Longbourn
November 25th, 1811
"With the Netherfield Ball soon approaching I feel it is my duty to secure a set with all my fair cousins," Mr. Collins announced to the room. He then turned to Elizabeth. "But you, my dear Cousin Elizabeth, have been my special companion these past few days and I feel it would be remiss if I did not secure the first two dances."
"I will," replied Elizabeth, who was at her wit's end and wanted nothing more than to be rid of her aggravating cousin, after being stuck indoors with him during the past four days of rain. If dancing two dances with him at the start of the ball would keep her away from him for the remainder of the night she was all too willing.
"If I may be so bold, I have the intention of remaining close to you tomorrow throughout the night," Mr. Collins said
Elizabeth sighed, while Lydia giggled at her cousin's misfortune.
"La! With Mr. Collins by your side all night, I am sure I can keep Mr. Wickham thoroughly entertained," Lydia said to her cousin
"Ball? Lydia, you cannot go to the ball; you are not out yet," Jane replied
"La! My mother said Uncle Bennet agreed that I could be out in society and attend the ball!" Lydia responded.
Elizabeth was exasperated with her father and his new lax approach to Lydia and her behaviour, so she quit the room and stormed off to her father's study.
Jane looked at Lydia in surprise at her declaration.
Lydia smiled widely and then responded to her own statement after she failed to get a reaction out of Lizzy. "Well, I am not sure how much entertainment I could be to Mr. Wickham, when I am dancing the supper set with Mr. Bingley."
Jane stared in disbelief. Bingley had asked her for two dances, one of which was the first set of the ball, during their walk home from Meryton a se'ennight ago. When did he ask Lydia for the supper set? And more importantly, why? Jane wondered to herself.
Kitty moaned as she entered the room with Mary following. "I do not like the pianoforte, Mary, I do not understand why Mrs. Govern and you insist that I learn."
Mary replied, "It is an accomplishment in society, and you need more than your embroidery proficiency to be an accomplished lady."
Kitty sulked. "Fine. We may try again tomorrow."
"What did we miss?" Mary asked, looking around the room.
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Meanwhile, at Mr. Bennett's study, Lizzy barged in without knocking. Mr. Bennet looked up and asked, "Lizzy, what troubles you enough to stomp about in this manner?"
"You allowed Lydia out into society. What happened to helping her improve and learn to be a lady?"
"You can only teach those who are willing to learn," Mr. Bennet replied
"So, you will allow Lydia to embarrass us all. Possibly, ruin Jane's happiness, because what man wants to marry into such a family?" Lizzy argued
"Elizabeth, you will understand when you have children of your own," Bennet said, dismissing his second-eldest daughter.
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Bingley sat in his study, pondering his past interactions with the eldest Miss Bennet, and comparing this to the actions of the youngest Bennett. One was quite direct with her attentions and the other was the picture of propriety. He cared for the eldest, most proper, Miss Bennet, but did she feel the same? What sister would try and gain the affections of a man her sister cared for? He must admit that he did enjoy the youngest Bennett's attentions and lively demeanour, but he could never marry her. His thoughts were then interrupted by his sister.
"Brother, we must have a chat about your fling with the Bennet girl. I mean she is beautiful, sure, but there are just as beautiful women in town who have connections."
"Caroline, enough!" he shouted at his older sister.
Sensing she had touched a nerve, she proceeded to say, "I did not want to mention it, but I am sure that she does not return your affections. I just wanted to protect you brother, without injuring your pride by mentioning her lack of affection, but you refuse to see otherwise."
Mr. Bingley froze, and then began pacing the room. Had it always been so obvious? NO! He had not been wrong. She did return his affections, and he would prove it! He turned to his sister and said, " You are very wrong, and I will show you tomorrow night!"
Caroline turned to walk away and said, "I hope so, brother," smiling as she made her exit
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Netherfield
November 26th, 1811
The day of the ball arrived and all its chaos with it. The Bennet/Bennett clan was hurriedly trying to get ready for the ball. The sisters gathered in Jane's room to prepare. Jane was a vision in her pink gown, while Lizzy wore white, Mary was in green and Kitty wore yellow. The girls were all ready and waiting for their Aunt and Cousin.
Mr. Collins, who was anxiously pacing back and forth, said, "I shall go check on the ladies and remind them of the virtue of being timely."
Mr. Bennet said to Mr. Collins, "You cannot rush woman when they are preparing for a ball."
