September 1, 2014 – Happy Labor Day! I'm enjoying the day off from work and I'm also happy to leave August behind. It's hot in Arizona in August.
More of the ball. I really do not like writing balls. Oh well, we do what we must.
Chapter 7
Anne had not sat down all evening and was glad for the last dance before the meal. Her partner and cousin, Major Fitzwilliam, was as gallant as always. She had always enjoyed teasing him and being teased by him in turn. When the set was finished, he led her to her seat. At the same table were her cousin Darcy and a friend he had brought, a Mr. Bingley.
"Our cousin," Major Fitzwilliam began, "has brought along a friend to keep him company while he stalks the edges of the ballroom. Bingley, is it not?"
"May I introduce my good friend, Charles Bingley?" Darcy would not be baited by his older cousin. "Bingley, this is Miss Anne de Bourgh and our cousin Major Fitzwilliam."
Mr. Bingley affably greeted them and then the rest of the table as a few more came to take their seats.
"How do you know my cousin, Mr. Bingley?"
"My family is from the north, from near Manchester. Our fathers knew each other as boys."
"Bingley is attending University in Oxford, I thought he could use a small diversion from his studies and asked him to join me."
"And your estate, sir?" Anne asked. He seemed a nice young man.
Bingley colored slightly. Before he answered Arthur de Bourgh joined the group.
"Arthur," Anne said in mock horror, "Mother allowed you to sit here?"
"I slipped one of the staff an 'incentive' to change the arrangements."
Anne gaily laughed.
"I am all astonishment!"
Arthur was about to respond when he noticed the young man he had just interrupted.
"Charles Bingley, this is a surprise! I did not see who was speaking."
"Bingley was just going to tell Anne about his estate," the Major interjected.
Not wishing to embarrass the lad, Arthur explained the situation.
"Anne, Mr. Bingley's father, like mine, was a second son. And like mine he refused to become a soldier, sailor, or sermon maker, preferring instead to seek his fortune through trade. As successful as my father was, his was even more. Unfortunately, Mr. Bingley senior never had the chance to purchase an estate and the task has fallen on his poor son's shoulders."
Bingley got rather red in the face.
"I hope, someday, Miss de Bourgh, to find a place to suit my taste. In the interim, I will finish my education."
Anne gave him an apologetic look.
"And escort Mr. Darcy to balls?"
Bingley smiled, "Only if I am allowed to dance at the rest."
"Poor Mr. Bingley!" Anne cried. "You must dance tonight. I would dance with you myself had not my card been full. Surely, cousin, you can spare your shadow for at least part of the evening?"
"Yes, Darcy, let the man dance," Arthur seconded.
"I am not stopping him."
"Sure you are. He feels sorry for you all alone staring out the windows," said the Major.
"I only counted one window." Mr. de Bourgh added.
Anne laughed again.
"Have pity on the man, gentleman. He has promised to dance at least once tonight."
Major Fitzwilliam leaned towards Anne and whispered for the whole table to hear, "Take care of your toes!"
~~~/~~~
After the dinners had eaten their fill, the dancing resumed. Anne had the pleasure of being led out by her cousin Arthur de Bourgh
Besides a last name, the two shared a wicked sense of humor and a mutual trust. Anne knew that if she had not been born, or had there been an entail, Arthur would have inherited instead of her. He could have been jealous and resentful, but he was not. Instead he seemed genuinely content with the situation. At dinner he had somewhat dissembled; he was very rich, thanks to the money his father had been bequeathed by his parents, the money his mother had brought into the marriage with her dowry, his father's very successful career in trade, and a lack of any siblings.
While her Uncle de Bourgh had lived, he brought Arthur to Rosings to visit at least once a year. When Arthur came of age, these visits came to a halt. Lady Catherine and Arthur had a heated argument about his reputation as an unrepentant rake. She disapproved of the effect on the family name. Before he left Rosings, he spoke to Anne privately explaining why he had to leave, and why he would likely not return to Rosings for some time. For several years they had corresponded and had met several times in Town. Anne suspected some of what was reported about her cousin was true. She had talked to Mrs. Stuart about the shocking subject. The man whom she wrote to was honest about his faults and frailties. It was this lack of reserve that was the foundation of their friendship. Anne still remembered the young man she knew as a child, and she knew that young man was still a part of Arthur de Bourgh that danced with her then. He knew his position in society, yet did not allow being a son of a tradesman to keep from seeking what he wanted.
Anne's smile faltered a bit as she pondered her partner.
"Here now, Anne. Why the sad look on your face?" Arthur asked with some concern.
"Reflective, not sad, Arthur."
"You must only smile and laugh when you dance with me. We would not want to disappoint her ladyship." Anne shook her head; he was always teasing her about her mother. "She will be happy to see you frowning at me, but nothing short of a slap across my face will satisfy her."
