Two chapters in one day! I always like to post two chapters when I start posting a new story.

It took all her strength not to bounce impatiently in her seat as Jane finished pinning her hair. She was attending her first assembly and she couldn't be more excited. Kitty thanked her sister, who smiled widely at her happiness.

"You look beautiful, Kitty. I imagine you shall have many offers to dance."

"Not as many as I," sang Lydia, cutting Kitty off before she could answer. She danced around in her new dress and Kitty tried not to let her presence sour her mood.

"That is unkind Lydia. I am sure you shall both have many dances to talk of when we return home."

Kitty appreciated what Jane was trying to do, but she didn't understand Lydia as she did.

Lydia rolled her eyes at their eldest sister and focused on Kitty. "How about a wager then? If I dance more dances than you, you must give me your new necklace. But if you dance more dances, I shall give you the two pounds I have tucked away in my room."

"You told me you had no money last week when you asked me to buy you ribbon," said Lizzy, as she entered the room with Mary.

"Gambling, in any form, is unbecoming of a gentlewoman," sneered Mary.

Kitty thought about it. The necklace was a gift from her father. It had belonged to his mother. He had pieces of her jewelry set aside for all his daughters when they came of age. This necklace was special and she didn't want to lose it. She had admired it often when her grandmother would wear it, and now it was hers.

"No, Lydia. I shall not accept your wager." Her three older sisters smiled approvingly, but Lydia looked triumphant.

"What's wrong, Kitty? Did you realize that I am much prettier and that you have no hope to win?"

Lizzy put a hand on her shoulder to keep her silent. Kitty took a deep breath. She would not let her sister ruin her night.

"No, but I am not foolish enough to wager something so precious. You know I have always admired Grandmother's necklace, and I am too smart to let you trick me into giving it to you. You won't get your way this time."

Lydia sneered and stormed from the room. Kitty couldn't help but smile. She hoped her night would continue to get better.

Lydia twirled around again and smirked in her direction. Kitty had her first dance with her father and no one had asked for her second. Lydia felt she had the upper hand and she would revel in it. Kitty discreetly looked around for Mr. Andrews. She hadn't seen him or his mother. She had looked forward to dancing with him. He was, after all, very handsome. She sat back in her chair. A glance at Mary, who was seated beside her, showed that her sister was not enjoying herself any more than she had since they arrived.

"Why do you not like to dance, Mary?"

"I believe conversation is a better means of spending an evening."

"But surely you would wish for some sort of entertainment."

Mary rolled her eyes. "There is more to life than the next amusement, Kitty."

"Perhaps, but there is more to life than work and deep contemplation, too!"

The sisters returned to sitting in silence. They were, in many ways, too different, but they were sisters and could tolerate each other well enough. Their short conversation had distracted her enough that she did not notice the entrance of a certain gentleman.

"Jane! Jane!" whispered their mother excitedly. "Look, Mrs. Andrews's son has joined her this evening. I thought Mrs. Long had it wrong when she said she had seen him. Quick girls, smile! Smile!"

The Andrews approached them and Kitty felt her excitement grow. The gentleman escorting Mrs. Andrews was the man whom she had met a few days before. She hoped he remembered his offer.

Oliver escorted his mother through the crowd of people. They were late. He never understood how a woman could be ready, look nice, and then decide to change. He had almost given up on making it to the assembly that evening when his mother returned ready to depart. He spied his quarry not long after they entered the room. He steered his mother stealthily towards the Bennet's. They stopped and chatted with many of her neighbors along the way. He almost reconsidered his goal when he saw how excited Mrs. Bennet appeared that they were heading their way, but he was a gentleman, and he had promised a rather intriguing young lady a dance.

There were only four daughters surrounding the matron, so he guessed the youngest, if she was present, must be elsewhere, perhaps dancing. Mrs. Bennet was attempting to be subtle while instructing her eldest to behave in what she considered a becoming matter. Oliver pasted on a smile and approached.

"Mrs. Andrews! Mr. Andrews! How wonderful to see you. We had no idea you would be here tonight," gushed Mrs. Bennet.

"I like to surprise my mother on occasion."

"Will you be in the neighborhood long?"

"I am undecided, but I think it is possible that I might stay around for a little while."

