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“She has not really done anything to deserve such a reward, if anything you could argue she is being rewarded for poor behaviour. But I would rather she exercise such behaviour away from a camp of Militia men. What do you reckon? 20 officers in total?”

“I do not know for sure, let us ask the Colonel.”

It turned out there were 24 officers including the Colonel.

“We only have 19 at present so we are still in need of an additional five Lieutenants.”

Even undermanned, these was a veritable sea of redcoat officers to distract and tempt their sister.

“Lizzie, do you see? Mr. Bingley has immediately placed himself in Kitty’s company. And I do not think the Militia Captain is best pleased. He had been the sole recipient of her smiles until Mr. Bingley’s arrival.”

Kitty did not appear unhappy that there were two gentlemen wishing to gain her attention. Unlike her sister who was scowling at the scene before her, one of the Lieutenants being a lesser prize than the Captain. As Elizabeth surveyed the rest of the room it was déjà vu to what she had heard of the previous weekend. The two Bingley sisters were standing apart, a fan and a glove covering their mouths, clearing talking about the company. Mr. Hurst was onto his second glass of wine already, with the air of a man unwilling to move for the rest of the night.

And then there was Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Master of Pemberley and, according to Elizabeth’s Aunt Gardiner, excellent in that role. Elizabeth assumed he knew the estate well because based on his social behaviour he was anything but. Once again, he stood apart from his company, present yet distant.

“Are you going to approach him Lizzie?”

Mary was all but hopping from foot to foot, aware again of the conflicting emotions in her body.

“Relax Mary. The time is not yet ripe.”

She did not explain when it would be. Charlotte sidled up to Mary as Elizabeth excused herself for a moment.

“Why do I think that there is something going on that I am not aware of? Elizabeth has still not given me a believable answer for her return from Sussex.”

That Mary did not immediately respond just confirmed it in Charlotte’s mind.

“She was scathing of the five new to the neighbourhood.”

It was a statement yet a question at the same time. Mary finally responded.

“I think Elizabeth spent too much time in the company of Sir David. She has always been quick to judge but since Jane married Sir David it has become worse. He is a bold gentleman, and everyone focuses on the first word. But he is always the gentleman and Elizabeth has raised her expectations of others based on his own behaviour.”

Charlotte considered the words but then followed Mary’s eyes. The figure of the distant Mr. Darcy hugged the wall. She could not suppress an involuntary shiver. She looked at Mary with a sharp gaze. The only response?

“Yes.”