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“Your brother will expose all of my secrets, and then you will not trust a word out of my mouth,” Elizabeth teased. “However, what he said is true.”

Georgiana relaxed as she understood that Miss Elizabeth was being playful. If only she could gain a measure of the confidence that seemed to pour off Miss Elizabeth in waves. “How old are your youngest two sisters?” Georgiana managed. “I long to know young ladies of an age with me.”

“Catherine, or Kitty, as we call her, is very recently seventeen, and Lydia is fifteen. I love my sisters, but I must warn you that they are very exuberant and, at times, indecorous,” Elizabeth stated honestly.

Darcy was very appreciative that Miss Elizabeth had been the one to warn Anna. She said it more diplomatically than he may have.

“Are all of your sisters out?” Georgiana enquired timidly.

“Indeed, they are. My mother put some of us out at fifteen, and wanted to with all of us,” Elizabeth owned. “You are not out, are you?”

“No, I am not out yet, and I am pleased about it,” Georgiana replied softly.

“I envy you. None of us three older sisters wanted to come out so early. Mary and I applied to our father and he agreed we could wait until we were seventeen. The youngest two did not want to delay as they think it is great fun to be out. I assume that, like most in London, you will not enter society before you are seventeen or eighteen?”

“The earliest will be when I am eighteen, and possibly later,” Georgiana stated.

“Anna, dear, you know that Richard and I will not insist that you come out before you are ready to do so, do you not?” Darcy assured his sister.

The warmth, love, and tenderness with which Mr Darcy spoke to his sister impressed Elizabeth greatly. Not that she needed more proof of how wrong her former opinions of this man were, but now she had it.

The way Miss Elizabeth drew his sister out without pushing her warmed Darcy’s heart. He had just found more reasons to love her.

William Collins felt great satisfaction in the way most of his Bennet family were behaving. He knew he needed to give Biggs some instructions to pass onto his men, so William looked towards an unoccupied corner of the room and saw the big man’s answering nod. “Mary, I need to speak to the lieutenant,” he said so only she could hear.

Mary nodded and walked towards where Jane was speaking to the viscount, the colonel, and Miss de Bourgh.

While Biggs stood against the wall so he could see those in the drawing room, William faced him and made sure the big man was the only one who could hear him. “Have all but one of your men outside until the militia officers arrive. You and Johns should be with those outside; the one man inside will keep an eye on the two girls until all of you return to the ballroom. I want you to make sure that the officers understand that they are to ignore my two youngest cousins completely. Not one offer to dance, not a conversation, nothing. They are especially not to mention Mr Wickham and his fate. Speak to Colonel Forster; he is a good and reasonable man, and will reinforce your message. It is time for the girls to learn of their insignificance in the world.”

Biggs nodded and signalled Johns to follow him. Within moments, one of their men entered the drawing room.

Just before he was to return to Mary, William saw Cousin Fanny practically dragging her youngest to the side, not far from him. He did not move and made it look like he was looking out of a window.

“Lydia, how can you give up attracting the attention of a viscount? Do you know how rich he is? Are you aware of what luxurious carriages, jewels, and pin money you would have? I will not have him pay attention to Jane after she refused to heed me and capture Mr Bingley,” Fanny hissed without lowering her voice too much.

“Mama, I am not interested in some boring man. You know only an officer will do for me, and on the morrow I am to meet Mr Wickham and he will propose to me. I will be married before Mary and her stuffy parson.” Lydia covered her mouth. She had not meant to inform her mother who she was to meet or when. “You must not mention a word, Mamma! My Wicky said that if anyone knows, even Kitty, he will not be able to offer for me.”

“I still say that a viscount would be better, but I know how you want to marry an officer, just like I dreamed of doing. I will not say anything. I will make sure you have the best wedding Meryton has ever seen,” Fanny enthused.

Mother and daughter linked arms and returned to where the rest of the guests were mingling.

‘I must speak to Fitzwilliam. We need to arrange for Cousins Fanny and Lydia to learn the truth for themselves. Cousin Kitty needs to be present as well. In fact, so does Cousin Bennet!’ William thought.

He walked to the group Fitzwilliam was part of, which included Mary, and asked his friend to join him on the one side, away from the others. The two men spoke; Fitzwilliam agreed that Collins’s plan was sound. They would implement it on the morrow.

Chapter 25

Ten of the thirteen officers—three remained on duty and there had been fourteen until one had been stripped of his rank—in the regiment of the Derbyshire Militia were to attend the ball. As it was cold and he did not want his men arriving smelling of horse, Colonel Forster rented carriages to convey his officers the two miles to Netherfield Park. The carriage he was in came to a halt.

The door was opened by a lieutenant in the uniform of the Royal Dragoons. In and of itself that was remarkable, but the man was mountainous.

“Colonel Forster?” Biggs verified as he snapped off a smart salute.

“Yes, Lieutenant, I am he,” Forster confirmed as he returned the salute. “What is it I can do for you?”

“I am Lieutenant Biggs. If you will indulge me, Sir, I would like to address your officers off to the side there, where my men are waiting.” Biggs indicated the four men waiting for him, one of them as large as he was.

As he was curious about what the lieutenant wanted, Forster agreed and ordered his officers to assemble where the huge man had requested.