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Chapter 4
The ballroom looked extravagant and the meal was delicious, Lizzy had truly out done herself. She looked proud as she accepted compliments on her fine household. She had never really been one to care what others thought of her, but had grown to care very much of what they thought of the Darcy's. Since Lady Catharine had told Lizzy that she would be the disgrace of Pemberley, Lizzy was absolutely determined to prover her wrong. And in her five years of marriage, had done just that.
"Georgiana! You did marvelously, I couldn't even tell that you were nervous!" Kitty said as she grabbed her friends hands.
"Oh but I was nervous, I just forced myself to keep looking into Michael's eyes." Georgiana sighed.
"Well, it absolutely worked, you looked beautiful, and you didn't get sick!" Kitty laughed.
"Thank you. I was hoping Mr. Cadogan would come I wanted you to meet him." Georgiana said changing the subject.
"Who is Mr. Cadogan?"
"Oh, Mr. Burton's closest friend. He was supposed to be here, but is going through a very difficult time. I'm sure that is what prevented him from coming."
"It must be something very horrible for it to cause him to miss his closest friends wedding." Kitty sighed.
"Indeed, oh Kitty, I must go back to Mr. Burton."
"Yes of course, go ahead."
Kitty began to look around as she was suddenly alone. She saw Mary sitting solemnly by herself and decided to go speak with her.
"Mary, are you well?"
"Yes of course. But you know how I dislike balls."
"Yes, indeed I do. I thought you were going to play the piece that Georgiana helped you learn last summer. You've been practicing so diligently."
"I believe I am supposed to, but I have to wait until I'm called upon to do so."
"I am sure they will ask you shortly, before the dancing begins."
As Kitty finished speaking Lizzy approached them and asked Mary to play. Mary took her seat at the piano-forte and began to play. With the help of Georgiana and extensive practicing Mary had become quite a proficient at the piano. She looked lovely at the piano-forte and had grown into her share of the Bennet beauty. Where she once looked awkward and plain, she now looked graceful and pretty. Her somber disposition did hide her beauty, but while she was playing all of that melted away, revealing a beautiful complexion.
"You play quite well Miss Bennet." a gentleman named Mr. Laurie complimented.
"Thank you Mr. Laurie, it is very kind of you to say so." Mary smiled.
"Miss Bennet, if you are not otherwise engaged, might I have the first dance?"
Mary was naturally inclined to say no because she did hate dancing, but she thought back on what her sister had said. Mr. Laurie surely seemed like a nice enough gentleman, perhaps he had some intellect as well.
"I would be delighted Mr. Laurie, but I warn you, I am not a very good dancer." she laughed.
"I'm sure you will be fine, until then Miss Bennet." he bowed and she curtsied as they took their leave of each other.
"Mary Bennet, what were you talking to Mr. Laurie about?" Kitty asked excitedly.
"He complimented my playing and then asked if I would dance the first with him."
"Really! Mary that is exciting and he is terribly handsome." Kitty sighed.
Mary shot her sister a look of unbelief. "Kitty, you know perfectly well that I do not hold a persons appearance in high regard. I am much more interested in his mind."
"I am surprised that you have decided to dance with him at all. You are usually not so willing to get to know a man to discover his intellect."
"I know, but Jane and I spoke this morning, and what she said was true. And I figure, what harm is there in one dance."
"It is a wonder that I have been saying the same thing to you for years, and it had no effect, but as soon as Jane suggests it, you accept the first gentleman who asks!" both sisters began to laugh just as another gentleman approached.
"Mr. Norton! How good to see you again." Kitty curtsied.
"You remember Miss Kitty, I am impressed." he said, bowing deeply.
"How could I forget you Mr. Norton, we were quite good friends at the end of the summer." Kitty smiled.
"Perhaps I might have the first dance, so we can get re-acquainted, unless you are otherwise engaged."
"You may."
"I shall see you when the music begins." he bowed and left the two sisters alone again.
Kitty has met Mr. Norton the summer before and had acquired quite an attachment for him. But it seemed as though he merely thought her a friend. Over the year she slowly forgot about him, but was excited that he had approached her to dance.
"Kitty, I do hope you aren't going to start obsessing over him again, he treated you abominably this year." Mary said in a condescending tone.
"I did not obsess, I was merely interested."
"Merely! Kitty, I heard of nothing else for nearly for months! 'Mary, why do you think he hasn't written? Perhaps he has injured and can not write because of his pain!' The whole summer I dealt with such remarks!" Mary said sarcastically laughing at her sisters silliness.
