Upon leaving her sister's company, Mary began to head towards the stairs that would lead her to the parlor where she could hear her mother going on. Surely, based on the information Elizabeth had shared, her mother would be in the same room as Mr. Collins. As she reached the top of the stairs, she glanced into the room she shared with her two younger siblings and found Kitty sitting alone. Instantly, Mary was struck with another idea and headed towards the room.
"Kitty?" Mary asked, standing in the doorway of the room attempting to gather the courage to go through with her newest plan.
"Yes? Oh, Mary. What is it you need?" Kitty, unlike her other sisters, never put in an effort to ignore her elder sister. Although Mary appeared to be the most neglected of the Bennet sisters, she at least enjoyed the solitude. When she was younger, Kitty had put a great deal of effort into attracting her elder sisters' attentions. However, since Jane and Lizzy had one another and Mary's tastes had differed so greatly from her own, Kitty had turned to her younger sister as a campion. Nothing made Kitty happier than having any of her elder sisters request her attention or time.
"Well… I was hoping that, if it were not too great of an inconvenience… that perhaps you could help me with something?" Mary asked nervously, which only served to further intrigue the younger sister.
"Of course, Mary. I would help you with anything." With such a reply, Mary entered the room and whispered her request in her sister's ear. Kitty's eyes wide, as did her smile, as she heard the plan. "Oh, yes! This shall be fun!" Mary took a deep breath in an effort to calm herself as Kitty sprang to her feet and ran towards the wardrobe.
*Meanwhile, at Netherfield*
Mr. Darcy arrived back at his friend's estate with a new purpose for his time. If Elizabeth required love to wed, he would give her love. All concerns for her station in life and his status in society was forgotten. Her beauty had long captured his eye, her wit had long captured his mind, but after their meeting in the woods her mind and passion had managed to catch his heart. The Bennet family was so decidedly beneath him. Mr. Bennet was, after all, a gentleman. True, Longbourn was not so great an estate as Pemberley, or even Netherfield, but he was sure it turned a decent profit. The true strike against the family was the estate being denied to the female line and the lack of sons. If the Bennet ladies had had a brother their situation would be near equal to that of Bingley's father. With these thoughts, along with her own wonderful charms, Darcy was quite certain he was making a wise decision in pursuing Miss Elizabeth. True she would bring nothing to their marriage but herself, but he was sure that was the only thing he lacked in the world. Mr. Darcy was so distracted by these thoughts he nearly ran into Bingley was entered the house.
"Ah, Darcy! There you are! Are you prepared for our journey?" Charles asked in his usual cheerful tone, yet Darcy could see the glimmer of sadness at the thought of departing.
"Actually, Bingley, I was hoping to talk with you on that matter," Darcy answered. "On further thought, I feel your business might easily be settled through correspondence from here. And beyond that, I feel you may be happier spending your time… improving your intimacy with certain members of the community." At this, Darcy gave his friend a knowing smile much to his friend's surprise.
"Well… certainly! I could think of nothing finer than to continue on here!" Charles said, enthusiastically. "Oh, but Caroline and Louisa have already left. Surely, I must go now for it would be quite rude to desert them."
"I suppose that is true." Darcy frowned as he tried to think of his next enticement to make his friend remain. Mr. Darcy was not a foolish man, he was well aware that in order to win Miss Elizabeth's heart he must first set in motion the necessary steps to happiness for her sister and his friend. "Perhaps, you go to town with your sisters, in sure they are settled and finish your business, and I could watch over Netherfield in your absence. It will help those in town to rest easy in the thought of your return if the house were to remain open."
"Excellent notion! I shall attempt to finish my business as quickly as possible and then rejoin you here. But, Darc, did you not plan to visit Miss Georgiana while in town? Will she not be missing you?"
"I had not thought of that," Darcy frowned again. It would not do to have to choose between Miss Elizabeth and Georgiana.
"I have it! Go write your sister a letter, invite her to come to Netherfield to visit you. Invite that cousin of yours as well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, for she will need a campanion for her journey. You will all be my guests and I shall return as soon as my business allows it." Charles beamed at his own brilliance and as soon as the letter was sealed, was off to London after his sisters.
"That do not go exactly to plan, but he will be returning. I must call it a success," Darcy said to himself as he watched his friend drive off. He would stay here to pursue Miss Elizabeth, Bingley would return to pursue Miss Bennet, and he and his dear sister would soon be reunited. Quite successful.