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She was not worried about Jane, and as long as Mary did not try to monopolise the pianoforte, she could usually be trusted to behave well enough in company.

But the rest of them, well, they just didn’t seem to know the bounds of propriety.

Mama came hurrying into their bedchamber as they were getting ready, dragging Hill behind her.

"Now, the girls must wear black, of course, but we must make sure they look their best," she said. "Hill, help Miss Bennet to get dressed first, please. And ensure her hair is in the crown. It looks so good like that."

Hill nodded and stepped towards Elizabeth, but Mrs Bennet shook her head.

"No, no, not Miss Elizabeth. Miss Jane. You know we are being hosted by Mr Bingley. Well, he must have returned because he realised the mistake he made shunning Jane, and I mean him to realise the full force of this at dinner. He cannot look upon such a beauty and not have regrets. I am sure of it."

She hoped the same for Jane, and yet Elizabeth felt a stab of hurt at her mother’s attitude. Jane was still the most important then, even though it was Elizabeth’s marriage that this meal was in aid of, not Jane’s.

"I just thought, Mrs Bennet," Hill said, glancing between the two girls, "that what with this meal being because of Mr Darcy…"

"Pfft." Mrs Bennet waved her hand at the words. "He’s already proposed, has he not? So it matters not what Miss Lizzy looks like. But if Jane could secure the hand of Mr Bingley, why, that would be two daughters wed. Think of that. And Netherfield so close. Why, perhaps I could stay with the Bingleys as they would be, instead of moving to London. Imagine that."

Elizabeth and Jane’s eyes met in horror in the mirror.

Jane turned to her mother.

"Mama," she said, surprisingly firmly. "Mr Bingley is here because Elizabeth is marrying Mr Darcy. That is all. I have no expectations of anything else from him. And you should not either."

"But—" Mrs Bennet began.

"We are going to Netherfield tonight as guests of Mr Darcy to meet his sister and to celebrate their engagement. So let us focus on Elizabeth."

Their mother looked rather put out, but she did not argue.

Elizabeth smiled at her sister. Jane understood what she was feeling, at least. And it wasn’t as though Elizabeth wanted to be the centre of attention, or that she’d even expected this marriage to come about.

But now that it had, was it so terrible to expect her mother to focus on that rather than on her next matchmaking plan?

Thankfully, it was then that Hannah, the borrowed maid from Lady Catherine, entered the room, ready to wait upon Elizabeth – and so there was no need for further argument.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"So let us have a clear understanding," Bingley said, sitting across from him in the library.

Both had a glass of whisky in hand, and Darcy felt they both needed to fortify themselves for the meal ahead.

"You advised me against Miss Bennet because you thought she did not love me and that her family simply wanted my money," Bingley continued.

"Yes," Darcy said. "But I was wrong."

Bingley blinked.

"Not words I hear often from you, Darcy."

"Not words I say lightly," Darcy said. "But in this case, I was. I thought her actions and her words did not speak of a woman in love, but I have realised now that I just did not know the woman. And as for her family, well, I will admit that some of them are not the choice I would make for you…or myself," he said with a wry grin. "But that does not mean that the young ladies whose affections we have been lucky enough to capture should suffer because of that."

Bingley nodded slowly. "I see," he said. "And you are not saying this simply because you wish us to be brothers-in-law," he said with a grin.

"No, although that will not be a hardship," Darcy said with a smile. "I was wrong. I’m willing to admit it. And I believe I have upset my intended because of interfering in the match, and I think I may have upset you, too, as well as Miss Bennet, and so I can only apologise."

Bingley sat back in his chair and appraised Darcy.

"You know, in the brief period you have known Miss Elizabeth Bennet, you are quite changed, Darcy," he said. "You love her, do you not?"