Again, I want to thank everybody for their reviews. This is the second vignette, where Darcy appears, but not Elizabeth. They will appear together in the last one, which I'll post tomorrow.

27/11: MerytonMiss has noticed an incoherence in the vignette, I have thus modified it. Thanks again, I feel very silly for this oversight!

In which Miss Bingley wishes she had not been so quick to express her opinion

Gracechurch Street, early spring 1812

Miss Bingley was the last to alight the carriage which had driven her family to the Gardiners' house. It was elegant, and once they entered and were introduced into the drawing-room, she could only approve of Mrs Gardiner's taste. In some ways, the rooms reminded her of those which had been recently remade at Pemberley when they had visited. She greeted Miss Bennet with a warmth she did not feel and politely greeted her hosts after they were introduced to her. Their party was apparently complete, save for Mrs Gardiner's brother, who was to join them shortly.

Wonderful, another tradesman.

"May I ask what your brother's … occupation is?"

"My brother is a gentleman and the master of an estate," said Mrs Gardiner with a smile.

"Oh, really?" a clearly unimpressed Caroline answered. "I did not know you were a gentleman's daughter. Where did you say you came from?"

"Derbyshire. Have you ever been in that part of the country?"

"Once, as Charles had been invited by a friend. I am afraid, though, that I do not know that many estates in that country. Well, apart from Pemberley or Chatsworth, of course," she added with a titter.

"My brother's estate is certainly nothing to Chatsworth," Mrs Gardiner agreed with a smile.

"Did your brother leave his family in the north?"

"He is not married yet. We do have a sister, but she will not be here tonight."

"Oh."

On seeing that Miss Bingley appeared dismayed, Mrs Gardiner enquired about her guest's discomfort.

"It is nothing, only … apart from him and me, there will be only couples this evening, and I should not want him to get the wrong idea … That is to say, I am hoping … The circles I am used to …"

Mrs Gardiner's lips twitched.

"Worry not, Miss Bingley. My brother is aware of both your presence tonight and your situation in life, and would never consider pursuing you."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

Miss Bingley visibly relaxed. The conversation fell for a moment, until Mr Darcy was announced into the room.

"Mr Darcy!" Miss Bingley cried. "I did not realise you were also invited. How kind of you to come to give Charles some support."

A glance at her brother taught her that he appeared puzzled by his friend's presence.

"Miss Bingley," the gentleman said, bowing, before turning towards their hostess.

"Mrs Gardiner, you must know what an honour Mr Darcy is doing you in coming here!" She was practically purring. "May I introduce you?"

Those words had hardly left her lips before she felt something was wrong. Mrs Gardiner was barely refraining from laughing. Both Mr Gardiner and Mr Darcy appeared amused. A glance at the rest of the company, however, revealed them to be either as puzzled as she felt, or to busy gazing in each other's eyes to react. This was not a great comfort.

"That will not be necessary, Miss Bingley. Margaret, I am sorry to have made you wait. Our cousin wished to go over some detail of our trip."

"You know each other?" a frowning Mrs Hurst interjected, voicing the thought of the entire Bingley party save Bingley himself.

"We do."

"Oh," said Jane. "Did I not tell you that Mr Darcy was my cousins' Uncle Fitz?"

Caroline watched that scene with growing horror as her mind put different titbits of information together and came to the realisation that Mrs Gardiner was the former Miss Darcy of Pemberley.

Somehow, she made it through the evening without further embarrassing herself. Later, once she was safely back in her rooms and could think about that evening's events at leisure, she groaned on realising that she had lost all her chances to receive an offer from Mr Darcy, if she had even a chance to begin with—Mrs Gardiner's comment made her wonder about that.

Being welcoming to Jane began to be of the utmost importance. The connection would be tenuous, though. She wondered what Mr Darcy's opinion of Miss Elizabeth's eyes was now … perhaps she should encourage him. Being the sister of Mr Darcy's brother by marriage would solidify her status in society more than being that of his unknown sister's nephew by marriage. I shall do all that I can to throw them together. Mrs Bennet would certainly be my ally there ... Mrs Gardiner appeared to esteem Eliza and would certainly not object, Charles would be happy to have Darcy as a brother … Who else? When she found sleep at last, she had a smile on her lips.