Chapter 10

Lunch on Sunday wasn't nearly as gratifying for Elizabeth as her date on Saturday. Jane had brought Bingley and Mrs Bennet was unbelievably excited. She was over complimentary about him, over anxious about his needs and spent a good deal of time hinting that Jane would make an excellent wife. Jane bore the embarrassment well, Bingley looked a little shocked but like any good puppy was eager to please and just agreed with most things said. Mr Bennet was far too amused to stop anything and Lydia was too involved in her idiot boyfriend to hear anything. Mary was reading a text on morals in the modern day. Elizabeth probably would have found it interesting if Mary had wanted to share without suggesting that they were all going to hell.

Elizabeth turned back to the conversation just as her mother was inviting herself to Bingley's party on Friday. She watched aghast as Bingley actually said that all of Jane's family were welcome. Oh! this couldn't really get any worse. But it could.

.

Friday came. Jane had arranged to have the afternoon off and met Lizzie at Bingley's house around 530.

"Oh Lizzie good you are here. We need to set up some of the decorations before getting dressed up."

She walked in to a swanky version of a haunted house.

"Wow" Elizabeth just stared around her.

Light bulbs had been replaced with red bulbs, there were cardboard bats and coffins everywhere, fake spiderwebs decorated most of the house.

"What more decorations could you need?"

"The dance floor needs sorting"

The whole dining room was set up for food and general banter with a few silly spooky games, the living room had had most of the furniture moved or pushed back to make way for a dance floor and a DJ was setting up in the corner. They laid out a dance mat and moved some of the valuables to one of the spare rooms to keep it all safe. They then headed to the kitchen to set up the trays of food. Bingley had hired some caterers for the main buffet but the 'spooky snacks' were all plated up by them.

"Wow Bingley, you really go all out for Halloween!"

"Well it's a neglected tradition of you ask me. I spent some time in America not long ago and hey have mega Halloween traditions and parties, just trying to bring a bit of it across the pond!"

Lizzie was happy to go along with it all and was eager to see Wickham again. She and Jane went to the spare room to get dressed.

"Jane, how was Bingley after meeting our parents? Mum was awful!"

"She was just excited. I explained it to Bingley. He thought she was nice. And he didn't mind having them come today. Although I don't think dad is coming but Lydia is!"

Lizzie groaned "and is she bringing spud?"

"Yes, but I have an idea about how to get Lydia to dump him!" She explained. It might actually work. They would see.

"And how was your date last Saturday? Or are you trying to say it wasn't a date?"

Lizzie playfully hit Jane over the shoulder "well he's texted a few times. He's super cute and he was so funny. I really like him. I hope I can introduce you tonight!"

"Lizzie I would love to meet him. Just checking that you aren't taking it too fast. I know I'm not one to talk what with mini breaks with Bingley and all. This Wickham guy sounds nice but I am just a bit anxious about the story to do with Darcy."

"I know Jane. You hate to think meanly of people but some people are just mean. Maybe Darcy was just jealous of George or something. Anyway for your sake I will keep them apart tonight. More importantly I want to know if you and Charles have... You know"

Jane smiled "well no not yet, but tonight maybe? We've done, well stuff"

"Ooooh stuff. We sound like we are teenagers again." She chuckled "is he good at stuff?"

Jane smiled a very contented smile "definitely" they both laughed.

Jane was dressed as Wonder Woman and looked amazing, Elizabeth preferred a bit more clothing and went with cat woman. Still her outfit was pretty skin tight but showing less skin. They heard the doorbell ring, put the last touches on their outfits and joined the fray.