January 15, 1816

" You look well this evening, Mrs. Collins," Gideon greeted her. " Would you care to dance?" His hand hovered between them.

" Of course, Mr. Wilder." She let the gentleman lead her out to the dance floor. " How is Susannah? I hear she has grown," Charlotte allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor, quite happy to be distracted. With the recent births, deaths, marriages, and scandals hurtling the village of Meryton toward the future for better or worse.

Maria and her husband, Elijah Long, returned from London and intended to settle in Hertfordshire, and all Maria could speak of was how charming her new marriage was. Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long devoted their time doting on her, often forgetting about Charlotte Collins, the lonely widow lacking physical beauty even though she exhibited all the traits of a proper lady. Her mother never fawned over her like that, Charlotte thought as she firmly forced Maria from her mind.

Taking their places across from each other, Gideon bowed, Charlotte curtsied , and the music started. Gideon found himself relaxing soon enough as Mrs. Collins smiled at him. Guilt tripped at him, his mind once again entertaining the thought of her as his wife. While she lacked the beauty, she certainly represented herself well. " Is something the matter, sir, or are you finding the pressure of wife hunting mounting?"

The question confronted him. " You are very observant, Mrs. Collins," He replied in equal neutrality. " Susannah has grown considerably, and her vocabulary improves each day,"

A tender smile formed on the gentle woman's face. " She must be very fond of you,"

" She is spending more time with her aunt and uncle," Gideon revealed. " There is many a night I find she has escaped the nursery and found her way into my room. The servants would take her back each night until I stopped them and let Susie stay with me. But your brother, Percival, is betrothed to a lady of the neighboring county,"

" Father arranged the marriage when Percy was only five. She is to inherit the estate after her father passes. From what we understand the estate is to bring in 1,000 per annum. For a second son, it is more than can reasonably be expected," Charlotte's practiced dance steps kept in touch with Gideon's clumsy steps long out of practice.

" How soon will the wedding take place?"

" This spring,"

" My warmest congratulations," Gideon relinquished her hand once more and bowed. " Would you wish to dance again, Mrs. Collins? Perhaps after the meal?" After Charlotte agreed, Gideon wondered the ballroom in search of another dance partner. Eyes occasionally followed him. Miss Mary King, still single and in possession of 10,000 pounds, danced two sets with him, and then Penelope and Harriet Harrington. He danced again with Charlotte. Hertfordshire started to suspect his intentions wandered toward one of their daughters.

January 16, 1816 – February 25, 1816

They accurately predicted the intentions. He offered to Charlotte the following morning. She stared at him a full few minutes before finally sputtering out a simple yes. " Would you like to know why I am offering to you, Mrs. Collins?" He felt he owed it to her, for the only other widow in the local area was Mrs. Wickham, and he did not wish to curb her offensive behavior when another could do it.

She just smiled, such a tender and serene smile that hid so much intelligence and sharpness.

Taking her hand in his, he leaned forward in the chair. " You may lack in beauty outwardly but inwardly you are a creature of exquisiteness. I have not known someone so patient, so supportive, so incredibly tolerant." The praise ceased to flow as he struggled in vain to put together truth. " Susannah could use your influence so very much,"

Charlotte withdrew her hand. " Sir, I'd be most pleased to influence her. It is on you to make the arrangements," Never in her life did she expect two offers of marriage. Not even Lydia received two offers, and Lydia was much younger than her. Propriety over youthfulness, she thought victoriously. A glow warmed her up and kept her adequately content until her father exclaimed to all of the family at the dining table that Charlotte would be marrying again. With the marriage, she'd lose all rights to the 350 per annum. In exchange, her own home and a larger jointure eased any worries. Oliver, the eldest, and Percival immediately sighed in relief, glad to not support her when their parents passed. The younger brother and two sisters lacked the foreknowledge to be relieved by the unexpected news.

Gideon Wilder called upon her each morning for at least an hour for three weeks, as they waited out the reading of the banns each church service, often bringing his daughter with him. Clara accompanied them, spending the time with Lady Lucas, if Lady Lucas were home, and hovering nearby to keep Susannah from causing havoc. A subtle comfort allowed Clara and Charlotte to co-exist in Gideon Wilder's world without the two forces colliding in a battle of pride. On the day of the wedding, Jonathan stood with Augustus and Clara to witness, as well Charlotte's parents and younger brothers and sisters yet to be married (Maria could not attend as duties called her away,). Parson Brook gratefully sent Charlotte Wilder off with her new husband.

