Chapter 27 #3
A ball to celebrate the marriage of Jane Bennet to Andrew Fitzwilliam was held in Longbourn’s ball room on the Wednesday before the wedding.
As Bethany was seventeen, she was out locally and allowed to attend.
However, either her guardian or one of her trustees had to approve of any man who would ask her for a set.
As it was his second daughter’s first ball, Meryton had the privilege of her first dance.
Lords Matlock and Holderness took the next two sets, James the following, then Richard.
Much to Bethany’s delight, once he had been approved by Papa, Lord William Darcy, Viscount Conyers requested and was granted her supper set.
Andrew reserved the set after supper, Sir William Collins the one after, then came Cousin Clem and Sir William Lucas.
The only open set was the final one, which Bethany decided she would not dance.
She was delighted when William Darcy suggested they might sit and speak during that set. She had agreed without delay.
Before the ball, Bethany had Karen Younge assist her to dress and do her hair up for the night. Her maid had several days off to be with an ailing father, and as Bethany had grown to like Miss Younge; she was happy to have her stand in for her maid for a few days.
On the day of the ball, Mary, Giana, Petunia, Maria, and Kitty were spending the night at Netherfield Park.
The ball was attended by a mix of family, locals, and members of the Ton.
Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam had been extremely pleased that Harry and Anne Smythe, the Earl and Countess of Granville, had arrived before the ball.
They had left the earl’s younger sister, Petunia at Netherfield Park with the other younger girls who remained at the estate.
Her mother was overjoyed to see how happy Anne looked.
Bethany enjoyed all her dances, but none more so than the supper set.
She knew that she was young, too young to think of a future with any man, yet she felt an attraction to her distant cousin, William Darcy.
The half hour of the dance had flown by, and then, she had had the pleasure of sitting next to him for supper.
The final set had been very enjoyable for her as well, not because she danced, but because she sat with William and they had an in-depth conversation about which of Shakespeare’s works they enjoyed more and why.
Amelia had also enjoyed the ball. She had not danced at a ball, or anywhere else, since Francis’s passing, but she did so tonight. She enjoyed one set each with Reggie, Robert, and Thomas. She was not sure who had been more pleased that she danced, herself or her best friends, Elaine and Anne.
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Like his brother had done for him, Richard stood up with Andrew the day he was to wed his Jane.
While Hilldale was staring at the door, willing Jane to appear faster, Fitzwilliam was looking at his beloved wife, who was seated next to her parents, brothers, and sister.
There was another man who was watching the inner vestibule doors, and he was not one of the wedding party.
Conyers kept the doors in his vision, so he would be able to behold Bethie as soon as she entered the church behind Meryton and Jane.
Sir William Collins saw a nod from one of the men who would open the doors to allow the bride to enter, telling him Cousin Jane, her father, and Lady Bethany were ready.
He gave the signal for everyone to stand and smiled at his wife seated next to his parents.
As soon as the congregation stood, the double doors were pulled open and Jane began her walk up the aisle on her father’s arm.
Conyers’s eyes were pulled to Bethie walking behind the first two, holding the bridal bouquet. She was a very beautiful woman, but her eyes mesmerised him. ‘One more year until she comes out,’ he told himself silently. ‘Until then, at the very least, you cannot try courting her!”
Hilldale was lost as he watched his Jane walk towards him. He even remembered to wait at the head of the aisle for Meryton to place her hand on his arm.
Once the bride and groom and their attendants took their places, Sir William Collins gave the signal for the congregation to be seated.
He leaned forward, and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he spoke so only Jane and Hilldale could hear him.
“It is not too late to escape,” he said to his cousin very softly.
It earned him a playful swat on the arm from Jane, who relaxed, thanks to Cousin William’s antics.
The rector opened the Book of Common Prayer and began to intone the marriage liturgy.
In the blink of an eye Jane was Viscountess Hilldale, walking around Longbourn’s ballroom on her husband’s arm as they greeted and thanked their guests for joining them to celebrate their wedding.
Two hours later the family and close friends waved farewell to the newly married Fitzwilliams as they departed for Hilldale House. On Monday, they would travel from London for their wedding trip to Seaview House, where they would spend a month.
As she walked back into the house on her husband’s arm, Fanny lifted her eyes to the heavens and thanked God for being so good to them.