Aunt Gardiner's letter from my bedside table. She recently sent drawings of the latest fashions in London. We shall see if we can find something similar in Meryton," said Mrs Bennet.
"Mama! We cannot indulge in extravagant purchases. We need all the money we can save!" cried Elizabeth.
"Yes Mama, I'm sure we can re-do one of our best gowns!" claimed Jane.
"Oh hush children! I have no intention of squandering away our money. I had quite forgotten something until the need for gowns arose last night. When your father had gone to London looking for Lydia, I had expected Lydia to come back home married. I had thought that as a married woman she would require new gowns and so I sent Hill to make payments in advance to the Miliners' commissioning two gowns of the finest material as a wedding present for Lydia. The shopkeeper did come to deliver the said gowns when they were finished two weeks later , but due to all that was happening to us at that time, I asked him to keep the gowns with himself for the time being, since I had no heart to deal with the matter then." said Mrs. Bennet.
Looking around the amazed faces of her daughters she said, " So dear daughters, all we need to do is make the neccessary fittings to the gowns and any alterations according to the latest London fashions!"
...
"Yes Madam. These changes can be completed in the next two days," said the shopkeeper. "That is good Sir" replied Mrs Bennet as she looked towards Jane and Elizabeth who were getting their measurements taken by the assistants. The two gowns were made of the finest silk fabric. One was rose pink in colour with white lace and the other was lavender in colour with the blue lace. It was decided that the pink would suit Jane very well and the lavender would look good on Elizabeth. As per Mrs Gardiner's drawings of the latest London fashions, the gowns now required shorter sleeves and a lace just below the bosom to hightlight the décolletage.
"Jane did you notice Mama not complaining about the lace? Never could I imagine a time when Mama would not insist on adding more lace. Her life revovled around lace," remarked a surprised Elizabeth on their way back from the Miliners'. "Hush Lizzy! Mama will hear you," whispered Jane with a smile.
...
"Charles! You cannot be serious! You want us all to attend a country assembly? There's no family in the vicinity worth knowing! We should always uphold our rank and status," remarked Miss Bingley while looking towards Mr Darcy to demonstrate her superior understanding of rank and status.
"Caroline, you do not understand! Attending the assembly will be a capital opportunity to meet our neighbours which is vital if we have to live in the area," pleaded Mr. Bingley and looked towards Mr. Darcy for support. "Darcy, you have to agree! Tell Caroline how important this is," said Mr. Bingley to Mr. Darcy.
"Miss Bingley, your brother is right. Having good relations with neighbours is very crucial for running an estate. The Meryton Assembly seems a good opportunity to know your neighbours," said Mr Darcy solemnly to Miss Bingley.
Never to lose Mr Darcy's good opinion, Miss Bingley seductively pouted and said, "I will attend this Assembly only if Mr Darcy will accompany us." Repelled by Miss Bingley's desperate attempts to try to catch his attention, Mr Darcy turned away from her.
"Yes Darcy! You cant be all alone at Netherfield! You have to come with us!" pleaded Mr Bingley. Stuck between both the siblings, Mr Darcy had no option but to comply and said, "Yes, I shall accompany you Charles."
...
The day of the Meryton Assemby arrived. The whole of Longbourn was involved in helping Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth get ready for the assembly. Mrs Bennet was never so organized as she was today. She was shooting orders like a army general to ensure both the girls lacked nothing. In fact, the said two young women had never received so much attention while dressing up for such an amusement as they were being given today. In the past, all the five sisters being out in society meant that they had to share one maid. Today, it was that one maid,along with Mrs Hill, Mary, Kitty and their mother, all helping Jane and Elizabeth.
As a result, the outcome was spectacular. Miss Jane was a vision in the rose pink gown with her flawless skin. Her blond hair were swept up in an elaborate hairdo held together by Mrs Bennet's silver haircomb. Miss Elizabeth looked dazzling in her lavender gown which highlighted her curvy figure. Her hair were also swept up in a hairdo similar to Jane's, with the difference that some of the curls had escaped and were now resting against the nape of her neck, adding to her charm.
"Jane and Lizzy, the Lucas carriage shall arrive any moment to take you. It is so kind of the Lucas to take you both to the Assembly along with them. I would like to say something to you both before you depart. Girls, I want you both to have a good time. By that I mean that you need not go out of your way to attract the attention of this Mr Bingley or any other man. Girls I cannot bear to lose you in the way I lost Lydia. Men can be wicked. If there is really a man worthy of your heart, he will seek you out himself," said Mrs Bennet.
Jane and Elizabeth were both shocked to hear their mother make such a speech. Even the whole of Meryton knew that Mrs Bennet had dedicated her entire life to getting her daughters married! It was most shocking to hear Mrs Bennet advising her daughters not to throw themselves at men!
Looking at the surprised faces of her daughters, Mrs Bennet said one last thing before she signalled Jane and Elizabeth towards the Lucas Carriage, "Jane, my child, do not feel obligated to come home engaged." With that all the Bennet burst into laughter and Jane and Elizabeth left home with high spirits anticipating a most wonderful evening.
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Author's Note : I thank all of you for your support.