-`o´-

"What can I do for you, Bingley?"

Mr. Gardiner had been asking the same question, in some form or another, for the better part of a quarter of an hour without getting any word out of the younger man. He did not like this one whit. The only conclusion he could come at was that Mr. Bingley was having second thoughts about marrying Jane.

If that was the case he would be sure to extract a steep penalty from him. His niece already had to contend with his abandonment once and he was not sure Jane's heart would survive intact a second time.

"Mr. Bingley," he said in as serious and calm a manner he could muster, "are you here to break your engagement to my niece?"

"No! No, indeed!"

Well, then, it was a good thing the man could speak and his words were music to Gardiner's ears. "I cannot account for your reluctance to speak in any other way."

"Jane said she would have married me for my money, to save her sisters from destitution."

"What in the blazes!" He couldn't have helped the exclamation and he most assuredly wished to repeat it, only louder.

It was all his fault. If he had not been so set on having all the girls married and married quickly, this would not have happened. He might as well admit it to the man in front of him, his niece deserved no less.

"It is all my fault. After that night with Mr. Wickham I was afraid the Bennets' reputation was irredeemable."

"Jane said something about it, but I do not understand what could have happened."

"Mr. Wickham was drunk," Gardiner began his explanation, "and in his drunken state he made a number of assertions about my nieces and their parents. None of them flattering, all of them true to some extent. I was hoping the gossip might be contained, but the next morning my sister, who is not a very bright woman, spread it herself among her Meryton friends and neighbours. Lydia was considered jilted, just like Jane."

Bingley lowered his eyes. "It was my fault."

"I will not pretend you are blameless, Bingley, but the fault lies mostly with my sister. She declared Jane all but married to the neighbourhood and when you left without a word my niece was left to bear the consequences."

"I behaved badly, Mr. Gardiner, and I am sorry for it."

"You did, but Jane forgave you. I have not yet explained my part in this debacle and you should hear it all." Gardiner waited for the other to acknowledge his words and then continued. "I judged that neither Jane nor Lydia could remain in Meryton. Their reputations seemed beyond saving in their community, so we took them with us. I tried to impress upon them the need to acquire some accomplishments, just enough to give them better chances to catch husbands. I would then introduce them to my friends and have them married. It seemed a good idea at the time."

"I understand. I suppose this is what is expected of all women. My sister Louisa's marriage was contracted solely because both parties considered it advantageous."

"For myself, I came to repent my actions. I could never envision my words making such a lasting impression on Jane, although knowing her disposition I should have also known she was the only one who would feel bound to follow my instructions in full. I was hoping you would court for some weeks at least, if not months, but I was also relieved you proposed so soon. Jane does love you."

"I know she does; she told me so."

"Then what has you so riled?"

"I do not know exactly. She said she would have married me for my money, but then she refused my help for her sisters, as did you. I found I do not have many friends who would advise me with any degree of impartiality and I cannot count on my sisters."

"So you are vexed that we are not taking advantage of your good nature and full pockets, Bingley?" Gardiner asked with a smile.

"I believe so, yes," Bingley replied in kind. "My friend, well not a friend anymore, but Darcy never had a use for me, although Jane insists he was a good friend. He did not treat your other niece right."

"My other niece?" Gardiner could not help the astonishment from showing. Mr. Darcy had a way of coming up everywhere; he would dearly love to make his acquaintance and take the measure of the man.

"Miss Elizabeth, I mean. But she brushed him off. I thought that Jane would lean on me, you see, now that we have an understanding."

Ah, that was the rub! Gardiner smiled. "Bingley, you are not Mr. Darcy and Jane has no use for someone like this Mr. Darcy. Let me assure you that she longs to have somebody to lean on and furthermore let me assure you that as her husband she will depend on you whether you want her to or not. And you will depend on her. If you are looking for the same friendship you had with your Mr. Darcy, only with the roles reversed, then you are going the wrong way about marriage."

Bingley only nodded, but he did not look entirely sure.

"We will talk about money and your contribution to the betterment of the Bennets, but not now. I will talk to my wife first -"

"Oh, yes, of course! I would very much like to hear her thoughts on this."

"I will talk to my wife privately, Bingley," Gardiner said with some sternness. "I suggest you take advantage of the relative privacy your status as an engaged couple affords you and talk to my niece. Come up with a solution between the two of you, just as me and Mrs. Gardiner will do, and then we can put them together."

"But why? Wouldn't it help for us all to participate?"

