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In the House of Lords, the Dukes of Bedford and Hertfordshire and the Earls of Jersey and Matlock were a force to be reckoned with.

Their wives were no less influential, even without the family ties to the royals.

Lady Pricilla, Countess of Jersey was a patroness of Almack’s, and close friends with the other patronesses: The Countess de Lieven, Princess Esternhazy, and Lady Cowper.

Ladies Rose, Sarah and Elaine, although not patronesses, had almost as much sway at Almack’s and were part of the leading ladies in the Ton.

One did not cross anyone under their protection and survive unscathed.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The evening before the assembly, the Bennets of Longbourn were sitting in the drawing room discussing the new tenants at Netherfield. All seven Bennet siblings were home, as Tom had returned from Birchington a sennight earlier, and he had collected James at Cambridge for the term break.

“What do we know about James’s new tenants,” asked Lady Elizabeth who loved to sketch the characters of new people that she met.

“There was no need to have Sir Randolph’s investigators send me a report,” the Duke replied with a conspiratorial smile.

“Why not, Papa,” James asked. “I thought that you always investigated my tenants, so what is special about them?” James asked, concerned at this seeming lack of protocol that his father had himself established.

“The reason is simple,” the Duke arched his eyebrow very much like his second daughter was wont to do.

“Mr. Charles Bingley is a minor partner in Gardiner and Associates as was his father before him. I checked with Uncle Edward, and he was able to tell me everything that I needed to know, along with providing a glowing recommendation.”

“You could have started with that information, Thomas. I know you like to make fun with our children at times, but mayhap you could have let James remain calm,” his beloved Duchess mockingly censured.

“Please, Papa,” Mary and Kitty said together as they often did, “tell us what you know of them.”

“Bingley is an ebullient and happy fellow. He is here with his two sisters and his brother-in-law. The older sister is Mrs. Louisa Hurst, who married Harold Hurst, a minor gentleman. Mr. Bingley is the middle sibling. His younger sister, who I believe is Lizzy’s age, is Miss Caroline Bingley.

I understand that she is a very personable and pleasant sort of lady.

She was not always; thus, Gardiner reported that two or three years ago she used to be a voracious social climber who acted like she was of higher standing than she was.

“Uncle Edward does not know who, but someone took her under their wing, and she changed into a lady that is a pleasure to be around. I understand that they were joined today by one Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley and Darcy House.” At the questioning looks from his family Lord Thomas Bennet continued his diatribe.

“Yes, our neighbour from across Grosvenor Square, the one who could not bother to answer any of your mother’s invitations.

“I know from my friend Matlock, who is his uncle,” seeing the look on Marie and Jane’s faces he confirmed their thoughts.

“Yes, he will be your cousin soon, Marie, and yours too Jane if things proceed as planned.” Bennet offered affably.

“Reggie tells me that he can be arrogant and taciturn at times, but at heart he is a good and honourable man.”

“Until we meet him, I will reserve judgement,” Bennet’s most judgemental daughter said.

“Do not be uneasy, Liz-bear,” Lord Tom winked at his younger sister. “If he bothers you, I will call him out.” Tom’s statement drew laughter from the family.

“I am sure that he is a gentleman and a good man as Uncle Reggie implies,” Lady Jane interjected.

The family spent the rest of the evening in repose. The girls, all who had learnt from the top masters of their chosen instruments, along with their mother, Lady Sarah, performed some music, and not long after the last song was shared, the family retired for the night.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The following morning, Lady Elizabeth, accompanied by her companion Miss Anita Jones, walked into Meryton.

They were discreetly escorted by two huge footmen in plain clothes, to avoid standing out.

The one in charge was aptly named Biggs, for he was indeed large in stature.

Elizabeth was dressed in one of her older day dresses, as she did not want to ruin yet another creation of Madame Yvette Chambourg, the Bennet’s exclusive modiste, as she was apt to do.

Lady Elizabeth enjoyed walking immensely.

She was also fond of riding her stallion, Mercury, but finding the day pleasant enough, she opted for an alternate means of transport.

As she walked up the main street, she could see some men in regimentals. She had heard that a unit of militia would quarter in Meryton in about eight days. This, she supposed, must be the advance party of the Derbyshire Militia.

Wanting some ribbons for her dress, she entered the haberdashery with Miss Jones, while Biggs and his fellow guard kept watch outside.

As she left the store, the three Netherfield gentleman were riding up the main street.

Lady Elizabeth exited the store ahead of Miss Jones and stood waiting between her two guards, who had not yet moved from their post.

As he rode past, Darcy noticed the raven haired local that was leaving the store and he automatically donned his mask, which to Elizabeth Bennet looked like a sneer.

She was offended and filed it away under “slights from unknown persons” in her mind.

As he passed Darcy thought to himself, ‘ If that is an example of the ‘people of quality’ this savage town boasts, Miss Bingley was very wrong indeed. I knew that there were none here worth my notice; they are all below me! ’ In his arrogance he believed himself to be right and never looked back.

If he had, he would have seen the companion join her and the two huge men step in to follow her.

Had he seen this, even he would have recognised that there was more to this lady than met the eye.

Darcy turned to his friend riding between himself and Hurst, “I knew how it would be Bingley; everyone in this backwater town is below me. What a waste of time. Mayhap I will stay at the estate tonight rather than joining you at the assembly for these savages!”

“Darce, you are a gentleman, correct?” Bingley frowned.

“Of course I am, Bingley,” he retorted with indignation. “What kind of question is that?”

