Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Frerichs

Cross-posted on elizabethfrerichs dot com and wattpad


"Oh, Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bennet!" Mrs. Bennet cried the moment he entered the breakfast room.

Elizabeth settled herself at the table, resigned to another morning of silence. Though Jane did her best to keep the peace and even Kitty and Mary appeared uncomfortable with Lydia's latest behaviour, Lydia had remained unaffected and Mr. Bennet had only commented that "between his wife's complaints and her incessant shouting, it was a wonder he did not have a permanent headache."

"Yes, my dear?" Mr. Bennet said, beginning to serve himself.

Mrs. Bennet leaned forward as though she could reach him from the opposite end of the table. "Mr. Bingley is to return! Tomorrow!"

"What do you mean? How do you know, Mama?" Lydia asked.

Mrs. Bennet smiled widely. "Well, Mrs. Hill just informed me that when she sent Betsey to market, Betsey heard that Mrs. Nicholls told Mrs. Morris that Netherfield was to be opened again for Mr. Bingley's return tomorrow."

"Oh, la! You shall not be jilted any longer, Jane!" Lydia said.

Kitty nodded vigorously.

Jane paled, and Elizabeth snuck a hand under the table and squeezed Jane's hand.

"What of Miss Bingley?" Elizabeth asked.

For once, Lydia was too interested in the question to talk over her.

Mrs. Bennet frowned. "I do not know. But it may be that she will return too, either now or perhaps later. We shall just have to see. It would be too bad if she remained in London, especially since she has been such a dear friend to Jane."

Elizabeth squeezed Jane's hand again. That letter had not been the act of a dear friend. She only hoped that Mr. Bingley would be honest with Jane when he arrived.


Thursday, December 5

"It is Mr. Bingley!" Kitty yelled from the window.

"Mr. Bingley? What?" Mrs. Bennet said, throwing down the needlepoint she regularly held as evidence of her industry and bustling over to the window. "It is Mr. Bingley! Jane, love, hurry up and straighten your gown."

Around the room, the five daughters hurried to stow their various projects and to create an atmosphere of cheerful domesticity. Their cheeks flushed and their skirts barely smoothed, they stood as Mrs. Hill announced Mr. Bingley.

He smiled at all of them, and Elizabeth fancied his smile was a tad brighter towards Jane. "Good morning. I hope it is not too early to call."

"No, not at all. We were just saying how very glad we would be to have someone to break up the monotony of the day," Mrs. Bennet said.

"Good. That is—good."

"We are very glad to see you, Mr. Bingley," Jane said, giving him a welcoming smile.

Mrs. Bennet gestured for him to sit in the chair next to Jane, and the rest of them sat down as well. "And how did you find London, Mr. Bingley?"

"London? It was thoroughly enjoyable, though I did miss my friends here," he said, looking at Jane.

Mrs. Bennet's smile took on a proprietary edge. "I am glad you enjoyed your time there and even gladder that you have returned. The neighbourhood has not been the same without you. People did say you might not come back at all. Depend upon it, I told them, I am certain that his business is just taking a bit longer than expected."

Mr. Bingley nodded. "Yes."

"It is always the way of business, is it not? It takes far more time than one had allotted."

He nodded again and returned his attention to Jane. "Tell me, Miss Bennet, what is the news of the neighbourhood? Has much changed?"

Jane opened her mouth, but then Mrs. Bennet cut in with, "Oh, Mr. Bingley, a calamity has occurred: Miss Lucas is engaged to Mr. Collins!"

Mr. Bingley politely shifted his attention to look at Mrs. Bennet. "Engaged to Mr. Collins? How is that a calamity?"

Mrs. Bennet glared at Elizabeth. "You are familiar with the entail."

It was not a question, but Mr. Bingley nodded.

"It is the most wretched thing imaginable! If I were a man, I would surely do something about it—"

Elizabeth nearly buried her face in her hands as her mother unfolded her tale of woe and expounded on how ungrateful her daughter was. Fortunately, Mrs. Bennet's desire to promote conversation between Mr. Bingley and Jane quickly overwhelmed her desire to complain about Elizabeth, and Jane was able to mention a few little things that had happened in his absence. Mrs. Bennet then prodded him about his plans, and Mr. Bingley admitted that he was unsure precisely how long he would be in Hertfordshire but considered himself quite fixed here for the moment.

He looked over at Elizabeth. "My friend, Mr. Darcy, is still in London, fulfilling a commission, but he intends to return as soon as possible. He has missed, er, Hertfordshire greatly since Tuesday."

Elizabeth's eyes widened—Mr. Darcy had told Mr. Bingley about Tuesday?

She smiled at the message's content. Mr. Darcy must have asked his friend to reassure her that his intentions had not changed. "Hertfordshire will be glad of his return."

"Mr Bingley, you are quite in my debt for a family dinner." Mrs. Bennet interjected. "Would tomorrow night be convenient? I would hate for you to have to dine at Netherfield all alone."

He coloured slightly. "I would be glad to dine with you tomorrow night. It is a bit lonely by myself," he told Jane.

"I imagine so. Without congenial company, food loses much of its flavour, does it not?" Jane said, jumping in before her mother could reply.

"Indeed." He returned his attention to Mrs. Bennet. "And I am certain that with such congenial company as your lovely family, your family dinners must sate the appetite more fully than dinner with a king."

Mrs. Bennet simpered. "I am known for my dinners throughout the countryside. Do not worry that a family dinner will be less than satisfying!"

He nodded, despite the hint of confusion on his face.

Elizabeth winced as her mother entirely missed the compliment.

"Are your sisters returning soon?" Mrs. Bennet asked. "Jane was so distraught to lose their excellent company."

Mr. Bingley hesitated, then gave what looked like a forced smile. "They are currently inundated with invitations in London. I do not know when they may return."

"Ah, well, then you must consider Longbourn your second home. You are welcome to attend family dinners as often as you choose."

Mr. Bingley glanced over at Jane.

"We would be more than happy to have you, Mr. Bingley," Jane said warmly.

Mr. Bingley's smile grew. "Then I shall be pleased to join you."


A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing and just generally sticking with me :) Hooray for Bingley coming back!

If you notice something that can be strengthened, please let me know. And if you'd like to beta, please message me. I'm hoping to whip this story into shape in time to publish come August-September. Of course, I still have no idea how much longer it will be, but event-wise, I feel like we're hitting the wrap-up stage :) *crosses fingers*

Just a reminder: I will be on vacation for the next two weeks, so see you on June 20th!