Chapter 21—The Netherfield Ball—Part 2
November 8, 1811
The next set was the supper dance and Darcy found himself ready to begin his assault on Elizabeth Bennet's ideas about her future. She was all loveliness as he escorted her to the floor, her eyes bright and her demeanor joyful. Her sister's engagement made her very happy, indeed. Her distraction as they danced was understandable but Darcy wanted some of her attention, too.
"Miss Elizabeth, it seems you good friend Miss Lucas is enjoying the ball as much as you are." Darcy looked down the line at Charlotte Lucas and Colonel Forster, drawing Elizabeth's attention as he had wanted. "Loves flourishes in Hertfordshire. You would think it was spring time!" He grinned.
She finally looked up at him. "Yes, it does. Though no other announcements have been made, it appears I may lose the company of my dear sisters and my best friend sooner rather than later." She sighed. "It will be a little lonely at Longbourn."
"Come, Miss Elizabeth. I did not want to make you sad."
"Of course not, sir, I am very happy for all three of them. To find such felicity is truly rare, especially in our limited neighborhood." She smiled as she continued. "There will be much talk of weddings and lace at home which will only escalate if the viscount and the good colonel continue as they have. I am very happy my father has said I may walk out alone again. I believe I will need to escape!"
"You are not one for the fripperies of the modiste and milliner, Miss Elizabeth?"
"Sadly, no. I rely on my dear Aunt Gardiner to find fabrics and patterns she feels will suit me and just allow my measurements to be checked one in a while, a long while. " She grinned mischievously. "Mamma doesn't quite understand it and blames dear Papa for spoiling me with his books and debates." She paused a moment. "She is not very wrong in her opinion. I am afraid Papa has given me most unladylike tastes in my amusements and Mamma finds me quite confusing, and, I dare say, most uncooperative. I will never find a husband, you see. That is a most grievous fate in her book."
"Not every man wants a wife who can only speak of lace and dancing, Miss Elizabeth. Surely you realize that with my friend Jack and your sister."
"I admit, Mr. Darcy, that I found your friend's interest in my most serious sister perplexing, at first." Elizabeth looked at him seriously as they moved around each other on the dance floor.
"Then perhaps we can discuss it a supper, Miss Elizabeth." Darcy said as the two spoke of inconsequential things for the remainder of the sets.
Darcy escorted Elizabeth to their places and left to fill their plates. Miss Bingley approached her and leaned closely to speak. "I thought it was your sister grasping for Mr. Darcy but it seems it is you, Eliza. He dropped the plainer sister quickly, you know, and he will walk away from you, the impertinent, unaccomplished sister ever more quickly. Do not get comfortable, he and I have been very close for a long time and our understanding increases. Mr. Darcy requires an accomplished woman of society, not a country chit of little importance in the world." Caroline sneered, "There will be only one Mistress of Pemberley, me!" Caroline Bingley left a shocked Elizabeth sitting with her mouth open in surprise. She recovered before the woman was two steps away from her.
"Then I wonder, Miss Bingley, why you are not sitting here waiting for Mr. Darcy to procure your plate, instead of me. He secured my consent to the supper set and as a supper partner some time ago. Didn't you know?" Elizabeth looked beyond Miss Bingley to watch as Mr. Darcy returned to her.
"Excuse me, Miss Bingley. I believe this is my seat." Darcy noted as he set the plates down.
"Of course, Mr. Darcy, I must see to the rest of our guests or I would have joined you as usual." Caroline replied entirely for Elizabeth's benefit, as, seething inside, she walked away.
Bluntly, Darcy asked Elizabeth, "Was Miss Bingley rude? She often is if she sees me with any lady but herself, including my relations. They, of course, only laugh, as I see you are struggling not to do."
Elizabeth decided to give in to laughter anyway. "She did not like that you were sharing supper with me and informed me that such a woman of no accomplishments would never be Mistress of Pemberley."
