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Elizabeth was lying awake, reliving the horrors of an evening which had begun so pleasantly.

Although determined not to display a preference for Mr. Darcy’s company, she had been delighted by the speed with which he had found his way to her side.

An interesting conversation had been made all the more compelling by his contributions, and when their discourse had afterwards become light-hearted, the two of them had been at the centre of the joking, playing off each other with the ease that would usually belong to a well-established friendship.

He had made her feel so comfortable that she had even been able to seat herself at the pianoforte without trepidation, despite knowing that her performance could not be to her credit.

His compliments had been too generous, but she had sensed that they were not entirely exaggerated.

Apparently he had found something to like in her air, which was gratifying.

Elizabeth also been pleased his appreciation of Mary’s music.

She had very much enjoyed it herself, and had been struck by the degree of skill her sister had lately achieved.

But since Mr. Darcy hadn’t the same frame of reference, and he must have heard a great many skilled performances, his admiration was well worth earning.

But then the pleasure of a very agreeable evening had been shattered by Lydia’s rude interruption and Mary’s blunt response.

In her mind Elizabeth could still see the abrupt change of his expression from pleasure to repugnance. And in her heart, the mortification still burned.

How could Lydia be so oblivious to the demands of good manners. So unaware of the scorn which she brought upon herself—and her family by association. Mr. Darcy’s disgust at her behaviour was quite justified.

Unfortunately, that had not been the only incident to give Elizabeth concern.

A little later, when they had each been talking to different people, she had noticed from a distance that Mr. Darcy was again wearing an uncomfortable expression.

And next to him was her mother. Who had presumably said or done something to unsettle him.

Elizabeth sighed in recollection. What must he be thinking of them? It was a good thing she had already decided her feelings must be quashed, for he would never want to connect himself to people who caused him discomfort.

A voice came out of the darkness. “Are you awake as well?” Jane had obviously heard that sigh.

“Yes. I had too much fun this evening to be able to settle down,” Elizabeth said, unwilling to admit the real cause of her sleeplessness.

“It was an enjoyable party,” Jane said. “But I have been thinking about Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. I do not think they like me, Lizzy. They barely said anything to me at the Peacocks’ party yesterday. And when they did briefly acknowledge me this evening, I thought their manner was cold.”

“They aren’t very friendly,” Elizabeth acknowledged. “But that could just be their way with everyone. You may find that they become warmer upon closer acquaintance.” She couldn’t bring herself to confirm her sister’s fears.

But Jane said, “I doubt it. They weren’t very nice either. I don’t think they wish for us to become better acquainted. And I’m sure we shall never be sisters.”

“Do not be so hasty,” Elizabeth said. “Even if Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst don’t come to like you, it doesn’t matter what they think. Mr. Bingley obviously loves you, and that is what counts.”

“It isn’t everything,” Jane replied. “Whatever Mr. Bingley feels—and I cannot share your confidence of him being in love with me—he will be mindful of their opinion. And that is how it should be. One’s marriage should not be the cause of familial dissent.”

“I heartily disagree. In my opinion, family should never make it their purpose to separate a couple deeply attached.”

“There are other considerations which must be taken into account.”

“This is not like you, Jane. Have you not always said that love is the only reason for marriage?”

“Yes, and I still believe that; however, it does not necessarily follow that marriage must always be the consequence of love.”

“It would be a sad thing indeed for love not to end in marriage just because somebody wholly unconnected to the business does not approve.”

“But they are not unconnected, and it is reasonable for them to desire a respectable marriage for him. I have noticed them looking askance at Lydia. It would not surprise me if she has shocked them with some inappropriate behaviour. Or if Mama said something dreadful. It was too hopeful. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst may well have excellent reason for thinking me unsuitable.”

“Clearly their brother doesn’t think so. He hasn’t been bothered by any of our family’s imperfections. I am certain he thinks you are good enough for him, so don’t let his sisters persuade you otherwise.”

“I cannot think it right to have hopes of Mr. Bingley if they do not wish for me to be his wife.”

“I cannot think it right for them to disregard his wishes. It isn’t for them to decide his future.”

“But it is reasonable for them to offer advice in his best interest.”

Elizabeth could no longer avoid admitting her full opinion.

“I think it likely that they care more about their own interest than his. Have you noticed how they like to talk about grand friends and being invited to exclusive parties? I think it’s safe to assume that they also want their brother to marry to the greatest possible advantage. ”

“That is a common desire. Indeed, it is what Mama wants for us.”

“But Mr. Bingley’s sisters want it entirely for their own benefit, which is a great deal worse than Mama wanting us to be comfortably settled.

At least she means well, although in a misguided way, but it would be entirely selfish for them to advise him against his own inclination just because they hope for his marriage to fulfil their ambitions. ”

“I cannot believe that is their intention.”

“I can. Admittedly, they haven’t spoken much to me either, but I have observed enough to feel that my suspicions are justified.

I didn’t want to say anything at first, but I believe their characters are based in arrogance and selfishness.

