It was hard to say which Bennet ladies had more hopes and anticipations for the last Friday in November.
Any superficial observer would have found Kitty the most excited one. Since Mister Bingley had come and asked for her hand for both the first and the supper set there was no other topic of conversation you could broach when talking to her. Her father teased her mercilessly for it and her sisters had quite a laugh at her expense when she would appear at the breakfast table totally oblivious to her unmade hair, but all in all it was an excitement the Bennet household bore with good humor and much amusement. After all, as Mrs. Bennet was often found to say, you were only seventeen and in love once.
Where Kitty was giddy and hopeful, Mary was gloomy. But in all her gloominess there was still hope to find, as Mister Brown was also planning on attending the ball and had stated his intention on dancing with all the Bennet Sisters. And while this made her happy, after all she was waiting on a chance to dance with the object of her silent affection since almost a year now, it also made her rather frightful. Because, even if none of her sisters would put so much heart and love in every dance step, they would put much more grace and elegance in them.
Lydia then did not think about one man in particular. She never did. But she thought about her school, and the possible funding she could acquire if she just got the chance to speak to Mister Bingley without Kitty interrupting her. Or with the always brooding Mister Darcy, after all he seemed to be quite the fat cat. But he also never appeared interested in Tammy, so he was maybe not the best candidate. She would have to ask the colonel. While he did not seem wealth himself, he seemed just the man to know enough people with enough money and heart.
Elizabeth's thoughts then also centered around the colonel. But not especially about his willingness to fund a new set of books for the school or the salary of a school miss. No. She thought about the fact that he would leave Netherfield just the day after the ball and would leave England just three days later. She had hoped to get some clarity on her feelings for him before he left but to no avail. While she loved talking to him, loved dancing with him and loved the endless stories he had to tell, she was not sure if she loved him.
As an enumeration of the Longobourne Ladies could never be complete without mentioning their spirited mother, the dear reader is surely wondering how Mrs. Bennet thought about the ball and as she let everyone in a vicinity of twenty miles hear, Mrs. Bennet was more than excited. She was positively ecstatic and already planning what food to serve at Kitty's engagement party.
The only one not excited about the ball was Mister Bennet who had opted to stay at home to keep little Tammy company, who was much to young to attend a dinner party, let alone a ball.
—
They were fashionably late, at least that was what Mrs. Bennet claimed. In reality Lizzy had taken too long with her hair, Kitty could not find her shoe roses and Lydia had stolen away to read a book with Tammy.
Mary was the only one ready on time and as always it had not helped her one bit. Now, half an hour into being in Netherfield she was standing at the side of the room and watching her sisters dance. Alone.
Well, that was until Mister Brown made his way over to her. Mary's heart almost skipped a beat when she realized he was coming in her direction, smiling at her and even standing next to her.
"Is it not a marvelous evening, Miss Mary?"
"Mister Bingley proofs himself to be a very lavish host.", she answered and tried not to let her voice tremble.
"Oh yes. And the musicians he hired are quite proficient. Do you not find the dancing much superior to the ones we usually see at the assembly hall? I see your sister at the end of the line. Is she dancing with the Colonel?"
Mary looked over at the other end of the room. Mister Brown was right. There was Lydia, dancing with the Colonel. Oh, how she sometimes wished Lydia would have gotten her way and waited to join society!
—
"I must say, we are very sorry to see you go, Colonel. My sister has always spoken so highly of you and in the weeks that we have known each other, I must say that Elizabeth was not all wrong.", Lydia laughed. She had not expected to dance with the Colonel this early in the night, but he proofed to be much better partner than any of the Lucas boys had ever been.
"You flatter me, Miss Lydia. To be honest, I am also quite sorry to leave Hertfordshire. But what is a soldier to do? I have to return to fight that blasted Frenchman.", he answered with a kind smile and a sparkle in his eyes. "I hope you will tell all your little pupils about our surely upcoming victories. Some of the boys will make good soldiers when they are older."
