In spite of Georgiana's caution, it was hardly above a week after
Christine's arrival at Pemberley that a ball was held, and, as they were
the most prominent family in the neighborhood, the Darcys were naturally
invited. Interest had been provoked in regard to the Darcys' young-lady
guest, so they could not but attend. More so, it was to be held at Norfolk,
the home of Mrs. Darcy's sister, the happy wife of Mr. Darcy's friend.
A low hum of chatter and laughter came upon Christine's ears as she entered the large room where the other guests were gathered. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley found the Darcys' party quickly, and the two friends and two sisters greeted each other warmly.
"Bingley, Jane, this is Georgiana's friend, Miss Christine Raeworth."
The Bingleys were all smiles and courtesy, and kindly volunteered to introduce Christine to any of their acquaintances present.
"Thank you; I shall certainly take your offer before long, as I quite look forward to establishing an acquaintance in Derbyshire, though I am content at the moment to look about with Georgiana."
Perhaps Christine said this from mere civility, perhaps not. In any case, when Georgiana left her for a short time, she approached the hostess.
"Mrs. Bingley, who is that young man there? Next to the dark-haired fellow in the blue." Christine had caught the young man gazing at her more than once, and thought she should like to have him ask her to dance. It was not as easy of a task as one might think, to be introduced to an unfamiliar gentleman, for Mrs. Bingley declared she did not know him, and when she applied to her husband, there were, at first, as equally unsatisfactory results found. But, when one finds that a guest to a social event in one's own home is unbeknownst, the state of affairs does not often last for any extended period.
After some inquiries, and an introduction to the gentleman himself, Mr. Bingley informed the curious ladies (for by this time Mrs. Bingley and Georgiana were equally interested) that Mr. Daniel Merritt was well- educated young man of two and twenty with a pleasing address.
"He is a most attentive young man, and inquired quite courteously after my own family. He promised to come and meet you, my dear Mrs. Bingley, momentarily."
Christine rooted herself near Mrs. Bingley, and engaged in conversation with her and Georgiana. Her energies were not in vain, for when Mr. Merritt accordingly left his friend and sought out Mr. Bingley to present his wife, an introduction to his wife's companions could not but follow. Mr. Merritt smiled consciously at Christine. Christine found he had all the qualities Mr. Bingley had placed on him, and furthermore discovered that he was a pleasant conversationalist and an excellent dancing partner. Christine did not take great pains to conceal that she had not been expecting his request, or that she was pleased to accept. Such may account for Mr. Merritt's silent admiration of her smile and open, frank manners.
"Have you just entered the neighborhood? I have never seen you about before. But then, I have been here but three weeks myself."
"Yes, I have just come. I am visiting my dear friend, Miss Darcy, for the summer. Why have you been here for only so long?"
"Due to the untimely death of both of my parents, I have come here to take up my father's estate," he answered quietly. His tone made Christine think it wise to leave the subject, so, after a polite, sincere expression of her sympathy, she began to cast about her mind for another topic.
Mr. Merritt saved her the trouble. "Do you visit Miss Darcy often?"
"Not at all, sadly. This is the first time I have been to Derbyshire. Since I have come of age I have been from home only for my schooling, where I met Georgiana."
"Does it suit you, to be from your home so little?" Christine replied that she supposed it did, so Mr. Merritt asked her what her home was like.
"I reside in a well-appointed parsonage, but I spend most of my time with my uncle, Sir Robert Raeworth, at his house. It is much like Pemberley, the Darcy's estate, but lacking a little of the dignified refinement...there is more of a comfortable elegance to it. I love it dearly. There is a specific walk I enjoy most that winds fully across the northern part and most of the western. I do not often have the time or inclination to follow the entirety of it on foot, for it is a full six miles in total, though I frequently enjoy it on horseback, when I can bring myself away from my music and drawing at my own home."
