"Bingley."

Mr. Bingley turned to his friend.

"The September assembly in Meryton is this coming Wednesday," said Mr. Darcy.

"And you are telling me this why?" asked Mr. Bingley.

"I have obtained two vouchers, one for me and one for you."

"Without asking me; that is quite presumptuous on your part."

"As my cousin Fitzwilliam oft says – 'tis better to ask for forgiveness than permission'."

"All the same you should have asked before you wasted your shillings. But perhaps all is not lost; of our young ladies, I believe that Miss Mary is still out – you could ask if she would like to go."

"I have asked her and she refused – apparently the young ladies are planning having their own private ball here at Netherfield where they will dance amongst themselves." Mr. Darcy stared at his friend. "If you are refusing to attend because Miss Bennet might see you and turn to stone, or maybe turn you to stone – I am not sure how this mythical curse you are under works – I am reliably informed that she will be wearing blinkers and so will not be able to see you."

Mr. Bingley stared at his friend for a moment and then laughed. "You almost had me there. Who was your reliable informant? Colonel Fitzwilliam? Perhaps he could use your extra voucher."

"Alas he is in Upper Canada fighting the Yankees."

"Then I don't know what I can do to help you."

"You could come with me."

"I'm afraid not; and you know why."

Mr. Bingley felt his friend took his refusal rather easily but thought no more of it. If he had bothered to parse it out, he might have grown suspicious, but he did not.

-}{-

"Oh, Mr. Bingley" Lydia called from down the table.

Mr. Bingley looked up from his soup. "Yes, Miss Lydia."

"I understand that you won't be going to the assembly in Meryton on Wednesday night."

"That is correct."

"Then you'll be available to partner us," Lydia waved her soup spoon at her two sisters and Miss Darcy. "We're going to have our own ball and partner ourselves and it would be so much better to have a gentleman to partner us." Lydia fluttered her eyelashes at Mr. Bingley.

Mr. Bingley could see his friend, Darcy, smirking at him. But he had learned the power of 'no' and he was about to yield it. "I am sorry to disappoint you, Miss Lydia, but I'm afraid Wednesday is shaping up to be a hard day on the farm and so I will be off to bed early that night; no later than eight."

Mr. Bingley felt Miss Lydia took his refusal rather easily but thought no more of it. If he had bothered to parse it out, he might have grown suspicious, but he did not.

-}{-

"Mr. Bingley."

"Yes, Mrs. Nichols."

"Mr. Gorham, the stableman, is having a bit of a knees up down at the stables on Wednesday night to celebrate his fiftieth birthday and has invited the household staff, including your and Mr. Darcy's valets, and the ladies' maids." Mrs. Nichols wrung her apron. "Mrs. Longden has said that the young ladies do not need any servants to attend on them at their ball and so I was wondering if …"

Mr. Bingley held up his hand "Say no more. Certainly, the staff may attend. And I would be pleased to donate the makings of a punch to celebrate the occasion."

"Thank you, sir. Mr. Gorham, I'm sure would be pleased to invite you as well."

Mr. Bingley was tempted. A raucous party would be just the thing to blot out the vision of Miss Bennet dancing with some other gentleman. But … but he had turned down Darcy and Miss Lydia so he said "I'm sorry, Mrs. Nichols, but I cannot."

Mr. Bingley felt Mrs. Nichols took his refusal rather easily but thought no more of it. If he had bothered to parse it out, he might have grown suspicious, but he did not.