Chapter 4 The Netherfield Ball
A week after Jane and Elizabeth had returned from Netherfield Park, another surprise arrived at their doorstep. Mr Collins, the dread cousin and heir presumptive, came to Longbourn to review his inheritance and reach out with an olive branch to the Bennet family—he had decided to choose a bride amongst his fair cousins.
Mrs Bennet was certain it was only a matter of time before Mr Bingley proposed to beautiful Jane, she was less certain of Mr Darcy's interest in her second, less attractive daughter. He did not come across as a man as easily led as Mr Bingley. Silent and brooding with his nose in the air, he had strutted around their assembly without speaking much to anyone outside his party and the Bennets to who he had been first introduced. Mrs Long reported having spent a half-hour at his side without him addressing her even once. Her suspicions were further raised in a private conversation with Mr Collins. He was ranting about his esteemed patroness when he mentioned her accomplished and beautiful daughter was engaged to her cousin, Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. A most shocking revelation that Mrs Bennet decided to keep to herself. Their engagement was of a peculiar kind, derived from infancy but had yet to come to fruition even if Mr Darcy must be in his mid-twenties. If the marriage articles had not yet been signed, it was still hope for another outcome, however slim. It was best Elizabeth did not know or she would surely refuse to pursue him. Yes, she would keep this little tidbit of information to herself...
Mr Collins did not endear himself to the Bennet sisters over the coming days. Having been warned off Jane, he focused his attentions upon Elizabeth, spurring jealousy from Miss Mary while he kept the two youngest Bennet daughters thoroughly entertained watching the triangle cat and mouse game unfold. It all culminated in Mr Collins asking Miss Elizabeth for the first set at the ball while Mary stomped off in indignation of being overlooked by the man who in essentials, suited her the most. His inquiry for her third set alleviated her pique just a fraction.
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The Netherfield Ball
The Bennets arrived Netherfield as the throng of arriving guests were trickling out. It took a massive effort to ready six ladies for a ball and even more effort fitting eight people into a carriage built for six people, without wrinkling their gowns.
Mr Bingley welcomed the Bennets by immediately seizing Jane's arm and escorting her into the ballroom for the first set. Elizabeth was similarly put upon by an eager Mr Collins, the grace the two ladies received the attention differed vastly. Jane smiled serenely while Elizabeth could hardly muster a grimace by the thought of a half-hour in the garrulous Mr Collins presence. Not that there was anything seriously wrong with the man. He was a tall, five- and twenty-year-old man with dark colours and tolerable good looks, it was his conversation that grated upon anyone with a modicum of sense, combined with the lack of ability to understand subtle advice.
Elizabeth had tried to gently avert his attention to Mary who did not mind an obsequious husband with an interfering patroness as long as there were a parsonage and a congregation added to the equation. Elizabeth was of a mind to let her sister's wish be granted by any means necessary. Hopefully, the pleasant Mr Wickham, who they had been briefly introduced to on the main street of Meryton, was among the many officers in attendance. She had no idea if he was invited since he had been a late arrival to the militia. With only two days in town, it might be a too short residence for an invitation if not Mr Bingley had offered Colonel Forster a general petition for all officers to attend without specifications.
The first set brought more mortification than Elizabeth thought she could muster. Not only did Mr Collins step on her poor toes but he frequently turned in the wrong direction, making a spectacle of himself and his partner. A mere trifle Elizabeth would normally laugh away but Mr Darcy had predictably not engaged anyone for the first set and was leaning upon a column, watching her disgrace. It was simply too much. Elizabeth hastened from Mr Collins side and found her dear friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas to lick her wounds after the set ended while Mr Darcy engaged none other than Miss Bingley for the second set. It was all very vexing...
Elizabeth had officers enough to choose from and was engaged for the next three sets while Mr Darcy engaged Mrs Hurst and Mrs Darcy before spending a set in quiet conversation with Miss Darcy. The latter was allowed to attend the evening's ball until the supper was served. She was not strictly out since she had not yet curtsied before the queen. A feat that had become increasingly more difficult to perform as the King's health deteriorated, keeping Queen Charlotte busy tending her ailing husband.
The next set was the supper set, Elizabeth conversed with Charlotte who had no partner for the dance. If her estimation was right. Mr Darcy would either forego dancing the supper set altogether or dance with her sister if a Bennet was on his timetable.
"Have you seen Mr Wickham, Charlotte?"
