The Upcoming ball
Author's Notes: Thank you everyone for your reviews, l was very encouraged by them, l will try to update as soon as l can but l have some major tests like TOEFL to study, and with the mass of school work, l don't know when will l be able to update.
On the second morning, London is, strange enough, blessed with rare sunshine. When lady Elizabeth peeked her head out of the window, she sighed. Another odious day to stay inside and study French, she longs to go outside and bask in the radiant sunshine, but her governess was very adamant in insisting on her French lesson. It's unfair, lady Elizabeth thought, l wish l could go back to my free childhood and play in the countryside as much as l want with Jane and Kitty! Jane, she mused, l wonder how is she, l do miss her so. Lost in her own musings, she was startled when she realized she was no longer alone, her governess had come to start her French lesson, lady Elizabeth sighed again for the second time that morning, and sat down facing the governess.
The following days before the ball was gone quickly for Elizabeth with all the dress-fitting, shopping, paying calls with her father, and receiving etiquette and dacing lessons from her masters. She barely had any time to direct thoughts of hers to Jane and Hertfordshire. And so with all the busy nothings*, the days before the ball were gone quickly.
* Busy nothings: Quote from Jane Austen's own sayings. " Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings".
As for Fitzwilliam Darcy, the days are much more comfortably spent with riding, fencing and going to the opera to watch Shakesperean plays with his sister, Georgiana. Darcy was very much amused when he heard several lovestruck men reiterate what a remarkable beauty Lady Elizabeth Spencer was. He didn't believe it himself, thinking it's just another pretty coquettish female trying to capture the hearts of the opposite sex.
Wrong he was, determined to find Elizabeth a disagreeable and repulsive female, he has formed a distorted impression of Elizabeth without even knowing her. But the truth would stand erect and he would see for himself later what a truly remarkable woman Elizabeth really is at the ball and during their later acquaintances.
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On the day of the ball, the whole ton was in an uproar. Everyone wanted to look their best on the duke's ball. All the young women were eager to see whether it is true that lady Elizabeth is a beauty, and all the young men wanted to ask her dance and charm the said lady.
The duke's townhouse fared no better. The lady's maids were all fussing over Elizabeth's ball gown and her hair. A skillful French maid had been directed to arrange an elegant French hairstyle with twists, and the duke has especially hired two additional maids to help Elizabeth bath and dress.
As for Elizabeth, she felt like a china doll being fussed over by its owners, she wanted to laugh at the absurdness and cry at her helplessness at the same time, she didn't what to do. It was a rare feeling for Elizabeth and she started to feel a panic for what will come later after the ball.
Two streets away from the Spencer townhouse, the Darcy townhouse seemed quite the opposite. Beautiful and peaceful music was flowing through the whole household. Darcy, dressed in his ball garment, stood tall behind his sister's small sitting form, looking over his sister fondly and proudly, she had become an accomplished lady during the years, and he was proud for his sister's faith in him. Last year, at Ramsgate, when Wickham tried to fool Georgiana, she immediately wrote to him and asked for his opinion. Darcy told Georgiana of Wickham's viciousness and Georgiana was wise enough to listen to him and returned to London. No feelings of his sister was damaged, though she had become even more shy and hesitant in society.
Darcy wishes he could give Georgiana a sister whom she could confide in, and whom could draw her out from her shell.
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The grandfather clock in the Spencer townhouse struck seven. And guests started entering the Spencer townhouse. Looking down on the grand staircase, Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, put one arm through the crook of her father's arm, and descended the stairs elegantly as her master has instructed. The heels clicking the stairs had drawn much of the attention of the guests. Some gasped, some stared with wide eyes, some narrowed their eyes in jealousy. But one opinion is formed commonly: Lady Elizabeth will surely be the toast of the town with her striking beauty!
Elizabeth inwardly laughed at this, she knew she was quite beautiful, but never had she imagined people's reactions like this. She stepped lightly, trying hard to avoid the fish-eyed guests and even harder not to laugh.
Darcy is among the first guests to arrive. he had expected nothing but a meaningless evening trying to avoid fortune hunters. But when lady Elizabeth descended, he was astounded, not that she was the most beautiful lady he has ever seen, but the elgance and poise she carried around herself and the graceful steps she made. Her countenance was fair, but with her sparkling eyes and a hint of a smile, she was the very picture of perfection in Darcy's eyes. If not for his strong self-control, Darcy feared he might be in some danger.