This lead to a discussion of art and music, which lasted the remainder of the time they danced. Mr. Merritt to thanked her most graciously for the dance and left her to find Georgiana, who, with her characteristically gentle smile, supposed that Christine had found an agreeable partner.
"I did, and I cannot but hope that we meet again."
A low hum of chatter and laughter came upon Christine's ears as she entered the large room where the other guests were gathered. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley found the Darcys' party quickly, and the two friends and two sisters greeted each other warmly.
"Bingley, Jane, this is Georgiana's friend, Miss Christine Raeworth."
The Bingleys were all smiles and courtesy, and kindly volunteered to introduce Christine to any of their acquaintances present.
"Thank you; I shall certainly take your offer before long, as I quite look forward to establishing an acquaintance in Derbyshire, though I am content at the moment to look about with Georgiana."
Perhaps Christine said this from mere civility, perhaps not. In any case, when Georgiana left her for a short time, she approached the hostess.
"Mrs. Bingley, who is that young man there? Next to the dark-haired fellow in the blue." Christine had caught the young man gazing at her more than once, and thought she should like to have him ask her to dance. It was not as easy of a task as one might think, to be introduced to an unfamiliar gentleman, for Mrs. Bingley declared she did not know him, and when she applied to her husband, there were, at first, as equally unsatisfactory results found. But, when one finds that a guest to a social event in one's own home is unbeknownst, the state of affairs does not often last for any extended period.
After some inquiries, and an introduction to the gentleman himself, Mr. Bingley informed the curious ladies (for by this time Mrs. Bingley and Georgiana were equally interested) that Mr. Daniel Merritt was well- educated young man of two and twenty with a pleasing address.
"He is a most attentive young man, and inquired quite courteously after my own family. He promised to come and meet you, my dear Mrs. Bingley, momentarily."
Christine rooted herself near Mrs. Bingley, and engaged in conversation with her and Georgiana. Her energies were not in vain, for when Mr. Merritt accordingly left his friend and sought out Mr. Bingley to present his wife, an introduction to his wife's companions could not but follow. Mr. Merritt smiled consciously at Christine. Christine found he had all the qualities Mr. Bingley had placed on him, and furthermore discovered that he was a pleasant conversationalist and an excellent dancing partner. Christine did not take great pains to conceal that she had not been expecting his request, or that she was pleased to accept. Such may account for Mr. Merritt's silent admiration of her smile and open, frank manners.
"Have you just entered the neighborhood? I have never seen you about before. But then, I have been here but three weeks myself."
"Yes, I have just come. I am visiting my dear friend, Miss Darcy, for the summer. Why have you been here for only so long?"
"Due to the untimely death of both of my parents, I have come here to take up my father's estate," he answered quietly. His tone made Christine think it wise to leave the subject, so, after a polite, sincere expression of her sympathy, she began to cast about her mind for another topic.
Mr. Merritt saved her the trouble. "Do you visit Miss Darcy often?"
"Not at all, sadly. This is the first time I have been to Derbyshire. Since I have come of age I have been from home only for my schooling, where I met Georgiana."
"Does it suit you, to be from your home so little?" Christine replied that she supposed it did, so Mr. Merritt asked her what her home was like.
"I reside in a well-appointed parsonage, but I spend most of my time with my uncle, Sir Robert Raeworth, at his house. It is much like Pemberley, the Darcy's estate, but lacking a little of the dignified refinement...there is more of a comfortable elegance to it. I love it dearly. There is a specific walk I enjoy most that winds fully across the northern part and most of the western. I do not often have the time or inclination to follow the entirety of it on foot, for it is a full six miles in total, though I frequently enjoy it on horseback, when I can bring myself away from my music and drawing at my own home."
This lead to a discussion of art and music, which lasted the remainder of the time they danced. Mr. Merritt to thanked her most graciously for the dance and left her to find Georgiana, who, with her characteristically gentle smile, supposed that Christine had found an agreeable partner.
"I did, and I cannot but hope that we meet again."