"Well, I hope you do stay, Mr. Andrews. We do so enjoy having you here," she said, looking at Miss Bennet. Turning around, she drew Miss Catherine forward. "Mr. Andrew, my three eldest you know. This is my youngest but one, Kitty."

She grimaced when her mother introduced her as 'Kitty'. They greeted one another and conversation began to flow among them. He thought she looked a little disappointed, and he could guess why, he was simply waiting for the right moment. It was her sister, Jane, who gave him his opportunity.

"This is Kitty's first assembly. I am most happy to have all of my sisters out with me," she said softly.

"All of your sisters?" asked his mother.

"Yes," answered Mrs. Bennet. "It seemed horribly unfair that my Lydia should be forced to remain at home while we were enjoying ourselves. She is there, dancing. Already she is a favorite. Not that I am surprised by the fact. She is almost as beautiful as my Jane and she is only fourteen!"

"Miss Catherine," he said, diverting the conversation from the beauty of her daughters, "since this is your first assembly, might I have the honor of the next dance, or any dance you have available?"

"You may!" she smiled widely.

Her mother's expression waned. "Oh, how kind you are, Mr. Andrews, to ask our Kitty to dance. Isn't he kind girls?"

They chorused their agreement reluctantly, and Miss Catherine blushed. Oliver felt offended on her behalf. He knew Mrs. Bennet was expecting him to bestow the privilege of his first dance of the evening on her eldest daughter, but her comment was still uncalled for. The present dance was coming to a close. He smiled at Mrs. Bennet's back-handed compliment and reached out for Miss Catherine to accept his arm. He led them out for their dance and she smiled happily at him. Once they began they we able to talk only a little.

"You seemed disappointed."

"I thought you had forgotten."

"No, I merely needed the right opening to ask. Remember, we only met this evening."

She was an excellent dancer, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. When their dance ended, he led her back to her family. He asked Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Mary for dances that evening as well. When he managed to escape the ladies, he talked with some of the gentlemen he was acquainted with. He also danced with Miss Lucas and Miss White during the course of the evening. The night was coming to a close when he finally met the remaining Bennet sister.

"So, you're Mr. Andrews. All of the ladies talk a great deal about you. You have danced with all my sisters, is it my turn now?" she asserted. Oliver hoped he managed to maintain a pleasant look. She was impertinent. He didn't always see that as a bad trait, but one must know how to behave when in public.

"Actually, I had already asked Miss Catherine for the last dance of the evening." The young woman in question looked surprised but did not dispute him.

"You already danced with Kitty!" whined Lydia.

"Yes, and since her birthday has just passed, and this is her first assembly, I asked her to grant me another. Please excuse us." He once more indicated that Miss Catherine should take his arm, which she did, and led her to their places. She looked at him with an incredulous smile. They danced and once the number came to a close she purposely walked a little slower so that she might speak with him.

"What would you have done if I had already had a partner?"

"If you had a partner, he would have already claimed you." She looked defeated for a moment, so he continued. "Miss Catherine, your sister offended me with her manner. You are the daughters of a gentleman, and I expect your manners to match. Your neighbors may not be concerned over her actions, but a visitor, such as myself, will not look kindly on such a display."

He saw her nod and accept what he said. He led her back to her family and bid them all goodnight before collecting his mother. Once in the carriage, his mother broke her silence.

"I cannot believe they allowed Miss Lydia out!"

"You said yourself, only a few days ago, that you would not think badly of them should they allow all their daughters out."

"When they are of age! She is fourteen!"

"Yes, so I have heard."

His mother eyed him. "You danced with all of the Bennet sisters this evening. Why?"

He laughed. "Does it matter? I see no reason why I shouldn't, and I did not dance with all of the sisters, only those old enough be moving about in society."

"I noticed you danced with Miss Catherine twice…"

"Her birthday had just passed, and the second was to avoid dancing with the youngest sister. The girl had the nerve to ask me to dance with her. We had barely been introduced. A lady should not ask a gentleman for a dance, unless he is a close friend who would take no offense."

"You will have still set tongues to wagging."

"People will talk when there is nothing to share. I did nothing wrong."

"Do you favor one of the sisters?"

He was silent, thinking. "No more than before."