Thank you for all your helpful guesses. They are giving me ideas.

I'm afraid that Darcy is still arrogant.

It is good to be writing again, after spending two weeks, re-editing my (5) earliest books. But it was worth it, since I re-released them with fewer typos and much better covers. At least I think that they are better. 😊 I've used the new covers here. What do you think?

~~CC~~

Assembly

Despite the fact that Miss Bingley liked to be, what she considered to be, fashionably late, she acquiesced to Lady Anne's reminder about the time for their departure. She finished dressing ten minutes before the appointed time.

While Caroline also complied with the lady's suggestion not to wear her best ballgown, she made up for it with her accoutrements. The seven ostrich feathers which surmounted her bandeau, waved two feet above her head.

She was just giving herself a final approving look in the mirror when Lady Anne arrived to inspect her toilette.

'Your gown is very fashionable, but your headdress needs adjustment,' the lady commented as she looked about the dressing table. She picked up three small feathers, less than a foot in length and suggested, 'you will find these much more comfortable as you will not have to sit on the floor of the carriage where you would get your gown dirty.'

Caroline reluctantly ordered her maid to make the change. She begrudgingly acknowledged that the reduction in weight was indeed more comfortable.

Lady Anne said pleasantly, 'I have noticed that in recent times many young ladies have suffered from headaches, which I attribute to the tightness of their bandeaux which is needed to support an excess of feathers. I am convinced that cannot be healthy and must be most unpleasant to the wearers.'

'We all suffer for fashion,' Caroline replied without thinking.

'Fashion is not worth it.'

Caroline was startled by that comment and looked at Lady Anne's ensemble properly for the first time. While the gown appeared to be fashionable, the cut was subtly different and enhanced the lady's figure. The amount of lace and embroidery was also quite restrained, as was the single small feather in her hair. The overall effect was exceedingly elegant.

'Your gown is exquisite. Would you tell me the name of your modiste? Is it Madame Dupont?' asked Caroline, mentioning the name of the most fashionable modiste.

Lady Anne chuckled. 'Indeed, no. The lady responsible for my dress is Mrs Brown in Cromford, who I believe has much better taste. She is also fully aware what style is appropriate for a country assembly.'

'But why would you wish to cater to those mushrooms? Is it not every lady's wish to outshine all others?'

'Because these people are respectable gentry and mostly pleasant company. They are generally not as pretentious as those social-climbers prevalent in London.' Lady Anne smiled at Caroline's shocked expression. 'But it is getting late. We had better leave and continue this discussion on another day.'

Miss Bingley had much to think about on the ride into Meryton.

~~RF~~

Most of the guest had arrived at the assembly and were still busy with greetings when there was a stir at the entrance, indicating that the party from Netherfield had arrived.

Contrary to the rumour that there would be seven gentlemen and twelve ladies, there were only three of each.

Sir William Lucas immediately bustled towards the party to welcome his guests. He was delighted to meet such a noble personage as Lady Anne and could hardly wait to introduce her to his neighbours.

First though he introduced the party to his family and Bingley, being his usual amiable self, immediately requested a set from Miss Charlotte Lucas.

As soon as the residents of Netherfield entered the room, Mrs Bennet gathered all her daughters and herded them towards Sir Lucas. By the time that Mr Bingley had requested his first set, the lady approached.

Sir William, having been informed of Lady Anne's pedigree as the daughter and sister of an Earl, proudly introduce the matron and her daughters to their distinguished visitors.

Mrs Bennet, awestruck to be in the presence of nobility, was much more subdued than was her wont. Bingley on the other hand could not help but admire the oldest Miss Bennet and immediately request her first available set.

Jane was pleased to grant him her second set, as the first one was already promised to John Lucas.

Slowly Mrs Bennet found her voice again and asked, 'do you enjoy dancing too, Mr Darcy?' hoping that the even richer gentleman would take an interest in one of her daughters.

'No, madam, I dislike the activity,' Darcy replied haughtily.

Lady Anne gave him an exasperated look, which she quickly suppressed. She had hoped that Fitzwilliam would behave in a more amiable fashion, but in recent years he had become ever more prideful.

The situation was saved by Sir William, who led them to the next family for introductions.

~~RF~~

As soon as they were out of earshot, Mrs Bennet exclaimed, 'well, I never. Have you ever encountered such an arrogant man? Lady Anne is all graciousness and condescension, a true noblewoman, but her son is as unpleasant a man as I have ever met.'

'Mama, please moderate your voice. We would not want to offend Mr Bingley, who is all that is charming,' pleaded Jane.

Mrs Bennet huffed but acquiesced to the request. Jane was correct. Since Mr Bingley was obviously taken with her daughter's beauty, she would not jeopardise this potential match. While Mr Bingley was not as rich as his friend, he was a better prospect.

~~RF~~

Elizabeth Bennet was sitting out a set to give her feet a rest and, as was the custom in Meryton due to the lack of gentlemen, to give other ladies a chance to dance as well.

She noticed Mr Darcy still stalking the edges of the room and coming to a stop near her. She wondered why he had come to the assembly, as he had yet to dance with anyone. It seemed that his friend felt similarly, as she saw Mr Bingley approach the gentleman and urge him to dance.

'Bingley, you know I detest the activity and there is not a single woman here with whom it would not be a punishment to stand up.'

