Notes: There is a very good question: Why is her father acting like that? What happened wasn't her fault.

I will make a few changes to clarify this point: Mr. Bennet does not blame Jane, but he feels extremely guilty and avoids being with her.

Many thanks to my beta reader and co-author Sam. H.

PPP

Two or three times a week, the Bennet sisters would walk to Meryton to visit their Aunt Phillips, and do some shopping.

Lydia was most likely to spend her pin money on candy, ribbons, and recently she started buying bonnets. Kitty spent most of her money on pencils and canvas. For the last two years she had been taking drawing lessons from Mrs. Johnson, Longbourn's parson's wife. Elizabeth usually purchased books.

On this particular day, they met Mrs. Phillips when she was returning from the butcher's shop. Kitty and Lydia decided to stay at their aunt's house, while Elizabeth went to the bookshop to look for the book she had ordered.

Mr. Wells smiled warmly at Elizabeth when she entered the shop. He appreciated Elizabeth, not only as one of his best clients, but also as a kind and thoughtful young lady.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet, it is a pleasure to see you again. How is your family?"

Elizabeth smiled and replied, "Good morning, Mr. Well. Fortunately, they are all doing very well. Did the book I ordered from you last week happen to arrive?"

"Indeed, it did. I left it separate for you in my office so no one would buy it. If you wait a few moments, I shall get it for you."

"I thank you, Sir."

Upon hearing Miss Bennet's voice, Darcy, who was looking at some agricultural books, approached her and greeted her politely.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet. It is a pleasant surprise to see you again."

"Good morning, Mr. Darcy."

At that moment, Mr. Wells returned with the book in his hand, "Here you have it, Miss Bennet."

Curious, Darcy looked at the title, and was slightly surprised. Elizabeth, seeing that he was looking at the book, looked at him and asked, "Have you read this book, Mr. Darcy?"

Darcy nodded and showed her that it was the same one he had in his hand, "It's just the one I came to buy today as a gift for Bingley."

Elizabeth stared at him in amazement at the strange coincidence. Even more curious, she asked him, "What is your opinion of the book?"

"It is one of the most comprehensive and informative books on agriculture and modern farming techniques that I have ever read. In my opinion, all landowners and even tenants should read these types of books to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of their land."

"My father agrees with you and owns a previous version of this book. Have you implemented any of these techniques at Pemberley?"

"I was able to successfully implement some of the suggested techniques from a version published about seven years ago. This new version was published only a few months ago, and I will surely make use of them in the next harvest."

"I saw this book for the first time in London a few months ago. But I was not in a position to purchase it before now."

"Are you buying it for yourself to read or for your father?"

"Although it is a topic that interests me greatly, and I am sure that I will read it, I am buying it for my father as a gift." She smiled and added, "His birthday is in three days."

Both of them paid for their respective book and left the bookshop together, chatting animatedly. Mrs. Phillips's house was just a couple of blocks away, and Darcy walked her to the door.

"It was a pleasure seeing and conversing with you, Miss Bennet." He smiled slightly, "Bingley and I will most likely visit your father this afternoon or, at the latest, tomorrow morning to discuss the necessary repairs needed on the bordering fence between Netherfield and Longbourn, due to the strong storm this week."

Elizabeth nodded understandingly, "Yes, my father is aware that it is damaged, and he was thinking of going to Netherfield today to speak with Mr. Bingley or his steward. I will tell him you plan to visit him at Longbourn." She smiled and curtseyed. "Have a nice day, Mr. Darcy."

Elizabeth entered her aunt's house and was greeted by the sound of chatter and laughter. Darcy subsequently mounted his horse and returned to Netherfield thinking about his chance meeting with Miss Bennet.

Neither of them noticed a gentleman observing them from the window of the milliner's shop, opposite Mrs. Phillips's house. The gentleman, of about thirty, who had just purchased a commission in the militia, attentively watched them converse and drew his own conclusions.

PPP

Early that afternoon, Darcy proposed going to Longbourn to speak with Mr. Bennet about repairing the fence. Bingley enthusiastically agreed, eager to see Miss Bennet again. Caroline gave her brother the invitations to the ball for both the Bennet and Lucas families.

At Longbourn, the young Bennets were quietly busy. Tommy was sitting on a thick rug playing with his little soldiers; Lydia was carefully decorating a bonnet, Kitty was adding embroidery to a gown and Elizabeth was playing the piano, entertaining them all.

