A/N- I'll start with apologies for taking so long to update, and blame it all on the dentist who left me too upset to write. Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope you enjoy this chapter I'm glad to see my Wickham is so well received, that I am almost tempted to keep him all good, but that would mess with the story, so I can't. Thanks a lot to JeanB, your reviews are the best. I know what you mean when you think this is going tooo smooth. That is probably because this is how I would like the world to be. And yes, the conflict is rather lame for which I take full responsibility. I'm afraid I couldn't think of anything better but some sort of disagreement was essential to the story.

Mary Bennet was getting married. This was stale news around the town, of course, but to the concerned young lady it was a vital event. Longbourn was in utter confusion, as the bride's frantic mother and sisters made every possible attempt to ensure that the ceremony would be perfect. There was much to be done but at last Mrs Bennet was satisfied with the dresses and Elizabeth acknowledged that the flowers really could not be improved any more.

Mary herself was perfectly content with all the arrangements, even though she did not quite approve of her wedding dress, and was the least flustered of all. Mr Collins had temporarily removed himself to live with an old friend, but after the wedding he and Mary were to head to Rosings Park. Five eager woman offered to accompany her, lest she feel lonely, and though Mary was grateful for the offer, she and her husband-to-be agreed that it should be a while before any visitors were entertained, and Mary should have time to get used to the new surroundings.

'Mary, are you sure that you don't want me to stay with you for a while, child? I would have liked my own mother to be there when I was first married, I was so anxious all the time. I could talk to Mr Collins, I am sure he wouldn't mind.', said Mrs Bennet for the thousandth time.

'I am certain that he would not, Mama, but neither of us would dream of inconveniencing you when I think I might be able to do just fine.'

'What inconvenience is it to help my darling daughter set up her house?'

Mary sighed. She was tired of this argument, and wished that her mother would understand that she did not require any assistance.

'But Mama, you will visit us very soon, will you not?'

Mrs Bennet could not continue any further because the parlor maid chose that very time to declare the arrival of Lady Anne, Mrs Hurst and Ms Bingley, and they entered only moments later. The other were away visiting their Aunt Philip, but Kitty and Jane stayed to assist Mary with the wedding rush and now they greeted the guests warmly.

'It is delightful to see you, Lady Anne.', said Mary.

'I am glad to see you too, Ms Mary. In fact, it is you we wanted to visit today.'

Mary looked astonished.

'Me?'

'Yes, this might be the last time we see you before your marriage, and this was too good an opportunity to pass up. I take it you will move to the new house right away?', asked Anne with a smile.

Mary nodded.

'Yes, we shall shift directly to Mr Collins' house near Rosings Park.'

'Rosings Park? That's funny, my sister Catherine owns an estate there. I don't suppose you have heard of her?'

'I have. Lady Catherine is Mr Collins' patroness, and he speaks most highly of her.'

'Why, that is fantastic news! I visit Cathy every year, along with William. It is likely that I should see you there during one of our visits.'

'That would be wonderful indeed.', said Mary.

'I don't suppose you will want company till you are quite well settled?'

'That is true. It would be rather annoying, I think, if someone badgered me about every decision I made, and its much easier if the house is ready already for guests.'

'I agree, and hope that you will be more willing to have friends around in a couple of months, when we visit Rosings.'

Mary blushed at the thought of having such important guests.

'It would be a delight.'

Meanwhile, Mrs Hurst and Ms Bingley decided that they would not want to be subjected to any more of Mrs Bennet and Kitty's chattering about a whole lot of irrelevant things and decided that the time was ripe to move back, so with the regular pleasantries and invitations for a wedding the following week, the party departed.

Anne had suggested that they walk to the Lucases and visit them too, but sadly the visit could not take place for they met George Wickham on the way, and Ms Bingley, who had already confessed to her sister that she found him the handsomest man she had ever set her eyes on, decided to invite him over to Netherfield, and entirely kept him engaged in conversation. If only he were richer, Caroline would have been very interested in him indeed.

A/N- I'm not sure this chapter was worth the long wait but I'll update more often now, and I hope all my readers will like what I'm planning next. Do review to let me know that you are still in and reading this.