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Middleton House Foyer - Georgiana

G eorgiana was enjoying herself, the Middletons’ house was beautiful and all of the ladies and gentlemen were elegantly dressed. So many colours, feathers, silks and jewels. It was just what she imagined a ball would be, and this was her first ball with Fitzwilliam.

His presence was reassuring. She stood near him in the foyer, looking around at all of the people milling around them. She had seen her cousins and smiled across at them. Lady Rowena looked particularly handsome tonight, but Lady Henrietta, however, seemed rather upset about something.

Mr Bingley and his sisters joined them, Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were both in high spirits.

Mr Bingley too was in a good mood, although he was continually looking at the door every time someone new arrived.

Fitzwilliam too seemed to be waiting. Georgiana suspected that they were both waiting for the Bennets to arrive.

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst left them to greet some other friends of theirs.

Fitzwilliam sighed slightly in relief as they moved away.

Mr Bingley moved slightly closer to her brother and said something quietly to him, Fitzwilliam looked up and smiled.

Georgiana turned to see what he was smiling at, she saw Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet making their way through the room.

They had not seen them yet and were walking towards where Lady Rowena stood with her brother, the Colonel.

Both of the gentlemen seemed content to watch the ladies for a few moments.

No, as she looked at the expression on her brother’s face she knew very well that Elizabeth could not marry Mr Collins, her brother would not be able to survive it.

Mr Bingley also seemed to have lost his entire heart to Miss Bennet.

Georgiana was very interested to meet the rest of the family, see how the eldest two had had such an effect on these two young men, would Richard lose his to one of the younger girls?

Lady Henrietta joined her brother and sister just then, seeming to ignore the Bennets.

Richard smiled at Georgiana from across the room and said something to Miss Elizabeth Bennet who glanced over at her and likewise smiled.

While she was not as pretty as her sister, there was something about the way she moved and the expression of her eyes.

The green of her dress brought out the colour and shape of her eyes, seeming to make them dance even more than before.

The two sisters left her cousins and made their way over to them.

Mr Bingley had stepped away for a moment to speak to someone, but soon rejoined them.

Fitzwilliam led Georgiana and Miss Elizabeth Bennet into the ballroom, Mr Bingley and Miss Bennet followed behind them.

The room was much larger than Georgiana had been expecting, and she could see the musicians at the end of the room getting ready to play.

Servants were moving about the room with glasses of wine and jugs of lemonade.

Although it was the middle of winter the room would soon be very warm.

Georgiana could hardly contain her excitement.

She glanced at her brother and realised that he would be very little help to her for the rest of the evening.

No, he would be spending as much of it as was proper to do so with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

And she was glad for it. Her brother deserved to be happy.

The music started and Mr and Mrs Middleton took their places, ready to open the ball.

Other ladies and gentlemen began to join them.

Mr Bingley took Miss Bennet by the hand and they took their places.

Fitzwilliam smiled at Miss Elizabeth Bennet again, taking her hand as they took their places slightly further down from Mr Bingley and Miss Bennet.

As Georgiana watched her brother dance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, her attention was drawn to the wider ballroom.

The swirl of colourful gowns and the lively music created a festive atmosphere.

Lady Rowena appeared at her side, as they watched her brother and his handsome partner.

“They make a very fine couple, don’t you think? ”

“Yes, I do.” Georgiana smiled at her cousin. They watched in silence for a minute or two before Georgiana spoke again. “They are to leave town tomorrow.”

“He will follow her, you can see it in his eyes. He is completely under her spell.”

“I had hoped that he would take me with him when he leaves town, but he does not want me to go into Hertfordshire. Not yet anyway.”

“I am sure he will let you go soon. But it is likely to be a difficult time for all involved.” Lady Rowena said soberly “I am just glad that she is already known to my father and mother. If they approve of the match, which I think they will, there is little anyone else can do to prevent it from taking place. ”

“Do you think she is,” Georgiana flushed slightly. “How did you put it? Do you think she is as much under his spell as he is hers?”

