I don't own Pride and Prejudice

She had never been so angry in all her life as she was the moment she stormed into one of the rooms set aside for guests to refresh themselves. The nerve of Baron something or other, propositioning her to be his mistress. She had never been so insulted as she had been in that moment. She knew the ton saw her as a gold digging, social climber, but for someone to make such obvious advances and no one step in to stop it was unpardonable. She was just glad the baron had controlled himself whenever he knew her husband to be looking at them, as it showed the man had at least some fear of the man she had married.

The Baron had escorted her back to her husband, and once he was gone she told Fitzwilliam that she had to go freshen up before their next set, which was the supper set. Really, she just wanted time to calm down and collect her thoughts. She knew she would eventually tell her husband about the Baron, but she hoped it could wait till tomorrow as she didn't know how he would react and she wanted both of them to enjoy the rest of their night.

So far she would say their night had been mostly a success. She had met a few of the ladies, and found a few she would like to have as acquaintances or even friends in the married ladies around her age. The single women, as well as the elder with daughters to marry off took an instant dislike to her, which was not unexpected.

She was startled out of her thoughts by the sound of a young lady crying, and looked up to see the room had been claimed by a young girl. The hem of the girl's dress was torn, and she had a needle an thread in her hands, trying desperately to repair it, though it was clear she didn't have the skill required.

"Here, allow me." She said, as she knelt down in front of the girl and took the needle and thread from her. The girl appeared to be around Mary's age, her chestnut curls styled immaculately, her blue eyes red from crying. "My name is Elizabeth Darcy." She introduced herself.

"Sara Anderson." The girl answered once she got over her shock.

"You'll have to have your maid repair this with a more permanent stitch when you return home, but this should hold it for the rest of the night." She smiled at the girl, glad to see she was starting to compose herself. "I am one of five daughters myself, so it is not uncommon for me to have to mend a dress at an assembly or ball. Now, if you would like to tell me how this happened, I would be more than happy to hear it."

"Lady Pricilla heard I was to dance the supper set with Lord Cartwright tonight and did not take kindly to it." That answered her unasked question as to why a maid hadn't shown up to repair her dress. Lady Pricilla was the daughter of their hosts, and likely told all the maid to leave the girl alone, likely in the hopes she'd miss her dance with the gentleman.

Sara explained that the two ladies had exchanged words about the dance, and when she had tried to walk away, Lady Pricilla had stepped on her dress, causing the tear. As she had run off crying she saw from the corner of here eye as Lady Pricilla put herself in the path of Lord Cartwright so that he wound have to talk with her. Elizabeth imagined that Lady Pricilla hoped that if Sarah couldn't dance the supper set, he would be honor bound to ask her if she had no partner.

"And is there an understanding between Lady Pricilla and Lord Cartwright?" She wondered if Lady Pricilla was the woman her husband spoke of, or if this young woman could have been.

"She wishes for one, but I've never seen any particular regard for her." The girl said with a blush, which answered her unasked question.

"Then I can't see where she would have a say in who he choses to dance with." She said as she tied off the last stitch. "There, done, now we just have to fix you up a bit and no one will know you had been crying." She set to work putting the girl's hair back in order. "It is as if it never happened." She smiled at the girl, and received a grateful smile in return.

"Mrs Darcy, I can't thank you enough for your help tonight." Together they left the room, and it didn't take them long to find Lady Pricilla flirting almost shamelessly with Lord Cartwright. "Ah, Mr Cartwright, I was wondering if you knew where my husband was. He has claimed my next set you see." He looked at her, but his gaze drifted to the young woman behind her, and he was lost. The look on Lady Pricilla's face was one of someone who had just taken a bite out of a lemon.

"There you are, it would seem the set is about to start." Fitzwilliam voice came from somewhere behind her, and she took his arm when it was offered. As he escorted her to the dance floor, she notice Lord Cartwright escort Miss Anderson to the floor behind them.

The dance went smoothly, and she couldn't help but smile each time they turned and she saw Sara's bright smile. Her husband had noticed her watching, so she was happy to fill him in when he asked what the smile was about.

The night had been going most splendidly, she almost forgot that there would be people there wanting to see her fail. That is until supper, when she found herself in the path of a most "clumsy" young lady.

She had just stepped out of the packed room to get some fresh air, and was returning to her seat when she saw said young lady coming toward her with a full glass of punch. She had seen the look the lady was sporting on her sister Lydia's face many times in the past, and knew it meant nothing good. For this reason she was able to quickly sidestep when the young lady "stumbled", only getting a small amount of punch on the bottom of her gown.

Sadly, the same could not be said for the couple who had been in the path of the punch when she had moved. Instantly the two were on their feet, and the young lady stood frozen, her empty cup still pointed at then.

"You stupid, stupid, girl! Do you know how much this gown costs?" The woman was furious, and the poor girl went deathly pale.

"My apologies. I did not see her behind me, I must have bumped into her when I backed up." She could hear the shocked gasps of the people in the hall who had witnessed what had really happened. She knew everyone was likely surprised that she would cover for a young woman who meant her harm, but most of them didn't understand what it was like to have your security dependent on making a good match.

However, that did not mean she was going to let the girl off easy either, "I'm sure Miss Carlisle will be sure to be more careful where she is going in the future, and maybe not fill the glass so full next time." She watched as the color flooded to the girl's cheeks at the reprimand, but she just nodded and curtsied, making her apologies, before fleeing back to her seat.

"Please, send word to Darcy house if the gown in ruined, I will be happy to replace it." Fitzwilliam said from behind her, handing his card to the gentleman. She hadn't even realized he was there, and was grateful that he let her handle it before stepping in.

"We shall see what can be done." The gentleman said, as he prepared to lead the lady from the room. Before they left he leaned closer to her husband, "Though judging by the looks on some of the faces, it should not fall on you to replace it."

Fitzwilliam's face took on a false put upon expression, "Such is the trials of having a wife with a kind heart." The smile on his face as he offered her his arm, spoke of how little a trial it truly was.

They arrived home in the early hours of the morning, and Elizabeth found herself wondering if she should broach the subject of consummating their marriage with her husband. It seemed as if she wasn't the only one, if her husband's sudden nervousness was anything to go by.

"If you are too tired..." He trailed off, unable to bring himself to finish the statement.

She had been tired before, but now found herself much less so. "I am not too tired, but if you are..."

"I am not as tired as I would normally be. Should I come to you?"

She gave her consent, and the two parted at their rooms to prepare for bed.