Page 31

The Netherfield gentlemen tried their best to not embarrass themselves by staring in slack-jawed amazement at the sight of the three ladies descending the stairs, and more or less succeeded.

Georgiana’s aunt had gifted her with a ballgown to practice dancing since she was expected to be out in another year or so.

When she heard about the planned ball, she brought it along just in case she managed to bludgeon her brother into submission.

The gown was a gorgeous silk in light pink, with capped sleeves and a moderate square neckline about halfway between what Lydia and Mary would choose.

Elizabeth wore a blue satin gown her Aunt Gardiner purchased during a recent trip to London. It had a fitted bodice and long sleeves, and was somewhat less modest than Georgiana’s, though Mrs Bennet would have asked her to go even lower if she had ever seen the gown.

Mary shone in a gown Mrs Gardiner bought for Jane during the same trip.

It was made of heavier, brighter pink silk with floral embroidery and a matching sash.

Elizabeth and Jane had pressed Mary into a considerably more ornate gown through the simple expedient of hiding it in her trunk.

Elizabeth was struck by the fact that they did not have to make a single alteration to the gown—thus demonstrating that in at least some aspects, Mary was nearly indistinguishable from Jane.

The battle over hairstyles was won much more quickly than Elizabeth expected, and the result was quite a beautiful young lady—to the surprise of exactly none except Mary.

Darcy and Fitzwilliam approached with their eyes full of wonder and fortunately had a few minutes of awaiting their arrival at the bottom of the stairs to regain their wits.

When the ladies curtsied, Darcy said, “Ladies, you look exceedingly enchanting, one and all.”

Naturally the ‘one and all’ aspect of his gaze was more hypothetical than real, as he could barely tear his eyes from Elizabeth. He whispered, “You not only leave me stunned, but Fitzwilliam is speechless as well, which I can assure you is unprecedented.”

All three ladies laughed, and Elizabeth said, “You clean up well yourself, William.”

His stare was at the same time disconcerting and thrilling, with more emphasis on the latter. Elizabeth had to admit that he was having an effect, and it was not at all bad.

Fitzwilliam laughed. “Georgiana, I suspect Darcy, and I are in trouble. I was planning to carry a cricket bat everywhere when you came out, but now I believe the sword might be required.”

The poor girl blushed hard enough to almost pass out, but the compliment gave her the first feeling of being close to grown up, coupled with a feeling that she might finally be able to put her mistakes of the summer behind her.

The group chatted for a few more minutes, then went to the parlour for a little bit of wine to prepare for the ordeal to come.

As a long-term resident of Netherfield, Darcy felt obliged to stand in the receiving line, while Elizabeth felt no inclination to join him.

Everyone within twenty miles knew they were courting, but they were not engaged, and she would not be rushed.

Joining him in the line would have been a tacit admission of an engagement, and she was not ready for that after a week of good behaviour.

The colonel joined the receiving line just to fill it out, and to get a chance to be introduced to all the locals without going to the trouble of dragging Darcy or Bingley away from their ladyloves to arrange introductions.

~~~~~

The guests started arriving, so Elizabeth, Mary, and Georgiana went to witness their arrival.

The Bennets arrived along with Mr Collins, and Elizabeth was chagrined to realize she had not given the poor man a single thought in the previous week.

She remembered she promised Charlotte that she might promote her a bit but had been too busy to really do anything.

She decided the evening was the perfect opportunity to canvass the couple and see if she needed to take steps.

She understood that Mr Collins hoped to take one of the Bennet sisters as a bride, but she thought his likelihood of success essentially nil.

She watched for Charlotte so she would have a chance to speak to her while Darcy was engaged in the receiving line.

Jane went through the line just like anybody, and Elizabeth watched her interaction with Mr Bingley avidly.

Since their abrupt departure from Netherfield, Jane had kept most of her cards close regarding the gentleman.

Elizabeth had not the slightest idea what her sister thought about the man at that point, and their interactions in the receiving line did nothing to enlighten her.

They were slightly more than polite to each other, but the gentleman refrained from making a spectacle of himself, while Jane looked as inscrutable as she usually did.

Elizabeth gave up trying to work it out.

Jane at least looked beautiful in her second-best ballgown, which was noticeably better than her sisters’ best. Right or wrong, everyone had accepted many years ago that Jane was likely to be their saviour.

Besides that, arguing with Mrs Bennet had, until recently, been a fool’s errand, so the fact that Jane would be better dressed than anyone else was a given.

She greeted her friends from a corner of the room where she and Darcy could see each other but were not in a direct line of sight—mostly because Elizabeth was convinced neither of them would mind their manners very well if they spent the entire time staring at each other, as was their wont.

She reflected that the need to take such active measures probably indicated a growing attraction but still found the entire situation unnerving.

