Dearly Beloved

Section I,

Chapter 1

Posted on Thursday, 29 August 2002

"Lizzy, I will be fine, I will recover, I promise."

"Oh, Jane, I am so worried about you, and so is Mr. Bingley. He has sent for a physician from London. He is beside himself from worry over you. You must know that I think he is truly in love with you. I am so happy for you."

"Lizzy, I am sure that he is just concerned about me. And I think that it is too much trouble having someone from London come to see me."

"Nevertheless, Jane, Doctor Foster will be here tomorrow. I know that you will be kind to him and explain all that you are feeling. We are all so worried about you, Jane. I am so angry with Mama for making you take Nellie over here that night. You should never have come."

"Oh, Lizzy, it does no good to dwell on that. Mama was only doing what she thought was best for me."

"Well, it was a good scheme, to be sure, and look at you now, in bed for a week and hardly able to move. I am so sorry Jane. It is my fault for teasing Papa into saying he needed the horses in the farm."

"Lizzy, it is not your fault, or Mama's fault, or anybody's fault. I have a little cold, that is all, and everybody is making a fuss over it. Lizzy, I am really tired now. I think I shall sleep for awhile."

Elizabeth was not so confident as Jane that it was just a "little cold." She was quite worried. Jane had never been this ill before and she was not getting any better.

Elizabeth and Jane's acquaintance with the Netherfield party began at the Meryton assembly. Mr. Bingley had arrived comfortably late with his two sisters, Miss Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Louisa Hurst, Louisa's husband Mr. Allen Hurst, and Mr. Bingley's dear friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. This fact was a great relief to some of the ladies in the room, who had believed the general report that Mr. Bingley was bringing twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly.

Mr. Bingley was soon introduced to Miss Jane Bennet.

"Miss Bennet, if you are not otherwise engaged, may I claim the next two dances?" he asked of her.

"I am not engaged," she had replied, looking at him through lowered lashed as a gentle blush suffused her face.

Jane had seen handsome men before, but none that sparked her interest like Mr. Bingley. At two and twenty, she had never fancied herself in love before, at least not that she was aware of. She longed for the day when a passionate love would enter her life. She wanted a husband that would treat her the way her uncle treated his wife, Mrs. Gardiner; with compassion, tenderness and respect, completely unlike the example of marriage she witnessed daily. If not, she would rather end an old maid. Of course, she was so poor, she would probably not marry anyway. But she would always hope. Always.

When she recollected herself, she realized that Mr. Bingley was still standing in front of her, looking very intently into her eyes. She arched her eyebrows in the form of a question. Mr. Bingley gave a start.

"Oh! I am sorry, Miss Bennet. Please excuse me." And he turned and walked away.

"Well, Jane," laughed Elizabeth, "you have made your first conquest of the evening."

"Lizzy, please, do not say such things!"

"I must Jane. I must have someone to tease. I think he is in love with you. He was out of his mind when he was staring at you. And Jane, I think you were, too. Of what were you thinking, Jane?"

"Of love, Lizzy. Of a passionate love."

As for Mr. Bingley's sisters, it was evident from their dress and manner that they were ladies of decided fashion and elegance who thought themselves quite above the folks of Meryton. They spoke well, walked well and danced well, but they thought well of no one but Mr. Darcy. They nibbled on sandwiches with perfect ease, and appeared born and bred with wineglasses in their hands. Nothing was beneath their notice and ridicule; they commented on the fact that there were only three musicians, that the so-called gentry were louder than dignified or genteel, that the fashions were out of style and that the assembly room was in need of dusting. How their brother came to even find Netherfield was a miracle in and of itself, that he should chose to lease it was astounding, and that his sisters should live there with him was appalling. If it were not for the fact that their brother had begged them to live with him, they would have stayed in Mr. Hurst's townhouse in London.

Mr. Darcy was single, to be sure, and every female eye was upon him. What an honor it would be to be singled out by him! It was soon rumored upon his arrival at Netherfield that Mr. Darcy's estate in Derbyshire was worth ten thousand a year. He was handsome, more so than Mr. Bingley, but soon lost favor with the people in the assembly because he appeared to be above their company. He shunned introductions, danced only four dances with Mr. Bingley's sisters, and walked around the room as if stalking prey, speaking only to members of his own party. He was decidedly proud, and his character was fixed as a result of the following exchange with Bingley.

