Notice: Please excuse the hiatus in updates. Hopefully I will be able to update this story more regularly from now on. Once again my apologies.

Chapter Six

"Nobody said he was your type. To be honest I am not sure who you find attractive, Lizzy. You seem to dislike anyone who dares to smile at you."

"I do not! I can't help it if I have eclectic tastes in all things."

Jane who was taking a bite from her toast, coughed as she replied, "Eclectic, is that what you call it? No, I'd say fussy. You and Lydia are polar opposites."

"Pfft. She's kissed far more frogs than princes." She grimaced. "I'm allergic to frogs."

After stretching out her arms and yawing, Jane picked up her plate and shuffled over to the kettle and flicked on the switch. "You want more coffee?"

"You know my answer."

"Yep"

Before the water had finished boiling Franny entered the room. "Wasn't last night wonderful, Jane?"

Lizzy rolled her eyes at her mother's ear to ear grin. "Which part?" she muttered.

Franny shook her head and ruffled her younger daughter's hair. "You won't put a damper on my mood today. If you weren't such a grouch perhaps you would catch the eye of an eligible bachelor. Your sister was the talk of the evening. Everyone commented on how beautiful she looked. They couldn't stop talking about her and Charles Bingley, what a lovely couple they made."

Jane sighed, "Mum don't you're embarrassing me. Just because he spent the evening with me doesn't mean anything."

"Nonsense." Franny threw her arms around her daughter and squeezed her against her ample breasts. "You enchanted him, my dear. He is such a handsome man and his sisters are so charming and beautiful too. Did you see their dresses? Gorgeous, just like yours."

Jane coughed as the Franny's perfume assaulted her senses. "Yes," she spluttered. "Mum let go. You're suffocating me." When her mother released her she took a death breath and continued, "I don't like you to go on about me. Lizzy didn't have such a good time as I did."

Her mother's beatific smile faded, as her train of thought altered. Her brow wrinkled from her now darkened thoughts "Yes, his friend, that William Darcy. I heard what he said about Lizzy. Such a rude and impudent man. You have no idea how much I detest him on your behalf. He had better not cross my path any time soon or I will give him a piece of my mind."

"Mum, I don't care what he said about me. I doubt he'd care if you gave him your thoughts on the matter."

"We'll see. If he fancies himself above all others he'll not get along with folk in these parts. Perhaps then he will care." snapped Franny. "Were you making coffee, Jane? I'll make us all one while I am here. When you've finished breakfast, go and wake Lydia and Kitty. Heaven knows what time those two will get out of bed if they are left alone."

"Did dad get to work on time?" asked Lizzy.

Franny shrugged. "I expect so. He'd already gone before I woke."

"He got up extra early to avoid mum's constant narrative about last night," whispered Jane, as he handed her sister her coffee mug. If anyone knew the comings and goings around the household it would be Jane as she was a light sleeper. "I heard him begging her to change the subject before they went to bed."