CHAPTER TEN: BLANK SPACE

Author's Note: The chain of events will get to the Netherfield Ball! I really liked writing this scene and I've combed it over a whole lot, so I hope you all enjoy. School's about to start up again and I start university on the 24th. I'll see how much I can do but I'm definitely not giving up. Enjoy the chapter and another one will be up next Friday.

Some of you might not be Swift fans (and that's ok, I've been there) but I really thought some of the lines (and themes) kinda meshed with the events and thoughts that happen during Mr. Wickham's time in Hertfordshire.

Saw you there and I thought
Oh my God, look at that face
You look like my next mistake
Love's a game, wanna play?

Mr. Collins insisted on treating his cousins while he insisted on staying at their home. They were not allowed to leave the house under any circumstances unless Mr. Collins was interested in journeying out in the yard. Emma broke this rule by her walks but made sure that her mother was always asleep. Until the post arrived from Netherfield Park, that the Bennet family was invited to ball that would take place on Friday evening, could the girls once more enjoy the fresh air. Aurora did plead to Mr. Collins that he should be familiar with what he would be inheriting. She disguised her want of new ribbons by urging Mr. Collins going to town. Ariel insisted that while he was in Meryton, he greet their aunt in Meryton while he was staying with them. The two youngest drug him along while Emma and Mary-Margaret pushed Belle into coming.

Emma secretly hoped that the militia were in town. Rumors would spread through their estate that the militia were particularly inviting. While many of the militia were not men of fortune, Emma pined over someone who would take her off her feet. Being involved in the militia was an extravagant life compared to one in the country.

Mary-Margaret stopped Emma, when she had become lost in her thoughts. They glanced over to a field past the sparse woods. It was quite a distance but it seemed like two men of wealth riding towards Meryton also.

Emma remembered that Mary-Margaret hinted of their walking to town very often and it seemed that it interested them enough to join them. She grabbed Mary-Margaret's arm out of hesitation. The men at Netherfield Park were coming out into society, just like Mary-Margaret suggested.

"Mr. Collins is a man who makes you despair at the entire sex."

Mr. Collins had separated from Mary-Margaret and Emma to treat the three youngest girls to a pastry in town. Emma sought out Ruby for a way to vent her anger about their cousin. They had just come from the butcher's to order meat. They were headed to meet the rest of their party at the ribbon shop. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet granted their daughters some money for ribbon to complement their dresses.

As the three approached the ribbon shop, a decorated officer approached them. He was quite handsome compared to the folk who lived in Meryton. He was tall and well-trimmed with stunning eyes that would melt any poor girl's heart. A handkerchief had been blowing on the ground and he reached over to pick it up.

"Yours, I believe," the man said to Emma.

Emma was stunned that words did not come out of her mouth. Before she could say a word, Ariel and Aurora walked up behind the decorated officer with flirtatious smiles.

"Oh, Mr. Wickham, how perfect you are," said Aurora.

"He picked up my handkerchief too," Ariel bragged. "Did you drop yours on purpose?"

"Mr. Wickham is a lieutenant."

"An enchanted lieutenant."

"What are you up to, Aurora?" Emma asked.

"We happened to be looking for ribbon."

"White, for the ball," Ariel added.

"Shall we all look for some ribbon together?" Mr. Wickham suggested.

The two began to prance into the ribbon shop, practically dragging Wickham in with them. Emma glanced over at Ruby and they both chuckled as they walked in.

"I shan't even browse," declared Mr. Wickham. "I can't be trusted. I have poor taste in ribbons."

"Only a truly confident man would admit to that," added Emma.

"No, it's true. And buckles. When it comes to buckles, I'm lost."

"You must be the shame of the regiment."

"The laughing stock."

"What do your superiors do with you?"

"Ignore me. I'm of next to no importance, so it's easily done."

Belle walked in with Mr. Collins and another officer had come in behind them. The shop was now crowded with this group and Ruby began to feel uncomfortable about the sudden attraction to the uniformed men and Mr. Collins. Emma reassured her that something would be resolved.

"Emma, lend me some money," Aurora begged

"You already owe me a fortune, Aurora."

"Allow me to oblige," Mr. Wickham said. He smiled, pulling a pound from his ear.

"No, Mr. Wickham, please..." Emma scolded.

"I insist."

"And what is my dear friend doing?" The stranger asked.

"Entertaining these lovely ladies," Mr. Wickham replied.