"While I very much admire your dedication to the army I shudder to think that any of my little ones having to fight. The Army treats nobody friendly, especially not poor country boys. No, let them go into trade or science. While that may not proof as exciting as a career far away from Mother England it may provide them much less dangerous life."
"Well, we always need doctors to treat us and merchants to ship us new provisions. So I am not completely opposed to that idea. Which reminds me of one Thomas Lester. If I remember correctly you were trying to find out what happened to him.", Colonel Fitzwilliam suddenly said, his eyes now looking quite seriously.
"Oh yes, I am! Have you heard anything?", Lydia answered hurriedly.
"I am sorry to say that I have. He fell in battle almost five month ago already. I hope you were not too close."
"He fell in battle? Where? Why was his wife not informed?"
"I do not know, but these things can easily happen. War is a messy business."
Lydia suddenly felt sick. Really sick. She had not known Thomas Lester, she did not know what man or father he had been. If he had played with his daughter or read bedtime stories to her. Maybe he had been a terrible man and father. But whatever he had been, he had been her last hope for Tammy.
—
Elizabeth was sure Jane would have enjoyed this ball immensely. Mister Bingley had opted for almost all the decorations her older sister preferred. Pastel colored flowers, candles everywhere. If it was not so unlikey, she would have sworn he had been to one of Jane's dinner parties. But maybe his sister Mrs. Hurst had told him about one of them.
When the Colonel came to fetch her for the supper set, she was nervous, but quickly started to fall into track while talking to him.
—
"You look like a ghost. Why did you just tell the Colonel that you are fine? Did he say anything inappropriate to you?", Mary whispered worriedly.
"Oh no, he did not. What are you thinking? He just told me that Thomas Lester has been killed in the war. Five months ago already!", Lydia sighed and nipped on her punch. It was definitely not spiked enough for this.
"Who is Thomas Lester?", Mary asked confused.
"Remember the little girl that has been living with us for six weeks now? Blonde hair, green eyes? Loves to read books about fairies and tries to play piano with you? We call her Tammy? Thomas Lester was her dad.", Lydia almost hissed.
"Oh. I am sorry. You never mentioned she had a father.", Mary mumbled.
"Of course she has a father. Everybody has a father! Now let us go and get some more punch really fast. I need it and that stupid parson is coming our way."
"That would be incredibly rude, Lydia. We have to stay here. He has already seen us.", Mary tried to make her voice sound commanding, but judging by the look Lydia gave her this did not work out very successfully.
But Mister Brown worked in her favor and had already reached them before Lydia had decided if she would take her older sister serious.
"Miss Lydia! I am surprised not to see you dance. Surprised and very glad, as this gives me the chance to dance the supper set with you. Let us hurry up, before the music starts.", he smiled almost broadly at Lydia.
"I am sorry to say that I am much too tired to dance, Mister Brown. But please, do not let this keep you from enjoying the set. My sister Mary will join you."
"Are you certain? I am sure your sister would like nothing better than staying with you when you do not feel well and keep you company. And I could bring you some refreshments."
"Oh, no. I will be fine and I would love to see you two dance. Go on, the music will start without you if you do not hurry."
And when Mary walked on the dance floor with Mister Brown she suddenly, for the first time in years, felt like she liked Lydia, not loved her out of some sisterly obligation, but truly liked her.
—
"Are you enjoying the night, Miss Catherine?", Mister Bingley asked with a broad smile. They had just sat down to eat and he still looked a bit flushed from the last dance.
"It is by far the most wonderful ball I have ever been at. The music, the flowers, the food, everything! We will talk about this night for years. And the dancing was just so fun. My feet will hurt for days!", Kitty laughed.
"Well, you are the most energetic dancer I have ever seen! How are you liking the soup? My sister advised me to spice it up a little bit, but I was not sure about it."
After taking a spoon full of soup she answered: "Well this tastes delicious. But I am sure Mrs. Hurst's idea was also excellent. My sisters always talk very highly of her."
