Chapter 75

Whatever had gotten into Darcy, when he thought this year would be one of calm enjoyment with his beloved?

Of course the next day proves him totally wrong. It all starts when the newspaper comes in, as master of the household Darcy gets it first, but Johnson's excited face proves that is only for show, he has clearly already read whatever is said about his new family, and apparently it is quite something, for his cheeks have a decided blush.

Since a gentleman doesn't show such lack of restraint Darcy opens it up calmly and starts to read the news on the situation with France first, as he would always do.

'Do you want all the servants to know what's in there before we do?' Elizabeth asks pertly. So she's seen it, too, Johnson is a traditional servant who likes to gossip a lot. Maybe it's time to replace him with a more tight-lipped employee, but that is such a bother, reviewing applications, talking to candidates, and Johnson does his work just fine. Is there really anything interesting going on under his roof? Enough to fire another servant, get used to another new face?

'Come on, Fitzwilliam, open the society pages, read it aloud!' Georgie urges, 'this is important, you know!'

'All right, you two, I concede. One minute please, while I find the right page.'

Well, this is a first, Fitzwilliam Darcy leafing through the paper to find the society pages before reading up on the situation in the world and the London news.

When he does find the society page, the entire spread is on the ball, of course. There are four articles, and the first is about the ball in general. Darcy looks around, Manners has not yet arrived, so he skips that one until their friend is present to hear it.

The next article, oh my, Elizabeth is not going to like that. But he reads it aloud anyway.

'Long-awaited Mrs Darcy celebrates triumph.

Beautiful genteel girls of noble descent and more than common beauty and accomplishments, have been know to hope for years that Mr Darcy of Pemberley would finally decide to attend the grandest ball of the year, to have his heart stolen by the most deserving of them. Alas, this never happened.

Having had just months to come to terms with his marriage to a young lady of a completely unknown family, his charming admirers must have been dismayed on beholding Mr Darcy entering the ball-room this year, on the arm of his extremely fashionable young bride.

Mrs Darcy, né Miss Elizabeth Bennet, wore a stunning ensemble reflecting great refinement and courage, embracing on her first public appearance a fashion that is, according to this paper's fashion experts, at least half a year ahead of the general public's sense of style.

'Mme Beaution, undisputed mistress of fashion and of course present at the occasion, commented, 'I know for a fact that none of the modistes in London have yet dared adopt this stunning new style. Mrs Darcy must have imported hers straight from Paris, and her accessories as well, especially the unique copper necklace. The classically Grecian decorations are exquisite, I cannot wait to see what Mrs Darcy will wear next time she makes a public appearance, she will undoubtedly become an icon of fashion for the current generation of young ladies, since she is still so young herself.

And isn't Mr Darcy the handsomest man ever? Such a beautiful couple.'

And so we have an unexpected fresh wind blowing through London's finest, with all eyes directed towards Mrs Darcy to see what spectacular dress she will come up with next. We can hardly wait!'

When Darcy is done, silence falls. Elizabeth, the new icon of fashion? In a dress bought ready-made from a tiny boutique in a large shopping centre? With a hat Simon chose for her, and a necklace salvaged from a dusty old drawer in a dusty old room?

'Elizabeth, they loved your little coat! You're an icon of fashion all of a sudden!'

Georgie has her voice back, but apparently not the use of her mental faculties, for her exclamation just makes things worse for Darcy's poor beloved.

'We need to move to Pemberley next week, Fitzwilliam, I don't want people to gawk at me. We bought those things in a ready-made shop! The owner of that shop deserves the praise, not me, I don't want it.

They'll forget all about me, won't they? In half a year?'

'Don't tell me the critics hated Fielding's concerto!'

Manners has come in, and seeing the consternation he must have drawn the wrong conclusion.

'I haven't heard any remark on my performance, yet, Manners. I don't know whether that is a good thing or bad.'

Right, Fielding must be in agony, awaiting the critics' verdicts on his performance.

'I'm sorry, Fielding, you must be dying to know what they wrote about your concerto. We'll talk about Elizabeth's new status as icon of fashion later.

'All right, the next article reads, 'Three's a crowd!'

That is a curious title. It goes as follows.

'The New Year's Eve ball is always a happening, but this year's edition was the scene of a real-life drama.

It was my honour to report on the first act a few weeks ago, in this very paper, when I wrote about Mr Fielding's fortunate rescue from defamation by the estimable Mr Darcy, whose brand-new other half made such an indelible impression on the fashionable set two nights ago. Mr Fielding had been spotted in the company of the beautiful Miss Darcy, Mr Darcy's highly accomplished younger sister.

I have been called brazen for suggesting that the presence of Miss Darcy might stimulate Mr Fielding to new heights in his playing, but it seems the facts have caught up with me, and proven me right.

'For the talented pianist surprised friend and enemy by appearing at the most prestigious event of the year, and on the arm of, yes ladies and gentlemen, Miss Darcy, who is even more beautiful than what my source had prepared me for.

