Chapter 33. Meryton Assembly
Friday evening arrived quickly at Netherfield. Charles spoke privately with Caroline who insisted that she would attend the local assembly.
“Mr Darcy will leave promptly at six of the clock Caroline. Do not be late!”
“Charles, I am certain Mr Darcy is the head of the local society,” she replied. “The ‘dance’ cannot begin until he arrives at six or at seven.”
Shaking his head, Charles left the room and spoke to the coachmen. The Bingley carriage would be harnessed this evening as well and wait after the Darcy carriage left. If Caroline wanted to arrive late, she would arrive alone.
**++**
The carriage at Longbourn waited while Mr Bennet escorted his wife and three eldest daughters from the house. From the door, Kitty, Lydia and Miss Georgie waved at the party as they climbed into the carriage and departed.
“Now girls,” said Mrs Brice. “Mrs Annesley will play for us, and we shall have our own party tonight with Master Thomas.”
“In two years, it will be our turn!” Lydia announced. “We shall be the beautiful debutantes at court and at the Meryton Assembly!”
**++**
Mary Bennet was nervous–this was her debut as a lady with a new gown and stylish hair.
Her mother and father had suggested she attend the assembly tonight to help overcome her shyness.
Jane and Elizabeth helped her with her hair and dressing; the sisters practiced dancing all week.
Perhaps some gentleman would ask her to dance before the night ended.
**++**
When the Bennet carriage arrived at the assembly hall, they were met by Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley who helped all the ladies from the carriage. Mr and Mrs Bennet walked in together and Mr Bingley escorted Jane.
“Miss Mary, may I have the pleasure of escorting you as well?” Charles asked. Smiling, Mary took the offered arm opposite her sister and followed her parents into the hall.
“I understand your father has the first dance Miss Mary, but may I have the second set with you?”
“Certainly Mr Bingley,” Mary replied. “Thank you!”
A gentle squeeze of his other arm by the older sister told Mr Bingley that Jane was pleased that Charles included Mary in the evening’s activities.
Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth, and she took it naturally.
“You are lovely this evening Miss Elizabeth.”
“As are you!” she replied quickly, and they both laughed.
“I meant you are very handsome tonight, Mr Darcy,” she corrected her speech.
“And how full is your dance card for the evening?”
“I have nothing promised sir,” she replied.
“Then it is my good fortune to meet your carriage. You must give me the first set, the first after the interval and then the final set.”
“Three sets, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth asked. “After the reports in the newspapers after dancing with me at Musgraves I feared you would avoid me.”
“I have spoken with your father, Miss Elizabeth. I should like to dance every set with you, but your mother would faint, and your father would laugh too much if I were to be that bold.”
“The neighbours will think...”
“They will think correctly then Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said as they entered the hall.
**++**
At Netherfield, the clock in the entry hall struck seven as Miss Bingley came down the stairs. She inquired of the butler, “Where are Mr Darcy and my brother? It is time to leave for the assembly.”
“The master and his guest left promptly at six of the clock Miss Bingley.”
Caroline’s eyes grew wide as she asked, “They left without me?”
“Mr Bingley directed me to remind you that he spoke to you three different times today reminding you of Mr Darcy’s promptness for such events in Meryton.”
Now Caroline unleashed her tongue. “How dare you speak in such a tone with me! I am a guest in Mr Darcy’s house!”
“Yes miss,” the butler agreed. “But Mr Darcy himself instructed me to remind you are a guest without authority to demand anything of the staff.”
“Well, I never...”
“Yes, Miss Bingley,” the butler agreed that she had never understood her servants or her brother, but he would say nothing more. “Mr Bingley’s carriage waits to carry you to the assembly.”
Faced with arriving alone and unescorted, something a lady would never do, Caroline turned to retreat up the stairs to complete her packing.
“I shall not go! Send the carriage to the stables!” she called as she climbed the stairs.
**++**
As the first dance at the Meryton Assembly concluded, Mr Bennet returned to his wife’s side with Mary on his arm.
His third daughter’s first dance had been with her father, and he watched Jane return with Mr Bingley, and Elizabeth on Mr Darcy’s arm.
Mary departed with Bingley for the second dance and Darcy asked Jane for the privilege of the second as well.
Elizabeth stood with her parents, the smile on her face not altering in the least as she watched Mr Darcy dancing with Jane.