Mr. Collins did not heed Mr. Bennet's advice and travelled up the stairs.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour more, Mr. Bennet, who was tired of waiting, gathered the girls into the carriage. Before departing, he turned to Mr. Hill and said, "I will send the carriage to return for my sister, niece and cousin. They will ride together and must wait until it returns to leave. If they try to use another carriage, tell them there are no horses to spare."
Collins had been waiting twenty minutes for an audience, and once he was allowed in, he had not been able to expedite his cousin's preparations for the ball and was rushed out of the vicinity. The carriage had pulled off and was out of the driveway and down the lane when Mr. Collins returned downstairs and noticed that Mr. Bennet and his daughters were missing. I should check the garden, Mr. Collins thought to himself. He went out to the garden and there was no one out there. Maybe they are all in Mr. Bennet's study. Collins was knocking on the study door when Mr. Hill informed him that Mr. Bennet and his daughters had already departed for Netherfield.
"They left!?" Mr. Collins cried out in disbelief. "Well, man, prepare another carriage for my immediate departure."
"That is impossible, as the horses are being used in the field now and are not available for the carriage," Hill replied
"Miss Elizabeth promised me the first two sets! I will miss them if I must wait! As future heir to Longbourn, I demand that you remove the horses from the field, so that I may use them for another carriage," Collins replied
Mr. Hill ignored his pleas and told him he would have to wait.
Collins sulked and swore to himself, once he was in charge, he would get rid of that man first!
A half-hour later, Mrs. Bennett went downstairs in a green gown that had too many feathers and Lydia rushed downstairs after, giggling in her blue gown with a neckline far too low for a 15-year-old.
"Where is everyone?" asked Lydia.
Mr. Collins told her that they had gone ahead and were sending the carriage back.
Lydia screamed.
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Meanwhile, on the way to Netherfield, the carriage was silent. Jane was lost in thought about her relationship with Bingley, while Elizabeth was still sulking about her father's decision with Lydia. Kitty and Mary were in a comfortable silence. Mr. Bennet observed each girl and settled on Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, why do you look so dreary? I thought being free of Mr. Collins would make you happy."
"I am glad to be rid of him, but I would be better if he, along with my aunt and cousin, would not attend the ball," Elizabeth replied
Mr. Bennet smirked at Lizzy. She knows what she wants and will not settle for anything less, just like her mother, he thought to himself.
They arrived at Netherfield just in time. The Bingleys were finishing the receiving line.
Mr. Bingley smiled at Jane, and Jane smiled back tensely. Bingley frowned. Miss Bingley saw this and smiled.
"Welcome to Netherfield!" Miss Bingley said cheerfully in her bright orange dress covered in feathers. Next to her was Mrs. Hurst in a putrid green dress, also covered in feathers.
Mr. Bennet spoke and thanked the Bingleys for their hospitality and for inviting his family.
Then Miss Bingley noticed that the rambunctious Bennet's were missing and inquired after them. "Where is the rest of your family?"
Lizzy replied, "Lydia had to fix her dress with the help of Mrs. Bennett, and Mr. Collins is escorting them. They shall be here soon."
"Oh good. I know how distressed they would be if they missed the best ball Meryton has ever seen," Miss Bingley replied with a sigh of relief.
"Yes, I dare say that would be the end of the world for them, for Lydia dearly loves a ball," Elizabeth responded, glaring in her father's direction.
While on the other end, Mr. Bingley complimented Jane's appearance. Jane thanked him but was still distracted by his relationship with Lydia. Bingley noticed her distance and thought about his sister's comments. She smiled at Mr. Bingley, a false smile, and asked him, "Are you ready for our dance, sir?"
Bingley looked at her in surprise and agreed eagerly.
Just then the music began, and the couple walked off towards the dance floor.
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Darcy felt her presence in the ballroom before he saw her. When his eyes finally found her, she was standing next to Miss Lucas talking. He was not attending to his dance partner, Mrs. Hurst, but she was used to it. Miss Lucas looked in his direction and he turned his attention to the other couples dancing. He looked back at Elizabeth and she was watching her sister dance with Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth was beautiful in her white dress, with white pearls in her hair.
Across the room, Elizabeth was talking with Charlotte about her dilemma with asking Mr. Darcy for his side of the story again.
Charlotte said to Elizabeth, "Mr. Darcy, is a gentleman, and so far, you have no reason not to trust him. You need to ask him for his side of the story before you make any hasty decisions, Eliza."
"I want to, but I am not sure I will have an opportunity," replied Elizabeth.
Charlotte looked around and saw Mr. Darcy staring in their direction even as he was dancing with Mrs. Hurst, and said, "I am quite sure an opportunity will present itself."
