She told herself she was worrying for nothing. Her mother had been remarkably calm this entire journey. It was only her own innate sense of responsibility, and perhaps an inability to trust all the new ideas and feelings she was experiencing, that made her anxious for the future. Sometimes, though she would never tell him this, she wished her father had never begun his mission to educate and civilize his daughters. She saw the benefits, and was beyond glad not to be mortified by Kitty and Lydia in public any longer, but she could not be happy that her own ideals and beliefs had undergone such a radical change, and were undergoing it still. Her rational mind told her it had been likely to happen at some point regardless, but she could not be comforted. Just for a little while, she would be unhappy about it. Then she would smile and go about her day, thinking of it no more.

After all, she could not change the world.

~

Mr. Bingley proved to be a constant suitor. He came to the cottage most mornings shortly after breakfast. For a fortnight, he accompanied Jane on slow walks by the shore and organized outings for the entire family to visit nearby gardens and ruins. He even hired a boat for the afternoon for all four Bennet sisters, which could have only ended in disaster and, in fact, did. After four dripping, disgruntled girls made their way back to the cottage, Bingley returned to his hotel with a silly smile on his face he could not remove, no matter how hard he tried.

Somewhat to his own surprise, he dearly wanted to join the Bennet family. Yes, Mrs. Bennet was louder than she ought to be and was entirely too in awe of status and wealth, but the latter described more than half the women he knew. Her other embarrassing behaviors had been tempered of late and she was not cruel, something he couldn’t say for many other women of his acquaintance or even in his family.

The Gardiners were amiable and intelligent people and he could picture many nights spent in entertaining dinners full of lively conversation. Mr. Bennet was a congenial fellow, though a bit dry for Bingley’s tastes; he was a more straightforward man. He didn’t manipulate those around him or pretend to feelings he did not have. Despite their differences, Bingley found the older man’s company stimulating and enlightening, and he enjoyed playing chess with such a skilled opponent.

The Bennet girls would make excellent sisters, Bingley decided. They had been great fun on the water. Even after the boat tipped and they were all sprayed with sea water, they had laughed and maintained their spirits. It was only as the wind picked up and they were cold and shivering that they had become grumpy. Even then, they weren’t half as bad as Caroline on an ordinary day, without the inducement of a near-dunking.