Author's Note:

Hi, guys!

Shall we get ready for a London ball?

I'd like to point a few things out about this chapter: there is a tiny reference to Jane Austen's Emma here (and it's not the name of Elizabeth's lady's maid), can you find it? And second, I have never watched Sanditon, but I've seen many pictures and I love the dresses. In this chapter, when I describe Lizzy's dress, I was thinking about Charlotte's gold ball gown. To me, it kind of looks like a more decorated version of Elizabeth's ball gown at Netherfield. I thought it might be a good balance between the ton's elaborated dresses and Lizzy's more simple style (I mean, compare it to Caroline's dresses!). Look it up if you want to know what I had in mind.

Next chapter, the ball! (which will not be as fun as poor Lizzy would like it to be).

Stay safe!

Jen

And the nights... the nights were always spent in her husband's loving and tender arms. She felt no shame anymore and even enjoyed teasing him and provoking him in a way she had certainly never teased anyone before. She could not hold back her curious and playful nature for long and her husband's delight in it only made her lost her inhibition even more quickly. She had a happy life indeed.

15.

And so January passed. Elizabeth thought she had never learnt so much in such a short period of time. She was happier than she had ever been and was quite reluctant about spending a few weeks in town.

"We must introduce you to society, my child," Lady Anne explained to her during dinner one day. "We do not want them to think we are hiding you away."

"They will think ill of me one way or another, I might as well postpone it," she replied.

"Every sensible person shall like you," Mr. Darcy told her. "And those who do not, must respect you. You are a Darcy and shall be respected. I will not tolerate disrespect and neither will Fitzwilliam."

"Of course not," his son agreed.

"I do not care very much for their opinion, so do not worry about my feelings, Father."

"Please, Lizzy," Lady Anne insisted, "the season is mostly over either way, it shall be only a few weeks. Postponing it will make it look as if we were ashamed of you and wished to keep you away."

Elizabeth sighed and looked as if she was thinking it over when Mr. Darcy turned to his son.

"You are too silent, Fitzwilliam. What do you think?"

"I always prefer to avoid the season," his son replied. "Why would I wish to participate now that I am recently married? I would rather spend more time alone in the country with my bride."

"Oh!" Lady Anne almost jumped. "We can buy more dresses for you, Elizabeth. You shall need a lot more."

Fitzwilliam chuckled. "If you are trying to persuade her with that, Mother, you shall not."

Elizabeth laughed with him. "Indeed. It does not tempt me one bit."

Lady Anne sighed and sat back in her chair. "She is your wife, Fitzwilliam. You know her the most. What might convince her?"

"Well," Fitzwilliam thought for a few seconds. "She will not go for her own benefit, but she might if she thinks it will help someone she loves."

"I do not see how it could," Elizabeth smiled and tilted her head at him as if she were presenting a challenge.

Fitzwilliam smiled at her, their eyes never leaving each other's. The fact that they were teasing each other and flirting at the dinner table only served to amuse the rest of the family. Fitzwilliam, with his gaze still fixed in his wife, said to his mother:

"You could tell her that Georgiana will probably come out next season. We would like to be on the ton's good side to make it easier for her to be accepted. Elizabeth might be fearless, but Georgie is shy. She would not wish to make it harder for her."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open, then closed, then opened again as she stared at her husband.

"You are speechless!" Fitzwilliam could not help but laugh. "I knew it had to happen someday. I cannot believe that I provoked it."

"Traitor!" she finally said, half teasingly, half stunned. "You did not wish to go either! Now I do not see how I could not."

"It was worth it," Fitzwilliam chuckled.

"You will go, Lizzy?" Lady Anne asked.

"Well, of course. I could not hurt Georgiana..."

"Oh, thank you, Lizzy!" Georgiana said with much feeling.

Elizabeth sighed. "Badly done, Fitzwilliam!"

It was not that Elizabeth did not want to go to London, but she would prefer the calm and quiet of the country over the gossips and judgment from the ton. Still, it must be done sooner or later and so the Darcys departed to London the first days of February. The first stop was to the modiste to order even more dresses for Elizabeth—who thought she already had more than she could possibly wear—at her mother's insistence. During the first few days, they received countless calls from numerous acquaintances. Elizabeth was happy to find that most of them were friends of the Darcys who were curious about the mysterious woman who had married the elusive heir. However, Elizabeth knew—and was ready to confront—that many would call her fortune hunter, both to her back and her face. She did not fear it, for her courage and confidence would not wilt by a stranger's attempt to scare and intimidate her. She had her family's approval, trust, and even love—that was more than enough. And so when the first ball approached, she faced it with confidence.

