Chapter 12: Court Presentation & Coming out Ball
The two days between her presentation at Court and her coming out ball were nerve wrecking for Elizabeth for two reasons. For one, the whole house was waiting to see if she would get the voucher for Almack's Assembly Rooms. Elizabeth knew deep down that she was the daughter of a peer now, but she was still worried about not getting the acceptance to Almack's Assembly Rooms. And second, she was plain nervous about not living up to the expectations of her family, they wanted the best for her and she was scared of failing and letting them down.
The morning of the presentation came and as Elizabeth was dressing in her Court dress with the help of her maid as Madeline came into her rooms.
Madeline held an envelope, "Lizziebeth, I have something here for you."
Elizabeth looked up from the absurdly horrible dress she was to wear at Court and gasped for breath as she asked: "Is it?! Is it the..."
Madeline handed her the envelope and she tore it open and fished out a voucher for Almack's. She breathed out a sigh of relief and whispered: "Thank god."
Just then Mary-Rose, Rachel who was visiting and their mother came in.
Rachel said, "You look lovely, Lizzie."
Lizzie looked at her eldest sister and said, "You came! Oh Rachel, I am so glad!" she embraced her sister.
Mary-Rose smiled and said, "Stand straight, head up and then make your curtsy."
Which she did without fault - it was something they had practiced for days on end.
"Well done, dear." The Countess praised from the door, where she was waiting.
Mary-Rose then suddenly saw the envelope in her youngest sister's hand and asked, "Is that...?"
Elizabeth nodded, and said "Yes, it is my voucher for Almack's."
Then she was embraced from four different sides, by her sisters, mother and Madeline.
After a quick breakfast, they were off to Carlton House, where William was waiting; he was dressed in his Court attire, and looked very regal. Elizabeth felt herself blush and felt like she had butterflies in her stomach.
He smiled as the family arrived in two separate carriages.
Elizabeth almost forgot herself when she saw her brother at William's side.
"Surprise, sis." Rich said with a wonderfully laughing smile.
"Oh Rich! Oh William, thank you!" she said happy that she would have practically everybody she cared about here with her. She had thought Richard would have to remain at his military base for the entire day, but here he was!
After they had waited in an attaché room for nearly two hours, with another forty debutantes; her name was finally called. "Lady Elizabeth Fitzwilliam."
The family had agreed that it should be Richard who would go with her to the throne room.
They walked into the room, and Elizabeth saw the Prince Regent sitting on an extraordinary throne, made purely of gold and finished with a crown on the back, the last few feet she walked alone; she straightened as she stood in front of the Prince Regent; she lifted her head just a bit and then made her curtsey and greeted him with: "Your Royal Highness."
He acknowledged her with a nod. As she rose from her curtsey, carefully as not to drop the ostrich feathers which she had in her hair and not trip over her train, she backed away from the throne, until she made it to where Richard was waiting for her and then out the door where she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well done, Lizzie." Richard praised; he had never been prouder of his young sister. They made it to the rest of the family, who were conversing with other titled families. They all asked how it went.
"She was perfect. I have never been prouder of our sister." Richard said with a smile which spoke of pride and affection.
Elizabeth said, "I have never been more terrified! I was so scared of doing something wrong."
William said, "I knew you could do it. Well done, Elizabeth." He smiled one of his dimpled smiles which made her feel happy beyond compare. She could see in his eyes that he was extremely proud of her and that he was happy at her achievement.
She was embraced by her sister's and her mother and Max said, "Well done, sis."
And her father said with a fond smile, "A true lady indeed. Well done, dear girl." She felt content and safe with her family.
Two hours later, they were back in their home and able to change out of their court clothing.
Madeline came in and asked: "How did it go, Lizziebeth?"
"Very well apparently – everybody says so. I was terrified but I managed to curtsey."
Madeline smiled and said, "I knew you could do it, Lizziebeth."
Elizabeth changed the subject as she said: "You are getting married next week; are you and Edward ready?"
Elizabeth had adopted Edward Gardiner as an uncle figure, shortly after she had met him.
"Yes, we are both ready. We have been at our house, while Mr. Chippendale was making the last changes. It is a lovely house; I cannot wait to make it ours. We have waited so long."
"Almost 8 years." Elizabeth replied.
"Yes, but I have enjoyed being with you, dearest. Especially since you have been with a proper family; seeing you blossom into a fine woman, seeing a young man fall in love with the girl I see as my own, is a pleasure to witness." Madeline said, as she held Elizabeth close to her in an embrace.
