Chapter Twenty-Eight
"I have seen how well you dance, so you must be very fond of the activity," Elizabeth continued.
Darcy could not help but laugh. "Indeed, madam—when I am particularly acquainted with my partner, dancing is very agreeable," he replied.
As soon as the dance began, he found that his attention was solely on Elizabeth. The serenity of her countenance, the gracefulness of her movements… Dancing with Elizabeth felt so natural, and for a time it was as though they were the only two people in the room. Was this what being in love was like—to be so captivated by one person that you forgot everyone else existed?
"I believe we must have some conversation, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said suddenly.
Darcy blinked and looked to find her wearing the almost-smirk she favored when she thought herself being clever. "Must we?" he rejoined.
"Oh yes, indeed. It would seem very odd for me to engage all but one of my partners in conversation while we danced, you know."
He smiled. "In that case, I should be happy to oblige you. Only tell me what it is you most wish to hear."
Elizabeth laughed. "I suppose that reply will do for present, sir," said she. "Though, if next I say something about the dance, then you must reply with some remark about the room or the number of couples in it."
Darcy grinned. "I might also tell you that I believe private balls much pleasanter than public ones," said he. "At a private ball, one is more likely to know everyone present—or nearly so—and may then be at his ease, for then he does not have to perform for strangers."
Elizabeth nodded. "This much is true. I know that there are some who have not the means of conversing easily with those they have not met before, which one is more likely to encounter at a public ball."
"Philip and Theodore talk too much," Darcy grumbled.
She smiled. "They were only surprised, that night at the theatre, to see you talk so much."
He suppressed a sigh. "They think me shy."
"Even if you are, sir, it is not a failing. Your sister is very shy in large company, and you do not hold it against her."
"Certainly not," Darcy agreed. "But at the same time, Georgiana must be encouraged to overcome her shyness if she is to succeed in society."
Elizabeth smiled again. "So, sir, must you; you must do better together, or you will both be thought proud and conceited—and I daresay you would not wish it, at least for your dear sister. Of course, with a brother so concerned for her welfare, I am sure she will do better."
A moment of silence passed as Darcy gathered his thoughts. "I do not know that altering my own manner will make much difference in others' perception of me," he said. "And I rather think a sister would be a better example for Georgiana than myself."
Elizabeth's surprise at the boldness of his statement was evident in the widening of her eyes and the soft blush that filled her cheeks. She cleared her throat delicately before replying, "Perhaps you are right, sir. But then, you must take care to find yourself a lively bride in order to counteract your sister's shyness."
She tilted her head and looked up at him with the same half-smirk that she had worn moments ago. Elizabeth seemed to derive a great deal of pleasure from teasing him, and he had very quickly understood that it was but one of the ways she expressed affection. Truth be told, Darcy could not say he disliked being teased—by her, at any rate.
His cousins' form of teasing, on the other hand, brought him no pleasure at all.
"Do you think, Mr. Darcy, that someone with a shy personality and another with an outgoing personality can be happy together—lastingly happy? I must confess that I rather enjoy balls and parties even if I do not know every person in attendance… though I will own that I also esteem a small party of family or intimate friends."
"It is absolutely possible for two such persons to be happy together," Darcy replied. "Consider, for an example, Lord Rowarth and his lady. He is outgoing, she is soft-spoken. Yet they make each other extraordinarily happy even after eight years."
The subtle emphasis he had placed on the last words enticed Elizabeth to smile. "Yes, I understand that they are very, very happy. And the colonel's match is much the same, now I think on it—he is rather gregarious, and his lady serene."
Darcy nodded. "Indeed. I have often thought that it must be a Fitzwilliam trait to be lively and a Darcy trait to be placid, for my mother was much like her nephews and I have been told many a time that I take after my father."
"And that is nothing to be ashamed of. I have been told much the same, that I am a good deal like my father—in wit and humor, that is. Not in character," she added quickly.
They continued back and forth in this manner throughout the set, trading teasing jibes and serious reflections. Darcy found he could easily imagine spending many a night engaging in such discourse, and when she leaned into him ever so slightly as they walked into supper together, his chest began to swell with emotion when he realized that his heart was truly lost to her.
He would never desire another woman for the rest of his days.
-…-
Elizabeth climbed into her bed about half past four in the morning feeling more content than ever she had. Such an evening! The dancing, the supper, the company… She could not help thinking how very envious Kitty and Lydia would be to have missed so grand a party—they had already expressed their discontent that she and Jane had been invited to a ball they could not also attend in a letter received on Thursday.
Surprise effused her when, just as she was feeling quite cozy, a soft knock sounded at her door. As she rose up on her elbows, Jane stepped quietly inside her room.
"Forgive me disturbing you, Lizzy," said Jane, "but I cannot seem to rest."
Elizabeth smiled, then scooted herself closer to the edge of the bed before patting the space next to her. "Then come and join me, for I am not entirely ready to sleep either."
