Page 49 of Shields and Roses

"Not exactly silly, but I will admit to being surprised. Your behavior is more what I would expect from Kitty. With this being her first year out, she is still feeling timid and might be tempted to remove herself from uncomfortable company. I have never seen you hide or shy away from anything before, Lizzy. You usually jump in and meet each challenge head on and with a smile."

"I know," Lizzy said with a sigh. "This is not who I am, and yet, here I am" She broke off there, as much because she had no idea what else to say as because another woman had entered the room just then.

"It is time for us to leave," Mary said with a little glance at the newcomer. "I am sure our carriage is ready by now."

By the time Lizzy and Mary had rejoined their party the carriages were ready and at the front of the house to receive them. The Damasks had leased a townhouse in London for a few months since they did not maintain a house in town. Sharing the house with them were their daughter and son-in-law, the Cathcarts, and Lucy Cathcart, who Mr. Darcy had once again mistakenly identified as likely to be Elizabeth Bennet when he saw her standing with Jane that evening. Lucy and Jane were fast friends after their time together in Derbyshire and frequently kept one another company at social events, so the mistake was understandable given how different from each other Lizzy and Jane appeared.

Since Sir Barnaby's lodgings were not far off the route between the Parkhurst home and that of the Damasks, he had ridden with them that evening. That left just Jane, Lizzy and Mary in the carriage with their aunt during the return to Gracechurch Street. As the carriage rolled off through the city streets, the ladies talked over the evening just past. Lizzy knew she would probably be in for some teasing. At least in the darkened carriage no one could see her blush.

"Mr. Parkhurst provided a lovely celebration for his daughter's birthday," Jane said after they had settled into their seats and were well on the way. "I am just sorry Uncle Edward was not able to join us. He and Mr. Parkhurst are good friends after all."

"Yes, Edward was disappointed at missing the chance to spend an evening in good conversation with Mr. Parkhurst and many of the other male guests of their circle. If the business that called him out of town had been less urgent, he might have waited another day or two before leaving just so he could join us here," Madeline agreed.

"I wonder what Uncle Edward would have thought of Mr. Bingley?" Mary asked. "When we danced, he told me he has a background in trade, but his father had transferred most of the operations to other family members and wanted him to use the fortune he had amassed to purchase an estate and bring their family's social status up."

"His older sister helped them up in society by marrying the son of a landed gentleman. Mr. Bingley told me his other sister had hopes of doing the same. Lizzy, we learned Miss Bingley was the lady wearing that gown we had all so admired - the one trimmed with cerise velvet and cloth of gold," Jane added.

"That certainly was a lovely gown," Lizzy acknowledged. "It was particularly well suited to her coloring, although I thought the feathered headdress was a bit excessive. She demonstrated the confidence to carry it off, however."

"True," Madeline said. "Shall we talk about your lack of confidence this evening?"

"I would rather not do so tonight," Lizzy said.

"Very well," Madeline agreed, "but we will discuss it."

"Yes, Aunt Madeline," she said quietly.

"I was sorry you did not have the opportunity to meet Mr. Bingley," Mary said in the silence that followed. "I truly enjoyed speaking with him and I thought you would have found him very pleasant."

"He is an uncommonly genial gentleman," Jane agreed. "I enjoyed our dance. Sir Barnaby says Mr. Bingley was very popular at school despite his background in trade."

"I am also sorry I did not take the opportunity to meet him," Elizabeth said. "It sounds as if you all thought very well of him."

"You may still have another chance," Mary said. "He asked to call on me this week, and I agreed that he could."

"You like him that well?" Lizzy asked.

"Well enough to want to speak with him again," Mary said. "A simple visit does not a betrothal make. If it did, Jane would have been married years ago."

The other ladies laughed when Jane replied, "Yes, and probably to someone I would have completely disliked."

"Are you glad you held out for Sir Barnaby?" Mary asked.

"Very much so," Jane said. "I love him, and I think he loves me as well. There is every indication we will have a happy marriage."

"I like him. He will be a good brother to have, I think," Lizzy said. "Our trip to Derbyshire worked out very well for you. To change the subject slightly, though, I find myself worried about the letter that arrived from Lydia this afternoon while we were preparing for the ball."

"I had not seen it yet," Madeline said, "What did she say that worried you?"

"Well, you remember that a militia unit moved into quarters in Meryton shortly before Christmas?"

"Yes. Your mother was excited for the new faces at many of the local gatherings," agreed Madeline.

"Yes, Mama was very pleased to meet them. She said she had a fondness for men in red coats because the uniform makes them look more handsome," Jane said. "I did not think Lydia would have anything much to do with them, though, seeing that she is not yet considered out."

"Oh, for the most part she does not, although she described a few encounters that make me think I should write to Papa as well as suggesting she and Kitty talk to him. She said there is a new officer in the unit, a Lt. Brickham, who seems to be overly flirtatious. She and Kitty have encountered him a few times in the village, and he always makes a point of coming over to talk with them both. Miss Parks has drilled them well, and they know not to let him get either of them alone or to appear to encourage his attention, but she says he has made Kitty very uncomfortable a few times at dinners she has attended. Lydia added that since Lt. Brickham arrived, some of the other officers have been more forward in their attentions towards Kitty as well."

"Have they notified Miss Parks?" Madeline asked, the worry clear in her voice.