After Elizabeth's visit with Jane someone had been sent to retrieve her things so that she may stay by her sister's side. It was completely unsurprising to any of the Bennet household. Although their mother felt that Elizabeth was interfering with what could be important bonding time between Mr. Bingley and Jane, she didn't insist on Elizabeth coming home. She merely took this as an opportunity to visit Netherfield herself accompanied by Mary, Lydia, and Kitty.

Kitty tried everything she could think of to keep from having to go, but nothing seemed to work. Her mother was determined all of the Bennet women would be in attendance even if it did meant putting off their visit with the Lucas' for a day. She could only imagine how painful this visit could be.

"I have read a good many books that mention poisons in great detail." Mary muttered as she stared in Kitty's full length mirror.

Kitty sighed. "Do not be ridiculous, Mary. They would know of our guilt." She played with the small pins that held some of her curls in place, before turning toward her sister. "Lydia and our mother are bound to humiliate us."

Mary nodded. "Undoubtably." She shook her head before walking to the door to Kitty's room. "We have to hurry. Mother and Lydia are waiting."

Both of the girls ascended the stairs together and didn't bother to comment as they passed their mother leaving the house to pile into the carriage. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia were so excited they were unable to hide it. They chattered away the entire ride to Netherfield, which wasn't very far, but seemed to be counties away forced in the carriage with them.

The house and land was lovelier than Kitty had ever imagined. Everything was so expensive and yet modern. Nothing about it seemed overdone. It verged on perfection and the land was absolutely glorious. Kitty would have loved to have been given the opportunity to explore it more thoroughly, but could only see it from the carriage.

One of the servants helped them out and led them into the house. The inside was almost as beautiful as the outside. It was richly furnished with warm colors that made it feel more like a home than just a house. Even though it was large and there were several rooms each seemed to be decorated with the same care as the next.

When they reached the room where the master of the home was, Kitty began to feel nauseated. She could since the fact that her mother was going to embarrass them.

"Mrs. Bennet." Mr. Bingley said with a large smile as he bowed to her. Each man in the room took their turns bowing as well and then moving on to greet the other women.

Just as it was her turn to greet, Mr. Bingley kitty overheard one of Mr. Bingley's sisters mutter something about being overrun by Bennets, which caused her to blush, but she curtsied to Mr. Bingley and pretended like she didn't hear the rude comment.

They all took a seat on a small sofa near the Bingley sisters. Her mother immediately began speaking. "We cannot tell you how kind you have been to our dear Jane. We have heard that she is devastatingly ill...too ill to move." Mary sighed and Kitty fought the urge to groan. "We appreciate everything you have done for her. You are such a good man, Mr. Bingley. I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world—which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over that gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry I hope, though you have but a short lease."

"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," Mr. Bingley replied; "and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here."

"That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," said Elizabeth.

"You begin to comprehend me, do you?" He cried, turning towards her.

"Oh! yes—I understand you perfectly.".

"I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful."

"That is as it happens. It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours."

"Lizzy," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home."

"I did not know before," continued Bingley immediately, "that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study."

"Yes; but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage."

"The country," said Darcy, "can in general supply but few subjects for such a study. In a country neighborhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society."

Kitty winced. She knew at that moment that mother was going to make a spectical of herself, not that she wasn't already doing so. She did not like Darcy and she was bound to take his statement as an insult. Although, Kitty's feelings were not hurt, honestly she could barely stand the man so what did she care of what the man thought?

"I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town." Mrs. Bennet screeched.

Mary groaned. "Oh no. Stop her."

Kitty whimpered softly. "How?"

When no one replied to her statement other than her daughter's unheard whispers, Mrs. Bennet felt as if she had triumphed over Mr. Darcy and therefore, continued to prove her point. "I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is not it, Mr. Bingley?"

Mr. Bingley cleared his throat, slightly uncomfortable. "I enjoy both equally madame."

"But that is because you are of the right disposition." Mrs. Bennet announced pointedly. Kitty was beginning to feel faint. "That gentlemen," She paused to glare at Mr. Darcy. "thinks nothing of the country."

There was silence following that announcement. Even Lydia seemed at a loss for words. The tension in the room was high and it was clear that neither Katherine, Mary, or Elizabeth wanted to be there.

Finally, Elizabeth spoke. "Mama, surely are mistaken. You obviously mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there weren't as many people in the country as there were in the town."

"Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighborhood, I believe there are few neighborhoods larger. I know we dine with four and twenty families." Mrs. Bennet announced proudly.

Somehow, Mr. Bingley maintained his composure, while Darcy looked away and both of Mr. Bingley's sisters snickered at the obserdity of her statement.