'My word, I would not be as fastidious as you. I have rarely seen so many pretty girls in one place.'

'You are dancing with the only pretty one here.'

'I know. She is an angel, but there is one of her sisters sitting just behind you who is also very pretty and charming.'

Mr Darcy turned in Elizabeth's direction, and after catching her eye, he turned back to Bingley and said, 'she is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me. And I am not inclined to give consequence to ladies who have been slighted by other men. You had better return to your latest angel and leave me in peace.'

Mr Bingley, who realised that Elizabeth must have heard his friend as Darcy had not moderated his voice, coloured, and beat a hasty retreat.

~~RF~~

Elizabeth did indeed hear the cutting remark and although she tried not to show it, felt badly hurt by it since it was the same as her mother's often voiced criticism, 'you are nothing compared to my Jane.'

She swallowed her tears, put on a brilliant smile as she rose and went to join her friend Charlotte.

'You will not believe the exquisite manners our new neighbours have,' she gushed to her friend. When Charlotte expressed curiosity, Lizzy related the scene she had observed.

'Oh dear. Considering Lady Anne's manner, I am all astonishment that Mr Darcy could be so rude,' exclaimed Charlotte.

'I cannot imagine what is the matter with him. He has been stalking the edges of the room all evening. Why does a man go to an assembly unless he wishes to dance?'

'He may not be quite so sociable, but it appears that his friend is making up for the lack of interest of Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley has danced every single dance so far, and he is all charm and amiability.'

'I wonder how those two could possibly be friends. They are like night and day. Mr Bingley has a sunny disposition, while the other is all gloom and brooding.'

They continued speculating about their latest neighbours until Elizabeth's next dance partner came to claim her.

~~RF~~

Mrs Goulding overheard the early part of the conversation, and in short order virtually all the people assembled had heard about Mr Darcy's rudeness. None were surprised as he had been avoiding all contact but the most basic introductions.

Lady Anne noticed the change in atmosphere and suspected the cause. Ever since he was at school, Fitzwilliam had started to ape the manners of the other students and in recent years he had become ever more arrogant in company. She had tried to speak to him about his attitude, but he refused to listen. His reply to her had been, 'women do not understand the society of men.'

She could never work out the reason for the contradiction in attitudes since he was perfectly happy to ask her advice when it came to the management of Pemberley.

Since she could not do anything about Fitzwilliam at present, she focused on improving Miss Bingley's manners. It seemed to her that she might have more success with the young woman than with her son.

While Miss Bingley was still stiff and reserved, at least she followed the injunction that a lady is always gracious. Lady Anne neglected to add, except when she is not, due to necessity.

Since Miss Bingley was on her best behaviour, Mrs Hurst, who always followed her younger sister's lead, was being pleasant to the other guests.

Both young women even danced several sets.

While the young women were thus occupied, Lady Anne sought the company of the local ladies and had a fruitful conversation with Lady Lucas, who pointed out her younger daughter.

'I gather that you do not follow the custom in London where young ladies are not allowed into society until they are seventeen years of age,' asked Lady Anne.

'No, my lady. This is a small and friendly community, and the children all know each other since they grow up together. It is not like London, where most people are strangers to each other, and young girls have to be extremely careful. Here none of our young men would impose on a girl who is too young to be sensible.'

Lady Lucas hesitated for a moment before she explained, 'look at Mrs Bennets two youngest for instance. Miss Lydia is barely fifteen and her sister is not quite seventeen. Both are still full young and silly, but they are quite safe here. They love to dance and flirt, but none of our young men take them seriously.'

Lady Anne commented cautiously, 'they do seem a little wild…'

'I am afraid that Mrs Bennet did not have the advantage of a genteel upbringing. I remember her acting just like her youngest, and she ended up marrying Mr Bennet, whose estate is the second biggest after Netherfield. Therefore, she encourages the girls.'

Lady Lucas noticed the hesitation in Lady Anne's demeanour. 'Please do not misunderstand. Mrs Bennet has the girls' best interests at heart. The problem is simply that Longbourn is entailed to the male line and Mrs Bennet does not have any sons. She is worried what will happen to her daughters if her husband dies before they are all married.'

'What about the older ones?'

'As you can see for yourself, they are all that is proper. They learned their manners from their aunt in London, who is married to Mrs Bennet's brother. She is a proper lady, even though she married Mr Gardiner, who is in trade.'

'Not Madeline Gardiner by any chance?'

'You know Mrs Gardiner?' Now it was Lady Lucas' turn to be astonished.

Lady Anne laughed. 'Indeed I do. We have met doing charity work. She hails from Lambton, which is but five miles from Pemberley.'

'I say. It is a small world.'

'It most certainly is.' Satisfied about the young ladies who had given her some concern, she now asked, 'would it be acceptable to allow my daughter to join in some events while we are here? She is not quite sixteen yet.'

'Certainly. If you would like to come to tea in the next day or two and bring the young lady, I can introduce her to my Maria, who is about the same age. And Maria can introduce her to the Bennets… the older ones,' Lady Lucas added quickly.

'Thank you, I think Georgiana would enjoy meeting some pleasant young ladies.' Lady Anne was satisfied.

~~RF~~

~~CC~~

Reversed Fortune by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2021