Mr Bingley's arrival was so anticipated by the Mistress of Longbourn, that her daughters had been rounded up and herded to the morning parlour, to be artfully arranged in worthy pursuits, as soon as the last spoon had been laid down at the breakfast table.

Lydia had expressed her dissatisfaction with this plan, and had somehow managed to slip beneath her mother's notice. She had not yet made an appearance. The lack of fiercely whispered squabbling, that Lydia and Kitty usually engaged in when forced into an activity that had no advantage to themselves was mercifully missing. It was this lack that was noted by Elizabeth, and thus bringing to her attention the absenteeism of her youngest sister.

Kitty was sitting at the table with some sketching paper and charcoal, and the latest fashion plate from their Aunt. Curiosity as to Kitty's activity, and Lydia's non-attendance gave Elizabeth the nudge to dessert her oft abandoned embroidery and cross the room to take a chair by Kitty's side.

Mrs Bennet, whose attention was flickering between her own employment and the window with the best views of the drive, noted her movement, but made no move to comment when Elizabeth took a seat at the table. Clearly, as long as her daughters were ready to be displayed at their best, the actual activity which would be abandoned for their guests mattered not.

Kitty raised her head as Elizabeth claimed the chair next to her, but turned back to her task at Elizabeth's slight hand movement indicating she had nothing she wished to say. Kitty was sketching the gown from the periodical as far as Elizabeth could tell, but altering it as she did so. Adding details that were not present and removing those she did not approve of. Elizabeth watched surprised at her sister's talent as she adapted the dress to be something that Kitty herself could produce if she had the base gown from which to work from.

Elizabeth quietly exclaimed. "Kitty these are marvellous! Have you done others?"

Kitty's head popped up in surprise. "Well yes, I do all of them. Whatever do you think I do with a fashion periodical for three weeks?"

Elizabeth opened and closed her mouth silently having honestly never really considered what her sister did with the periodical. She merely knew that Kitty and Lydia were to get them last, due to the length of time they spent pouring over them. She shrugged helplessly.

Kitty snorted in derision. "That is hardly surprising," she muttered. "You think I am as silly as Papa says, and Lydia only wishes my company as long as I can draw her gowns and mend bonnets she can take. Better strangers we could not be."

Elizabeth did not have a rebuttal that would not sound weak so said nothing. She did think Kitty as silly as Lydia. They were always giggling together and behaving indecorously, causing her family no small measure of embarrassment for those who strove to act with more propriety.

Mary, who had been forcibly kept from her pianoforte practice by her mother, who claimed she could not tolerate the strain on her nerves that morning, joined them at the table. She placed the book she had been perusing down and took the seat on Kitty's other side, glancing over at the drawing briefly. "You have improved," she commented.

Kitty's face brightened under the praise. "Do you think so, Mary?"

"Yes," Mary said. "Do you think…" she cast a furtive glance at her mother whose attention had remained fixed upon the window. "I may be in need of a new habit. I noticed yesterday mine has become tight under the arms and I should think I am likely to tear it soon if I do not replace it. Could you perhaps?" she indicated to the papers.

Kitty beamed. "Really? You never let me draw your gowns."

"Yes, because they are always full of lace and ribbon," Mary replied. "Such things are wasted on me. I cannot imagine that a habit as fulsomely decorated with lace as Lydia's last dress would be of any use except to the seamstress as a way to make a tidy profit. But. But… well… the gown I wore to the ball was quite the nicest I own and perhaps something a little more decorated..." Mary trailed off nervously.

Kitty giggled. "Lydia did not believe me that she looked like an indignant hen in that dress, but she did. I have some older drawings upstairs. I drew you a new habit when you got your current one, and yet you picked the dullest selection in the modiste." Kitty dropped her charcoal, wiping her fingers on a rag. "I shall retrieve it directly."

She slipped from the room on quick feet, assuring her mother that she would be only a moment when Mrs Bennet insisted Kitty remain in her place as Mr Bingley could arrive at any time. Kitty returned with her portfolio, spreading it out on the table, sifting through the sketches on various pieces of paper. "Here," she said handing the drawing over.

Elizabeth moved over to see better. Kitty had drawn a figure that was clearly Mary, and Elizabeth wondered how her sister was so talented without her knowing anything of it.

While her two younger sisters discussed the decoration that could be added, Mary still insisting on something plain with a small amount of decoration, and Kitty advocating for something more dashing, Elizabeth examined Kitty's sketches more closely. There was a page of hands in various poses, some aborted halfway through, clearly something Kitty had practised. The same went for a sheet of eyes, and to Elizabeth's amusement, a page of ears.

