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Jane asked, “What were you discussing with Mr Wickham, Lizzy? I sensed that you were uncomfortable.”

“It was not so much the conversation per se. At the end we got into an unusual though not shocking topic, but I found the entire discussion slightly disconcerting.”

Jane nodded encouragingly while Mary and Charlotte listened intently.

“Mr Wickham and the other officers seem amiable enough. They are easy in conversation, but I just did not feel up to it.”

Jane seemed deep in thought for a few moments. “I observed the same reaction, and I do not even have a—”

She stopped abruptly, apparently realising she was about to let the cat out of the bag.

Charlotte was unaware of the drama. “Do not have a what , Jane?”

Elizabeth sighed. “This is confidential for the next several days, but Mr Darcy and I are courting.”

Charlotte looked thoroughly startled by the news for a moment, but only a moment. “That is excellent news! How long has this courtship been going on?”

“Since Sunday.”

Charlotte laughed softly. “That explains a great deal.”

“I suppose it does.”

Charlotte appeared to have a plethora of questions but a quick glance around the room showed they were not impervious to eavesdropping, so further discussion was deferred.

“Do you think it will proceed?”

Jane and Mary watched intently, being aware that the courtship was more complicated than most. They were exceedingly interested in the answer but had been mostly afraid to ask. They were well aware that Mr Darcy had just barely dug himself out and still had a ways to go.

“It is too early to tell, and I would rather not discuss it here.”

The three nodded, unsatisfied with the result but unwilling to continue.

Mary changed the subject. “You mentioned you were rather uncomfortable with the officers as well, Jane.”

“I was and still am for that matter. I cannot explain it. The men are amiable and innocuous. I cannot understand my discomfort.”

Charlotte asked, “Could it be the absence of Mr Bingley?”

Jane sighed. “Mr Bingley and I are... nothing to each other.”

Charlotte gasped, unaware of the change in status. “Are you at liberty to explain?”

“I am at liberty, but I prefer to simply say it... went off… as these things often do.”

Charlotte nodded several times while tapping her teeth with her finger (which lady Lucas considered a terrible habit). “How do you feel about it?”

Jane stared for some time in contemplation, as if the question had never occurred to her.

At long last, she said, “Relieved.”

Mary seemed startled, while Charlotte chuckled grimly. “While I obviously cannot empathise with the problems that come with great beauty, I suspect I understand.”

Jane joined in. “That makes one of us.”

Everyone laughed nervously until Charlotte turned her attention to Elizabeth. “I suppose the pressure is on you now?”

She shrugged. “I suppose so, but I have had a surprisingly candid conversation with my mother. I believe we understand each other. I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to my family.”

Charlotte frowned grimly. “That is a difficult position to maintain, Elizabeth.”

“What would you do?”

“I am seven and twenty and rather plain. I have never been romantic. I understand your affinity for romanticism but cannot share it. Give me a reasonable man, with an even temper and good situation, and I will not hesitate for a moment.”

Elizabeth stared at her friend intently, long enough for an ordinary person to become nervous but not enough to rattle Charlotte. Her gaze then alternated between Jane and Mary for some time before she finally made her decision.

“How about the heir presumptive to Longbourn? He may be the silliest man I ever met, and he is certainly the most verbose; but he has a good living right now and will probably inherit Longbourn. He would drive me mad within a week, but he does meet the criteria you specified.”

Jane and Mary gasped, realising their mother was about to have a fit of gigantic proportions.

Charlotte did not bat an eye. “I would take him in a heartbeat.”

Elizabeth stared her down for a few more minutes. “Be careful what you wish for, Charlotte.”

“Not all of us have the power of choice, Lizzie. I wish to have a home of my own, my own children, and to not be a burden on my family.”

“So be it! Do not say I did not warn you!”

“I am seven years your senior. I know what I am about.”

Jane and Mary were startled by how quickly Elizabeth took up the mantle. They both privately wondered whether their sister had already decided their fate was well in hand without Mr Collins but just did not realise it.

For Elizabeth’s part, she believed she had neither advanced nor harmed her courtship with Mr Darcy. There were no conditions under which she would marry Mr Collins, nor did she think Jane or Mary would.

Pointing her cousin to Charlotte harmed no one and helped her best friend.

To her, it was simply a pragmatic solution to two difficult problems. It also offered the benefit that if things did not go according to plan, at least Charlotte would not throw them out of Longbourn with naught but the clothes on their backs.

It also quite handily solved the problem of Mr Collins knowing absolutely nothing about an estate.

She had little doubt that Charlotte would have him well in hand within the year.

By the time they inherited, Mr Collins would have learnt or Charlotte would have neutralised him.

Considering how much he venerated Lady Catherine, Elizabeth thought he could transfer that veneration to his wife without too much fuss.

