Half chapter
PPP
Within a few days of arriving in Hertfordshire, Lord Sebastian received several invitations from the leading families of Meryton and the surrounding area, including dinners, teas, and even a ball. Since he was sociable by nature, and the Darcys were also invited to most of the parties, he gladly accepted most of the invitations. These parties were excellent opportunities to get to know Georgiana better.
The first of the parties he attended was at Netherfield Park. It was a dinner with the same people as the one he hosted at his house a few days before. He had the dubious pleasure of sitting next to Caroline Bingley, and sadly far from Georgiana and the lovely Miss Bennet.
Although the dinner was delicious, consisting of seven courses and three desserts, it was long and tedious. With regret, he noted that at the other head of the table, Darcy, Georgiana, and Miss Bennet were conversing animatedly and often laughing at something amusing Miss Bennet said to them... while he had to feign interest in the insipid and unstimulating conversation and comments from Miss Bingley. Unfortunately, the lady constantly praised everything he said, agree with everything he said and did, and even praised the way he chewed his food. The lady was intolerable!
It was only after a brief separation of the sexes that when he returned to the drawing room, he was able to speak for the first time that night with Georgiana. She was in animated conversation with Miss. Bennet…
"...I don't believe you, Lizzy, please tell me the truth!" exclaimed Georgiana.
Lizzy smiled, "I am not lying to you, you can ask Mary, she was with me when I did it, and she never lies"
"Poor cat!" Georgiana exclaimed, "but I don't understand why you wanted to paint the cat black if your cat was white and you told me it was a beautiful cat and it was also your favorite cat. It doesn't make sense!"
Lizzy laughed, "Well, I was only seven years old, and a few days before I read a fairy tale about a witch and a magical cat. The cat was black and I thought that black cats had magical powers... I wanted to have a magical cat, and I decided to paint my cat…"
At that moment Lord Sebastian accompanied by Darcy interrupted the amusing conversation.
"Do you have a magical cat? I want to have one too! Where do you get them?"
Georgiana and Lizzy laughed heartily at Lord Sebastian's comment and Darcy smiled slightly. Miss Bingley, who was conversing with Mary at the time, looked at Lord Sebastian and Darcy with a frown, and immediately suggested they go to the music room to play cards.
Lord Sebastian offered his arm to Georgiana, and Darcy to Lizzy; the four of them declined the invitation to play cards and continued talking animatedly. The Bartons and Bingley agreed to play cards, and Miss Bingley had to play to make four.
An hour later the guests left and a very disappointed Caroline retired to her room. The night had not been what she expected; she didn't like the attention Lord Sebastian paid to Georgiana and the attention Darcy paid to Miss Bennet. She had to change her strategy to get Darcy to pay attention to her, but she didn't know what else she could do. She didn't want to give up because she was convinced that she was in love with Darcy.
The next day Sir William was hosting a dinner party at Lucas Lodge in honor of Lord Sebastian. Despite Mr. Collins' vehement protests, Sir William invited the Bartons – they were Lord Sebastian's cousins - and Elizabeth Bennet, but he refrained from inviting the Stevenses, and Kitty and Lydia...
