Hi! This chapter was quicker to write because I had already thought out a lot of it. And by happy coincidence, it's getting published on Valentine's Day!

RECAP:

At Darcy's urging, Jane and Georgiana have become pen pals, after Jane proved to Darcy at the Netherfield Ball that she's a sincere person who really loves Bingley.

Caroline has been trying to keep Bingley in London away from Jane, but the Gardiners have invited Jane to visit them after Christmas. Jane informed Georgiana of her impending visit and Georgiana has invited her to dinner at Darcy's house when she arrives.

Jane and Lizzy have become suspicious about Wickham since Georgiana's letters show that he must have been was lying about the kind of person that Georgiana is. Also, judging by Georgiana's letters, it's not likely that old Mr. Darcy would have been so sloppy about writing his will.


As Mrs. Bennet was determined to do all that was in her power to provide entertainment while the Gardiners were at Longbourn, and as she considered the officers of the militia to be some of the best entertainment that can be procured, it was not long before Jane and Elizabeth had an opportunity to see Mr. Wickham again. He had lately noticed that Elizabeth showed less interest in his company, and had begun to pay more attention to Lydia during his visits. But this evening, after dinner, he was surprised to see Elizabeth actively seek him out. When Jane showed interest in a chair that was near but not too near the pair, Elizabeth's surreptitious smile indicated that Jane was more than welcome to listen in, if she could do so discreetly.

Jane sat down, giving the appearance of being engrossed in the book she had brought. She marveled at how her sister could seem all curiosity and innocence while asking the most pointed and thorough questions. Wickham was straining in his attempt to form answers about the exact provisions in old Mr. Darcy's will and the nature of the so-called informalities that could allow the wishes of the deceased to be so completely subverted. When she asked why Mr. Wickham did not take take the current Mr. Darcy before the law to demand his due, Wickham repeated what he had said months before about not wishing to expose Darcy out of respect for his father, to which Elizabeth replied that surely that could no longer be a concern now that, by some inexplicable means, everyone they knew had now heard about Darcy's misdeeds. She then began to inquire about who had provided for him during the time since the elder Mr. Darcy's death until he joined the militia. Some unidentified person, surely, must have come to his aid to ensure his survival if he had indeed been left completely penniless by the Darcys, and had no family.

As the interrogation continued, Mr. Wickham began to voice displeasure at Elizabeth's prying into his personal affairs. But Elizabeth gently reminded him that he had begun from the very first days of their acquaintance to divulge his personal affairs to her, and she was only asking questions about events that he had already freely related.

At this, Wickham rose rather quickly from his seat. By the time he turned to face the rest of the party, his countenance was once again all that was amiable and genteel, but he kept close to his fellow officers and spoke to no one in the Bennet family again until it was time to make his adieu.

~oooOOOooo~

Jane's next letter to Georgiana gave lively descriptions of Christmas at Longbourn. She was happy to inform Miss Darcy that Mary had mastered the Beethoven sonata quite well and played it on the holiday to everyone's enjoyment. She happily accepted the invitation to dinner with the Darcys and declared her excitement to be equal to Georgiana's. And she was able to enclose a piece of needlework that Kitty had done, based on one of Georgiana's fashion drawings.

As soon as Christmas was over, Lydia and Kitty were determined to go into Meryton again. They returned home after their first visit in a state of amazed confusion.

"Lizzy, you will not believe the talk in Meryton!" Lydia exclaimed. "Half the town is reporting that Mr. Wickham tried to malign you!"

"Me?", Lizzy cried.

"Well, you know how he has told everyone how badly he was treated by Mr. Darcy. People are claiming that he now says that you, Lizzy, have taken Mr. Darcy's side on the matter. That you defend Darcy in robbing Wickham. Aunt says that he insinuated that you're greedy and you have designs on Mr. Darcy! Which is ridiculous, because everyone knows you hate him!"

"I would not say that I hate him, but I certainly have no designs on him. And Wickham has been talking about me in the village?"