Now it needs to be said that Mr Fielding is quite the looker himself, immaculately dressed and perfectly groomed, with the most intricately tied cravat I have ever seen on even the richest gentleman.

But all was not nectar and honey in the land of plenty, for on Miss Darcy's other arm we could all discern the estimable Mr Manners, of course the main patron of the New Year's Eve charity ball, and though not as handsome as Mr Fielding, certainly of much better birth and fortune, a very eligible match for a Darcy maiden.

How would this drama continue?

Miss Darcy danced her first two dances with Mr Fielding, and their mutual affection was obvious. But then she danced with Mr Manners, and seemed perfectly content in his arms.

There can be only one, and since Miss Darcy proved herself a sweet and outgoing young lady as well as breathtakingly beautiful, we will all await the outcome of this potentially tragic play eagerly.

Will it be the handsome, talented young pianist, or will it be the well-loved gentleman whom she chooses?

All who saw her at the ball undoubtedly picked Mr Fielding as the happy man at first. But Mr Fielding's heart-rending concerto towards the end of the evening begged to differ, no man on the verge of marrying an angel could perform in such manner as to cause at least two thirds of his audience to enter the New Year with tear-streaked eyes, be they man or lady.

No, ladies and gentlemen, this is drama in the making, and this article will undoubtedly be continued!'

'Well, that just about beats all,' Manners comments.

'At least they managed to mention your playing, instead of all of it involving our rivalry for the hand of Miss Darcy.

What are the other articles about?'

'One praises your efforts excessively, enumerating every candle, banner, garland and table-cloth. It's a kind of general impression of the ball, for those who weren't invited. I'll hand it to you in a minute, you can read it at your leisure.

Then one is about Mrs Darcy, the very same woman you see sitting right next to me, becoming the next icon of fashion of the young crowd. And one gossips about my sister having to choose between two suitors, well, you heard that.

And the fourth, let me see, it describes the entire buffet so minutely and so delectably that I am going to ring for breakfast straight away. Not a serious word about Mr Fielding's playing, that is rather disappointing. Of course one cannot expect much more from the society page, but still...'

'That's it, Fitzwilliam, we're looking in the wrong spot! This is the page dedicated to gossip, you'll likely find a serious review on another page!'

After hearing such nonsense written about herself in a popular newspaper, Elizabeth still has her p's and q's together quite adequately! There is a section on books and music in the paper.

'You find it, Manners, I've done my part, I need a few moments to recover from my return to the meat-market.'

And he hands the paper to Manners, who is as eager to find a review as Fielding must be, and takes Elizabeth in his arms. She must be very upset, she thought she was just enjoying a night's dancing with her friends and family, and now every eye will be on her as soon as she shows herself in public.

Oh well, they'll soon be in Derbyshire, where there is no need at all to go out.

But again, Darcy is sorely mistaken, there will be no Pemberley for them for quite some time, unless they want to separate two new lovers, or hire a new chaperone for his sister.

By now, Manners has leafed through the whole newspaper again, stopping at a certain page and folding the newspaper over. He looks pleased.

'That's better, half a page in the culture section. Though you'd better get used to being the subject of gossip, Fielding, for what I'm going to read to all of you right now will make you a very, very busy man.

Listen...'

And he sits back in his chair, he is going to enjoy this.

'Forsaken genius comes into his own!'

'That's the title, I think someone is chewing on a mink busby right now. Didn't one of you tell Mr Zumpe he'd have to buy a ticket to hear Fielding play, from that moment on?'

Apparently, Fielding told Manners about his former patron's preferred attire, and his visit to Darcy's house.

'Added to the entertainment of the New Year's Eve Charity Ball at the spur of the moment, Mr Eric Fielding was supposed to draw about half the revellers to the concert hall to enjoy a bit of superior culture right before the start of the new year, while the other visitors danced the old year away.

But apparently his sad story of having been dismissed from his patron's service made such an indelible impression on the public, that no-one wanted to miss his first performance under his new patronage, that of Mr Darcy of Derbyshire, not known to be a great connoisseur of music but undoubtedly educated on the subject by his accomplished and talented sister, a pupil of Mr Fielding.

For whatever reason, the ballroom was nigh on empty just before Mr Fielding started his concert with several pieces of unmatched virtuosity, as if to prove he really was much beyond playing demonstrations and private concerts for rich businessmen eager to buy themselves a piano-forte.

Virtuosity is generally a characteristic of truly able players, no better way to prove one has mastered the piano-forte than play faster and with more agility than anyone else. But contrary to what some self-appointed connoisseurs think, virtuosity does not make the master pianist. It is but one trait a master should possess.

And on New Year's Eve, Mr Eric Fielding proved beyond doubt he possesses the other traits that mark a true genius. After his stunning display of speed and certainty, he played feeling work, and his audience could not but be affected by his interpretation of the well-known works of famous composers.