"Come Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."

"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are presently engaged, and there is not another woman whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."

"I would not be so fastidious as you are for a kingdom!" cried Bingley. "Upon my honor, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty."

"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."

"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

Mr. Bingley followed his friend's advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

Mr. Bingley observed Miss Elizabeth's reaction to Darcy's statement. He was ashamed for his friend, that he had spoken so loud that she had overheard his remark. Bingley thought her to be quite pretty, almost as much as her sister, and Miss Elizabeth must be very hurt. Later, he spoke with Miss Bennet.

"Miss Bennet, please apologize to your sister, Miss Elizabeth for me, for I fear I have caused her a great deal of mortification and embarrassment by way of my friend."

"Mr. Bingley, I do not understand. Whatever do you mean? What could have happened to distress her so?"

"I tried unsuccessfully to persuade my friend Darcy to dance, and offered to obtain an introduction for him, through you, to your sister Miss Elizabeth. He outright refused, making a comment about not dancing with strangers and a couple other things not worth repeating. Frankly, he was quite uncivil. I am embarrassed for him, for I believe it possible that Miss Elizabeth overheard him speaking of her."

"Sir, I am shocked! How could he treat Elizabeth in such a manner as that? She is as pretty and as kind as any young woman he could hope to meet. I am sorry for her, and for him. He is missing out on a very special young lady who would have cared nothing for his ten thousand a year. I think he very much misjudged her, but it is more to his loss than hers. I see her dancing again, this time with Captain Carter, and he is still standing by the wall."

"You are right, Miss Bennet," Bingley chuckled, "he is his own worst enemy. So Miss Bennet, have you always lived at Longbourn?"

"Yes, I have. My family has never lived anywhere else. Where are you from, Mr. Bingley?"

"A small town in the far North. My father was very successful in trade and left me a large fortune. He intended to buy an estate and live the life of a gentleman, but he died when I just became of age, so he never fulfilled his dream. I am trying to find my place in the world. I received accidental word that Netherfield was a worthy house, near town, in a pleasant neighborhood, so I came down and looked into it. I agreed with the general report and took it for a year. And here I am." He seemed to be proud of his accomplishment of finding a home so quickly.

"I am sorry about your father. That must have come as quite a shock for you. But I am glad that you came into the neighborhood," she said with a blush. She was very glad he had come.

"Thank you. And what about your family, Miss Bennet? Please tell me about them."

"You have met most of them, I believe. I have four younger sisters, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine, and Lydia. I am very close to Elizabeth. I would say that she is my best friend. We talk about everything without reserve. I have an uncle who is a solicitor in Meryton and another in trade in town.

"Would you care to dance while we talk, Miss Bennet? A new set is just forming up."

"It would give me great pleasure, sir."

By the end of the assembly, Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley were in a fair way to be very much in love. They had similar tempers, and an excellent understanding. Of course, Jane made everyone she was with appear to an advantage because of her excellent disposition. Jane and Mr. Bingley had common interests, a united way of feeling optimistic about the world and a general desire of thinking well of other people and looking for the good in them by overlooking the bad and explaining it away to some form of misunderstanding.

The Bennet family returned home with a happy report for Mr. Bennet on the proceedings of the assembly. He had been hoping that their expectations for Mr. Bingley would be disappointed, but he had another story to hear. In fact, he was pleased that his daughters had an enjoyable time. He only wanted their happiness, particularly that of his two eldest for whom he felt nothing but the highest esteem, and especially for his second daughter, Elizabeth, his acknowledged favorite.

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him.

"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good-humored, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! - so much ease, with such perfect good-breeding."

"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth; "which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."

"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment."

"Did you not? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him."

"I like him very much, Lizzy. Very much indeed, and I believe he likes me as well. I am looking forward to our next meeting."

"Then you will be happy to know that the Lucases are having a party for all of the neighborhood tomorrow night and the Netherfield party has accepted the invitation."

"Oh, Lizzy, I did not know that. That is wonderful news. But maybe he will not come. Maybe he will think the Lucases are below his level of society."

"Jane, Mr. Darcy may think so, but be assured that Mr. Bingley does not. In fact, it does not matter who the company is, if you are there, rest assured, Mr. Bingley will be there also."

