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“We know that Marie and Andrew will marry in six weeks; we would like to ask them if we can have a double wedding. It was Kitty and Mary that made the suggestion. If they agree, we will inform her Grace that she will only have to plan one wedding.” When the two men joined the family in the drawing room, there was no doubt what the announcement was even before the Duke made the betrothal official.

The two betrothed couples had a short conversation in which Marie and Andrew threw their unreserved support behind the idea of a double wedding and the girls’ mother had no objections.

Richard requested the use of the library or study to write and express to his parents and family who were at Matlock House.

At two that afternoon, the Bingley, and Hurst party were admitted to Longbourn, and were welcomed by all.

It was refreshing to the Bingleys and Mrs. Hurst that they were not looked down on simply because of their ties to trade.

Given that the Duke was a silent investor in Gardiner and Associates and the Bennet’s shipping interests, it would have been overtly hypocritical to judge others by the means that they earned their money.

Once they were informed of the new betrothal, the arriving party wished the couple joy and the Bingleys and Hursts joined the two marquesses to speak of horses and sport.

The ladies began to talk fashion, and of course about Madame Chambourg.

The five Bennet daughters invited the sisters to come view some of the modiste’s creations in their dressing rooms. As they went above stairs, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst could not but help notice that Longbourn, although a little smaller than the house at Pemberley, rivalled it in comfort, taste, and excellence of the furniture and artwork.

The ladies repaired to the suite shared by Ladies Jane and Marie.

The visiting sisters were awed by its size.

Even though the suites at Netherfield were large by any standard they had seen or heard of, they looked small compared to the suite shared by Ladies Marie and Jane.

The two occupants of the suite each brought out three or four gowns for the sisters to see.

Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst could only marvel at the exquisite creations that the modiste had produced.

Lady Elizabeth got a glint in her eye, “How would you and Mrs. Hurst like a dress made by Madame Chambourg’s assistant modiste, Miss Bingley?”

“T-t-that would be a dream, but how Lady Elizabeth?” The Bennet girls all smiled.

“It would be easy. When we are at Longbourn for longer than a month, the assistant modiste and two or three seamstresses work out of a shop in Meryton. No one knows that they are there as it is for our exclusive use. If you like, you may come with us and Mama tomorrow when we visit them,” she offered invitingly.

“Yes, we would love to accompany you,” Mrs. Hurst responded for both sisters. “We thank you for the very welcome invitation.”

“Is Charlotte not joining us as well on the morrow, Lizzy?” Kitty asked and when Lizzy nodded, Kitty smiled. “I hope that Maria will come as well. I miss her.”

Seeing the questioning looks from the sisters, Lady Marie explained.

“Charlotte Pierce, Lucas as was, is married to Longbourn’s rector, Mr. Christopher Pierce, these five years.

She is three years older than Jane and me, and they have a son and a daughter.

” Seeing that the sisters did not remember the name Lucas, she reminded them of their connections already introduced to the Netherfield party.

“At the assembly you remember the master of ceremonies, Sir William Lucas?” recognition dawned, and she finished, “Charlotte is his eldest, and we have been friends with her as far back as we can remember.”

The ladies then returned to the drawing room, and after a most pleasant hour, the Bingleys and Mrs. Hurst said their farewells and returned to Netherfield

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

A dejected Fitzwilliam Darcy was drowning his sorrows with a bottle of brandy in his study at Darcy House on Grosvenor Square in London.

He was still stunned and disbelieving, momentarily ignoring his oath to himself as he thought.

‘ How has my life come to this? Me, a Darcy, to be so ostracised from society even my own family cannot help me, all because of Lady Elizabeth and her implacable resentment,’ he lamented to himself, and then added at least some honesty.

‘ Me and my big mouth. Why did I have to say such a thing just to try to get Bingley to leave me alone? How was I to know that she is the daughter of a duke? I thought that they were the Bennets to whom Aunt Catherine’s vicar is related and whose estate is entailed.

I believed them far below me and behaved as such.

Good Lord above, what have I done? ’ He groaned in self-pity as he took a long swallow from the snifter in his hand.

‘ I had no idea that they were those Bennets. They have such connections and wealth as to make me look like a pauper. Miss Bingley tried to tell me I was wrong about them, but I dismissed her and look at the price I am paying! Bingley tried to tell me as well, but did I listen? No, the ‘great, all-knowing Fitzwilliam Darcy’ knew better! Not even Aunt Catherine will be sympathetic, and I admit that I appreciate her company much more as she has ceased her requests that I marry Anne. Lady Catherine, who seldom defers to anyone, does so to the Bennets. Lady Elizabeth’s father is one of Uncle Reggie and Aunt Elaine’s friends, and her mother is Lady Sarah Bennet, De Melville as was, sister to the current Lord and Lady Jersey. How will I ever recover?

‘I at least know how I got confused. Aunt Catherine had told me that her new clergyman at Hunsford, not the brightest fellow but otherwise harmless, is a distant cousin of a minor country gentleman with an entailed estate of which Collins is the beneficiary.

The cousin, a poor country squire, has a number of daughters and no son and his estate brings in less than two thousand per annum.

The estate name is Longriver in Herefordshire.

By coincidence, the name is Benet with one ‘n.’ Yes, it was the wrong estate, wrong shire, and the family has no connection between those Bennets and these.

I assumed they were the ones the parson is a distant cousin of, and the rest is history!

‘Richard was right to have me send Georgie and Mama to live with them at Matlock House in the meanwhile. Mama warned me about Mrs. Younge, but did I listen? No, the great Darcy always knows best! Good Lord, Lady Elizabeth’s older sister, Lady Marie, is Andrew’s betrothed, so no wonder the family is upset with me, and rightfully so.

And Richard is courting her twin sister, Lady Jane.

I truly need to become better at listening to others.

It gets worse and worse the longer I consider my actions.

How was I to know that by insulting her I was insulting the royals?

Why would I know that the Bennets are cousins of the royals?

Both of her brothers, one the Bedford heir and the other the Hertfordshire heir, rightfully wanted to call me out!

‘I could not have made a worse mistake if I tried. Yes, I was upset worrying about Georgie and what that blackguard Wickham almost did to her with Mrs. Younge’s assistance in Ramsgate, but I should have guarded my words.

How could I call the handsomest woman of my acquaintance ‘tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me, and then for good measure I added some tripe about not giving consequence to someone so far below me that had been slighted by others? What a dullard I am!

‘Enough of this wallowing. I said that I would change, so it is time to start. There is no one to blame but myself. Yes, I had ‘selfish disdain’ for the feelings of others. I swear to you, Lady Elizabeth, that I will make real changes and you will see for yourself. Yes, talk is cheap, but I will act. In the morning I will go talk to Mother and Georgie at Matlock House, then will start to make amends, ask for advice, and listen to the advice that is offered. ’

With that, Darcy put the stopper back in the crystal brandy bottle and standing straighter than he had since he had caused the mess he was in, he walked up to his chambers with purpose to have a much-needed bath and to get some sleep.