Kitty and Mary both stared in the floor, unable to meet anyone's gaze. Kitty took slow breaths, trying to dissolve her embarrassment. She knew she did not want to come on this visit and now she understood exactly why.

"Has Charlotte come to visit Longbourne since I have been away?" Elizabeth asked, breaking the rather awkward silence that had fallen over them.

"Yes, she called yesterday with her father all of her brothers. Her brothers all seem determined to visit every morning with your sisters. What an agreeable man Sir William is, Mr. Bingley, is not he? He has always something to say to every body. That is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very important and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter." Mrs. Bennet announced snidely before glaring at Mr. Darcy once more.

Kitty sighed. "We cannot tempt her to veer from the topic."

Mary nodded. "The poison is beginning to sound like a better option."

"Did Charlotte dine with you?" Eliabeth asked, pretending that she did not hear what her sisters were muttering under their breaths.

"No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work. My daughters are brought up differently. But every body is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so very plain but then she is our particular friend. Oh, but her brothers!" Kitty and Mary winced in unison with Elizabeth. "Now her brothers are all exceptionally handsome and the eldest, Reginald seems to have formed an attachment to one of my younger daughters, Mary."

"Mama! Do not speak of such things." Mary announced with a stern glare.

"Come now, Mary. Do not be shy. Mr. Lucas has not made his feelings a secret nor have any of his other brothers that seem so attached to Kitty." Mrs. Bennet said as she turned to face Mr. Bingley with a large smile. "I believe that one or more of them will be heart broken when Katherine finally makes her decision between the lot of them. Mary, however, is destined for Reginald. He is so insistent on courting her. Though like her mother she does have the tendency to play hard to get." She paused for a moment to look at her daughters fondly, obviously overlooking their expressions of horror, before turning back to Mr. Bingley. "They are gentlemen, not extremely rich, but they make enough for me to be happy to see them with my daughters and they are such fine men."

Kitty immediately stood to her feet then, looking at Mr. Bingley with large pleading blue eyes. "I am feeling quite ill. Would you please excuse me?"

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy actually stared at her sympathetically. "Of course." Mr. Bingley stated with a small smile.

Elizabeth and Mary both escorted her from the room leaving her mother behind to stare in shock. "Well...she was feeling just fine this morning." Of course, it was a lie. Kitty had been insisting that she was ill ever since Mrs. Bennet had announced they were going to Netherfield, but she couldn't very well tell them that.

Once they were out of the room Kitty finally felt as if she could breathe. She took gulps of air in her lungs and the heat she felt on her face began to ease. "I cannot believe she would dare to discuss such things in front of...or to Mr. Bingley."

Elizabeth slowly nodded. "Yes and to speak so negatively of Charlotte. She is such a dear friend of mine."

"She...she insisted that me and Reginald...to Mr. Bingley." Mary muttered brokenly. Her wide hazel eyes locked with Elizabeth's. "Why would she...I do not understand."

Elizabeth sighed. "She is merely trying to show the inferiority of her daughters."

"She is only proving that we have horrible relations. A mother with absolutely no class...no etique." Kitty replied softly as they ushered her to a small chair near a staircase.

There was silence between them. Elizabeth finally spoke. "Poor Jane. She will never be able to escape our mother's outrageous behavior."

Kitty sighed. "If she wishes to be accepted by Mr. Bingleys sisters...it isn't likely."

Mary stared at the door to the palor they had been sitting in. She took slow deep breaths and then finally spoke. "You are aware that we left them alone with our mother and Lydia? Just because we are not there does not mean that she will stop. In fact, I believe it will be worse."

Kitty shook her head. "I do not understand our mother."

"She tries to do what is best for us, but does not see how negatively her actions affect us." Elizabeth told her softly as she stroked her hair. "The way she treated Mr. Darcy...I...I detest the sight of the man, but he is a respectable gentleman and she has treated him with horribly."

"Worse than that." Kitty replied. "She did it to his face."

Mary snickered. "Yes it would be alright if she only waited for him to leave the room."

"We speak horribly of him when he is not present." Kitty muttered to her sister.

Elizabeth laughed. "Yes, but that does not make it right."

"We really should rejoin them...immediately." Mary announced as she edged toward the room. "Otherwise things will get progressively worse."

Kitty snorted as Elizabeth helped her to her feet. "My dear, Mary...I am afraid it would be hard for things to get any worse. She does have enough sense not to mention that we have family members in trade."

"They are already aware of that." Elizabeth told her with a smile. "Now she just needs to tell Mr. Bingley her plans for his and Jane's future."

Mary's eyes widened. "Dear lord, we must hurry or he will never be with Jane."