That afternoon the Bingleys and the Hursts were to host the Darcy siblings for tea.

Well, if he had to be away from his Jane, perhaps he should use the occasion to find out more of what happened between her and Caroline. Jane hinted at having sent notes to Caroline, but thought they might have been lost. Lost into the fire, he was sure of it.

"... and so we met Miss Grantley and Miss Price and Miss Price's mother, of course..."

Bingley looked at the trio of ladies perched together on a sofa. Louisa looked bored, Miss Darcy was stiff and her demeanor spoke of her discomfort. He idly wondered that Darcy did not notice as much. Caroline was all smiles, of course she was, taking turns to bestow her most enraptured gaze to Darcy and Miss Darcy.

"I am thinking of going back to Netherfield," he said when even Caroline needed to draw breath and made a small pause in her monologue. Really, didn't his sister see she was the only one who talked? She was behaving beyond rude.

Well, even Darcy paid attention now. He threw a quick glance up, but not him. At Miss Darcy?

By Juve! He looked at Caroline! Was it possible that Darcy and Caroline had worked in concert to keep him away from Jane?

"Charles! You cannot be serious! After all that we… that we did!"

"All that you did? What did you do?"

"Do not expect me to go back with you! The society is insupportable!"

"I wish you would reconsider, Charles, we've barely settled in town and I dread closing the house again," his other sister added.

"That is understandable, Louisa. I would not wish to put you out, so I will go alone. I should be there for the spring plantings and whatnot, eh Darcy?"

"Ah, well… I will be at Pemberley myself, Bingley, and not able to assist you."

"Yes, yes, no matter. I should be fine for a few weeks, shouldn't I? After all, I am only the tenant." He saw Caroline ready to start and jumped to his feet. "What say you, Darcy, should we leave the ladies to their chat and withdraw to the study?"

Darcy agreed and soon they were both drinking brandy and looking out the window.

"You have decided to go back? I will not be able to travel with you, Charles."

"There's no need for you to come, Darcy. In truth I haven't decided on anything yet, but you know me: if I were to go, I'd just saddle the horse and be on my way in an hour."

"I do not know if it's a good idea," Darcy continued as if he heard not his friend's reply.

"Why not? I did pay for it, I should draw some benefit from spending so much money!"

"Of course, of course, but there might be complications."

"Complications? Come, Darcy, Meryton is an hour from London! I'm not travelling the wilds of the colonies."

"You did not, perhaps, leave on the best of terms," Darcy tried again.

"No, I did not. At least this time I will take my leave in person when it will be time to depart."

-`o´-

"Aunt, would it be possible to not let my mother know about Mr. Bingley?"

"Of course, my dear, but why? And only your mother?"

"My father too, of course."

"Papa won't care, Jane."

"Yes, thank you, Lydia."

"He won't."

"Lydia, this isn't helpful," Mrs. Gardiner interrupted the would be argument with some asperity.

Lydia only rolled her eyes and sighed.

"I do not believe I will even tell Lizzy. I would like to be sure of what his purpose is, aunt, before I make it known to my parents; and Lydia, I would like you to refrain from mentioning him in your letters."

"His purpose is to marry you, of course! Did you not see how he looked at you? I'm sure he didn't hear a word of what I was saying. Except maybe the part about his sister."

"He is much as he ever was, Lydia. I do not know if he'll ever behave with any constancy."

"Maybe Denny too will find somebody else to marry."

"Would you be sorry if he did?" Mrs. Gardiner was genuinely puzzled by her youngest niece. On the one hand Lydia was doing what she was told, albeit with no pleasure nor enthusiasm, so she did not feel she should nag. Mindful of what her dear friend Alice Croft has pointed out to her, she was trying to guide Lydia into learning about the world in general and not the specific things that would make her more attractive to a future husband.

In truth Lydia was much too young to consider marrying. However, she was at a loss to understand what Lydia would like to do with herself. The folly to let a child grow this old before being exposed to knowledge and learning has never been more apparent to Madeline Gardiner.

"No," Lydia answered in a very decided tone. "Yes. I do not know what I want more."

"You told Mr. Bingley you are being courted," Jane sounded somewhat scandalized by the possibility Lydia was not being entirely truthful.

