~Coversations, and letter to Jane after the ball~

AN: Hi, guys! Can you believe it? I managed to update a new chapter only a couple days after my last update! I was so encouraged by you guys, so thanks a million for your help and support! I was so eager to write that I think I did quite bad on my exams, except perhaps English and Maths.(Blast Physics and Chinese Literature!!!) I know that this story has many faults, but I'll try my best to improve it. Please read and review! ~~Love from Pinery

After they had re-entered the ballroom, time went by quickly. Soon, the guests were leaving the grand house, satisfied with the gossips and dances shared.

As Elizabeth and her father waved off the last guest, the duke turned towards his daughter and asked affectionately:" So, dearest Elizabeth, this is your first official step into society, how do you like it?"

" Tolerable, I suppose. But most people are narrow-minded and ridiculous. Did you see Mr. Grunne? He is the most pompous man I have ever seen! Talking like if he owns the world, but in fact, he is just a gentleman with trade connections!"

" You do have a point there, my dear. But not all man with trade connections are laughable, Mr. Bingley seems like a good sort man with humor and jovial manners, what do you think of him?"

" He is very nice, but he is not the man for me, he would suit Jane of course since they are both so good-willed and good-tempered. That reminds me! We must invite Jane into London for the season so she may meet Mr. Bingley!"

The duke chuckled," I did not know that you were such a good matchmaker, Elizabeth! Speaking of the young men, what kind of man would you prefer?"

" Papa!" Cried Elizabeth indignantly. " Come on, Elizabeth. I'm an old man, I can't possibly interfere with your own personal life. After all, I'm your father, and I would want the best for you."

" Well then, I like men who are humourous, generally kind-hearted, well-read, dedicated, and if possible, handsome."

" Hmm... It seems that you have a long list. That kind of men is definitely hard to find, but there is one that I know of. Do you want to know who he is?" Said the duke with a twinkle in his eye.

" Oh, Papa, do stop teasing me!" " The answer is quite obvious, I thought you had found out. It's Darcy, the one who asked you to waltz."

" Papa, now you are really teasing me, how can Mr. Darcy be the one for me when he thought me an temptress and clearly not worthy of his attention?"

The duke's face turned to ash white when he heard it," He dared to say that to you? I will definitely call him out!"

After hearing that her attempt at a joke had been mistaken as a serious matter, Elizabeth setted off at once to jump to Mr. Darcy's defence." He is of course, wrong, but he apologized for his rudeness since he was not in the best of moods tonight."

" Fine, but trust me to keep a close eye on that boy." The duke said grudgingly and left abruptly to retire to his bedchambers.

Elizabeth smiled at her father's stubborness before returning to her own chambers to write a letter of invitation to Jane, her beloved friend, a friend she had always wanted as a sister.

The letter began as such:

Dearest Jane,

I'm so sincerely sorry for the delay of my letters to you. Don't worry, my dear Jane, you are still my closest friend and confidante.

I've been so busy these weeks, shopping, taking lessons and preparing for my debut ball. I was so sorry to hear that you couldn't attend the ball, and I still am. It was a wonderful night with much entertainment and crowds of people for me to observe. Of them all, two impressed me most.

One is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire. He is rumoured to have 10,000 pounds of income every year and very possibly more. He is an enigma to me, I just can't read through his mind. He is certainly very well-educated , has a sense of humour, and well-versed in society, he is also very handsome and charming when he wants to be. But most time he is taciturn and proud, looking down at people with aloofness and even distain! At the beginning of the ball, he called me an enchantress and thought me, a daughter of a duke, unworthy of his attention! Then, his attitude changed a bit, for he asked me to dance and then apologized to me. I really don't know what to make out of all of it! Do give me some suggestions for my mind is already screaming.

The other one is Mr. Charles Bingley. He is a gentleman from the north of England, well, let's say that he is a man who has just gotten rid of most of his trade connections. He is looking for an estate somewhere in the country to reside in and to become a true gentleman. He is very amiable and charming, good-humoured and kind-hearted, and he is very handsome. He is quite rich, with an income of 5,000 pounds or more every year. He is a good man hard to find in general, but he is definitely not the one for me. He is too placid-mannered for me and...passionless! But you, dear Jane, is the perfect match for him. You are both alike in temper and I believe with your stunning beauty, Mr. Bingley shall fall in love with you quite easily.

Therefore, I'm issuing an invitation to you for you to come to London to stay with me for a few months. Your modesty will surely make you decline but I must insist upon it. Even without the benefit of seeing you happily settled as Mrs. Bingley, I will still appreciate your effort to help me through my first official season.

With love,

E.S.

After finishing the letter, Lady Elizabeth yawned and her maid, Laura, took it as a hint to help her mistress to her bed and give the letter to the servant for it to be delivered at the first light tommorrow morning.