"I do not understand why you two do not get along." Arthur gave her a pointed look. "Besides the obvious reason of your notoriousness."
"Until you are safely married to a rich and well connected man, preferably Darcy, she will continue to be wary of me."
"But you and I…" Anne's face showed her consternation. "I try to tell her I am not marrying any of my cousins, but she will not listen." It was time to change the subject. "Any news of Miss Simpson?"
Arthur's smile faltered.
"We have not seen each other for over a month. Her father is set against the match."
"Because of your reputation?"
"He doubts my ability to be a good husband to his only child. Six months ago, I would have agreed," he conceded.
"And now?" Anne prompted.
"While I have greatly improved, I would give even odds that he is correct. I fear Miss Simpson may have begun to agree with him." He sounded too resigned to Anne's ears.
"She doubts you?"
"Do you doubt me?"
"No, but I've know you much longer. If her love does not prove to be as constant as yours, perhaps you are better off for Mr. Simpson's withholding consent."
"You may be right." The figure separated them and when they came back together he had regained a smile – strained, but a smile no less. "Why could I not have fallen in love with you?"
"Because you know I would never marry the son of a tradesman."
Arthur laughed and Anne was glad to see it. "Nor would I wish for Lady Catherine to be my mother-in-law."
"It is much better to be such good friends than to complicate things with a marriage."
"I can see you will lead many a suitors on a merry chase, Anne. I look forward to watching."
"No, Cousin, you look forward to helping," she corrected.
"You have always brought out the devil in me."
"You needed no encouragement."
"True." The mischievous twinkle was back in his eye. Anne rejoiced in her success.
The lively banter continued back and forth as the two finished the set. Anne had such a good time dancing with her cousin that she forgot who her next partner would be.
"Miss de Bourgh."
Rupert Harris had come to claim his set.
~~~/~~~
One of the things Anne had not considered much before that night was how she would react when she found herself required to dance with a man she had no desire to partner. Unfortunately, the rules of society were absolute. To refuse an offer to dance meant a woman may not dance for the rest of the evening. To this point, her partners had been pleasing. Viscount Harmon was charming and Mr. Saunders so foppish as to humor her weakness for the absurd. A few other very eligible young men, too smooth by the half, had at least the right fortunes and connections to not upset her mother. Her current partner was not so blessed. Mr. Harris was rich, and the brother of a viscountess, but he was also a man of trade and nothing condemned a man in Anne's circle more than the stench of new money.
Thus her dance with Mr. Harris, a man of trade, presented a new challenge. She greeted him with a cool civility as he led her to the set. The music began and the couple started the pattern but Anne said nothing to her partner for several minutes.
"Are we to spend the entire dance in silence, Miss de Bourgh?"
"As you wish, Mr. Harris," was her prim reply.
He laughed and waited for her to move close again. "Now I understand why my sister is …" he paused until their steps brought them close again.
"Your sister?"
"You are not close friends despite the close familial relationship."
"We cannot choose our family." Anne replied, wary of the intentions of her partner. He seemed too… open and unguarded.
"Nor are we required to like them," Mr. Harris said.
Their responses continued to be brief, as the intricacies of the dance moved them to and fro.
"Do not look so affronted. You forget I know my sister. She likes to think herself above people. But with you, it is not so. You will not play to her vanity."
"I will not confirm the truth of your assumptions, sir." Anne was uncomfortable with the conversation but the man would not desist.
"But you will speak to me?"
"Am I not now?"
That answer brought another laugh from the gentleman, which brought a brief scowl from Anne.
"You are truly charming, Miss de Bourgh. It is no wonder why my sister does not like you."
"My cousin might call you out if he heard you speak of his wife with such…"
"Forthrightness?"
"I was going to say indelicacy. I was taught that a gentleman should not be so ungenerous."
"Ah, but I am not a gentleman, only the son of a tradesman."
"Mr. Harris, you are very blunt."
"And you find such honesty refreshing."
Anne did not respond.
"I am not a man you mean to pay any consequence. Like your cousin, Mr. de Bourgh, my fortune was earned, not inherited. Will you give me the same notice as you give him?"
"He is my cousin."
"I am your cousin's brother."
"My cousin's wife's brother."
"It is all the same," he reasoned.
"Not quite," she responded.
"I refuse to argue the point, madam. This is a ball and such trifling disagreements ruin the gaiety of the evening."
Mr. Harris then finally changed the subject of their discussion to safer, more superficial topics. Anne gradually began to relax and when the set was over, could say she did somewhat enjoy herself, and that Mr. Harris, so beneath her in consequence, had both infuriated and intrigued her.
