Page 30 of The Marriage Game

Mrs. Annesley thought it necessary to give Georgiana a bit more advice before attending Almack’s. Having heard from Jane that Caroline Bingley – of all people! – had received a voucher for Almack’s, courtesy of the Countess, Elizabeth invited Caroline to participate in the lesson. Caroline arrived in great excitement, clutching her voucher tightly.

“Almack’s is called the Marriage Mart for very good reason,” Mrs. Annesley began. “Here the Marriage Game is played in earnest. The players are expert, the stakes are high, and everyone watches everyone else with avidity. You cannot afford to make a single mistake.”

Georgiana sighed. “Oh, no, it sounds as bad as the presentation!”

Mrs. Annesley laughed. “Not quite as frightening as that, I hope. Be very aware of the patronesses, should you happen to meet them. They can revoke a voucher if they are displeased with you in any way.”

“And I suppose I must be extra cautious,” Caroline surmised.

“I am sorry to say that you are likely correct, Miss Bingley. I hope you will forgive me when I say that daughters of tradespeople are rarely given vouchers. Lady Sefton is the kindest of the patronesses, and that is why the Countess went to her. Her initials are at the bottom corner of your voucher, you see.” Everyone peered at the voucher.

“Ours have those initials as well,” Elizabeth said.

“She and the Countess are good friends. But there are a number of other patronesses. It is likely that Lady Jersey and Lady Cowper will be in attendance, and possibly the Countess Lieven and the Princess Esterhazy. I believe the Marchioness of Salisbury has become a patroness as well.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I do not know any of these ladies.”

“Remember the names, Mrs. Darcy. If you are introduced to any of these ladies, it would not hurt for you to express your heartfelt gratitude at being allowed to attend. You may well roll your eyes, but these ladies have tremendous power in society and they do not hesitate to use it.”

Mrs. Annesley paused to sip her tea. “You will find all the gentlemen dressed in knee-breeches with stockings, white cravats and chapeau bras.”

Georgiana put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile, but this did not escape Mrs. Annesley’s keen eye. “Miss Darcy?”

“Well, I do not think I have seen any of my – well, gentlemen friends – wearing knee-breeches!”

“They are rather out of fashion, so it is unlikely you will see them anywhere else. It can be quite engaging to see your gentlemen friends, if I may borrow your phrase, in this form of attire. Be aware that some gentlemen, those who lack the sort of lower limb musculature that shows to advantage in knee breeches, may use padding to disguise this fact.”

“Rather like the young ladies who pad their bosoms,” Caroline contributed.

“Precisely. As for the dancing, in the past, only country dances were performed at Almack’s, but I have heard that Lady Jersey has introduced the quadrille and the Countess Lieven has brought in the waltz.”

“The waltz? At Almack’s?” Elizabeth was surprised.

“Yes, but do not expect to dance it. The patronesses have to give you permission to do so. And given its reputation as being rather scandalous, I would suggest that neither Miss Darcy nor Miss Bingley dance the waltz even if permission is given. You must avoid doing anything that would be cause for gossip.”

Georgiana said, “I have heard that only lemonade is served; can that possibly be right?” Her nose wrinkled in distaste; she had developed a liking for champagne in the past weeks.

Mrs. Annesley said, “Tea and lemonade are available, but no spirits. The patronesses think it best that no one has the opportunity to behave badly as the result of drink. Also, there is no supper, only thinly sliced bread and butter, and cake with no icing.”

“I would think the whole thing most distasteful to gentlemen,” Caroline observed.

“It is, yes; gentlemen attend for one reason and one reason alone – to find a wife. This is why it is called the Marriage Mart, and this is why it is so very important.”

Elizabeth said, “Mr. Darcy never attended; he said he would have felt like the fox in a fox hunt.”

Mrs. Annesley smiled. “And he certainly would have been that! But now that he is safely married, he may attend without fear.”

“And do the usual rules apply? That I cannot refuse to dance with a gentleman?” Georgiana demanded.

“You are quite correct.”

Georgiana could only pray that Lord Fane would not attend. If he asked her to dance, which of course he would, she would not be permitted to refuse. She sighed. If only Ramsgate had never happened! She tried and tried to put Lord Fane from her mind, but she could not help thinking about the things he had said, the way he had held her hand briefly when helping her in and out of her carriage, the way he…

“Are you quite well, Miss Darcy? You appear distressed,” Mrs. Annesley said, concerned.

