Chapter 26
The day of the ball arrived with agitation and bustle at Netherfield.
The servants were awake at dawn, struggling to prepare everything to perfection in order to please their agreeable master and his guests, among them being the future mistress and her family.
The benefit of the extra payment promised by the master of the house was a good inducement too.
Darcy woke up in a state of excitement very much unlike him.
He had not slept well in months, but his anxiety was a pleasant one.
Since his cousin the colonel, and his friends, had arrived, Darcy had had no chance to speak a single word privately to Elizabeth, nor to meet her again.
He had visited Longbourn once, but the colonel, James Audley, and Mr John Dalton had joined him.
Also, Jane and Elizabeth had called at Netherfield and had tea with Georgiana, Miss Audley, and Miss Earlston, but he could not even breathe without being watched by inquisitive eyes.
That evening was his opportunity to spend half an hour dancing with Elizabeth, allowing himself to be intoxicated by her nearness, touching her hand, admiring her complexion, her smiles, her sparkling eyes.
In fact, he would have two such opportunities as he had two sets secured, not to mention the pleasure of having her by his side for supper.
Before breakfast, he went in the library, and soon Bingley and Fitzwilliam entered too.
“I am happy my sisters decided to come,” Bingley said. “And I am even happier to see their improved manners. Jane is very happy too. They seemed to mind their words in regard to the Bennet family. I think Darcy’s scolding served them well.”
“Well, Bingley, you will soon marry one of the most beautiful women I know. She also seems to possess a sweet nature and to be very fond of you. Most men do not have such luck. Your goal should be to make her happy — do not let anyone upset her.”
“That is my intention, Fitzwilliam! I know how fortunate I am. Jane is admirable not only because of her beauty but because of her character too.”
“True. And I have to say, her sister Elizabeth is absolutely charming as well. She is not as beautiful as her sister — by the standards of society at least — but she is very pretty, and she has a sparkling wit that I find enchanting.”
“I absolutely agree. Miss…Elizabeth is wonderful. I am already very fond of her. Of course, I could never consider marrying a woman like her. I find her to be too clever and too strong a character by far. But as a sister, she is simply perfect.”
“She is perfect,” the colonel admitted. “And my friends share my opinion. My male friends, as the ladies are probably jealous of her.”
“My sisters were jealous of her too,” Bingley agreed.
“Yes, I can imagine as much. I intend to ask Miss Elizabeth for at least one set tonight. Bingley, I hope you do not mind if I stand up with your betrothed too.”
“Of course not. I cannot dance every set with her anyway.”
“Good. I confess I would like to dance the first set with Miss Elizabeth, to open the ball with her on my arm…but I owe it to Miss Audley. By the way, Darcy, Miss Earlston hopes you will ask that she dances the first with you.”
Until that moment, Darcy had listened in silence, bothered by the colonel’s openly expressed admiration for Elizabeth and even more by the fact that he seemed to have discussed Elizabeth with the others.
He had noticed it from the beginning, as well as Elizabeth’s enjoyment of his company, but hearing the colonel expressing it increased his irritation and his jealousy, as unreasonable and unjustified as it was.
“Neither of these plans shall succeed,” Darcy finally replied, “as I have already secured Miss Elizabeth’s hand for the first set.”
“Have you? What a shock!” the colonel declared with amusement and feigned astonishment. “I cannot remember when I last saw you dance the first set.”
“Darcy is grateful to Miss Elizabeth, and he behaves very courteously towards her,” Bingley explained.
“I am so relieved that they are good friends now. When we first met the Bennets, the two of them quickly became enemies. They truly despised each other, and that would have been painful for me and Jane once we married.”
“Enemies? Despised? How is that possible, Darcy? Why would you despise such a lovely creature?” the colonel asked in jest.
“I have never despised Miss Elizabeth. And Bingley, I have already told you that was not true. But indeed, she loathed the very sight of me,” Darcy agreed. “There was a misunderstanding at the beginning of our acquaintance, and perhaps my not so inviting manners gave her the wrong impression.”