The Bennet family arrived in good time for the Lucas' party. All of the officers and the other families were there except for the Netherfield party. Jane waited patiently for them to arrive. Elizabeth was no less interested in them, wanting to see how Mr. Bingley behaved towards Jane and how Mr. Darcy behaved towards everybody else. To own the truth, despite her animosity towards him for his treatment of her at the Meryton assembly, she could not deny that he was handsome and pleasing to look at, and in this way she was attracted to him.

In the Lucas' drawing room, Elizabeth's sister Mary was at the pianoforte playing some obscure concerto to which no one was listening. Lydia and Kitty were carrying on with the officers. It seemed they would flirt with them forever. Elizabeth wondered if a sensible thought ever crossed their minds. Her father thought not, and Elizabeth was starting to be of his opinion. She gradually became inured to the noise of the music and talking, for which she was thankful, as it saved her from getting a headache.

And then, there they were, the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley looked very well. He glanced around the room until he saw Jane, then made his way directly towards her. He was interrupted by Sir William, but quickly dispatching that inconvenience, finished his progress to Jane. He greeted her with a gentle kiss on her hand, lingering his hold on her hand longer than required. Elizabeth saw it all with pleasure. She saw a slight blush on Jane's cheeks, which only made her more attractive. If she were not in love yet, she soon would be. How she could possibly resist Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth did not know. They seemed formed for one another. It was pretty obvious that Bingley loved Jane already.

Elizabeth, however, would never have imagined that she was becoming the subject of somebody else's romantic inclinations. But the truth be told, Mr. Darcy, who had found her to be only just tolerable in appearance and had watched her throughout the Meryton assembly to verify his assumption, was now finding that perhaps there was some beauty in her form and figure and was particularly drawn to the sparkle and vigor shown in her beautiful, dark eyes. But that there should be much beauty in a country nobody was opposite to all he believed, therefore he watched her this evening at the Lucases to verify that she had none. Unfortunately, his struggles seemed to be in vain, and he felt himself ever increasingly drawn towards her each minute. He moved near her to hear the sound of her voice, and while her playful manners were so unlike those of women of fashion, they were attractive nonetheless.

Darcy had just terminated a worthless conversation with Sir William when Elizabeth walked by.

"My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? - Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you." And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,

"Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."

Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honor of her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.

"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one-half hour."

"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.

"He is indeed; but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance - for who would object to such a partner?"

Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley -

"I can guess the subject of your reverie."

"I should imagine not."

"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner - in such society, and, indeed, I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise - the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"

"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity -

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favorite? - and pray, when am I to wish you joy?"

The Bennet family was interrupted at breakfast a couple days after the Lucas' party by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read -

"Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love."

"It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud.

My Dear Friend, -

If you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's tęte-ŕ-tęte between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can upon the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers. - Yours ever,
Caroline Bingley

"With the officers!" cried Lydia "I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that."

"Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, "That is very unlucky."

"Can I have the carriage?" said Jane.

"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night."

"That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, "if you were sure they would not offer to send her home."

"Oh! But the gentleman will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton; and the Hursts have no horses to theirs."

"I had much rather go in the coach."

"But my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are they not?

"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them."

"But if you have got them today," said Elizabeth, "my mother's purpose will be answered."

She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged; Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly could not come back.

Chapter 2

Posted on Monday, 2 September 2002

"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" Said Mrs. Bennet more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth: -

Netherfield, Thursday, Nov 14

My Dearest Lizzy, -

I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones - therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me - and, excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the matter with me. - Yours &c.

"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness - if she should die - it would be a comfort to know it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders."

"Oh! I am not at all afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see her if I could have the carriage."

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative.

Elizabeth arrived at Netherfield to a room filled with people who had mixed feelings on seeing her. Her skirts were dirty at the hem, her hair disarranged, and her face glowing from the exertion of walking three miles with a purpose. They were all incredulous that she had come so far and all alone. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were all politeness, of course, but Elizabeth feared they must despise her. Mr. Darcy gave the appearance of displeasure by his stern countenance, when in fact he was pleased to see her, though worried that her efforts were unwarranted. Mr. Hurst said nothing and thought nothing. Only Mr. Bingley greeted her with the warmth of friendliness, expressing concern that he could not have been of service to her with his carriage, gratified that she would be willing to visit her sister and asked that she call on him for anything that might make her visit more comfortable. He did not notice her gown, or mind that she walked, or that her hair was unkempt. She could do no wrong. She was, after all, Jane's sister, and there could be no greater recommendation in her favor.