He was a handsome gentleman who could divert her mind from the disappointment. She had somehow expected, having been singled out at the assembly that something similar might occur at his friend's ball but it proved to be an evening of disappointments.
"No, I have not. You should pay a lowly officer no mind when Mr Darcy's eyes followed you through the entire first set. I believe he likes you, Elizabeth."
"Charlotte, you give me too much credit. My clumsiness must have been a sight for a mind intent on levity rather than admiration, I believe. Mr Darcy must have been thoroughly entertained by—"
Elizabeth swallowed a yelp as Charlotte tread on her already sore toes. She looked at something over her right shoulder that made Elizabeth clamp up and turn slowly.
"Miss Elizabeth, did I hear you mention Mr Darcy?"
Elizabeth nodded her assent.
"Could that be Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire?"
"Yes!"
"You must introduce me to him, he is my patroness's beloved nephew, he must be longing to have a word of her wellbeing."
Mr Collins grabbed her hand and tucked it around his arm, hauling her away from the sanctuary of dear Charlotte's presence.
"I cannot," she hissed in his ear. "He will think of it as an impertinence!"
"I am a man of the cloth, dear cousin, we are exempt from some of the rules that apply to commoners."
"That may be so but I doubt that includes overruling etiquette. A gentleman of higher rank must inquire after an introduction."
"I am a parson and soon to be a gentleman with an estate of my own. If you will not introduce me, I will introduce myself."
"Mr Collins, it is simply not done!"
They had arrived at the assembled Darcy family. The last set before supper was about to commence. Elizabeth tried to tug Mr Collins in the opposite direction but the man did not budge. Instead, he addressed Mr Darcy's back.
"Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. I am Mr William Collins, the esteemed Lady Catherine de Bourgh's parson of Hunsford parish in Kent. I can comfort you that the aforementioned lady was in excellent health, let me see—eight days ago when I set out from Hunsford at the lady's request. I am to acquire..."
The words died on Mr Collins lips as he noticed the icy stare and the grim set of Mr Darcy lips.
Elizabeth thought it spoke well of Mr Collins that he was able to detect that he had seriously displeased Mr Darcy as he was in general, not a perceptive man. Perhaps, if she mimicked Mr Darcy's glacial expression, Mr Collins would finally understand with how little welcome his advances were received.
"She is my aunt, Mr Collins," Mrs Knightley explained, trying to relieve the awkward silence that had descended upon their party.
"Yes, a horrible woman. What is she up to now, Mr Collins, has she sent you to us to work upon us on her behalf?" Mrs Darcy enquired non too subtly.
"Oh no, certainly not, madam. I am the heir to the Longbourn estate, you see. My esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has sent me on a mission to my benefit, as she so eloquently put it; It serves a parson to have a wife at his side. One that is not brought up too high but a useful sort of person that can be of aid to me in my calling. Lady Catherine de Bourgh does not approve of entailing property away from the female line, I must rectify the slight upon my cousins by marrying one of them."
"And you have chosen Miss Elizabeth? How predictable of you, Mr Collins, when it is obvious that Mary would make an excellent parson's wife. She is sitting over in that corner reading Fordyce's sermon while Miss Elizabeth is here, expressing her pert opinions. I know Lady Catherine de Bourgh intimately and she will not approve of Miss Elizabeth. Miss Mary, on the other hand, is perfectly suited and would be an asset to your humble occupation."
"Well, Mrs Darcy, I must say your suggestion makes sense although I thought with Miss Elizabeth being accomplished on the pianoforte might be to her advantage."
Mrs Darcy let out a short, derisive chuckle.
"Miss Elizabeth accomplished? Pish tosh, she can hardly play a simple reel while Miss Mary can play a complicated concerto nearly flawless. She lacks a certain feeling that I am sure marriage will provide amply. Besides, her demure and pious nature will aid her in the long-suffering having Lady Catherine for patroness surely demands. Miss Elizabeth is too headstrong and obstinate for decades of torture of that nature. She would surely bring Lady Catherine to apoplexy with her penchant for raising opinions not even her own for the thrill of a debate."
"I must thank you, Mrs Darcy. I had not contemplated all the elements of marital felicity. Yes, cousin Mary would be a most advantageous match, thank you for explaining it so fully. Please, excuse me, I must inquire if Miss Mary has a set available."
The reverend hastened away; Elizabeth was stunned into a rare occurrence of speechlessness while Mrs Darcy looked thoroughly pleased with herself. She had her own agenda for acting thusly. She must get a moment of Miss Elizabeth's time in private...
