Slightly shorter chapter today - and sorry for not uploading yesterday (if any of you noticed) life caught up with me slightly, but I should be back on track now. :)
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The ladies of Netherfield, bore their lots with distinctly less humour.
Miss Bingley had been complaining nearly continuously about the speed at which her brother expected her to put on a ball and the necessity of the Ball in the first place. And, of course, she couldn't help but to continue insulting the society at large. In fact, Georgiana had rather begun to become jealous of the gentlemen's ability to retire to the library whenever they wished to be free of Miss Bingley's caustic words – for she didn't have the same escape and so the rants had become familiar to her.
For her own part, Georgiana couldn't help but miss her newest friends. She knew she didn't know them so well as she might like – and she only really knew Miss Elizabeth to any great degree – but that only made her more anxious for an opportunity to visit them. The fates seemed against it though, for with the weather remaining so poor she had to stay at Netherfield and simply content herself with the company of Mrs Annesley – discovering to her delight that Miss Bingley would generally ignore both of them were they together (She still couldn't help but think that such a thought was most uncharitable, but there was little she could do about it) – and of her brother and Richard.
Both of the latter had been most kind to her, and Georgiana couldn't help her own gladness at that – not that either had been anything other than kind in the entirety of her life (with the exception of their good natured teasing of course), but simply because it seemed that something had changed in her brother. He was no longer treating her as a little girl, but as though she were his equal and as though her opinions held great merit.
Georgiana still couldn't quite reconcile it with her own recent foolish judgement – it had only been last summer after all. Strangely though, it seemed that with each day she was thinking of it less and her spirits were rising. Not that she was becoming any less withdrawn in company of course – Mrs Annesley had been trying to encourage Georgiana to make conversation with Mrs Hurst or Miss Bingley about some topic of Georgiana's choosing, but Georgiana hadn't managed to pull together the courage yet.
Mrs Annesley had even asked her if she wanted to take part in the ball which was to be held – and for a moment, she had been truly tempted. After all, it was a private ball and her brother and the Miss Bennets would all be there – so surely nothing too terrible could happen. (In fact Georgiana had exchanged a couple of notes with Miss Elizabeth over their separation – nothing of much importance, but an inquiry about her attendance of the ball had occurred. That had been the initial cause of the conversation with her companion.)
The trouble was simply that Miss Bingley had overheard their discussion and had immediately begun to offer her services to Georgiana in the loudest and most patronising way she could. Georgiana had known it had only been to gain her brother's attention – which Miss Bingley had achieved most wondrously – but still the entire idea had filled her with dread and Georgiana had made her intention of not taking part clear before she truly knew what she was doing.
At least she had been invited to visit the Bennets the day after the ball – Miss Elizabeth had claimed that they wanted her to at least have a full account of what had occurred if she couldn't attend. According to her, Georgiana's brother and cousin would be unlikely to describe the evening in the detail that Georgie would like.
And so the ball crept closer and closer, until even Miss Bingley couldn't hide her satisfaction at the plans and the situation. Georgiana could still not quite shake the feeling that Miss Bingley was making such a thing of the event because she thought her skills would appeal to Georgiana's brother.
It seemed odd really. But what was Georgiana supposed to do about it?
Much to the disappointment of all of the Bennet Ladies, they weren't able to reach the ball at such an early hour as they might have wished – but that did little to reduce the warmth of their welcome. Mr Bingley seemed so pleased to see the eldest Miss Bennet that he scarcely said a word to anyone else – luckily, for once, Mr Darcy seemed to be able to face a public meeting without his normal stern demeanour – or at least it was greatly reduced
That meant that he managed to make some greeting – if very formal – to the assembled family, before he offered to lead Elizabeth and Mary through to the other room. Both agreed easily leaving Mr Collins, their parents and their younger sisters to find their own way. After all, Jane could hardly be counted for she was already deep in conversation with Mr Bingley.
The peculiar absence of Miss Bingley on their arrival may have been noted by some of the party, but none chose to dwell on it and instead thought of happier things.
Mary quickly left her pair of companions – whether it was her intent to abandon her sister with Mr Darcy no one would ever know, for she would have never thought to admit to such a thing, even had such nefarious plans crossed her mind.
Nonetheless a moment of silence lingered between the pair – for some reason though, Elizabeth couldn't find it as strained as she would normally do in his presence. That seemed like far too weighty a consideration for a ball though, and Elizabeth was quick to refocus her attention on anything at all – other than the strange friendship she might have developed with Mr Darcy.