"Mr. Bingley, I have come to visit my sister." Said Elizabeth upon her arrival. "She wrote that she is unwell and that Mr. Jones has come to see her. She is rarely ill, so I determined at once to come to her. How is she?"

"I wish I could say that she is well, Miss Elizabeth, but I am afraid she reports that her head aches severely and that her throat is very sore. She is unable to eat more than a few bites of soft food and drinks only warm tea. One of the housemaids is in constant attendance on her, but I know she shall be very glad to see you. I am happy you have come. It will give me great pleasure knowing that you will provide some comfort to Ja ... Miss Bennet. For your comfort and for hers, I hope that you will agree to remain with us at Netherfield until she is quite recovered enough to be moved to Longbourn. I shall immediately send a servant to inform your family and bring back clothes and anything else you may desire, all that will make your stay comfortable."

Elizabeth was pleased at Mr. Bingley's hesitation over Jane's name, and although she was not sure in the knowledge of the nature of their relationship, she was certain of how he called Jane in the privacy of his own mind.

"I do not want to intrude on you, Mr. Bingley. You already have my sister on your hands."

"Nonsense!" replied Bingley. "You will do us a great favor by remaining with us and I am certain nothing can contribute more towards your sister's recovery."

"Thank you, Mr. Bingley. I should like very much to stay with poor Jane."

Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to Mr. Bingley's inquiries, which she very early received by a housemaid. Mr. Bingley was genuinely afflicted. He was never happy when anyone was ill, but for it to be Jane; this was horrible. When he arrived home last evening with Darcy and Hurst from the officer's quarters, he had at first been pleasantly surprised to hear that his sisters had invited Jane over for the evening, but then the weather - how could she have come at all comfortably in all of that rain? And then to have found out that she had taken ill because she had actually ridden over on horseback and was soaked clear through by the rain. On horseback! What mother on earth would have allowed her daughter to travel on horseback on an afternoon like yesterday? It had been obvious that it was going to rain. Was Mrs. Bennet so completely devoid of feeling for her children to even consider such a thing? Yet it was so. Here was Jane ill in his own home, under his protection, and here was her sister, Miss Elizabeth, come to assist in her care, all because of her mother. It was inconceivable.

In spite of the amendment, Elizabeth requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane and form her own judgment of the situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and its contents as quickly complied with.

Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She would not listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at all advisable.

Bingley met her with the hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected. They were sitting in the drawing room when Mrs. Bennet replied,

"Indeed I have, sir. She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness."

"Removed!" cried Bingley. "It must not be thought of. My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal."

"You may depend upon it, Madam," said Miss Bingley with cold civility, "that Miss Bennet shall receive every possible attention while she remains with us at Netherfield."

Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments.

"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper ever met with. And thank you for putting up with the burden of Lizzy. I cannot think what possessed her to walk here in all that dirt, not that I can ever think what it is that girl will do next, she runs off in such a wild manner at all times and places. I hardly recognize her for one of my children on many occasions."

Elizabeth colored and bowed her head in shame but said not a word. She did not raise her head again until her mother went away. When she did, Elizabeth ran back up to Jane's room, from where she could not be prevailed on to leave throughout the course of the evening.

Mr. Darcy, who was a witness to this conversation, was shocked. It was offensive and ill bred that one person could speak in such a manner as this of another in company. But for a mother to speak like this of a daughter was incomprehensible. Miss Elizabeth was hurt and embarrassed, to be sure, but at the same time, she did not appear to act as if this was the first time she had suffered such treatment. It pained him to see it. Elizabeth Bennet seemed to him to be a kind, generous young woman, full of life and vigor, filled with love and compassion for her sister and kindness for everyone else. She had sense, wit, charm and vivacity that was rarely met with, and certainly not among Bingley's sisters. Either he was not knowing Miss Elizabeth very well at all, or her mother was very prejudiced against her for a peculiar reason. Either way, it was amazing to him that they could both come from the same family.

Jane was not privy to the conversation that was had between her mother, her sister and the rest of the Netherfield party, but she knew something awful had happened, for not long after her mother had left her room, Elizabeth came running back into it with tears streaming down her face. She collapsed on her bed and said not a word. Jane knew she was crying as her body quivered from her silent sobbing. This went on for about a quarter of an hour, Jane's heart breaking all the while, when suddenly, Elizabeth sat up on the bed with dry but red and swollen eyes, announced to Jane that she was just fine, apologized for disturbing her, said she was going to take a walk and immediately left the room.

