The Path to Pemberley

By Maria L.

Jump to new as of September 12, 1999
Jump to new as of September 22, 1999

Part I

Posted on Tuesday, 7 September 1999, at 10 : 25 p.m.

Elizabeth and Darcy stopped the carriage in front of Longbourn house. Darcy smiled conspiratorially at Elizabeth as he helped her out of the carriage. Bingley's carriage was still there so the couple concluded that he and Jane must be inside.

As they walked into the front door they were assaulted with a pitched shriek from above stairs. Elizabeth looked at Darcy and said, "I believe mamma has just been informed that Jane is to become Mrs. Bingley."

On the way back from their carriage ride, Elizabeth and Darcy had decided that Jane and Bingley deserved their own day to be engaged. Darcy would return to Longbourn the following day to explain all that had passed between them to her father. He was feeling a bit foolish at how he would explain such goings on a s had happened. Just that day he had informed Mr. Bennet that he did not wish to press his suit if Miss Bennet was not inclined to marry him. Upon that word, her father had informed Darcy that she was not and the engagement had effectively been dissolved.

Elizabeth was surprised that Darcy seemed a bit nervous about speaking with her father. He had asked her quietly, "You are very close to your father, I know. Do you believe he will give me a rough time of it?" Elizabeth had assured him that her father most definitely would give him all the trouble he possibly could, but in the most good-natured way.

Now as they entered the parlor they met Mr. Bingley and Mr. Bennet. "Well Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, you have missed much excitement. What do you think? Mr. Bingley and Jane are to be married at last. Come now, it is time for supper. You gentlemen must stay and dine with us to celebrate the occasion. Mrs. Bennet and I will hear nothing else. I am afraid," Mr. Bennet whispered to Elizabeth as they took their seats, "that we shall have to postpone our discussion until tomorrow. This is a serious occasion, and all of my attention must be directed to it. The observation of your mother in complete rapture, and devoid of all the offenses her nerves can bring, deserves nothing less, -- it happens so infrequently that I am afraid of missing a moment of it. Perchance it shall never happen again." Elizabeth shook her head at her father for his teasing. In truth she was glad that her father would not this evening attempt to release her from the engagement with Mr. Darcy that she now so whole-heartedly intended to complete.

Throughout supper, Jane and Mr. Bingley exchanged many glances and blushes. All eyes were upon them and so none of the glances and blushes shared by Elizabeth and Darcy where conceived by her family. Mrs. Bennet was in ecstasy. She laughed and smiled and grinned uncontrollably throughout the meal. To Elizabeth's utter amazement, she was in such high spirits as to speak several times during the meal with civility to Mr. Darcy, who in taking care to sit next to Elizabeth, had also seated himself next to Mrs. Bennet.

The whole party was in high spirits. Soon after supper the gentlemen took their leave, Bingley with a cheerful farewell and a kiss upon the hand of his intended and Darcy with a low bow to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, a nod at the younger girls and a long look of promise to his unannounced intended.

That night Jane expressed all of her joy and happiness to her dearest sister. Elizabeth was so glad, so very happy for her dear kind sister and could only listen as Jane extolled the virtues of her lover. "Jane!" Elizabeth cried. "I am so very happy for you and Mr. Bingley. Who but the two of you deserve such joy! You will be so happy together! The sisters talked into the night and finally fell asleep together on Jane's bed, much as they had when they were children, during that darkest part of night that changes to the darkest part of the new days morning.

"OH! HE HAS RETURNED AND SO EARLY! SURLY HE IS MAD IN LOVE! JANE! JANE! HE IS HERE! HE IS HERE!"

Elizabeth woke with as start at the sound of her mother in such confusion. She attempted to bolt up, but her precarious position on Jane's narrow bed sent her sprawling to the floor with a loud thud. As she sat up ill-naturedly rubbing her backside, Jane's face appeared over the edge of the bed to look down at her with concern. "Elizabeth!" Jane exclaimed. "Are you all right?" "Perfectly." Elizabeth said dryly as she maintained her position. Jane gave a slight cough that seemed mysteriously like a laugh and Elizabeth's eyes shot to her sister suspiciously. Now Jane made no attempt to conceal her mirth and rolled upon her back on the bed laughing out loud. Elizabeth scowled for a moment, then seeing the humor in the situation, and appreciating it more so because of the rare abandon of her sisters humor, she too fell back upon the floor laughing. Poor Miss Bennet, who bustled into the room with Sarah in tow, found her two eldest and most sensible daughters overcome by laughter.

