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That evening, Jane and Elizabeth discussed their upcoming journey as they made ready for bed in the room they shared.

Jane was delighted at the prospect of spending time with Mr. Bingley and enjoying the attractions of the capitol, as well as seeing the Gardiners.

“I feel a little decadent at the thought of purchasing two new gowns; Mamma says to consider it as an early trousseau , but I do not wish to make such a presumption.”

“The rest of us certainly have,” Elizabeth teased her sister. “Mr. Bingley is clearly on his way to falling in love with you, Jane!”

“His sister hinted that she believes that is the case. I am so pleased that she has proven such a kind and agreeable friend.”

“So am I - and a little surprised, to own the truth. I had believed her to be proud and disagreeable when we met at the assembly, but her manners have since improved. And yet… oh Jane, there is a matter that has given me some little concern. Perhaps you would advise me.”

“What is it, Lizzy?”

“I have the impression that Caroline admires Mr. Darcy, and wishes to inspire his interest in return.”

“I have sometimes thought the same,” Jane agreed.

“Miss Bingley seems to believe that Mr. Darcy admires me , even though she has hinted that she heard what he said of me at the assembly.”

Jane recoiled in surprise. “Why should she think that? Has she given any reason?”

“She claims he called me pretty, or said that I had fine eyes?” Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, her expression twisting with disbelief. “Surely she must have misunderstood some criticism he gave voice to. And yet….”

Jane waited for her to finish her sentence, but Elizabeth bit down on her bottom lip and shook her head. Jane gave her a playful nudge. “Lizzy! There is something you are not telling me, you wicked creature! It must be something interesting.”

“Perhaps I make too much of it. At the bookshop, Mr. Darcy was looking for books that his sister had recommended, and two of them were the same titles that I had requested when last I visited the shop. He purchased both, and then gave me the novel.”

Jane gasped and then grinned at her. “Perhaps he wishes to make amends for his boorishness.”

“He might begin with an apology, for I have as good as told him that I heard it. But then he said that we might read the books and make an exchange of them - I think he meant to hint that we would discuss them together. It was so strange.”

Jane looked askance at her. “Lizzy, you are well known as the most voracious reader for miles, aside from our father. It is hardly strange that anybody should wish to discuss books with you.”

“Oh, very well. But is it not rather uncomfortable? I fear that Miss Bingley has only endeavored to become my friend so that she might put herself forward with Mr. Darcy. She believes him to admire me, and she has altered her manners in such a way that she may appeal to his interest by befriending me.”

“I hope you are wrong, Lizzy,” Jane said with a thoughtful frown. “Miss Bingley is kind and elegant, and certainly a gentleman might like her for herself; I cannot think she would impose upon you in such a way.”

“She made a few odd comments about attachments, when we were at Lucas Lodge, and then when Sir William encouraged us to dance, she snubbed Mr. Darcy - I believe she feared he would prefer to dance with me, and removed herself before she could be overlooked. And today, she spoke so warmly about Pemberley, as if she wished him to hear the praise. Surely, as he is the close friend of her brother, she must have come to cherish some hope or expectation in that quarter.”

“If she does fancy him, that can be nothing to you, since you are resolved to dislike him,” Jane said with a shake of her head.

“It need not affect your friendship with her.

You will hardly steal his affections from her when you are so far from giving him any encouragement.

Do not distress yourself, Lizzy. You must allow yourself to enjoy our time in London. “

Elizabeth promised that she would heed Jane’s counsel, and the two sisters retired amidst merry chatter about the delights that awaited them in town.

***

Caroline flinched as Louisa slammed the door and strode into her chamber. “Are you out of your senses to be traipsing off to London with those vulgar Bennet chits?”

“Certainly not,” Caroline hissed, drawing her thin wrapper around her chemise. “I require new ballgowns and a few things for the coming winter, and the Bennets have an uncle with an excellent warehouse. A shopping trip seems eminently sensible.”

“You have more clothing than anybody I know!” Louisa crossed her arms and fixed a severe gaze on her younger sister. “Please tell me you mean to see Miss Darcy in town, and open Charles’ eyes to the right choice of bride.”

“You heard what Mr. Darcy told him - there is no use pressing the matter.” Caroline flung her loose braid over her shoulder and began to pace the room.

“Charles will marry Jane and Mr. Darcy will wed Lizzy, and we will retain our fortunate connection to Pemberley. They will be brothers, anyhow. In that case, it would be more advantageous for Miss Darcy to eventually marry elsewhere, another grand connection for us. She might very well catch a duke - she is already residing with the Earl and Countess of Matlock.”

Caroline realized she had betrayed too much.

Louisa was purple with rage. “You would forfeit the man you have coveted for years, and to her? I never believed you stood a chance of getting him, but to lose him to that impudent hoyden? Do you actually think he would throw himself away on such a penniless nobody? It is madness even for Charles to do such a thing!”

“He likes her, I am sure of it. And he is the sort of man who gets what he wants, Louisa - I need not do much of anything. But I can step aside with dignity, and consider his wish that I share a warm friendship with the future Mrs. Darcy.” Caroline straightened her posture and stared her sister down, feeling supremely righteous.

“And you think this trip to London will push them together - away from her vulgar family, with whom he would never ally himself. And perhaps you are expecting his sister to fawn over her as you do.”

