The next fortnight proceeded astonishingly well, as if fate had finally tired of throwing her entire hand against me at every game. The wedding between the two young robbers of my peaceful slumber was scheduled for the nearest date as was conceivably possible, which was apparently at least ten days after what the men estimated it to be. Though the fairer party of the planned union lamented the simplicity of the affair regularly like the cuckoo in the clockwork, the mounting fastidiousness and frills surrounding the happy event soon sent the wind up the significantly less fair party. Nevertheless, standing before the aisle as the bells pealed the silver off their tongues, Wickham betrayed no more likelihood of an ignominious retreat than the average chap faced with the sudden realization that they were leaving the independent state and entering into a new, more constrictive one from which only one death or another could set them free. That didn't prevent me from heaving a large sigh of relief when all the "I do's" were said and done.

Soon enough, the two-now-one were to set off to their new northern regiment, bearing a commission obtained through the modest influence of yours truly, and I began to breathe easy. The news of a sudden added detour to Longbourn somewhat restricted this. At the advice of Jeeves, obtaining a promise of secrecy regarding my personal involvement from Mr and Mrs Wickham alleviated some of my anxiety. The whole fiasco set at rest, I was now free to return to home and hearth.

I took the opportunity to revel in being the lord of my own castle again. Such a state was not without distinct advantages, I mused. The whole incident in London had awoken within me a new appreciation for the unattached life. There were no scoldings for keeping long hours at the club, no incessant pleas to be taken to the theater, and no confiscating of the decanter in return for one too many "Yes, dears". To be honest, I had no idea if such actions were to be expected of every female entering the married state. I had little interaction with ladies either before or after that trying period, except Georgiana, whose few and reasonable requests I was now constantly rejoicing over. Yes, I was certain that I would be perfectly content to persist in the status quo for a little longer before advancing in my objective regarding Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Such was my state of mind when I encountered Jeeves in my personal rooms, setting the finishing touches to some folded coats in my freshly packed luggage.

"Jeeves," I asked him promptly, "Why do I see freshly packed luggage before me?"

"They are in preparation for your stay at Netherfield, sir," he replied, tweaking a lapel or some such to lie flat. I am not certain of the exact term of the article requiring tweaking. Jeeves most likely knew it, but I had another question I wished to pose first.

"What stay at Netherfield, Jeeves?" I posed it.

Jeeves paused in his tweaking. "You have just received an invitation from Mr Bingley, who is resting in the sitting room, sir. He arrived while you were out on the grounds, announcing that he was 'bored out of his wits,' as he put it. I took the liberty of suggesting that the fowl hunting in Hertfordshire was purported to be worthwhile at this time of year, and that you would be happy to be a member of his party. He plans to leave this afternoon."

I stared at him. "But, dash it, Jeeves, you know very well that I am an absolute failure at hunting. I couldn't shoot a window from five yards of Rosings Park if I tried."

Jeeves frowned in sympathy. "I am well aware sir, but there is a more pressing target than fowls to pursue in the vicinity of Netherfield."

"If you're referring to the foxes, Jeeves, I'm pretty useless when it comes to them too," I admitted, sighing.

Jeeves coughed. "No, sir. I was actually referring the procurement of Miss Elizabeth Bennet's affections."

"Ah," I said, seating myself and folding my hands contemplatively. "About that, Jeeves. I've been thinking that it might be better to take a little time on that matter. Looking and leaping, and all that. Frankly, Jeeves, I'm exhausted. In my opinion, a month or two couldn't hurt."

"I am afraid I shall have to disagree with you, sir."

"Is that right? Can you not see the circles beneath my eyes from lack of sleep and an excess of worry?" I persisted, learning forward and pointing at the dark bags.

"I meant regarding the delay in your quest, sir. While it is natural for you to feel a reticence to rush into an engagement, I have been informed that young ladies do not share this frame of mind."

"Do they not, Jeeves?" I asked, understandably puzzled.

"I fear not, sir. Indeed, I think it highly advisable to proceed with all haste in the next step in the plan."

"You refer to the last phase, the unrefusable proposal?"

Jeeves regarded me gravely. "No, sir. There is an intermediary step which I believe is crucial to your success. While the first stage was surmounted with the unwitting assistance of the youngest former Miss Bennet, the second concerns the eldest."

"The eldest, you say? Isn't that the one that Bingley… oh, no. You surely don't mean that I have to part the waters and mend the breach between the two lovebirds, do you, Jeeves?" I groaned.

"I am afraid so, sir."

"How am I to do that?" I questioned hollowly.

"Fortunately for your circumstances, sir, Mr Bingley is very easily persuaded to pursue any course of action, even more so one to which he is already attuned. I believe merely assuring him that his feelings towards Miss Bennet are reciprocated would ensure a happy result."

"You realize, Jeeves, that this would mean I would have to explain the small matter that I had insisted on her indifference up until the present time. And he will undoubtedly ask why," I pointed out.

Jeeves did his best to look concerned. It wasn't all that convincing. "Unless a meeting between them presents some other method, it would seem so, sir."

I nodded, my suspicions verified. "Just as I thought. Well, Jeeves," I said, picking up a glass handily nearby and raising it in a toast, "here's to the hunters, and to the hope that this one will not become the hunted."