~~F~~
An Astonishing Fate
The two weeks till Easter went by very quickly and there seemed to be a suppressed excitement in the air.
The three youngest sisters and Mrs Taylor spent much of their time at Netherfield. Elizabeth was given to understand that they, together with Mr Fitzwilliam and Louisa Hurst were planning the wedding.
Since this project was a good part of their lessons, Elizabeth had no issue with the location of the lessons. She did have a minor complaint with all the giggling and whispering in which the girls indulged when they were at Longbourn. But since the girls were happy and enthusiastic about their curriculum, Elizabeth ignored the side-effects.
Instead, she made the most of the warming weather and focused on visiting the tenants and inspecting the estate for any minor damage which might have been overlooked but found everything in good order.
The routine of her duties helped settle Elizabeth's raw emotions. She had survived seeing Rosings again. Not only that, but the friendship which she had begun via correspondence with Anne had become much stronger during the visit. It had been reassuring to see that Anne had survived her mother's tyranny for a decade or more and yet she had come out of it stronger than she would have been otherwise.
Elizabeth resolved that she would take Anne as an example and inspiration for her own healing.
~F~
As Elizabeth had returned early from her visit, she invited Bingley, Fitzwilliam and the Hursts to join her and her sisters for dinner at Longbourn on Easter Sunday, an invitation which they gladly accepted. Even though everyone had a wonderful time, Elizabeth mused that it would have been even better if the Gardiners, and especially their children, had been able to attend.
As the birthday of her majority was approaching, Elizabeth was a little surprised that no one seemed to pay much attention to the date, until Jane enquired if she wanted any special dishes prepared to celebrate the day.
'I am certain that Mrs Hill is already planning to have cook prepare all my favourites,' Elizabeth advised, a little relieved that at least her closest sister had remembered in all the other excitement.
'I believe that you are correct.' Jane replied and hesitated before she asked. 'I just remembered that I promised Louisa that we would have tea with her on Wednesday. Would you be amenable to attend?'
~F~
April Fool's Day dawned bright and clear and promised to be a perfect day. As was so often the case when the weather was good, and occasionally when it was not, Elizabeth hurried through her morning ablutions at first light and headed out to Oakham Mount.
While she watched the sun rise from her favourite perch, she reflected that at last no one could dispute her right to own and administer Longbourn. Even though her uncles had been supportive, for three years there had been a niggling worry in the back of her mind that someone would try to take the estate from her.
Now at last she did not have to worry any longer. She was at last legally an adult and no one could wrest control of the estate or her life from her.
As she thought that, the image of an exceedingly handsome face rose unbidden in her mind. While no one could take control away from her, would she ever be able to willingly give up control? The temptation was getting greater every day.
~F~
When Elizabeth returned to the house, she found all the inhabitants ready to pamper her.
Jane was waiting with a cup of hot chocolate to go with cook's best pastries, as well as a breakfast spread fit for a queen.
Once she was replete, 'If I eat another mouthful, I shall burst,' Elizabeth was informed that Sally had her bath ready.
Elizabeth indulged in that sybaritic pleasure as Sally kept adding hot water to allow her to soak for as long as she liked.
Elizabeth weakly protested, 'There truly is no need to go to all that trouble.'
'You are an undemanding mistress. It is a pleasure to give you a treat occasionally,' Sally protested in return.
Eventually, Elizabeth was ready to dry off again, after Sally had washed her hair and given her a final rinse. Wrapped in a warm robe, she lounged in front of the fire while Sally brushed her hair until it was dry. As she sipped the last of the hot chocolate, Elizabeth was vaguely aware of suppressed giggles in the house. She absently wondered what her sisters were up to causing such merriment.
She was not left long to wonder. As soon as Sally left her, the room was invaded by her sisters carrying a number of items.
'We come bearing gifts,' declared Lydia as she held up a day dress which Elizabeth had never before seen.
'You must be properly attired when we call on our neighbours this afternoon,' declared Jane, who also held some garment.
