The people of Eastburn were quite astonished to have such illustrious personages as Lord Barlow, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy, and Miss Darcy attend their local assemblies. Colonel Fitzwilliam would attend on occasion, and he was a great favourite as he typically danced nearly every set, but only once or twice had anyone else so distinguished graced their assembly rooms. Even more astonishing was that the great gentlemen seemed prepared to please and to dance.
They arrived just before the first set began, glad that the crowds hid their entrance from many. Mr. Darcy danced the first with his sister, while each of the other gentlemen distinguished one of the ladies seldom asked to dance. Colonel Fitzwilliam asked Miss Spencer, a lady of nine-and-twenty who was yet unmarried. Lord Barlow distinguished a young lady of seventeen years named Miss Wading, who looked as if she should still be back in the schoolroom netting screens and learning her figures.
When the first set was complete, Lord Barlow took up his place with Miss Darcy while Mr. Darcy sought the hand of an unknown young lady with such eagerness that it aroused general suspicions to arise. Several of the matrons who were acquainted with the Vanstones were eager to tell the others that the young lady was called Miss Bennet, that she had been a guest of the Melbridges, and that she was visiting from Hertfordshire.
"I am sorry if my asking you has given rise to gossip," said Mr. Darcy as he and Elizabeth worked through the steps of the dance together.
"I do not mind overly much. It is very like Meryton. I can picture my mother as perhaps the lady with the auburn hair in the green dress. Yes, she looks like the leader of the small group."
"I had never noticed the similarity," said Mr. Darcy with some chagrin. "The Samuelsons are a very old family in the area. Their estate is about the size of Longbourn's but of course with sheep instead of crops."
"How many daughters?" asked Elizabeth.
"Four, and two sons."
"Like I said, very like my mother."
"Mrs. Samuelson has been… very conscious of her proximity to Brawnstead, as long as I have been acquainted with her."
"As I am sure my mother would be."
"Dear Miss Bennet," said Mr. Darcy, finally realising what was occurring, "do not feel that you have to justify anything to me, either about your family or anything else. I can hardly judge your family when mine has acted in such a way as they have."
"I do not blame you for the actions of your aunt."
"Yet I held the behaviour, the harmless behaviour, of your family against you. I was very much mistaken in my prideful opinions. Your mother, while perhaps overly enthusiastic, I cannot imagine attempting anything beyond sending her daughter on horseback in the rain."
Elizabeth was moved by Mr. Darcy's words. He articulated perfectly her own feelings about her family. Her family was at sometimes improper and even vulgar, but never would they do anything to purposefully endanger another's reputation. Elizabeth understood that Lady Melbridge and Lady Shillingford had good intentions in their scheme, but it might have gone very wrong. Even now, if anyone were to find out, she might be forced to marry Mr. Darcy, regardless of how either of them might feel about the match.
Darcy and Elizabeth spoke of lighter topics for the rest of their dance. She had received a letter from Jane earlier that day, so she summarised the contents that were fit to be shared with Mr. Darcy. He, in turn, told her about the birds' nest that Georgiana visited each day. It was the same wrens' nest that Elizabeth and the other ladies had seen, but the eggs had hatched and the small birds were gaining more feathers and improving in looks.
By the time their set had concluded, Elizabeth and Darcy were both feeling quite hopeful about their future friendship. Darcy was well pleased, for although he knew it might be some time before Elizabeth was willing to welcome anything more than friendship, he was willing to wait as long as she desired.
Elizabeth danced the next several sets with local gentlemen that Mrs. Vanstone introduced her to. Then Colonel Fitzwilliam asked her to dance and his brother took the set after. As Lord Barlow's dance was the supper set, she was pleased to find herself seated with him, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana. Georgiana was slightly put out, for she had already danced two sets each with her relations, so she would be made to sit out the rest of the evening.
"But surely you could dance with other young ladies?" asked Elizabeth, to which Colonel Fitzwilliam agreed that she could.
Georgiana had not thought of this solution and thence brightened considerably. Elizabeth declared that Georgiana would have her next free set, which would be a country dance. When supper was concluded, Georgiana found several other young ladies with whom she might dance and was very well pleased with the rest of the evening.