Charlotte turned to look at Elizabeth, who was focusing on Jane dancing with Bingley. Charlotte was observing the couple and said to Lizzy, "You might want to tell Jane to show more affection than what she feels. You do not want Mr. Bingley to doubt her affection."
Lizzy turned to Charlotte and replied, "Anyone who cannot see Jane is in love is a fool."
"We are all fools in love, and he does not know Jane as we do, and might not realize her way of showing affection."
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At Longbourn, Mrs. Bennett, Lydia and Mr. Collins were sitting in the drawing room waiting for the carriage to return. The sound of the carriage coming down the driveway caused Lydia to hop out of her seat and dash towards the door. Unfortunately, Mr. Collins, who was also eagerly awaiting the carriage, rushed towards the door at that same moment. Mr. Collins, being the slower of the two, was caught behind Lydia, where he stepped on her gown and caused the stitching to tear.
Lydia yelped. "Mr. Collins, you idiot!"
Mr. Collins looked down. "Oh, dear Cousin Lydia, young ladies should not rush to exit a room."
Mrs. Bennett looked at the tear in the dress and deemed it could be fixed in a half hour with the help of a maid and ordered that the carriage wait until Lydia's dress had been fixed.
Mr. Collins opened his mouth to object, but Mrs. Bennett glared at him and he shut his mouth.
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Jane was enjoying her dance with Bingley immensely, but was still agitated. Mr. Bingley was quite the gentleman. He was amiable, funny and quite handsome. According to all the matrons here, Bingley was a good catch. As she looked around the ballroom, she could see many women wished to be in her place.
"Miss Bennet, you look quite distracted. May I be of some service?"
"No, Mr. Bingley, I was merely taking in the splendour of the ball. I did not get a chance to before our dance," Jane replied half-heartedly.
"I hope everything is to your satisfaction," Bingley replied, concerned.
"I assure you, it is," Jane retorted, putting on a fake smile, and changed the subject as the couple continued to dance.
When their dance ended, Bingley escorted Jane to Mary and Kitty. Lizzy and Charlotte joined them shortly after. They were soon joined by Charlotte's brother John Lucas.
He requested a set with each of the ladies: Jane's second, Mary's third, Lizzy's fourth and the supper set, and Kitty's sixth.
Not to be outdone, Bingley did the same. He already was dancing the third with Jane, he requested Lizzy's sixth, Mary's seventh and Kitty's fifth.
Bingley then left the sisters to go get Mrs. Hurst for the second set. John escorted Jane to the dance floor for the next set. Lizzy scanned the ballroom and was relieved that Mr. Collins still had not shown up yet. She hoped that he missed his two reserved sets and that her dance card would be full by the time he got here. She only had two dances left open: the third and the last.
Mary and Kitty had been collected by their partners for the next dance, and Lizzy and Charlotte were once again alone, until Lizzy felt a presence behind her. She turned around to be face-to-face with Mr. Darcy. She had hoped she would be more composed when she ran into him - as fate would have it, she was anything but.
"Mr. Darcy." She greeted and curtseyed
"Miss Elizabeth," he responded and bowed. "May I have the next dance?"
"You may," she replied
Just as quickly as their conversation had started, it was over. He bowed to her and went to do his duty of dancing with Miss Bingley.
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Jane and Mr. Lucas headed towards the couples to line up for their dance, when John turned to Jane and inquired, "Why do you look so dreary, dear Jane?" John was trying to get a rise out of the serene Bennet sister.
Jane looked at him in humour and defiance and replied, "We are not children anymore, Mr. Lucas, and you presume too much by calling me my given name."
"Come now, Miss Bennet, what is bothering you?" John asked with humour, after getting what was as close to a set-down as you will get from the eldest Bennet.
Jane looked up to John, with familial affection, and then over to the Bingley siblings, who were focused on the dance. John followed her eyes.
"Trouble in paradise?" John asked
"Just doubt of lasting affection," Jane replied
"Well, you can only control your actions, not others. The best you can do is declare yourself and then let fate happen," John said in a low voice, so the other couples wouldn't hear him.
"Declare myself?" Jane whispered in shock.
"Yes. It could all be that simple," John replied
Jane laughed, a real laugh for the first time in a week, and all attention turned to her and John.
Bingley glared at the couple in anger.
Miss Bingley saw her brother's reaction and beamed with glee. Her brother's jealousy gave her an idea on how to be rid of the horrid Bennet family once and for all.
