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A week had gone by without Mr. Bingley proposing, but he had been excessively attentive to Jane. Although disappointed, Mrs. Bennet was still confident in soon being able to make an announcement.

Mr. Madison was also taking his time, but he must eventually run out of other subjects to discuss, and then he and Lizzy could get down to the important business.

Unfortunately they had not seen so much of the colonel lately, but that was only because he had an excessive amount of regimental business to deal with.

He certainly wasn’t a constant visitor to the Peacocks’ home, as Mrs. Peacock had recently claimed.

If that were the case, Mrs. Bennet would have seen him walk past.

She had wanted to declare where his interest really lay, but had felt that this would be as pointless as getting anyone to understand about Jane and Mr. Bingley.

However, she found satisfaction in Lady Lucas’s clever tactic of declaring that Colonel Forster not only called daily at Lucas Lodge, he sometimes came twice, and had once presented himself three times in the same day. Such sarcasm was worthy of Mr. Bennet.

Confident that these three suitors were not going the way of Mr. Fordyce, Mrs. Bennet was all the more startled when Mr. Madison called to inform them that he was leaving for London that very hour.

“It’s the attics!” she cried. “I knew you wouldn’t like them.”

“Attics?” he queried.

“They are dreadfully inconvenient. It is no wonder no one else wanted to take Purvis Lodge.”

“I have no issue with the house. Indeed I find everything very comfortable, and my daughters are extremely happy in their new home.”

“Then why are you returning to London?”

“To attend to some business. I am not leaving the neighbourhood. I will only be gone a few days.”

“That is excellent. You will be back in time to attend the assembly?”

“I don’t intend to go.”

This was disappointing; however, Mr. Madison promised Elizabeth that he would return with new books to share with her. For a man of his nature, that was almost as good as bringing a ring.

Shortly after he left, Jane and Mr. Bingley returned from another drive, still not engaged. Even worse, he suddenly announced his intention of going back to London the next morning.

“Is Netherfield not to your liking?” Mrs. Bennet cried in horror.

“It is perfect. I am very much looking forward to returning next week with my sisters and brother-in-law.”

“In time for the assembly, I hope.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Thank goodness for that. Her nerves could take no more. But now it occurred to her that he had been waiting for the presence of his sisters before making Jane an offer. He wanted them to be able to share in his happiness.

“Mr. Darcy will be coming with us as well,” he said.

Mrs. Bennet had almost forgotten about that gentleman, but now she was reminded of the match she had in mind for Charlotte or Maria, whichever of them did not marry Mr. Charlton. In another moment, however, her plans took a new diversion.

Mr. Bingley said a little more about his friend, and it seemed that Mr. Darcy didn’t just read books; he also understood them better than anyone and liked nothing more than to spend entire days sitting in his enormous library surrounded by mountains of serious books.

Mary was the ideal wife for him. She would not be able to resist such a man.

And large libraries were usually situated within large houses which sat upon sizable estates, which made Mrs. Bennet desirous of adding this suitor to her collection.

Fortunately Lady Lucas could not mind the loss of Mr. Darcy when she hadn’t even thought of him in the first place.

And Charlotte must have grown accustomed to being a spinster.

And Maria was often saying that gentlemen made her nervous, so she would probably prefer to remain single as well.

This made it easier for Mrs. Bennet to rejoice that the number of suitors for her daughters had been restored to four.

Perhaps even five. Handsome men seemed to be falling from the skies lately, which meant that there was an excellent chance of Mr. Collins being irresistible to Kitty. Perhaps, for good measure, he could be persuaded to purchase himself a red coat.

After Mr. Bingley left, Mrs. Bennet could not resist saying to Mary, “Mr. Darcy sounds like an interesting man, doesn’t he? So very bookish.”

“I am not going to marry him,” Mary flatly declared.

“I didn’t suggest that you should.”

“But you were thinking it.”

“No,” Mrs. Bennet said, but having never been any good at dissembling, she added, “However, it does seem to me that he would suit you very well. And on that subject, Kitty, it occurs to me that since Mr. Bennet says Mr. Collins is not the studious sort of clergyman, you might like him after all.”

“I’m sure I won’t.”

“At least wait to meet him before deciding. And you should give Mr. Darcy a chance, Mary. I expect you will be feeling a great deal better by the time that he comes.”

“I feel just fine, but I have no intention of ever marrying.”

“And I have no intention of ever marrying a clergyman,” Kitty declared.

“Mr. Collins will not always be one.”

“I still don’t want him.”

“But you could be mistress of Longbourn. Just think about that. If you turn down this opportunity, you will regret it when Jane is mistress of Netherfield; and Elizabeth of Purvis Lodge, or somewhere better if Mr. Madison can find it; and Mary of Mr. Darcy’s estate, whatever it is called; and Lydia… ”

“Is queen of the regiment,” Lydia gleefully supplied.