"We wouldn't have believed it if Aunt had not told it to us herself. But she said hardly anybody believes Wickham. They all know you better than that. He has lost a few friends. Poor Wickham! I am sure it is only a misunderstanding. I wonder what he said that people so misunderstood. I wish I could talk to him and tell him that we are not angry at him. But he was not out today."

Lydia and Kitty went to find their mother. Elizabeth looked at Jane, who had remained silent during the entire exchange.

"Can it be so?" Jane said, closing her eyes.

"Even I am surprised." Elizabeth replied.

"Why would he want to do such a thing?"

"If he feared that I would tell people that I doubted his stories, he might try to prejudice their minds against anything I might say."

"If he would be treat an innocent person so unfairly . . . But perhaps our neighbors are exaggerating his statements?"

"Knowing how gossip runs through Meryton, it is certainly possible. This time, I think it would be prudent for me to agree with your position that he may not be as bad as it would appear."

"But if you are actually being defamed in the neighborhood, Lizzy, I wonder whether I should leave you."

Elizabeth's scolding was instant. "Jane Frances Bennet, if you even think of canceling your trip, I will run through Meryton myself, defaming my own name! I stole money from the church, ate an orphan, and am with child by two stable boys!"

When Jane was able to stop laughing, she sought one more reassurance that her sister would be alright and then turned her mind to preparing for her journey.

~oooOOOooo~

As the day of Jane's departure with her uncle and aunt drew nearer, she found Mr. Bingley even more in her thoughts. She told herself that she was prepared for whatever reception she might get from him. She told herself that if Bingley favored her, as she believed he once had, she would be happy to enjoy his attention. She told herself that if he favored Miss Darcy, she would be happy to see her friend in love with such a pleasant gentleman. She told herself that if he favored neither of them, it was his right and he had done no one any harm. She found that she was reminding herself of these facts almost hourly.

Finally the day arrived for Jane and the Gardiners to leave Longbourn. After much embracing and many promises of letters, they set off. The trip to London was uneventful and by afternoon they found themselves back at Gracechurch Street.

Jane spent the afternoon hours playing with her young cousins, and would have continued so into the evening, had not her aunt called her into the sitting room.

"Jane," Mrs. Gardiner inquired, "are you nervous about seeing Mr. Bingley again?"

Jane sighed, "I am trying very much not to be. Why should I feel that I am more deserving of his admiration than anyone else?"

"Admitting that you want something does not mean that you are claiming to deserve it. Do you want his affection?"

Jane was silent for a moment. "I do," she finally said, softly.

"And if you receive it, we can properly rejoice with you, for we will know how much you value it. And if you don't receive it, we can properly offer comfort, knowing the depth of your loss."

"I don't want to be pitied, Aunt."

"It is not pity if we care for you in a time of need. If you had a broken leg, we would see to it that you received all the help and comforting that you required. Why should it be any different for a broken heart?"

~oooOOOooo~

The next day was quiet. Jane wrote a letter to her mother and one to Elizabeth, informing them of her safe arrival. Before long, evening had come and the Gardiner carriage dropped Jane off at the Darcy residence.

Greetings and introductions were made in order. Miss Darcy was a tall young lady possessing an earnest, childlike face, but a mature, fully formed figure. Her initial timidity quickly began to ease in the warmth of Jane's presence.

Mr. Bingley greeted Jane with such enthusiasm that she could not help but feel hopeful. But she soon found herself being led by Miss Darcy to a sofa at one side of the room, where the two sat.

Georgiana wore a playful smile as she began to speak. "Miss Bennet, I do hope that the roads were in good condition and allowed for comfortable travels from Hertfordshire for you and your companions."

Jane smiled in return and answered with feigned earnestness, "Why, yes! We did find them to be decently smooth."

"And the weather this past week has been rather milder than it often is at this time of year. I sincerely hope that it continues the same for the duration of your stay in town."

Jane was highly amused, but maintained a composed countenance. "Thank you! And may I say, Miss Darcy, that you are a fascinating conversationalist!"