"Louisa loves to spend time with your sisters. And she especially loves to dote on your little nephews and niece. There is no letter where she does not mention the children. Always makes me quite envious that there are no little ones around here.
But in fact it was not Louisa. It was my other sister, Caroline who suggested the change in refreshments."
While saying that Mister Bingley almost looked downtrodden, that he had not taken his sister's suggestion. Catherine looked around the room. Everyone seemed to enjoy their supper. She had to do something to get him out of that silly thought!
"I did not know you had another sister. Is she also residing in London?"
"She is visiting my friend Edward's estate in Cornwall. We went to Cambridge together. He is a nice fellow. Caroline is friends with his sister, Lady Eleanor. She just wrote me last week that I should come and visit them."
"But you have just rented this place!", Kitty exclaimed in horror. "Do you not think you should better invite her to come here?"
"That is an excellent idea, Miss Catherine. I will write them both! Caroline and Louisa. They should come and take a look at Netherfield. I am sure they will love it just as much as I do."
As his smile had returned, she took that as a victory and finished her supper in high spirits, not stopping to smile until she fell into bed at home.
—
Elizabeth had been searching for Colonel Fitzwilliam all over the room. They would go home in just a few minutes and she had not said goodbye. They had danced only one dance together, in the middle of the night and had not talked anything afterwards.
There had been no reason to. She knew there was nothing to talk about. Nothing really as she had still not made up her mind and judging from the fast that he was practically leaving tonight he also had not made up his mind. Or he had.
But whatever it was. She had to at least say goodbye before he left for war.
Pushing open the doors to the balcony she stepped outside. The air was cold and there was a man standing outside. But it definitely was not the Colonel.
"Mister Darcy! Have you seen your cousin? I just wanted to say goodbye before we left."
"He went to his room. He has to get his sleep."
"Well then please tell him, tell him. Well, tell him I said goodbye. Good luck. No, no that sounds terrible. Just tell him that I looked for him. Or do not tell him anything.", Elizabeth stumbled around with her words. It was too embarrassing.
Mister Darcy did not even seem to notice: "Miss Bennet. I will tell him you said goodbye. Do not worry.", he said while starring on an already crumbled up piece of paper. She could not read anything written on it, but it seemed to be a letter.
"Thank you Mister Darcy. That would be nice. I will go now.", Elizabeth turned around, ready to go back in when she heard the paper crumbling.
"Mister Darcy? Is everything alright? Can I get you anything?", she asked him, not sure why she even bothered. It was Mister Darcy after all. Why would he not be fine? He went around making everyone else uncomfortable. He had nothing to fear.
"I am alright Miss Bennet. Thank you for asking.", he answered and it almost seemed like he tried to smile at her.
"Well then I will go now. I am sure my sisters are already looking for me."
"I have a sister too. Her name is Georgiana. She stays in London, she is, well I am not even sure what she is.", Mister Darcy suddenly said, his voice breaking with every word.
"Is she fine?", Elizabeth asked worriedly.
"No, she is not. Her doctor told her to go on bedrest. She writes it is not serious.", he was shaking his head now, laughing. Almost like a madman.
"So I am sure you have nothing to worry about.", Elizabeth tried to smile reassuringly at him.
"I have everything to worry about. She is just fifteen, Miss Bennet. Just fifteen. She will have this baby in three month and she has to stay in bed and there is nothing I can do to help her. Nothing she will let me do."
And suddenly Mister Darcy was crying.
—
My lovely readers! Seems like I will be ending every chapter in this story with an apology. So I am not going to dwell on that and just be happy that I got this new chapter out. And I hope you are too :-) I am not sure about the beginning and the end of this chapter, but I felt it necessary. Firstly for patching up where we left and lastly for giving you some more ideas for where this is going in the future. I hope you do not feel annoyed by the many different storylines, I wanted to showcase how everyone of our dear bennet girls are coming along. But please tell me if it gets too confusing, then I will try cutting it a bit :-D Anyways I hope you enjoyed this and I look forward to your reviews!