'They've gone distracted!' thought Mrs. Bennet. She clapped her hands at them like a drill sergeant to get their attention. "Girls, girls! Stop this foolishness at once. Mr. Bingley is here! Jane you must get dressed dear!" As Jane rose from the bed to do her mothers bidding still wiping tears from her eyes and suppressing bubbly giggles, Elizabeth dusted herself off and made to return to her own room. Her mother stopped her in the hall.

"Elizabeth. You must help you sister." At Elizabeth's look of confusion her mother continued. "Mr. Bingley has brought with him that dreadful Mr. Darcy again. You must help to entertain him so that Jane will have some time to converse alone with Mr. Bingley. I am sorry to ask you this dear, but it cannot be helped. I am surprised he is back again. I thought he right understood my feelings toward him. Perhaps he has a thick head and lacks some wit."

"Mama!" Cried Elizabeth. "Please do not persist in you ill natured attentions to Mr. Darcy." By way of explanation she added, "He is a very good friend of Mr. Bingley's so you must show him as much cordiality as you show to Mr. Bingley"

Mrs. Bennet only shook her head in irritation and shooed Elizabeth away to dress herself.

A scant twenty minutes later, The family sat down to breakfast with their guests. Immediately after breakfast, Mr. Darcy proclaimed a wish to see Mr. Bennet's library. Mr. Bennet was all astonishment, but always loved the chance of getting into his library and so directed Mr. Darcy into his study.

All was quiet in the morning parlor as Mrs. Bennet, Mary, Kitty and Elizabeth worked on embroidery. Jane and Bingley had gone into the garden for a walk around the park. It was a very long quarter of an hour. Elizabeth stuck her finger with her embroidery needle no less than four times. Her stitches were, as always even and precise, but she did not see them and just as she realized that she had used red thread to stick two leaves that should certainly have been green, Mr. Darcy reentered the drawing room. His eyes and a slight inclination of his head lead her to understand that she was to go to her father in his study.

Elizabeth slipped out of the room quietly excusing her self and flew down the hall. Upon entering her fathers study door she entered and perceived him sitting behind his desk. There was a mixture of dry humor and confusion in all his looks and before he had uttered a word Elizabeth felt some degree of relief. "My dearest Elizabeth." Began her father with a small smile. "I am perplexed indeed."

Part II

Posted on Friday, 10 September 1999, at 5 : 57 p.m.

"My dearest Elizabeth." Began her father with a small smile. "I am perplexed indeed."

Elizabeth looked at her father and sat down in a chair opposite his desk when he motioned for her to take a seat.

"I have been speaking, again with Mr. Darcy this morning." Do you know that yesterday when he called he communicated to me that he did not wish to enter into a one sided marriage and so cried off the engagement we had decided upon. He was most emphatic that you did not want him. But, alas! Today he says that you love him very well and will marry him as soon as may be."

Mr. Bennet stood and looked out of the window in contemplation. "I am sure that I am more confused now then I have ever been before. What say you to this business Elizabeth? Oh, yes, but you have already expressed your anger for my forming the engagement in the first place. Well. I think I shall do now what I ought to have at first. Especially considering the man does seem not to know quite what he is about. I shall refuse my consent. That shall put an end to this directly. If I do not the man will surely continue with this right to left, side to side, back and forth, upwards and downwards engaged then not engaged business. I am sure he is only intent upon having sport anyhow."
Elizabeth was at first very shocked by her fathers words. Next, when he hinted that he would refuse his consent, she was panicked, now as he finished, she was calm. For as Mr. Bennet turned from the window she saw the same light humor in his eyes, the same teasing playfulness that so vexed her dear mother and that she so enjoyed in their companioning hours. "Oh, Papa!" Cried she as she was upon her feet and standing by him at the window in an instant after the understanding of her fathers teasing her was formed.

"How ill timed is your current propensity for humor for you know very well that there is nothing funny in it! Oh, if you have deluded me, the very person who knows your style of humor so well, what must my poor Mr. Darcy believe? "

The father only then related, in a most serious manner to the child that there was no cause to fear that her intended would run away or change his mind. The father had given his consent (for the second time), not disposed to attempt humor with a man who had the look of everything that was serious and most important upon his face and in his manner of address.

