So my little girl had her operation. It went well but we're going to have to wait for a while to see if it was a success. I know a couple of people have expressed concern that she is unwell and I thank you for your concern. Her operation was actually to correct a birth defect with her foot so that she will be able to walk in the future. This operation was only the second step in a very long process. We'll be undergoing treatment until she's four sadly.

Again this chapter was written on the iPhone so there is the possibility of weird autocorrects.

"So Caroline decided to stay in town with Mr and Mrs Hurst even though the season is over?" Elizabeth asked her sister as Jane poured their tea.

"Yes," her sister glanced out the window as she answered lending a rarely seen distance to her expression. "Mr Hurst introduced us to a Mr Beswick not long after you left us. He is to be in town this next month at least and will often be in company with the Hursts."

"Am I to assume that Caroline has set her sights upon him?" Elizabeth enquired.

"I believe she has," Jane nodded.

"Of course it has the additional benefit of delaying her arrival here," there was a teasing note to her tone, "and we are both aware that Caroline has little love for Hertfordshire."

"Lizzie," Jane admonished her sister gently. "Caroline was raised in the city, we cannot expect her to feel about the country as we do."

"Indeed not," Elizabeth acknowledged. "However, she wishes to marry a man of no small fortune which one would assume to be a landed gentleman with an estate of considerable size. Such a man could not be expected to spend the majority of his year in town."

"That may be, but perhaps marriage to the right gentleman would change her opinion."

"Oh, Jane," Elizabeth smiled, "you speak as though Caroline desires a marriage for love as we do instead of more mercenary means. Charlotte once told me that happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. Where Caroline is concerned I fear she may prove to be correct. Besides, would you say that your marriage to Mr Bingley has improved your enjoyment of the society in town?"

"I would own that I enjoyed my season there more than I have in the past," replied Jane, "but I can also admit that it is a relief to return to familiar scenery and old friends."

"Exactly. I wish her every happiness in the world but I cannot be blind to her faults. She is a woman of mercenary nature and no amount of time spent with her shall convince me otherwise," Elizabeth argued. Truthfully she had met women of a far more mercenary nature than Miss Bingley during her time in town but it still could not be said the she regretted this opportunity to spend time alone with her married sister. Jane's marriage had affected her far more than she had thought.

"Perhaps," Jane allowed, "but I hope she will put that aside and find a match of true affection at least now that she has seen how happy Charles and I are."

"Dearest, Jane," Elizabeth smiled fondly. "Until your goodness is universal your happiness shall be your own. You deserve every bit of it."

Both women glanced out the window once more, Elizabeth noting a change in the weather with alarm. Whilst her sister and she had been debating Caroline Bingley's decision to remain with the Hursts the fine weather had dissipated leaving all the blackness of an approaching rain.

"I must return Longbourne," she said as she rose.

"Nonsense, Lizzie," Jane admonished, sounding like their mother for the briefest of moments. "You will get caught in the rain and soaked to the skin. Stay here until it clears. Indeed I should like the company. It is not easy being the sole woman in a house full of men. I believe I understand how Papa must have felt all these years. Stay."

Well aware that this sudden change in the weather would result in Jane being without callers for the rest of the day Elizabeth acquiesced. Being reminded of the Bingelys other guests, however, brought to mind the odd conversation she had shared with Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"I have one or two small matters to attend with Mrs Blake," Jane informed her apologetically, "but then I shall yours until lunch at least. Would you excuse me a few moments?"

"Of course," Elizabeth smiled, pleased to have a moment to think on the conversation without alerting her sister to the nature of her distraction.

That there was a motive to Colonel Fitzwilliam's choice of topic was obvious. No one would broach such a subject with a new acquaintance otherwise. Elizabeth was aware that the Colonel's interest must be in her opinion of, and her friendship with, his cousin. The reason he might be so interested, however, eluded her. Granted she knew it could be simple curiosity, perhaps Lady Matlock had mentioned her for she was certain that it could not have been Darcy who had. It was most curious but perhaps it was not what Mr Darcy or Lady Matlock had said and was instead what had not been said. Perhaps his interest was due to Darcy dancing twice with a woman that he had never before mentioned being acquainted with.

It was possible, she supposed, that the Colonel wished to try and judge the depth of her feelings for Mr Darcy. It was possible that he wanted to ensure that her hopes were not too high as far as his cousin's intentions towards her were concerned. If she were honest with herself, however, Elizabeth was uncertain about her own mind on the matter. It was true that she liked Darcy a great deal but love him? His friendship with her had been a blessing in Town, a man of good sense who seemed to genuinely enjoy conversations with her and who had seen her impertinent nature with a well concealed kind of joy. Her hopes were most certainly of friendship but in that moment she began to ask herself if she wanted more of him.

Her musings were interrupted by the very subject of them.

"Forgive me, Miss Bennet," he bowed in greeting, "I was unaware you were here. I did not intend to interrupt your solitude."

"Indeed, sir, you found me lost in thought," she graced him with a smile. "It does not follow, however, that your interruption is unwelcome." Quite the opposite, she admitted in the privacy of her thoughts. His arrival had prevented her from arriving at a conclusion which could prove most difficult. "I was sorry to note that Miss Bingley had not joined the party," said she with a teasing look.

"I do not believe Hertfordshire hold the same joys for Miss Bingley as it does for you or I," was his reply.

"Indeed?" She arched a brow at his response. "Dare one ask what joys Hertfordshire offers you when you have been here but a day?"

"Good company," said he without hesitation, coming to join her at the window. Both lapsed into silence as they watched the promised rain begin to fall. His presence at her side caused Elizabeth to feel a relaxed sort of comfort and a warmth in his company she had scarcely paid any heed to before.

"I am glad you are here," she whispered barely loud enough to be heard. From the smile that crossed his features when she glanced in his direction she knew that he had.

oOo

Edward Gardiner read the letter from his agent with a measure of surprise and annoyance. Mr and Mrs Wickham had been observed a number of times in Brighton before they had left the town late one morning and not returned. His agent reported that a conversation with Mrs Wickham's maid had implied that this was not unusual behaviour. The man had sought, and been given, employment in the house that the Wickhams were renting. The young woman had indicated her hope that Mr Wickham's habit of moving his household from one town to another after only a few months would end now that his young wife was with child.

Several days later, and much to the dismay of the housekeeper, Wickham had returned early one morning beaten and foul tempered. He had ordered that that the house be packed up, their belongs placed in a cart and all staff, except Mrs Wickham's maid, were to be dismissed. It was frustrating to think that he had been so close to determining their location for Darcy. What news he did have to impart, however, could not be good. Mr Gardiner knew that Darcy would not be happy to learn his sister was with child.

It could not be kept from him, however, and so Edward Gardiner set pen to paper.

Artemis