“That is a hard question to answer.” Lady Rowena thoughtfully watched them dance together. “I think she enjoys his company very much, but there is something more about her. Some secret that she holds very close to her heart.”

Georgiana looked at them and they were smiling at each other, just as Mr Bingley and Miss Bennet were doing. “A secret you say. She seems sad to me. Like Fitzwilliam was when our father died.”

As the dance progressed, Georgiana found her attention wandering from her brother and Elizabeth. It was then that she noticed a stir near the entrance, a ripple of surprise moving through the crowd.

Lady Rowena, standing near Georgiana, suddenly stiffened. “Oh no,” she murmured, her eyes fixed on the entrance. Georgiana followed her gaze, and what she saw made her heart sink for her brother’s sake.

Lady Catherine. There was an expression on her face that Georgiana had never seen before.

“Oh Henrietta what have you done?” Lady Rowena said quietly.

Lady Catherine had seen them and was walking towards them. She nodded to them slightly, “Good evening, Rowena, Georgiana.”

They returned the greeting and waited for her to speak again. “I am looking for Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, where is he?”

Georgiana was trying very hard not to look at her brother, luckily she had Lady Rowena with her, who replied for her.

“He is dancing at the moment, Lady Catherine.” She said with a smile. “Mama did not mention that you were going to be here tonight. It just slipped her mind?”

“I did not mention it to the Countess that I was coming.” She was looking at the dancers, looking for Fitzwilliam.

When the dance finished, Georgiana was expecting them to join her.

She thought she had seen Fitzwilliam glance at least once in their direction.

However, she was surprised to see them take their places for the next dance.

Mr Bingley and Miss Bennet were taking a break, he went to get them a glass of wine each. She could see them standing close together speaking quietly.

“How is Anne, is she with you?” Lady Rowena asked pleasantly, her eyes firmly on their aunt. Georgiana was always impressed with her cousin at these moments.

“No, she has remained at Rosings. London air does not agree with her as you know. I see Fitzwilliam. Who is he dancing with?”

“Where is he? Ah, there he is. With one of the Miss Bennets, I believe.” Lady Rowena said, then she turned to Georgiana as if for support. “The eldest if I am not mistaken?”

Georgiana was amazed by her cousin’s cool delivery, but she remembered that she was the youngest of the Fitzwilliams and she must have had to make up for her age in other ways.

“I am not sure,” she replied, “it could be, I do not know them very well.” It was at that moment he noticed that man standing behind her aunt. Lady Catherine turned to him and asked: “Is that the lady in question?”

“Yes indeed that is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the young lady I am engaged to,” he said. His face was red.

Georgiana could hardly believe it, this was Mr Collins.

The man who stood between her brother and Miss Elizabeth.

He was not what she had expected, yet Anne’s descriptions of ‘slightly ridiculous’ and ‘pompous’ suddenly seemed apt.

She had thought he would be short and slightly rounded in the middle.

However, before her stood a tall thin man, with a slightly reptilian face.

His hair was dark, and his nose slightly bent.

Mrs Bennet was hurrying towards them, “Oh, Mr Collins. What a surprise it is to see you here. I am sure Lizzy will be very pleased.” She looked around for her second eldest daughter as if she expected her to appear out of thin air.

When she did finally see her daughter she turned slightly pale and then turned back to Mr Collins.

“You will be very pleased with all of the arrangements we have made for the wedding. Lizzy’s gown we are having made, and they will be sending it to my brother and his wife. And they will be bringing it to Longbourn for the wedding. The dressmaker in Meryton can make the final adjustments.”

Mr Collins said little as he listened to Mrs Bennet while they all waited for Fitzwilliam and Miss Elizabeth Bennet to finish their dance. Georgiana stood silently, very glad that her cousin was there with her. For she did not know what to do.

As Georgiana watched her brother dance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the ballroom continued to buzz with activity. Couples twirled across the floor, their colourful attire creating a kaleidoscope of movement. It was in this moment of general merriment that an unexpected hush fell over the room.

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Middleton House Ballroom - Elizabeth