A new chapter. I haven't gotten many reviews :-(. Please review and tell me what you think!! Suggestions and criticism would be nice... and I wouldn't say no to some compliments either. ;-)

keleeyan, June, and anti-botox: thanks for your praise! I'm glad you liked it, and I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Again, it's not very long, sorry about that. The next one will be longer, I promise!

Two days hence she walked to Longbourne, hoping against hope that Elizabeth or Jane would be there. When she was ushered into the family parlor, she was delighted to see Jane at the settee, sewing and chatting with Mary.

"Hello, old friends!" she said cheerfully.

"Hello, Maria dear! How are you?" Jane asked in her sweet way.

"I am exceedingly well, thank you," she replied. "I haven't seen you all since the dinner party! I hope you all enjoyed yourselves."

"Quite so. It was a lovely party. Charles was so gratified that you and your parents made his guests so at home."

How obliging of Jane to bring up the very subject she wanted to discuss! But then, Jane had always been a most obliging girl.

"It wasn't such a hardship, I assure you! His friends had beautiful manners; they were all quite amiable." Maria answered. She decided to just come right out and say it.

"I spent some time with Mr. Shipman yesterday," Maria offered. "He was very amiable, indeed. What is it that he does for Mr. Bingley?"

Jane shook her head. "I don't know. I know that they have known each other for a very long time, and that Charles holds him in the highest esteem. He is often with us, and makes for very pleasant company, I assure you."

"Indeed," Maria said nonchalantly, hoping to urge Jane into revealing more.

Jane frowned a little. "I do know that he helped Charles out of some trouble not long ago, but it was nothing very serious, he assured me. However, he did seem extremely gratified to Mr. Shipman."

"Hmm," Maria replied.

"Mr. Townsend was very pleasant as well, don't you think?" Mary interjected suddenly. Both Maria and Jane looked at her in surprise. Jane recovered first.

"Oh yes, he is a very kind man," she answered. "if perhaps a little wild. Oh, nothing like—" she lowered her voice, "Wickham, but he is known as something of a man-about-town. He is very popular."

The mention of Wickham brought Lydia to Maria's mind. She didn't think of her often now that she was gone, and it seemed to have a calming effect on Kitty, which Maria appreciated. Her absence also seemed to have drawn Mary out of her shell a little, if her response to Mr. Townsend's attention was anything to be referred upon.

Maria couldn't help it. She had to tease Mary, just a little.

"He seemed to pay special attention to you, Mary," Maria said casually.

Mary didn't even blush. "Not as much as Mr. Shipman paid to you," she replied.

Maria did blush, however. Jane seemed to hide a smile. Was her purpose in coming so obvious? "Oh, no, that is. I—" she sounded like a complete idiot.

"How long are the two gentlemen planning on staying at Netherfield, Jane?" Maria fumbled for a different subject.

Jane tilted her head in that sweet way of hers. "For a good while, at least. Charles does not like short visits into the country. And I'm certain he wants his friends to enjoy the full experience. Neither of them is much out of town."

Maria gathered her information while Jane chatted on about how much dear Charles loved the country. Lord, how she could run on!

Well, she thought, I know that he helped Mr. Bingley out of a jam, and that he is never in the country. Either he doesn't have any property outside of London or he never visits it. She suspected the former. He didn't seem the type to let his responsibilities go neglected.

Mr. Bingley likes him enough to invite him to his house for an extended visit, so he must be a good sort. But Mr. Bingley was so kind to everyone! Remember how we all thought his choice of friend in Mr. Darcy was very ill indeed, but he did end up being a good sort.

Then in hit her. Mr. Darcy could be a key. He did not casually place his friendship with anyone, and he seemed to be on very good terms with Joseph Shipman. She would have to find out more from Elizabeth.

She would hunt Elizabeth down the next time she saw her. She was determined to solve this mystery.