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Charlotte was their first visitor of the morning. Elizabeth greeted her warmly, as they had not seen each other since before the stay at Netherfield. Elizabeth could tell right away that despite her joy at seeing her, something was on her friend’s mind. She had known Charlotte far too long to not notice a change in her demeanor.

Mrs Bennet rattled on about the upcoming nuptials, believing they were already set in stone. Charlotte nodded politely every now and then but appeared uncomfortable with the subject. Sometimes, she would look at the doorway as if contemplating ending the visit.

Elizabeth understood completely. She was past her anger stage with her mother and now resigned to put up with the nonsense. But there was only so much she could hear, so she asked Charlotte to take a walk with her, to which her friend readily agreed.

“You don’t know what my life has been like since yesterday, Charlotte. Mother is nonstop with her dream of what she thinks my life will become.” Elizabeth said once they were outside.

Charlotte nodded in sympathy. “I was questioned about you at the grocer and the butcher.”

“And?”

“I told them I had not seen you, so I did not know. One took that as possible proof as we are so frequently together. I told her that it was unlikely. To tell the truth, I did not finish my shopping because of it, so I went home.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It is not your fault,” she replied, but her tone made Elizabeth doubt whether she believed it true.

“Are you not going to ask me directly?”

“I don’t need to. My mother already said you denied it.”

“I shall tell you anyway. There is nothing to it. It is all a misunderstanding. If I can get my father to see reason, I might make it out of this dilemma.”

“You are taking it rather lightly, but this is serious.”

“I have come to terms with it for now but find no amusement in this ridiculous matter I find myself entangled. If I find out who started it, I might just… well, if I were younger, I would punch them in the nose.”

Charlotte could not help but laugh. “Like you did, my brother?”

“This is more serious than him trying to kiss me, but just as laughable.”

“Have you talked with Mr Darcy?”

Elizabeth nodded but did not want to discuss him, even though they were best friends and close confidants.

“What did he say?”

“He went to town to meet the Regent. If I’m lucky, he will have a match for him and command him to marry Lord So and So’s daughter to forge a political alliance for the good of the kingdom.”

Charlotte laughed. “Always the dreamer, Eliza. Even if that were true, it would not quell the gossip about you. It could make it worse as they will see him abandoning you.” She paused for a brief moment. “What of your cousin?” she asked nonchalantly.

“Please, Charlotte, have you seen him?”

“He is a little odd, I admit,” she nodded. “He had dinner with us last night.”

“Oh, so that is why he never came back. I’m sorry you had to endure his company.”

“I found him tolerable.”

Elizabeth looked at her friend in disbelief and wondered if she was joking, but her expression said otherwise.

“Although he spent most of it with father.”

Two witless peas in a pod, Elizabeth thought.

“Did you hear if Lady Catherine has danced at St. James?” She asked with a laugh, knowing it was Sir William’s favorite subject.

Charlotte knew she was making fun of her father but chose to ignore it. “No, but he did mention that her daughter had not been presented because of her health.”

“And did he say the court had been deprived of its brightest ornament because of it?” Elizabeth could tell by the look on her face that she had heard it. “Speaking of…” she said when the man in question was heading directly for them.

“Miss Lucas, they did not tell me you were visiting. It was fortuitous that I happened to look out of my window,” he said as he approached.

Elizabeth glanced at her friend and noticed her blushing. As he drew near, Mr Collins kept his focus on Charlotte, not even giving her a fleeting glance, which was perfectly fine as far as she was concerned. Losing his infatuation of her because of the rumors suited her, perhaps the only positive outcome of them.

He took Charlotte’s hand kissing it as he bowed, shocking Elizabeth.

“It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Lucas,” he said, giving her a fawning smile. As he did, he gave Elizabeth a quick glance.

“Thank you, Mr Collins,” she replied with a stammer, coloring even more from the unexpected kiss.

Elizabeth did not know what to make of their actions. It had been less than a day since he had rejected her, and now he was making love to her best friend. Charlotte appeared more embarrassed by his attention than shocked, and as far as she knew, they only met yesterday.

“I must again apologize for not being present when you arrived at my future home.”

Elizabeth gasped as he gave her a condescending look. Charlotte did not know what to say but gave her friend an apologetic look.