"Ah, the usual diatribe. She once said something similar to my cousin's wife who had been sitting on a sofa with me for an hour discussing our mutual relations and laughing at Richard's nonsense. She was not pleased to say the least."
"Your cousin's wife, or Miss Bingley?" Elizabeth giggled.
"The viscountess was very irritated with her. Richard's elder brother had to be restrained from giving Miss Bingley the cut direct. Only his friendship with Charles saved her but she continues to travel on very thin ice. I think you remember what she tried to do to me, Miss Elizabeth. If Richard shares it with his brother, the Fitzwilliam family protectiveness will come to the fore, to her detriment. I have asked Richard to keep it quiet. I hope he does." Darcy looked concerned.
"You worry for Mr. Bingley," she stated.
"Yes, I am afraid that sooner or later she will do something that will affect him in society and I will not be able to fix it."
"And is it up to you to fix it, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth questioned.
He smiled self-consciously. "Maybe not but I would certainly try, Miss Elizabeth. Now, why were you perplexed at Jack's interest in Miss Mary?"
"As I have said before, she is young and I worried for her. At first, I could not see her as a viscountess one day, much less a countess! We are so very far below him is society. I worried for her. But I took your assurances to heart, Mr. Darcy. They eased my mind and I was able to pass them on to my father when he questioned me." She looked at the table where the couple sat with both her parents and his, a contrast she had never expected to see.
"But now I believe what I truly am is selfish. Jane, Mary, and even Charlotte will find their happiness and leave me behind to repine their absence. I find I am not looking forward to being the focus of my mother's attention. With so many weddings, she will undoubtedly decide I need a husband. Discouraging her will take all of my effort." Elizabeth looked down at the wine glass twirling in her fingers and did not see the sympathy in Mr. Darcy's eyes.
"Why would you discourage her, Miss Elizabeth? Surely you desire a home and family of your own?" he pressed.
"Of course, I do. But not at the expense of the felicity in marriage my mother does not consider essential for contentment with a spouse. She only looks for eligibility and opportunity while I have other concerns. Unfortunately, she will latch onto a suitable candidate and be unhappy when I reject him, or when he rejects me. I am in no way suitable for most men, Mr. Darcy. I am too educated, too independent, too questioning, and much too impertinent." She smiled ruefully at admitting her faults. "But I am assured of a place in my sisters' homes; I know that to be true without even asking. I will be the indulgent traveling aunt and dote on my nieces and nephews exceedingly. I am certain I will make a fine adoptive aunt to Charlotte's brood, too. I have been planning how to spoil them all and teach them to play the pianoforte very ill." She grinned.
"I don't see that as your future, Miss Elizabeth, not at all. I can see you surrounded by children, some sitting in a fine tree with you, but as their mother, not an aunt. You do yourself a disservice, madam."
"Thank you for your kind words but my society is very limited among our four and twenty families. To quote the Bard, Mr. Darcy, 'Aye, there's the rub'. I have known them all of my life and see no possibilities at all." Elizabeth's eyes suddenly teared up. She blinked and looked away. When she looked back she was recovered and continued, "This has been a dreadfully boring conversation, Mr. Darcy. We must find a new topic that is more congenial to the occasion. What think you of Shakespeare, sir? Have you a favorite among his plays?"
Accepting her change of subject with alacrity, Darcy entered into an animated discussion with the lady of plays they liked and disliked and those seen and not seen in the theater. He was surprised at the number of plays she had seen performed until she mentioned her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's love for the theater and opera which rivaled her own. When the sisters visited their London relatives, it was not only a highly prized modiste they saw. Well-loved entertainment venues were visited as well as bookstores and his secret indulgence also, Gunter's. Recalling who the Gardiners were, he decided he would like to know these London relatives very much.