There were sketches of couples dancing, sitting, walking, and a veritable cornucopia of gowns from fashions Elizabeth recognised as been some ten years out of date to the present day. Elizabeth was amazed that Kitty had amassed such a collection and no longer surprised by her talent. That much practice could result in nothing less. She pulled over towards her, the pile of parchments that Kitty had pulled the drawing of Mary out of, to discover that Kitty had used her sisters as her inspiration. By far there were more drawings of Lydia than there were her other sisters, but they were all present. She even found a small stack of sketches of her mother dressed in gowns denuded of much of her mother's favourite lace, which, to Elizabeth surprise, made her mother look much taller and graceful than her usual style.

"Kitty," Elizabeth said interrupting Mary and Kitty with her surprise. "Have you ever shown these to Mama?"

Kitty leant over to see what Elizabeth was looking at, "Oh yes," she said. "Mama sees many of my designs. Lydia uses them to get new gowns."

"Yes, but these," Elizabeth said pushing the paper towards Kitty. "These are truly lovely, Mama would be the envy of the neighbourhood in a gown like that."

Kitty shrugged. "She prefers her own gowns."

Elizabeth blinked. "But…"

Kitty looked up, a half-smile of understanding on her face. "Mama likes lace and ribbon. Though feel free to convince Mary she would look better in anything I draw for her than her refusal to put any lace on her dress because Mama insists on it."

"Jane has a claret habit she does not wear," Elizabeth said abandoning the page of designs with a measure of regret, in favour for the sketch Kitty had given to Mary. "She was not sure about the colour and disliked it when the gown was finished, but Mama insisted. Mary might do better with it with her darker hair."

"Oh yes that would be a good colour on you," Kitty agreed, turning back to Mary. "I do not recall it, but I am sure Jane will let you have it, and we can make it over enough that it shall feel new. Do you think Mama will notice if we go and look at it?"

"I think we should apply to Jane before Mama," Elizabeth replied drily. "I am sure she shall not hesitate to hand it over, but I think she should not like to have her wardrobe pillaged."

"You are so dramatic," Kitty snorted. "Only Lydia pillages, and she has gone out."

"She has?"

"Oh yes, she went directly after breakfast before Mama could trap us in here. She was calling upon Maria Lucas, and then they were going over the Goulding's. She and Evangeline are special friends now."

Elizabeth smiled and asked with saccharine innocence. "Did you not want to call on the Goulding's?"

"You know I shall not, I see no need to tease me over it. Evangeline Goulding can attend as many seminaries and put on as many airs as she likes, but I shall not speak a word to her until she apologises."

"Do you not think to carry a grudge some twelve years is long enough?" Elizabeth asked with humour

"No," Kitty replied stoutly. "Mama gave Primrose to Mary, who gave her to me. I had not had her three days before Evangeline cast her into the pond. I see no reason to think I am not due an apology nor that she has the right of it by refusing to give me one just because Mary pulled her hair and threw a frog at her."

"I was most upset," Mary agreed quietly. "I see now that my reaction was no better, and I was wrong to harm one of God's creatures in my anger, but I was still very much attached to Primrose even though I had given her to Kitty."

"Mary apologised to John and Thomas Lucas for taking their frog, Evangeline is in the wrong. I remember you scolding her quite thoroughly yourself once you had retrieved Primrose from the water," Kitty said.

Elizabeth laughed at the remembrance of that day. "Yes, I am certain I was most unhappy to have to swim in a pond on a hot day to retrieve a doll. But you are right I suppose; an apology is due, and I shall not censure you for demanding it. It has not stopped Lydia renewing the acquaintance."

Kitty shook her head. "No, but Lydia was still in the nursery. I was only allowed with you because Jane promised Mama that she, Charlotte and Harriet Lucas would take care of me. Which is why you went into the water."

"Oh yes!" Elizabeth recalled. "You were trying were you not, but you couldn't swim, and Jane insisted you be returned with nary a hair out of place least Mama not let you out again. I cannot believe you recall it all so clearly."

"I was distraught, and Primrose was never quite the same again. The straw inside had gotten too wet and began to rot. Mrs Hill had her re-stuffed for me, but she smelt slightly spoilt for such a long time."

The sister's recollections were interrupted by Mrs Bennet whose vigil had finally paid dividends. "Girls, girls, he is here, come, back to your places! He is here!"

Elizabeth smiled reassuringly at Jane who suddenly looked nervous. Mary took up her book and with a sigh returned to her designated chair. Elizabeth stood her ground staying with Kitty at the table as Mrs Bennet fussed over Jane, pinching her cheeks lightly to bring colour to them despite Jane's protests. She returned to her own chair just in time for Hill to enter the room announcing the visitors, though Mr Bingley was so close on her heels as to make it unnecessary.

