A certain enthusiasm towards the assembly grew in Darcy over the course of his first evening at Bingley's manor. Georgiana had no clothing suitable for such an evening out, not having expected any such opportunity to occur. She and Jane planned how to alter a dress to make it look suitable, and both ladies and their maids spent hours in embroidery and stitching. Anne was allowed into the drawing room with Bennet and she clapped her hands and enthusiastically watched her mother and Mrs. Jane.
The next morning Sir William Lucas called to return unhappiness to them all. "The committee — we're beholden to each family of the neighborhood. You must understand, you must — young ladies there. Young girls, just come out. Please understand."
Sweat glistened in small beads on Sir William Lucas's bald head, and he absolutely refused to meet the eyes of either Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy. His eyes lit for a second on Georgiana, sitting next to Mrs. Bingley on a blue and yellow sofa with a floral pattern. He flinched away from Georgiana's white, calm face. "Not London! We are not London — or Derbyshire where you have such great houses and scandals. Miss Darcy's delicate situation — her...well… This is quite… You know. Moral standards must be maintained! Propriety! You cannot blame me. Or the committee—"
"Do not expect me to approve of you." Darcy sneered. "My sister had a child out of wedlock, and we have not done the fashionable thing and found some way to hide the whole event. So your little, small country assembly will not allow her attend a ball, because you have raised your daughters so poorly that you are convinced imprudence is catching. You have had your say. Be gone."
Darcy waved his hand dismissively, and turned and walked towards the divan Georgiana sat upon. Sir William sputtered and attempted to reply. Bingley winced at Darcy's curt dismissal of his neighbor from Bingley's house, and then clapped his hand on Sir William's shoulder and talked in a quiet voice trying to convince Sir William to go back and change Lady Lucas's mind.
This was a mistake. This whole trip had been a mistake.
Darcy silently gripped Georgiana's hand, once Bingley and Sir William left the room toward the hall. After a few minutes Bingley returned.
"Well, I never! I had no idea—" Bingley hemmed, hawed and stamped his feet. "I have more than half a mind to never attend an assembly myself again. Certainly we shall all stay home. I understand Sir William — a kind man — he should not—" Bingley finished with an angry snort. He stamped his foot again.
Darcy eyed his friend with a little disgust. He told Bingley — but Bingley insisted. Bingley insisted the neighborhood would not care. Then Bingley and his wife gave Georgiana hope. Now she was fighting tears. Darcy saw her sadness in the strained set of her mouth and the tightness around her eyes.
Bingley held his hands up defensively. "Really no idea. We'll not attend anything to which you are not invited. Not while you are guests here. Tomorrow we'll hire musicians. We shall have a ball here — I won't invite any of the neighborhood — they'll learn how angry I am."
"No." Georgiana spoke with a teary catch in her tone. "You must go. Do not offend your neighbors on my account. I deserve my treatment, I know it. I don't expect other people to — you and Jane should go to the assembly. Jane, you looked forward to it very much. You too, Fitzwilliam. You would be bored with just me and Anne here. And it would be terribly rude to Bingley to not go with him."
"Now, Georgie, you are our guest. Awful hosts if—"
"Don't…don't ruin your enjoyments on my behalf."
Georgiana was near tears, and Darcy sat next to her and put his arm around her.
Georgiana slid closer into Darcy's embrace. "Please, Fitzwilliam, you give up your own pleasures for me so often. You don't plan to go for me, but...I'll be terribly unhappy unless you go to the ball."
Darcy sighed. He did not even wish to go to the ball except for Georgie's sake, but he had never been able to refuse his sister when she had those tears in her eyes.