A visit by the Bennets the first day of Charlotte as hostess at Netherfield set the peace in Netherfield on its head. Lydia pranced about the drawing room in an overly decorative gown, fanning herself and sighing heavily. Every so often she cast a malevolent glare at Charlotte as if Charlotte schemed her out of Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet congratulated her, admitting she hoped to see one of her girls settled there before but was most happily satisfied to know a lady of Hertfordshire graced the home. " Lydia, will you sit down with us and take tea? Your father will not expect us back for another half hour at least,"

" Charlotte, why did Mr. Wilder choose you? He could have chosen all of Hertfordshire but he chose you-"

Frances Bennet's hands twitched in her lap. Charlotte's calm countenance silenced the unjustified anger of Lydia Wickham. " He chose me because I would not risk his family's name, Lydia. You should know this by now, as you know his sister well," As if on cue, Clara chased Augustus into the drawing room, the boy's cries of " No, Mama, No!" followed by Clara close behind hands outstretched. She caught him around the waist and spun him round with motherly gained strength. " No tickle," Boyish giggles blessed the ladies. Finally Clara relented and kissed Gus's forehead. She ruffled his hair and joined the ladies, curtsying before seating herself in the semi-circle.

Mrs. Bennet could not take her eyes off of Gus as he played hide and seek with his mother. Utilizing the chairs and settees, he darted around the furniture while Clara hid her eyes with her hand, occasionally feigning to play the game. Lydia shifted so suddenly when Gus tried to hide behind her skirts, Charlotte rising faster than Clara to ease the boy away from the unhappy widow.

" That's not polite, Gus, now go play with Susannah. Mrs. Chambers will take you back to the nursery," Charlotte attempted to shoo the boy away from his overprotective mother, who observed Charlotte's gentle handling with ready censure should she misstep her boundaries.

" But I want Mama," He pouted up at Charlotte before running to Clara and burying himself into her lap. Small tears welled up in her eyes as she held him against her bosom. " Mama, can you come?"

" I want to, Little man, but I have my duties too. I promise to play soldiers with you tonight before bed, alright?"

" I love you," He kissed her cheek and ran out of the drawing room into the waiting arms of Mrs. Chambers.

No one spoke for several minutes. " He is uniformly a wonderful child," Frances declared. " Why I remember when all my girls were that young. So loving, so forgiving. And at that age, you can still handle them if they are naughty,"

" Aye," Clara nodded along. " I envy my brother though. He has a girl to dress up and dote on. While I have Gus, once he ages and goes to school, who will I dote on? I am not permitted in the fields, when we travel, Gus will follow his father's lead. With the loss of Honora and Charity, I fear I will never have a daughter,"

" But that is not so true, you can always bear another," Lydia insisted. " You already birthed three,"

" Lydia, were it as simple as birthing a child and they growing to adulthood, I wouldn't worry. You weren't holding the still – form of an infant who the night previous clutched your little finger and snuggled against your bosom falling asleep listening to your heartbeat. You didn't have to commission a headstone for an infant who never got experience life. You didn't have to nearly die from childbirth, like I did with Charity. I did, and birthing the child is only the beginning of the journey. The Good Lord did not take our daughters from us and be fair about it."

Charlotte took Clara's hand in hers. " She did not mean ill, Clara," Lydia never meant ill. She just never learned to check her tongue in cheek thoughts. " Have you considered who Augustus will marry?"

" No,"

" But you should think of it, as he will eventually inherit the Flint estate. When he does, he'll need a proper wife,"

" With no disrespect to you, Lydia," Clara looked Lydia right in the eye, " but Charlotte, do you honestly believe my son should marry someone so impulsive as Lydia, if it were betrothed to be? How could you justify the arrangement when the name is threatened by a child who refuses to grow up?"

Frances pointed at Lydia, the youngest girl's mouth firmly closed on silent threat of something unpleasant. " I completely agree, Mrs. Flint. You could teach my Lydia how to control her impulses,"

" No, madam, I can not. She refuses to learn. Your Lydia is set in her ways, and only death will change her,"

" My Lydia?"