Then came his finale, selecting new works for one's repertoire is as important as virtuosity and the ability to transfer feelings to one's audience, and Mr Fielding proved to have that talent as well, choosing two totally unknown pieces, clearly sprung from the mind of one and the same genius, but as yet not discovered by any of the better known players in London.

Very daring pieces, too, obviously from the purely romantic school, blatantly throwing overboard the generally accepted rules of composition in favour of even more feeling, a risky choice for an evening like this but clearly a winner, judging from the overwhelming reactions all through the hall, grown men crying shamelessly, ladies lending them their kerchiefs, but only after carefully drying their own eyes.

Romantic music may very well be the future of piano-music, since virtuosity is very admirable, but music with a soul has so much more impact on a person. And Mr Fielding apparently is to be the London pianist to have the courage to introduce this daring new style to our capital.

I for one would like to hear him perform those two haunting compositions with an orchestra, and I would like to know from which composer's mind they both sprang, probably a German genius. Mr Fielding is clearly on his way up, and we all hope to hear him play again and again, especially those romantic pieces, even if they turn out to have been composed by a Frenchman. Congratulations, Mr Fielding, on a performance that will be remembered for years to come.'

Manners puts the paper down and looks at Fielding.

'We did tell people you composed that yourself, didn't we?'

'Frankly, Manners, I don't remember. The whole night is a kind of haze. I suppose we did, but there were so many that wanted to talk to us, maybe there was no time. Maybe the reporter didn't ask, or didn't get his chance to see us. I seem to remember mostly shaking hands with ladies, and they did most of the talking.'

'Oh well, he'll find out soon enough, once I contact several places to book some more concerts for you. That is, if you want me to, it'll mean a lot more of this attention, but I'm afraid that cannot be avoided. Besides, I don't want to claim you like Mr Zumpe did.'

'I wanted to become famous, remember, Manners? Being in the papers is part of that, but I had not considered Georgiana would be subjected to their notice, too.'

And at Georgie, 'I remember very clearly that you didn't like those people watching you at all, my dear. I'm so sorry, I don't think you can step back into the shade again, now you've been noticed.'

'That is not your doing, Fielding,' Darcy feels obliged to contradict him.

'Georgie being in the paper was due to the sole fact of her appearance in public. They have all been lying in wait to catch a glimpse of her, if you hadn't been there they would have matched her to Manners, or some young man she had danced with.'

'That may be true, Fitzwilliam,' Georgie retorts saucily, 'but if Eric hadn't played there, I wouldn't have gone to the Ball. So it is his fault after all.'

To change her tone to softness, and address Fielding soothingly, 'You didn't do anything to me, Eric. I knew from the first you'd become well-known, and I knew that would mean sharing you with an audience and being talked about. People have speculated about me all my life, the only change will be appearing in public.

Had I married Mr Manners it would have been no different, he would have taken me into society, and people would have talked. It comes with the name, I'm afraid.'

Such spunk from his sister! Still, she will find it difficult to be judged all the time, on her dresses, her hats, her hair, her behaviour. As difficult as Elizabeth would find it.

Oh my.

He looks at his beloved in shock, and she looks back positively mildly.

'I know, Fitzwilliam, we cannot go back to Derbyshire with all this going on. It'll be a plunge into society for us, too. I suppose we'll miss Simon even more than I thought, you may even have to hire another valet, but no-one will be able to replace his sense of style. My days as icon of fashion are numbered.'

Manners now soothingly addresses her, 'Don't worry, Mrs Darcy, no-one will steal Simon away from you for at least half a year. He has begged to take some time to get used to the idea of travelling, and to prepare for life as a young gentleman on Grand Tour.

I suppose he will be happy to assist both of you in your involuntary journey into the spotlight, as will I, of course. I'm used to being scrutinised, and in two months, public life will dry up and blow away when most families move back to the country. You'll survive two more months in town, won't you, Mrs Darcy? With Fielding's beautiful music drawing most of the attention?'

'Mr Darcy, I have a page waiting at the door to deliver a message to you. He requested to be allowed to wait for a reply.'

Johnson speaks up from right beside Darcy, startling the latter, his butler must have entered the room very quietly. Where did he come from, and why didn't he announce himself and the visitor at the entrance of the drawing-room?

Of course Darcy doesn't show his displeasure and merely observes, 'A page? Well, send him into my office then, I'll see him there.'

Manners catches his eye in a kind of ambiguous message: this concerns me, too. And, what is your butler up to?

'You want to come with me, Manners? I suppose you were expecting messengers like this one?'

'I was, frankly, they must respect you a great deal to wait this long to send them, I expected them to wait in front of your door all New Year's Day, and I guess I expected there to be more. Which is why I half and half suspected we'd find a bad review in the papers, but since that wasn't the case, I suppose they didn't want to bother you until now. I still hope there may be more.

This boy's probably from a theatre or gentlemen's club to hire your young protégé's services for an evening. But let's hear his message before we count our blessings.'