Monday October 19, 1812 – London

Darcy walked up the stairs to the entrance of Colbert House. The entranceway sparkled with lamplight as the crowd slowly worked their way through and into the main hall. His pace was slowed by the crowd and his thoughts began to wander. He knew why he was here and it was not to find a wife, despite what others might think. His love for Elizabeth Bennet had not abated and he could not - would not - replace her with another in his heart.

When he had met Lord Colbert this afternoon, Colbert had invited him to the ball tonight. He was sure that a formal invitation had been received but was probably ignored. Darcy and Colbert had been at Cambridge together and Darcy knew Colbert's circumstances well enough to be certain that there was no ulterior motive behind the invitation, such as an unmarried sister. Not that the absence mattered a great deal since he, Darcy, would still face the usual procession of fathers or mothers or brothers all seeking to introduce a young, marriageable women supposedly accomplished and possessing a respectable dowry.

No, he was not here to find a wife but for another reason altogether. One of Elizabeth's charges against him was his apparent distain for those whose social status he considered inferior and a reluctance to engage with strangers. He, recognizing the truth of her criticism, was attempting to show more civility to strangers or in Elizabeth's words – to take an illustration of their character before deciding they were someone with whom he might want to establish a connection. He recognized that, in the past, he had invariably acted with propriety but all too often his behaviour had lacked civility. He thought he had made some progress recently but it was a constant struggle to not fall back into old, ingrained habits.

He handed his cloak , gloves and hat to a footman and walked through the door and into the glittering throng ahead. Already he could see a few heads tracking his progress and felt his face settle into the mask he wore on such occasions - the Darcy Glower as Fitzwilliam called it. He laughed quietly at the thought and could feel his face muscles relax. That was the trick! If he could think of something amusing, he could assume a less threatening countenance. Surely there would be no shortage of amusement tonight. Elizabeth would see it everywhere if she were here tonight.

Sighting Colbert's familiar face off to his left, he began to work his way in that direction.

"Colbert, I decided to accept your invitation and here I am. A bit of a crush, is it not?"

"Ah Darcy, glad you decided to come. Planning to dance tonight?" Colbert joked. "Fortunately for you all my sisters are married."

Darcy smiled slightly "That is why I came. I knew you did not have a sister whose toes I would be injure if obliged to dance."

The two men continued to talk for a few more minutes before Colbert was claimed by his betrothed. His parting words were "Look out, the wolves have been circling and are now prepared to attack."

"I know, I have been watching them." Darcy's grimace only caused the other man to laugh as he walked away.

Darcy began to slowly circulate through the crowd, attempting to stay relaxed, looking for the occasional amusing scene and pausing every so often near a group of men who appeared to be engaged in an enjoyable and interesting conversation. Surprisingly he did encounter two such groups during his wanderings and was, in both cases, able to introduce himself into the discussion. He was inevitably importuned during his wanderings by hopeful fathers and mothers and obliged several young ladies who seemed capable of carrying on an interesting conversation. Unfortunately, in each case, the young lady was reluctant to stray beyond the banalities. Questions about the theatre or books elicited the most trivial and circumspect responses. If there was a functioning intelligence underneath the lovely façade, it was most carefully repressed. It was disappointing but not unexpected. After each dance he returned his partner to her parents, smiled and moved on.

In the course of his wanderings he frequently recall his one dance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Such a combination of pleasure and pain and happiness and anger. His conduct he could only view with abhorrence. So much pride and aarrogance. Would it have taken a great deal on his part to have explained even a small part of Wickham's infamy? Could he not have canvassed the opinion Miss Elizabeth Bennet as to the feelings of her beloved sister? He could only remind himself that recriminations were useless now.

When it came time for supper, he noticed an empty place beside a gentleman he had observed in one of the more interesting discussions. The man dressed, spoke and behaved in a most gentlemanly manner and although rather quiet, he was not reluctant to contribute to the conversation. Darcy introduced himself; and, mentioned that he had observed him in one of the conversations he attended. He learned that the man's name was Cyril Johnson and that he was a cloth manufacturer. Darcy was quite surprised, although he tried to hide it, Darcy's reaction did not escape Mr. Johnson's notice. He smiled slightly obviously expecting Darcy to withdraw from a discussion with someone from 'trade'. Johnson himself was surprised when Darcy continued the discussion and for the next half hour the two men continued to discuss the changes that were beginning to occur in cloth manufacture, the danger of the Luddite movement and other areas of mutual interest. During their conversation Darcy could see that Johnson's attention was occasionally diverted to the woman sitting on his other side with whom he spoke quietly.