Darcy watched his sister and his beloved dance two sets together with great pleasure, seeing again more evidence that Elizabeth was quite possibly the best lady of his acquaintance. To show such concern that a young lady not yet out would enjoy her evening, even if it meant sacrificing dancing with eligible young men. Darcy greatly doubted that any of the ton ladies he knew would have done the same, particularly when they were not pursuing him as a husband.
Darcy was further elated when on the ride home, Georgiana related that she had invited Miss Bennet to come to Brawnstead on Monday, so she might see the wren chicks and that Miss Bennet had accepted on the condition that Mrs. Vanstone was allowed to also attend. This condition was of course speedily agreed to, and a time was set for their walk.
Elizabeth's eyes widened when she went to breakfast and saw the large bouquet of flowers being arranged on a side table by a maid. The large vase was overflowing with an array of cheerful yellow and pink tulips and ranunculi blossoms. Mrs. Vanstone stood nearby with a book in her hand.
"Yellow tulips mean friendship and gratitude. The pink tulips mean affection and good wishes. The yellow ranunculi mean happiness. The pink can mean love, sympathy, or admiration," said Mrs. Vanstone as she paged through the book looking for each bloom in its colour.
"They are from Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth, upon picking up the attached card and reading it.
"Well, technically from all three gentlemen from Brawnstead, but yes, likely primarily from Mr. Darcy," said Mrs. Vanstone with a satisfied smile. "Oh, do not look like that. It is quite the done thing to send flowers to the ladies that one dances with at an assembly. Do they not do that in Hertfordshire?"
"I-No. At least, I and my sisters have never received flowers after an assembly, but we have known all our neighbours all our life."
"You received some white and yellow roses from Mr. Finemason as well. Those are in the parlour. I think Mr. Darcy, his cousins and Mr. Finemason are the only ones that you are acquainted enough to receive flowers from."
"There are then rules beyond simply being one's dance partner, then?" asked Elizabeth.
"Of course," said Mrs. Vanstone. "One must be at your same level or above you in society and there must be a previous acquaintance. Otherwise, it would be considered quite presumptuous."
"I see," said Elizabeth as she admired the blooms. "I love tulips. I wonder how the gentlemen knew."
"I daresay they have the resources to find out. Now come and eat before the food gets cold," Mrs. Vanstone ordered.
Elizabeth smiled, certain that Mrs. Vanstone had been the source of the gentlemen's information. She did as Mrs. Vanstone bade, enjoying the delicious breakfast laid on the table.
Elizabeth was very glad to see that the gentlemen and their relations decided to attend Sunday services in Eastburn. Elizabeth did not have a resentful temper, so she greeted them all, even Lady Melbridge, with warmth. Any who observed the group as they greeted each other would have had no notion that anything had ever been amiss between them.
After services when waiting for their carriages to arrive, Lady Melbridge pulled Elizabeth to the side and apologised again for what had occurred, giving her solemn word that no such thing would again occur and explained the plan had been only to force Darcy and Elizabeth to speak, not to compromise anyone. With two doors to the library, they had planned it so there would be a warning in time and one could enter if anyone came near. Elizabeth did not quite understand how the ladies meant to manage it, but accepted her ladyship's apology. So sorrowful did Lady Melbridge appear that Elizabeth even accepted an invitation to tea after her walk with Georgiana the next day, although Elizabeth would be quite certain to never leave the room without Mrs. Vanstone or Miss Darcy to accompany her.
Elizabeth found, upon further reflection, that she was quite looking forward to the next day and its amusements. She was honest enough with herself to admit that she hoped Mr. Darcy would join them on their walk and at tea, but she had no notion if he would or if he would be otherwise occupied.
Perhaps it was knowing that the gentleman felt for her that moved her heart so. After all, it is said that no young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her. Thus, despite the other content of Mr. Darcy's reprehensible speech in the library, the knowledge of his admiration for her must be the most important information she learned. His confirmation thereafter only must heighten her feelings, if one is to believe the common order of things. Certainly, her awareness of his handsome person, therefore, could not have begun in Hertfordshire or been the basis for her original dislike of him.