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Within the week, Elizabeth received a long, enthusiastic response from Mrs. Lucy Wallace describing all sorts of details about what Lydia should expect, from classes to roommates to teachers.

Even better was the news that Lucy had convinced her sister that they should travel to Hertfordshire earlier than planned.

We were visiting Georgiana and decided that London is perfectly horrible right now.

‘Tis hot and smelly and there is no good reason for us to stay. So, my dear future cousin, the four of us shall be arriving in Hertfordshire next Monday; Ellen’s husband is writing to Mr. Bingley this instant.

I do hope the poor man is prepared for a houseful of Fitzwilliams!

I look forward to meeting your sister. In fact, I find I am quite looking forward to telling her all my tales—as the youngest, I never had the chance to act the elder sister and now I can!

Elizabeth read this section of the letter to Lydia and was happy to see her sister’s relief.

Mrs. Bennet might be very enthusiastic about preparing her favorite for school, but the youngest Miss Bennet had enough sense to comprehend that a woman with no experience of her own might not be the best source of advice .

As the days passed, Jane and Elizabeth worked their way through their bed chambers and closets, packing those items that they wished to take with them to their new homes and giving away those that they did not.

Not a few tears were shed, although there were an equal number of happy squeals as the younger Miss Bennets gained a great many fripperies and trinkets.

Each member of the family handled the tumult in a different way.

Mary was diligent in learning what her elder sisters had done to manage the household and, with only a little help, soon found a great deal of pleasure in visiting the tenants and making up charity baskets for the needy.

Catherine tried to help, but much of her time was consumed with working on a portrait of the Bennet family that she was drawing as a wedding present for her elder sisters.

Though she had had little in the way of formal instruction, she did have talent and a great deal of determination, and the results were good enough that her parents requested she attempt a copy for Longbourn, as well.

Mrs. Bennet fluttered about, alternately giving orders, calling for her smelling salts, or bursting into tears.

One moment, she was eager to have Jane and Elizabeth finish packing so that she could redecorate their bedchambers for guests.

“For then we shall have places for Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to stay when they come to visit. Oh, how well that sounds!” Just as frequently, however, some small bauble would melt her enthusiasm into tears that her baby girls were leaving home.

Mr. Bingley remained most diligent in visiting Longbourn and Elizabeth would often accompany him and Jane for walks through the garden. They called each other by their Christian names and Charles occasionally commented on how much more comfortable he was with Elizabeth than his own younger sister.

The Hursts arrived at Netherfield with a great volume of trunks and servants.

When Charles later related the story to the two eldest Miss Bennets, they could not help but laugh at the picture he described.

Caroline had descended from the carriage dressed to impress, only to be disappointed when there was no one but her brother and the housekeeper there to greet her.

Mr. Hurst’s feet had barely touched the ground before he was demanding, “Brandy!” and Mrs. Hurst seemed no more inclined than her husband to spend additional time in her sister’s company.

After watching the Hursts disappear upstairs with ill-bred haste, Miss Bingley turned back to her brother and addressed him in her most sympathetic tone, “Oh, dear Charles… how are you holding up? I imagine that you have been dragged around to all sorts of miserable little country teas and suppers.”

Her syrupy sweet concern set Bingley’s teeth on edge, but he chose to bide his time.

“There have been quite a number of dinners and parties at my neighbors’ homes, and, of course, I call at Longbourn nearly every day.

It is no great burden, however, given that I’ve always enjoyed the local society here. ”

Although Caroline was unhappy with her brother’s engagement, she had decided that she must make the best of it.

As a result, her expression might have soured for a moment but she continued to speak as she imagined a supportive sibling would; “Oh, well. That’s just lovely.

Well then! I will get settled in my rooms and then deal with Nichols. ”

“Actually Caroline, I already asked Louisa to act as my hostess, given that I was uncertain if you would be attending the wedding.” Charles spoke in such an acerbic tone that even Caroline colored slightly.