“Oh! No, quite well, I thank you.” Truly, she had to forget the man completely!

***

Mr. Darcy watched as Daisy put his wife’s hair up in an elaborate coiffure, fastened with jeweled pins. “I have never before been to Almack’s and have yet to feel the lack,” he complained to Elizabeth.

“I well know this is not to your taste, my darling, but we agreed to do what we must for Georgiana,” she reminded him. “It does no good to complain about it.”

“But you are wrong, for it does me a great deal of good to complain about it,” he said, half-laughing. “And if I cannot complain to my beloved wife, what am I to do?”

“Oh, very well, complain all you like! But remember that you must, you truly must dance tonight.” She turned a worried gaze upon him.

“I know that I must.”

“You will dance with Georgiana, of course, and with Caroline Bingley.”

He made a moué of distaste.

“She is much improved, William; you must admit it.”

“Well, she is better dressed now,” he allowed.

“No, it is more than that. She has befriended a group of young ladies that she once referred to as ‘nobodies,’ but now they are good friends. And she does not flutter those ginger lashes of hers, at least not that I have seen.”

“Very well; I shall dance with her.”

“And then I ask that you seek out the less-than-beautiful young ladies who sit out most of the dances.” She thought of Charlotte Collins neé Lucas as she spoke. “They are likely to be the best conversationalists, and nary a one of them will dare to flutter any lashes.”

“I will obey your commands, Elizabeth.”

“Ah, spoken like the best of husbands!”

The two laughed together softly, causing Daisy to smile to herself. What a pleasure it was to work in such a loving environment!

***

The Darcy carriage stopped in front of Bingley House; Mr. Bingley escorted his sister out to the carriage and helped her in. Mr. Darcy then instructed the driver to take them to King Street.

“Almack’s!” Caroline whispered. “I never imagined that I would be allowed to attend! I do not doubt that you were surprised to learn that I had a voucher!”

Elizabeth answered kindly, “Surprised, certainly, but happy to have you join our little party. This is our first time attending as well, as we have been quite busy at Darcy House.”

“Being presented, playing for Her Majesty, all the calls and rides and balls and dinners, and now Almack’s. It is quite exhausting,” Georgiana sighed. “I shall be glad when the Season is over.”

“Oh, heavens, I dread the end,” Caroline confided, shaking her head. “To return to Netherfield, where nothing ever happens, except…” And here she trailed off.

Elizabeth laughed. “Except for visits from my mother and dreary country assemblies?”

Caroline looked down. “I am sorry, Elizabeth; I did not intend to be rude.”

Had Caroline just apologised? Elizabeth blinked her eyes in surprise. “No apology necessary, Caroline; I know Meryton well. But perhaps now you can understand why everyone was so thrilled when the military came to town.”

“Yes, what a welcome distraction that must have been,” Caroline said. She opened her mouth and then managed to close it before adding that this did not excuse the youngest Miss Bennet eloping with an officer.

“We are here,” Mr. Darcy said, as the carriage came to a stop.

Stepping inside Almack’s, Mr. Darcy actually had to stop for a moment. So much noise, so many people! His lovely and understanding wife took his hand and whispered, “We can stay on the far side, away from the orchestra. It will be a bit quieter there.”

She took his arm, and together they led their small party off to the side.

“Is this better?” she asked him, gently.

“A bit,” he allowed. “I shall adjust, Elizabeth, as I always do.”

“I know you will, and just remember we will be back at Pemberley in just a few months.”

“It seems a lifetime away.”

“It does, yes.”

Just then, Colonel Fitzwilliam materialised before them. “Richard! I had no idea that you attended the Marriage Mart!” Mr. Darcy exclaimed.

“I rarely do, but I have promised a certain young lady that I would attend. Miss Bingley, may I have the honour of the next dance?”

Caroline, who remembered very well that they had agreed never to dance again, reddened and nodded her acceptance.

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged astonished glances. Richard and Caroline?

Seeing their silent exchange, Caroline quickly said, “The Colonel is atoning for his past poor behaviour by dancing with me! Just one dance, of course.” Her gaze dropped to the Colonel’s knee breeches. It was impossible that this could be padding; he was extraordinarily well-muscled. Her face became even more flushed.