"Would you honour me with the next set, Miss Elizabeth?"
Mr Darcy's request jolted her out of her reveries.
"Yes, thank you, Mr Darcy."
She was led to the dancefloor by Mr Darcy accompanied by a set of murmurs from her neighbours. It had not gone unnoticed that Elizabeth was Mr Darcy's first partner from outside his party. The musicians played up, they curtsied and bowed before they met in a circle of four, linked by the hands, that twirled around the ballroom. It was not a moment for a private conversation. All in all, the set did not leave any room to converse because most of the steps were done in fours rather than pairs. Enquiring may very well give you three answers. Fortunately, the second half of the set was more obliging in the manner of conversation.
"I believe my mother might have saved you from a most undesirable match," Mr Darcy sent a discrete look in the direction of Mr Collins who was dancing with Miss Mary. "They both look pleased and like they are enjoying themselves," he added.
"Yes and no, Mr Darcy. I believe Mr Collins and my sister are indeed enjoying themselves but your former pronunciation demands that I would have answered favourably. Although it is a gentleman's choice to propose, it is a lady's prerogative to accept or reject the suit."
"It would have been a prudent match for you."
Elizabeth quenched the urge to scoff. Although prudence could not be overlooked on the subject of marriage, it should not be the primary incentive.
Sir William interrupted her retort which surely would have been impertinent, in a most timely manner. Saving her by making thinly veiled hints about the expectancy of an upcoming pronouncement regarding her sister Jane and Mr Bingley. An event he thought might be repeated between Mr Collins and her sister Mary.
Mr Darcy's frown had not gone unnoticed by Elizabeth. She thought he might be offended on her behalf in regards to Mr Collins when she noticed that his gaze was directed at her sister and Mr Bingley. He could not be opposed to that union, could he? Elizabeth decided to question the gentleman after their set had ended. The opportunity would lend itself later; she was his companion for supper.
She noticed her neighbours' glances in her direction when she entered the supper-room on the arm of Mr Darcy.
"I had hoped to engage you for the supper set for a specific purpose, I hope you do not mind sharing a table with my sister?"
"Of course not, it would be my pleasure."
Miss Darcy had not danced with anyone but had had ample time to observe and had much to say about her first attendance at a ball. The girl's enthusiasm knew no bounds and there was little time to inquire about a private matter with Mr Darcy but she could not lament Miss Darcy's loquaciousness in this instance. Mrs Bennet sat not so far down the table and her voice carried. Her mother was making premature announcements regarding her sister and Mr Bingley. Elizabeth could only hope that she was drowned out by Miss Darcy and that her new friends did not notice. She thought it might be a far fetched wish as Mr Darcy grew more contemplative by the minute and the crevice between his brows deepened by every silly proclamation. She tried to send her mother some discouraging looks but she was not attending to Elizabeth with so many matrons devouring her every word. She was in the centre of attention where she preened unbecomingly. Elizabeth quenched another groan, a glance in her father's direction revealed a man too much entertained to act. Fortunately, Jane did not seem to notice, neither did Mr Bingley.
"I am sorry, little sister, but this is the end of the ball for you. I shall escort you upstairs."
"There is no need, brother. I know you wanted to secure a set with Miss Bennet and if you are going to thwart Mr Bingley in declaring himself by asking for a third set this evening, you must make haste." Miss Darcy giggled as Miss Jane rose from the table and Mr Bingley seemed loath to release her. "Do you not believe me capable of finding the stairs on my own, brother. Good night, Miss Elizabeth, you have been a most diverting dinner companion."
With a bow and a curtsy, both siblings were gone. Elizabeth was left a little miffed that Mr Darcy did not remember to escort her back to her family after the meal ended but not by much as she needed to refresh herself and went in search of the refreshment room.
Elizabeth had refreshed herself when she thought she heard a hissing voice that resembled Miss Darcy. Further investigation down the hallway did not relieve her concerns as the conversation grew more alarming.
" I cannot elope with you, Mr Wickham."
"Keep your voice down, you know if your father had given me the living he promised me—"
"You must be ordained before a living can be bestowed upon you, Mr Wickham. Release my arm!"
Elizabeth's hurried walk broke into a run and she slid on her silk slippers into the anteroom at the entrance.
"There you are, Miss Darcy. I will escort you to your room. Mr Wickham, do you have an invitation or are you here to deliver a message to Colonel Forster?"