“There’s no such thing,” Kitty said. “And Colonel Forster probably won’t marry you anyway.”

“Yes, he will.”

“No, he won’t. Amanda Peacock says you forced him to ask you for the first dance.”

“I didn’t. I just gave him a hint, which he was happy to take. She is jealous because I am better at flirting.”

“Don’t squabble!” Mrs. Bennet cried, unfurling her fan. “My nerves cannot take it.”

***

Slipping out of the room Elizabeth went to join Jane, who had gone to change her dress.

“I strongly recommend steering clear of Mama,” she said.

After informing Jane of their mother’s latest arrangements, and the resulting discord, she declared, “You are the only daughter who isn’t currently out of favour.”

“I’m not sure about that. Mama gave me such a look of disappointment when Mr. Bingley and I returned from our drive. Still not engaged after a whole week.” Jane said this lightly, but her expression belied her tone.

“Don’t let her expectations spoil a special time,” Elizabeth advised.

“I don’t want to sound expectant myself, but I think Mr. Bingley does intend to make you an offer.

There is no denying that he has been excessively attentive, and now he is extremely eager for you to meet his sisters.

Everything in his behaviour suggests that he is courting you, and I wish for you to be able to enjoy every moment. ”

“I am. These have been the most wonderful days. I believe he really does care for me, and I am halfway to being in love with him. Perhaps three quarters. Is that absurd of me? Especially on so short an acquaintance.”

“I think that sometimes people just know what is right for them. And since neither one of you is rushing into anything, you will yet have plenty of time to properly know your feelings.”

“Yes, and to learn more about each other. I am looking forward to meeting his sisters. I expect they will be very agreeable.”

“With such a brother, I do not know how they could be otherwise. Indeed, the best thing about marrying Mr. Bingley might be the acquisition of two affectionate sisters. But I should not be so precipitate.”

Jane smiled. “I am a little guilty of that myself. I have been imagining what it would be like to be married to him. I think we could be very happy together. I already feel that we are extremely compatible. We agree upon everything.”

“An excellent basis for marriage. And I have noticed that you have started finishing each other’s sentences. Soon there will be no need for you to speak at all, and then you will never be able to quarrel.”

Jane laughed. “I cannot imagine ever having anything to quarrel about. Mr. Bingley feels like my perfect match. I wish that you could also meet such a man.”

“The ideal man for me? Can such a person exist?” Elizabeth jested. “And even if he does, will fate be so obliging as to bring us together?”

“I have been wondering about Mr. Madison,” Jane said tentatively.

“But you know that he doesn’t want a wife.”

“That is what I have been wondering. It seems to me that you might be influencing him to change his mind.”

“Jane! You said you weren’t going to make matches.”

“I’m not. I was just considering the possibility.”

“There isn’t one. Even if his opinion of second marriages has changed, much as I like Mr. Madison, I could not view him as anything other than a friend. A very good friend, but he just isn’t the man for me. Nor Mr. Charlton. I saw that twinkle in your eye when I was talking to him yesterday.”

“You do get along with him very well.”

“Yes, and I also have a great admiration for his character. A very worthy man indeed, yet I haven’t the slightest notion of falling in love with him.

I sometimes wonder if I am the sort of person who falls in love.

Three excellent men have done nothing to stir my heart, despite having easily gained my good opinion. ”

“Three? Who is the other?”

“Mr. Bingley of course. How could I not hold him in high regard? He is the most agreeable man I have ever met, but I have not had any thought of challenging you for his affections. Which is a good thing since I would not have wanted us to be fighting over him. And I would have disliked losing excessively.”

“I never want us to fight about anything. But amusing though you are, dear sister, you are speaking of only three men. Having no interest in them doesn’t mean you are unlikely to love anyone.”

“Three extremely agreeable men of excellent character. I must be excessively particular to find something inexplicable lacking in them.”

“We have not yet met all the horde.”

“You cannot possibly mean Mr. Collins.”

“Not after hearing of your aversion to him, but he is not the only gentleman we are expecting. You are forgetting about Mr. Bingley’s friend.”

“Mr. Darcy cannot be the man for me. I am not serious enough for him and his mountain of books.”

“Perhaps he will not be so serious after all.”

“But can he possibly be agreeable?” Elizabeth joked.

“With Mr. Bingley being so good-natured, Mr. Madison so well informed, Mr. Charlton a paragon of virtues, and the officers such excellent company despite a little tendency to flirt, we have already exceeded the odds. I fear that the next arrival can only be a disappointment.”

“Maybe a disagreeable man is just what you want,” Jane teased. “Someone difficult.”