Page 24 of Winter of Passion (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
“I shall calm down tomorrow morning, Lizzy. Look, now it is snowing! Oh dear…”
“Snow is good. Much better than rain or sleet. We should go for a walk in the garden,” Elizabeth teased her, but Jane only frowned at her.
The gentlemen approached, and although she hoped to have a private moment with Darcy, she found herself surrounded by Mr Morton, Lord Langley, and Mr Banfield.
Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were talking to each other, and so were Mr Fitzroy and Colonel Rutley.
Then the ladies entered one by one, looking exceedingly elegant and fashionable, shining with their impressive jewels and with an air that showed they were well aware of their consequence.
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst, whose efforts to present their best appearance were apparent, approached Jane, and Elizabeth saw her sister’s nervousness increasing. Then Bingley joined them, and Jane seemed to calm down.
At the proper hour, the guests began to arrive, and Mr and Mrs Bingley went to welcome them.
Miraculously, Jane’s anxiety seemed to vanish, and she was simply shining on her husband’s arm.
The first to arrive were the Longbourn party.
While the Gardiners were acquainted with the rest of Netherfield’s guests, Elizabeth’s parents and sisters were introduced for the first time.
Unexpectedly for Elizabeth, her mother and father appeared overwhelmed by the situation and seemed as shy and uneasy as Kitty and Mary.
Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam immediately went to greet them, and the presentation took place in a friendly manner.
The Miss Parsons, as well as Miss Banfield, met them with a cold politeness, contrary to Lady Laura’s amiable manners.
All in all, the first impression was rather good on all sides.
Georgiana moved into a corner with Mary and Kitty, choosing comfortable seats to watch the party, with Mrs Annesley supervising them from a short distance away.
In half an hour, all the guests had arrived, and Netherfield was filled with impatient, curious, loud people, in a din of voices impossible to understand.
Elizabeth was pleased and comfortable. She was standing with Mrs Gardiner, glancing at Darcy who was engaged in conversation with her father, Mr Gardiner, Sir William, and Lord Langley. Near them were Colonel Fitzwilliam, Colonel Rutley, Mr Fitzroy, Mr Banfield, and Mr Morton.
At times, her eyes met Darcy’s, and brief smiles were exchanged. Only as short as the beat of a heart yet so meaningful. The ball had begun, marking the last night of their secret engagement.
“Surely you can see how friendly Miss Darcy is with Mary and Kitty,” Elizabeth heard her mother saying to Mrs Phillips, Mrs Long, and Lady Lucas.
“One could hardly find a more accomplished young woman than Miss Darcy. Not to mention that she is the niece and granddaughter of earls! Since she has befriended my daughters, I am sure she must have found something to like in them! And look at Jane — how pretty she is! In truth, no woman can match my Jane’s beauty. I am a proud mother indeed!”
“And you have every reason to be so, Sister!” Mrs Phillips agreed.
“Indeed,” Lady Lucas replied. “I can well understand your pride, Mrs Bennet, having a daughter happily married myself and with an heir on the way. There is nothing more fulfilling for a mother.”
Elizabeth saw her mother’s displeased frown.
“Mr Bingley is not just rich and amiable but also very handsome!” Mrs Bennet continued.
“And look what sort of people are surrounding him! Mr Darcy himself comes to visit my husband and my brother. I am sure nobody in Meryton has been granted such blessings!”
“Is it not strange that Mr Collins is the clergyman of Mr Darcy’s aunt and Mr Darcy is Mr Bingley’s friend?” Mrs Long asked, causing some confusion among the other ladies.
“Quite strange,” Mrs Bennet agreed. “Except that Mr Darcy is Mr Bingley’s friend but Lady Catherine is not Mr Collins’s friend, only his patroness.”
“Sister, God has been good to you with two daughters married! If only you could find good husbands for Lizzy, Mary, and Kitty, you may want for nothing else,” Mrs Phillips said.
“I honestly do not have many hopes. Kitty is pretty enough to attract a proper husband, but Mary is too dull and Lizzy too stubborn, too obstinate, too wild for her own good. No man in his right mind would bind himself to Lizzy only to argue all the time. Men prefer gentle and sweet, obedient wives.”
“Those are wise words,” Lady Lucas agreed. “Jane’s marriage to Mr Bingley has surely put aside your worries about your future once Mr Bennet dies.”
Mrs Bennet took immediate offence and turned red. “The entire business of the entail is quite ridiculous! A man inheriting a property he does not deserve is questionable at the very least. And Mr Bennet is in good health. Others — much younger — may well die before him!”
Elizabeth feared the conversation might take a turn for the worse and attempted to intervene when the music finally began, silencing most of the voices. The dancers took their places, led by Mr and Mrs Bingley.
She saw Darcy moving towards her, a little smile on his lips and his handsome face relaxed. Her eyes met his before he was close enough to address her.
“Miss Bennet…”
“Mr Darcy…”
Without a word, she placed her hand in his outstretched palm. Both wore gloves, but the touch made Elizabeth quiver. She knew his touch only too well, and as innocent and proper as it was, it still sent waves of warmth through her.
They stepped towards the line and stood behind Bingley and Jane, still holding hands.
Elizabeth remembered their previous dance at the first Netherfield ball, more than a year ago.
The scenery was the same, the gestures similar, the music alike.
Only she was different, both in feelings and in essentials.
She sensed that she had changed, that Darcy had changed her.
Or better said, his ardent love and hers had changed her.
She followed his lead in the dance — eyes locked, fingers entwined, smiles shared.
Very few words — only as many as propriety required.
They were beyond words already, and while their minds realised they were in a room full of people, their hearts were connected to only one person in attendance.
Two sets, half an hour of intimate bonding amidst a noisy crowd, until they were forced to separate and allow others to interfere between them.