"He has reassured me over and over again," Said Mr. Bennet "That there can be nothing more important to his own happiness than yours. He is quite heels over head in love, the poor soul." He smiled a bit sadly then and patted Lizzy's cheek affectionately, "But you deserve no less daughter. Although I shall miss you terribly, I am consoled. My hopes are set upon you being as happy as Jane, if not even more so."

Later that evening after a quite family dinner, Lizzy followed her mother upstairs to speak with her. Upon hearing such news as she did, Mrs. Bennets' agitation and excitement was so great that she awoke the entire house. She congratulated her favorite daughter again and again. Fretted over her own poor treatment of Mr. Darcy and resolved to make it all up to him by preparing his favorite dishes the next time he dined with the family.

Mrs. Bennet could not, of course help but to confide to Elizabeth that she had suspected some regard on the side of Mr. Darcy from quite early on, but did not want to make Elizabeth nervous in that gentleman's presence by telling her of the suspicions she entertained. Of course, her discretion had been rewarded but, no, she would not allow Elizabeth to thank her, after all she was so beautiful, she could not but help to catch a rich husband!

Elizabeth was able to suffer her mother's ramblings for above a quarter of an hour before she excused herself saying that the day had been very exciting and exhausting and she was quite tired. Mrs. Bennet did then let her go to her chamber. But just as Elizabeth was gone to bed, her mother bustled in to congratulate her once again and bestow a motherly good night kiss upon her cheek.

When Elizabeth finally was able to sleep who would fill her dreams but her intended?

Darcy woke early the next morning. He felt revitalized and very energetic. He looked at his watch. It read seven o'clock. Darcy sighed, knowing it was much too early to ride to Longbourn to see Elizabeth. He rose and dressed anyway, intent upon filling the few hours until he and Bingley could properly call upon the Bennets with some sort of diversion. He wandered down to the breakfast room. Upon entering the room, he saw the straight back and stiffly held neck of Miss Bingley. Hoping to make a quick get away, he turned silently upon his heal and reached for the door knob.

"Mr. Darcy! Good Morning to you!" Darcy's hand froze in mid air. He turned and bowed to Miss Bingley, a smile of resignation upon his face. Walking back to the large mahogany table in the center of the room, he pulled out one of the chairs beside her and sat down. He would have preferred not to be seated so close to Miss Bingley however, it would be too rude to chose a chair farther away when no one else was at the table.

"Well, I dare say Mr. Darcy, I am most thankful that it is a fine morning. I could not sleep at all last night! My dear brother informed me of news last evening, that I am sure you must already be aware of. We are to be most disadvantageously connected to the dreadful Bennet family. Oh! Mr. Darcy, to have all that we endeavored to be in vain! Jane Bennet, I dare say again, is a sweet girl, but to actually have to claim her and the Bennets as relations of so close an association is unthinkable!"

Darcy stiffened at the insulting reference. He became furious with himself as much as with Miss Bingley. Had he not had these same thoughts, these same concerns, before Elizabeth had showed him the arrogance of his nature? He had honestly believed as Miss Bingley still did, that Jane Bennet, whose every comment and gesture bespoke her kind nature and gentle manners, was not worthy of Mr. Bingley simply because of the lack of fortune and the trifling impropriety of manners to which some of her family was ascribed.

"Do not be too put out Miss Bingley," Mr. Darcy said dryly, "I dare say that your own manners may well be improved from closer association with the Bennets, Lord knows my own were!"

Miss Bingley gaped at him unable to speak. Just as she recovered enough to close her mouth, her brother walked in beaming smiles at them both.

"Caroline, Darcy, good morning to you! I see Darcy that you are up before I am this morning! Ah, Caroline, has Darcy told you his good news?" Caroline sputtered an answer in the negative, still to shocked from the comment Darcy had made to have recovered her bearing.

"Darcy was engaged yesterday to Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Is this not good news? He fooled me completely, for I thought he cared nothing for her at all. But all the time he had a particular regard for her, I declare, I could not be happier for them. The whole affair has increased the happiness of my dear Jane as well and for that I am obliged to you Darcy. We shall be brothers after all!"

With each word her brother spoke, Miss Bingley grew that much paler. Again her mouth fell open and she stared between her brother and Mr. Darcy in shock and outrage. Finally she could hear no more of the rambling happiness of her brother. "Oh, this cannot be true! You have both fallen victim to that horrid family!"