Jane hurried around the bed and climbed in on the other side; they rolled to face each other and sighed, then giggled.
"Oh Lizzy, what a night we've had," said Jane. "So many new acquaintances for both of us!"
"Indeed, though I do not know how often we shall see them, given we are to go home in three weeks," Elizabeth reminded her.
"True enough, but surely we can enjoy their company while we are still here. Lord Larraby's sister Mrs. Hemsworth was very kind and amiable. And Philip's sisters, of course, as well as Lady Amelia and Miss de Bourgh."
Jane then groaned softly and rolled onto her back. "Oh, Lizzy… Am I wrong to feel vexation along with my happiness? For all our courtesy to wait and allow his sisters their due, and the countess made a point of announcing the engagement of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Amelia at supper!"
Elizabeth mirrored her sister and frowned. "Yes. Rather proud of herself, she was, to share with the company that her son was to marry the future Duchess of Mildenhall. Though as Darcy says, the marriage will not make his cousin a duke when she is elevated, nor will she even be a duchess if her father should get it into his head to marry again to a woman young enough to bear him children."
"But they will still have her fortune, will they not, if Lady Amelia were to be supplanted by a son after all these years? Surely that will be quite enough for them to live on," Jane observed.
"Oh yes—Darcy told me her fortune is sixty thousand, and that when they are married the colonel will inherit twenty thousand. Combined and invested in the five percents, they will have four thousand a year," said Elizabeth.
"Speaking of yearly income, Lizzy," Jane cried softly, rolling back onto her side as she spoke. "Did I ever tell you Philip's?"
Elizabeth rolled again as well and propped her head up with her right hand. "Come to think of it, I don't believe you ever did—but then I would expect no less of your discretion."
The low light of the fire across the room could not hide Jane's smile. "Dearest Lizzy, the Rowarth estate commands twelve thousand a year! I cannot even imagine how Philip manages so much."
"Mr. Darcy's income is very close to that amount—Pemberley brings a clear ten thousand per annum, so I was told," Elizabeth replied, then was glad her sister could not see the flush that crept up her neck. "I… I confess that I found myself wondering just how much pin money the mistress of such an estate would be given by her husband."
"And I shall confess that I have sometimes wondered how much Philip will give to me when we are married," Jane told her.
"It is certain to be far more than either of us have seen in our lifetime," Elizabeth mused.
"I believe the amount is written into the marriage articles," said Jane, "but Philip said he will not show them to me until Papa has approved them. He was to receive a copy to review with our Uncle Phillips today—well, yesterday."
Elizabeth sighed and reached for her sister's hand. "Dear Jane… I do not doubt that you will be a very happy woman in your married life," she began. "You already love your darling Philip so very much you are sure to enjoy doing your wifely duty to provide him an heir."
"Lizzy!"
"You are so beautiful, graceful, elegant, and so well-mannered," Elizabeth went on, "that other women of the ton will want to emulate you. And you will be a magnificent Viscountess Rowarth, donating so much money to charities and clothing to the poor, that you will shame the rest of the nobility into giving more than they already do."
Jane laughed, then she sighed softly. "Oh Lizzy… Just think that we will be bringing such pleasure to all our dear family."
Elizabeth grinned. "I still wager that Mamma will shatter something made of glass when she hears that your betrothed is a viscount."
"I daresay she is capable of it," said Jane with another laugh. "But I did not mean only myself and Philip, and I think you know that."
"Perhaps I did," Elizabeth confessed. "But I think it a little early to be expecting an offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy. We have only just begun courting, you know. He may yet decide that my impertinence is more than he wishes to put up with."
Jane reached out and playfully smacked her shoulder. "Do not be ridiculous, Lizzy! I happen to have it on good authority that he finds you intriguing and that he delights in conversing with you."
"Oh, I wonder how Mr. Darcy would like it to know that his cousin is sharing what is surely private conversation with you," Elizabeth teased.
"Do be serious, sister," Jane admonished. "I think you know perfectly well that Mr. Darcy is undeniably smitten. Are you… Have your feelings changed?"
"Not at all, Jane," Elizabeth assured her. "It's just that we came here expecting little more pleasure than a few plays and concerts, perhaps a public assembly or two, a few museum tours, and of course all the shopping our meager budgets would allow. And yet here we are, both of us on the cusp of fulfilling our mother's wildest dreams. You are soon to marry a nobleman and I am courted by his cousin. I think that I am simply overwhelmed by just how strong my feelings are—Mr. Darcy vexed me greatly when first I knew him, yet in hardly a fortnight, Jane, I have actually found myself in a way to be very much in love with him."
"Oh Lizzy, I am so happy for you!" cried Jane, reaching over to embrace her warmly.
"Just think, Jane," said Elizabeth as she drew back. "If my dearest hopes do come to pass, you shall have your wish."
"My wish?" Jane queried.
