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Longbourn was ablaze with light on the cold January night of the wedding ball.

There were torches alight along the length of the drive to help guide carriages safely, at the end of which an army of footmen and grooms waited to tend to the arriving guests.

If there was precipitation, none of the guests would be affected thanks to the oversized overhang that could accommodate at least two conveyances at a time.

The receiving line was ready just outside the huge ballroom that was sparkling with the reflected light of thousands of wax candles in the twelve crystal chandeliers and numerous wall sconces.

At the head of the line were the Duke and Duchess of Hertfordshire, the hosts, followed by Lady Jane, the Honourable Richard Fitzwilliam, Lady Marie, Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford and the Earl and Countess of Matlock.

Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth had arrived some hours earlier that afternoon along with a contingent of royal guards.

Their Highnesses were resting and would make their entrance just before the first set.

If it were not for the close familial relationship between the royals and the Bennets, the Regent and the Queen would not have sent representatives of the family to a ball and wedding outside of London.

The royal cousins sent two almost priceless Ming Dynasty vases as wedding gifts for the two cousins who were marrying.

Sir William and Lady Sarah Lucas were among the first denizens of Meryton to make their way through the receiving line.

Sir William, normally ebullient and ready to regale one and all with the story of his investiture to the knighthood, was awed by the number of peers present at the ball.

It was a good mix of people from lowly country squires and merchants from the market town to peers and royalty.

Lady Elizabeth Bennet was far more subdued than her wont at an event where there was dancing, considering that she was one who loved to dance.

The more that she had examined her way of sketching characters based on few facts, her quick temper, and her habit of making snap judgements, the less she felt good about herself.

That was until she had the conversation with Lady Anne that morning.

As she sat waiting for the ball room to fill up, she thought back to the conversation she had had with Darcy’s mother, who she now called aunt and was called by her familiar name in turn, that morning when the two had taken a ride.

They had been well bundled up against the cold and were accompanied by Biggs and Johns, in addition to other footmen and a groom.

Security had been increased on all of the family ever since Richard’s warning about the probability of Wickham seeking to avenge himself against Lady Elizabeth.

Miss Jones had been given the week off to spend with her uncle, the local physician and apothecary, and his family.

The ladies had not planned to ride for very long because even though there was no precipitation that day and the wind was almost non-existent, it was a very cold morning, nonetheless.

By mutual, if silent agreement they stopped on a flat area in one of the fields below Oakham Mount.

“I feel very guilty that because of my actions that your son will miss the wedding,” Lady Elizabeth had said, her head down, feeling ashamed of her actions.

“Elizabeth. ELIZABETH Bennet!” She was lost in her thoughts but hearing her name the second time with raised voice snapped Elizabeth’s out of her reverie.

“Enough of this nonsense. You need to learn to follow your own advice about the past! The decision to miss the wedding was William’s, and William’s alone.

“Before we came to visit you the first time, it was made very clear to him that the invitation included his person. He chose to stay in town. I personally asked him multiple times if he would not relent and come to the wedding, but he told me that he would do nothing to divert attention from the couples who are about to wed.”

“Do you not see Aunt Anne,” Lady Elizabeth insisted, “he made this decision because he was worried that I would let my temper run wild again and so it would be me that would actually have diverted attention from Jane and Richard and Marie and Andrew!” Lady Elizabeth paused for a moment, then added, “After the way that I humiliated him publicly, how is it that he is so honourable to place my feelings above his own?”

“That is who William is; who he always was. He just needed to be reminded of his true self, and you, my dear Lizzy, applied the pressure that cracked the facade. I have told you before, although as you now acknowledge, you were quick to anger and judge and employed implacable resentment against those who you felt wronged you or those that you love; William needed this. I want to believe that he would have arrived at the realisation that he could not continue to behave as he was on his own, but it could well have been a long time in the future,” Lady Anne assured Elizabeth.

“This has been a positive for both of you. Both have identified and acknowledged faults and both of you have taken steps to correct said faults. How can that be a bad thing? You make me feel as proud of you as I am for my William. I finally saw the son at Snowhaven during Christmas that I used to see before that dreadful day when my beloved George was taken. There is no fortune large enough to repay you for the part you have played in being the catalyst for his transformation. He is not the only one who has changed; you have as well, and it will bode well for both of you in the future.”

Elizabeth thought about Lady Anne’s words, “I see the truth in your words Aunt Anne. You should know that a fortnight ago, before they arrived, I contacted Aunts Rose and Pricilla and let them know that Mr. Darcy had been forgiven by me and to make sure that the Ton knows that he should be treated as anyone else in society and no longer ostracised. I am looking forward to debating Plato and Socrates with him, as I have heard that he studied both extensively.”

Lady Anne Darcy gave her companion a warm smile, “He will enjoy that above all else, Lizzy.” As they were about to return to the warmth of the house, Lady Anne added, “I am in your debt for your help in drawing Georgie out. Not only have you helped give my son back to me, but my daughter as well.”

Lady Elizabeth had felt a lot better after replaying the conversation in her head.

She resolved that as soon as they arrived in Town three days hence, she would ask her Papa to send a note to Darcy House requesting that Mr. Darcy attend them at Bennet House and she would give him her complete and unreserved forgiveness and ask for his for her own precipitous judgements.

Lady Anne Darcy had absolved her of guilt, but regardless of being told that she did not need to proffer one, she felt like she owed Mr. Darcy an apology.

It did not take long before Longbourn’s ballroom was filled to capacity.

A number of friends from Town and other locations would be hosted at Longbourn and Netherfield, thanks to Mr. Bingley volunteering his home until after the wedding breakfast two days hence.

When the line for the first set started to form, it was led off by Jane and Richard, then Marie and Andrew, then followed the rest of the dancers.

Elizabeth enjoyed dancing with her friend, Frank Lucas, and as per normal they bantered back and forth about nothing of great substance.

Frank held no illusions that the raven-haired beauty that was ‘little Lizzy’ who used to beat him at everything from tree climbing and running to fighting would ever be more than a friend.

It was not just about rank; Frank knew that she was far more intelligent than he was and that he would never be able to match her wit.

Ladies Anne and Catherine were seated next to one another, and neither lady missed the becoming blushes that Georgiana Darcy was exhibiting as she danced with the future Duke of Hertfordshire.

Lord James was discretely giving her equally tender looks.

The sisters agreed that they would have to keep a weather eye on the situation as Georgie was still two years away from her come out.

Further up the line, Lord Tom was enjoying his dance with Lady Amy Ashby immensely.

They had spent some time talking before the ball and the more he was around her, the more that the Marquess of Birchington was impressed.

She was very light on her feet and there was no fawning over him like so many were wont to do as soon as they found out that he was heir to the dukedom of Bedford.

For the first ten minutes of the set, they had danced in companionable silence.

“Lady Amelia, will you be returning to Town after the wedding or are you and your brother returning to Surrey?” he asked, hoping it was the former and not the latter.

“We will be at Ashby House in London, my Lord. We will join my parents, brother, and sister for the rest of the season,” Lady Amy replied with a becoming blush. She was surprised by her attraction to the very good-looking man that she was dancing with.

Lady Amelia Ashby had survived two seasons without anyone piquing her interest though a number had called on her, but she had never agreed to more than the first call.

Too many of them saw her as a way to increase their wealth and connections, not as the intelligent and vibrant woman that she was.

Until she met the Marquess of Birchington, no man had ever caught her interest. They had only met that afternoon, but if he requested to call on her in Town, she would not object, she might even be so forward to ask him to have dinner if he was staying in town alone.