"Caroline what ever is the matter with you" Cried Bingley at the same time Darcy said firmly "Miss Bingley, please calm yourself!"

But Caroline did not hear them. "Those horrid, horrid Bennets!" She fairly screamed. She rose from her chair in a great hurry and ran from the room in tears.

Both gentlemen stared after her in amazement. Bingley was the first to speak. "I fear Caroline is overwrought. She did not mean any offense. I will go and speak with her." With that Bingley left the room in search of his hysterical sister.

Darcy recovered his seat at the table and sipped a cup a tea. He smiled slightly as he recollected Miss Bingley's reaction. 'That went far more smoothly than I expected.' He thought, then he finished his breakfast.

Part III

Posted on Tuesday, 21 September 1999, at 7 : 45 p.m.

During the courtships I am sure that Mrs. Bennet and Miss Bingley would often be in each others company. What would that be like? I couldn't resist

Two weeks after the engagement of Mr. Darcy and Ms. Bennet was formed there was to be given at Netherfield an engagement party for the two happy couples. Much time and energy was spent by Miss Caroline Bingley going over the arrangements and reviewing the menu. Ms. Bingley, who was determined to serve as the mistress of her brother's house until the very last possible hour was vexed almost beyond endurance by the circumstances she found herself in.

She had reconciled herself to the loss of her brother and of Mr. Darcy. Her consolation was that Mr. Darcy would spend many tedious evenings in the company of his new family in law. How could he not suffer, a man without fault (save for a weakness for one Miss Bennet) forced to claim alliance with the likes of the Bennet family! Shocking indeed. He would soon understand the folly of his choice!

Caroline snatched a ribbon from the hand of a servant. "No, no! You are doing that all wrong. This bow should be much larger. Go and remake them. Yes, take them all down and do them again!"

She bustled down the main hallway, evaluating the decorations, which were a combination of Christmas and wedding décor. It was shocking that her own brother would force her to claim relation with the Bennets as well. Caroline had believed that nothing was more disturbing, more agitating than Miss Elizabeth Bennet but, in the past two weeks she had learned that she was wrong. While her contempt and dislike of Elizabeth Bennet was great, Caroline now knew that Mrs. Bennet was far worse than her second daughter or any of her daughters could ever hope to be.

That woman now looked upon Netherfield as quite her own residence. She had come unbidden no less than four times in the past two weeks. Each time her eye had been appraising and calculating. She had even had the gall to make housekeeping suggestions! Caroline gritted her teeth at the memory.

'My dear Miss Bingley, you should really have your downstairs maid use less lemon oil to wax the floors. You see there in the corner, there is a hazy spot. If your maid persists with her heavy hand, that will spread until your entire floor looks dull. I will write down the proper method of mixing floor polish for you before I leave.'

Caroline had been incensed. This slur upon her skills as a mistress of an estate (and not an overlarge estate at that) was made before her brother, Mr. Darcy and the Miss Bennets! Caroline had called upon all of her breeding to force a smile and mumble something about how very kind Mrs. Bennet was. But Mrs. Bennets' officiousness had not ended there. She had wanted to review every detail of the party with Caroline, questioning her on flowers, white soup and music. Hinting an inadequate amount of game birds had been ordered and fretting slightly about the pies that were to be served. "Oh, but it says here that only mulled wine has been ordered! Is there to be no holiday wassail* to be served? God Heavens! But I suppose there will be only our close friends in attendance. I am sure it will be all right. Yes, yes, I dare say it must be all right." *(Traditional Saxon drink used a celebrations and esp. for toasts)

Caroline had endured it all, although she was sure that if she saw Mrs. Bennet one more time she would go distracted. Now it was the eve before the party and surely they would have the house to themselves. She was very tired of spending so much time alone and was very glad that both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were at home for the evening. This was a rarity in itself. Since the engagements had been performed, one or the other or both of the gentlemen had been constantly at Longbourn. Whether it was for a morning walking with their fiancees or for luncheon, tea or supper, the Bennets' had claimed the gentlemen at all of the waking hours of the day.

Caroline had arrived at Netherfield only two days after her brother had proposed to Miss Bennet, the very morning after Mr. Darcy had likewise requested the hand of Miss Elizabeth.

