"Mr. Bennet, Lady Lucas said that Sir William has already made Mr. Bingley's acquaintance. Now, what have you to say to that?" Mama demanded.
Papa looked up from his book. "Good for Sir William."
Mama huffed. "That is all you have to say?"
"Yes, I think it will do."
He then closed his book, stood, and left the room, no doubt going to his bookroom where he could shut the door and read in peace.
"If the business of finding you girls husbands was left up to your father, none of you would marry!" Mama said irritably, yanking at the stitches of whatever she was sewing.
“Mama, can we not go somewhere for a visit?” Lydia asked. “It is sodullhere! There are never any gentlemen around, no amusements, and Sir William says the militia are not to quarter here after all. With so many officers to choose from, I was sure to find a handsome husband in the regiment, but there is no chance of that happening now!”
“Yes, it is dull around here,” Kitty said, joining the complaint. “At least there is a new gentleman in the neighborhood, though—two, if you include his friend. I suppose that is better than nothing.”
“What is one or two gentlemen to a whole camp full of soldiers?” Lydia asked dreamily.
“I would say more than likely the gentlemen can actually afford a wife, which is more than can be said of a typical soldier,” Elizabeth said with an arched brow and a pointed look at her youngest sister.
Lydia frowned at Elizabeth, then turned to her mother. “Please, Mama? May we?”
“Well . . . I have been meaning for you all to have a few new things for the winter,” Mama said, warming to the idea. “Perhaps a week in town shopping would be just the thing! And I know my brother is able to arrange for some occasions where you girls could meet eligible young men.”
Kitty and Lydia were beside themselves with glee, and they each began speaking animatedly to the other.
“Now, girls,” Mama interrupted them, “keep in mind we will not be journeying to London right away. While there may not be a whole camp full of soldiers in Meryton, there are two gentlemen at Netherfield, and you shall all have a chance to meet them very soon. We will not squander it.”
When Kitty and Lydia began speculating on all the wonderful parties they would attend in London, Elizabeth expressed her intention to retire for the evening. Jane said she would also go up. They both wished their mother and sisters goodnight, then retreated to Elizabeth's room to talk privately.
“Well, Mama has begun her campaign to secure this man for one of us," Jane said with a sigh as she sat on the bed across from Elizabeth. "It will never occur to her to not put us forward so when we know so little of him! Of course, as the eldest, I am her main target. She will throw me at him with no compunction.”
“Or she will throw you at his friend," Elizabeth added helpfully.
Jane sighed again.
Neither Elizabeth nor Jane wanted to marry simply for the sake of marrying. Such a course could lead to a marriage like that of their parents—one where there was little affection and even less respect.
Jane unpinned her hair and ran her fingers through it with a thoughtful expression. “What do you think of this trip to London Mama has planned?”
“I hope it does not coincide with our own trip.”
They shared a pointed look.
“I suppose if it does come to that, we could write to Aunt Madeleine and request to postpone our trip,” Elizabeth suggested.
“Yes, I agree,” Jane said. “After our mother and sisters return to Longbourn, we could travel then.”
Elizabeth nodded her agreement. She and Jane spoke a while longer, then said goodnight.
Fitzwilliam Darcy stood at the window in his bedchamber, looking out over the grounds of Netherfield Park. Though it was still early yet, he was dressed and enjoying a cup of coffee thanks to Jones, his ever-efficient valet.
Darcy had planned to remain in London through the middle of November, so it was a rather sudden turn of events that he now found himself in Hertfordshire. His good friend, Charles Bingley, had been on the lookout for a country estate to lease. It was to be a first step towards his goal of becoming a landed gentleman. Darcy had assured Bingley that once he found an estate, he would assist his friend in learning estate management. So, here he was.
Darcy had been at Netherfield now for two days. The steward appeared competent, and the house and servants were being managed by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, a very capable couple. All in all, he felt Netherfield Park would definitely provide a proper learning experience for Bingley.
Darcy grabbed his hat and riding crop and headed out toward the stables. His gelding, Brutus, was waiting impatiently for him.
“Been giving you a rough time of it, has he?” Darcy asked the groom as he walked up to Brutus and rubbed the horse’s neck.