Now they have seen he wants to marry you, and that is why they are being unfriendly—to discourage you. Please don’t let them succeed.”

“He might be better off with someone from a more respectable family.”

“Do you not think that he is the best judge of what is right for him?”

“I’m not sure. His judgement might be clouded.”

“But he must know what would make him happy.”

“I suppose so.”

“And if he proposes, would you cause him great unhappiness by refusing just because they don’t approve?”

“I hadn’t thought of him being unhappy. But I could never be so unkind to him.”

“So you will not turn him down.”

“He may not even propose.”

“But if he does.”

“Then, no, I wouldn’t.”

“Excellent. And don’t worry about his sisters.

I’m sure that they are quite capable of dealing with disappointment, and since they are generally civil, you should be able to get along well enough.

But it is very likely that they will grow to feel affection for you once you are thrown together.

Time and familiarity can effect great change. ”

This idea put Jane into a better frame of mind, and she soon settled down to sleep. But Elizabeth remained awake, still deep in thought.

She had observed another, more concerning expression after Lydia’s outburst. Miss Bingley had appeared disdainful, but also delighted.

She obviously wanted Lydia to behave badly, and Mary’s outburst had been a bonus.

Presumably she was hoping that this sort of behaviour by Jane’s sisters would put Mr. Bingley off.

And such incidents were likely to play a large part in her advice to him.

Unfortunately, if this was to be Miss Bingley’s ammunition, Elizabeth feared that it would be readily supplied by her family. It was some time longer before she was able to fall asleep.

Tired and still troubled the next morning, she had the unexpected comfort of learning that she was not alone in her concerns. This came about when Mary surprisingly sought a private conversation with her.

“What do you think of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst?” she queried. “I find that I cannot like them.”

“Nor can I,” Elizabeth replied.

“They are irritatingly smug. And they look down upon us simple countryfolk.”

“Yes, I have noticed that as well.”

“Particularly our family. They don’t want Mr. Bingley to marry Jane, do they?”

“Probably not. She isn’t important enough to gain their approval. I believe they desire his marriage to serve the purpose of increasing their own consequence.”

“That does seem to be their primary purpose in life. What I am wondering is how far they might go to achieve it. When we called on them the other day Miss Bingley was excessively eager for Lydia and Kitty to expose themselves. And yesterday she was pleased when Lydia and I disgraced ourselves. It seems to me that she and Mrs. Hurst very much want to discover the worst about us, and I foolishly obliged.”

“You weren’t disgraceful,” Elizabeth protested.

But Mary shook her head. “I should not have aired a private grievance publicly. That was rude of me, and the way in which I expressed myself was unladylike. Indeed, I have been shockingly rude lately, haven’t I?”

“I wouldn’t quite say that. Just a little blunt perhaps.”

“Sometimes downright abrasive.” Mary smiled ruefully. “I was disappointed, you know. I did love him.”

“Yes, I thought so, and I wanted to offer my sympathy, but I didn’t want to be intrusive.”

“I knew that you felt for me, which was enough. I wasn’t wanting to talk about my disappointment.

But I think I really am recovering, although you mustn’t tell Mama.

If she thought I might be amenable, she would be much more determined in her efforts to pair me with Mr. Darcy, and we don’t want him to be put upon. He seems like a very nice man.”

Elizabeth smiled. “He is indeed. You should converse with him sometime—when Mama is not looking, of course.”

“I might do so. Although it might be safest if he could first engage himself to someone else.”

There was a brief moment in which Elizabeth wondered if Mary had just given her a speculative glance, but then she returned to the subject of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. “What I am thinking is that they want us to be so unladylike as to scare their brother away from a connection with our family. And if that is the case, then I was playing right into their hands. So I mean to do better in future. And if I might speak honestly—”

“I have been rather blunt toward them myself,” Elizabeth concluded.

“It did appear that you found them irritating the other morning. You were more outspoken than usual.”

“They were irritating. But I shall also endeavour to be on my best behaviour.”

“I am afraid nothing can be done about Mama and Lydia, but you and I, at least, can try to be the best of our family. And probably Kitty as well. I had a word with her earlier, and she was open to the idea of being cautious in her behaviour as well.”

“That is good to hear, but now I am even more curious.”

“I understand that she was recently given some cause for thought on that subject,” Mary said. “I wondered if this might also have something to do with John Lucas or Edward Partridge, but I didn’t choose to pry.”

“Which was right of you. Much as I am wondering about this remarkable development, we cannot subject her to an inquisition.”

However, Elizabeth could not help indulging her curiosity a little by making some observation of Kitty at yet another party that evening.

She was delighted to see that, instead of chasing after officers, Kitty spent the evening in quiet conversation with old friends.

John and Edward were among them, but there was nothing to suggest that either one of them had any particular influence.

As far as Elizabeth could see, Kitty’s behaviour, and Mary’s, was such that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst could not have found fault with either of them

But it was obvious that they would like to. Elizabeth was still concerned that they were a force to be reckoned with. And if Mr. Bingley had a flaw, it was an excessive willingness to fall in with the wishes of others.