Caroline clenched her jaw, furious that her scheme was so transparent. “I am simply being her friend, Louisa - you would not know a thing about it.”

“And thus you do not wish me to be of the party?”

“As if your husband would agree to the journey, when he is content to indulge himself hunting and shooting and eating and drinking, all at our brother’s expense.

Surely this must be a better alternative for you, than for him to join us in London and spend a week losing at cards and bedding loose widows. ”

Louisa seized Caroline by the arm, and with her free hand slapped her across the face. Caroline wrested free and laughed in her sister’s face. “Poor Louisa, stuck at Netherfield alone with your husband for an entire week. How miserable you shall be!”

“Perhaps we will accompany you to London. I shall see your schemes come to nothing, and surely I can persuade Charles, once in town, to remain there. The Bennet chits will be sent home, and the connection dropped. Charles and Mr. Darcy will soon be reminded that they could both do better.”

Wicked bile churned in Caroline’s gut. “Your husband is fond enough of gambling - do you care to make a wager? If I succeed - and I shall have them all wed by Christmas, mark my words - if I accomplish it, you must share your husband’s bed for a month.”

Louisa sputtered with rage. “It ought to have been you,” she spat, then turned on her heel and stormed out of the room.

Caroline sank down on her bed and let out a heavy sigh. Her departure for London could not come soon enough - and she would ensure that her sister remained at Netherfield, even if she had to lock her up.

She knew that she was right, and Louisa was wrong. She had spent years observing Mr. Darcy, though not closely enough to realize he had no interest in marrying her. But though she had never detected his lack of interest, she could clearly perceive his fascination with Elizabeth.

The other Bennets may give a gentleman of such stature pause, for the younger girls were boisterous and ignorant, the mother was chaotically indiscreet, and even the father was sometimes prone to laughing when he ought to administer a modicum of discipline.

But the two eldest Miss Bennets would be seen to advantage in London, where Caroline had every hope of finding the Gardiners to be perfectly acceptable connections.

After all, she herself was as closely connected to trade as the Bennet girls, and was still elegant and accomplished.

It was a pity that the Gardiners resided in Cheapside, but the uncle was young and his wife was a fashionable, well-connected woman, so it was likely that their address may alter for the better as their family and fortune grew.

Caroline was certain Mr. Darcy would comprehend this, and Charles would not care if his lady had uncles enough to fill all of Cheapside.

Oh yes, Caroline had every confidence that the trip to London would be a tremendous success. She fell asleep with thoughts of elaborate gowns, London attractions, and two very promising new friendships.

***

Darcy wondered if he was out of his mind to be going along with the London scheme.

He and Charles had intended to go on horseback alongside the carriage, allowing the ladies their privacy and comfort for the short journey; light but vexing rain on the morning of their departure obliged the gentlemen to ride within the Darcy carriage, and Darcy could not like to be in such close quarters with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

The Hursts had intended to join them, but there was some damage to one of the wheels of Bingley’s carriage that was discovered that morning, and could not be repaired in time.

Mr. Hurst was just as content to remain at Netherfield, and assured his wife that they need not bother with all the fuss of traveling.

Miss Bingley had looked like the cat that ate the canary at this alteration to their plans.

She and her brother chatted with great animation as they made their way to Longbourn to collect the Bennet sisters.

Miss Bingley was eager to see Georgiana while in town, and her brother was just as keen to meet with Richard.

“What luck that the colonel has leave until the new year! He and Miss Darcy must come and dine with us one evening. But are you sure you would not prefer to stay at my house?”

“Richard’s parents will be able to accommodate me,” Darcy replied.

He could not trust himself to stay under the same roof as Elizabeth Bennet, without making a monumental ass of himself, or throwing himself at her feet - likely both at once.

When he thought of the way she had bounced with excitement at the book shop, or how she had smiled so brightly during their brief minutes of dancing together, Darcy felt it unwise to even travel in the same carriage as the goddess he could not permit himself to worship.

When they collected Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth, Caroline sat between the two sisters, and occupied herself in facilitating a lively conversation between Miss Bennet and Bingley, who had much to say on the places he wished to visit in London.

“We must visit the Royal Menagerie and Piccadilly, and Hyde Park, if the weather proves fine. And Vauxhall, to be sure! I know you ladies mean to apply yourselves most vigorously to the noble quest of acquiring ball gowns, and I am sure to commend you for it, but we must divert ourselves!”

Darcy smiled in spite of himself at Bingley’s enthusiasm. His friend had been infatuated with pretty blondes many times over, but with the novelty of his sister’s encouragement, his attachment seemed to be progressing beyond the common flirtation.

When Darcy looked over at Miss Elizabeth, she was staring at him with something between surprise and amusement, but upon catching his eye she returned her attention to the book she had begun reading as soon as they departed Longbourn. It was the novel he had impulsively purchased for her.

He smiled again, his hand brushing over his coat pocket, where he had inexplicably kept the list of books she had added to. And then he opened the volume of poetry he had bought in Meryton, wishing for her to notice it. He wished she would speak to him, but she did not.

Absorbed in her book, she said nary a word to anybody until the carriage came to a stop in front of Matlock House in Belgrave Square.

She bid him farewell until that evening, when he would join them for dinner with the Bingleys.

Darcy resolved to put the vixen from his mind as he entered his uncle’s home, eager to see his sister and cousin.