Chapter 2 The Aftermath of an Assembly

"Oh Mr Bennet, what a lovely evening we have had. Mr Bingley danced twice with our Jane and Mr Darcy once.

"If I remember correctly, both gentlemen danced once with our Elizabeth as well."

"Of course they did but they also danced the obligatory set with plain Charlotte and the fashionable Bingley sisters. One dance does not a suitor make, Mr Bennet, but to engage for a second set has much more promise to it."

"Whatever you say, Mrs Bennet, I am off to bed."

"Oh, what a great success you all were, girls. Neither Kitty nor Lydia sat out a single dance, so popular with the gentlemen. Do not worry, Mary. Mrs Lucas told me the regiments are coming. Soon the Meryton streets will swarm in redcoats. Let us hope at least one of them take a fancy to you, my dear. There must be some men who prefer the bookish and pious kind of woman. It is you I despair of, Lizzy. Both Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy engaged you for a set this evening, yet you paid none of them any attention afterwards. A gentleman likes to be flattered as much as a lady; you mark my words. You should boast about their prowess every chance you get, not chatter with their sisters although I suppose there can be no harm in befriending the sisters."

"Oh lord, I am knackered," Lydia complained and flung herself down on a conveniently placed settee.

"We should all retire. There will be callers to greet in the morning," Mrs Bennet predicted. "We must all look our best and beauty fades with lack of sleep. Off to bed, girls."

The entire Bennet household soon quieted down although the two eldest Bennet sisters huddled together under the cover on their bed, reliving every significant moment of the assembly.

"He is everything a young man ought to be, sensible, good-humoured and at ease."

"You forgot handsome as a young man likewise ought to be if it can at all be helped. I declare his character to be complete and must therefore give you leave to like him as much as you dare. You are a great deal too apt like people in general you know. No matter how little they deserve it. You always see only good in people."

"I was very much flattered when he engaged me for the second set."

"Yes, he paid you a great compliment, that is certain."

"But what do you think of Mr Darcy?"

"He is certainly handsome and at ease but I will refer my judgment of his sense and good humour until I know him a little bit better. I have not enough evidence to judge. He may be a little too engrossed in his mounts to pay sufficient attention to the ladies in his company."

"Surely, you are jesting, Lizzy. He certainly paid you attention."

Elizabeth had thought so too but her sceptical nature would not allow her to put too much into it. It was not like he had requested a second set nor engaged her much in conversation after their set had ended but he was sociable with his friends.

His younger sister, on the other hand, was cripplingly shy and lacked confidence but was a delightful conversationalist and well-read. His older sister she had not spoken to, she was much engaged with her husband. They made a handsome couple who appeared to be very much in love. It was heart-warming to see the particular attention Mr Knightley bestowed upon his wife. The loving look he received in return made her believe that theirs had been a love match, not an arrangement of convenience.

"Mr Bingley's sisters was another matter entirely, their fortunes were twenty thousand pounds, or had, I should amend in Mrs Hurst case. I suppose they are entitled to feel some pride but not as much as their raised noses would suggest. I have it on good authority that Mr Bingley inherited property of nearly a hundred thousand pounds. His father intended to buy an estate but did not live long enough to procure it. Mr Bingley is supposed to fulfil his father's highest wish of buying an estate to become a gentleman but he needs practice which is why he leased Netherfield for a year."

"A whole year?"

"Yes, it should leave you an ample amount of time to have him fall in love with you and for you to return his feelings long before he quits the neighbourhood. May I suggest Surrey as a lovely county to purchase an estate when Mr Bingley has proposed and you are looking for a permanent estate."

"You must not speak so, Lizzy. He may find me very dull indeed or not as accomplished as his beloved sisters. They appeared supercilious at first but they are very amicable when you get to know them better."

"You think well of everybody, dear Jane. I have yet to hear you speak ill of anyone, regardless of how much they deserve it but I will heed your advice and give the proud and condescending sisters a second chance to entice me into friendship."

"How very good of you, Lizzy."

"Yes, out of character, I am sure but I feel particularly charitable as Miss Bingley is hosting her brother's party at Netherfield and will keep house with him after the guests have left. It would not be wise to make an enemy of your sister if I am to visit you in the future."

"Like I would deny you anything you asked," Jane admonished before blushing bright red at her implication.

"I was not talking about you, Jane, I was being purely selfish. If I took an immoveable dislike to Miss Bingley, I might deprive myself of the pleasure."

"We must not have that."

"No..."

Jane flipped on her back and closed her eyes.

"Mr Bingley has the most beautiful shade of blue in his eyes."

"Mr Darcy has green eyes with hazel brown halos around his pupils."

"I think you are as infatuated as me, Elizabeth."

"You gathered that only because I admired his eyes? The female mind jumps rapidly from admiration to infatuation. I must add that I believe old Daisy to have particularly beautiful brown eyes, should I add her to my list of infatuations?"

Jane laughed out loud, earning her a hush from further down the hallway where her parents were trying to sleep.

"No, Lizzy," Jane whispered. "I shall not accuse you of having a romantic attachment to our cow but I withhold my judgment about your Mr Darcy."

The girls giggled, causing Mr Bennet to bellow "quiet" at the top of his lungs.

Jane and Elizabeth dared not continue their conversation and fell into pleasant dreams about a certain pair of gentlemen.