“Of course,” the Colonel agreed, not noticing Caroline’s preoccupation. “At Almack’s, two dances would be tantamount to the announcement of an engagement.”

The music began again, and Caroline was swept away on the Colonel’s arm.

“If I had not seen it with my own eyes…” Mr. Darcy began.

“I would never have believed it!” Elizabeth finished.

Mr. Stanley came to dance with Georgiana. “I heard you were coming tonight,” he said, beaming.

“Do you not usually come to Almack’s?” she asked, as the music began.

“Quite rarely; the refreshments are not to my taste.” He made a face.

Georgiana chuckled. “I do not think they are to anyone’s taste.”

“I came only for the opportunity to dance with you,” he confided.

Mr. Stanley is everything kind, Georgiana thought. But my heart does not pound, I do not blush when he looks at me. But perhaps none of that is necessary! After all, did my heart not pound for George Wickham? Did I not blush at his compliments? And what a disaster that turned out to be! So surely such things as pounding hearts and blushing faces do not indicate anything of importance. She resolved to talk with Lizzy about this…but first she had to get through tonight.

***

Colonel Fitzwilliam was determined to be at his very best tonight. He would forget his old antipathy toward his partner and focus on simply being an excellent escort. He noted that Miss Bingley looked very, very well. Her dress was simpler than he had expected, and her hair was put up in a very becoming fashion, with red-gold ringlets framing her face. Her hair was actually a very interesting colour, a mix of browns, reds and oranges! Amongst all the blondes and brunettes in the room, her fiery tresses were very rare indeed. Her dress was cut as low as was fashionable, but not too low. He could see her skin, very pale, rising above the bodice, and her neck was quite slender…

“Are you done staring at me?”

He jerked his attention back to her face. “I apologise, Miss Bingley. I was caught up in noticing how pretty you look tonight.”

She looked at him levelly as they turned about the floor. “I find that hard to believe.”

“No more than I,” he assured her, grinning.

“You find it hard to believe that I am pretty?”

The Colonel had to laugh. “I am too old a soldier to fall prey to such traps,” he replied.

“I do not think you old,” she said. “You cannot be more than, what, three or four years older than Mr. Darcy?”

“Seven, actually.”

She found herself teasing him. “You seem quite vigorous for a man of such advanced years.”

“Vigorous? I suppose so. Marching for miles on end will either kill you or keep you young.”

“Will you ever leave the Army?”

“My parents very much wish that I would.”

“And why do you not?”

The dance separated them for a minute; when they were reunited, he answered, “I am a second son; I must support myself. My mother hopes I will marry an heiress and thus be able to sell my commission.”

“There must be any number of heiresses eager to marry the son of the Earl of Matlock.”

“Ah, but am I eager to marry them? I cannot abide the sort of simpering, witless, self-important girls that the ton seems to turn out in vast quantities.”

Caroline winced. He might well have been describing her as of some weeks ago! Ah, that explained it. “So that is why you said you did not like me when we danced at Miss Darcy’s ball.”

He winced. “I beg you not to remind me of my bad manners.”

“But is that the reason?”

“I suppose so, yes. But you do not seem to be the same Miss Bingley that you were.”

“I believe I have learnt better, Colonel.”

“It becomes you very well!” And on that note, the dance ended. He bowed, she curtsied, and as they walked off the dance floor, he offered to fetch her a lemonade. She recalled Mrs. Annesley saying that one should refuse that offer, but she found herself nodding.

***

Mr. Stanley returned Georgiana to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy; Mr. Darcy then asked his sister to dance, to which she agreed with alacrity. The two of them moved to the dance floor just as Caroline Bingley was escorted back by the Colonel. “I am off to get a lemonade for Miss Bingley,” he told Elizabeth. “May I get one for you as well, Elizabeth?”

“No, I thank you,” she replied.

As the Colonel left to find the meager refreshments, Elizabeth turned to see Caroline staring after the Colonel’s retreating form. Repressing a smile, Elizabeth asked, “Did you have an enjoyable dance, Caroline?”

Caroline jerked as if she had been awakened from a trance. “Oh! Oh, yes, very much so.”