As Darcy made to rise from the table, Johnson also rose as did the women. Turning to Darcy, he asked "Mr. Darcy may I presume to introduce my wife to your acquaintance?"

"I would be very pleased to make her acquaintance."

"Mr. Darcy, may I introduce my wife Amelia Johnson, Amelia this Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire with whom I have had a most interesting discussion tonight."

Mrs. Johnson curtsied saying "I am most pleased to make your acquaintance Mr. Darcy."

Darcy bowed and with a small smile, replied "Mrs. Johnson, the pleasure is mine. I apologize for taking so much of your husband's attention tonight. It was really quite ill-mannered of me."

"I would by no means suspend any pleasure of my husband, Mr. Darcy. I could see he was quite engaged in your talks and truly it was a pleasure to see his enjoyment." She laughed at her husband "He is a reluctant participant at balls and does so to please me because I enjoy them so."

Darcy could see the obvious affection between the couple and was content to continue to talk with them as they returned to the ball room. They discussed the theatre and plays that each had attended and certain art and museum exhibitions. The more they talked, the more impressed Darcy was by the Johnsons who were quite genteel, intelligent and sensible. This was a connection he was loath to lose and so he asked, "I am very pleased to have made your acquaintance and was wondering whether you could come to tea Wednesday or Thursday next, at your convenience."

He could see both were very surprised at the invitation and Mr. Johnson looked at his wife and said, "I believe we have no prior commitments on Wednesday." At her slight nod, he continued, "We would be most pleased to accept your invitation."

They agreed upon a time for the visit, after which the parties separated, Darcy to return home and Mr. Johnson to escort his wife to the dance floor. Both parties were equally pleased with the outcome of the evening. Both had acquired a new and pleasant acquaintance and one that was from a social sphere to which each wished to establish a connection. Darcy had the additional pleasure of seeing success from his efforts to make himself worthy of a woman such as Elizabeth Bennet.

Thursday, November 12, 1812 – Longbourn, Hertfordshire

Elizabeth could tell her Aunt Phillips had momentous news of some sort just by the way her hand was waving the handkerchief. The last time she had seen it move that spasmodically, Mrs. Phillips had chanced upon Lydia kissing Lieutenant Denny in the Phillips garden.

"Lizzy you will never guess! Oh, what news. Wait till your mother hears. Netherfield has been let. "

Elizabeth was not altogether sure why this was worthy of such excitement but she did follow her aunt into the drawing room to visit her mother. Mrs. Bennet's immediate thought was to inquire with great excitement whether Mr. Bingley was taking the lease. Upon learning that it was not Mr. Bingley but a Mr. Thompson who was to be the new tenant, she asked the most important question. Was he married? Upon learning that he was, in fact, a man of more than 50 years with a wife (most unfortunate indeed), her interest subsided until she thought of the next important question. Did he have any unmarried sons? Mrs. Phillips could only Impart that that he was thought to have several sons plus a daughter. The marital status of his children she did not know.

Mr. Thompson was to take up residence at the beginning of December. He apparently was a wealthy London merchant and was planning to take up permanent residence in Netherfield. Mrs. Phillips could provide no additional information about the Thompsons but Mr. Phillips intended to write their brother, Mr. Gardiner, in the hope that he could provide more knowledge of the newcomer.

As Elizabeth watched this discussion take place, she was struck by how subdued her mother was in manner and voice. She could see the lack of society was wearing on her greatly. Her company limited to her sister and occasionally, Lady Lucas who, she suspected, only visited because of the connection to their cousin, Mr. Collins. That Lady Lucas also had cause to gloat because it was not one of her daughters that had been ruined, neither Elizabeth nor Mrs. Bennet doubted. No one was receiving her calls, neither were any of her daughters being courted or even called upon.