" I am not set in my ways," Lydia protested. " I can change," She almost sounded convincing, until she turned to her mother for support, like she'd always done before.

Frances leaned forward. " It does not matter, Mrs. Flint, for soon she'll be Mrs. Boording. The gentlemen offered for her months ago, and he only just arrived. Lydia just accepted the offer, and after the banns are successfully read, he will escort her back to Scarborough as his wife. To think of it – my Lydia, married to a man of 6,000 per annum. It is wonderful!"

All the ladies fell silent and then almost in unison turned their gazes onto her. She stepped back, her fan defensively shielding herself from their penetrating stares.

" And to think I had almost thought her a widow the rest of her life," Mrs. Bennet beamed with joy as her cutting remark wounded her youngest and once favorite daughter.

Charlotte finally ventured a question. " And how old is Mr. Boording?"

" He is only six and forty," Lydia winced at the sound of her soon to be husband's age expressed out loud. " Which is an entirely respectable age. He already has two surviving children to two previous wives. His first wife died at birth, and his second wife died of falling down the steps. Very, very tragic that he should be cursed with such misfortune, but my Lydia is healthy and young. She will outlive him and inherit a respectable jointure within her control as long as she births him a child. What a fine thing for Lydia, don't you agree, dear?"

Lydia's scowl revealed it all, although she attempted a brief pained smile. " Of course, Mama," Clara almost felt sorry for her, but dying in poverty ranked far worse than marrying a man that could be her father. If Clara were in her position, she'd just be silent on the matter and bear the consequences of her youthful stupidity.

Of all the ladies, Charlotte held herself most in check. " My warmest congratulations, Lydia,"

" Thank you, Charlotte. How is Lizzy? You write her often," Lydia tried to change the subject, but her mother kept bringing it up, and by the time Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Wickham left Netherfield, Charlotte breathed a deep sigh. Clara remained seated in the drawing room, truly wondering if she could tolerate what Lydia accepted.

Both ladies traded weary glances. " I suppose it would be proper of us to call upon her tomorrow then with wedding gifts?" Charlotte ventured.

" You grew up with her,"

" What would Gideon wish us to do?"

" Hold our tongues about how well the marriage will last," Clara answered honestly, running her hand over her intricately braided hair curled into a bun. " I am curious though as to Mr. Boording's character. A man like him doesn't take a poor young wife out of charity. And I fear Lydia may not be what he expected. I fear for her as much as I fear for him,"

" Your fears may be shared, sister, but we should pray for the best. Have you an idea for a wedding gift?" Both ladies lapsed into silence until Gus ran into the drawing room with Reginald close behind him begging their help to escape the sheep herding Collie. Clara scooped up her son, kissed his forehead, and set him back down in front of Reginald, seated in front of them expectantly. Charlotte tossed the dog a cold slice of ham before motioning the servants to remove the tea and food.

Writing to Jonny of the good news that Hertfordshire would soon be free of Lydia Wickham, Clara watched Gus in the nursery with Susannah. She moved the doll closer to her, battling back the tears. Maybe it was time she and Jonny tried again for another child. As Charlotte walked the home, she found herself lingering near the nursery in jealousy, wishing that she could experience the joy of watching her own children grow up. Soon, hopefully soon she and Gideon would conceive and then with many prayers, they could successfully give birth to a boy. She prayed that she survived the birth as she did not want to die, even if she were plain looking and dull in comparison to the other ladies of Hertfordshire.

An estate away, Mr. Bennet wanted Mr. Boording from his bookroom. The younger man would not quit it however, and he kept pacing back and forth in agitated joy. " Sir, I am a most fortunate man,"

" Lydia is most wise, sir,"

" I am most pleased your daughter accepted my hand,"

" When will you desire her at your home in Scarborough?"

" Immediately. She is my wife. I intend to enjoy the full benefits of marriage,"

Mr. Bennet blinked in disbelief.

