That evening, the family prepared for their last dinner together before leaving for London in the morning. The following week would be spent at their Uncle Gardiner’s home. Elizabeth would have fittings most days for her trousseau and there would be dinners with Mr. Darcy’s family in addition to the usual entertainments.

Dinner was filled with laughter and old family stories. Each sister told a tale of how Lizzy had wronged her as a child by stealing her toy, pushing her into a puddle, or talking her into something they both got into trouble for. Elizabeth blushed and defended herself weakly, all the while laughing until her sides ached.

“You always were an unusual girl,” said Mr. Bennet with a wink. He squeezed her hand where it rested next to his on the table.

Elizabeth smiled as she turned to listen to her mother at the other end of the table.

“Well, Lizzy, you have done better than I ever thought you would. Well done, dear. Mr. Darcy is a fine catch.”

She smiled proudly at her daughter and sipped another glass of wine, and Elizabeth was not sure if she should feel happy or embarrassed. Her sisters sniggered quietly behind their hands and she decided not to let her mother’s words offend her.

“When you were a little girl,” Mrs. Bennet continued, “you had the most beautiful hair. It curled all around your face and everyone exclaimed about it. Mrs. Goulding was so jealous! I told her not to worry, her daughter’s hair would grow in eventually.” Lydia spluttered and nearly choked on her wine. “You were such a pretty child. And now your hair is prettier than ever.”

Elizabeth stared at her mother, having never heard her speak in such a way about herself before.

“Of course, you so rarely wear it to your advantage. Why you never listen to me, I don’t know,” Mrs. Bennet continued.

There is the mother I know, Elizabeth thought.

She laughed quietly to herself and looked across the table to see that Mary and Jane were doing the same, and soon the entire table was laughing.

“What? What is so funny?” asked Mrs. Bennet. This made Lydia laugh louder and soon Mrs. Bennet joined in, not knowing why, but not wishing to be left out of what was clearly a good joke.

Chapter 18