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That evening they attended a party. Hopeful of learning whether Netherfield had been taken, Mrs. Bennet hastened to join a group of her friends. But before that subject could be addressed, Mrs. Goulding mentioned that a friend of her husband was thinking of leasing Purvis Lodge.

Questions were thrown at her in rapid succession. What was the gentleman’s name? Who were his relatives? From what part of the country did he originate? Most importantly, was he a married man or a single one?

“Mr. Madison is a widower,” Mrs. Goulding replied. “His is a very sad case. He was deeply attached to his wife, who died three years ago, and he has never recovered from that loss.”

Mrs. Bennet expressed sympathy for the poor man, but at the same time, she was thinking that after three years, a gentleman ought to be receptive to finding consolation with a second wife. Perhaps her youngest daughter. High-spirited Lydia could cheer up anyone, even a desolate widower.

Mr. Goulding, who had been standing nearby, stepped over to contribute further information. “After her death, my friend threw himself into his business affairs. He has become excessively serious, and never goes out anywhere.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Bennet decided that Mary would best suit Mr. Madison. Her middle daughter was of a serious disposition and cared little about social engagements.

“But now he is wishing to spend more time with his children,” Mr. Goulding said. “He has two little girls of about four and five years in age.”

This put a different perspective on the matter. Now it seemed to Mrs. Bennet that the widower should take Jane as his second wife. She had an excellent way with children. No one could be a better mother to those unfortunate little girls.

“Their home is in London, but he wants them to have the benefit of country air. Ultimately, it is his intention to purchase an estate, but nothing suitable has yet presented. Being eager to get the girls into the countryside as soon as possible, he has decided to lease for the moment.”

“There is nothing like country air for children,” Mrs. Bennet agreed, thinking that a man who could afford to purchase an estate was definitely the sort of person whom she wanted for a son-in-law.

“But you must tell him not to take Purvis Lodge. The attics are dreadful. Netherfield Park is a far better choice.”

“I believe Netherfield is much too large for his needs.”

“He cannot have it anyway,” cried Mrs. Long, who had joined the group in the middle of this discussion. “Netherfield is already taken. Mr. Morris told me so not half an hour ago.”

In her enthusiasm to have Mr. Madison well situated, Mrs. Bennet had momentarily forgotten about the man who had come to view the place. But now she looked at her friend in eager expectation.

The information which Mrs. Long provided did not disappoint. Netherfield had been taken by a young man from the north of England. His name was Mr. Bingley, and he was both single and possessed of an excellent fortune. Four or five thousand a year, the estate agent had informed her.

Mrs. Bennet did not care whether Mr. Bingley had come from the north, south, east, or west, but the other details thrilled her to the core. As she had been hoping, the new tenant of Netherfield would indeed make a fine husband for one of her daughters.

If he were a high-spirited man, Lydia or Kitty would suit him perfectly.

Or if he were bookish, then Mary would be ideal.

He might even fancy Elizabeth if he had an odd sense of humour.

But hopefully he didn’t. There was already enough of that nonsense in the family.

And Mary wouldn’t know how to appreciate the money which Mr. Bingley’s wife would have at her disposal.

But Lydia was very capable of putting it to good use.

With that in mind, Mrs. Bennet decided that Mr. Bingley must be spirited.

How could a wealthy young man be otherwise?

Having settled the matter of his future, she next revised her opinion about Purvis Lodge. Although the attics were deficient, it was the only other house available in the neighbourhood. And Mr. Madison must not slip through her fingers.

“Now that I think of it,” she said to Mr. Goulding, “the garden at Purvis Lodge is ideal for children. Your friend could not find anywhere more suitable for those poor little girls to run about. He would be well advised to close the deal directly.”

“I think it very likely that he will,” Mr. Goulding replied to Mrs. Bennet’s satisfaction.

At last, she could look forward to having two of her daughters married. Unfortunately that still left three, and eligible gentlemen were not easy to come by.

But then Mrs. Long said that she had another interesting piece of news to share. “I heard from Mr. Tolliver—I happened to encounter him on the way here, which is why I was late arriving—that a regiment is to be quartered at Meryton.”

“A regiment!” Overwhelmed by excitement, Mrs. Bennet flicked her fan open and flapped it back and forth.

There would be officers galore with their gallant manners and dashing red coats.

And officers were always in need of wives to ensure their comfort.

This evening’s news was nothing short of miraculous.