Yes, quite a neat solution if she did say so herself!

~~~~~

Supper presented a delicious meal as well as food for thought.

The Gardiner sisters enjoyed competing, and both took immense pride in setting a good table.

Mrs Phillips had less income but no children so she could put on a good spread when she chose.

One thing common to both establishments was that the supper table was as noisy as a tavern, which was common in Meryton society.

Although the Bennet sisters were usually in the thick of things, the elders took up residence in a quiet end of the table. The other end was filled by soldiers with many of the younger ladies vying for their attention.

Elizabeth observed her sisters mixing with vigour, with Lydia in particular flirting close to shamelessly, though not all that much worse than usual.

She thought about asking her aunt or uncle to intervene, but she saw little harm in it and expected little chance of success.

Her youngest sister was exuberance itself, but if she stayed in public and did not abuse the rules of propriety too terribly, she should survive it.

Lydia was surrounded by Kitty and Maria Lucas, both of whom were natural followers who said little that was not an echo of their more exuberant sister.

They reminded Elizabeth of Mrs Hurst in a way.

The Long nieces were similarly split between a noisy one and a quiet one, as were the Goulding’s.

Overall, that end of the table was raucous but not overly so.

The comparison between the end of the table with the elder sisters from the Bennet, Lucas, and Goulding families; and the other end was stark.

Whether it was a difference of temperament or age, Elizabeth could not say.

She wondered if she had ever acted like her younger sisters and could not honestly answer the question.

All that reflection made her wonder about what her life would be like if she accepted Mr Darcy, as seemed increasingly likely.

Would they normally dine in an intimate breakfast nook, or at opposite ends of a twenty-foot table that could seat dozens surrounded by half a dozen footmen?

Would their daughters be allowed to climb trees, learn to fence, and read anything they wanted?

Would their sons be allowed to take tea with their sisters and play with dolls if the mood struck them?

Would she be expected to be the belle of the ton , or might they spend the bulk of their time at Pemberley?

Would they travel, and if so, how extensively?

Elizabeth had no idea and thought she should probably get on with finding out.

Those thoughts led her to wondering about how Mr Darcy saw Meryton society.

She had lived there all her life and was accustomed to noisy dinners, but would he be?

She knew that in London society the standards varied enormously.

Some balls, musicals, and theatre events were refined, tasteful and elegant.

Others were reputed to be as raucous as a dockside tavern with the navy in port.

Which was Mr Darcy accustomed to? Did he find Meryton society savage and uncouth, or more refined than his usual?

As she thought with increasing consternation about all the uncertainties, Mary’s voice brought her up short. “Breathe, Lizzy… breathe!”

With a shake of her head, she looked to her sisters who had mostly been speaking with their tablemates while Elizabeth plumbed the dark depths.

Elizabeth gave her sister a weak smile.

Jane said, “You have time, Lizzy.”

“Time for what?” Eleanor Goulding asked, but Jane just replied with a shake of her head indicating she would learn eventually.

Elizabeth turned her attention back to her group and tried her best to put thoughts of the Derbyshire gentleman from her mind.

The rest of the meal proceeded mostly in peace, though soldiers and younger girls became even more raucous and flirty as the evening went by and the wine flowed.

Mr Wickham seemed to be the favourite target for the ladies, but the rest of the officers did well enough.

~~~~~

Jane met Elizabeth in the corridor after they had donned their cloaks but were still waiting for the coach.

“Well, Lizzy… you have survived an evening without your beau. How did it go?”

Elizabeth shuddered. “To be honest, I found speaking with the gentlemen… disconcerting. Something felt… off.”

“Was it that they are strangers?”

“No. We have been introduced to any number of strangers with the Gardiners in London, and I never felt awkward.”

“Is there anything wrong with the officers?”

Elizabeth recognised that Jane was in her dog with a bone state and there was little point in trying to shake her off.

“Nothing wrong that I can say. They are all amiable, and in a less pensive mood, I believe I would have enjoyed the conversations.”

Jane looked even more thoughtful for some time.

“That word… amiable. This may seem a stretch, but is it possible Mr Bingley has made you suspicious of amiable men?”

“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked in puzzlement.

“Mr Bingley was the most amiable man I ever met, and he turned out to be a boy in men’s clothing. Perhaps he has made you suspicious. Mr Darcy is not amiable at first meeting, but he is the most honest man I know. Whatever you may think of his manners, he is certainly all man.”

Elizabeth had to think about that for some time and finally agreed. His honesty (even when it was disagreeable) had been very much in his favour.

“I can agree to your point, but I have not honestly given Mr Bingley a thought for some days. Have you?” Elizabeth challenged.

Jane sighed. “I have… but I will not speak about him until we meet again.”

“That seems fair.”

“Perhaps honesty is the right track,” Jane suggested. “Speaking to a single man when you are privately courting may have seemed… dishonest.”

Elizabeth thought about it as the rest of her sisters noisily piled into the coach, accompanied by their still awkward cousin.

She continued thinking all the way back to Longbourn, and then some more as they prepared for bed.

Just before she blew out the candle, Elizabeth turned to her sister and finally answered the question Jane had almost forgotten.

“I worked it out. Speaking with those amiable men did not feel dishonest… it felt disloyal. ”