“You may be heir to this estate, but your words show you are no gentleman,” Elizabeth retorted.

“And your behavior shows…”

“Mr Collins,” Charlotte injected to stop him before he completed the insult. Putting a hand on his arm, she continued. “We cannot make assumptions on rumors that have no proof and have been denied.”

He was taken aback by the mild chastisement but then smiled toothily. “My dear Miss Lucas, you are correct. This is not the time to discuss such things with someone as delicate as you.”

Elizabeth balled up her hand into a fist. She did not think she had been as angry as she was now. How dare the man make such a brazen claim to Longbourn. A carriage coming up the drive saved him from a potential punch in the nose.

“Mr Bingley’s carriage,” she said, thankful for their neighbor’s perfect timing. “I shall see you back inside if you decide to stay, Charlotte.” She needed no reply and walked away.

Elizabeth headed for the front door. As she passed the window to the parlour, she saw Lydia and Kitty looking out, no doubt giving their mother a report on the new arrival.

“What a pleasure it is to see you again, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr Bingley said after dropping from the carriage. “You did not have to come out in the cold to greet us.”

“I was in the garden,” she stopped when Georgiana appeared. He helped her down, followed by Anne. Georgiana was excited to see Elizabeth, and it showed. Anne was more subdued but said she was happy to see her again.

“Come on in,” Elizabeth said, hurrying to open the door. She directed the two girls down the hallway before waiting for Mr Bingly to enter, as he had paused in his movement for some reason. He looked at her with a gentle smile. He glanced down the hall, making sure the two were out of hearing.

“Miss Elizabeth, I must apologize to you for my servants causing you problems,” he said quietly.

“Thank you, Mr Bingley. It shall pass,” she said, taking his hat and gloves and placing them on a side table. “Now, shall we go in and see Jane? I’m sure she will be happy you are here.”

He smiled broadly as she led him down the hallway to deliver his personal invitation to the ball. The parlour was soon filled with the excitement of the upcoming dance. The two young ladies excitedly informed them they had been promised they could attend through the first dance. Lydia promised them that she would convince Mr Darcy to let them stay through the whole dance as she thought it unfair.

Not long after the Netherfield party departed, they had unexpected visitors in the form of a few of the officers. After an appropriate period of interaction with the entire room, Mr Wickham managed to get Elizabeth alone.

“It appeared the rumor we discussed at your aunts turned out not to be true, or at least partially untrue.”

Elizabeth did not expect him to be so bold. “I knew them to be completely untrue at the time.”

“Is that because you knew what really happened?”

“And what would that be, Mr Wickham?”

He gave her a sly smile. “Miss Elizabeth, I tell you this so you do not get your hopes up?”

“I assure you, my hopes are well grounded. To what do you refer?”

He clicked his tongue several times. “Come now. It is all over town about you two,” he said softly.

“If you came here to gossip or have me confirm what you may have heard, I have no desire to play this game. I have already denied it.”

He looked where Denny was having an animated conversation with Lydia and Kitty. They were both laughing like foolish schoolgirls at one of his stories.

“They are nothing in the scheme of things for him. We have only known each other briefly, but I like you and your family,” he said, looking about the room. “I have known Darcy as far back as I can remember.”

“Is there a point to this?”

Wickham did his best to appear uncomfortable, which he accomplished with ease. In pursuing a leisurely life, he had become proficient in acting in almost any situation and played it to his advantage.

“Perhaps this is a conversation I should have with your father.”

“Why? If it is about the rumors, you must believe them true, which means you believe me to be a licentious woman. Unless it is to ask him for my hand in marriage?”

“That is, was not my intent,” he stammered.

“With which one? It just so happens that he is seeking to hand me off to anyone willing to take it, because of the falsehoods everyone is so willing to discuss.” she replied bitterly to the flustered man.

“I am not blaming you. He is rich and has had many a dalliance that…”

“I think we are done with this conversation.”

“Miss Elizabeth, I did mean to offend you. I tell you this so you do not get your hopes up that anything will come of it.”

“His sister claims he is the best of men.”

“Of course, she will say that about her brother.”

“Mr Wickham, I do not know what game you are playing, but I am finished with this conversation.”

To everyone’s astonishment, she left the room without a word. Wickham feigned innocence on what had prompted her departure.