Caroline had been quite content in London, even though Darcy was not there. While she was safely snuggled into her sister's cozy townhouse, Mr. Hurst had received an invitation to spend the Christmas holiday with a good friend who was in possession of a large estate in Gloucestershire. Since Caroline was not acquainted with these particular friends or invited to attend, she quickly got the hint that she should return to her brothers' house. Louisa had been most apologetic, but had stood by her husband's decision to make the trip to Gloucestershire and spend five or six weeks in a far more grand style then their own London townhouse could offer. Caroline could hardly stay in London alone for the Christmas season. It was simply not done.

She had soon arrived upon her brother's doorstep. When she had learned of all that had passed in her absence and become hysterical Charles had all but informed her that if she caused any trouble she would find herself on a carriage to London - alone. So Caroline had kept a stiff upper lip and withheld her opinions.

But now, she could relax for one evening. She could command the attention of both Mr. Darcy and her brother without competition. Caroline checked with the new cook. The woman who called herself Edith was middle aged and appeared to be quite capable in the kitchen. It was the perfect time to try the woman's skills out, they were expecting no guests and she did need to sample Edith's' cooking skills before the party. Unfortunately, her brother's previous cook who had come with him from London had run off with the blacksmith in Meryton the day before. Everything appeared to be going according to schedule and the dishes smelled heavenly. Confident that the woman would work out, Caroline went up to her rooms to dress for dinner.

5:30 PM at Netherfield

Caroline Bingley looked at herself in the large dressing mirror and smiled with satisfaction. 'Mr. Darcy may not think my eyes so fine as Miss Elizabeth Bennets', but in every other way he will know my appearance is superior.' She adjusted the large orange plume on her orange velvet turban, smoothed her hands over the orange silk of her gown and left the room with her head held high. As she descended the staircase, she heard the unmistakable sound of her brother's laughter. She walked into the drawing room with regal bearing and was stopped short by what she beheld. Before her sat Mrs. Bennet, looking very happy and satisfied.

"Miss Bingley! How good it is to see you. Why, I was just asking your brother were you could be! I always check with the cook right before dinner to make sure everything is perfect so I suggested that you must be doing the same." Caroline attempted to school her features into a smile. She was doing it again! How dare she pry into her housekeeping skills!

"Mrs. Bennet. It is lovely to see you again as well. No, I must admit, I have had supper attended to long ago, everything is perfectly fine." But Mrs. Bennet hand not heard more than Caroline's initial civilities. She was already speaking with Charles about how glad she was he had sent them an invitation to dinner.

"And although Mr. Bennet had already accepted an invitation for us to dine tonight at Lucas Lodge, I thought that the Lucas' would be well served enough with Mr. Bennet and Mary and Kitty. So, here we are, just the three of us, but I dare say that I have brought with me your motivation for the invitation in the first place and you will scarce miss the rest of the family."

Caroline winced, reminding herself to kill Charles as soon as she had him alone. 'He invited guests for dinner without telling me and then had the nerve to bring this woman into the house again!' She turned in time to see Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth walk into the room with Mr. Darcy. The ladies greeted each other civilly. Charles came over directly to apply to his sister for some music before dinner and Caroline, grateful to be able to get away from conversing with their guests all but ran to the pianoforte...

Elizabeth smiled to herself as she thought 'Does the woman own anything, anything at all that is not some shade of orange?' She watched as Jane seated herself on the settee next to their mother. Bingley sat in a chair opposite them. Elizabeth walked over to look out of the window when she felt rather than heard Mr. Darcy approach her. "You look especially lovely this evening, Elizabeth." She could have sworn she heard Miss Bingley miss play a note in her aria. Her heart skipped a beat as well. "Why, Mr. Darcy, if you continue to give me such compliments as you have these past two weeks I dare say I will be the happiest married woman alive."
She smiled at him. They had been on many walks during the past two weeks and Elizabeth believed that he was learning to enjoy her sense of humor so she ventured in a low, teasing tone,

"But I am sure that in time you will scarcely notice if I have on a new dress or have taken special care with the arrangement of my hair at all. Then what pains I shall suffer for you spoiling me so now."