Mrs Bennet was not of a temperament to be satisfied with her own company; her favourite daughter was still missing and, even if found, could not be admitted back into the family. She had no interest in books or magazines unless they were to do with fashion and dresses; and what was the point of new gowns if there was no opportunity for her daughters to display them. Without company, dining became a mere family event and of little interest. If her nerves were somewhat less frazzled, she still found ample cause to be unhappy at the way she was treated by one and all. No one apparently had any sympathy for her. While Elizabeth was the main recipient of the complaints, even Jane, who hitherto had been spared much of her mother's criticism, could not escape her attention. The loss of Mr. Bingley , the lack of suitors and even Jane's serenity seemed to frazzle Mrs. Bennet's nerves. A married Mr. Thompson was no replacement for a Mr. Bingley with five thousand a year - unless he had unmarried sons.

After listening to her mother's profusions and nervous twitterings for a while, Elizabeth invited Jane to walk towards Netherfield. Getting their bonnets and warmest pelisses, they set off. Elizabeth mentioned the news about Netherfield but since she had few of the particulars, it could not occupy their attention for long. Her main concern was the lack of eligible suitors in their area. She opened the conversation as follows, "Jane there is a matter which is causing me some concern for both of us in particular. I do not know if you have thought about it but it seems to me that, even if Lydia had not eloped, you and I would not make the acquaintance of many eligible suitors. You are now three and twenty and I am one and twenty and the only eligible new suitor we have encountered in the last year was Mr. Bingley and he has left. Have you thought on this?"

Jane slowed her pace almost to a stop and, after thinking about Elizabeth's comment, shook her head saying, "No, I have not. And now that you have mentioned it, I cannot but agree. Even if we were socializing as in the past, I cannot think of anyone who has attracted my interest. Our local society does not admit of any men of marriageable age who would, for us, be desirable suitors. It has been such for several years now. Oh Lizzy, what are we to do?"

"I think we may have to speak to our Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. They will be visiting for Christmas and we must discuss this with them. I do not know if they can help but I can think of no other plan."

They walked on in silence for several minutes until finally Elizabeth said, "it may happen that the new tenant at Netherfield has a marriageable son or even two of them; however, I am not sure that will be of help to us. Would they admit our society I wonder?"

Jane's face had become more pensive as she considered the dilemna that Elizabeth had raised. "If nothing changes, or even if in a year or two, we are admitted back into society, we may be forced to accept a tradesman or farmer in order to secure a husband."

Elizabeth just shook her head and sighed, "Well, as dismal as that sounds, it is probably better than being married to Mr. Collins. I do not have the temperament to live with him and endure the condescension of Lady Catherine DeBourgh. In all truthfulness, Jane, I am not sure but that I would prefer a life as a governess or companion than marriage to a man I could neither respect or esteem. The cost of security can be too high."

Jane and Elizabeth walked on quietly for some minutes, both seemingly lost in thought. Surprisingly it was Jane who broke the silence, "Lizzy, are you as unhappy at home as I?"

Elizabeth gazed at her sister in some astonishment, "Truly Jane, you must have reached the end of your patience to admit to be only unhappy. "

"I weary of our mother's constant complaints. They never change. Mr. Bingley has been gone for a year now and still she mourns his loss. She is now the only one who does so. It no longer pains me to hear his name, instead I find myself becoming cross and irritable. It tries my patience greatly. I know we are duty bound to honour our parents but I am being tried greatly to maintain my decorum in the face of her almost daily admonishments. I now understand how you must feel when she chastizes you for rejecting Mr. Collins. I do not regret the loss of Mr. Bingley, I only regret being reminded of it."

"Jane, Jane. I do not think I have ever heard such from you. "

"Lizzy, I know I should be ashamed of such feelings, but I cannot right now."

"Perhaps I should attend our mother for some time to give you time to repair your feelings. You can handle the household accounts and tenant visits. I am sure, with Kitty's assistance, that I can keep our mother happy for a fortnight. I will almost assuredly need relief myself by then. "

As Longbourn came in sight once more, the sisters could not view their home with any satisfaction or pleasure.