Elizabeth smiled at her governess, the woman she had been raised by for most of her childhood and who made it bearable in her horrible childhood home.
"I am so happy to have had you with me, - all these years, Maddie." Elizabeth said, as she returned the embrace from the woman she silently thought of as her second mother.
May 1811
The day of the coming out ball saw the Fitzwilliam family up quite early. Elizabeth had risen at dawn and sat down with her diary; It is the day of my coming out ball, and I hope nothing will ruin this evening! Mama has worked so hard to make it perfect, but I am worried and nervous… what if nobody dances with me and I am a failure? Well, I know I will dance once with William, once with Father, Richard and Maxwell, and maybe even Jonathan (Rachel's husband, well that is if he can take his eyes away from her for more than a minute) and perhaps Daniel after he has danced with Mary-Rose. William makes me blush and I feel as if I have butterflies in my stomach. I think I am in love with him.
Just then Madeline came in, and said: "Time to face the day, Lizziebeth. May I suggest wearing your new riding habit?"
Soon she was dressed and on the way out on a small riding trip around Hyde Park with Max, Lady Marina Campbell and Madeline, where they were met by Edward– it was for taking her mind off the ball that evening.
As they returned, everybody went to their chambers to change into ball clothing.
Elizabeth stood in front of her mirror, with her maid Melanie just putting the finishing touches to her hair. Her new ball gown was a deep blue colour, the colour of William's eyes she noted, as she wanted to wear the necklace he had gifted her at Christmas. "Melanie, please, the necklace from my cousin William."
"Yes, of course, Lady Elizabeth." And put the necklace around her neck. The necklace was made of pure gold but with deep blue sapphires set in tiny diamond circles.
"Now you are ready, Lady Elizabeth. Master Darcy will not be able to take his eyes off you tonight."
Elizabeth was friends with her maid as she had learned from Rosings that playing high and mighty got you nowhere but disloyalty between you and your staff. Melanie gave her the white ball gloves and she went downstairs where her family was waiting, all in their finest evening attire.
Soon the guests began to arrive and Elizabeth was put through her paces, for not showing any feelings on her face.
Her mother, Constance Matlock stood by her side as she was presented to their guests, not that she liked the prolonged looks her youngest daughter got from certain gentlemen. Madeline stood slightly behind Elizabeth - she had warned her, that some men would only talk to her because of family, money and connections; she had to be careful - but when she saw young Darcy, she whispered: "Elizabeth, your cousin have arrived."
Elizabeth's face lit up at the sight of William and only remained in her position because her brother's hand lay on her shoulder. William bowed to the family and then made it to Elizabeth.
"Lady Elizabeth, you look very beautiful tonight."
Elizabeth made a slight curtsy, and said: "Mr. Darcy, thank you for coming and thank you for such a lovely compliment."
When finally all the guests had arrived, all the Fitzwilliam family stood waiting to greet the rest of the arriving guests.
When all the guests had arrived, the Fitzwilliam family went into the ball room, and soon after Mary-Rose was asked to dance with Lord Daniel, and Rachel with her husband, Viscount, future Duke Jonathan Blake, while Max was asking Lady Marina Campbell.
Richard came over, bowed and asked: "Lizzie, I have come to claim my dance with you."
"Indeed you have, brother." and walked out onto the dance floor and began dancing.
"So how are you enjoying your first private ball, sister?"
"A bit overwhelming to be honest, brother."
"You handle it very well, Lizzie. I know that William has asked for your supper set and I approve, sister."
They parted in the dance, when they came back, "You look radiant, and you already have several admirers, one in particular who I actually approve of."
Elizabeth smiled and said: "Rich, might I guess you are referring to Cousin William?"
Richard's grin made it clear that it was indeed their Cousin William, he approved of.
Elizabeth blushed a little, "Well, I...William and I, we..." she did not finish her sentence as she had to think for a moment for the proper words, but then said: "I will not deny that I think very highly of William, that I greatly esteem him and I care for him."
After the set with Richard, Max came and claimed a dance with her. Then their mother introduced her to a few people; including Lord Derek Alcott and his sister Sophie. Elizabeth also danced with Lord Alcott, who was very friendly and reminded her of, William and Max.
Between sets, introductions and small talk, Elizabeth found Madeline just making her way back to her side with her shawl over her arm, who asked: "Are you well, Lizziebeth?"