At this, the ladies could no longer hold their laughter, and quickly fell into an animated discussion of Georgiana's adventures practicing casual conversations with Miss Annesley, with Jane interjecting stories of her own experiences in strange and humorous social situations.

Jane noticed that they had the undivided attention of both of the gentlemen. Mr. Darcy was watching their conversation with a look of great contentment, and Jane supposed that he was very pleased with the results of his efforts to encourage a friendship between herself and his sister. The look on Mr. Bingley's face was one of fascination, which captivated Jane's imagination, but she told herself that as she and Georgiana were sitting very close together, either of them could be the true object of his gaze.

When dinner was announced, Mr. Darcy quickly offered his arm to his sister, leaving Mr. Bingley to escort Jane to the table. As they walked, Bingley said quietly, "I am very pleased to see you again, Miss Bennet."

"The pleasure is mutual, sir," she replied.

~oooOOOooo~

After dinner, when the ladies withdrew to the drawing room, Jane found Georgiana looking at her with wide eyes.

"Jane," she said, "you . . . the way Mr. Bingley looks at you . . . I think that you must be her."

"What do you mean?"

"I . . . during one of Miss Bingley's visits, she was in the library with Mr. Bingley. I was walking past, and they were arguing. Normally one can't hear what people are saying in the library, but they were shouting at each other. I heard Miss Bingley say, 'But she has nothing! There is nothing that she can offer you!' And Mr. Bingley said, 'She is everything that a woman should be! No one compares to her! Abandon your schemes, Caroline!' . . . And the way that Mr. Bingley is looking at you tonight; I've never seen him look so . . . And the way Miss Bingley said 'She has nothing'. It was a horrid thing to say, but she was probably speaking of money and I know that your family doesn't have a lot of money . . . And I know that he was your neighbor in Hertfordshire . . . Jane, are you her?"

Jane blushed. "Mr. Bingley and I did get to know each other rather well in Hertfordshire."

Georgiana threw her arms around her. "It is you; it must be! Oh, it's perfect! If he loves you, then we shall be like sisters, for he is like a brother to us! Oh, Jane!"

Jane was found herself crying with relief as she returned Miss Darcy's embrace, for while she was deeply gratified at the prospect that she might be the she of Mr. Bingley's fancy, it would have pained her if his attachment to her were at the expense of Georgiana's heart. When they pulled away, she saw Georgiana's smiling tears as well. Handkerchiefs emerged and the ladies were soon laughing and dabbing at their eyes.

After they collected themselves, Georgiana said thoughtfully, "Mr. Bingley has been very generous tonight."

"In what way?"

"He has allowed me to have your company all to myself. Surely he would wish to talk to you. When the gentlemen join us, I shall make sure that you are able to spend time with him. I shall play music."

"I would love to hear you play, Georgiana, but you are not obligated to leave me alone if you still wish to get acquainted."

"We will have more opportunities to get acquainted. Tonight you will talk with Mr. Bingley. And I truly want to play for you." She sat taller and intoned, "And it is my duty as a hostess to make certain that everyone has an enjoyable evening, and I don't think Mr. Bingley will enjoy the evening if he is deprived of your company."

When Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy entered the drawing room. Georgiana made her way to the pianoforte. She looked through her music and selected a piece.

"This is a very pretty piece, but it is rather complicated.* I will have to look very intently at the music as I play. Fitzwilliam, will you turn the pages for me?"

She smiled slyly at Mr. Darcy as he came to her side. Darcy positioned himself facing his sister, with his back toward Jane. Mr. Bingley crossed the room and sat beside Jane as Georgiana began to play, her eyes never leaving the score.

He spoke cheerfully, but his voice betrayed a bit nervousness. "Miss Bennet, I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas."

Jane smiled. "Our holiday was lovely, and I hope yours was as well."

"It was pleasant enough, although . . . Miss Bennet, I have thought often of you while I have been away from Hertfordshire. I have missed you greatly."

