Chapter 13

Beatrice Mortimer was the eldest of three sisters and a brother, who would inherit the estate from their father. She was the plain daughter, the eldest and the last to marry. She was twenty-six when Eustace Mortimer proposed to her. Her father, in possession of an estate of medium size, and a modicum fortune, was the most important gentleman in the area where they lived. He did not want his daughter to marry a tradesman, he did not want his daughter to damage the reputation of the family. Her younger sisters, all considered pretty women, and all married, offered her to live with any of them if she was afraid not to have a home in the future, and if that was the reason why she was accepting that man.

The truth was that she did not want the charity of her sisters, or continue to be a burden to her parents. She wished to have her own family and Eustace offered her that, and she decided to take it. Nor did she want to lie to anyone, she was not in love with Eustace although he did admire her very much. And so, it was like thirty-three years ago, and going against the wishes of her family, Beatrice married Eustace.

Her husband was very different from the husbands of her sisters, all gentlemen. He did not hunt, he did not practice fencing, he only rode on horseback as a means of transportation. He also did not stay up late, and he got up very early in the morning. When she married him, he had only recently inherited his father's small wool business, and today was one of the main wool producers in the country with investments in various fields and immensely rich. Shortly after she was married, she fell madly in love with her husband that had always loved her the same way. Today she was rich, and usually her brother and sisters came to her for help. The one that everyone thought was going to be the spinster of the family, the plain one that their siblings thought they should support for life, was the one who helped them now, and the only one who was truly happy.

Life had been very generous with her, because in addition to the unconditional love of her Eustace, she had had three wonderful sons. Her two oldest sons were married and worked in their father's company. She always wanted a daughter and when her sons got married, she thought her daughters-in-law would occupy that place, but none of them were close to her. Her only unmarried son was Aaron, but she always thought he would never get married. From a very young age, he was very intelligent and managed to complete his studies with honors, but nothing that his son was interested in, or talked about, interested any girl. He didn't have a social life either, he just worked and thought about work.

So, when she arrived at her London mansion, and her son told her that they were invited to Lord Maxwell's ball, and said that he needed help to buy a suitable outfit to attend, she knew that behind all this was a girl, and she was dying to know her.

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Elizabeth and Charlotte were talking and embroidering in the parlor after breakfast, when the maid announced Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. They both looked at each other very surprised, but did not have time to say anything because the two gentlemen in question entered, greeted the ladies, and began to talk about trivial things.

Lizzie felt uncomfortable with Mr. Darcy's gaze constantly on her, and when she wanted to bring up the subject of Mr. Bingley and his sisters, Charlotte interrupted her, and she understood that it was better to avoid conflict. At least, Colonel Fitzwilliam was a very nice man and he was entertaining to talk to.

As soon as they left Charlotte said, "I think we owe this visit to you Eliza, I don't think Mr. Darcy would have bothered to come and bring his cousin, if you hadn't been here".

"I do not know why you say that, Charlotte, didn't you realize how he said that he remembered that I like to walk? He did it with the same disapproving face and voice of censorship as always. Sure he wanted to remind me of the time I walked to take care of Jane in Netherfield, and that he and those harpies thought that it was so horrible", Elizabeth said in an angry voice.

Fortunately, Elizabeth had not had the opportunity to see Mr. Darcy for many days, until Lady Catherine invited them to dinner one evening. He, as always, looked at her the whole time with a disapproving face, and even tried to make her feel bad about the way she played the piano approaching her while she was playing and pretending that he was interested. But she did not allow it, first she challenged him, and told him that he was not going to intimidate her, and later when she sang a song, she looked into his eyes, so he would know that she did not mind if he criticized her.

Sadly for her, the rest of the days, she had to see him frequently. He visited her in the parsonage, and even met her on her walks, despite the fact that she told him what her favorite route was, so he could avoid her. He must have entertained himself by making her uncomfortable, because he didn't even take the trouble to talk to her, and if he did, it was about things that didn't make much sense.

One day, on one of her walks she found Colonel Fitzwilliam, who confirmed everything she thought of that man, by telling her how Mr. Darcy had advised one of his friends to stay away from a young lady from an inappropriate family. Elizabeth hated this man and just wished she didn't have to see him again in her whole life.

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"Caroline, why are you dressed in that elegant gown? I hope you are not thinking that I am going to take you to Lord Maxwell's ball?" Charles asked indignantly to his sister.