The threat underlining her words of alerting Colonel Forster had the desired effect, Mr Wickham released Miss Darcy's arm and took a step back as Lady Lucas appeared in the doorway.
"May inquire what you are all doing in anteroom?" Her voice betrayed her displeasure and the glee by the possibility of being the discoverer of a scandal.
"I came here to fetch my shawl while escorting Miss Darcy to her chamber. We discovered lieutenant Wickham and were just enquiring about his purpose of coming here. I was wondering if he had an invitation or if he was here with a message for Colonel Forster. I will leave it to you, Lady Lucas, to discover his motive. Good night, lieutenant Wickham."
"What is the meaning of this?" Mrs Darcy was in the doorway with Mr Bingley in tow.
"I was escorting Miss Darcy to her room but—"
"I heard you, Miss Elizabeth. I was questioning Mr Wickham. Would you see Miss Darcy to her chamber Miss Elizabeth and I will join you momentarily?"
"Yes, Mrs Darcy." Elizabeth curtsied and with a firm grip on the trembling girl's arm, she escorted Miss Darcy to her chamber where her lady's maid waited but Elizabeth dared not leave the poor girl alone with a servant. She knew not if Miss Darcy's lady's maid could be trusted and there was a part of the evening that should not be related to someone unreliable. She needed a diversion, quickly, before the lady's maid realised something was amiss.
"What a beautiful lace on your gown!" A little lame, perhaps, but it was what she could come up with on such short notice.
"It is native to Derbyshire; it is exquisite is it not?"
"Oh yes, very elegant. Would you not tell me a little about your home, Miss Darcy?"
Miss Darcy waxed eloquently about the topic of her ancestral home and the beauty of The Peaks. It was clear that she adored Pemberley and the rocks and ridges surrounding it. She painted a picture so vivid, Elizabeth found herself a little envious. To be strolling the high hills and deep dales was something she could envision herself enjoying very much.
A quarter of an hour flew by before Mrs Darcy re-joined them. She sent Elizabeth with a maid to a private sitting room to wait while she talked to her daughter.
Elizabeth sent word to her father that she had been detained, escorting Miss Darcy to her chamber, she did not want him to worry for her if he noticed she was not in the ballroom nor the adjoining card rooms. A half an hour passed; Elizabeth wondered for how long she was supposed to sit there without anything to do when Mrs Darcy strolled in.
"I owe you my gratitude, Miss Elizabeth, and I commend your quick thinking."
"Thank you, Mrs Darcy."
"I have a proposition for you, Miss Elizabeth. If you would follow me to my sitting room?"
Elizabeth acquiesced and they removed to the adjoining parlour, out of earshot of Miss Darcy.
"As you have probably noticed, my daughter is excessively shy and reserved. I am at my wits end on how to bring her out of her shell. I suppose Mrs Knightley meets with some success but she insists on returning to her husband's home. Donwell Abbey is in Highbury, Surrey, far away from Pemberley."
Elizabeth sensed there was a... Not a rift exactly but Mrs Darcy and her eldest daughter did not quite get along. A mother-daughter relationship she could easily relate to with the discrepancy between herself and her mother. It was not that they did not love each other but their dissimilarities were too pronounced to be entirely overlooked and they thought differently in most matters.
"She is comfortable enough in female company but with the addition of gentlemen, amicable or not, she clamps up, she gets very uncomfortable. I had thought your liveliness and vivacity might rub off on her in a beneficial way. She looks up to you, Miss Elizabeth. You are quite a few years ago older and have every appearance of confidence. I was contemplating bringing you back to Pemberley for Christmas but the roads are horrible this time of year, we have therefore decided to spend Christmas in London. In fact, we are leaving tomorrow. No, I suppose the spring would be a better time. Besides, I have invited a young man to visit. Mr Elliot is the heir to a barony and he is filthy rich, handsome in a calf-like fashion but rather simple. As they say, one's plight may be another one's opportunity. I have decided he should marry Georgiana but she would surely faint should I mention it.
"She had a misfortunate squeamish with an officer this summer. I hired a house in Ramsgate where the boy's regiment was stationed. He had the audacity to come calling on us one morning, I thought the allotted fifteen minutes would be the end of it but I was sorely mistaken.
"Georgiana was strolling the beach with Mrs Knightley when he happened upon them and offered Georgiana his arm, strolling the promenade with her as he was her equal. You need not look so appalled, Miss Elizabeth. Narrow your eyes and close your mouth, the gaping is most unbecoming.
