Elizabeth lay in bed that afternoon after strict instructions from the doctor to rest. She felt well and lying in bed made her feel worse than what she actually was. She longed to go outside into the country air but instead she was reduced to her own company except the frequent visits from Mr Darcy to ensure her health.
Elizabeth lay and looked upwards, she was so jaded and felt that she could walk from the room at the exact moment if Mrs Reynolds was not on patrol to monitor her health. Elizabeth sighed.
She lay and thought about her visit to Jane and it made her smile. Her thoughts suddenly travelled to Georgiana and the first time she had visited Longborne. She remembered walking into the room to find her mother and younger sisters there, they had all greeted Georgiana with the utmost respect and Elizabeth felt that Georgiana was comfortable.
Elizabeth remembered Kitty trying to persuade Georgiana to attend the public ball in Meryton but she vaguely remembered saying that they were not to attend. Elizabeth was always afraid that she would live to the expectation of Lady Catherine's letter and ruin Georgiana's upbringing, she would never let her sisters have company with Georgiana. Elizabeth knew she was being unreasonable to her sister and Georgiana but in her own eyes it was to prevent any attentions similar to that of Lydia and her husband.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and remembered Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley saying that they were to attend the ball and Elizabeth immediately saw the smile appear on Georgiana's face. She remembered being afraid for Georgiana but mostly for herself.
Elizabeth lay uninterrupted in her bed chamber and thought about the ball in Meryton.
When Darcy, Mr Bingley, Jane, Elizabeth and Georgiana walked into the small assembly room every person present in the room stopped to stare and for a moment Elizabeth was scared of what they were saying. She quickly took Mr Darcy's arm and walked to the other side of the room under the watchful eye of the whole of Meryton.
"Why do they all stare so Elizabeth?" Georgiana whispered.
"I do not know my dear, they will desist soon. Do not feel judged by them, you are far above their station to feel so." Elizabeth saw Georgiana smiled slightly.
Elizabeth watched as her father walked over to them and Elizabeth immediately walked to him and greeted him compassionately.
"My dear father," She said as the music started in the room and the people started to move. "I hope I find you well today?" Mr Bennet smiled.
"My dear Lizzy, I am very well now that you have come to me again, you have made my day far more enjoyable." Elizabeth laughed as Mr Darcy stopped next to them and greeted Mr Bennet.
"And where is Mrs Bennet?" Darcy asked.
"I believe that she is stood with Mrs Lucas in the corner there." Mr Bennet said. Darcy smiled.
"I do not believe that I have called on Mrs Bennet yet." Darcy said. "I hope she is well."
"She is perfectly well Mr Darcy. Her nerves have settled considerably since the arrival of Mrs Bingley and Mrs Darcy." Mr Darcy and Mr Bennet laughed at the irony which was present in the statement, only to bring a smile to Elizabeth's face at the joyful situation between her father and husband.
Elizabeth stood and watched with her husband as Georgiana was asked to dance by Mr Lucas. Elizabeth saw Darcy stiffen for a moment before she placed her hand on his arm. He turned to her quickly and smiled.
"It feels strange does it not." Elizabeth said. "In being back in this room. This is the place that we first met. Do you remember?"
"I do Lizzy, it feels like an eternity from that day." Elizabeth smiled and looked back to the dancing a smile coming across her face when she saw that Georgiana was content in her surroundings.
The Darcy's and Bingley's enjoyed their evening at the public ball. The conversations in the carriage back to Netherfield was mainly compliments of the people who had attended and appreciation of the general splendour.
Elizabeth opened her eyes again to the familiar scenes of her room in Pemberley. She sighed quickly before getting out of bed and walking over to the window.
She looked down to see Mr Darcy getting astride his horse, she watched him for a moment and saw that Mr Darcy was in the most blissful mood. Why should he not be she thought to herself, he has just found that he is to be a father, that would be the happiest time for any young man or any young woman for that matter.
Elizabeth watched her husband for a moment but as she watched Mr Darcy turned in his saddle and looked up to Elizabeth. She saw a smile erupt across his face causing her to be unable to remain unemotional. Mr Darcy bowed his head to her before he kicked his horse into motion and disappeared from the estate.
Elizabeth stood at the window thinking for a while before she turned back to her bed. She lay on it again and thought of her family at Longborne.
They had all behaved so contently at the ball in Meryton that even Elizabeth was surprised. Mr Bennet had remained in a joyful mood for throughout the evening which was increased every time his daughter was by his side. He had kept his sarcastic comments to himself and mentioned nothing more about Mrs Bennet's nerves, unless it was to one of his son-in-laws who found it as a joke.
Mrs Bennet was found to be also in a glorious mood, she mentioned nothing of her nerves which, had caused her so much trouble over the years and kept her overemphasized comments to herself. She mentioned nothing of Mrs Bingley and Mrs Darcy when talking to her friends and kept her conversations to a reasonable topic. Elizabeth was proud of her, she thought that her mother would be one of the few people who could cause her and embarrassment at such an assembly but she was mistaken and held Mrs Bennet in high regard for it.
Mary stood around the room for the whole of the evening and kept herself to herself. She despised balls but Elizabeth and Jane felt that she had made a remarkable effort in trying to talk to people. She had also kept a distance from any pianoforte that evening which brought great relief to all of the Netherfield party.
But most of all Elizabeth was surprised by Kitty, she had remained close to Elizabeth and Jane for a surprising part of the evening and recollected that she danced only four times despite the large amount of men who were stood without a partner. Jane mostly was pleased that Kitty had lost some of the stupidity and immaturity that she had learnt from Lydia.
Elizabeth lay on her bed and recollected the admirable comments which were made by Georgiana about her family. She had over the years been very embarrassed by some members of her family during some social events but everything had changed. Elizabeth now felt proud to call them her family and felt a strong regard for them, she felt that even Mr Darcy was pleased by how well the evening had went. He had also shown some happy comments in the carriage which made Elizabeth's heart beat wildly, he was content in his marriage to her and most of all he was happy with the relations that she had.