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Across the very same table Charles Bingley was forming an attraction to Miss Franny Phillips.

She was not the typical ‘angel’ that he seemed to fall in love with so rapidly and then just as fast he was out of love with them.

She had sandy blond hair and green eyes, vastly different from the bland, blond, blue-eyed ladies with willowy figures that he usually preferred.

Miss Phillips had a fuller, but very pleasant figure.

He knew that she would be turning eighteen very soon and would then be out in society.

She was not vapid like most who had previously turned his head.

She was an intelligent young lady, not unlike her cousin Lady Elizabeth, and he had learnt that she was well read and had good accomplishments.

He had also learned that she had a respectable dowry, but none in her family was vulgar enough to discuss such matters in public.

He decided that she was a woman worth getting to know, then they would determine if there was mutual affection and respect, rather than jumping into ‘love’ with an ‘angel’ as had been his propensity.

No, this was a worthy lady, and so he would take his time to get to know her properly.

Like her younger sister, Mrs. Hurst was ruminating about how they, a son and daughters of a tradesman, were sitting in the dining room of a duke and duchess.

‘ If Caroline had not changed, I am not sure that I would have had the strength to do so. I, the older sister, used to follow Caroline’s lead.

I just did not have the energy or force of will needed to oppose her.

‘Whatever it was that Lady Anne said to her at Pemberley not only improved her life, but mine as well. I may not be on first name terms with Lady Elizabeth as Caroline is, but she and her family do not look down on us or disdain us for our roots. If ever there was a time to follow my little sister’s lead it was when she made a change for the better.

I can never repine how pleasant our life has been since. ’

After dinner and after a brief separation of the sexes, the pianoforte was opened, and the harp placed next to it.

Ladies Marie and Jane performed a duet first, the former on the ivory keys while the latter plucked the strings of the harp.

The performance was excellent, but when Lady Elizabeth joined them in a song those who had not heard the Bennet sisters sing before thought that they were at the best performance they had ever had the pleasure of hearing.

The voices of the three sisters blended in perfection, and when Lady Elizabeth had a solo, her mezzo soprano voice sounded like that of a herald angel.

After the three completed the song, the applause was thunderous.

Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst followed the Bennet sisters and did a very creditable job as they played a duet on the pianoforte.

The sisters did not possess the same skill level of the Bennets, but their playing was heartily and sincerely applauded by all.

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

The Fitzwilliam brothers handed the reigns of their horses to the grooms waiting for them in front of Matlock House on Grosvenor Square. As they were about to enter the house, they saw their cousin William walking toward them.

“Good morning cousins,” Darcy offered as he reached the waiting men, “this is good timing. Richard, I know I sent you a missive, but allow me to wish you joy. I am incredibly happy that my abhorrent behaviour in Meryton did not affect your relationship with any of the Bennets.”

“We have forgiven you, William,” his cousin Andrew informed him as he slapped his cousin playfully on his back. “Your harder task, a much harder one, is to earn Lizzy’s forgiveness. She is not as quick to forgive as the rest of us.”

Darcy looked chagrined, but it only increased his absolute resolution to become a better man, one who one and all would enjoy being with.

“Do not worry so, William. I have informed Lady Elizabeth about you being an honourable man, and before we left Hertfordshire, I did detect a slight thawing in her attitude toward you,” the Colonel informed him, giving him a sliver of hope.

The three men were welcomed into the breakfast parlour where the family was just sitting down with their plates filled from the bountiful offerings on the sideboard.

The two Fitzwilliam sons shook their father’s hand and kissed the cheek of each female relative ending with a kiss on each cheek for their mother.

Darcy greeted all in a similar fashion with an especially warm hug and kiss for both Darcy ladies.

“I come bearing an invitation,” Andrew informed the family with no preamble. “Their Graces have invited all of the family to join them at Longbourn so that the ladies may plan a double wedding.” As he said this, he looked pointedly at his cousin William.

