"It is Bingley's Paradox," said Mr. Darcy. He and Elizabeth were standing on one side of the terrace at Netherfield. They could see Jane speaking to Mrs. Longden on the other side; Mrs. Bennet speaking to Kitty and M. La Framboise down in the garden where Kitty had set up her easel (they could hear her as well, she was extravagantly praising Kitty, for even when that lady was quiet, she was loud); and, farther off, Lydia sitting on a bench, under a tree, reading (reading!) a book. They could hear, but not see, Mary and Georgiana working on a duet in the music room under the tutelage of Herr Schmold.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Elizabeth.

"Bingley wants to see Miss Bennet, as he longs to hear her say she loves him; but he cannot, because she has told him she wishes to never see him again."

Elizabeth thought for a moment "Shouldn't that be Bingley's Contradiction …"

Mr. Darcy interrupted Elizabeth "There is a time and place for a lexicological debate. This is not it. Perhaps we could compromise and call it Bingley's Dilemma." He blew his breath out. "How can we bring the two of them together?"

"You must know, or know someone who would know, three or four bruisers who could grab Mr. Bingley and drag him before Jane and hold him there while she told him what her true feelings were," said Elizabeth.

Mr. Darcy stared at his fiancée. She must be joking. Kidnapping was a capital offence. She was joking, wasn't she? But still … off hand he could think of half a dozen of his and Bingley's friends who would happily take part, treating it as a lark. And he didn't think Bingley would call out the law on them – as long as no one got hurt, and there wasn't too much property damage. There would be a certain amount of embarrassment for Bingley – their friends might help, but they would also dine out on the story at least through the coming winter. Hmm. No. It wouldn't work. Where would they stay? Certainly not at Netherfield – not with four young unmarried women under the roof – one of whom was his sister! There must be a better way.

-}{-

Jane looked around. Lizzy and Mr. Darcy were on the other side of the terrace. Her mother, Kitty and Lydia were down in the garden. Mary and Miss Darcy were in the house. No one should be able to hear her conversation with Mrs. Longden as long as they kept their voices down.

Jane wanted to learn how to successfully compromise Mr. Bingley but she shied away from being so blunt; instead, she said "Could you please tell me about compromises."

It was obvious to Mrs. Longden what Miss Bennet really wanted to know but was afraid to ask so she decided to approach the answer in a round about way. "Tales of compromises are told to frighten young ladies and gentlemen into good behaviour, much the way that tales of the bogeyman are told to young children. In reality, there are very few successful compromises."

All Jane could say was "Oh" in disbelief.

"You have led a sheltered life, Miss Bennet." Mrs. Longden thought for a moment and then continued. "There are a number of different situations. First there is the situation where a lady tries to compromise a gentleman, who does not wish to marry her. If that gentleman chooses to deny the compromise there is nothing the lady can do; the ton will titter but will not condemn him; indeed, his friends are likely to congratulate him for escaping the parson's mousetrap. She will be the one to suffer the ton's disapproval.

Secondly, there is the situation where a gentleman tries to compromise a lady, who does not wish to marry him. Rather than force her to marry the miscreant, her family are more likely to marry her off to someone of their own choosing, or if she has been well and truly ruined, to send her away. They may go further and chastise the miscreant physically. There are even stories of rakes who have gone too far in their pursuit of ladies and then disappeared, never to be seen again. You should not forget, Miss Bennet, that we live in a society where honour is valued, and as such, recourse to violence is not that rare.

Thirdly, there is the situation where neither party wishes to marry, they were caught alone together through some happenstance. They will be generally able to laugh it off as an accident. Certainly, there will be malicious gossip but if they stand firm until some new on dit pops up the parties will be able to get on with their lives.

And, lastly, there are situations where a couple wish to marry but one or both sets of parents disapprove. To avoid the time and cost of a trip north to Gretna Green they might affect a compromise to force parental approval."

Mrs. Longden watched as Miss Bennet's face fell, and remembered what Mr. Bingley had said, and implied, to her about his feelings towards Miss Bennet, and decided that if there was ever a time to break the Code of Companions, now was it, and so she said "But there is a situation, a very rare one, where a compromise is generally successful. It is where the parties are in love and would be perfect for each other, but where one, for whatever reason, stubbornly refuses to see the light. In that case a compromise is needed to bring that party to point."

Mrs. Longden watched as Miss Bennet's face lit up and then said "I believe Mr. Bingley is such a stubborn gentleman and so Miss Bennet, I believe we have a compromise to plan."