Her voice softened. "I have missed you as well."

"I do not yet know precisely when I shall return, but it shall not be very much longer, and when I do return I hope that I may, if you would permit it . . . do whatever I can to recommend myself to you . . . that is . . . I want . . . I hope that you will allow me to try to win your heart . . . for I love you."

There are some activities that a person can generally be depended upon to carry out with faithfulness and diligence. One of these activities is breathing. But there are occasions when even the most dutiful person can forget such responsibilities. This was such an occasion for Jane. After a moment of neglect of said activity, she resumed her duties and responded with all the warmth that she felt in her heart.

"Mr. Bingley, you need not do anything further to recommend yourself, for my heart is already yours."

It was now Bingley's turn to neglect his basic duties. When his breath returned, it brought such a vociferous exclamation of joy that Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy could not help but turn and look at them.

Bingley turned red. "Excuse me. I hope I didn't startle anyone. Please continue your playing, Miss Darcy. Miss Bennet and I will soon join you."

Georgiana resumed her performance, and Mr. Bingley turned again to Jane, trying his best to moderate his tone.

"Miss Bennet, I cannot begin to tell you how happy you have made me. I wish to speak with your father first before I say anything . . . official. But until then, nothing would give me greater joy than to know that you and I have an understanding between ourselves of our intentions toward each other."

"Yes! Absolutely yes." She slipped her hand into his.

"Oh, Miss Bennet! I promise you that I will do everything I can to ensure that you never regret giving your heart to me."

"And I will do all that I can to prove myself worthy of being your choice."

"I think it impossible that you would ever fail in that." He released her hand. "Shall we join our friends now?"

They walked over to the pianoforte with beaming smiles. Mr. Bingley stood next to Mr. Darcy, with Jane on his other side. Jane could not hear what Darcy whispered to him, but she heard Bingley's whisper in reply – "Not yet, but everything is in my favor to become so." Darcy smiled and put a friendly hand on Bingley's shoulder, then smiled and nodded toward Jane as well.

When Georgiana had finished the sonata, it was obvious that she sensed the happiness in the faces of Mr. Bingley and Miss Bennet. On a whim, she launched into series of nursery songs and the little party spent the rest of the evening singing. Miss Darcy was a far more accomplished singer than the other three, but when all the voices blended together the effect was surprisingly pleasant.

Mr. Bingley insisted that his carriage be used to convey Miss Bennet back to Gracechurch Street. The Darcys accompanied them.

In the carriage, Georgiana addressed Jane. "I hope that you can call again tomorrow. I would like to give you a tour of our house."

"That sounds splendid, Georgiana. I will certainly call in the morning. I would love to see your home, and I am also eager to meet Mrs. Annesley."

"She will love you, I'm sure!"

After this, they rode in silence. In the darkness of the carriage, Jane saw that Mr. Bingley appeared to be reaching into his pocket. He pulled something out and pressed it into her hand. It was a handkerchief. She wasn't sure what to make of it until he whispered, "Keep it, and I would like to have one of yours."

She reached for her handkerchief and gave it to him. He raised it to his lips and then placed it in his pocket.

Once inside the house, she joyfully related to her aunt how Mr. Bingley had satisfied all of her hopes. Mrs. Gardiner had suspected as much, for the glowing smile she saw on her niece as she entered could hardly have belonged to a woman who had been disappointed.

After preparing for bed, Jane pulled out the handkerchief to examine it. It was plain white with the initials "CB" embroidered in the corner with dark blue thread. She wondered who had embroidered it and realized that it may have been one of his sisters. She realized that his sisters were now likely to become her own sisters. The thought was not wholly pleasant, but she hoped that with time their friendship could be mended. But any discomfort at the prospect of such a relation with Caroline and Louisa was far outweighed by the pleasure of receiving Mr. Bingley's love.

She placed the handkerchief under her pillow and laid down, meditating on the notion that such a simple object was now her most treasured possession.


* Mozart Piano Sonata No. 2 in F