"Of course, you are going to take me to the ball, without Mr. Darcy all these months, we have not received any invitation to any event of the first circles, and I do not intend to miss this one", Caroline answered with a firm voice.

"But the invitation is only for me, how am I going to arrive there with you?"

"Charles, please, whenever a single man is invited, it is assumed that he will bring a partner, everyone knows that. In addition, Lord Maxwell is a widower and they say that he is very interesting, I am very curious to meet him". Caroline said while thinking that she had given Mr. Darcy a lot of time to make her an offer. She liked Mr. Darcy very much, but she did not want to wait indefinitely, and it would be a good punishment for not having appreciated her, to see her married to an Earl.

"I don't think you would like Lord Maxwell, I don't know him very well, but I know he has a daughter, and you hate children, and much of his money came from trade", Charles answered his sister with a triumphant smile.

"Charles, in case you didn't know, there are governesses and there is no money that an Earl's title cannot wash… Please let's not waste more time talking nonsense, I don't want to be the first to arrive at the ball, like the peasants, but not too late to miss the second dance".

Once again, Caroline got her way, and Charles Bingley also proved once again not having the strength to control his sister.

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"Mary you look very pretty in that dress and that hairstyle suits you very well", Jane said to her sister when she was ready to attend Lord Maxwell's ball.

"Thanks Jane, I feel a bit uncomfortable with this fine gown, and with this new hair style, but ... I don't know, I want to look pretty today. I guess, I can stop being the plain sister for a day ... no, don't get mad, I'm joking" Mary said with a smile when she saw Jane's reprobing face.

"You are very pretty Mary, but that happy face that you have now, makes you look even prettier. Enjoy tonight dear sister", said Jane excited to see her sister so happy, and so far from the severe and serious girl she had always been.

The whole family sensed that Mr. Mortimer was planning to propose to Mary today. He had been visiting Mary every day, and they talked for hours. Jane was usually their chaperone, and she saw how Aaron couldn't stay away from her sister. He arrived at the house on Gracechurch street as earlier as was acceptable, and left as late as prudence allowed it. Furthermore, he had told Mary that his mother was in London and would accompany him to the ball, and that he really wanted to introduce her to his mother.

Jane smiled at the thought of how her mother would take that the daughter she considered plain, and who would never marry, to be the first to do so.

But Aaron wasn't the only frequent visitor to the Gardiner's house. Robert and Sophia were too. Jane was afraid to hope that something could happen between them, she knew that Lord Maxwell was far above her, and that is why she did not aspire to more than his friendship. When he spoke to her, when he looked at her, it was so different from how other men did before. He was a confident and intelligent man who was very easy to admire, and he also had a wonderful daughter. The woman who managed to conquer his heart, would not only have a great man by her side, but would also win a daughter, the most charming girl in the world.

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Lord Maxwell had asked the Gardiner-Bennet party to arrive before the dance began. Sophia wanted to see them before she had to go to sleep, especially Jane and her dress. In addition, Robert had promised his daughter that he could share with them and dance a set before the guests arrived.

Robert paced nervously waiting for his guests to arrive, when he heard the butler invite them to come in. He immediately went to greet them, and when he had them in front of him, he saw no one but Jane, she was so beautiful that he was not able to say anything. At the same moment, Sophia ran into Jane's arms and told her that she looked like a princess, and that she wanted to dance with her and her papa before going to sleep. They all laughed and greeted each other warmly. Then, they went to the ballroom with Sophia and pretended to dance for a few minutes. The girl's governess came to take her to her room and everyone said goodbye to her affectionately.

At the agreed time, the ball began, and Robert asked Mrs. Gardiner for the first dance, although his dream was to dance with Jane, he did not want to expose her to gossip. He wanted to go step by step, and do the things right, so he asked her for the second dance and she happily accepted.

The ball began and Jane danced the first set with her uncle, and Mary with Aaron, who had just arrived at that moment. When the second set started, Robert danced with Jane, and looking at her intensely said, "I'm so happy you're here, Sophia loves you so much and she really enjoys your company. We both think that you are going to be the most beautiful woman in the whole ball".

Right at that moment, when the second dance was beginning, and as usual for Caroline who loved to be fashionable late, she entered the ballroom, and the first thing she saw was Jane Bennet blushing as a man said something to her.

Caroline was furious, and thought about what she would do to be able to meet Lord Maxwell, and keep his brother away from that woman. This would certainly be a very long night.