A/N: I sincerely apologize for not updating in so long! I was in a musical, so I had practically no life for a few weeks! This chapter's much longer than the previous ones, though, if it's any consolation…

Chapter Four: The Orange Woman's Ball

The annual birthday bash (well of course it's annual, it's a birthday) for Caroline Bingley took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year. The décor was rather simple and tasteful, which to Lizzy was a real surprise. Caroline was known to have a flair for ostentatious, flashy, and gaudy fashion choices, so the simple ivy and pale yellow ribbons that adorned the columns and the dandelion-colored tablecloths were a real shock. What wasn't a surprise was that Lizzy felt like she was out of place, with the snooty, pretentious, and plastic-y partiers that clustered around each other and gossiped at the top of their voices.

Lizzy was proud of how the dresses she created turned out. She dressed Charlotte in a one-shouldered sheath dress that lost its black opaqueness just above the knee and then faded into gauzy and glittering chiffon until it reached her toes. The dress dipped in the back to reveal her light coffee skin. All in all, Charlotte looked like she was dressed as a Grecian goddess, only her dress was not white, but jet.

Jane, on the other hand, while with the regality of the character that should have worn Charlotte's style of dress, channeled her inner, practically non-existent Marilyn Monroe. Her dress was a pale ballet pink, and was a halter dress that was cut almost exactly like Marilyn's original white, but Jane's was embroidered with tiny white beads around the trim of the bodice and waist.

Both of Lizzy's models – that is, one actual model and one with the appearance of a model – looked gorgeous and were dressed to kill. Lizzy voiced this out loud which caused Jane to wince at the idea that she could even cause someone's death, and Charlotte to smirk at Jane's obvious displeasure of Lizzy's choice of expression.

The three gorgeous women strode into the gallery where the reception was to be held, Lizzy front and center and flanked by her friends. Cameras went off left and right as the trio walked down the yellow 'carpet' and to the party. The lights around them subsided and the sound of a string quartet and a pianist filled the air. Lizzy was instantly accosted by several snooty old women, and five minutes later, she softened their stern expressions and watched them walk away as her new clients.

"I guess your designs were a success so far, Lizzy. I had my doubts, but it's turned out all right just as you set foot into this shindig."

"Charlotte, you and I both know that Lizzy was going to be a success, you might as well not tease her about it."

"Oh, Jane, but that takes all of the fun out of it!"

"No it doesn't, you get paid after she succeeds, and then you can use that honest money to…" Jane swallowed her implication, which only caused Lizzy to laugh and Charlotte to retort with:

"To what? Pursue dishonest pleasures? Oh please, Jane, just because you are practically God doesn't mean that everyone can follow your golden example!"

"You know, both of you, being monogamous is not exactly an angelic pursuit, it was normal the last time I checked, and having sex isn't horrible either, and if animals do it too, it must be natural. It's just preferable that the sex comes after the establishment of a good relationship, and not before. Listen, I need to talk to some potential clients – I'll harass you guys later, and please do not argue until I can come back to mediate – who knows what you'll do if I'm not there to stop it!" Lizzy smiled and gracefully walked away from her friends, who were now chuckling and sampling some hor d'oeuvres that walked by upon the platter of a rather dashing waiter. She met up with some previous acquaintances and let her 'models' to go off and flirt (for Jane, it would be more along the lines of talk) with some random, most likely rich, and relatively attractive men.

~*~*~*~

The three women who waltzed into the room were not just noticed by the older wealthy women. The brother of Caroline herself and his best friend were only some of the many men that were instantly entranced by the three. Charles Bingley was currently mooning on the blonde angel, of whom he was certain he had recognized from somewhere. He was a bit restless in his chair as he watched her stand by her friend while she conversed with some of Caroline's guests. He ordered a Pinot Grigio white wine to sooth his jitters and waited for the right moment to speak to the angel.

Darcy, however, was practically speechless when he saw the long haired brunette in violet. She was much shorter than the two women that trailed behind her, but she had some sort of power to her that was incredibly entrancing.