“Misunderstanding, you say? If she hated you and still was ready to confess on your behalf, that is even more to her credit. She certainly deserves for you to open the ball with her — and even more.”
“Do not speak such nonsense, Fitzwilliam. I did not ask Miss Elizabeth to dance with me out of gratitude. In fact, she did me a favour by accepting my request,” Darcy said.
“Not out of gratitude? Why then? It is your habit to stay on the side for most of the dances, looking stern and forbidding, and even more off-putting before the first set,” the colonel continued mockingly with a curious look at his cousin.
“Why? Because I admire her, and I very much enjoy her company. And yes, I am happy to say we indeed became good friends.”
“Darcy! I am truly shocked! Do I hear a trace of admiration in your voice?” the colonel teased further.
Darcy threw him a glare. “More than a trace, I hope. I have just declared my admiration openly. As I said, I actually admired her almost from the beginning, but getting to know Miss Elizabeth further, spending more time in her company, conversing and, yes, Bingley, debating — and not fighting — with her, I discovered qualities that I have always looked for in a woman but never found until now.”
He spoke in earnest, while his cousin and his friend, realising the seriousness of his declaration, stared at him in awe.
“But…wait…Darcy. You mean…that sort of admiration?” Bingley mumbled.
“Yes. I have no reason and no wish to deny it. I do expect you both to keep my confession to yourselves though, because I do not want to embarrass Miss Elizabeth. While her opinion of me has improved lately, she still sees me as a friend, and I shall not impose myself on her in any way.”
“Darcy, I am frozen in shock!” the colonel declared with honesty.
“Well, you should try to recover and unfreeze, as we have a ball to attend soon. I have nothing more to say on this subject,” Darcy concluded decidedly while the other two kept glancing at him and at each other, barely moving in a stance as uncharacteristic as Darcy statements were.
A drink would have done perfectly, but it was too early for one, especially with the long day ahead.
***
At Longbourn, all the preparations for the ball concentrated, unsurprisingly, around Jane.
Mrs Bennet, Mrs Gardiner, and Jane herself were well aware of the importance of the event for the future Mrs Bingley.
She did not have to compete this time with all the ladies in the neighbourhood but to prove herself worthy to Mr Bingley’s sisters and to Colonel Fitzwilliam and his party.
Jane’s gowns were certainly less expensive and perhaps less fashionable than Miss Audley and Miss Earlston’s, but her beauty and her elegant but gentle manners would certainly compensate for the difference.
However, Mrs Gardiner, under the supervision of Mrs Bennet, helped Jane arrange her hair flawlessly and to put on the set of jewels offered by her betrothed.
Emotions, joy, and excitement made Jane even more beautiful than usual, and Mrs Bennet declared there could not be any other young woman at the ball to rival her in this respect.
Unbeknownst to the others, Elizabeth experienced the same trepidation as Jane. Perhaps even more so, but her state went unnoticed even by her sister and her perceptive aunt. As for her father, he ignored her trepidation — and the bustle in the house — completely.
Elizabeth had always enjoyed balls and parties but never took much trouble with her appearance.
Of course, she tried to look her best, was careful choosing her gowns, accessories, and how she styled her hair, but she never worried about the final result.
For that evening, every detail was more important than usual.
She too knew she would have to compete with Miss Audley and Miss Earlston — not because she would believe Darcy’s feelings so shallow as to change easily, but because the two ladies were the image of all the ladies Darcy, his cousin the colonel, and his friends were accustomed to.
Even if Darcy did not make that comparison, the other gentlemen in his party would certainly do so.
And if a certain event — which she had come to desire and to hope for — did eventually occur, all Darcy’s relatives and friends would ask ‘who is this Miss Elizabeth Bennet?’ Those who had already met her would provide their reports about her; therefore, that evening — that ball — had such particular importance.
