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E lizabeth strolled the grounds of Netherfield with her sister.

“I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be here with you, Jane. And that you’ve almost forgiven me for keeping such big secrets from you.”

Jane smiled serenely. “I don’t know if I could be as forgiving to anyone else, Lizzy. I hope you understand that.”

“I do. Very much.” Elizabeth regarded her sister. “I think marriage suits you.” She put her head on one side. “What is it like, being married? Is it all you thought it would be?”

Jane blushed a rosy pink. “It suits me very well,” she murmured. “I enjoy my husband’s company — I couldn’t have wished for a kinder man.”

“I’m glad,” Elizabeth said soberly. “And managing Netherfield? Is it easy, like we used to think?”

“Oh, no, it is not!” Jane squeezed Elizabeth’s arm. “It is much more work than I thought.” She sighed. “And, to be honest, Mama calls unexpectedly very often, so I have to rearrange my day and my duties.”

Elizabeth grimaced. “I think you might want to find a different estate to purchase in the future.” She laughed. “But you will have to wait until I am married. Then you can move near to me, because I will need you very much.”

“Don’t be silly, Lizzy. You’ll be moving in a very different society than we do.”

“Not at all!” Elizabeth gazed at her. “It’s you I’ll need, not them.”

“Regardless, it’s time to go in now, and get ready to call at Longbourn.” Jane smiled gently.

Longbourn was noisy and busy, the sitting room crowded with family and guests. Elizabeth hesitated at the door. “I’ll just go and have a word with Papa,” she whispered to Jane, and turned for the library door.

“Come in, Lizzy.” Papa beamed at her. “Will you be able to take tea in here, or will you go in to the rest of the family shortly?”

“I’ll go to the sitting room in a moment, Papa, since Aunt Gardiner is only here until tomorrow. But I did want to ask you something first.”

“Ask away.” Papa cleared the papers off the nearest chair.

“Well, Jane has confided in me that she is finding managing Netherfield rather harder than she hoped, given that Mama calls so often,” Elizabeth stopped, wondering if she ought to continue.

“So you want me to find that the coach is unaccountably unavailable to her most days, do you?” Papa had guessed what she wanted to say.

“Thank you. It won’t be too long until Jane has settled in a bit more.” She bit her lip. “And I think Mama might need to supervise my sisters here when my aunt is gone back to London.”

“Say no more, Lizzy. I understand and I’ll see what I can do.” Papa gazed at her. “Now, what about you? Are you happy now there are no more secrets?”

“Well, yes,” she said doubtfully. “I mean, I was really unhappy with the secrecy, but everyone treats me so differently now.”

“Oh, it’s a hard life,” her father grinned mischievously, “being a Lady.”

Elizabeth jumped up. “Papa!” She dropped a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll leave you if you’re just going to tease me.”

“Come back before you leave this afternoon,” he waved her away casually. But Elizabeth had seen the moisture in his eyes and knew he was as pleased to see her as she was to see him.

She smiled mistily as she entered the sitting room, and suffered Mama’s effusive greetings. Suddenly she had become the favourite daughter, and Lydia shot her a venomous look before turning back to the officers.

Elizabeth crossed the room to the empty sofa beside her aunt. “I’m happy to be able to talk before you go back to town, Aunt.”

Her aunt patted her hand. “At least Netherfield is more peaceful to go back to in the evenings,” she murmured.

“Yes,” Elizabeth said fervently. “I can’t imagine how I used to manage here.”

“Well, Jane was here then, and the officers weren’t.”

“You’re right,” Elizabeth nodded. “But I still think I would have managed.” She looked round. “After you’ve gone tomorrow, I think I might walk round to see Charlotte one day. That will be much more peaceful.”

Her aunt’s hand tightened on hers. “You will take care?” she said softly.

“Of course. I’ll have the two footmen to escort me and my maid,” Elizabeth whispered back, then straightened. One of the officers had sat down beside her on the sofa.

“Good morning, Lady Elizabeth. I’m glad you are able to call and keep up with your former family.” His face was open and guileless.

She smiled, but without warmth. “Good morning, Mr. Wickham. They are my family, not my former family.”

He bowed his head. “I am sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to offend.”

“I have taken no offence.” But Elizabeth had seen the shadow of a calculating look on his face. She would maintain her reserve. She nodded and turned back to her aunt, whose eyebrows were expressive.

Elizabeth gave her a tiny nod, and her aunt appeared satisfied.

It was not many minutes before he got up and returned to Lydia’s side. Her sister looked triumphantly across the room at Elizabeth, who wanted to shake her head at her.

Aunt Gardiner leaned towards her and kept her voice low. “I really don’t like that young man, for all he looks so amiable and has such a gentlemanly appearance.”

Elizabeth shivered slightly. “You always told me about the fortune hunters. Now I am discovering about them, even while I am safely with my family.” She smiled at her aunt. “I will be very careful.”

“You are a sensible girl, I know that.” Her aunt seemed reassured, but Elizabeth wasn’t.

“I’m just worried that one of them will flatter Lydia and persuade her to do something silly. Then, once he is tied to the family, he will try to blackmail Father.”

Her aunt grimaced. “I don’t think you are wrong. I will have another word with your papa. But she is not permitted to leave the house without a footman protecting her, remember.”

Elizabeth looked across at Mr. Wickham, who was being very attentive to her youngest sister. Lydia was preening proudly, her hand on his arm, leaning close to him; all while still casting triumphant glances across the room. She would certainly feel she had bested Elizabeth if she married first.

Suddenly Elizabeth was looking forward to the end of this visit and the chance to speak to Papa again. She must tell him what she thought and her anxieties.