She was dressed in a deep violet dress that had a slight sweetheart neckline and thick straps that sat upon her flesh at the tips of her shoulders. The straps drew diagonal lines to the curves of her chest. Her waist was accentuated by the cut of the A-line dress, and the bodice met the skirt just under her navel. Silver lace peeked out from underneath the knee-length skirt. The back of her skirt was bustled up in the back so that more of the shimmering silver was visible. The woman's honey brown ringlets trailed down her back and some were pinned up by tiny silver beads. Several soft tendrils framed her heart-shaped face and accentuated her graceful long neck. Darcy had no idea what color her eyes were from so far away, but they were sparkling, and she was smiling, and he desperately wanted to be the recipient of her smiles. God knows he needed a beautiful distraction like her from his constant turmoil. He contented himself by simply staring at his vision of loveliness. Before he could even take another breath, Bingley flew off to meet his latest angel and her new friends, leaving William alone to nurse his merlot and watch his Violet Goddess.

~*~*~*~

A jovial-as-usual Charles and a sulking-as-usual-of-late William approached the designer and her friends as quickly as to not look ridiculously desperate.

"Hello, are you three friends of Caroline's? I was certain I recognized you from somewhere…" started Bingley, "Oh wait, of course Caroline invited you. It's her birthday!" Charles smiled sheepishly, and was rewarded by brilliant smiles by all three, especially the angel.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Charlotte Lucas, this is Elizabeth Bennet, and this is Jane Smith. You were right, Caroline did invite us, well mainly Lizzy here, and we are her guests."

"Oh, so you're the Elizabeth who created The Era!"

"Yes, and Jane and Charlotte here are the reason it has been so coveted as of late."

"Oh yes, Caroline absolutely adores-"

Miss Caroline Bingley was dressed in the most garish tangerine shade known to humankind. Her strapless dress was styled like Disney's Tinkerbell, and was just as short as the original cartoon version. However, instead of the charming green, it was a putrid orange color and was also covered in carrot-colored crystals. The dress (if it was indeed a dress) was "complemented" by orange beaded Manolo Blahniks that were at least four inches high. She immediately pasted a smile upon her face – it looked remarkably like Lizzy's emotion-repressing face (you remember the pained-really-constipated expression, right?). Lizzy instinctively took a step back from the orange day-glo in a method of self-preservation from the blinding color. And then she spoke, which forced Lizzy to fight her instincts (which in this case, meant screaming bloody murder and running for the hills).

"What do I adore, Charles?"

"You said just yesterday that you really liked The Era, didn't you? And that you would kill to get your hands on an original, right?"

"Uhh…" Caroline was embarrassed that her brother was spilling her secrets. She also was embarrassed that she couldn't actually afford an original until she got her trust fund when she turned 28. So she just smiled falsely and simpered:

"Oh yes, I would just love to have a dress designed just for me! I've always wanted to commission a dress, but never got around to it. You know, I was just about to ask my dear friend Vera to do a gown for me, but then, I want to save her dress for my wedding! Oh, Charles, don't be rude! Won't you introduce me?"

Of course, Bingley did the honors, then quickly swept Jane off her feet and asked her to dance as the non-classical-non-cocktail-hour-music began.

~*~*~*~

After Charles danced with Jane four times, he accosted Darcy, in hopes that he would cheer up and be as happy as he was. However, even if William was having a good day, he could never be as jovial as Charles. But, Bingley, being the loyal and devoted friend, decided to attempt to help Darcy gain a fraction of his present state of elation.

"Come on, Darcy, you have got to dance!" Pleaded Charles, but, William wouldn't have it.

"No, Charles, I have no desire to participate in an activity I abhor."

"But seriously, look at all the gorgeous girls! A smiling, pretty face will definitely lighten anyone up!"

"I have no desire to give any woman attention, for the next day I will have yet another new pack of clingy stalkers."

"How about one of my angel's friends? They're both beautiful, though I daresay not as beautiful as Jane! Hey, Lizzy seems your type!"

"Bingley, no matter if she's my type, I'm sure this Lizzy is a total social climber, and though you may consider her pretty, I don't want to lower myself to one of your sister's friends. You know any acquaintance of Caroline's is never attractive enough to tempt me!"

This Lizzy, of course, did overhear the conversation, and was not five feet away from the two handsome men when she uttered, "Well I never!" and sashayed away to the ladies room (grabbing Charlotte who was stuffing her face with a piece of chicken teriyaki in the process).

After an awkward silence swept over the men for a good ten seconds,

"I think she heard you, man," was whispered by Charles and a "Damn!" by William Darcy followed right after.

To think that my Violet Goddess was the Lizzy that I pissed off – oh well, I'll probably never see her again, and she was absolutely gorgeous when furious.

A/N: So now we're finally taking off! Please review – I would love to hear any suggestions or comments you have!