~~~/~~~
It was very early in the morning when the last dance finally began. After her set with Mr. Harris, Anne had stood up with several more partners. None brought the flutter of expectancy that her cousin inspired. At last she faced the man she was expected to marry.
Fitzwilliam Darcy was a very handsome man, and very tall. He was easily the tallest man of her acquaintance. Of course, his father before him was a tall man so it was not surprising that the son should take after the father. It suddenly occurred to Anne that height and looks might not be the only trait Fitzwilliam inherited. Uncle Darcy was a man to be respected and admired; perhaps the same was true of the son? With such disquieting thoughts running through her head, the dance began. Fortunately, practice prevented paralysis and Anne did not miss a step.
A few minutes in the set, Anne realized her cousin had just spoken to her.
"Pardon me, sir. Could you please repeat what you just said? I confess I was not attending to your words."
"I said, 'You seem distracted, Cousin.'"
"I was."
Anne gave him a guilty smile.
"Ah, that is much better." He returned her smile with a small one of his own. "It would not be prudent to let people think we quarrel. Aunt Catherine, for one, would not be amused and I do not wish to expose you to any censure on this special night."
Anne looked at her mother and saw she was smiling in her familiar, smug fashion.
"Please do not tell me you are in agreement with my mother?"
"Cousin Anne, this is neither the time nor the place to discuss anything of that nature. There are too many people watching us, looking for signs of confirmation or rebuttal. We do need to speak about it in private, but not now, not tonight. You deserve a chance to experience the season and that, my cousin, is all I will say about our possible futures."
"You do not wish to become my suitor?" Anne blurted; she was not expecting this. She did not know if she liked this. Anne wanted to have the power to turn him down.
"I have said all I will say on the subject – tonight. Our cousin Andrew will come with me to call on you tomorrow. Then, and only then, will I make my position known."
"Oh."
"And Anne?" there was a gentleness to his voice that surprised her.
"Yes?"
He made sure he looked straight into her eyes. "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" Anne blushed at his honestly spoken praise. She knew her cousin well enough to know he was not trying to flatter her. "It is only right that you should outshine every lady in the room," he continued, "this ball is given in your honor after all."
~~~/~~~
Lady Catherine walked her daughter to her chambers and gave her a kiss on the check before departing.
"Sleep well, dear. You have had a long evening."
Anne yawned. "I do believe I danced almost every set."
"Did you enjoy yourself?"
"I did. Thank you, Mother."
"Go and get some rest."
"Goodnight." Anne returned her mother's kiss on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Anne."
Anne closed the door and called for her maid to assist her to undress for bed. Instead of her maid, Maggie Stuart was waiting.
"Mrs. Stuart!"
"Good evening, Miss Anne… Miss de Bourgh. I really should not call you Miss Anne any more. You are a woman now."
"Where is Perkins?"
"I am here, ma'am." The maid replied as she stepped into the room.
"I will assist the lady," Maggie said to the maid and then turned to offer Anne an explanation. "I was once your mother's lady's maid. I have not forgotten how to attend to those duties."
An amused Anne laughed at the two stubborn women. "Perkins will assist me, but please stay, Mrs. Stuart."
The maid gave Maggie an icy glare and started on her duties.
"You looked so very elegant when you were dancing tonight, Miss de Bourgh," Perkins said.
"You saw me dancing?"
Maggie laughed. "We were both present much of the time. Your maid was never far. If you had needed anything she would have known immediately."
"I do not recall seeing either of you."
"Miss Anne, you should know by now that the best place to hide and object is to place it disguised in plain sight. There is nothing more invisible than a servant being discreet."
"Forgive me for my obtuseness," a chagrined Anne de Bourgh said in apology.
"I dare say your attention was required elsewhere," Maggie quipped.
Anne closed her eyes, leaned her head back, and sighed.
"'Tis a wondrous thing to be admired."
"Not to mention flattered, pampered and generally told a bunch of nonsense," Maggie countered.
"Was there any doubt it would be so? Allow me the luxury of vanity for one night."
Maggie laughed. "And with such a comment I will leave you to Perkins' expert care. It is a good thing that the very first thing your maid removed was your gown. I fear the night has gone to your head and made it grow two sizes too large to undress you now."
Anne fought the urge to stick out her tongue. Instead, she smirked at her old friend. "Goodnight, Mrs. Stuart," she said, fondness obvious in her tone.
Maggie stood at the servant's entrance, ready to leave. She held the door handle in her hand and looked back into the room. "Goodnight, Miss de Bourgh. You have shown yourself to be a credit to your family's honor. We, who have had the privilege to watch you grow from a child to a woman, are very proud to call you our Mistress."
I wonder what Darcy will have to say for himself in the morning … Guesses?