"Denny is courting me, it is the truth."

"But Lydia, if you do not want..."

"I do not know what I want! Why do I have to make up my mind now?"

"But Lydia..."

"Do you want to marry Mr. Bingley?"

"I - I do not know if he wishes to marry me."

"But if he did."

"Yes, of course I do."

"Really? I'm sure I could not tell!"

"What question is this Lydia? We are here to get husbands and if I can marry a man who can support my sisters of course I know better than to reject him."

"Now, Jane, you know we would never force you to accept Mr. Bingley if you truly did not wish for it," Mrs. Gardiner felt the conversation was slipping from her.

"And I thank you for it, aunt," Jane said with a small smile. "You and my uncle are everything kind, but I understand our situation very well. I will not add to your burdens when it is in my power to lighten them."

"Marry in haste, repent at leisure," Lydia spoke over her sister.

"Lydia?"

"Lady Lucas says it all the time."

"Jane, you might solve one problem by marrying a man well able to support all of you, even in a modest manner. You will also have to live with your decision and your husband some forty years after the ink dries after you sign your name in church."

-`o´-

"Have you thought about what you will answer when he asks you?"

"I already told you, Lydia, we are here to get husbands. I will say yes, of course, should he ask me to be his wife."

"But do you want him to ask you?"

"Yes, I believe I do," Jane said with a smile. She could still hardly believe that they met again!

"Do you like him?"

"You know that I do. He is everything a young man ought to be."

"Then what are you going to do about it?"

"What do you mean 'do' about it? What is there to do but wait?"

"Tell him!"

"You know not what you are saying, Lydia. You cannot just tell a man what you want, it is not seemly." Jane felt her ire grow when Lydia scoffed with disdain at such notions as modesty and good breeding.

"Then how is he to know? Oh, yes, proper Miss Bennet would rather mop around as a spinster than tell a man she likes his company!" Lydia needled.

"It is you showing too many men you liked them that got us here!"

There was a sudden silence as Jane could not really believe she was the one who spoke the words. For a moment there Lydia was too shocked to make a reply. It passed swiftly and she started shaking with fury.

"How dare you? I hate you! I hate Lizzy and our parents too, but you most of all!"

"I'm sorry! I am sorry, dearest, you know I did not mean it!"

"You did! Do not think I haven't seen how Lizzy rolls her eyes and you wring your hands and try to stay as far away from me as possible!"

"Lydia! What has got into you to say such hateful words?"

"My words are hateful? Mine? You have a man worth four or five thousands a year, more than even papa, and you won't do anything to catch him! Why? Do you want to go into the kitchen, Jane? How would you like to learn to cook foul-smelling meat twice over so it won't poison you?"

-`o´-

Author note:

Thank you for the comments, they are wonderful!

Guest who said Kitty has a good head for math:

She does, to some extent. Math takes time and dedication. Anything takes time and dedication, come to think of it. I guess the question is does Kitty have enough time? We'll see :)

Lizzy as the human equivalent of a mule! LOL I'll say that mules are ten times more valuable than horses if you want to accomplish any heavy project. They'll also tread where no horse dares ;)

Guest Colleen S:

I'm glad you are still following along!

Guest who thinks Charlotte is better for Collins:

I wouldn't want Collins as a husband for any of the Bennet daughters because there are some obvious pitfalls to having a silly man for a husband in a time when men had all the power.

"When Mr. Collins said anything of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear."

Now imagine Mr. Collins doing that in a place and in front of people who mattered.

Charlotte's power was to ignore her husband when he was stupid, send him to work outside when possible, and have him spend as much as possible of his day in his study watching the road for Lady Catherine.

It's better than being a servant, for sure, but it's not a safe existence by any stretch.

Mr. Bennet is really bad. He really, really is.

However, I would not fault any child that hangs on to his love for his parent, even though the parent is awful. Childhood attachments are strong.

Guest who said they usually don't comment:

Then I am glad you did comment and that you are enjoying the story! I hope you will continue to read and enjoy the rest of it as well :)

Guest who said great chapter:

Thank you, the comments keep me motivated :)