“Did you not agree to come to the assembly to see if you were wrong?” Bingley asked with a pleasant smile.

“I did, but I am sure I am right!” Darcy’s lips pursed as he disliked having to make unnecessary efforts.

“So that allows you to renege on your word?” Bingley asked, trapping his friend as he called his honour into question.

“You have me there, Bingley. I did, in fact, give you my word. I will stand by it and join you as promised.” Darcy knew that there was no way out, so he had to grin and bear it.

‘ I will not dance with anyone other than Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and even that is too much. How could I dance when I failed Georgie like I did? Mayhap I should not have blocked Richard from going after that wastrel. My dear mother warned me about Mrs. Younge, and I did not heed her! ’ As he berated himself for not paying heed to his mother, he was doing the same thing at Netherfield, only relying on his own beliefs.

This night would change his life, and it would take him some time so see the positive results for himself.

When Lady Elizabeth arrived home, she was fit to be tied and stomped into the Duke’s study. “Hateful, insufferable man!” she spat out.

“Lizzy,” her mama looked up in concern as she was sitting with her beloved Thomas and they had been talking before their daughter’s unceremonious entry. “What has your equanimity so disturbed?”

“Some man ,” she vented her spleen, “sneered at me for no reason. I was coming out of the haberdashery and three men I have never met before rode past. I assumed they are from Netherfield, being the only new arrivals in the area. Granted, I was in one of my older day dresses, but is that reason to be unpardonably rude to one you have never met or know anything about their situation?” She huffed in indignation.

“No Lizzy, that is not the behaviour one would expect from a gentleman,” the Duke saw the expression of vindication on his middle daughter’s countenance, “however, do you know for sure if the sneer was directed at you? Do you know what was going through the man’s head at the time?”

“Lizzy, I beg you, before you jump to conclusions, listen to your father. As much as I love you, and a mother could not love a child more, you do sometimes assume the worst and then act on your assumption as if it is fact.” She reminded her and could see that her daughter was about to protest. “No, Lizzy, I ask that you think before you unleash that rapier wit of yours. You know that we will all support you if there is any reason to do so.”

“All we ask, my Lizzy, is that you try to be a little circumspect. You know that we would never suspend any pleasure of yours, Liz-bear.” Bennet smiled gently.

Her parents had succeeded in calming their sometimes too quick to temper daughter.

She kissed each on the cheek and went to her bed chamber to rest, knocking on Marie’s door before she went to her own.

Marie’s lady’s maid informed Lady Elizabeth that Marie and Jane were in the shared sitting room.

On the entry of their younger sister, the twins looked up from the note that Marie was holding.

“What is that Marie?” their younger sister inquired.

“It is a note from Andrew,” as she mentioned his name, she got the dreamy far off look in her eyes that she always did when speaking of her betrothed. “He and Richard will be delayed, they will arrive about halfway through the assembly, but they will still be here.”

“They will be guests at Netherfield. I gather that they know the tenants, so there will be no issue with them being hosted.” Jane added, deeply pleased that her Richard would be dancing with her at this assembly.

“Lizzy, we can see that you are perturbed. What has so disturbed you?” Marie asked with concern.

Elizabeth shared her story with less asperity than she had given their parents with the first telling.

When she was done, if she was looking for her sisters to disagree with their parents, she was disappointed.

They gave her remarkably similar advice to what her parents had told her.

On entering her own chambers, she pulled the bell to summon her Abigail, Jacqueline Arseneault, who she called Jacqui and spoke to in fluent French whenever she wanted to practice that language.

Elizabeth spoke five languages fluently: French, German, Italian, Spanish, and, of course, English.

When her Abigail answered the bell, Elizabeth asked her to help her out of her dress, then wearing only her shift, she pulled the counterpane over herself to rest for a while.

Lady Elizabeth was gently shaken awake by Arseneault at a little before half after five in the evening.

She bathed and was dressed in the hunter green gown with gold trim, one of Madame Chambourg’s creations.

Once she was ready, she joined the family for light repast and, shortly after, all except for the younger twins, who were not out, climbed into the two waiting carriages and left for the Meryton assembly hall.

At Netherfield, Darcy was waiting while his valet Carstens was putting the finishing touches on his cravat.

As much as he would have preferred to stay at the estate with a snifter of brandy and his latest edition of Cowper, he had made a commitment, and a gentleman always keeps his word.

When he arrived in the entrance hall, the whole party was assembled and he heard Miss Bingley lamenting the fact that no matter how she tried, she could not get an appointment with London’s premier modiste, Madame Chambourg.

He did not hear everything, but she was telling her sister that she was sure that some Duke’s wife and daughters all wore her gowns.

He remembered that his mother and sister had only recently got an appointment with the exclusive modiste because of a friend of his Aunt Elaine’s, she herself being the Countess of Matlock, and she too had required the same effort from her friend.

Whoever that woman was, she was not to be trifled with, as she had influence few could match if even his aunt had needed that lady’s assistance

Thankfully, they left on time as one of the things that Miss Bingley had learnt from Lady Anne Darcy was that fashionably late did not impress; it was just rudeness.

From that day onward, Miss Bingley made sure that she was on time or even slightly early.

As they arrived at the assembly hall, Bingley’s driver had to wait for two exceptionally large and expensive looking coaches to move on.

Had Darcy been attending, he would have noticed the crest of the Bennet family, the Bedford and Hertfordshire Bennets, not the ones that he had convinced himself were the occupants of the ‘small, low-earning’ estate that was entailed from the female line.