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But regardless of the reason life was calmer at Longbourn. Other than Mrs. Bennet’s desire to have all her daughters married off. There were two unmarried single men in the neighbourhood, the fox had been sighted, and the chase was on.

“Good evening Sir William, Lady Lucas. How are you this evening?”

Even the Lucas parents could see that Elizabeth was in sparkling form. Mary had not shared the slander against her name but they did know that Elizabeth had returned unexpectedly. The pleasantries dealt with Elizabeth and Mary moved over to talk to Charlotte.

“Based on the time of their arrival at the Assembly, missing the entire first set, we should not expect the Netherfield Park party until what, 8.00pm?”

It was 7.10 and the invitation to the soiree at Lucas Lodge had said any time after 7.00. The bulk of the guests had arrived within 15 minutes of the requested time.

“You think it will be that late?”

“This Miss Bingley strikes me as the kind of woman who wishes to be fashionably late. She will attempt to make a grand entrance, but who is she trying to impress? Even in London, arriving after the start of the dancing is not fashionably late but just late, and therefore rude.”

Elizabeth smiled a devious smile.

“You should suggest to your mother that we have some dancing. Say at 7.50. Mary will start playing at 7.55 and when they arrive full of themselves at 8.00 we can all ignore them for enjoying ourselves at the dance.”

“Eliza Bennet! Where on earth did that Machiavellian plan come from?”

Elizabeth did not answer but rather looked at her with a quiet smile.

“I do not believe there is a chapter in The Prince where he talked of dealing with pathetic rude people.”

Charlotte looked even more askance.

“You are up to something I can tell.”

“My own friend. You wound me.”

All three of them burst into laughter as Elizabeth clutched her hand over her heart.

Charlotte would not be persuaded to organise dancing but when the Netherfield party finally arrived at 8.01pm she would not look Elizabeth in the eye, knowing the smug smile that was upon her face. Mary had not ventured away from Elizabeth’s side all evening and currently they were talking to the Colonel of a Militia Regiment. The rumour had been true for once and 300 officers and men were to be camped on the outskirts of Meryton, although on the other side of the small town from Longbourn. The Colonel had been accompanied by three of his officers, a Captain and two Lieutenants.

Elizabeth listened to the stories of these men. The Colonel stayed just the right side of pompous, but at least was truthful in recounting his military experience, which was limited. He had served as an officer in the Industrial North and had been promoted for displaying good control and discipline over his men. This was sufficiently rare that he had stood out, thus his new position as the Colonel of a newly raised regiment of Militia. What was interesting to observe was the difference between himself and his three junior officers. To listen to them you would be forgiven for thinking they had driven the French out of Portugal all on their own. Which was quite the achievement as none of the three of them had ever served overseas.

It was clear they were practicing their lines for the more naïve of the local maidens. A shiver went down Elizabeth’s back as she considered her youngest sister.

“What was that sigh for Lizzie?”

“Lydia.”

“I am not a reader of minds, least of all yours, give me more.”

“The three junior officers are exaggerating their own bravery, assigning heroic actions to themselves that I am sure they have never conducted. What is that line you are always telling me from your book of sermons, something to do with the undeserving of the opposite sex?”

“Yes, a lady has to preserve her reputation from those undeserving of the opposite sex. You really do listen when I quote these. I thought you just ignored me.”

“I may not have remembered at the first time of hearing but at the tenth time….”

“Lizzie! Be nice.”

Mary got a quick hug.

“Always, my dear sister. Moving on from teasing you, I was concerned that Lydia might be taken in by these officers and their yarns that are more fiction that fact. I was assigning them the label of undeserving.”

Mary was not a stupid young woman. She saw the issue.

“Jane would never allow her to visit, she would be too disruptive. Would the Gardiners allow her to visit?”