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They settled back onto the window seat.

“I am at a loss as to how to deal with Mama and Papa. I think they are too set in their ways to change much now. I believe we shall just have to work round them, which is not ideal. As for Kitty and Lydia I have two ideas. The first is to split them apart, at least some of the time. If I was asked to describe what Kitty was like, the best I could come up with would be ‘a slighter older version of Lydia’. I am ashamed to admit I do not really know what Kitty is like. So I would like to try and spend some time with her and find out. Which would leave you having to deal with Lydia. My second thought about the pair of them, and you, is that you chaperone them everywhere.”

“Really?”

Mary nodded, no trace of amusement on her face.

“It is not something that should be talked about but circumstances force us. I am concerned that Lydia will lose her virtue this year, and probably Kitty as well.”

Jane blushed at the topic but did not immediately counter Mary’s comment. She took a deep purging sigh.

“My instinct was to try and wish away such a thing, see the best in Lydia. And Kitty. But you are right. On their present path it is a matter of when not if. Will Mama allow me?”

“That is the first fight. I will support you. In fact, it might be a way to separate them. I will suggest that Kitty and I remain while you accompany Lydia. We have to try.”

Jane nodded.

“I do need to be more assertive. Charlotte has been counselling me about the same thing.”

“Charlotte?”

“Yes. She and Lady Lucas have been having words recently. She will be leaving Lucas Lodge in two weeks and Charlotte has stopped doing most of her duties. As she said to Lady Lucas, the family need to get used to her not being there.”

“Oh my.”

“There were more than a few raised voices. I think Charlotte had been taking secret lessons from Lizzie.”

They both giggled.

“The final straw was Charlotte mocking Lady Lucas asking if she needed to organise her own wedding breakfast. But ever since Christmas the whole family have come to realise how much Charlotte did around the house. Charlotte has also confessed to me that she has caught her father looking at his wife with a quizzical look upon his face. She thinks he is starting to wonder what his wife does with her time, other than accompany our mother on jaunts round the neighbourhood.”

Their giggles deepened into loud laughter. It had been a good, and needed, discussion.

--

The stars aligned and Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy attended the same ball. Lady Maria left nothing to chance and Elizabeth arrived with three of her dances already taken. Mr. Darcy was her partner for the supper set, much to the Colonel’s displeasure. He was in turn her partner for the sixth set, the one immediately after supper, so that he too could sit with Miss Bennet at supper. And as usual when they were both in attendance, Miss Bennet would dance the seventh with the Duke of Desmond.

“Mr. Darcy, Colonel, how good to see you again.”

Elizabeth watched as the two men all but elbowed each other out of the way to talk to her first. Darcy apparently had the sharper elbows.

“Miss Bennet, it is more than good to see you. You look especially handsome this evening.”

Elizabeth blushed but the devil on her shoulder prodded her.

“Why thank you Mr. Darcy. I tried to look tolerable this evening.”

The Colonel’s smirk could be seen clear across the room, as Darcy tried to stifle a groan.

“That was unkind of me. I apologise Mr. Darcy.”

“No Miss Bennet, it should be me apologising. I knew better, I know better, but my poor humour got the better of my manners.”

“It is in the past, and like I said it was unkind of me to bring it up again. My penance is that I will try to appear interested when you talk about horses during supper.”

It was said so artlessly that it caught both gentlemen by surprise for a moment. Then they burst out laughing, and were immediately under the severe scrutiny of the Countess. The Colonel bowed to her.

“Well played Miss Bennet. And with the added bonus of us now cowering under my mother’s gimlet eye. We really might talk about horses during supper.”