"Would you stand firm in your opinions should I raise objections or would you bow to my greater knowledge of the Bennets and my age?" Gardiner asked with a shrewd look. "Knowing what you want to accomplish and establishing the limits of your bid beforehand is good business sense, Bingley. And you should do this together with your wife, always, or in this case together with your intended."

-`o´-

The first fortnight of Elizabeth's visit soon passed away quietly. There were half-hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.

She had received letters from her sisters still at Longbourn, but nothing from Jane or Lydia yet.

Kitty has been granted leave by their father to borrow an astronomy treatise and wrote about it all with such wonder that Elizabeth felt she must have missed something important when she passed by the many tomes on mathematics and astronomy to choose literary works and histories.

Mary continued on with the piano and since Shakespeare was almost uniformly considered proper, she had added his plays and even sonnets to her reading list.

-`o´-

It has been decided between Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Denny that they would both make a visit to Denny's father's warehouse. Mr. Gardiner insisted it was only proper, no matter that the relations between father and son were not amicable.

When Lydia caught wind of their intention she petitioned to be allowed to accompany them.

However, it was Denny himself who convinced the Gardiners it would be a good idea. He wanted Lydia to have a very clear understanding of what his family was like, since they would be her family if they ever got married. For himself he felt he knew the Bennets and now the Gardiners as much as he needed to. It was only fair that Lydia had as many opportunities as possible to become acquainted with the Dennys.

A possible summer visit to his Grelley cousin godfather was also mentioned, especially since it was this cousin who had arranged for his London posting. Robert Grelley was naturally curious to meet the young woman who had stolen young Denny's heart.

And so it was that one morning Mr. Gardiner took time off from his own business and, accompanied by his wife and both of his nieces, and by Mr. Bingley went to meet Mr. Robert Denny's father.

Mr. Bingley and Jane accompanying them was a happenstance. A misunderstanding meant he had arrived at the Gardiner residence unexpectedly. The Gardiners would not allow him to visit alone with Jane and he was ready to take his leave, albeit very much unwillingly.

When he found out where they were going, he asked to accompany them. For one he was determined to show his Jane that he was not afraid of the connections he would gain by marrying her. For another, he wanted to show his support for Miss Lydia's intended. Knowing as he did of Denny's fallout with his father, he thought it would help if the older man could see that his son was moving up in the world.

Nigel Denny was civil, though not especially friendly. He did not expect so many guests all at once, but decided to be philosophical about it.

He had his housekeeper ready to serve tea and cakes and then suggested his nephew accompany the ladies and Mr. Bingley to visit the warehouse while he, his son and Mr. Gardiner got down to business. This was agreeable to everybody, especially to Lydia. She had been dreaming of rows upon rows of bottles and powders, all hers to choose and pick to her heart's content.

At first Mr. Denny had been a little apprehensive that maybe his son had been caught in a compromise with the daughter of a gentleman and her relatives would come to extract retribution, most likely by asking for money in exchange of not ruining his business.

He could not see any other reason why his son had not simply married the girl and been done with it.

Thus he was indeed surprised to find out that Miss Lydia was under the care of Mr. Gardiner who thought she was too young to marry and so for the moment the young people were courting as it were, with a view to maybe marry if they both felt it was a good idea in two or three years' time.

The elder Miss Bennet too would be married sometime in the summer with the very rich Mr. Bingley.

His son did very well for himself; he was honestly surprised to see just how well. A tentative agreement was reached that he would settle five thousand on the young couple. Depending on what exactly happened and how well the families got together, he was thinking of increasing his participation to maybe ten thousand pounds.

Mr. Bingley had ready cash and connections to the landed gentry and Mr. Gardiner was prosperous in his business dealings, more so than himself.

He could even admit, if only to himself, that Robert going into the militia to make his own way was going to help the business thrive more than if he stayed behind to learn the trade.

-`o´-

Lydia meanwhile had had the best day in what felt like months. She had been the center of attention earlier when they took tea with the elder Mr. Denny. He complimented her on her good looks and commended his son for being clever enough to attract the eye of such a comely young woman.

Even now the cousin who accompanied them in the warehouse was showing her the merchandise and looked to her to see how she liked everything.

"Miss Lydia," came the loud voice of the elder Mr. Denny, "what have you chosen for yourself?"

"Oh, nothing. I don't know if I should," Lydia replied somewhat surprised by the offer. In truth she discovered two new scents that were so wonderful to her senses, she would have given anything to have. She knew, however, that her aunt and uncle would never spend the money for such a frivolous purchase.

