A/N: super short but I found a really natural stop. If you read chapter on before 8/17/24 it's second half was revised so give that a read first. Let me know what you think!
UPDATE 2/27/25: I have attempted some editing to fix typos and misspellings, as well as reworkjng some sentences for clarity and avoiding repetition or fragments. Thankfully this chapter was still on FanFiction's document manager. Althought the app itself is weird about posting uodates, writing in it is less frustrating than the Google Doc mobile app. But thats a very low bar.
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Bingley took as little notice of the details of his friend's departure as he had those of the introduction Elizabeth had performed. He had Jane on one arm and the reigns of his horse in his other hand, ready to spend the walk to Longborn in conversation. Kitty and Lydia attached themselves to Denny and Wickham respectively, much to the former girl's chagrin. Elizabeth attempted to corral them and their loud conversation but was side tracked by the interaction of the two gentlemen who had such a history as to produce such palpable tension and such expressiveness even from the unreadable Mr. Darcy. If he looked at her to find fault, he seemed to do so to Wickham with not only success in that very endevour but a history full of what he considered express proof of egregious flaws.
She recalled their conversation at Netherfeild, his good opinion once lost, was lost forever. Convinced as she was that she had no thought or care for Mr. Darcy's opinion of her person, beyond her initial reaction to his assertation regarding her beauty or lack thereof, she was confident she would never garner such wrath justly from that quarter. Indeed, she could not see how anyone could have. She was quite lost to what Mr. Wickham was replying to Lydia's decreasingly polite questions and topics of conversation.
They reached Longborn and the men were entreated to come refresh themselves inside, which was easily agreed to as they were all eager for such an invitation. The day was rather warm for the time of year and the company pleasing. Mrs. Bennet was within the morning room the group repaired to, and after introductions were made, fell inline with the discourse of her younger daughter, giggling as if she were a girl and not a matron of her own house with five daughters out.
Had not the visit produced the opportunity for Jane and Mr. Bingley to have private conversation outside the influence of his superior sisters and proud friend, with the added benefit of a novel connection distracting Elizabeth's own sisters ans mother from interrupting, it would have still been enjoyable as Elizabeth was much more likely to indulge in Lydia's folly in the privacy of her own home. As it was, she had a pleasant time not only due to that private amusement, but more moreso gratification of witnessing Jane's current happiness as well as the hope for further felicity in that corner solidifying. All this along with Mr. Wickham's quick wit and merry, warm eyes made for a satisfying visit.
The quarter hour passed and the gentlemen departed in high spirits. The ladies left within were no less pleased and Mrs. Bennet especially so, for although Mr. Wickham had been her focus, she was periferal lay aware of Jane's visitor and her eldest daughter's success during the visit.