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The reservations Elizabeth suffered over the prospect of spending an entire evening with the Bingley sisters were erased when she espied the amiable Charles Bingley standing off to the side of the room. Upon seeing her, he made his way to Elizabeth’s side, and with a gregarious and handsome smile, he reminded Elizabeth why she had always found it a pleasure being in his company.

What a stir his coming to the neighbourhood and letting Netherfield Park had incited amongst all the mamas with unwed daughters, proclaiming a single man with a good fortune must be in want of a wife. With the task of marrying so many daughters resting squarely on her shoulders, Mrs. Bennet was especially eager to see one of them as the mistress of the fine estate. As much as she liked Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth could never engender anything beyond sisterly affection towards him. She rather supposed her sentiments had more to do with her sister Jane than anything. He is just the sort of gentleman Jane would have adored.

Elizabeth’s younger sisters could not be prevailed upon to pay attention to Mr. Bingley either, what with Mary’s wont of citing Fordyce’s sermons and other moral platitudes when it came to such matters, and Kitty and Lydia’s ceaseless regard for any man in a uniform. But her dearest Jane—a match between Jane and Bingley might have been perfect. Elizabeth could imagine her sister proclaiming him everything a gentleman ought to be. For Jane, there was no greater commendation.

Elizabeth quietly sighed. She was finally reaching a point where her memories of her beloved sister no longer rekindled the throbbing ache in her heart. For that she was exceedingly grateful. Jane would want me to be at peace.

Mr. Bingley cleared his throat. “Miss Bennet, it is such a delight seeing you here. How are you?”

Elizabeth curtsied and assured him that all was well.

He conversed in a friendly, though general way, and looked and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done. “How is your family? Your sisters? Did any of them travel with you?”

“All of my sisters remain in Hertfordshire. I am staying with my aunt, Lady Vanessa Barrett.”

“Then I shall be delighted to make her acquaintance.”

“And your sisters—did both of them travel with you?”

“My eldest sister remains in London.”

At least having to bother with only one of them was a cause for celebration. Unfortunately, it is the worst one of them.

Miss Caroline Bingley approached them, but by the put-off expression on her face, Elizabeth surmised it was the last thing she wanted to do. Charles said, “Caroline, look who it is—our neighbour from Hertfordshire.”

A pinched expression marred Caroline’s face. “Miss Eliza Bennet, what a surprise this is.”

“Miss Bingley, I would have to say the same.”

Bingley bestowed a good-hearted smile. “Not an unwelcome surprise, I assure you. I could not be more pleased.” He turned to his sister. “Miss Bennet is in Bosley visiting her relation, a Lady Vanessa Barrett. I was just saying that I look forward to making her acquaintance during our brief stay.”

“Lady Vanessa Barrett?” Caroline’s countenance smacked of shock and genuine horror.

“Yes, she is my father’s sister.”

“Why, I rather supposed all your relatives were on your mother’s side of the family.”

“I do not comprehend why you would have supposed such a thing. Surely you recall making the acquaintance of my cousin Mr. Collins.”

Caroline scowled. “But of course.” The bored expression on her face quickly went from disaffected disgust to enraptured anticipation. Elizabeth followed the path of Caroline’s eyes to ascertain what had brought about such a change.

Elizabeth’s own eyes opened wide when she saw the object of Caroline’s unmasked esteem was Mr. Darcy. Does the lady know the gentleman, or is she simply taken by his tall person, his broad shoulders, his well-crafted legs, his alluring eyes— Elizabeth caught herself. When had she begun to see him as such?

Caroline seized hold of her brother’s arm. “Come, Charles. We must speak with Mr. Darcy.”

“I will do no such thing. I am speaking with Miss Bennet just now,” he said, shaking his arm free.

“But if you do not go and speak to him, then I cannot go.”

“When has that ever stopped you before, Caroline? Besides, I have already spoken with Darcy.”

The siblings continued their banter as if Elizabeth were not standing there and hearing every word of the awkward exchange. Elizabeth pretended she was much caught up with everything else taking place in the room, and all the while she thought of how little had changed between the two of them.

“How could you have spoken to him when this is the first I have seen of him since our arrival? Oh, Charles, I insist that you escort me across the room so Mr. Darcy will be aware of my presence.”

“He knows you are here.”

“Oh! He does? Did he ask after me? What did he say?”