"Perhaps I was a bit obsessive, but I assure you, I will not allow it to happen this time. I now fully understand his feelings toward me."
"Good. Oh dear, the music is beginning, I must go find Mr. Laurie. I do hope I don't step on his foot." Mary said as she walked into the crowd.
"You'll be fine Mary, just try and smile!" Kitty yelled after her.
Mary found Mr. Laurie quickly and he took her by the hand and lead her to the dance floor. Mary kept quiet during the beginning of the dance, focusing more on her feet then her partner.
"Miss Bennet, you dance beautifully, you really can afford to look away from your feet." Mr. Laurie laughed.
"Oh yes, of course, I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize." he smiled. "Beside playing the piano forte, what do you enjoy doing?"
"I enjoy reading very much. Do you care for reading?"
"Not very much no. I absolutely despised reading when I was at university. There must be something else you take pleasure in, like embroidery or drawing."
"No Mr. Laurie, I am afraid not. I quite assure you, I take pleasure in very few things. Music, reading and occasionally the outdoors, apart from those, very little amuses me." Mary said quickly, shocked that past his charming compliment there was nothing more then the expectation of a normal female. The kind of female that she most certainly was not.
While Mary danced with Mr. Laurie, Kitty was enjoying her time with Mr. Norton. He was just as charming as she remembered him, but she also remembered that he had quite forgotten her as soon as she left Pemberley.
"I do recall you promising to write when I left Pemberley in September." Kitty said playfully, wondering what his response would be.
"Yes, I do believe your right, but I could find no time to write." he kept his countenance calm as he answered her.
"Well, you must have been very busy indeed to be incapable of writing on letter in eight months." she tried to continue playfully, but agitation grew in her tone.
"I am truly sorry Miss Kitty. I wondered if you would forgive me before I approached you, I hoped you would have. You see, I had every intention of writing you, but could never think of anything to write."
"Mr. Norton, I do not need your civility. I understand perfectly well that you never intended to write me at all, I realized this quite a while ago, trust me."
"I know my behavior must be reprehensible to you, but perhaps we might re-build our relationship over this summer." he smiled brightly at her. "Over the year I realized how much I missed your laughter, but by the time I realized, it was to late to begin writing, I figured you hated me by then."
"I am only staying here at Pemberley for one week, then I am off to my sister Jane's to spend the summer with her family." Kitty said without emotion.
"I thought you spent every summer at Pemberley."
"You were misinformed. And even if I were staying at Pemberley, I would not allow you to persuade me into affection like last summer. I refuse to be your summer romance, who is of little consequence to you during the remainder of the year."
They remained silent for the rest of the dance. Mr. Norton was obviously very shocked to hear Kitty speak in such a manner, Kitty however was glad she had the chance to express her feelings to the man who had ruined her happiness for four months. The music ended and the couple separated hoping they would never have to speak with the other again.
"Mary!"
"Oh hello Jane." Mary said as she poured some punch.
"I saw you dancing? Who was that gentleman?"
"Mr. Laurie."
"And did you like him? Is he amiable?"
"He was amiable, but I do not like him. He has confirmed my suspicion that all men are baboons." Mary smiled.
"Perhaps you could remove your two brothers in law from that statement?" Jane laughed.
"I suppose, but only because they treat you both so well."
"Indeed they do. Oh dear! Charles is about to fall into the cake, excuse me Mary!" Jane said as she began to walk quickly away. Jane never broke form in public and refused to run to catch her son, even if it would bring humiliation upon him. Luckily Jane reached him in time and removed him from the room, no doubt to scold him for his behavior.
The evening progressed and everyone was having a good time, including Mary. The time of night became evident when you could look around thre ball room and see sleeping children strewn about.
"Kitty, would you mind taking Samuel up to bed? I must stay and say goodbye to everyone."
"I'm sorry Lizzy, I promised Georgiana I would help her with her things. Oh, Mary! Mary come here." Kitty said as her sister passed.
"Mary, would you mind taking Samuel up to bed? I have to say goodnight to our guests or I would do it myself." Lizzy sighed in exhaustion.
"Of course I'll take him, it's no trouble at all. But, would you mind pointing me to him?" Mary laughed.
Lizzy pointed Mary to her sleeping son, and Mary headed toward him. She gently picked him up and carried him to his room as Kitty helped Georgiana pack her things in the carriage. The excitement of the day dwindled as the guests left. After everyone had gone, Georgiana said a tear goodbye to her brother, sister and Kitty. A lot would change at Pemberley with her departure.