“Has your dance card filled Elizabeth?” asked Mrs Bennet when no one approached her daughter for the second dance.
“What Mama?”
Mr and Mrs Bennet exchanged glances before the mother pressed her daughter, “Elizabeth, has anyone else asked you to dance?”
“Just Mr Darcy, Mama... He wanted every dance.”
“What? You cannot dance...”
“My dear, it is not unheard of,” Mr Bennet explained.
“But everyone...” Mrs Bennet sputtered as Mr Bennet smiled.
“Mrs Bennet, you must remain silent this evening but tomorrow you may visit Mrs Phillips in the afternoon with your news.”
“You have no compassion for my nerves, Mr Bennet!”
“Only for one evening Mrs Bennet. You must suppress them. Be a dutiful mother; speak with your friends about the crops and sewing.”
“Hang the crops and hang the sewing, I wish to speak of a wedding!”
“Later Mrs Bennet, later...”
**++**
Elizabeth did dance with Mr Bingley and with John Lucas during the first portion of the assembly. It was when she danced with Mr Darcy in the first set after the interval that she reminded him that this was her official introduction to society in Hertfordshire.
“And which do you prefer, Miss Elizabeth; London society or Hertfordshire?”
Smiling Elizabeth replied, “On the arm of a good friend, I am perfectly happy anywhere, Mr Darcy.”
“A good friend?” he asked pretending to be affronted.
She smiled. “How should I describe you sir; ‘a pleasant gentleman’?”
Darcy shook his head slightly. “At one time, I was ‘King Richard’s cousin’.”
“Ah, but he was Maid Marion’s playmate in Sherwood Forest,” Elizabeth answered.
“Are you not the girl who attempted to rob me of my gold that first week I was at Netherfield? I remember the bow and the arrow pointed directly at my heart.”
“That was many years ago,” she replied, pleased that he remembered. “I have grown since then.”
“Indeed, you have grown into a most beautiful woman...”
Darcy hesitated for only a moment before he continued, “Elizabeth, your arrow pierced my heart that day and it belongs only to you. Please say you will marry me. When I was away at Pemberley, I missed you and now returning, dancing with you in London and tonight, I declare I love you most ardently. When we are...”
“Yes, William,” she interrupted.
**++**
The young couple approached Mr and Mrs Bennet along the wall of the assembly hall–the light in their eyes for all to see as Mr Bennet leaned over to his wife and said, “Darcy has made a short season of it for Lizzy.”
“And have you noticed how Mr Bingley is looking at Jane?” Mrs Bennet replied.
“Mr Bennet, might I have a moment of your time, sir?” Darcy asked as Mr Bennet led his friend to the card room. Elizabeth stood with her mother who hugged her.
“How do you feel Lizzy?” she asked her second daughter.
“Mamma, I am light as a feather but could burst into flame I am so very happy!” Elizabeth replied as her father and William returned almost as quickly as they had left.
“Well, my dear, it is done. Lizzy shall marry Mr Darcy,” Mr Bennet told his wife.
“In Spring...” Mrs Bennet suggested quickly.
“At Christmas!” Elizabeth and William replied together.
“That is only two months,” Mrs Bennet replied. “Hardly enough time to have the gowns made or the parties completed.”
But then seeing the look on her husband’s face as well as her daughter and her ‘son’, she relented, “Oh very well, we shall make merry at Christmas with a wedding.”
No one in attendance that evening expressed great surprise to hear that Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy would marry Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
There were many expressions of gladness and happiness when the news spread through the hall, and many of the neighbourhood folk exchanged pleasant comments–the young couple were very popular among all the residents of Meryton.
When Charles heard the news after dancing with Miss Maria Lucas, he realized his sister had never arrived and was glad of it; she would not receive the news with the gladness of the neighbourhood.
The following morning, Charles and Caroline broke their fast alone and then departed Netherfield for London.
In a terrible interview with his brother Hurst, Charles learned of Caroline’s harsh words to their sister, and he resolved then and there to separate himself from her.
In a matter of days, his solicitors drew up the papers that released her dowry to her control and he placed her in a respectable boarding house for unmarried ladies.
Her connections dropped her when they learned her family had turned their faces from her and she quickly attained the status of ‘on the shelf’.
**++**