"Hurry, Louisa, or we will be late for the assembly!"

Caroline entered her sister's chamber where she found Louisa fussing with her hair in front of the mirror, her lady's maid long since dismissed.

"I am sorry, Caroline, I am simply nervous! Charles has already met many of the local gentlemen, but we only arrived yesterday and we know no one. I want to make a good impression on our new neighbours."

"It will hardly make a difference if your hairpin is one half-inch to the left or the right," Caroline teased. She drew her sister up and gently tugged her towards the door. "You look beautiful as always, and you are certain to make friends tonight - that is, if we ever manage to arrive."

"You are right, of course. Let us go," Louisa replied, and kissed her dear younger sister's cheek.

As the pair descended the staircase, Caroline contemplated the gentlemen awaiting them at the bottom, all but one of whom were watching them with admiration in their eyes.

Their brother, Charles Bingley, had recently leased the estate of Netherfield near Meryton in Hertfordshire. With his usual enthusiasm for socialising he had received calls from nearby gentlemen welcoming him to the area, returned their calls promptly, and accepted with gusto on behalf of his entire party an invitation to the local assembly being held this night. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet in his excitement while grinning at his beloved sisters.

Mr Hurst and Mr Weston, Louisa's and Caroline's respective husbands, were smiling up at them and the ladies smiled in return. These gentlemen were less enthusiastic about attending tonight than Bingley but were pleased enough for the chance to dance with their lovely wives and perhaps enjoy some good wine and good conversation.

Then there was Mr Darcy, looking as unhappy as she had ever seen him.

Caroline Weston considered Darcy a dear friend, though there was a time when she had wished for more. Caroline had been hopeful that he would notice her during her first couple of seasons once she came out at eighteen. He was so handsome, so intelligent, so responsible, and already a close friend of her brother's; his character was thereby complete. Of course she would never do anything vulgar to draw his attention the way she watched some desperate young ladies do - grasping his arm with their talons, flirting and batting their eyelashes shamelessly, interrupting his conversations with other women - it was obvious those arts and allurements made him uncomfortable! She could only smile serenely and hope.

When it became clear he would only ever regard her as a friend, she resolved to find a husband during her third season and she achieved her goal. Mr Weston had danced with her several times the previous year, was a little older, moderately handsome, an engaging conversationalist and appeared interested in her. His income was not of great importance to her but his healthy six thousand a year was certainly a benefit. After getting to know him over the next several months and discovering their mutual attraction and compatibility she accepted his offer of marriage with pleasure. Now, having ventured from their estate in Nottinghamshire for the first time since their wedding at the beginning of summer, she beheld Darcy and Weston standing side by side and she knew she was happy with her husband and had made the right choice.

In this she was as lucky as her sister, Louisa Hurst. Though they had not yet been blessed with children after three years of marriage, she knew the Hursts loved each other and their estate was prosperous. Caroline could scarcely believe her family's luck, both of them marrying into wealthy landed gentry, considering their own fortune was made in trade. Their friendship with the Darcys had certainly opened more doors than they would have expected; and Louisa's humble friendliness, and Caroline's teasing wit that was never directed in a cruel manner, had made them popular with the less snobbish ladies of the Ton. Yes, their family was certainly blessed and Caroline thanked her dearly departed father in her prayers every night for working so hard to allow them these blessings they now enjoy.

It pleased her even more that her brother Charles had finally found an estate to lease with the possibility of purchase, to complete his own entry into the realm of the landed gentry, and she came into Hertfordshire with great enthusiasm to help him settle in. So far they all were impressed with the house and the grounds. Despite the owner's absence of many years, the property was well maintained thanks to a devoted staff and conscientious steward.

Caroline cast her gaze from Mr Darcy's glower back to her cheerful brother. Maybe he will even meet a nice girl tonight, she thought to herself. It was heartbreaking seeing him fall in love again and again with women who were only interested in his income. Charles is too open and genuine to truly fit in with the heartless Ton. Maybe a sweet, guileless country girl is just what he needs.

"Perhaps I will stay behind," Darcy began saying as the ladies reached the group.

Caroline knew what he was about. He was uncomfortable at balls and uncomfortable around strangers, and tonight was to combine the two into his personal nightmare. She felt sorry for him but knew he was always polite enough to keep his discomfort to himself and not ruin the night for anyone else.

Louisa frowned. "Of course, if you are not feeling well, I will stay here with you as your hostess," she explained graciously, though she felt disappointed at the possibility of missing the festivities merely due to her guest's ill humour that had been in evidence since his arrival.

"Of course not," Darcy responded quickly. "I would not deprive you of a night of dancing. I am sorry. I will come."

"Then let us get this over with," Caroline told him with exaggerated solemnity. She then turned to the others with a bright smile. "Let us go have fun!"

Meanwhile, three miles away at the neighbouring estate of Longbourn, a party of six women were preparing for the same assembly with considerably more noise and chaos. The patriarch, Mr Bennet, hid away in his book room and wondered if his wife and five daughters would ever leave the house. Perhaps they will finish getting ready with just enough time to turn around and prepare for bed. He chuckled aloud at his own joke.

"Do you think Mr Bingley will ask any of us to dance?" Jane asked her younger sister Elizabeth who was putting the finishing touches on her hair. They could vaguely hear an argument about some necklace on the other side of the chamber door and knew their moment of privacy would not last long.

"He could hardly fail to ask you, dearest," Elizabeth laughed, "and if he did neglect us all he would not be worth knowing. Therefore, we cannot be disappointed tonight."

Jane found she could not dispute this logic so she merely smiled in response. Suddenly the door burst open and their two youngest sisters, Kitty and Lydia, stormed in.

"Hurry! Hurry! Mama is waiting!" cried Lydia. Before the elder girls knew what was happening, they were pulled from their chairs, down the steps and to the front door, leaving in their wake a fluttering trail of ribbons like a colourful dust cloud.

Before they all headed outside together, Mrs Bennet eyed her five daughters and gave a quick nod of approval. "Jane, remember you must catch Mr Bingley's eye tonight! Your blue dress would have been better but this will have to do."

As she flitted off to find her husband, Elizabeth squeezed Jane's hand. "Do not let her force you to do anything," she whispered. "We shall meet him tonight and that is all."

"I know," Jane whispered back in an attempt to force herself to heed her favourite sister's supportive words. In a louder voice for all to hear, she complimented the others. "Mary, that colour looks very well on you. Lydia, I like what Sarah did with your hair. Kitty, I am glad you wore that necklace, it suits your dress well indeed!"

"It would have looked better on me," Lydia pouted, before their parents reappeared.

"Well girls, enjoy your night and do not do anything I would not do," Mr Bennet smiled.

"We would never. We shall all lurk in the card room and not dance a single dance - just as you would do," was Elizabeth's teasing reply.

"Do not be ridiculous, Lizzy! Of course you must dance!" Mrs Bennet exclaimed, as the younger women kissed their Papa and he handed them into the carriage.

With a last wave goodbye the ladies of Longbourn finally began their drive to the assembly hall in Meryton.