Free Fault or Virtue: An Imaginative Retelling of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' by April Karber

window.
“I do not recall a time before the Miss Bennets stayed her, Charles. It was quite
long enough.” Caroline droned.
“Are you quite sure Miss Bennet was well enough to travel?” Bingley asked no
one in particular.
“It is a matter of three miles,” Miss Bingley retorted. “Surely if Miss Eliza can
manage it on foot, a recovered Jane Bennet can manage it in a carriage. It is a pity that
Miss Bennet could not attend to us at meals, I quite favor her company over Miss
Eliza’s.”
“How could you say such a thing? Miss Elizabeth was lively company,” Bingley
shot back at his sister, causing Darcy to involuntarily chuckle knowing that both brother
and sister would have preferred the company of the eldest Miss Bennet.
“What is so humorous, Darcy?” demanded Bingley, but Darcy was not given a
chance to answer.
“He was laughing at your attempt to defend Miss Eliza,” Caroline explained on
his behalf. “She is a shrewd little thing and nothing like her sister.”
“I quite agree that she is nothing like her sister,” Darcy afforded her, “but she has
equally favorable qualities to recommend her.”
Caroline’s eyes widened considerably but recovered soon enough, saying, “Mr.
Darcy, you have a dark sense of humor.”
“Well I for one look forward to seeing all the Bennets at our Netherfield Ball,”
chimed in Bingley, and further discussion was discontinued.
    “I hope it was not too dreadful, Lizzy,” Jane said to Elizabeth once the carriage
began down Netherfield’s drive.
“Jane, you are far too concerned for everyone’s sake. I had a lovely time, I only
wish you could have spent time with us. I am so glad you’re better, and it is wonderful to
be heading home.”
“What of Mr. Darcy?” Jane asked, causing Elizabeth to blush furiously.
“It was a surprise to see Mr. Darcy again. But it proved to be a pleasant surprise,
and I hope it continues to be so.”
“That is a relief! I suppose you would have been miserable otherwise.”
“I suppose,” Elizabeth smiled and took Jane’s hand in hers.
    At Longbourn, time did not pass quickly enough for anyone’s taste, and any task
that was taken on, was done so in light of the upcoming ball. Elizabeth and Jane returned
home to find that Charlotte Lucas had become quite a permanent fixture in the Bennet
household as the constant companion of their cousin. Lizzy still wondered at Charlotte’s
patience with the man, but was grateful that the distance the arrangement allowed her
would prevent Collins from securing her company at the ball.
There were other visitors as well, lured home by Kitty and Lydia. These were
soldiers from the regiment stationed at Meryton, of whom the most frequent visitors were
    !
$#!
young Denny and Wickham. Mrs. Bennet was beside herself with all of the commotion
what with the upcoming ball, the presence of Mr. Collins, and the constant stream of
soldiers in her home, and so mostly stayed locked up in her room struck with nerves.
    So it was decided, or rather naturally happened in this way, that Jane would look
after her mother and Charlotte keep company with Mr. Collins, while Lizzy attempted to
curb the silliness of her two youngest sisters amongst the company of uniformed men.
    Kitty and Lydia, fueled by their attention from the officers, became so trying that
Lizzy quite envied the task of Jane, and at times, would have traded Charlotte for the
company of Mr. Collins. But Wickham, she soon discovered, was very pleasurable
company. He had easy manners, a pleasing smile, and was in every way a gentleman.
Elizabeth easily forgot her task to monitor her sisters in his company, and she felt more at
ease in his company than with any other before.
    During an errand to town one morning, while Wickham was accompanying the
Bennet sisters to their destination, Elizabeth noticed Bingley and Darcy exiting a shop
they had just passed. Before she could acknowledge them, Bingley excitedly drew
Darcy’s attention to them