"Tell me Mr Darcy," She spoke with a similar tone that Miss Bingley often employed, somewhat deliberately – Elizabeth could see the exact moment that Mr Darcy realised what she was doing. The moment that he realised that she was teasing him, and his eyes lit up. "Are we going to stand in silence all night or do you plan to continue entertaining me with your impressions?"
"Oh, silence most definitely." Mr Darcy said it so seriously that Elizabeth was almost worried about what she could have done to offend the gentleman, before he glanced at her and she noticed a slight twitch to his lips he was attempting to hide and the laughter dancing in his eyes. It was strange – two weeks ago, she wouldn't have believed that such a thing could ever occur. "After all, how could my impressions ever match up to yours? I wouldn't dare to attempt to delight you with such an inferior production."
"Flattery and sarcasm, sir?" Elizabeth couldn't quite hide her own smile – she didn't have Mr Darcy's skill at that it seemed – for she was too delighted at his ability to tease. It was a characteristic she would never have expected from him, and it was still taking her time to adjust to it. "You leave me quite lost for words..."
"Well that would help us to stand in silence." Mr Darcy observed dryly, turning back to look at the crowds. Elizabeth was surprised by the sudden alarm that flashed through her. Was he truly going to ignore her all evening? Why did that even upset her? She was too busy worrying that to even notice as he turned back, and so she was shocked by his voice again. "In truth," He hesitated almost shyly. "I suppose I must ask permission to charm you with my own personality?" The words sounded disinterested – and Elizabeth might have believed that, had it not been for the fact that his eyes were shifting about almost awkwardly, even as his body moved back into its haughty stance.
She felt her smile return and was on the verge of replying when her eyes caught onto something beyond Mr Darcy – something she really should have noticed before.
"All the militia are here?" She couldn't imagine how dim-witted she sounded. But still there was nothing she could do. There were so many redcoats walking around – how could she be happy when her sisters were to be exposed to such men? Mr Darcy agreed with a slight frown of confusion. "Even..."
"Lizzy!" Charlotte Lucas' familiar voice broke through her inquiry, even as Mr Darcy's face lit up in understanding. Lizzy turned to her friend somewhat reluctantly. Charlotte looked confused for a moment by her friend's hesitant reply before she really noticed Mr Darcy's presence. She gave the man a polite curtsey.
He, in turn, gave a very stiff bow and didn't say a word. Elizabeth wasn't sure whether to be displeased or sympathetic – she opted to attempt to not feel anything about it at all. But in that it seemed she was unsuccessful.
"You needn't worry Miss Elizabeth." He said turning his attention back to her. "It is sorted – but that is not a conversation for a ballroom."
His words were stern still – but Elizabeth could only hope that he intended to elaborate at some point. She didn't dare to ask though, not when she could see Charlotte standing there, her eyes already lit up with curiosity and Elizabeth knew that she wouldn't be able to get away with much more conversation with Mr Darcy without causing her friend to be unbearable.
"But I should leave. I daren't interrupt your time together." Darcy seemed suddenly so reserved and proud. Elizabeth knew that it must be discomfort – or at least she hoped it must be. But she still wasn't sure she was glad about it. Would he not even try to be agreeable? Perhaps something in her expression gave away her thoughts, for he then turned back to her friend. "Miss Lucas, may I be honoured with the first dance?"
Charlotte agreed speedily in a somewhat distracted manner. And Mr Darcy quickly left.
Elizabeth tried not to examine the pang of disappointment at that event.
"Lizzy?" Charlotte's voice showed every inch of her curiosity. Lizzy knew she wouldn't get away from her friend without a considerable discussion taking place. "First of all, why did Mr Darcy ask me for the first dance?"
Lizzy couldn't hold in her laugh at that – it was a natural sound, she hadn't realised how near she had been to laughing until she did. But she was so relieved by her sensible friend. After all, that was a question which she could actually answer with ease, and such a ridiculous query, filled with so much implication that it would do Mrs Bennet proud.
Her good humour still remained as Mr Collins came to take her away for her first dance, and somehow, despite his awkwardness and clumsiness and all the other embarrassment that the set might have caused her, she couldn't quite lose that happiness.
More Netherfield Ball next chapter - after all we can't have nothing but happiness all the time. :)