"Why yes!" Elizabeth said cheerfully. "Your wish of always having a sister near to you!"
-…-
Elizabeth and Jane did not rise from their beds until after noon. By the time they joined their aunt and uncle downstairs, the cook was serving a luncheon for them.
"Oh, wonderful," said Elizabeth as she sat to table in the breakfast parlor. "I am rather famished."
Mr. Gardiner chuckled. "I am not surprised, Lizzy," said he. "You danced every dance, and it has been a good twelve hours since you've had a proper meal."
That the ball and its surprises were the subject of their discourse as they ate was to be expected. Mr. Gardiner had spent much of the evening in the card room with the older gentlemen, though had he made certain to dance the last set of the evening with his wife. Mrs. Gardiner had spent the greater part of her evening watching her nieces enjoy the dancing and disseminating the ladies' ensembles with Georgiana Darcy. They were all of them greatly relieved when Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had at last appeared, and the Gardiners and Jane marveled at the cause for their delay when Elizabeth shared the story.
And of course, all were still amazed by the sudden announcement that was made at supper.
"I rather agree that it was… indecorous of Lord and Lady Disley to announce the Colonel's engagement to Lady Amelia at their daughters' party, in light of your concession to wait, Jane," Mrs. Gardiner said. "But as Elizabeth says, perhaps the lady will now be more amenable to your match, since at least one of her sons will marry to advantage."
"And one of her daughters, I am certain," added Elizabeth. "Lord Larraby, whom I danced the first set with, is in love with Lady Olivia—and if I did not mistake her behavior towards him, she is equally smitten. Though the viscount confessed to me he had not admitted his attachment to her eldest brother, who is his close friend, Philip said he's been full aware for some time, and suspected his friend to admire his sister even before he admitted it to himself."
Mrs. Gardiner smiled. "Oh yes, Lizzy—a duchess for a daughter and a viscount for a son should please the countess very much indeed."
After their meal, Mr. Gardiner decided to go and spend a few hours at his business. Mrs. Gardiner went up to the nursery to spend the afternoon with her children, while Elizabeth and Jane contented themselves with books in the drawing room. In the first half hour, the housekeeper answered the door twice to flower deliveries. The first was for Jane from Mr. Hiddleston, the second for Elizabeth from Lord Larraby.
"At least this viscount only means to thank me for my good advice," Elizabeth mused as read the card included, which simply read, Thank you. Viscount Larraby.
Jane glanced at the card from her arrangement with some small degree of distress. "Oh, I do hope that Philip does not get angry with his friend—he does not know of our understanding."
"I would not worry over it," Elizabeth assured her. "I am sure Philip will see to his friends' knowing you are betrothed soon enough."
When the bell rang a third time, the sisters looked to one another, and Elizabeth was certain Jane thought as she did: Was it another flower delivery, and if so, who were they from?"
A few moments later, a maid came into the room. "Miss Darcy to see you," she said.
Elizabeth looked to Jane with a smile. "Do show her in, Lavinia."
When Georgiana was escorted in, the sisters were surprised to see that she and her maid each carried a bouquet of flowers. Miss Darcy was grinning as she presented the bundle she held to Elizabeth and her maid handed that she carried to Jane. Elizabeth smiled and sniffed the beautiful arrangement of peonies and gardenias she held. Jane's bouquet was made up of red roses and red tulips.
"I bring you these by proxy on behalf of my brother and my cousin," Georgiana was saying, "as well as an invitation. They both have some small matters of business to see to but are hopeful you will consent to join them in promenading at Hyde Park."
Elizabeth glanced at Jane again. "I did not think they cared for the activity," she said.
Georgiana laughed. "Fitzwilliam said you knew he did not care for it, and so Philip bid me to say that such a fine day should not be wasted, and he begs you would allow him and my brother to show you both off to anyone who might be there. Theodore is to walk with Lady Amelia, and my twin cousins may be there as well. I'm also to say that Mrs. Gardiner or a maid are welcome to join you if you feel it would be proper to bring along a chaperone."
"What say you, Jane? Are you ready to be paraded about for the titled and wealthy to scrutinize?" Elizabeth asked.
Jane's initial reply was laughter. "My dear Lizzy, what would you call all that dancing last night?"
"I would call it dancing, of course," Elizabeth deadpanned. Then she laughed. "But I do see your meaning, sister. Miss Darcy, do let us speak to our aunt about it."
A servant was rung for and given direction for the flowers to be put into water and into the girls' rooms while Jane went up to the nursery to speak to Mrs. Gardiner. Her aunt consented heartily to their going to Hyde Park so long as they were not too fatigued from all their dancing the night before, but for herself elected to remain with her children. She then opined that she did not think it improper for the girls to go without a chaperone so long as they went together, as there would be other ladies among the party. Jane and Elizabeth then quickly changed into their finest walking gowns and warm outerwear and were soon in the Darcy carriage on the way to Hyde Park.