When Mr. Charles Bingley is injured on a hunting excursion, Mr. Bennet feels responsible for the mishap. To assuage his guilt, he volunteers his assistance to Mr. Bingley in managing and improving Netherfield. The recovering Mr. Bingley, uncomfortable in accepting such aid from his neighbor, instead writes to his closest friend for help. Mr. Darcy soon arrives in answer to the summons, bringing his sister, Georgiana, with him. As she has recently suffered mistreatment at the hands of a former acquaintance of Mr. Darcy’s, Georgiana is eager to stay at her brother's side. A burgeoning friendship with the clever and kind Elizabeth Bennet can only assist Georgiana's confidence. Unfortunately, a trip to Meryton becomes a return to terror when Georgiana sees Mary Bennet, one of Elizabeth’s sisters, talking to the man who had treated her poorly. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy come together in a desire for retribution and the urgent need to rescue a Bennet daughter from the hands of an unrepentant Lothario. The events of the night will either feed their growing attraction or drive them apart forever.
Lydia led the way toward the regimental encampment, hopeful of acquiring the interest of one of the members camped in Meryton. In Lydia’s mind, a life spent in the military was the utmost in excitement and danger, something sadly missing from the boring neighborhoods her father allowed her to frequent. With her was Kitty, who was always ready to follow wherever Lydia led.
“Finally, we are free of them,” said she to Kitty. “I feared I would die from boredom, and to revisit those same shops was too much, don’t you agree?”
Kitty, always the quieter of the two, said nothing, for experience had taught her that Lydia much preferred the sound of her own voice over any opinions or comments Kitty was apt to offer.
Reaching the end of the lane they had entered when making their escape, Lydia turned toward where the regiment camped, with its many targets for her attentions.
“There’s Denny,”
said Lydia, pointing to a man walking in the company of another on the side of the road opposite to them, “and he is not alone. Let us go speak with him. Maybe he will introduce us to his companion.”
Mr. Denny was all that was charming about a man in uniform. He was, in Lydia’s eyes, a beautiful specimen, tall and slim with a visage to command respect and set a young woman’s heart to fluttering. To encounter him outside of the encampment was, in Lydia’s estimation, a piece of luck in its own right, as he might then introduce the girls to the most handsome of his friends.
The two hurried across the roadway, hoping to gain the hoped-for introduction. Lydia, positioning herself where Mr. Denny could not help but notice her, felt her hopes dashed as the men approached and, stepping to the side, passed them by without acknowledging her presence.
With only two steps remaining until the men would be out of reach, and with nary a sentence of greeting, Lydia was prepared to interrupt their conversation when, without warning, she felt herself being propelled into Mr. Denny’s side. The collision was of such force that she knocked him to the side, and he stumbled in trying to regain his balance.
“Forgive me, Mr. Denny,” said Lydia with a look of reproach directed at Kitty, who smiled and stepped away. “I lost my balance, although I cannot imagine what caused such an occurrence.” Behind her, she could hear Kitty struggling to hold her laughter in check.
“Miss Lydia,” said Mr. Denny, “how nice it is to see you on this fine afternoon.”
“Is this a new officer with you?” said Lydia, her manners forgotten in the rush to receive the introduction she sought.
“We had not seen him in Meryton before today,” said she with a nod toward Kitty, standing quietly beside her.
COLLAPSE