Chapter 34 #2
“Yes, yes, we all know how lucky all of you are, but now is not the time to wax eloquent,” the Earl of Longbourn said as he rolled his eyes.
“We need to leave as it would not do to keep royalty waiting.” He nodded for Thatcher and the three waiting footmen to assist them with their outerwear after which they entered the waiting line of carriages and were off.
They were required to be at St James an hour before the first guest to drink a toast with the royals.
Thereafter the Duke and Duchess, Lord and Lady Longbourn, and the betrothed couples would be part of a receiving line with the royals that the Queen designated to represent the family.
As soon as the carriages came to a stop, a cadre of footmen in royal livery swarmed to open doors, put steps in place, and assist as needed.
Having now visited Buckingham House on more than one occasion, the Bennets were prepared for all of the ostentation that would be so obviously on display at St James.
The three oldest Bennet sisters had been presented, but the part of the palace that they were in on this night was new to them.
Their guests from Meryton, Aunt and Uncle Phillips, the Lucases, and others would arrive at St James with the rest of the guests.
As a gift to her sister, Sarah Lucas and the other Meryton ladies that had made the trip, Fanny had surreptitiously sent a modiste, Madame Yvette Chambourg’s assistant, to Meryton to assist the dressmaker there and she had made appointments with all of the guests coming causing quite a sensation.
Even more surprises had awaited when they had come to Town for the ball and their final pre-event fittings.
It was then that they learned that Fanny had set it all up and that the dresses were gifts from her, which is how she knew what hairpins would be best for Sarah and what bracelet and necklace would be perfect for her sister.
Maria Lucas, who would not be attending the ball but had ample compensation in staying with the younger ladies. She received two new gowns and could not have been more pleased.
The Lord Chamberlain announced everyone in order of precedence which started with the Bedfords and ended with Darcy.
It was not lost on the one last announced in this room that he, who had thought himself so high in the company of some of these same people, was the lowest one present.
As one, the men genuflected and the ladies made deep curtsies to the royal family currently present which included the Queen, the Regent, his brothers Princes Edward and Adolphus, and Princesses Charlotte, Augusta Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary, and their spouses.
The complement of so many of the royals being present was obvious to all who had assembled.
On behalf of the family, the Regent greeted his cousins and soon to be cousins, followed by the Fitzwilliams and Gardiners.
The whole of the group was informed that to show their approval of the matches; the Regent would start the first set with Lady Mary while Prince Edward would pair with Lady Elizabeth and they would switch so that each royal would dance with both brides.
It was also noted that after a few minutes with each they would leave the dance floor to be replaced by the ladies’ betrotheds.
Mary was marrying a Marquess which explained the Regent dancing with her before her older sister.
Both Lizzy and Mary were perfectly poised with regard to the honour they were to receive. Both brides nodded a slight thank you at the Regent before they turned and did the same to his brother, who chuckled as he nodded in return.
Lord Longbourn had to turn his head to hide his amusement in clearing his throat. Who but his daughters would wrap the Royal court around their fingers with innate sweetness and mettle that men could not gather in weeks of preparation?
After sherry and port were imbibed, the receiving line was formed outside of the enormous ballroom to greet the invited guests who would pass through the royal guard and royal secretaries posted to ensure only invited guests entered.
Prince Edward was at the head of the line, next was Princess Elizabeth, followed by the rest in order of precedence.
Lizzy, always a keen observer of the character, traits, and foibles of others, was well impressed by the manner in which the Prince and Princess dealt with those who fawned over them.
When the Queen signalled him, the Lord Chamberlain introduced the soon to be wedded couples then signalled for the start of the first dance.
The message sent when the brides started the set with the Regent and his brother was unmistakable and guaranteed that connections to the Bennets and their family would become one of the most sought after for the Ton.
They would all soon learn that their efforts would be rejected as the only connections accepted were those they deemed genuine with good character and intentions.
Lizzy had enjoyed dancing with the rotund Regent and his brother Prince Edward when they had exchanged partners after some minutes. She was very happy when the Princes were replaced by her beloved William for the remainder of the set.
“If I remember,” William teased when he had collected his beloved from the Regent, “you require conversation while dancing. Did not a woman with very fine eyes once tell me that she could not go a half hour complete without speaking?” He caused her to laugh and in the winning of it felt like the most important person in the room.
“Silly man,” she smiled up at him. “You must know that I was trying to provoke you. At the time I felt that you hated talking to me, let alone actually wanted to dance with me, so I tried to push you to do that which I believed would be most irksome to you.”
“There is naught that you can ever do to irk me, my love,” he murmured as he stared down into her eyes.
“If I were to admit the whole truth, I found your impertinence charming. While my head was then trying to fight against my heart, I felt my attraction and love for you growing every time I saw you, even if it was just in my dreams.” He watched her reaction to his admission, her blush pleasing him before he had to let her go.
“You know that you are the best of men William, do you not?” she asked with an arched eyebrow as they came back together.
“Only because you made me want to be a better man my love,” he answered with passion shining from his cerulean eyes.
The rest of the dance was passed in contented and loving silence, neither feeling the need to fill it as many do when they are nervous or are not as in tune with their hearts.
All three Bennet sisters, although one had resigned the name Bennet in favour of Fitzwilliam, found their dance card filled within minutes of the receiving line being over.
Thankfully for a husband and two fiancées, they had bespoken the three most important sets from his respective lady.
Each lady was engaged to dance a set with her sister’s betrothed filling up two more spots on their cards before any others could intercede.
The Duke had reserved a set with their Mary, and Lord Matlock and Andrew had requested sets with Lizzy and Jane.
As Andrew had also reserved a set with Mary, seven sets were already filled leaving few for any lecherous men of the Ton to claim.
Any man with dishonourable inclinations was now well aware that these ladies were truly off limits unless one wanted to literally lose their heads in an attempt to make one of the sisters forget hers.
Before the meal, the Queen and the Regent individually summoned each of the brides for a conversation the Queen herself led.
She asked the questions and her son welcomed both ladies as cousins to the family and reminded them that connection now extended to the rest of the Bennets.
The Queen requested that the sisters perform for her during the upcoming season as she had enjoyed the performance at Buckingham House exceedingly.
It was not missed that so many of the royal family were still present and the Ton was now staring at the Bennets in awe.
It was rare for members of the royal family to remain at a ball, and almost unheard of that they would individually request conversations from specific members at a function so clearly just for the pleasure of conversation and embracing a familial tie.
Sir William Lucas was in his element. He had been to St James for his very brief investiture when he had received his knighthood, but here he was again, this time with his family at a ball sponsored by the Queen with the Regent and some of the Princes and Princesses in attendance.
He knew enough protocol not to approach the royals, but it did not stop him basking in the glory of being so near to them, or as near as he was allowed to get.
The ball and the wedding in two days would be fodder for stories that the citizens of Meryton and the surrounding area would be regaled with for a long time to come and would start with the ladies from Meryton present that had witnessed it all from different angles and always saw something slightly more astonishing than previously described.
After dancing the supper set, the Bennets and their party were placed at a table close to, or in Mary’s case with, the royals.
Unlike the average ball, there was an army of footmen and pages that served the food and drink to all spanning from the royals outward.
As per protocol, none ate before both the Queen and the Regent had taken a nibble of their food.
The meal would end when the royals were done, though it was observed that they did not stand to end the meal until they had been informed that their guests had concluded their meals.
They had not wanted to force the guests to stop enjoying the prepared feast early.