Chapter Seventy-Two
Ihave prepared an announcement for the newspapers,” the Countess began.
She read from a slip of paper. “On the fourteenth of January, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, wed Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn, second daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire, a lovely and amiable young lady, possessed of every charm and accomplishment to render the marriage state happy. The Earl and Countess of Matlock were in attendance.”
The Colonel burst out laughing. “Is all that really necessary?”
The Countess huffed. “I see you do not read a good many marriage announcements, Richard. I assure you that this is everything typical.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “I shall have to send a copy of it to my mother; she will be all astonishment to hear me described as amiable!”
The Earl said, “Perhaps a ball in Elizabeth’s honour; what do you say, Ellen?”
“Definitely. I have already begun composing the guest list.”
“Will people accept, Aunt?” Georgiana asked, diffidently.
“Oh, certainly; everyone will want a look at the new Mrs. Darcy.”
“I must ask that my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, be included on the guest list,” Elizabeth said. Her tone was soft, so as not to give offense, but quite firm.
“They are on the list,” the Countess said, briefly. It was clear that she was not best pleased by this, but she knew better than to argue with Elizabeth about it.
“Will I attend?” Georgiana whispered.
The Earl and Countess traded glances; the Countess shook her head and opened her mouth to reply, but Elizabeth spoke first. “What if Georgiana attends, demurely attired as a young lady not yet out, and dances only with her brother, her cousin and her uncle? Surely that would be permitted at a private ball given by her own family. Would that not help portray her as a very virtuous and very proper young lady?”
The Countess looked from Elizabeth to Georgiana and then smiled, widely. “I think that an excellent plan, Mrs. Darcy!”
Elizabeth said, “Oh, please, will you not call me Elizabeth? Or Lizzy?”
The Countess nodded. “Of course; and I am Aunt Ellen. We must be seen to be on excellent terms.”
“I hope that we are on excellent terms, Aunt Ellen,” Elizabeth replied, slyly.
The Countess laughed. “We are, Elizabeth; we are, indeed.”
As the Darcys were taking their leave, the Colonel pulled Elizabeth aside. “Miss Mary arrives tomorrow, does she not?”
“She does,” Elizabeth agreed, doing her best not to laugh at his eager face.
***
On the short drive back to Darcy House that night, Elizabeth sat beside Georgiana and put her arm around the girl. “I suppose you are dreading the ball, are you not?”
“Oh, Lizzy,” Georgiana sighed, leaning against her new sister’s shoulder. “Everyone will be looking at me and laughing behind their hands; I know not how I shall bear it.”
“Georgiana, may I tell you a story?”
“Of course, Lizzy.”
“When Lydia attended her first assembly – she came out at fifteen, you must understand – she tripped over her first dance partner’s feet and fell flat-out on the floor!”
Georgiana gasped. “Oh, heavens! What did she do?”
“She got herself up, laughed, brushed off her skirts, and returned to her partner!”
“But – was not everyone laughing at her?”
“They were, yes; but she paid them no mind. Instead, she danced every dance – with one of her sisters if there was no man available – and was seen to be having a wonderful time! And because she so obviously was having a wonderful time, there really was nothing for anyone to talk about.”
Georgiana thought about this. Finally, she said, “But I am not Lydia. Lydia is so brave!”
“No one is Lydia except Lydia,” Elizabeth said, dryly. “But you can take a page from her book and be brave Georgiana, rather than brave Lydia.”
Georgiana recalled how thinking of Lydia helped her when she had first heard of Mr. Wickham’s death. “I will, Lizzy. Brave Georgiana, going to her first ball!”
“Yes; and unlike Lydia, you have ready-made dance partners in your brother, your cousin, and your uncle.”
That gave Mr. Darcy an idea.
***
When they returned to Darcy House, he spent ten minutes in his study before going upstairs to his bride. The note he gave to the footman read:
Aunt Ellen,
Might the Viscount not attend the ball and also dance with Georgiana?”
Darcy
And then he all but ran upstairs to Elizabeth’s room.