If she married Denny she was sure she would always be at the warehouse!

"Come, Miss Lydia, allow me to gift you with one of our fine little bottles; or two," he said, winking at her "if you cannot decide on just one." Yes, Nigel Denny was in a decidedly good mood and it showed. He saw the girl looking at her aunt for approval.

Hm, maybe he should have spoken to Mrs. Gardiner first. Gardiner was right in this respect: Miss Lydia was rather young to marry. She was a bold girl, who clearly liked the attention, but would become shy and quiet at the drop of a hat. Likely she was only recently out in society and his son had the good fortune to catch her before anyone else thought to.

"I like these two," Lydia said, gesturing towards the bottles.

They were new additions to their stock, less expensive than their regular scents. Well, who was he to argue if this was what she wanted.

"Very well, my dear. I will have Jonesy here pack them for you." A young boy appeared from a corner ready to help.

"Thank you, that's very kind of you," Lydia made herself say and then sighed, "but I will take this one and the blue bottle, please."

"I thought you did not like the lavender very much, Lydia," Mrs. Gardiner cut in.

"I do not," Lydia shrugged, "but Jane does and she should have a bottle too."

"Oh, no, Miss Lydia, you must allow me to purchase the bottle for your sister," Mr. Bingley cried. "The gift was meant for you and you should enjoy it. I will be more than happy to be allowed to offer a small token to Jane - Miss Bennet, that is."

There followed a few more minutes of consultations and protestations, but in the end everything was settled in the most agreeable manner for all concerned: Mr. Denny gifted two of his perfumes to Lydia and Mr. Bingley was allowed to purchase one for Jane.

-`o´-

Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks and soon he came, accompanied by another one of Lady Catherine's nephews: a certain Col. Fitzwilliam.

Mr. and Mrs. Collins were exceedingly gratified when the two gentlemen paid them a visit the very next morning after their arrival at Rosings.

"I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me."

Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they received any invitation thither—for while there were visitors in the house, they could not be necessary; and while there Lady Catherine sought to wholly engage Mr. Darcy in conversation to the exclusion of everyone else.

From the whole of his behaviour to Miss de Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have been just as likely to marry her, had she been his relation.

In the past she might have laughed at it, but Jane's words in London had been almost too much for her. Mr. Darcy clearly had no tender feelings for his cousin, but marry her he will, out of duty. It was a word she was beginning to loathe.

She found the Colonel an interesting and engaging conversationalist and meant to enjoy herself; they conversed with so much spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, as well as of Mr. Darcy.

Later on she was entertaining the company at the piano thinking fondly of Mrs. Croft. The lady had been with them only a little over a month when Elizabeth had to leave, but even those short weeks affected a material change in her playing. She supposed that daily practice helped, but it was more than that. A knowledgeable tutor made such a difference!

It was an unfortunate thought, for it led her to think again of how lately and how much by an accident of fate they came to benefit from instruction.

As often with her, the lower her spirits felt inside, the sharper her tongue was outside and Mr. Darcy coming to the piano in his deliberate and intimidating manner was to feel the brunt of it.

Later in her room she would ponder on what it all meant, but never come to a conclusion which satisfied her. The Colonel had been right: Mr. Darcy was not inclined to give himself the trouble when there was nothing to gain. Meryton society was likely too low for him to make an effort to be agreeable.

But that could not have been all. Here they all were, at Rosings, in the company of his titled relations, and he was still the same Mr. Darcy.

His answers to Lady Catherine were polite, but nothing spoke of warmth and he spoke not a word to his cousin de Bourgh the whole time they continued together.

And then he complimented her playing! Miss de Bourgh likely did not hear their conversation at the piano, but it still made Elizabeth uncomfortable. Even if he did not like his cousin and he only married her out of duty, he still should not be more friendly with another woman right under his intended eyes.

Ah, well, there were too many conjectures and too little facts and her father would heartily laugh at her, should he ever hear everything that passed through her head. It was all Mrs. Croft's fault, Elizabeth thought with a smile, for putting ideas in her head.

-`o´-

Author note:

Thank you all for your comments, they are great!

Guest Colleen S:

Yes, Bingley had some preconceived ideas about how the ideal wife should be. To his credit, he is trying to work out what happens before jumping to any (wrong) conclusion :)

Guest who said Lizzy is being Dizzy:

Very true! She is kind of lost, isn't she? Her world is upside down and she's not yet sure how to make it right again.