Chapter 2.17 #2
Margaret’s eyes widened in delight while Becky waved her small hand to dismiss the proposal.
“I do not care much for balls and parties, and such a dress looks very uncomfortable. How could I walk in it? May I have the pony Mr Darcy promised me instead?”
Elizabeth kissed her cheeks. “Of course, my dearest. But I hope you will change your opinion about dresses.”
“I will not. But some biscuits would be lovely. All these arrangements make me hungry,” Becky said decidedly to general amusement.
“Georgiana will give you everything you need, my dear, but we must leave now,” Elizabeth said. “We cannot afford to be a single minute late, or else we will not be allowed inside. The doors close at a precise hour.”
“If that happens, we will gladly return home to have dinner with you,” Darcy added with mockery while Elizabeth threw him a scolding glare.
Arm in arm, they finally left the house with a last glance and warm farewell from their relatives. The colonel followed them, and the carriage departed at a steady pace.
The Bingleys and Gardiners remained to have dinner with Miss Darcy, sharing questions and speculations about what would happen at the ball.
Becky enjoyed her biscuits while young Margaret Gardiner dreamed of the day when she would finally attend her first ball.
∞∞∞
Once at their destination, the carriage barely found a place to stop among so many others. The gentlemen exited first, and Darcy helped his wife to step out.
Secure in her footing, Elizabeth glanced around. Her eyes widened at the large gathering of people and carriages. There must have been over five hundred participants, she guessed.
Most of those in attendance were walking toward the large door while others were waiting in front of the building.
Darcy noticed the direction of her gaze and whispered, “The people over there were invited as guests but have not been fully accepted by the patronesses. They still await the final decision.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise. “So they just stay there to find out whether or not they will be allowed to enter? It must be very unpleasant. They all seem to be people of consequence.”
“They are; otherwise, they would not have been here in the first place. I warned you there were some peculiar rules at this institution.”
Darcy put her hand on his arm and covered it with his own. Elizabeth could feel his tender reassurance and protection while they continued to walk toward the entrance.
She tried to remember the persons she had met before and their names so as to be prepared to greet them.
It was easy to notice that some looked at her with curiosity. However, the advantage of such a crowded event was that each had their own interest, and many were completely oblivious to her presence, so she felt more at ease.
Before the entrance, they met Lord and Lady Matlock, and a little distance away Lord Buxton and Lady Beatrice were waiting. All seven walked together as a small party.
“Your appearance is flawless,” Lady Matlock addressed Elizabeth.
“You look very charming, indeed,” Lord Matlock confirmed.
“Thank you.” Elizabeth smiled warmly.
Lady Matlock continued. “Darcy, please do me a favour and do not even consider dancing with your own wife tonight. I would not want there to be any gossip on this subject.”
“Very well, Aunt,” he replied seriously then leant to his wife, whispering, “I will impatiently wait to return home and dance with you there—at least two sets.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks coloured, and her eyes sparkled with amusement while a chill ran down her spine.
A few steps forward, at the main entrance, were all seven patronesses, sharply scrutinising every person who attempted to enter while two doormen carefully checked the tickets.
Elizabeth recognised Viscountess Castlereagh, the Countess of Sefton, and the Countess of Jersey—to whom she had been introduced at the Countess of Wellford’s ball—but they looked at her as if they were seeing her for the first time.
Lord Buxton and Lady Beatrice greeted the ladies, showed their tickets, and moved forward.
Lord Matlock, the colonel, and Darcy—who still touched his wife’s hand—bowed most properly and were rewarded with a smile of acknowledgement.
Lady Matlock introduced Elizabeth to the seven patronesses as being her niece, Mrs Elizabeth Darcy, the wife of Lady Anne Darcy’s son.
Elizabeth curtseyed with elegance, suddenly amused by the severity of the ladies in front of her. If only her father could see them! However, she showed perfect composure and thanked them with genuine pleasure when she received a positive comment about her choice of gown.
As they finally passed over the most challenging step, Elizabeth took her husband’s arm again.
She was surprised to observe Lady Matlock a little behind, speaking privately with the Countess of Jersey for a few moments.
When she joined them in the main hall, Lady Matlock’s face was lit by a wide smile.
She addressed Elizabeth and Darcy in a low voice to avoid being heard by the others.