Realizing that her brother was unlikely to be won over instantly by her newly sweetened demeanor, Miss Bingley thought quickly and altered her plan. “Oh, very well. I’ll just check with her and see if there is anything I can do to help, shall I?”

Even as she stalked up the stairs, Caroline was planning.

Her brother might be determined to marry silly little Jane Bennet, but they were both so sweet and complying that she was sure she would be able to bring the household back under her thumb in no time.

Perhaps it would not be quite as easy as she had hoped, but Miss Bingley had no doubt that it would take very little effort to nudge Louisa aside.

After the wedding, she would move into the Waverly Street house while Charles and his silly little wife were away on their wedding trip.

When she considered it, the situation would probably be even better than when she had resided with the Hursts, for there she had to pretend to obey her sister’s idiotic husband.

Unfortunately for Miss Bingley, Miss Darcy arrived with several of her Fitzwilliam cousins on the very next day.

Lady Ellen and Mrs. Wallace made it perfectly clear that they considered Mrs. Hurst to be their hostess and there was little that Caroline could do about it without being truly offensive.

And however little she liked them, Miss Bingley was not so stupid as to purposely irk the Earl of Matlock’s daughters.

As a result, Georgiana was forced to sit through a lengthy monologue by Miss Bingley during the hour she had hoped to practice the pianoforte.

She mentioned her plight to Elizabeth, and, after some laughter, it was quickly arranged that Miss Darcy would come to Longbourn to practice whenever she wished.

“I can’t promise that you won’t be interrupted here,” admitted Lizzy, “but at least none of us shall take offence if you tell us to go away.”

When she noticed that the younger lady’s eyes were quite wide, Elizabeth remembered that the girl was quite unaccustomed to having sisters.

“Dear Georgiana—we are a big, busy family here at Longbourn, always getting in one another’s way.

Sashes and ribbons and slippers and stockings get misplaced or borrowed.

As a result, it is far easier to find someone to talk to than it is to be alone. ”

The Fitzwilliam sisters arrived in time to hear this last part of the conversation and assured Georgiana that it was quite true.

As a result, Miss Darcy happily excused herself to play the pianoforte while her older cousins accompanied Elizabeth and Jane to their rooms so that they might admire the gowns that had just arrived from London.

Tracing the intricately embroidered neckline of a plum-colored ball gown, Lady Ellen was perfectly open with her admiration.

“Elizabeth, this is divine! When your modista is finished with your and your sister’s wedding clothes, I’m determined to pay her a visit.

I can’t believe she considered taking a position in Madame Claudette’s shop!

That woman would have worked her to death and taken all of the credit for her designs! ”

Elizabeth and Jane’s story of their first and only visit to the famous dressmaker prompted a great deal of laughter, and Mrs. Wallace admitted that the treatment they had received was not unique.

“Though Madame Claudette was certainly happy enough to assist me, she has treated several of my friends in an infamous manner.”

When her sister looked at her curiously, Lucy explained, “Not long after Mr. Wallace and I were married, there was a military ball and I offered to introduce some of the other officers’ wives to my modista.

I suppose I was dreadfully na?ve—it never occurred to me that I received such deference because of my father.

Madame Claudette barely even acknowledged the other ladies once she knew enough to peg their place in Society.

I must say that I left her shop without buying anything and have never been back. ”

Once the other ladies voiced their displeasure, the conversation turned to what Jane and Elizabeth might expect in Society.

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were planning to spend two weeks in London for the little Season before travelling to Derbyshire for the winter.

She was pleased to hear that most of the Fitzwilliam clan was following a similar schedule.

“You’ve worked quite a miracle on our cousin, Elizabeth,” commented Lady Ellen with a twinkle in her eye. “Usually Darcy would use any excuse at all to avoid London in the autumn.”

“I think he wants to show off his new bride,” whispered Lucy loudly, and then burst into laughter when Elizabeth blushed. “Oh, we shall have such fun! Mama has already begun planning the ball to celebrate your marriage—it shall be perfectly grand!”