Emma and her two youngest sisters were in raptures of Mr. Wickham and his stunning friend. Mr. Collins looked nerved by these two men who were easily winning the affections of the cousins he was trying to marry.

"I am Neal Wickham."

"And I am Jefferson Denny."

The ladies curtsied and Mr. Collins bowed.

"Meryton is quite delightful," Mr. Denny commented.

"It is a shame that we cannot enjoy anymore company by these lovely ladies," Mr. Wickham admitted. "For the militia is not staying long in Hertfordshire."

"How long do you plan to stay in Herfordshire, Mr Wickham?" Emma asked.

"All winter, I'm happy to say. I've taken a commission in Colonel Forster's regiment."

Mr. Denny spoke up. "We are delighted to visit your quaint little village. News travels fast and I have heard rumors that the Philips are hosting some of the militia tonight for dinner. I wonder if the lieutenants are invited also."

Ariel and Aurora were whispering about this dinner. Their own aunt and uncle were hosting a dinner party for some of the militia and not a word had been spoken to the Bennets about this. Mary-Margaret inquired to Mr. Collins if he had been informed of it and he repeated a message from Mrs. Philips, their aunt, that the Bennets were invited. Mrs. Bennet would be vexed at the lack of invitation but equally happy that her daughters would be presented to good society.

My mother will be completely outraged if she hears this, Emma thought.

"Well, if you are invited, I would hope to see all of you there," Mr. Wickham said. "It would be a shame if we could not enjoy some of Meryton's fine neighbors to join us."

The girls were decided that no one would miss out on the opportunity and Mr. Collins said that it would be his pleasure to accompany the girls that evening. All of them decided that a dinner party was exactly what they needed to be entertained that evening.

Mr. Wickham and Mr. Denny insisted that they walk the girls home and whoever wanted fine ribbons, purchased some at the expense of Mr. Wickham. The girls were giddy with excitement as they piled into the street. Ruby told Emma that she must leave and return to the Lucas Lodge but that she looked forward to seeing her soon.

The girls and their three male escorts headed towards Longbourn. Before they could leave Meryton, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were riding their horses into the town square.

"Look, Mr Bingley!" Mary-Margaret shouted. The Bennet sisters shouted. They curtsied and their male companions bowed once more. Mr. Bingley tipped his hat at everyone but Mr. Darcy only gave a cold stare to Mr. Wickham, who was standing by Emma. They were about to be engaged in a conversation when Herfordshire's new residents stopped by.

"Mr Bingley!" Ariel and Aurora shouted in unison.

"I was just on my way to your house."

"How do you like my ribbons for your ball?" Aurora asked as she waved the ribbons in the air.

"Very beautiful," Mr. Bingley commented.

"She is," Aurora added. "Look at her, she's blooming."

"Oh, Aurora," Mary-Margaret whimpered. She turned around to shoo her away. Mary-Margaret and Emma shared a quick glance. It seemed that Emma's prediction about them coming to Meryton was correct. Now the girls were caught in the crossfire between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham.

Mr. Darcy had paid no more attention to Mr. Wickham but fixed his eyes on Miss Emma Bennet instead. Emma looked up at Mr. Darcy as he had his eyes fixed on her now. Mr. Darcy turned pale but she was blushing across her face. Mr. Wickham gave Mr. Darcy a threatening look, as if he had laid claim to Emma Bennet already.

"Be sure to invite Mr. Wickham," added Aurora. The trip to town had made her extremely giddy and suddenly she was inviting the whole militia to join the ball at Netherfield Park in just a few days. "He is a credit to his profession."

With that one suggestion, Mr. Darcy knew he was no longer welcome among the Bennet sisters and turned his horse around to return home.

"You can't invite people to other people's balls," Mary-Margaret scolded quietly.

"Of course, you must come, Mr. Wickham," replied Mr. Bingley as he went to follow his friend. "If you'll excuse me, ladies, enjoy the day."

The two suitors retreated from Meryton and the Bennet sisters, along with Mr. Collins, were returned home safely. Their walk back to the estate was met with pleasant company by the lieutenants. Mr. Wickham and Mr. Denny gave brief exchanges to Mr. Bennet but insisted that they would spend more time with them tonight.

End note: Thanks for the response about Mr. Collins and I really agree that Victor should match the part. At least I can say that I did weigh more in Victor's favor when I've been writing him. Leave a review!

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