Chapter 22
“And of course you are all invited,” Miss Bingley finished. It was only then that Elizabeth realised that she had not been paying any attention to what she was saying.
“A ball... how lovely,” Lydia said in a dreamy voice.
“You will not be attending,” her mother informed her.
“But,” Lydia said, and was silenced by Miss Farnsworth before she could say any more. Lydia had also learned over the years, when her mother said no, she meant no.
“Thank you, Miss Bingley,” Mrs Bennet said, “we would be most gratified to attend,” she said, and then seemed to think further. “I do not know if you are aware, but our cousin Mr Collins is staying with us at present,” Mrs Bennet said, and had no need to say more.
“Of course, my brother informed me of your guest, and the invitation has been extended to include him.”
“That is most thoughtful of you,” Mrs Bennet acknowledged.
“We are all invited to a ball at Netherfield Park, on Saturday fortnight,” Mrs Bennet announced at dinner that evening.
Her daughters were aware, so the announcement was for the benefit of Mr Bennet and Mr Collins.
“I understand, Mr Collins, that you met Mr Bingley a few days ago, and I am happy to confirm that the invitation includes you.”
Mr Collins’ head shot up, his surprise evident. “That is most generous of him,” he said. “However, I believe I must decline.”
Elizabeth asked whether he thought it improper for a clergyman to attend such an event.
“I am by no means of that opinion, I assure you,” said he. “A ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, cannot have any evil tendency.”
“Why then do you intend to decline the invitation?”
He blushed, and Elizabeth could hardly believe she had seen such a reaction from him, but he went on to explain. “I fear that, as I am unable to dance, having never had the opportunity to learn, I would be a burden on the company.”
“Can’t dance? What nonsense is this?” Mrs Bennet intoned.
“My father did not think it necessary for me to be taught, and my mother would not gainsay him.”
“Well, there is plenty of time for you to learn now,” Elizabeth said, for she could not condone his father’s actions and could not see how, in a household of six or seven women including Miss Farnsworth, that they could not teach him to dance.
After all, they had two whole weeks in which to instruct him on the most popular dances.
“Indeed,” Mr Bennet agreed. “Your cousins and Mrs Bennet will teach you.”
Mr Collins looked for a moment as if he might demure, but instead he nodded, and it was agreed that lessons would begin on the morrow.”
Mary took the seat at the pianoforte, but before she could begin to play, much discussion had to be had on what dances would be called. It was decided that Morgiana’s Dance was the most likely choice after the opening court minuet.
Lydia and Kitty, not yet being out, took the places of the gentlemen to demonstrate the dance for Mr Collins.
The Morgiana was danced in longways formation, normally with three couples at a time, but in this instance, they agreed to demonstrate with just two.
Jane and Lydia took the place of the first couple, and Elizabeth and Kitty the second.
Mary played the opening bars, but before the dancers could take their first steps, the breakfast room door opened, and Mr Bennet entered.
It had been decided that the breakfast room was the best space to learn.
Mrs Bennet had had the footmen remove the breakfast table, chairs, and sideboard to allow room to manoeuvre.
But a small sofa had been brought in from the parlour to allow the dancers to rest between sets, and Mr Collins sat on one of these at present.
“The Morgiana is it?” Mr Bennet asked.
“Yes, Papa,” Jane confirmed.
“That will never work without three couples; you will only confuse him further.” Elizabeth was about to argue, but her father reached a hand to her mother, who smiled at him as she took it and they joined the dancers.
The first time they all demonstrated the dances from start to finish with the cross and change, the return, down the middle and up again, the poussette or turn, and final hands three and hands four, holding hands in a small circle with the neighbouring dancers to wheel halfway around.
The whole family were most jolly when they had completed the dance, and Elizabeth then turned to look at Mr Collins, who looked perplexed.
“That was a most beautiful display,” he confirmed, “but I fear I will be unable to learn such a complex dance in such a short number of days.”
“Nonsense,” Mrs Bennet intoned.
“I know,” Elizabeth said. “We will begin by talking you through the steps for each stage of the dance without music. We will do each stage three times at least, and we will only move on when you have memorised that stage. Then we will try that stage with the music, and when you are perfect, we will move to the next stage.”
The girls and their mother danced the rest of the morning with Mr Collins, breaking only for a small repast. Afterwards, Mrs Bennet excused herself, declaring that she was quite fatigued, and the girls continued into the afternoon.
At the end of the day, they danced the whole dance again, this time with Mr Collins in Lydia’s place, and when he completed the dance perfectly, his face filled with a bright, joyful smile that had them all laughing in happiness.