Page 25 of The Marriage Game
On the following day, the Morning Post printed this:
On Monday evening, at Darcy House on Grosvenor Square, the Ball given to celebrate the arrival of the lovely Miss Darcy in society was well-planned and flawlessly executed in every respect. There were over four hundred guests, so the ballroom was filled to capacity, but the proportions of the ballroom allowed ample room for dancing and dining. By eleven o'clock, Grosvenor Square was filled with elegant carriages; guests gained admittance into the house by passing through the receiving line that consisted of Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, Mrs. Darcy, and the fair Miss Darcy.
Miss Darcy led the first dance, as expected, with her brother and guardian, Mr. Darcy. Unsurprisingly, Miss Darcy’s dance card was completely full; as the great-niece of the Earl and Countess of Matlock and possessing a dowry of a full thirty thousand pounds, her popularity is not to be wondered at! In addition, she is possessed of so great a talent on the pianoforte that it is rumoured the Queen Herself plans to ask for a private performance!
The dancing continued without a moment’s intermission until half past midnight, when the Darcys led the way to the supper-rooms. The fare served was of the finest quality and was greatly enjoyed by all, as was the champagne that flowed quite freely. Mr. Darcy toasted his young sister, noting her charm and elegance, and his pride in her.
The article went on to mention a number of attendees and who had danced with whom, and then concluded by saying that Miss Darcy was certain to make a fine match this Season.
Elizabeth read the article aloud at the breakfast table, though it was late enough to more properly be considered luncheon.
Georgiana was bright red by the time Elizabeth reached the end. “Is it normal for so much detail to be included?” she asked, rather alarmed. “Everyone will know who I danced with!”
Mrs. Annesley answered, eyes twinkling, “I am afraid there is little privacy to be had in the Marriage Game, Miss Darcy!”
***
At about the same time, the Bingleys were having a late breakfast as well, and Jane was reading the article aloud at the table. Caroline was delighted that her dance with Lord Russell had been mentioned!
Jane asked, “Do you like him, Caroline?”
“I do, very much! And he asked if he might call on me here at Bingley House!” Caroline was positively glowing with satisfaction.
“What do we know about him, Charles?” Jane asked.
Her husband shrugged. “I have never met the man, but he looked gentlemanly enough. If Caroline likes him, well and good.”
***
Later that afternoon, Lady Alicia, Miss Taylor, Miss Davies and Miss Johnson came to visit Bingley House. They revisited every last detail about the ball: the clothing, the dance partners, the food, even the design chalked on the floor. Caroline was happy to be able to inform them that the design was Pemberley.
“You have been there?” Miss Taylor asked in some astonishment.
“I have, yes, and a more delightful establishment cannot be imagined!”
“And you are related by marriage to Mr. Darcy – how wonderful!” Miss Johnson exclaimed.
Jane was in the drawing room as well; she managed not to smile, recalling how very much Caroline Bingley had wanted to be far more closely related to Mr. Darcy.
“Lord Russell took you to supper; that is most promising,” Miss Johnson went on.
But Lady Alicia frowned. “I am not so certain.”
“What do you mean?” Caroline cried. “He is a Baron!”
“My brother saw you with him and shook his head; when I asked him what was wrong, he said that the man had suffered some significant gambling losses and doubtless needs to marry a young lady of fortune.”
Caroline chewed her lip for a minute. The man had spent a good deal of time boasting of his properties; was that not one of the things Mrs. Annesley had warned her against? She then recalled that Mr. Lindsay had asked her for the supper dance, and she had told him that it was promised to Lord Russell. Mr. Lindsay’s comments about Lord Russell had doubtless been born of jealousy; she would pay it no mind.
Seeing that Caroline Bingley was determined not to listen to any ill tidings, Lady Alicia adroitly changed the subject. “Will Miss Darcy and Lord Fane make a match of it, do you think?”
And that topic engrossed the ladies for the next half hour.
***
Lord Russell came to call on Caroline not long after her friends had departed. He was very complimentary, telling Caroline how much he had enjoyed their time together at the ball. Would she consider driving out with him that afternoon? He had a fine new pair of horses that were exquisitely matched, he informed her. Almost incoherent with delight at the thought that a title was in her future, Caroline immediately agreed and ran upstairs to change while His Lordship waited.
***
The following morning saw a letter from Meryton waiting for Elizabeth at breakfast.
Lizzy,
Lady Lucas reads the Morning Post, as I am certain you recall, and she wasted not a minute in showing me the article about Miss Darcy’s ball! I cannot believe that you did not invite me, Mary, and Kitty! The girls would have loved to be in attendance, and you know I would have been a good deal of help to you in making the arrangements!
Lady Lucas went on and on about how Charlotte would never have been so ungrateful a daughter – as if Charlotte was ever going to host a ball in London! I told Lady Lucas that, and she stormed off in rather a state.
You see the trouble you have caused, Lizzy? Ungrateful girl!
Your disappointed parent,
Mama
P.S. Had it been Jane hosting the ball, we would surely have been included!
The endless battle between her mother and Lady Lucas! But there was another letter from Meryton. Already irritated, she tore it open.
Dear Lizzy,
Thank you for not inviting us to the ball. It would have been no end of trouble, not to mention the expense of outfitting all of us for such a grand occasion.
Do tell your husband that I have obtained the third edition of William Cowper’s translation of the Odyssey.
Your loving parent,
Papa
She could only laugh as she handed both letters to her husband.
Mr. Taggart walked in just as Mr. Darcy had finished reading the second letter from Meryton; his face wore an expression Mr. Darcy had never before seen on the unflappable butler’s face.