Elizabeth soon discovered that her sisters had brought a complete new outfit from the skin out, for her to wear.
'Happy birthday,' they cried in concert with big smiles at the astonishment displayed by Lizzy, before assisting their sister into her new finery.
~F~
Elizabeth was getting worried, as the closer they got to Netherfield the more Lydia and to some extent the rest of her sisters, including even Jane, became ever more restless.
Lydia was trying not to bounce in her seat but was unsuccessful enough to garner a reprimand from Mrs Taylor. 'Lydia, ladies behave with more decorum.'
The performance caused Elizabeth to ask,' What is going on?'
Replies of 'Nothing,' and 'What could possibly be going on?' delivered with innocent expressions did nothing to quell her anxiety.
Fortunately, the journey was short enough and soon they arrived at Netherfield where Messrs Bingley, Hurst and Fitzwilliam were waiting to hand the ladies out of the carriage.
'Welcome, ladies. I am most pleased that you were able to join us today,' Bingley greeted them and offered his arms to Jane and Elizabeth to escort them into the house. He was followed by Fitzwilliam with Margaret and Mary, while Hurst brought up the rear with the youngest girls.
As they approached the doors to the drawing room, these were thrown open from inside and a shout of 'Happy birthday' startled Elizabeth. Instead of only seeing Louisa Hurst presiding over the tea service, the room seemed to be filled with people.
~F~
Elizabeth was still trying to recognise all the occupants of the room when Mrs Gardiner enfolded her niece in a brief but heartfelt embrace. 'Happy birthday, Lizzy. I wish you all the very best on your majority.'
Madeline Gardiner was soon replaced by her children who were all clamouring to wish their cousin a happy birthday.
The children were soon followed by Mr Gardiner, Mr and Mrs Phillips, Charlotte Lucas, as well as all the other company from Rosings.
The last one to approach her was Darcy, who bowed over her hand as he said, 'I too wish you a happy birthday and congratulate you on reaching your majority… and with it gaining your completely unfettered independence.'
The look which accompanied the words conveyed understanding and respect as well as something which Elizabeth struggled to define.
~F~
Once everyone had had a chance to express their congratulations, Elizabeth was at last allowed to take a seat and accept a cup of tea, which she sorely needed to settle after all the excitement.
She gave her sisters a mock severe look and chided, 'I believe that you were less than truthful with me since my return. Planning a wedding indeed…' She turned to Margaret. 'And you are no better. You were supposed to ensure that my sisters behaved properly.'
'As it happens, we were planning the wedding. It was simply not the only thing we planned,' protested Lydia with a wide grin, pleased with the success of the surprise.
Jane added with twinkling eyes, 'You had better brace yourself. This is but the start of your celebration.'
'Mrs Taylor allowed us to plan your ball as well as her wedding,' crowed Kitty.
'A ball?'
'Indeed. We felt it appropriate to mark the occasion by celebrating with all your family and friends. It is not often that we have the incumbent master of an estate reaches their majority. And you always did love dancing,' Mr Phillips explained.
When Elizabeth looked at her new dress with a somewhat dubious expression, Mrs Gardiner reassured her, 'Do not worry, an appropriate gown is waiting for you upstairs.'
'And we took the liberty of preparing a dance card for you,' Louisa Hurst said with a smile as she handed the article to Elizabeth. 'We have had many requests, but you may feel free to make any changes you please.'
Elizabeth read the entries and discovered that her first set was split between both her uncles, who would open the ball with her with one dance each. Every other gentleman in the room had claimed one set, except for Darcy, whose name was pencilled in against the supper and last sets.
When she saw the notation, her eyes flew up to meet his gently questioning gaze. A swarm of butterflies took flight in her stomach, and she struggled to tear her eyes away.
Elizabeth was only successful when Louisa asked, 'Does this meet with your approval? When we delivered the invitations, many of your neighbours requested dances with you.'