“No insults this time?”

“Insults?”

“Well, I recall that you left the Colonel on the dance floor at Georgiana’s ball; I never heard the particulars, but I think we all assumed he had insulted you most grievously.”

“He did, yes, but tonight he was all politeness.”

“I am glad.”

The Colonel returned with Miss Bingley’s refreshment, which she accepted with obvious pleasure. Their fingers brushed as she took the glass from him, causing both of them to startle back, eyes wide. Elizabeth, watching them, held back a chuckle.

The Colonel turned to Elizabeth. “Will you dance the next with me, Elizabeth?”

“With pleasure,” she said.

Mr. Lindsay then appeared to ask Caroline for a dance, and the four of them took to the dance floor.

***

Georgiana’s fears became reality when she saw Lord Fane and Lady Agatha enter the room. She looked over her current partner’s shoulder as Lord Fane scanned the room until his eyes rested on Georgiana.

Not taking his eyes off her, he moved to the side of the room and waited. When Georgiana’s partner returned her to the sidelines, Lord Fane was immediately at her side. He wasted not a minute. “May I have the next dance, Miss Darcy?”

Georgiana looked about her in some desperation, hoping to be rescued, but all she saw was Lady Agatha, looking at Georgiana with concern.

“Yes,” she whispered to Lord Fane.

“Are you quite well, Miss Darcy?”

“Rather tired, I think; it has been a long evening.”

“Would you rather sit this one out? I would be delighted to sit beside you.”

“Oh, no,” Georgiana said, hastily. For if they sat, he would be able to speak to her for a full half-hour, and that could not be permitted to happen.

The next dance was a lively country dance, but Lord Fane managed to ask if he had offended Georgiana in some manner.

“Of course not,” she replied, coolly.

“I was surprised to get your note about the drive,” he said.

Unable to think of an adequate response, Georgiana merely shrugged.

“If I have done anything to upset you, I beg that you will tell me.” His voice sounded very concerned.

Georgiana was struck with an idea. “I have heard that your mother does not approve of me, Lord Fane; thus, I think our relationship should go no further.”

“My mother?” His voice was disbelieving.

“Yes. Evidently she told my great-aunt, the Countess of Matlock, that she did not think I could become the political hostess that your position requires.”

“I shall certainly have words with my mother!”

“Nonetheless, her concerns are justified.” Georgiana shrugged again.

“I do not care about having a political hostess. My mother is ambitious for me, but I prefer a far simpler life. Georgiana, please!”

She looked at him coldly, though her heart was breaking. “I have not given you leave to use my given name.”

“I apologise; you have been Georgiana in my heart for many days now.”

She turned her head and refused to speak with him for the remainder of the dance.

When they left the dance floor, he stood beside her, speechless, his eyes begging her for…something. Anything! Georgiana turned away. Elizabeth, understanding perfectly, joined her. “How nice to see you, Lord Fane,” she said, smoothly. “I hope you are enjoying your evening?”

“Alas, I am not,” he said, his voice full of emotion. He bowed to Elizabeth and Georgiana, and moved out of sight.

“Oh, Elizabeth,” Georgiana sighed, her eyes full of tears.

“I know, dearest,” Elizabeth whispered. “But do not cry now, not here.”

Mr. Dunfred all but bounded up to them. “Miss Darcy! What a wonderful surprise! May I have the next dance?”

“Of course,” Georgiana said. If her voice was a bit muffled, he did not notice.

To Elizabeth’s surprise, Lord Fane reappeared and asked Elizabeth to dance. His eyes were troubled. Elizabeth could not refuse, though she very much wished she could.

He began, “You know what I am about to ask.”

“I do,” she replied, gently. “But I cannot answer you.”

“I thought she liked me.”

Elizabeth thought she had never heard so sad a voice. “She does,” she replied.

“But what happened? Surely she cannot think that my mother has enough influence over me to dictate my choice!”

Elizabeth considered her reply carefully. “My lord, she does not think the two of you would suit, and I agree with her reasons.”

“Not suit? We suit admirably; until yesterday, I thought she felt the same!”

“Her reasons are her own.”

“I will not rest until I learn those reasons for myself.”

“You are stubborn, my lord.”

He laughed, but it was a brittle sound. “You are not the first to tell me so.”