Disclaimer: I don't own Pride and Prejudice.

Ch. 5

Three weeks later Elizabeth watched as Lydia's carriage pulled around the corner and out of view. She was going off to do something she loves, flirting. Elizabeth couldn't say she was as happy as Lydia or even close to it. Jane agreed with her on the whole matter, but of course sweet Jane would not say anything to argue with her special Mr. Bennet even if he was in denial.

Mrs. Bennet was just as happy as could be. She was fluttering around everywhere. She had hopes for Lydia to find a husband. She had bought Lydia new gowns, bonnets, undergarments, ribbons, and even shoes. Mr. Bennet argued about the buying of so many new things and when he turned to Elizabeth for support she just ignored him because she was to mad at the moment.

They all walked back inside the house, with the exception of Mary, who was playing on the piano. At least Mary had something she loved to do which was moral for a young lady, unlike Lydia. Kitty was still a mess, though not as bad as before. Elizabeth had promised to walk her up to Meryton soon and Kitty would not leave her alone until she did.

A couple days later Elizabeth was dressed in a nice bonnet and a warm coat walking up the street to there little town of Meryton. Kitty was bouncing along besides her. There was supposedly a ribbon at a little shop she wanted and at the time she first saw it Mrs. Bennet would not let her get it. She was explaining how the ribbon looked and what she was going to wear it with.

"It's a light pink with white edges. It's so very pretty and I think I will wear it with my white summer dress with the lacy edges," Kitty explained rambling on.

The countryside looked very pretty. The sun was shining bright and the flowers were going into bloom. It was still chilly out, but to see the lovely landscape was enough. Kitty was paying attention to it, but Elizabeth was. When she looked at it, she kind of blocked out Kitty's random sentences because none of them she really cared about. It was kind of mean, but Kitty didn't notice she was, so she didn't really care.

After awhile of just pleasant walking and chatter they arrived at their destination. Kitty dragged Elizabeth into the ribbon shop, so she could bye the ribbon that was so precious to her, though after a week she would probably forget about it. One of Mrs. Bennet's friends was in the shop also. She was talking in a low voice to the shop owner and as soon as she noticed them she walked right over.

"Did you hear," she said practically shouting, "Mr. Bingley is coming back to Netherfield."

"What?" Elizabeth said. Jane would faint when she told her.

"Mr. Bingley is coming here in a week. He's bringing a small party along, just his two sisters, Mr. Hurst, and Mr. Darcy."

"He's bringing Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said partially stunned.

"Yes, but no one really cares if he comes or not. He's not a very pleasant fellow. He keeps to himself and stays away from the lady's of this part of the country as if they are diseased. He probably prefers girls that are in the same class as him. They are all prim and proper."

"Yes," was all Elizabeth could utter. Kitty one the other hand was excited. She hurried up and bought the ribbon. She was excited to tell Mrs. Bennet the news and when she did Mrs. Bennet would probably come up to town to gossip with her sister. Mr. Bingley was a big topic they liked to discuss. They either talked about how wonderful he was or how cold hearted he was to Jane.

"Oh, oh, oh, I can't believe it, I just can't believe it. I have to go talk with my sister," Mrs. Bennet said as soon as they told her the news. A couple minutes later Mrs. Bennet was going into town in their carriage, which she had to fight Mr. Bennet for.

Jane looked kind of pale as soon as they told her, but she assured them she was okay, but Elizabeth didn't believe her. Mary didn't care and thought they were acting stupid fretting over a boy, but it wasn't that simple considering Mr. Darcy was coming.

When Mrs. Bennet came back she reassured them that he was coming and that servants were preparing his house. Servants were supposedly making up beds, cleaning off dust and dirt, and preparing food for their arrival. They had already ordered pork, ham, and other fine foods to be ready for when they arrived. Wine was being transported for Mr. Hurst, who had a strong liking for it.

The next day Elizabeth wrote Charlotte about the news. It was the only exciting thing she had to tell her about. Kitty also had already found fault in her ribbon, but she assured Elizabeth that she would make the best out of it.

Mrs. Bennet also found out about the exact date that the party traveling to Netherfield would be leaving and arriving. They were to be leaving in three days and arriving in five. Everyone in the town was talking about it and everyone was just as excited as the first time he came to their part of the country.

There was the normal gossip of Mrs. Hurst and Mr. Hurst. Also of Caroline Bingley's fine manners and gowns, though Elizabeth didn't think her manners were that fine.

The days passed more slowly than normal. Elizabeth wasn't sure if it was out of nervousness or out of excitement. She tried to pass the time as normally as possible. She read books, took walks, and talked to Jane.

Jane and she often talked about what they thought other countries were like. To some that might seem juvenile, but they had to pass the time somehow and they were just curious. They read books about Asia and Europe. They saw maps and pictures drawn by artists in books, but it still wasn't the real thing.

Soon it was a day before the group of talked about people was to arrive. The house in Netherfield was aired out and ready for it's owner and his party to arrive. It was kind of strange in Elizabeth's mind that everyone's highlight of the year was a man who had 5,000 pounds a year coming to Netherfield.

He was rich. Mr. Darcy was rich, but to Elizabeth they were people. They had feelings and hopes just like everyone else; they were just a little better off. She knew they were normal. A rich man had proposed to her and she had screamed it back in his face. So he proposed to her in a way she had never expected, but then she never suspected he would propose to her in the first place.

Life was full of surprises and you could never time them exactly when you want them to happen. They sometimes happen when you never expect them and Mr. Darcy coming to Netherfield was certainly one of those times. Maybe they would bring Jane's happiness, and maybe they would even bring hers. Maybe Jane would get married to Mr. Bingley as everyone had wanted, but maybe she wouldn't, you never know.

Caroline Bingley might have gotten to Mr. Darcy. For all Elizabeth knew, Mr. Darcy could have forgotten his ardent love for her. Caroline was persistent with him, but she knew Mr. Darcy would never marry her and if he did it would be for money connections or family connections. Elizabeth and Jane did not have any connections. Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy would not favor from a marriage to them.

Mrs. Bennet wasn't the most civilized person, but she had raised them. Lydia was silly and so was Kitty, but if they ever got married, their husbands would just have to deal with that.

The day passed and the next one came. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were now at Netherfield. They were now close to Longbourne. They were back to the place, where memories of dancing and arguments with Mr. Darcy were held. There were memories of Jane being sick and Elizabeth reading books in their parlor. Maybe memories like these would repeat themselves, but one never knows.

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