Page 47 of A Life Diverted
E lizabeth was somewhat nervous about meeting many new people from London at the ball where she would be considered an oddity. She had not verbalised her anxiety, as she did not want the aunts and Emily to begin making last minute changes because of her.
It was the day before the ball, and Mama had come to see the décor and arrangements. She had invited Jane and Lizzy to join her.
The former had accepted with alacrity, knowing that her fiancé was at the estate, and once Elizabeth knew Jane was joining Mama, she did as well.
As the three Bennet ladies rode towards Netherfield Park, with attendant outriders and guards who doubled as footmen, Elizabeth could not but smile as she recalled the discussion she had with Charlotte the previous day.
“You know, if you have Barney propose before the ball, we will be able to celebrate two engagements,” Elizabeth had teased.
“Eliza, you know full well that we have been courting for less than a sennight. It would be rather precipitous to announce an engagement already.” Charlotte had noted her friend’s sly smile. “It is not the same situation as Jane and David. You well know their reasons for only marrying in January.”
“I suppose,” Elizabeth had responded. Then she changed the subject.
“At first Mama was not sanguine with an invitation being sent to the Ravenclaws. After I reminded her that Mrs Ravenclaw will look like she has been sucking lemons when she is reminded that you, the ‘ plain one who would remain a spinster ’ is being courted while her own daughter, who is a year older than you, has never come close to receiving an offer.”
“It is not nice to revel in another’s misfortune, and normally I would say nothing rather than make a negative comment,” Charlotte had stated.
“However, in the case of this mother and daughter, not to mention the rake of a son, I will make an exception. The way they spread their nastiness about, as well as that directed at me, they deserve to eat lots of humble pie. I will not rub my good fortune in their faces, but I will also not spare their sensibilities by hiding it away in their company. As it is written in Galatians 6:7, ‘ for whatever one sows, that will he also reap .’ I have no time for those who think they make themselves look better by pulling others down.”
“Brava, Charlotte! That is the harshest statement I have heard you utter, and Mrs, Mr, and Miss Ravenclaw deserve your scorn,” Elizabeth had opined.
“I am not blind to the ways of the world, Eliza. As I said, I would rather say nothing than something negative. That does not mean I will not say what I need to if the situation calls for it. That time at your Aunt Hattie’s, I was spared from saying anything because your Bennet mother said what needed to be said to that woman,” Charlotte had insisted.
“On a more serious note, you must know how I am looking forward to having you as my sister, Charlotte.” Elizabeth had smiled, “I know Barney, like David has with Jane, reserved your three significant sets.”
“If Barney proposes and I accept, then I too am in anticipation of that. And yes, I was very happy to cede those three sets to your brother.” Charlotte had paused. “Eliza, have you decided which family name to use yet? In the article they used the ‘Wendell’ name for you.”
“Once I visit Willowmere, I may begin to use the family name with which I was born. It is, after all, my legal name. As long as Grandmama Beth, Mama, and Papa agree it is time, that is. I will always be Lizzy to them and the rest of my Bennet siblings, which, considering my familiar name is Elizabeth, is acceptable as the diminutive of my name. I assured Grandmama Beth that my family name will never alter my connection to my Bennet family. I love the fact that Mother and Father have never attempted to push me further than I was willing to go. Also, we have become one large family. How fortunate am I to have two loving mothers and fathers? When you look at all of the rest—Grandmama, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins—if wealth was measured in family, I would be richer than Croesus.”
“I admire that your two families have worked together and not against one another,” Charlotte had said.
Not long after, Charlotte had returned to Lucas Lodge.
With their arrival at Netherfield Park, Elizabeth was snapped out of her reverie. She chastised herself for worrying about meeting new people because she would have more support than she could imagine, and besides that, she was to dance two very significant sets with William.
Rather than be nervous, she felt the anticipation of the ball building within herself.
Thanks to the efforts of Ladies Catherine, Elaine, and Emily there were no changes needed to the décor in the ballroom. After spending a few hours with the residents of the estate, Fanny, Jane, and Elizabeth returned to Longbourn.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The day of the ball, thanks to decent weather Elizabeth was able to ride—with sufficient escorts—to Oakham Mount in the morning and watch the sunrise.