Mr. Darcy appeared to take her seriously for a moment, then he smiled slowly and whispered, "Dearest Elizabeth, what is a gentleman to do? If I should attempt to remain silent with all of your beauty and perfection before me and make you no compliments, I may well burst with the effort or be thought of as the most callus groom to be in all of England. Therefore I shall make a bargain with you. I shall promise to continue with such compliments for at least the first fifty years of our marriage, thereafter, I will gradually taper off these compliments in such a way as to be sure you do not suffer from their immediate with drawl."

Elizabeth laughed aloud at his quick-witted response to her teasing and he was rewarded with the sight of her smiling eyes. This gave him the opportunity to compliment her yet again. Before long dinner was announced and the entire party retired to the dining room. Mr. Bingley offered his arm to Jane and Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth and his other arm to Miss Bingley. She accepted, albeit rather stiffly and everyone took their seats for the meal.

The meal was served and appeared to be everything that it should be, but upon tasting the food there was a general feeling of discomfort and disquiet. The roast was very dry and the pheasant appeared to be undercooked. The vegetables were overcooked and despite their mushy consistency, they tasted like wax for lack of seasoning. The bread, well, the bread was a doughy mass with a burnt crust.

No one said a word, but Miss Bingley silently cursed the new cook. She had been recommended highly by the head housekeeper who assured her that the woman's skills could not be matched in all of Hertfordshire.

Mrs. Bennet surprisingly keep her mouth shut about the disastrous meal, but was not adverse to clucking loudly and whispering to either of her daughters who would listen. All were uncomfortable and conversation was punctuated by long silences in attempts to chew as politely as possible through meat that was like leather. The fowl of course was left untouched, as was the bread. In the end most of the diners confined their struggles to eating the vegetables, which although unseasoned and overcooked, were at least easy to swallow.

Elizabeth who was sitting across the table from Mr. Darcy after some time hazarded a glance at Miss Bingley. The woman was furious! She said not a word, but her cheeks were flushed and her eyes darted around the table inspecting the mostly untouched contents of everyone's plates. Her chest heaved and she appeared to be fighting back angry tears.

Next, Elizabeth looked at Fitzwilliam. He was pushing soggy vegetables around on his plate, having given up the attempt to cut the beef into manageable pieces. As she watched him he looked up at her, catching her eye he raised an eyebrow and made an almost imperceivable gesture to his plate. Elizabeth nearly burst out with laughter at his sardonic look. It was as if he was saying 'What the h*** an I supposed to do with this?'

Elizabeth quickly brought her napkin to her mouth to cover her smile. Fitzwilliam saw her mirth and tormented her for the rest of the meal by offering her second helpings of the inedible meat and making faces when no one else was looking at the unmentionable dessert that was placed before them.

Elizabeth was in agony. Again and again she had to resort to holding her napkin up to her mouth to conceal her smiles. Mr. Darcy seemed to enjoy this power he had to make her laugh at inappropriate times immensely. Finally the plates were cleared away and the gentlemen withdrew to smoke cigars and drink brandy. The ladies went to the parlor for tea.

After only five minuets of tea service and almost no conversation whatsoever, Mrs. Bennet could keep silent no longer. "My dear Miss Bingley! I was at pains not to mention anything in front of the gentlemen, but I must say that your cook is sadly underskilled! Why, there was nothing, nothing at all prepared correctly. I fear I may have to send our cook over to supervise the preparation of tomorrow's menus."

Mrs. Bennet felt that this was all said in what was a very gentle manner. Mrs. Bennet was proud of her reserve and discretion.

Miss Bingley blanched and was silent for a long moment, but finally said, "W--Why, Mrs. Bennet, I am most dismayed. Our regular cook has run off just the other day, and I was assured that this cook would be capable. I see however, that is not the case. I would be tremendously grateful if you would send your cook around tomorrow, for I have not time to find another." Caroline nearly choked at the end of this speech, mortified to be in need of the assistance of the Bennets. But she had no choice. Hoards of guests were set to arrive the next evening and she did not have a cook.

"Extraordinary." Said Mrs. Bennet, happy to be benevolent to anyone as long as her good doings were witnessed by anyone else. "I shall bring cook over directly first thing in the morning. I will come with her myself and help you. You have so much to do dear, and I would not want anything to be forgotten for this special party."

Caroline cringed again and again as she contemplated the highlights and lowlights of spending the whole of the next day with Mrs. Bennet crowing and shrieking over every detail of the final preparations. 'What have I done to deserve this!' thought Miss Bingley. What indeed!

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