" In three weeks, I will return, sir," Finally Mr. George Boording bowed to the elder Mr. Bennet. Mr. Bennet rose to his feet, bowed, and walked the gray bearded man to the entry door. " Please give my warmest regards to Mrs. Wickham. She has truly made me the happiest man," He entered the carriage, the driver closing the carriage door before taking his proper seat. Reins in hand, he lead away the carriage holding Lydia's future.

Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Wickham sat inside in the drawing room in awkward silence. Lydia already cried her tears of grief, shouted about the unfairness of being an old man's young prize in the carriage ride between the estates, and threatened to run off and marry another officer. Her mother encouraged her to do as she pleased as long as she understood that she'd never return to Longbourn after Mr. Boording returned to claim her. This was what Mr. Bennet walked in on as they ladies threaded familiar needlepoint patterns on quilt squares.

He started to read Shakespeare's Julius Ceasar. Then Mrs. Bennet spoke of wedding clothes, Lydia surprisingly continued to needlepoint, and eventually the ladies began to piece together a respectable bonnet. The evening passed away very favorably, as did the next two weeks, each church service a painful reminder of the lowest of lows Lydia needed to accept to survive English society. The Bennet's reputation increased in Hertfordshire society, for why would anyone marry Lydia if she did not improve in character? Mr. Bennet appreciated the pleasant change nonetheless and did not wish for the good fortune to end after suffering so much over the years – even if he truly did nothing about it at the time.

The third week, Mrs. Bennet walked to Meryton with her youngest daughter, as this time, Frances suspected she might not see Lydia again for quite some time. As the ladies had never truly parted as the other daughters left home for London and Derbyshire, Frances Bennet wanted to send her daughter off with reassurance that she was always loved.

" Lydia, you know that you are my daughter, and I will always call you my favorite,"

" Yes, Mama,"

" When you married George Wickham, I had such high hopes he'd be more reputable,"

" I know, Mama," Lydia's voice broke a little.

" It was hard, watching what he did to you. You were so lively, young, and had such a bright future. And now, all of Hertfordshire views you as a recovering lady who may one day be respectable again. When you go to Scarborough, do not lose that privilege again. It is hard to gain a good reputation and so easy to lose. Treat your husband well, birth him children, and write often. He may not love you, but he is taking you in even though you only contribute 1,700 pounds to his wealth,"

Lydia wiped away tears with a hand cloth. " I am sorry, Mama, for being a failure,"

" You are not a failure. You are my daughter, and I should have been more firm with you. You were always of the highest spirits and most stubborn determination. If you were more like Jane or perhaps Mary, you'd have picked a better man to marry the first time,"

" George was a good man, Mama. Just because he liked to gamble and drink does not mean he was a bad man-"

" Irresponsibility is never respectable, Lydia. That is all I meant,"

" George was a good man, Mama. You may not have seen it, but he kind, and caring, and he only imbibed as much as he did because he was not rich. If he were rich, he would have imbibed less and gambled less. I know you know this, but Papa doesn't,"

" Oh Lydia, Lydia, Lydia…" Frances pulled her daughter into her arms and kissed her cheek. " I will miss you. Write often like our sisters do," Mrs. Phillips shared similar sentiments and thoughts with Lydia, and Lydia doubled down on her defense of George Wickham.

" It is interesting that you would marry another man named George as well. At the least, you won't have to worry about calling him by a name that isn't his," Judith jested, boosting Lydia's lacking spirits temporarily. " My, what an embarrassment that would be as you are yelling at him during an argument. ' Why must you be such an ass, John-I mean George!' La," Frances laughed at her sister, Lydia feigning amusement while weeping within.

" But you will write, yes?" Mrs. Phillips pressed her niece. " I would dearly love to hear of your new home and the children. Children are always a blessing regardless of who birthed them. And when you birth your own, it will be even more a home than a house,"

Lydia sighed. " Mr. Boording says his home is grander than Netherfield, Lucas Lodge, Longbourn, and all the other grand houses in the neighborhood. Charlotte says that the house Percival is expected to inherit when his betrothed's father passes will not even compare to Mr. Boording's home. Only Rosings Park would compare, and apparently Mr. Boording is a frequent caller on Lady de Bourg,"

Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Bennet fell silent. Finally Mrs. Phillips composed herself. " The daughter of the late Earl of Matlock? I had heard she is a very controlling woman, but she is the daughter of an earl. Her station allows her the privilege to meddle within other people's lives," She could not fault the woman for meddling. The best of intentions often required the least respected approach, and it meant someone needed to suffer the social consequences. A title withstood censure even if lack of wealth did not.