“Taggart?”
“There is a messenger here who says he is from the Palace.”
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy both rose to their feet, as Mr. Darcy repeated, in a tone of disbelief, “From the Palace?”
“Yes, sir; and from his uniform and the equipage in which he arrived, I have no doubt of it being true. He has a message for Miss Darcy, and insists on giving it directly into her hand.”
Elizabeth wasted not a moment; she ran up the stairs to Georgiana’s room. The girl had slept in late, but happily she was already awake and being buttoned into a day dress.
“Cathy, pin up Miss Darcy’s hair at once; she is needed downstairs.”
“Lizzy? Is something wrong?”
“There is a messenger here from the Palace, Georgiana, and apparently his instructions are to place the message into your hands.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened; then she groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “Oh, Lord, it must be from the Queen!”
Cathy moved with all haste to prepare Georgiana to go downstairs, and it was not a quarter of an hour before Georgiana and Elizabeth were descending the staircase together.
The royal messenger was waiting in the entryway; Mr. Darcy was waiting as well.
“Miss Georgiana Darcy?”
“I am Miss Darcy.”
The messenger bowed, handed her a letter, and took his leave. Georgiana just stood, staring at the letter in her hand.
“Come; let us go into the drawing room,” Elizabeth suggested.
Georgiana followed her, holding the letter by one corner, as if it would bite her.
The three of them sat in silence for a long minute, waiting for Georgiana to open the letter, but she made no move to do so.
Finally, Mr. Darcy said, “Would you like me to open it for you, Georgiana?”
The girl looked up, an expression of deep relief on her face. “Oh, yes, would you? Thank you, Brother!”
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged glances, both struggling not to smile.
Taking the letter from his sister’s hand, Mr. Darcy noted the royal seal in red wax. He broke the seal open, and read aloud:
Miss Georgiana Darcy and Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy are most cordially invited to tea at St. James Palace on Wednesday next at three in the afternoon.
The signature was difficult to make out, but it was certainly that of the Queen.
Elizabeth gasped. “I have to go as well? Oh, no!”
“Ha!” Georgiana cried out. “Not so funny now, eh, Lizzy? I saw you and Brother trying not to laugh at me!”
At that, all three of them began to laugh, and if there was an edge of hysteria in Georgiana’s laughter, no one could blame her.
There was no doubt that Georgiana would be asked to play for Her Majesty at this tea; it was a tremendous honour, of course, but one that Georgiana would have gladly done without.
***
Dear Aunt Eleanor,
As feared, Georgiana has been invited to tea with Her Majesty, doubtless so that she might exhibit her musical skills. I, too, am included in the invitation. Whatever should we wear? I think we do not have time to have new gowns made, as the invitation is for next Wednesday.
Please help us!
Your unhappy niece,
Elizabeth
***
The Countess came to Darcy House the very next day. “Show me the invitation!” she commanded after everyone’s health had been enquired after.
Georgiana complied at once.
The Countess read it over several times before looking up. “Excellent,” she said. “I could not have hoped for anything better!”
Georgiana immediately complained, “I would very much prefer not to go, Great-Aunt!”
“But you must, of course, so you may as well make up your mind to it.” The Countess’ brisk, no-nonsense tone was exactly what was needed, for Georgiana gave a great sigh and then settled back into her chair.
The Countess spent twenty minutes telling Georgiana and Elizabeth what to expect, and reminded them to never turn their backs on Her Majesty, nor disagree with her if at all possible. “Do not praise the food or the china,” she said. “Behave as if you expect such grandeur. You already know how to curtsey to her, as you did so at your presentations.”
“What shall we wear?” Elizabeth asked.
“Let us go look through your wardrobes.”
The Countess spent the next three hours sorting through everything that Elizabeth and Georgiana owned before making her recommendations. “I shall send my own maid to do your hair,” she said.
“Is there not a more important issue here?” Georgiana asked.
“What could be more important than your attire?” her great-aunt demanded.
“What I shall play for her, of course!”
***
Master Lombardi was immediately summoned – or, rather begged! – to come to his pupil, Miss Darcy, at once. Upon being informed of the nature of the crisis, he grinned broadly and rubbed his hands together. “Her Majesty could not have chosen better!” he vowed dramatically. “You are not to be nervous!” he instructed Georgiana. “You will do credit to us both, I have no doubt of it!”
Then, much as the Countess had ransacked Georgiana’s wardrobe, Master Lombardi went through all of Georgiana’s music sheets, hearing her play one thing after another before settling on Herr Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Ignaz Pleyel’s Piano Trio in C, and Franz Schubert’s Fantasie in C Major. The latter piece had originally been intended as a piano and violin duet, but Master Lombardi had helped Georgiana adapt it to be performed as a piano solo. These were all advanced pieces, designed to impress the Queen.
“Practice, practice, practice!” Master Lombardi instructed her. “At least four hours every day! I will explain to Mrs. Darcy that you must be allowed this time, and I will come each day to listen and instruct!”
Elizabeth had been standing just outside the door, listening to the music that had been pouring forth, and now opened the door and stepped inside. “I understand completely, Master Lombardi. We will make her excuses to any visitors.”
“Excuses? No, indeed, madam! Explanations, perhaps, but practicing for the Queen requires no excuses!” Master Lombardi’s opinion on the matter was quite firmly expressed.
“Quite right,” Elizabeth said, hastily. “Explanations, not excuses!”
***
Georgiana’s visitors protested at her unavailability, but the protests were cut short by Elizabeth’s brief explanation. Practicing to play for the Queen was not something to be argued with!