"I put a stop to it at once, he is merely a steward's son after all. Lieutenant Wickham was the son of our late steward and is, unfortunately, my husband's godson. I warned Mr Darcy to pay that kind of notoriety to a servant but he could not be swayed. It gave him airs that did not serve his station in life, you see. He was blessed with rakishly good looks. That should suffice, no more attention is needed.
"Be aware of the rakishly good-looking gentlemen, Miss Elizabeth, they usually prove to be just what they seem, rakes and rubble."
Elizabeth wondered if there was a warning hidden underneath her words. Her son was a very handsome gentleman. Was she warning her that he was not honourable?
"I chose wisely myself, my Mr Darcy is the perfect balance of handsomeness and plain features as to set one at ease in these matters. One cannot be too careful, I am excessively protective of my two children, Miss Elizabeth. I am very attentive to their choice for a partner."
Elizabeth felt the underlying warning towards her son most keenly and much compassion towards Miss Darcy but it was another matter that struck her as odd. Mrs Darcy must remember that she had three children but her eldest was already married. Perhaps that was why she had mentioned only the two unwedded ones.
"Yes, Mrs Knightley is most happily situated."
"Of course, my husband saw to that. Mrs Knightley is not my daughter, she is the child of the first Mrs Darcy. She died in childbirth, delivering the most sought after heir but unfortunately, they both perished. She was of a sickly constitution and very cross, one would not like to be in her bad books."
Mrs Darcy laughed at a particular funny recollection, Elizabeth was not privy to but it did reveal Mr and Mrs Darcy's acquaintance to be of much longer duration than their marriage.
"Mrs Anne Darcy was my friend as well as my cousin, you see. She was exceedingly fond of Ratafia ladled with peach and cheery kernels. It can drive you quite mad, you know, if you overindulge and even lead to your death. I have a nephew whose friend's mother went insane before she perished. She drank it by the bottle, every day. Served her right for her greediness."
Grief suddenly wafted across Mrs Darcy's countenance, she sniffed and dabbed her eyes.
"I was there when Mrs Darcy passed, it was absolutely horrible. Made me set against marrying and having children of my own, I even swore on my mother's grave...
"Mr Darcy changed that, of course, his little daughter quite depended upon me after her mother's untimely death. Mr Darcy simply would not let me leave, I succumbed to his demands after a year of persuasion. I could not leave the poor thing to any odd new mother, I owed it to my dear friend, Anne, to look after her daughter. I have had no cause to repine though. I have my most beloved son and a beautiful daughter, what more could a humble lady want but see her offspring thrive and succeed?"
"Very admirable of you," Elizabeth mumbled although humble was not a word she would use to describe Mrs Darcy.
"I wanted you to come as a sort of companion to Georgiana. As there is a sort of friendship involved, I suppose any mention of payment would be offensive to us both."
"Of course, I am the daughter of a gentleman, I am in no need of an occupation."
Elizabeth thought that would be the end of it but Mrs Darcy took it as confirmation rather than a rebuke.
"I am glad we agree on the terms, Miss Elizabeth. You may write to Miss Darcy until I send my carriage for you. I suppose your father cannot spare his one to send his daughter on a several day's long journey. It is fortunate that I have several at my disposal."
"Mrs Darcy, I did not—"
"You may thank me later, Miss Elizabeth. I am excessively fatigued and must retire at once. So long, Miss Elizabeth. I will be looking forward to seeing you in April."
Mrs Darcy sprung to her feet and was off in a flourish of skirts, obviously not unused to brooking disappointment nor rejection. She simply chose not to listen.
Elizabeth sighed, there was plenty of time to send her regrets before April. It was a pity that the Darcy family would not stay in the neighbourhood for the Christmas tide but she understood the need to leave with Lieutenant Wickham threatening appearance in Meryton. At least, Miss Darcy would be safe from harm.
Elizabeth joined her family in the ballroom, it was the last set of the evening and she was too late to be engaged. She found Charlotte who was also sitting out.
"You have been away for a long time, Eliza."
"Yes, I escorted Miss Darcy to her chambers and we got waylaid discussing the beauty of The Peaks."
The ball ended on a quiet note until they were safely ensconced in their carriage where Mrs Bennet utilised the entire journey home, admonishing Elizabeth's absence from the ballroom and failing to secure a second set with Mr Collins. She praised Mary for accomplishing what Elizabeth had not.