"Yes, I am fine, Maddie, just needed some peace and quiet; it is a little overwhelming that this is all for me. I have to be myself, but still keep my position, still keep to propriety... oh, this is a mess...I almost wish I did not need to be here at all!"
"I know you do, but you have to. Since you belong to a family where it is expected." Madeline replied calmly.
"I know." Elizabeth sighed and heard the music begin again, "I better get back, this is the supper set and William is waiting for me." and hurried towards the ball room.
When she found William, he asked: "Beth, where have you been?"
"Why? Jealous, William?" she asked slightly teasingly.
"Beth!" he groaned silently,
"Do not worry William. I was on the balcony with Madeline." and she could see he visibly relaxed. And they began to dance.
"Beth, you have become quite a tease these..." they parted to dance a series of different steps with other partners and when they got back together, William continued: "... these past few months."
"And you have become quite fond of our debates, Mr. Darcy." She replied with a clearly amused look in her eyes, to which he chuckled.
"Lady Elizabeth, you are becoming quite a..." they moved away from each other and to dance a series of steps with other partners in the set, when they danced together again, he continued, "... a beautiful lady." She blushed hotly.
"Thank you," as they danced up the set, she whispered: "Will"
'How did she know how to do that?!' he thought; he was extremely attracted to her, to her laugh, her intelligence, her dancing eyes, her golden heart, her wit and newly acquired teasing of him. Elizabeth looked at him and just then the light caught the necklace she wore and a smile spread on his handsome face, as he recognised his gift around her slender neck.
After the dance, as they walked together for supper, William said so only she could hear it: "You know Beth; I think I dislike seeing you dancing with other men."
She blushed, as she replied, "Well, it cannot be helped Will. I have to dance with other partners – otherwise, I shall be deemed a failure and I shall not bring shame to mother and father."
William looked at her, as he had not expected her to be so passionate about living up to her family's expectations, "You are a dutiful daughter, Beth."
He helped her into a chair, and sat down beside her. During supper, they talked of Pemberley and Matlock Lake House and of the coming season – soon after they were involved in a talk with Richard, Max, Lady Marina and Lord Campbell about possible ways of managing an estate – and how to improve it.
As the night progressed into the hour of midnight, it was clear to see, for William at least, that Elizabeth despised her current dance partner. When the music ended, Elizabeth gave a strained smile, curtsied and left the room for the library – to find some peace and quiet, if she were lucky. When she made it to the sofa, she slipped off her shoes - her last partner had had two left feet and now she could hardly walk, because her previous partner was clumsy, and overall a bad dancer.
The only good things that evening had been her dances with Lord Alcott, Richard, Max and William and having supper with William. She yet again agreed with herself; that he was the sort of man who would suit her best in terms of heart and mind and possibly even in marriage – well, when that time came.
Five minutes after Elizabeth disappeared from the room, Madeline made her way over to Mr. Darcy from the other side of the dance floor and asked: "Mr. Darcy have you seen Lady Elizabeth?"
William replied as his eyes never left the door to the library: "The library, Miss Moore."
She nodded and disappeared in that direction.
In the library, Elizabeth leaned back on the sofa as she relaxed fully. When she heard Maddie's voice call her, she replied "I am here, Maddie."
Madeline came over and asked: "Are you all right, dear?"
"Yes, I am fine, just my last dance partner had two left feet." Elizabeth replied as she was sitting down on a sofa with her feet up. "I would like a few minutes more to recuperate, Maddie... my feet need to breathe a little."
"You stay here, and I will get you a glass of punch." Madeline said with a fond smile at her charge. During the rest of the night, until around two in the morning, Elizabeth danced with her father, Max, Richard and her brothers-in-law Jonathan and Daniel, at just around two in the morning she retired as the last guest left.
In the study of Earl Patrick Fitzwilliam, the men of the family gathered to discuss the evening.
The Earl said: "Elizabeth did well and all her partners were suitable in a society point of view; but as her father, I would never allow a third of them closer to her than a dance."
Maxwell said with a proud smile as he reclined in a chair with a brandy in his hand: "Elizabeth's manners were perfect, and she only faltered once with me, to which she immediately apologised."
William said simply: "She was a perfect lady, truly worthy of the title."
At his comment all the men laughed and snorted.
Richard asked: "Can you just acknowledge that you are in love with my sister, Darce?"
William, who had just taken a sip of port, nearly choked on it and was turned the colour of a tomato, as they all laughed at him.
AU: Anything which is recognised doesn't belong to me, but to the rightful owners! Borrowed quote from P&P and S&S