Chapter 10- Taking Tea.
In which the ball at Almacks is recounted, its results discussed, and an invitation is extended.
Props to my two new reviewers, Meg and White Atropos (love the name, by the way, very Hornblower-esque) for prompting me to put up this next chapter. You guys made the last few weeks just that much brighter, and I thank you again. This next chapter is kind of short, but the next one will be loads longer to make up for it.
The ball was, in the opinions of Lady Barbara at any rate, a great success for the girls, a fact she did not hesitate to share with Mrs. Darcy, who had wanted to know every detail of the night's adventures. It was she who once more assured Charlotte and Fanny (at tea the next day at Eaton Place) that in spite of the frigid reception in the card room and the patronizing stares of the gentry they had been a great credit to themselves.
"There are some young ladies in this age who cannot converse with anyone, and in consequence find themselves struck dumb in front of the reviewing committee," Elizabeth was saying. "Your clearness of speech does you a great service in that regard, for Almacks is fond of conversation, since there is little in the way of food to amuse those who do not dance or gamble."
"I still cannot help but think of all those people staring at Mr. Norrington," Fanny said sadly, staring at her teacup in a forlorn sort of way. Lady Barbara looked puzzled.
"Mr. Norrington was in attendance?" she asked, curious.
Fanny looked up and nodded. "Yes, I thought you had bought his ticket," she explained. "Was he not invited with you?"
Lady Barbara shook her head. "Indeed not! Still, he is a charming young man, and has made many friends since his arrival in London. He is now invited out quite often, you know. It would not surprise me if one of them bought him a ticket as a guest."
Fanny thought about this for a moment, sipping her tea in thoughtful silence as Charlotte inquired politely about Mrs. Darcy's evening at home.
"You are most kind to ask, Miss Aubrey, as your own evening was far superior to my own. No, my husband's aunt is in town, and we were invited to see her. I hope, Miss Aubrey, for your sake, when you get married meeting your husband's family will not be nearly as tedious for you as it is for me," she said with a wry smile.
"Indeed, I hope not, either. It would be terribly inconvenient to have a spiteful mother in law," Charlotte said. She thought about this for a moment, and then ventured, "I would hope she was much like you, Mrs. Darcy, for I admire you very greatly."
The thought made Mrs. Darcy smile with a somewhat muted delight, and she beamed at Charlotte. " You are far too easy with your flattery, Miss Aubrey, but I thank you. I have just as many vices as virtues, as either my son or my husband will tell you."
"But her virtues far outstrip her vices, let me assure you of that," Mr. Darcy, who was just entering the room with his son in tow, said in his deep and warm voice, laying his hand on his wife's shoulder. Charlotte could not help but smile a little wider as Elizabeth laid her own hand on her husband's and smiled up at him, an unacted kiss shimmering in the air between them. If she could find a man with whom to share just a half, nay, a fourth of that affection she could not be happier!
"Has my mother thoroughly interrogated you enough yet on the results of your first foray into the den of lions that is London Society?" George asked with a fond smile, remaining behind the settee where his mother and Lady Barbara sat, not wanting to track anything from his boots onto the sitting room rug. The sight of him made Charlotte glow with happiness after being so rudely received by the men of the ton last night, men who had only more polish and shine to outrank themselves against George, who was their equal and even their superior in matters of manners, money, and affection.
"I do not rightly know if she has asked all her questions," Charlotte admitted, looking to Mrs. Darcy for some direction on the subject.
"I suppose I can forfeit you to my son if that is what he desires," Mrs. Darcy said, watching Charlotte rise from her chair and exit the room on George's arm, privately signaling a maid to follow them for propriety's sake.
"I hope my mother has not bored you," George said once they were free of the doors of the sitting room and out in the hall.
"I could never find your mother boring, George," Charlotte said as he pulled her under the cover of the stairs, a space open enough not to invite gossip but small enough to give him some minute measure of intimacy and privacy.
"I am glad you should say that," George said, relieved, "For we are having a ball of sorts in a few days, here, and I…should like nothing better than for you and Fanny to come. There will be some family members in attendance, unfortunately. My great aunt, as I think you have heard, is in town, and her daughter, as well as my Aunt Georgiana, who is very excited about seeing you again." George paused, trying to think of how to put this. "She…she very much liked you, when you met at Knowlton. I do not know if anyone has told you that."
"No, it is the first I had heard," Charlotte said, smiling up at George.
"My whole family is very fond of you," George admitted, holding both of Charlotte's hands. "In spite of …quite a lot of things. I just thought ...you might like to know that."
Charlotte clasped George's hands, peering at the sitting room door, which was opening now to let Fanny and Lady Barbara exit; it was apparently time to go. "I thank you for that, George. It means the world to me."
"I know," George said with a smile. He seemed to be trying to make up his mind on something and then, quick as you like, kissed her on the cheek and made his exit into the private part of the Darcy residence. Charlotte stood under the stairs quite in shock, the touch of his lips burning a flush into her cheeks.
"Charlotte?" Fanny called. "It is time to go," she said, motioning to the footman with her cloak. Quickly Charlotte pulled herself together, trying to wipe the blush from her cheeks as she went to Fanny, bidding Mr. and Mrs. Darcy a good day.
Elizabeth could not help but chuckle as she watched Charlotte's face redden, only supposing on what her son had done to make her blush so. His impetuousness, she was sure, he got from her side of the family; no Darcy would do anything as rash as kiss a girl he was not formally engaged to.
The next chapter is one of my favorites, and I hope you folks all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.