The first person to see the gentlemen approaching Longbourn was Lydia. She said, "Mama, look, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are coming."

Everyone looked out the window, including Tommy. Mrs. Bennet said, "Girls, we have to tidy up the drawing room as quickly as we can. Lydia, please, take Tommy to the nursery."

"Mama, I do not want to go to the nursery. I want to stay here with you."

Mrs. Bennet smiled warmly at her son and kissed him on the cheek. "Tommy, I promise if you are a good boy and go to the nursery to play with your soldiers, I will give you a piece of cake later."

Tommy reluctantly nodded in agreement. Lydia accompanied him to the nursery, while the others prepared to receive the visitors, who were announced a few minutes later.

Lydia came down from Tommy's room just as Bingley handed her mother a cream envelope, with the Bennet's name written on it in a beautiful hand. "Mrs. Bennet, this is the invitation for you and your entire family to the ball. I hope you can attend."

"Thank you, Mr. Bingley."

Even though she knew the answer, Lydia asked, "Mama, can I go to the ball?"

"No, Lyddie. You have not entered society yet." Mrs. Bennet answered, to the disappointed, but not surprised youngest daughter.

Still, Lydia was upset with her parents; it was not fair that she was the only one of her sisters who always had to stay at home! She was taller than Kitty and Elizabeth, and Jane had entered society at her same age! She felt like she was being punished for being young!

The two gentlemen met with Mr. Bennet and all agreed that Bingley would undertake the repairs to the fence, and Mr. Bennet would bear half the costs. Out of courtesy, Mrs. Bennet invited them to tea, and the gentlemen accepted the invitation.

Mr. Bennet chose to stay in his study reading some contracts. Bingley and Darcy spoke mainly with Elizabeth during tea.

"Caroline and Louisa have been very busy with preparations for the ball, and it is the main reason why they could not join us on our visit." Bingley commented with a smile, and looking at Elizabeth, he added, "Would you do me the honour of dancing the first two sets with me?"

Elizabeth was slightly surprised by Bingley's request, but quickly replied, "With pleasure, Mr. Bingley."

"Are you going to hire musicians from London?" Kitty asked excitedly.

"Yes, Caroline has already taken care of that. She also invited some friends, who are presently in London."

Kitty beamed, and exclaimed, "How exciting! I am sure it is going to be the best ball of the year! I do so hope my parents shall let me attend with them."

Changing the subject, Elizabeth looked at Bingley and then at Darcy and asked, "Have you managed to solve the fence problem with my father?"

"Yes, everything is resolved." Darcy answered.

At that moment, Tommy came down the stairs, dishevelled, but anxious his mama should not forget about his cake. "Mama, I have been good, is it time for cake?."

Mrs. Bennet got up and immediately called Mrs. Hill to bring cake and something for Tommy to drink.

Tommy, who was very sociable by nature, happily sat next to his mother. Mrs. Bennet gave him a piece of cake and the cup of milk Mrs. Hill brought, while Tommy chatted animatedly with everyone.

Tommy looked out the window and saw Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy's horses tied to the fence. One of them was brown, and the other was black with a white spot on his forehead. They were beautiful, especially the black one.

"Mama, can I pet that black horse and give him an apple like I usually give Nelly?"

"I do not know, Tommy. You must ask Mr. Darcy for his permission."

Tommy looked at Mr. Darcy with imploring eyes; and Darcy replied, "You can pet him, but I will need to accompany you, so Apollo does not get spooked."

Tommy beamed, got up, went to the kitchen to get an apple and returned to find Mr. Darcy, "Lizzy, can you cut the apple for Mr. Darcy's horse?"

Elizabeth smiled and cut the apple in several pieces, while Tommy chatted with Mr. Darcy, "I want to have a horse like yours, Mr. Darcy. But my father says that little boys cannot have big horses…"

Darcy was attentive to Tommy's conversation as he continued talking, "I already have the pieces of apples. May we go now, Mr. Darcy?"

Tommy took Darcy's hand, and they walked out to the patio where Apollo was. He picked up Tommy and put him on top of the horse. Later, Tommy gave him the apple and petted him.

Elizabeth watched them with a smile on her face as she chatted with Kitty and Bingley about trivialities. Until then, she had never imagined Mr. Darcy had so much patience with children.

When the half hour time for visiting passed, the two gentlemen returned to Netherfield Park.