The supper completed, the music resumed and Darcy moved to the edges of the dance. His movements were designed to keep Miss Bingley from accosting him. Having danced his required sets with both her and her sister, Darcy was keen to avoid a second. He approached Miss Lucas and was granted a set with her and her younger sister, Miss Maria. After securing a set with Miss Mary, he had the notion of requesting a set with Mrs. Bennet. She looked at him in shock but replied in the affirmative.
He moved to Charles and Jane nearby, and was started to hear his irritated friend say "Go away, Darcy."
"Charles?" he queried.
"I know you are going to request a set with my betrothed but she will dance with no one else but me this night. I have already refused the Earl on her behalf." Charles stuck out his chin in a stubborn stance.
"Mr. Darcy, I would be pleased to dance with you," Jane added, looking at her unhappy Charles, "but perhaps tonight is not the night? Charles and I would like to enjoy this time together." Jane added rather sweetly to Darcy's mind.
"Of course, Miss Bennet, I will take this opportunity to request the second set of the next ball we attend together in recompense." Darcy grinned at his friend who was still loath to share. Charles nodded stiffly and Darcy walked away laughing and decided to send Jack and the earl over to the couple. It would have been much more fun bothering Charles if Richard had also been able to attend. They made a good team.
Seeing Miss Elizabeth at the refreshment table, he decided to take a chance. With luck, the last set would be available and he would end the evening delightfully. As he walked toward her he saw Miss Bingley making her determined advance to intercept him. He turned right and exited to the hall and hurried to the end to enter the ball room from the back near the doors to the balcony. He found this placed him much closer to his quarry with the advantage of losing Miss Bingley's pursuit. He stepped to her side with the greeting, "Well, Miss Elizabeth, how are you enjoying Bingley's ball?"
"Very well, indeed, sir. How could I not with all that has happened." She looked further to her left at Miss Mary and Jack. "He asked her in front of my parents and his just moments ago." She turned teary eyes to him. "It is in every way wonderful. I cannot imagine a ball ending any better."
"Well, I can, Miss Elizabeth. If you are not so engaged, may I have the honor of the last set?" Darcy asked as he looked into her eyes, hoping she would see something of his regard.
Whether she did or did not, she shook her head slightly any way. "Mr. Darcy, dancing two sets in our neighborhood sends a message of regard to the neighborhood you should avoid. I would not have our friendship misconstrued by my well-meaning neighbors. It would make you very uncomfortable."
"Miss Elizabeth, please. Any thoughts your neighbors may have regarding how I view our friendship would not be out of alignment with my own, if you grant me a second set." Darcy looked at her steadily as Elizabeth absorbed his words.
"Truly, Mr. Darcy?" she asked a bit breathily, not as a coquette, but as a young lady shocked.
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth. I would like to end this ball in no other way and with no other partner." He held out his hand.
"Then, I thank you, sir, and I would enjoy dancing the last with you." Elizabeth gave him a glorious smile that dazzled even his somewhat jaded soul.
Vaguely, he heard a gasp behind him as Miss Bingley had arrived and heard the last of their conversation. He reached for her hand, and folding her arm in his, drew her away from the wall where she had been standing. "Come, Miss Elizabeth. Let us go to your sister and Jack and bother them."
"Bother them? Don't you mean congratulate them?" She asked merrily.
"Oh, we will certainly congratulate them, but it is a requirement of our friendship that we bother each other as often as we can. I am nothing if not attentive to the bonds of friendship, madam."
"Oh, now I understand. Bothering is defined as teasing, vexing, aggravating, and otherwise annoying your friends in as impertinent a manner as possible. Am I correct, sir?"
"Absolutely, Miss Elizabeth, I knew we were very much alike from the beginning. You will make a perfect co-conspirator in my efforts, I am certain." He looked at her, feigning a serious look but with his smile fighting to come out.
Elizabeth laughed at this other side of Mr. Darcy. "I will enjoy helping you very much, sir. Am I to assume that Jane and Mr. Bingley are to be included in these bothering plans? I cannot leave out one of my sisters." She looked at him expectantly, certain of his reply.