Emma dressed her in a beautiful gold gown with vertical gold stripes that shone brighter and made her look taller. Although the dress had no lace, the patterns on it made it look more elaborated and adorned than it really was. Elizabeth thought it would be enough to meet the ton's expectations while being faithful to who she was. The neckline was a little lower than she was accustomed to, and the tight stays only made her décolleté more evident, but she believed it was respectable enough and Lady Anne assured her it was not scandalous by London's standards. Emma dressed her mistress' hair up in a stylish combination of small plaits and falling curls, added the diamond comb, and fastened a diamond necklace on her neck.

"Is it not a little... extravagant, Mother?" Elizabeth asked, for Lady Anne had brought her the comb and the necklace herself.

"Not at all!" Lady Anne replied, standing behind her and looking at her through the mirror. "You look exactly as Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley ought to look."

"I am not accustomed to this level of... luxury."

"I know, my dear. But you look delightful. Fitzwilliam shall be speechless."

"It shall be my vengeance then!" Elizabeth chuckled as she put on her white gloves. "I am ready."

Both ladies descended the stairs to find their husbands. Georgiana would be staying at Darcy House, for she was still not out, but had asked Lizzy to deliver a full report of everything about tonight's ball. Elizabeth spotted Fitzwilliam before he saw her and he took her breath away. He was always impeccably dressed, but this particular attire suited him so perfectly that she was the one left with no words. She had always known—even when she did not even like him—that he was the most handsome man of her acquaintance—far more attractive than her, if she were to be honest. But in the last months something had changed. She realised, when she met him at Pemberley, months after her cruel rejection, that he had lost a lot of weight. He had looked tired, defeated and so much thinner than she had prayed she was not the reason. However, since they had become engaged, he had started putting on weight, looking stronger and healthier and... happier; so much happier that it filled her heart to know she was definitely the reason. His smiles and his laughter also made him more attractive. And so, if he had been the most handsome man of her acquaintance when she thought him a proud and disagreeable man... now that she knew he was kind, gentle, and perfectly amiable; now that he loved her with all his heart; now that he smiled and teased her... he was... stunning. Glorious. Beautiful—though she knew he would dislike this last description. Her eyes could not help but roam from his handsome face to his broad shoulders—in a dress shirt, a pristine white vest and cravat, and a grey waistcoat—to his slim hips and long legs—in black breeches and tight white stockings, with his gold pocket watch near his right hip.

Elizabeth sighed. This man was hers. Hers! She could not yet believe that such a paragon of integrity, honour, and handsomeness had chosen her out of all the women who fought for his attention. There was nothing she wished more at that moment than to take his hand, lead him upstairs to her chambers, and see the wonderful body that this attire only accentuated. Although she had grown bold, she could never whisk her husband away to her bedchamber in front of his parents in order to seduce him! No, she would never be that bold. And then, he turned to her. There was a flicker of happiness on his face—one that always seemed to appear in his eye when he caught sight of her. However, this was rapidly replaced by a look of astonishment so intense that she almost laughed. Almost. She knew that look. Admiration. Love. Desire. She could see he was also weighing the merits of her plan to take him upstairs. She saw Lady Anne walking to her own husband—who Elizabeth had not even seen—in the corner of her eye and Fitzwilliam walking to her at the same time.

"Elizabeth," he whispered and seemed speechless for a whole minute. "You shall be the most exquisite, breathtaking creature at the ball."

She smiled teasingly at him and walked closer.

"You look quite stunning yourself, Mr. Darcy," she whispered in his ear, close enough that he felt her lips against it. "I admit I am more looking forward to retiring tonight than to attending a ball."

Fitzwilliam groaned as if this comment only added to the torture and she could not help kissing his throat before stepping away so as not to scandalise their poor parents. Fortunately, Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne were already walking to the carriage.

"You shall pay for that, Mrs. Darcy," he whispered back and helped her into her cloak as she laughed in delight.

I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.

Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.

This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.