She had hoped that William would be there as well, but she reminded herself she had not said anything to him of her intention to ride out this morning.
Once the sun was well above the horizon, Elizabeth and her escorts rode back to the manor house where after changing out of her riding habit, she joined the family to break her fast.
Later, after nuncheon, the ladies dedicated themselves to prepare for the ball. By the time it was time to depart, both Jane and Elizabeth could not get there fast enough.
When the Bennet carriage arrived at Netherfield Park, the three Bennet ladies hurried inside out of the cold wind. Lizzy’s Wendell mother, Lady Catherine, Lady Elaine, and Emily were waiting for them in the entrance hall. Unsurprisingly, David was there waiting to offer his arm to Jane.
“Thank you for having us arrive before the rest of the guests are to arrive,” Fanny said gratefully as the Bennets were escorted to the drawing room.
“We wanted all of you to meet some of our close friends before the ball without the crush of everyone in the ballroom,” Lady Matlock replied. “Ellie, dear goddaughter, we did not want to overwhelm you, so we only invited a few close friends.”
“I thank you for your consideration, Godmother, but I think I am past my aversion to change, which, in the past, has always included meeting new people,” Elizabeth assured her aunt.
Once the rest of the Bennets, which on this night included Beth Bennet, Fanny, Bennet, and Jane, were in the drawing room, Elizabeth with Mother on one arm and Aunt Elaine on the other, followed them into the room.
Those within had been prepared for how much the recovered Wendell daughter looked like her mother and aunt, but it did not stop a gasp from a few of them when the aforementioned ladies glided in.
“Elaine, you told me that your niece has similar looks to you and your sister, but I think you understated it,” Lady Sarah De Melville, the Countess of Jersey, stated after the introductions had been made. “You, Miss Wendell, are a very beautiful young lady.”
Elizabeth gave the powerful countess another curtsy. “I thank you for the compliment, my Lady; I am privileged to look like Mother and Aunt Elaine,” she stated.
“Modest too. It seems that her adoptive family raised her very well,” Lady Sarah remarked. “You shall receive a voucher for Almack’s.”
After thanking the Countess of Jersey, Aunt Elaine introduced Elizabeth to Lady Georgiana Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, Lady Grace Chamberlain, the Duchess of Hertfordshire, and Lady Marie Smythe, the Countess of Granville and daughter of the Duchess of Bedford.
The ladies were very warm and welcoming, and even though the duchess’ rank was just below that of the royals, they did not display any superior airs.
After Elizabeth had spoken with the duchesses and countess and answered any questions they had, Uncle Reggie led her across the room to meet some of their husbands, the Dukes of Bedford and Hertfordshire, and the Earl of Jersey.
Elizabeth replied with confidence, not cowed by them.
After speaking with the peers of the realm for some minutes, Elizabeth wandered off to where her Wendell brothers, William, Richard, and some others were standing.
“You know, Matlock, had I been twenty years younger and single, I could see myself being attracted to your niece. She is a little spitfire that one, and so intelligent,” Lord Archibald Chamberlain, the Duke of Hertfordshire—who loved his wife to distraction—mused.
“Darcy, will you introduce me to your cousin?” Lord Harry Smythe, the Earl of Granville, requested.
He, Richard, and Darcy had been at Eton and Cambridge together and was a very good friend to both men.
His father had been felled in a hunting accident some three years previously, which had resulted in Lord Harry inheriting many years before he either desired or expected to.
Once the introductions were made, Richard joined them.
“So, Granville, how are Lady Melody and her husband?” Melody Smythe had been Richard’s first and only woman that he had loved.
He had suspected she returned his regard, but her late father had brokered a marriage between her and the heir to the Earl of Sainsbury, Lord Telford Ranger, Viscount Tesco.
She had not reached her majority yet and had no recourse but to comply.
Richard had decided that if he could not marry his beloved Melody, he would remain single and will Rosings Park and all of his possessions to his brother’s, or one of his cousins’ sons who did not have an estate of their own.
“You have not heard?” Granville shot back in surprise.
“Heard what?” Richard wanted to know as his eyebrows knitted together in question.