" Her daughter is married to a Mr. Jones, a well respected barrister in London, and Anne is to inherit Rosings Park," Lydia went on for the benefit of both ladies. " Mr. Boording says that Anne will visit within the second month of my stay and leave the third month – as she is required to be present at her husband's side often."

" Do tell us more of Mr. Boording."

" He is a man of six and forty. Owns a third of North Yorkshire. That is in comparison to Mr. Darcy owning half of Derbyshire, meaning he is considerably wealthy. His younger brothers are the joint owners of a ship building company J.L. Boording and Sons, building the company gradually while staying above poverty. The luxuries provided to them balanced out the hours the younger Boordings put into the business,"

Her aunt and mother sipped on tea, listening intently for possibly the first time to Lydia's intelligence. Judith Phillips, a willing participant in gossip, valued this, whereas Frances Bennet glowed with pride that her youngest daughter started to retain intelligence instead of spouting nothingness appropriate for younger ladies.

" Mr. Boording first offered for Anne, but Lady de Bourg refused his hand because he did not earn enough per annum, which is how he found his first wife, a country lady of little consequence and fine countenance. She died birthing their first born daughter. His second wife had an unfortunate fall down the stairs. The hem of her dress caught on her shoe, and one tumble lead to another tumble- She survived the birth and their second daughter was turning half a twelvemonth old,"

Partaking in the tea as well, Lydia settled into a settee finding herself more and more troubled. Had Mr. Boording killed his second wife? Would he kill her? Wickham may have been irresponsible and yelled at her often, even gone as far to grab her arm and force her out of company, but he never once hit her. When he abstained from their marriage bed, she absorbed the wound. When Meryton spoke of his side mistresses, she cried. Yet in her heart she still loved the blackguard. Mr. Boording could never appreciate her liveliness or youth like Wickham did, nor would he ever truly consider her an equal. Wickham at least pretended when he was sober to treat her as an equal.

The Gardiner sisters spoke among themselves excluding Lydia to her world of internal questions.

" How is Mr. Phillips? Mr. Jones's shop boy said he visited,"

" He did. Mr. Phillips is suffering from consumption. We do not know how he came into contact with it, but he must go to the hospital for consumption patients. Unfortunately the business will be inherited by our eldest boy, who is not yet of age or knowledge to lead it. I do not expect to remarry sister,"

" Dreadful, absolutely dreadful," Judith wiped away tears with her gloved hand. " What can I do?"

" There is nothing you can do. The business will provide for us, as Mr. Phillips is not yet dead, and it will still provide for us until Laurence graduates from Oxford or Cambridge – he has not decided which university that he would wish to attend,"

" But Consumption! With Yellow Fever sweeping the ports, and not Consumption at our door steps. What more can possibly happen? But I suppose all is not lost, as Charlotte Collins married Mr. Wilder, and Lydia is to be remarried as well. And Maria and Elijah Long to settle within Hertfordshire,"

" And Percival Lucas to marry Miss Grove this spring!"

" Such a fine young man who will be attending university as well,"

" In law as well?"

" No. He chose his profession as medicine actually," Glad to be off the topic of her husband's affected health, Mrs. Phillips breathed deeply. " An admirable profession with emerging opinions differing from the old school of thought,"

Lydia finally snapped from her reverie. " Mama, do you think I will be permitted to visit?" She could not stand children. Every time the Gardiners visited with their children the week of Michael mas each year, she fled the drawing room, bedchamber – wherever the children wandered. She dreaded the thought of taking care of another woman's child, much less bear a child to man that could've been her father. She didn't even want the old, overweight Mr. Collin's lookalike in her bed, much less mounting her to take his marriage rights.

" Of course, child, and you should visit when your uncle passes. We will write so that you go into mourning properly,"

" Yes, Mama," Lydia sulked, not wishing to be withdrawn from social engagements any more than she'd already been. With her move to North Yorkshire, she can finally be invited to assemblies and balls again, perhaps the only good product to come of this marriage.