Lady Matlock and her guest, Mrs. Bingley, sat in the Green Room, the small parlour at Matlock House reserved for special guests, sipping their tea and chatting of inconsequential things as they each tried to get the measure of the other.

Lady Matlock found before her a beautiful, young lady, very gentil, full of poise, so pleasant to speak with that one could not help but smile. She wondered what effect Mrs. Bingley would have on Lady Catherine should she be so unfortunate as to be thrown into company with that august lady – would 'a soft answer turneth away wrath'? Certainly, had Mrs. Bingley made her debut as Miss Bennet in the ton four or five years ago she would have been in the running for the title of 'Incomparable' notwithstanding her lack of fortune or connections. Her ladyship felt a tinge of regret that such debut had not happened then, Mrs. Bingley would have made her son, Henry, a much better wife than that shrew, with all her fortune and connections, whom he had married. Well, if this Miss Elizabeth Bennet was at all like her elder sister, Darcy was a very lucky man, and she would do whatever she could to help their marriage survive the ton's onslaught. She wondered what Mrs. Bingley's plan was.

Jane had started her visit almost vibrating, her nerves all a jangle given that the happiness of a most beloved sister depended on the success of her plan but – and this was the essence of Jane's persona – she gave no hint of her unease. A lifetime of having her perfectly natural delight (which never extended to a sinful pride) in her own beauty and grace quenched by her mother's crass effusions, kindly meant as they might have been, had tempered Jane's façade to a perfect serenity. Jane thought that Lady Matlock had regarded her rather askance at the start of their taking tea together but it seemed that Mr. Darcy's aunt was softening towards her. When the great lady smiled at her Jane knew everything would work out, and it was not just her own natural tendency to see the good in everything, as Lizzy so often accused her of possessing, no – with Lady Matlock's active cooperation, the plan could not fail.

Lady Matlock brought the conversation to the point. "Mrs. Bingley, I understand that you have a solution to the problem facing our two young lovers."

"There are two problems, your ladyship, but I have plans to deal with them both."

"Two? I thought the only problem was coming up with an explanation as why your sister jilted my nephew."

"There is the matter of my youngest sister, Lydia." And Jane proceeded to relate the whole sordid story of Lydia's fall from grace to Lady Matlock.

"She's ruined; you and your sisters - you're all ruined."

"No. I am not ruined, as I am married. My sister, Elizbeth, is not ruined as she will be married." Jane held up her hand to forestall any objections. "Mr. Darcy knows all and he is going to marry Elizabeth anyway. If you withdraw your blessing now, he will not be gainsaid; you will just end up losing his good opinion, and you know that once it is lost …"

"It is lost forever," finished Lady Matlock. She stared at Jane for a long moment and then sighed. "Pray tell, what is your plan for dealing with …" She waved her hand in a vague circle.

Jane leaned forward slightly. "Ignore it – what the ton doesn't know, won't hurt Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth." At Lady Matlock's scowl Jane continued "Outside of Meryton, the only public announcement was one small news article, which only appeared in one newspaper, on one day - my husband checked. In the article Hertfordshire was not mentioned, the militia being from -shire; and my sister was referred to as Lydia Wickham, not Lydia Bennet. In Meryton, a proclamation was read out, so the people there know but – and I know it is a big but – the only person there who has anything to do with the ton is Sir William Lucas and he has assured me of his discretion."

"But there must be someone else in Meryton with connections to the ton."

"There's no one else. I've been immersed in the gossip of Meryton for the past dozen years and if there had even been the hint of a connection, I would have heard about it."

Lady Matlock thought – there was another connection, she was sure of it – she had it! She pointed at Jane. "Isn't your cousin Lady Catherine's rector? He'll tell her, and she'll tell the world."

Jane smiled. "He may never know. No Bennet will tell him. His only other connection to Meryton is through the Lucas family – he is married to Sir William's oldest daughter – but they won't tell him. And it won't matter if he does find out, because Lady Catherine will know anyway." This time Jane pointed at Lady Matlock, "Because you will have told her."

"Me?" squeaked Lady Matlock.

"Yes. You are aware that Mr. Darcy did not visit Rosings this past Easter."

Lady Matlock was very much aware. Lady Catherine had heaped such abuse on Darcy's head upon the occasion of his first attempt at marrying Miss Elizabeth Bennet that he had vowed never to assist her again; a vow he had redoubled when she had crowed at him after he had been jilted. This past Easter he had made good on his vow and Lady Catherine was in a panic. Rosings' books were in a mess, the tenants were in revolt, and her daughter, Anne, was starting to stand up to her. Lady Matlock's husband, Lord Matlock, and their son, Viscount Mintlaw, had both refused to help. If nothing was done Rosings would be sunk, and Lady Catherine with it, within a very few years. And Lady Catherine knew it. Realization hit and Lady Matlock blinked. "I tell her that Darcy will continue his Easter visits to Rosings if she does not say anything about your sister, Lydia."

Jane held up a finger. "And she must actively suppress any rumour mongering about Lydia. I am particularly thinking of my cousin, Mr. Collins, who worships at the feet of Lady Catherine."

Lady Matlock laughed and clapped her hands. "Oh, she'll howl but she'll do it. Darcy is her only salvation. She'll still abuse him though; a leopard can't change her spots."

Jane shrugged. "He's used to it – but you had better warn her not to abuse Elizabeth, he won't stand for any of that."

"Yes, he is very protective of those he loves. But I won't tell her about Lydia."

"Oh?"

"I will tell her that Darcy's assistance depends upon suppressing any rumours about any Bennets."

Jane nodded. "Excellent."

Lady Matlock leaned forward "Now tell me your plan for dealing with our second problem."