During dinner, Jane was pensive and distracted, barely answering her mother's questions and outbursts or participating in the conversation.

"…Oh, Jane, in two days you will see Mr. Darcy again…Tomorrow we should go to Meryton to buy some lace to add to the blue dress the Gardiners gifted you…it is very pretty and brings out the color of your eyes…"

"... Lizzy, you have to do everything possible so that Jane can talk to Mr. Darcy alone."

"Jane, you have to find out what dishes Mr. Darcy likes to invite him to dinner... although I am sure Mr. Darcy must have a French cook…"

"…£10,000 a year, or probably more…Jane, it is very important that you smile at Mr. Darcy, as you have such a pretty smile…"

Before going to bed, while Lizzy was brushing Jane's hair, seeing that she was still pensive, she asked, "Are you all right, Jane?"

Jane smiled slightly, "Yes, Lizzy. I am well." She sighed, "I know Miss Bingley's questions were not malicious; in fact, she was very kind to invite me to play the piano and to sing with her..., but I felt uncomfortable for not knowing how to play the piano and confused French with Italian."

Elizabeth continued brushing Jane's hair, unlike Jane she thought Miss Bingley's comments and questions were malicious, and a few moments later she replied, "I realized you were uncomfortable… Jane, if you want you can start learning to play the piano and speak languages." Lizzy smiled, "You have to dedicate a few hours a day and dedication; I can help you if you want. We can start tomorrow after breakfast."

Jane smiled and nodded.

The best plans can always fail, as soon as Lizzy began to teach Jane to read music, Mrs. Bennet decided that they should go to Meryton at that moment, and they could not continue practicing that day..., and the next Mrs. Phillips came to visit

PPP

On Saturday, Lizzy and Georgiana practiced the same song Lizzy had sung at Lucas Lodge, and Jane sang along. Jane had a beautiful voice, but due to a lack of musical knowledge and training she used to go out of tune, and it was hard for her to realize the exact moment when she had to start singing.

Half an hour before tea, Miss Bingley, Lady Maria, and the gentlemen joined the ladies in the music room to listen to the trio. Lizzy and Georgiana again played the piano very well and mitigated the little mistakes Jane made. Later, Miss Bingley played and sang a love song in Italian.

"You sing very well in Italian, Miss Bingley." Lizzy politely congratulated her with a smile.

"Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. My parents were very demanding in my education. They always told me that to be considered an accomplished lady, I should learn to play the piano very well, sing very well, speak two or three languages, draw, and read about current affairs." She looked at Darcy, "Mr. Darcy, I am sure you agree with my parents, as I have rarely seen a lady as accomplished as Georgiana."

Darcy nodded, and Lady Maria, seeing Jane's discomfort, remarked, "My eldest sister, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, never learned to play the piano and speaks only passable French... but she is an excellent administrator and mistress, and Rosings is much more prosperous now than when her husband was alive. However, being a good administrator is not part of the list of things that an accomplished lady should learn."

"I agree with you, Lady Maria. I would also add it is necessary to be fair, kind, and considerate of the feelings of others regardless of their social situation." Lizzy added.

Lady Maria nodded, "I agree with you, Miss Elizabeth. Although unfortunately, I recognize that those important qualities are greatly underestimated. Before getting married, a gentleman should make sure that his future wife is not a harpy."

"I am the luckiest man in the world as Georgiana has all those good qualities and more." Bingley smiled broadly and looked with open admiration at his fiancée.

Georgiana blushed and smiled at her fiancé's comment. Lady Maria changed the topic of conversation and they continued talking for another quarter of an hour on current affairs. Unfortunately, Jane hardly participated in the rest of the conversation, since she was afraid that she might say something wrong and Miss Bingley would expose her ignorance.