"I would not dream of leaving Charles and Miss Bennet out of our plans! I will have to concentrate on Jack and Charles and leave your sisters to you. You know them better and can accomplish our ends more easily." He conspired.
"Then we will have to pool our knowledge, sir!" Elizabeth hesitated. "Jane is so good and the dearest of my sisters and Mary, dear Mary, has been overlooked by all of us for so long…"
"Miss Elizabeth, we will not hurt them. I have already started on Charles. I tried to ask your sister to dance a few minutes ago and your new brother-to-be became most possessive and refused me without consulting his bride. So I insisted on the second set at the next dance we meet, mostly forever. He was unhappy at her agreement." Grinning broadly, "Your sister has her own sense of humor, I believe."
"Yes, she does, Mr. Darcy. She is quieter than me but she possesses a fine sense of the absurd herself. I believe I will enjoy this game, sir, almost as much as the 10,000 voices laughing at the joke with us!"
The music was beginning and they took their places on the dance floor. Neither spoke very much during the set but kept their thoughts to themselves. Darcy was pleased she had accepted and Elizabeth was uncertain of his true meaning when he asked. They parted the set and the ball still in their own thoughts, he planning his next step in this delicate waltz he wanted with her and she wondering if she should allow herself to believe he was quite serious. For both, only time would tell the tale.
In the back garden of Netherfield Park, George Wickham sat on a secluded bench, waiting for his latest mark. The Bingley woman was so easy to convince of whatever he spouted to her. Flattering her ego would become a full-time job for some poor fool when she finally married. He was still entertaining the thought, though. She seemed to believe his story that all he needed was funds to fight the Darcy estate and take his rightful inheritance. He would have to be careful with her. He needed to determine if there were any restrictions on her fortune that could keep him from walking away with it entirely as soon as they were wed. He might even take her to his bed first. She was not his type, too thin and bony, and it might be a trial. Well, he would cross that bridge later. Consummating a union would only bolster his claim to her money so he just would have to make do. Brandy would help.
He her steps come down the walk towards him and steeled himself for his part.
"I have waited for you for hours, my dear. I feared you would enjoy your partners at the ball and I would be lost!" Wickham declared.
Caroline thought of the few partners she had danced with, none of any real consequence after Darcy and the earl. She feared Darcy was lost to her. She needed a plan. Pemberley must be hers! "It was dull without you. I missed your presence very much, sir."
Wickham stood up. "Then come, my dear, let us waltz together in the moonlight and have a ball of our own." Taking her hand he led her further into the darkened garden and began a waltz that he hoped would lead to further, more compromising intimacies later.
Charles Bingley stepped onto the terrace and prepared to walk the gardens. He was happy, truly happy. His Jane would make his world complete. He knew he needed to calm before he could retire as he surveyed the gardens in front of him. Suddenly, he stopped walking, noticing a flash of white in the distance. "Hello? Who is there? Caroline, is that you? What are you doing outside this late at night?" he called and began walking toward the white specter he was certain was his sister.
The waltzing couple froze, and with a light kiss on her forehead, Wickham abandoned Caroline and melted into the darkness. She turned and began to walk toward her brother, irritation pouring off of her. How like Charles to interrupt something so important and romantic! "Charles, can I not even take the air without accounting for my whereabouts? Really, Brother, after all the work I put into this ball for you, the least you could allow me in a few minutes alone to relax afterwards." Caroline's irritation was real but her reason expressed was not.
"I am sorry, Caroline, but it is really not safe for anyone to be so far from the house this late at night and alone. Come, let us return to the drawing room and have a small glass of wine before bed to calm us. It has been an eventful evening, has it not? I am quite elated. I believe the ball was a major success. Everyone commented on it as they left. It is quite a triumph for you, dear sister."
Caroline remained silent as she allowed her brother to lead her back up the walkway, wondering exactly what part of the evening was a triumph for her.