'When Louisa showed us the list of potential dance partners, we picked the best dancers for you, but you can make whatever changes you like. After all, it is your ball and should maximise your enjoyment,' Mary added her own explanation.
'I thank you for your consideration. Your choices are perfect,' Elizabeth replied with a smile and a sideways glance at Darcy.
~F~
The receiving line for Elizabeth's ball was blessedly short. It consisted only of Bingley and Louisa Hurst as the hosts, Elizabeth as guest of honour and Robert Fitzwilliam as the ranking gentleman supported Elizabeth.
The greetings by the guests were almost uniformly warm, except for a couple of young ladies who had difficulty suppressing their jealousy at seeing the fineness of Elizabeth's new ballgown. Madeline Gardiner had outdone herself in the choice of colours, fabrics and style.
Fortunately, the London custom of being fashionable late had not made its way to the country and it did not take too long for the last of the guests to arrive.
Phillips and Gardiner led Elizabeth to the small platform where the musicians were situated and had them play a small flourish to attract the attention of the assembly.
Once the room had quieted, Phillips addressed them. 'Dear friends, as you know, my dear niece Elizabeth has reached her majority today and we are here to celebrate the occasion. While it has been my privilege to be technically her guardian, over the last three years, she has proved to us all that she is perfectly capable of looking not only after herself, but also her sisters and her estate. While in the early days, some have doubted her abilities, I know that today we are all unanimous in our opinion that Lizzy is an excellent master of Longbourn, and we welcome her into the ranks of adults.'
As he paused a moment, there were numerous calls of 'Hear, hear,' until Phillips finished with , 'Happy birthday, Elizabeth,' which set off a cheer by all the guests.
Once the cheer died down, Phillips bowed to Elizabeth and led her to the floor, as the musicians struck up the first tune.
~F~
Elizabeth was having a wonderful time. Mary and Louisa had arranged her dance partners so that they alternated between one of the gentlemen residing at Netherfield, with one of her neighbours.
Even Richard Fitzwilliam partnered her for a set, although in his case they danced the first and slower dance of the set, but sat out the second one, as he was not yet up to dancing for half an hour. But this gave Elizabeth a chance to rest her own feet for fifteen minutes, halfway through the first half of the evening.
Eventually it was time for the supper set and Darcy came to claim her. They danced in silence for a few minutes, neither quite certain how to start the conversation. Finally, Elizabeth teased, 'Come, Mr Darcy, we must have some conversation. It would look very strange indeed if we remained completely silent for a full half hour.'
Darcy smiled and replied, 'I have been wondering how to tell you the reason for my request for a second set tonight.'
'I confess that I am all astonishment. How did you convince Mrs Hurst to allow you a second set when no one else was allowed such a privilege?'
The dance separated them for a moment, giving Darcy a chance to reflect that it was indeed a privilege for him to be allowed to dance a second set with Elizabeth, unlike in town where ladies considered it a privilege if he condescended to dance with them at all.
'I explained to her that at the last ball at Netherfield, I was supposed to have two sets with you, but in the end, due to Miss Catherine needing a dance partner and then Bingley changing the music for the supper set, I only had a single dance with you. Therefore, I was owed another dance,' Darcy said in his most reasonable tone of voice and nervously waited for Elizabeth's reaction.
He was relieved when she laughed. 'That was indeed a most astute reasoning. I am pleased that Mrs Hurst was amenable to honouring her brother's debt.'
'I can only hope that Bingley does not get it in his head to be helpful again.'
'Do not trouble yourself, Mr Darcy. My sisters assure me that the musicians have been threatened with the most dire consequences if they deviate from the set program by a single note,' Elizabeth assured Darcy and was quite astonished that she felt reassured herself.
~F~
A/N: For those readers who missed part 1 and do not realise that this is an expanded version of a short story. That story (which is effectively chapter 1 & 2 of the expanded version) is still available as chapter 9 of my short story collection – 'Remember you wanted this'.
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Just Fates (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2023