“As much as I appreciate the gesture, I must decline. This should be an enjoyable time for all of you, and until I have reached the level of amending my behaviour that I and others feel is acceptable, I will not be the one to cause any tension.” He saw the approving looks of all his relations, except his baby sister, who did not look happy at his decision, “Once I have proven that I am worthy and a gentleman in all ways, it would be my pleasure to be in the Bennet’s company again, if they so desire. ”

Lady Anne Darcy glowed with pride as she watched her son.

This was the man that she had always dreamed of meeting.

As a child he had been so much more affable and considerate of other’s feelings.

Lady Elizabeth may have very well been too severe on him, but Lady Anne could not repine what the lady had made her son acknowledge.

Her set down had been the catalyst that her dearest son needed to put him on the path of self-discovery and character correction that he was now on.

Before her daughter could complain about her son’s decision, Lady Anne looked at her son with the pride that only a mother could display without it seeming too much, “William, I believe that you have made a good decision. Like you, I hope and pray that it will not be long before you are seen for the man that I know you can be. I am so very proud to be your mother, my son.”

The sentiment was echoed by all the adults at the table, causing Georgie to mute the protest that had been on the tip of her tongue. “When are we expected?” asked the Earl, “and will there be others visiting besides us?”

“On Friday morning, and her Grace, soon to be Mother Bennet, has issued invitations to her husband’s brother and her own.

I understand that the De Melvilles will bring their son and daughter, so Georgie,” Richard looked at the girl that he was co-guardian of, “there will be several young ladies close to your age present. In addition, the Gardiners and their four children will be there, as will the Phillips family. I believe we will see a lot of the Bingleys and Hursts as they too have become somewhat friendly with the Bennets. And strangely enough, there seems to be true friendship between Lizzy and Miss Bingley.”

“W-who will be there?” Georgie asked timidly. As her daughter asked her question, the mother thought proudly of her protégé. Indeed, Miss Bingley had come far, and Lady Anne could not have been more pleased.

“Let me see,” Richard continued, “there will be the Bennet twins, Ladies Mary and Catherine, called Kitty by friends and family,” he winked at his aunt who playfully swatted her hand in his direction.

“The twins are seventeen, Lady Loretta De Melville is just seventeen, and you will meet Miss Maria Lucas, who is newly sixteen and the sister of Mrs. Pierce, the wife of the clergyman who holds the livings at Longbourn and Meryton. So, sweetling, as you can see, there will be a good number of girls for you to meet and become friendly with.”

“W-will they like me? W-what if they find out about my f-folly,” she asked with her eyes on her slippers.

“They already know, Georgie,” Andrew spoke gently. At her look of horror Andrew proceeded quickly, “William explained all to the Bennets when he informed them of the reasons that he was in a particularly bad mood the night of the assembly in Meryton.”

“T-they will hate me,” the sobbing girl cried.

“No, they will not, Georgie. In fact, they are looking forward to meeting you!” Richard countered her so abruptly that the crying girl looked up at Richard with disbelief.

“They think that you were very brave to have informed William what was afoot. Yes, you did not observe propriety, but just as we do, they fully blame the blackguard and his paramour that manipulated a tender-hearted girl practically half his age .” Seeing that his cousin was looking decidedly better, he added a little more as he would stake a substantial amount on being right.

“I pity the wastrel if Lady Elizabeth ever meets him! The way that she took William to task will be nothing compared to the rage, and I dare say hate, that she feels for that man.”

The last caused some laughter and a half smile from Georgie who had dried her tears.

“T-they will accept me? They are looking forward to meeting me?” When she saw the nods of both Fitzwilliam brothers, she smiled her first genuine smile since Ramsgate and all in the room were choked up at the sight of it, because this meant their beloved Georgie was on the road to recovery.

Lady Anne and the rest of the family who were invited to Longbourn could not wait to meet the ‘fearsome’ Lady Elizabeth Bennet.

As soon as the family completed the meal, the Countess repaired to her study to compose an express to the Duchess of Hertfordshire accepting on behalf of all her family, adding her nephews’ regrets that he was unable to defer the business that would keep him in Town.