Mr Darcy followed more sedately, his sister behind him. She stood slightly tucked behind him as they all made their bows and curtseys. Elizabeth noted her taking in the room of women and something that looked a lot like fear passing over her face quickly before it was smoothed into bland politeness. Elizabeth wondered if Miss Darcy had been fully informed by Miss Bingley of the terror of facing a room full of Bennets. The lack of fashion and manners had certainly sent Miss Bingley into fits.

Mrs Bennet greeted Mr Bingley warmly inviting him to take a seat conveniently located by Jane and absent of any other occupier. Mr Darcy got the expected short shift and Elizabeth cringed knowing now that her mother's attitude stemmed from the insult Mr Darcy had paid her. Miss Darcy, however, Mrs Bennet greeted warmly inviting her to take a seat by her. Miss Darcy hesitated momentarily, but manners forced a jerky nod, and she crossed the room to take the offered chair. Mr Darcy watched his sister with sharp eyes before as was his peculiar habit, crossing to the window.

Mrs Bennet served the tea herself enquiring kindly how Miss Darcy took hers. The reply was returned in a quiet voice as Miss Darcy's face flushed, and Elizabeth's heart went out to this shy creature. She may have wished that her sisters were more demure, but only in Jane had she seen such crippling shyness, and Jane had overcome it before she had reached Miss Darcy's age.

Mrs Bennet enquired as to Miss Darcy's preference to the sweetmeats that had been brought, then loaded the plate with more than was sensible before handing it over.

"Miss Darcy," Elizabeth said in an effort to make conversation. "I believe Mr Darcy indicated that you were residing in London before joining him and Mr Bingley at Netherfield. Was your stay of any great duration? I recall that Miss Bingley told me you had a preference for your home county of Derbyshire and that you had been recently in school. You must be eager to return?"

"Oh, I have been in London this past four months, I… I have been attending lessons with the masters there. I, I hope that I should be allowed to return to Pemberley soon, however. It is quite beautiful in the spring."

The entire response was a mix of rushed words and stumbling hesitations as to make Elizabeth curious.

"And how did you find your school, if I might inquire?" Mrs Bennet asked. "Only you must be of an age of my youngest, Lydia, and she has recently professed an interest in attending school."

"Lydia?!" Kitty broke in aghast. "Lydia said she wanted to go to school?"

"And why should she not?" Mrs Bennet replied indignantly to Kitty. "Evangeline Goulding has made quite a number of influential friends at hers. Lydia was telling me that she roomed with a Countess! Why should Lydia not have that experience should she wish it?"

Kitty rolled her eyes at her mother. "Of course, Evangeline, I should have suspected. Well, I hope you do not wish to send me to school for I would hate it."

"You do not know what you should hate Miss Kitty."

"I know I should hate school!" Kitty retorted. "Lydia only wants to go because she wants to lord above us."

Mrs Bennet turned to Miss Darcy ignoring Kitty's reply, giving her an encouraging nod.

"Well," Miss Darcy said hesitantly. "I did not mind it. I did not find the lessons particularly difficult, it was very different from home for there it is just my brother and me."

"Caroline enjoyed hers," Mr Bingley added, showing that he was at least still paying some attention to the rest of the room. "Both my sisters attended. I believe Louisa found the time away from our parents and home difficult, but Caroline especially enjoyed it. She made a great number of acquaintances."

Elizabeth caught Kitty's eye roll at the mention of Miss Bingley and stifled her own. Kitty grinned back ensuring that their communication was not detected by their mother. She jumped slightly when Mr Darcy spoke from slightly behind her having not noticed he had crossed the room.

"Schooling might indeed offer Miss Lydia advantages. She would be in an environment dedicated to improving her accomplishments and ensuring she learns the deportment expected of her in society. I can supply the names of a few of the schools I considered for Georgianna to Mr Bennet if you desire it."

"That would be kind of you sir," Mrs Bennet replied stiffly before turning back to Miss Darcy and warmly asking about the things she had been taught.

Mr Darcy watched the two of them interact carefully before turning his attention back to the two ladies sat at the table. Elizabeth gestured to an empty seat inviting him to join them.

Mr Darcy took the seat glancing over the sketches scattered across the table they had not cleared away. "These are very good," he remarked glancing at Elizabeth then Kitty. "You are quite talented Miss Kitty."

"Oh, um, thank you," Kitty said blushing. "I was helping Mary pick a pattern for a new habit."

"Do you often offer that service for your sisters?" Mr Darcy asked.