And miracles were exactly what a lady with five unmarried daughters needed.

***

“Such momentous news. A horde of gentlemen coming our way.” Elizabeth grinned at her good friend Charlotte Lucas. “This is the stuff of hopes and dreams. Although I think it more likely to be the making of disappointment and discontent.”

“It doesn’t bode well for my comfort,” Charlotte said. “Just look at my mother’s expression.”

“And mine. It is obvious what she is thinking.”

“They aren’t the only ones.” Charlotte motioned her head toward a group of ladies who all had daughters of marriageable age. “Even if all these men are eager to be married, which cannot be the case, there still wouldn’t be enough of them to go around.”

“Too many ladies in want of husbands,” Elizabeth agreed.

“And too many officers who are unlikely to be in want of wives.” She glanced beyond the mothers, where Miss King, two Miss Cranes, and three Miss Peacocks were engaged in animated conversation.

And they were just one of many groups of young ladies dotted about the room and filling it with the din of excited voices.

“One regiment won’t even provide sufficient dance partners for the next assembly. ”

“And Mr. Madison is clearly irrelevant, which means that we shall all have to fight over Mr. Bingley. Unless he is excessively ill-tempered, I do not think it will be worth entering into the fray. And even if he is disagreeable, his fortune guarantees that he will still be a highly desired commodity.”

“Oh, yes. Where there is fortune, few people care about a man’s character. That is what should matter, but it won’t.”

“Except in the sense that his wealth will be taken as his character,” Charlotte observed. “I wonder if Mr. Bingley has any idea how much he will be sought after.”

“I think that if a single gentleman of good fortune chooses to take up residence in a new neighbourhood, he should expect all the surrounding families to consider him as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.”

Charlotte laughed. “That is very clever, but perhaps, like Mr. Madison, Mr. Bingley is only coming here for the country air. He might be oblivious to the dangers which await.”

“For his sake, I hope he is not. The man needs to be on guard.”

“He does indeed. It would be well for him if his character is marked by strength of mind and firmness of purpose.”

“Those are two things which I admire in a gentleman. Not that I have any thoughts of Mr. Bingley.”

“Why not, Lizzy? You should stand as good a chance with him as anyone.”

“With my unruly tongue?”

“Perhaps an outspoken wife is the very thing which he has been seeking. He might be working his way through the counties of England in quest of this rarity.”

“I highly doubt it,” Elizabeth said merrily.

“There cannot be many men, if any, whose preferred quality in a wife is outspokenness. But if by some extraordinary chance that turns out to be exactly what Mr. Bingley desires, then I will gladly marry him. We shall deal together extremely well, which is what I want in a marriage.”

“What about affection? Do you not share Jane’s desire to marry only for love?”

“If two people are well suited, do you not think they are very likely to fall in love over the course of time?” Elizabeth countered, evading the question.

“I have never disputed the possibility of affection growing after marriage,” Charlotte said. “Or even of a marriage being successful without love. I thought, however, that you wanted more.”

“Oh, I do want a great deal. An abundance of excellent qualities and a vast amount of tolerance. If I ever have a husband, he will have his patience sorely tried, for I have it on good authority that I am headstrong and difficult. But I have never given any thought to wanting a fortune as great as five thousand a year. You are extremely generous in your hopes for me, but a mere competence will suffice. Perhaps a lieutenant with a few pounds of his own will be the man for me.”

“Only a lieutenant?” Charlotte joked back. “Surely you will hold out for a captain at the very least.”

“I might have the colonel himself if everyone is busy competing for Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth returned in the same spirit.

“And that will leave the captain for me, which will please my mother.”

They continued bantering in this way, neither of them treating the subject with any seriousness.

Like her father, Elizabeth was inclined to throw witticisms in the face of discontent.

Hers did not run as deep as his, but the truth was that she did share her sister’s dream of marrying for love.

And doubted the possibility of ever achieving such elusive happiness.

She had sometimes imagined meeting a special person who would light up her world.

But he hadn’t come along so far. Not for her, nor Jane, who was rapidly approaching the crucial age when she would be declared officially on the shelf, nor Charlotte, who was past that age.

Not for any young lady of their acquaintance.

Experience had taught Elizabeth that a grand passion could not be everyone’s fate. And since only the deepest attachment could tempt her into matrimony, she certainly wasn’t going to indulge in any wishful thinking just because a horde of gentlemen was coming to town.