She looked in the mirror repeatedly, and every time she found something small to fix. Several little white flowers were placed in her hair, and her only jewel was her garnet cross, too modest for such an occasion.
“Lizzy dearest, you look beautiful!” Jane exclaimed.
“Indeed, she does,” Mrs Bennet agreed. “You will never be as beautiful as Jane, of course, but you do look very pretty. I hope you will not sit out too many dances — having her sisters slighted by men would not look good for Jane.”
“I shall try not to disappoint Jane, Mama,” Elizabeth replied, too amused to even feel offended.
For a moment, she imagined her mother’s reaction if she knew that she had rejected Darcy’s proposal, or if she would ever inform her of a new proposal that she had accepted.
Such a scene was difficult to picture in her mind without either frowning or laughing out loud.
When the party was ready to leave, they were again surprised and flattered that Mr Bingley sent his carriage to fetch them. They needed to use Mr Gardiner’s too, but Mr Bingley’s concern for his betrothed’s comfort was impressive.
When they arrived at Netherfield, several guests had already arrived. The manor was decorated with many torches, and Bingley impatiently waited for them at the door despite the cold weather.
Behind him was Darcy, the only person that drew and kept Elizabeth’s attention.
She realised he looked very dashing, but she was too nervous to notice the details of his attire.
His intense gaze fixed upon her to the exclusion of the rest of her family, proving to her that she was the object of his interest too — which was equally enchanting and distressing.
They entered and, while Bingley offered his arm to Jane, he greeted the entire group, walking inside with them. Colonel Fitzwilliam and his friends were also there, as well as Bingley’s sisters, and civil greetings were exchanged.
They took comfortable chairs that offered Mr and Mrs Bennet and Mr and Mrs Gardiner — who had no intention of dancing — a good view over the ballroom.
Soon afterwards, Elizabeth was asked for the first set by Mr Audley, and she had to politely refuse him. A short distance away, she noticed Miss Earlston talking — flirting — with Darcy, and she felt a grip in her chest which disappeared when her eyes met his gaze.
Then Darcy disappeared, returning moments later with Georgiana on his arm. With warm politeness, Miss Darcy asked permission to stay with Mrs Gardiner, considering she had no intention of dancing.
“I shall not dance either,” Mary replied. “I would find balls infinitely more pleasant if they were spent in conversation only.”
“Yes, my dear, but then they would not be an actual ball,” Mrs Gardiner replied. “But I confess I am delighted to have the company of you and Miss Darcy tonight, Mary.”
At that very moment, the music began. Bingley claimed Jane’s hand, much to her mother’s delight, moving towards the dance floor ready to lead the lines of dancers.
While Mrs Bennet looked for Mrs Phillips and Mrs Long to share her thoughts with them, she saw a more disturbing sight, one she could hardly believe and even less understand: there was Mr Darcy, bowing to Elizabeth, and without a word, she stretched out her hand to him.
He took it and led her towards Bingley and Jane and stood in line with them.
Mr Darcy, who never danced, who had refused to dance with Lizzy even when he was asked to, was now opening the ball with her!
Eyebrows raised in puzzlement, Mrs Bennet looked at her sister Gardiner — who seemed surprised too — then at her husband who wore the grin on his face that always upset Mrs Bennet’s nerves so much.
Eventually, Mrs Bennet drew the only reasonable conclusion: Mr Darcy was so grateful to Lizzy that he was expressing his thanks by singling her out.
Mrs Bennet was still undecided whether she should be proud of the respect shown to her second daughter or annoyed that Mr Darcy had asked her for the first set, taking the place of someone who might be a real suitor for Elizabeth.
After she watched the couple for another moment, she concluded that Mr Darcy was a good dancer and that Lizzy looked particularly good that evening, but nothing more could come out of that situation.
So, she moved towards Mrs Phillips and Mrs Long to discuss how fortunate Jane was and how Charlotte Lucas and her future husband Mr Collins did not even attend the ball.