“Their ladyships were amused—in a positive way—as they watched you two before you entered. It seems Darcy whispered something to you, and you blushed. They presumed that you were very nervous about meeting them and Darcy tried to encourage you. They found that quite lovely.”
Elizabeth and Darcy looked at each other, wondering what made her blush. Then she remembered his comment about dancing with her at home “at least two sets,” and her face and neck coloured again.
Darcy narrowed his lips to stifle his laughter and answered his aunt in all seriousness.
“Their ladyships were perfectly right. How kind of them to find that lovely.”
Lady Matlock’s eyebrow rose in wonder. She knew her nephew too well to miss the hidden meaning behind his words but wisely decided to end the conversation.
From the hall, they ascended by a handsome stone staircase to the ballroom of impressive dimensions, able to accommodate three times the people that were inside.
The room had a brilliant appearance, being illuminated by an impressive number of candles that astonished Elizabeth.
Near the ballroom, there was a tearoom and a card room.
Inside, they met Lord and Lady Pemberton and their daughter, Lady Marianne, as well as the Earl and Countess of Wellford. Lady Beatrice spoke privately with Lady Marianne while Lord Buxton preferred the company of the gentlemen.
Half an hour after their arrival, at the exact time, the music started, and the colonel stood up with Elizabeth for the first set.
With enough young gentlemen in attendance, Darcy kept to his usual habit, standing by the wall and watching his wife’s winsome moves.
The dance steps made the gown glide around her graceful figure, and her face was brightened by a friendly smile toward the colonel.
He knew he was biased, but he was certain that she was the most beautiful woman in the entire gathering.
It was not that her features were perfect, but her whole image was perfect.
She seemed to have a certain glow that not even he had noticed before, and he wondered whether the dress and the jewels could have such power.
For the second set, Elizabeth had no partner, a fact that pleased Darcy exceedingly.
They spent the time in discreet, private discussions, joined by the Matlocks.
Occasionally, some other guests came to greet them and remained involved in the conversation.
Lord and Lady Buxton still kept a distance from the rest of the family.
By the third set, Elizabeth’s ball card had four more entries, information that annoyed Darcy and amused her exceedingly. Moment by moment, her spirits rose, and she felt more and more at ease among the large gathering.
For the fifth set, Elizabeth was astonished to be invited by Lord Buxton. She had not seen him since the day Maud rejected his proposal. The invitation surprised her even more as he had not addressed a single word to her since they arrived at the ball.
The first minutes passed in silence.
“It is lovely to see you here, Mrs Darcy. I am glad we have the chance to dance—and to speak a few words,” he eventually said.
“Likewise, sir.”
“I hope everything is well with you?”
“Yes, sir, thank you.”
“Would you tell me: How is she feeling?”
Elizabeth could not hide her surprise. She searched the gentleman’s face and noticed his concern.
“Very well. Everything is as we hoped.”
“I am glad to hear it. I am sure you have a poor opinion of me, Mrs Darcy. And so does Darcy, I am sure.”
“Lord Buxton, you are my husband’s cousin, and I know he is fond of you. As Mr Darcy said—we all had something to learn from this story. Some mistakes will never be remedied; others will vanish in time. We must learn to live with both of them.”
“Yes…we must learn to live with our mistakes and choices…”
“And hopefully not repeat them in the future,” she whispered daringly.
Lord Buxton stared at her for a moment then said nothing again until the end of the set.
Elizabeth’s dancing with Lord Buxton drew the attention of Darcy, as well as of Lady Matlock and Lady Buxton. Though Darcy was slightly intrigued but easily guessed the reason behind his cousin’s invitation, the two ladies showed obvious concern.
Lady Matlock moved toward her daughter-in-law.
“Are you alone? Will you not join us?”
“I thank you, but no. I am alone as Lady Marianne was invited to dance, but she will return soon. Married women rarely dance when there are unmarried women in the party.”
She then turned to her mother-in-law and continued sharply. “Therefore, I am surprised to see Mrs Darcy’s card so full. In truth, I find it strange to see Mrs Darcy here at all. I could not have imagined that she would be admitted.”
Lady Matlock’s eyes narrowed with displeasure. “Mrs Darcy is my guest. Her presence was approved by all seven patronesses, and she made a good impression on them.”