~~~~~

Charlotte came directly to Elizabeth after the receiving line, and Elizabeth was surprised to see Mr Collins hovering nearby. She quirked an eyebrow inquiringly.

Her friend replied, “I realize you have been busy, Elizabeth, but Mr Collins has been visiting the neighbours the last five days while you have been… occupied.”

Elizabeth blushed, though whether she was worried about her friend chastising her lack of industriousness vis-à-vis her promised help in the husband hunting department, or Charlotte’s implications about her busyness, she was unwilling to say.

Charlotte laughed. “Do not look so shocked, my dear. All is well. Mr Collins has made himself agreeable to my family and is opening the dance with me.”

Elizabeth nodded, not certain what she thought about the whole thing. “I am happy for you.”

Charlotte laughed even harder. “Try it with less scepticism next time. I am content with my progress and shall be content with my ultimate success.”

“Are you so certain of your success and likely satisfaction.”

“I am,” Charlotte said with all due seriousness.

“Then I wish you well,” she said, happy have the topic finished. She reflected that Charlotte was not a babe in arms, and she knew perfectly well what she was about.

They spent another quarter-hour talking, though they were interrupted from each of her sisters and parents at least once, as well as several other acquaintances.

Several men asked Elizabeth for dances, and she granted them, though whether gladly or reluctantly was a question she could not really answer.

Darcy escaped the hordes to join the ladies for a quarter hour before the first set.

~~~~~

As the group was chatting amiably, Jason Goulding approached, and Elizabeth performed introductions.

After a few minutes, he asked, “Miss Mary, might I have the honour of your first set… or another if that is already taken?”

Mary stared at him in shock, thoroughly unable to answer while the poor man fidgeted nervously.

Elizabeth took pity and reached over to take Mary’s dance card. “Mary?” she asked softly, which shook her out of her stupor.

“It would be my pleasure, Master Goulding,” Mary said shakily.

Elizabeth handed him Mary’s dance card, which he quickly filled out. “Might I fetch some refreshment, Miss Mary… ladies?”

“That would be lovely,” Elizabeth replied with a smile, and he hied off to the refreshments table with rather nervous alacrity.

Mary still seemed shocked, so Elizabeth said, “Come, Mary. It is not as if you never danced before.”

“Never the first,” Mary said emphatically, and then gave a nervous frown.

Darcy asked gently, “Are you nervous about dancing with the gentleman?”

“Of course not… it is Jason, after all,” she said distractedly.

Darcy scrunched his head in confusion and gave up.

Elizabeth said, “Are you angry that he, and possibly other men, have finally noticed you are pretty?”

Mary scoffed. “In Jane’s dress.”

Darcy laughed. “As a man, I shall claim expertise. You were always pretty, Miss Mary… you just went out of your way to hide your light under a bushel for your own reasons.”

Elizabeth gave him a scowl, but he remained unrepentant.

He said gently, “It may look easy, but it takes some courage for a young man to ask a lady to dance. If she appears to be… ahh… unenthusiastic, it is even harder.”

“Are you saying he may have noticed me before but lost his nerve?”

“There are many possible explanations,” he replied gently.

“That is one. It is also just possible that he is a typical chowderheaded boy without a bit of sense, and he finally noticed you. I believe I can claim expertise on lunkheaded men,” he said with a sigh.

“I hate to admit it, but it is also possible he has noticed your status, since your sister is being courted by a wealthy man. I do not say that to boast… but to warn you that it will happen.”

A frown settled over Mary’s brow. “I am not certain I like that.”

“Neither am I, but it is the way of the world. May I make a suggestion?”

“I would hope you know by now that it would be welcome.”

Darcy chuckled. “One can never be too careful. Do you find the man sufficiently congenial?”