"Have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?" A lady asked one day as she walked into the sitting room with her companions.

The gentleman to whom she had been speaking to replied that he had not.

"It is; I had just overheard Miss Ashley and Miss Eddings speaking of it at the milliners."

The gentleman folded his paper.

"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried the lady.

"Certainly. My dear, you seem very impatient today."

The lady ignored the second part of his reply. ""It is taken by a Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner with four young children; in addition, their two eldest nieces are soon coming to visit. Is that not grand?"

"And are these ladies your age?" Mr. Darcy asked his sister.

"A few years older, but yes; I am very excited to make their acquaintance." Miss Darcy informed him.

"I can tell." The gentleman dryly replied. He went back to his paper before Miss Bingley- who had went to the milliners with Miss Darcy- could try and engage him in a conversation.

"When are they to come?" Mr. Bingley asked.

"They arrive in two days. Apparently they are to attend the assembly in Lambton next week. Oh! I wish I was out, just so I could see them there." Miss Darcy said.

Mr. Darcy was ecstatic to see the change in Georgiana merely for the reason that there were soon to be two new prospective friends for her; so ecstatic, in fact, that he impulsively made the suggestion that his sister was hinting at. "Bingley, Miss Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and I could go for a little while to see what they are like."

"Darcy, that's the first time I have ever heard you suggest going to a ball of your own will!" Bingley exclaimed.

Darcy shrugged. "I wish to meet our new neighbours. Of course, if you would rather not, I can just call on them."

"No!" Bingley exclaimed, then added hastily, "I would love to come! Your sister mentioned the other day that many of her friends who are out would be going. Caroline, do you not want to go?"

Miss Bingley was not one to forego any chance she had of dancing with Mr. Darcy; therefore, she immediately agreed.

"That is settled then. We shall be going to the ball." Mr. Darcy said, finalizing their plans.

Five days later Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner stood outside of Netherfield waiting for their nieces' arrival. Their housekeeper, Mrs. Allen, had heard the carriage turning into the drive. Not long after, the carriage which bore their nieces, reached the grand house.

"What a beautiful home!" Jane Bennet exclaimed as she alighted from the carriage.

"So nicely situated!" added her sister.

"Indeed, we are very happy that we were able to find such a splendid home. In Derbyshire, no less!" Mrs. Gardiner replied. While looking at houses, Netherfield had always been one of the family's favourites and the fact that it was so close to Mrs. Gardiner's childhood home settled the issue.

"Come in, come in, it is rather chilly out here -- indeed, where are our manners, making you stand outside in the cold after such a long carriage ride?" Mr. Gardiner ushered the arrivals in, surrendering them to the housekeeper to show them their rooms.

The Gardiners had decided to purchase an estate two months ago, after Mr. Gardiner received a letter informing him of the recent demise of his Great Aunt Augusta, a relation he had not even know existed. Mr. Gardiner was the only eligible heir; consequently, his family received the whole of the inheritance. She did not have an estate because she sold it when she got ill, but the amount of the inheritance allowed Mr. Gardiner to get a clear six thousand pounds per annum.

They invited their nieces to stay to help them settle into the new home. Also, it allowed the eldest Bennet sisters to get away from any new matchmaking plans that Mrs. Bennet might come up with.

The day after the Jane and Elizabeth arrived; Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley called on Mr. Gardiner to greet their new neighbours.

"My dear, you will never guess who called on me earlier when you were visiting your friend in Lambton." Mr. Gardiner greeted his wife. "By the way, Jane and Lizzy are in the music room with our daughters."

"Who visited us, my dear, you must tell me since you said that I would never guess."

"Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. They came and sat with me for a half hour. I was hoping that they would meet our nieces, but alas they did not. I did discover something rather interesting, however."

"What, my dear?"

"Mr. Darcy and his guests are to go to the assembly this week." Mr. Gardiner grinned, "Have you told Jane and Elizabeth that we are going?"

"Not yet, how about we join them in the music room now and inform them of this engagement." Mrs. Gardiner suggested.

Mr. Gardiner gallantly offered his arm to his wife, which she accepted.

Four days later Jane, Elizabeth, Mr., and Mrs. Gardiner went to the assembly in Lambton. There they were greeted by Mr. Eddings, who reminded Elizabeth of Sir William, simply wealthier.

"We greet you to our neighbourhood's humble assembly!" Mr. Eddings bowed deeply. He was average height and rather portly. Starting to tour the room, nearing his daughter and another gentleman, he exclaimed, "Capital, capital!"

"Did Sir William come to Derbyshire and change his name?" Elizabeth asked her sister, referring to the man's random exclamations of "Capital, capital!"

"Elizabeth!" Jane whispered, "Do not tease our Aunt and Uncle's new neighbours!"

The room suddenly went silent as the doors opened once more, admitting Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. Mr. Eddings rushed up to the group and, after bowing deeply once more exclaimed, "Capital, Capital! Mr. Darcy, you do us great honour!"

Mr. Darcy bowed. To Elizabeth he looked uncomfortable in the social setting, but didn't look like he thought that the assembly was beneath his notice. She glanced over at Jane and saw that her sister's gaze was locked on Mr. Bingley's face.

Not long after the Pemberley's party arrived, Elizabeth could hear Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley request of her uncle to make the acquaintance of his wife and nieces