Elizabeth stifled her smile at the awkward conversation between Mr Darcy and her sister. "Kitty is quite talented as you remarked. I have a preference for her ideas over that of the fashion plates. It is difficult to sometimes know how to alter a gown to suit oneself."

"Yes," Mr Darcy agreed. "I have noticed that is a talent not every lady of my acquaintance has mastered. Perhaps it is a matter of excessive flattery by the modiste?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Perhaps, although I would think that a modiste would wish for their customers to look as well as they could. It could not be their fault alone if a customer demanded a colour that did not suit them for example."

"Some colours suit no one. Orange, for example, is a shade that few have the complexion to suit." Kitty remarked boldly.

Mr Darcy snorted a laugh, caught by the humorous jab. Elizabeth raised her cup to hide her smile. Kitty, emboldened, continued. "Do you find the same problems, Mr Darcy? Do you find yourself oft persuaded that a return to lace cuffs is just the thing?"

"I find that my sartorial choices are perhaps not as open to colour or lace as a lady's. While I have no fondness for the dissolute manner in which Beau Brummel lives, I believe that his mode of dress has its advantages."

"Oh? And what is that?" Elizabeth asked.

"To be truly elegant, one should not be noticed. I have no doubt however such a maxim would not apply to those of the fairer sex."

"I am certain that some of our recent acquaintance would strongly disagree with such a notion," Elizabeth said.

Kitty nodded. "It is not one that is usually followed, well except by Mary. Oh!" Kitty laughed. "Perhaps I owe Mary an apology, it seems that she has been right all this time."

"I am sure she would appreciate the thought," Elizabeth remarked before turning back to Mr Darcy. "I hope you were able to accomplish everything you wished to in town sir."

"Yes," Darcy nodded. "I believe that Bingley was also able to complete his own business to his satisfaction." Darcy hesitated slightly, looking keenly at Elizabeth. "I believe I shall have to return to Pemberley at the end of January. I must spend some time with my steward dealing with matters there so that I can travel again in Spring. I do not believe that I shall be able to remain at Pemberley to oversee the spring planting this year."

Elizabeth looked over at where Jane and Mr Bingley were sat together. They were barely attending the conversation that Mrs Bennet was having with Miss Darcy. Elizabeth was relieved to see that Mary was involved, and thus had turned the topic to Miss Darcy describing a recent evening of music she had attended. The descriptions of finery were enough to keep Mrs Bennet from taking over the conversation and overpowering the shyer Miss Darcy.

"Miss Bingley, did she return with you?"

"No, I believe that Miss Bingley and the Hursts intend to remain in town. I hope that you will not feel their absence too keenly?"

"I believe I shall not."

Mr Darcy nodded then tilted his head indicating Jane. "And Miss Bennet?"

"It is in Jane's nature to be forgiving and believe the best of people. It seemed from the letter that Jane received from Miss Bingley that she was unaware of more recent events."

"Yes, Bingley intended to formally announce his news once he was assured his success. I am sure that he will write to Miss Bingley once he has made his announcement."

Elizabeth arched a brow. "And do you believe that Miss Bingley will offer her felicitations and return to Netherfield to celebrate with her brother?"

Mr Darcy grimaced and tried to cover it with his teacup. Once he had taken a mouthful and set the cup down again, he answered. "Miss Bingley is of little concern to me."

The conversation lapsed into silence between the occupants of the table. Elizabeth searched for some other topic she could broach to extend the discussion but to bring up books seemed redundant when they had shared that conversation just recently. Just as she was preparing to launch into questioning Mr Darcy about the state of the roads, in order to speak further to him, the clock on the mantle chimed the quarter hour, and Mr Darcy rose from the table. "I believe that we must be going. Bingley?"

"Yes?" Mr Bingley said breaking off his conversation with Miss Bennet to pay attention to his friend.

"It is time we should be going if you intend to call upon the rest of your neighbours."

Miss Darcy rose from her seat and joined Mr Darcy. She turned to Mary and awkwardly spoke. "Miss Mary, perhaps if you would oblige me, I could call upon you while I stay at Netherfield, that is if you do not mind either, brother?"

Mary agreed that she would enjoy having someone to converse about music with and would look forward to Miss Darcy's next visit.

Mrs Bennet, however, was loath to let her quarry leave. "I hope that you remember our agreement Mr Bingley, and are still amenable to joining us for a family dinner?"

"Of course, Mrs Bennet, I would be delighted. We have no engagements currently so are at your disposal."

Mrs Bennet fluttered, pleased by his response. "Shall we say the eve after next?"

"That shall suit us well," Mr Bingley agreed, smiling widely looking at Jane all the while.

It was some more minutes before the party made their exit, extending the visit to nearly twice the proper length of time by the time they entered the carriage and drove off.