Elizabeth spent an hour in the garden, becoming invigorated by the fresh air. She pondered on the cruel joke that Heaven played on her that placed her in such a family with a kind but silent father, and a mother that seemed to hate her. Her only comfort was Jane. She was glad to be away from Longbourn and here with Jane, and only hoped she could do enough for her so that she would quickly recover. The whole situation was her mother's fault. She sent Jane over on horseback, knowing it was going to rain so that she would have to stay the night at Netherfield. Well, her mother got what she wanted. She always got what she wanted.

On Saturday Jane decided that she really was not feeling any better than yesterday, but that she needed to somehow get up and around, to give the appearance of some improvement so that she could prevail on her mother to let her return home. She felt uncomfortable imposing on Mr. Bingley for so long, though he had never said an unkind word to her. In fact, he was always very nice, and with Elizabeth's attendance, he had been able to spend an hour with her yesterday, and again this morning. She longed for these visits.

Today Bingley told Jane about a ball to be given by the officers in five days time. He had received the invitation the day she had ridden over to spend the evening with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. The officers were a fine group of men. They seemed to be a respectable lot, nothing like a person might encounter in the regulars, but for a militia regiment, one could not meet with a better set of gentlemen. They came either from respectable families or were men looking for a way to make a name for themselves and had worked hard to earn their commissions. On the whole, he was very pleased with them. The ball they were to host would be given at the Meryton assembly room. The officers were delivering their remaining invitations today and it was expected to be a wonderful affair.

"Miss Bennet, if you are not otherwise engaged, may I claim the first two dances?" They both laughed, remembering that this was in the same manner that he had asked her for their first dance at the Meryton assembly.

"I am not engaged, sir," replied Jane. This time they both blushed at her response, since thoughts of marriage to each other had begun to creep into their brains. Pleasant and welcome thoughts, indeed.

"However, Miss Bennet, if you are not wholly recovered, I must insist that you defer our dancing engagement until a later date. I cannot have you up late and out of doors. I intend to have a ball at Netherfield, but it will not be arranged until you are quite well."

"You are very kind, and I appreciate your concern, but I am sure that I will be well again and able to dance and fulfill my engagement for the officer's ball."

After another half-hour of quiet conversation, he left her, concerned that she needed to rest. She thanked him for his kind attention and told him that she looked forward to seeing him again. They parted from each other with warm hearts.

"Lizzy, did you hear? He has asked me for the first two dances at the officer's ball!"

"I was trying very hard not to hear anything, Jane. Did you accept?"

"Oh, Lizzy, how can you say such a thing! Of course I accepted him. How could I do otherwise. Is he not a wonderful man, so solicitous and kind to everything I might require?"

"Jane, I think you are falling in love with that 'wonderful man,' and I am happy for you. You deserve each other. You are both so complying that nothing will ever be decided upon, you will never argue because you both believe the same things, and it is difficult for either of you to think ill of another human being. You are so optimistic that you both look for the sun in the middle of a rainstorm. You are perfect for each other. And I can tell you this: he is madly in love with you!"

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes, and you would too, if you were not so much in love yourself. But love makes a person insecure, it makes a person feel vulnerable and fragile, so they are no longer able to see clearly on matters of the heart like they used to. Just wait. If I ever fall in love, you will know long before I do."

After the ladies moved to the drawing room after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to Jane's room to assist her down stairs. She was received very pleasantly by Mr. Bingley's sisters, who entertained them with stories about their friends and acquaintances, the latest fashions in town, and their hopes for Jane's speedy recovery. But their solicitude came to an end when the gentlemen entered the room; Elizabeth could hardly have expected more from Mr. Bingley's sisters. She had no opinion of them whatsoever, and counted leaving them behind at Netherfield as one of the advantages of Jane's return to health.

Mr. Hurst approached Jane and said he was glad she seemed well. In fact, he had no idea how she was. He was barely aware that she was even at Netherfield. Upon seeing Jane, Mr. Darcy said,

"Miss Bennet, may I ask if you are feeling any better?"

"Yes, sir, I am feeling a little better, I thank you," Jane lied. Actually, she did...