Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Frerichs

Cross-posted on elizabethfrerichs dot com and wattpad

Elizabeth spent an inordinate amount of time ensuring she was mud-free, that her hair was clean and charmingly arranged, and that her dress was as impeccable as she could make it. In fact, she spent longer preparing for this ball than she had in several years. If Mr. Darcy had not been attending, she would have been tempted to wear a burlap sack and leave her hair a tangled mess—maybe that would discourage Mr. Collins. But Mr. Darcy would be attending, and she wished to see the look of admiration that sometimes filled his eyes.

"Are you looking forward to tonight, Lizzy?" Jane asked, eyeing her preparations.

Elizabeth colored. "Yes."

"No doubt it is your dance with Mr. Collins that has you primping."

Elizabeth chuckled. "No more than you are primping for your dance with Mr. Collins. The first set and the supper set with Mr. Bingley? You are lucky that Mama has not sent out wedding notices already."

"Do you really think he likes me?" Jane asked, twisting her handkerchief and then smoothing it out.

Elizabeth hesitated. From Mr. Darcy's questions, the answer seemed likely to be yes, but she did not know Mr. Bingley well enough to be certain. "I believe so. I have seen him quite inattentive to other people when you are near. How serious his tendre is, I cannot say. If you truly wish to divine his intentions though, you may have to be a bit more open with your own interest."

Jane looked at the floor. "Mama wishes me to lure him in."

"I am not talking about that. Modesty is a virtue. I am simply suggesting you smile a little brighter at him or show more enthusiasm for him. It is—it is difficult to let oneself be so vulnerable, but, as Charlotte put it, few of us have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. I do not know if Mr. Bingley will progress past liking into love, but I imagine that he will not do so if he fears you do not share his feelings. Presumably, he is the sort of man who will remain near long enough to complete his own investigations as well." She nestled another pearl in her hair. "It is a difficult balance, but I am confident you will achieve it."

Jane took the pearl pins from Elizabeth and continued the work of arranging them in her sister's hair. "I had not considered that he might be unaware of my sentiments; they are on display for everyone in the neighbourhood."

Elizabeth clasped her sister's hand. "I think you only feel that way. Charlotte commented that she did not think anyone, save your closest friends, would notice your preference."

"I shall try to be more open then," Jane said. "And what of you? I have yet to see you with Mr. Darcy. Will you hide your feelings?"

Elizabeth smiled into the mirror. "I do not think I can hide my feelings entirely. We have become too close of friends for that. But I imagine we will both do our best to not arouse suspicion. Perhaps you could let me know if we are too exuberant in our affection."

"I shall do my best. Will you tell me if I appear too reserved?"

Elizabeth nodded.

Netherfield was decked out with flowers (presumably procured from a London hothouse) and candles. The splendour was entirely lost on Darcy though as Elizabeth walked through the doors. She shone brighter than anything else, and his feet carried him to her as though he were on a pilgrimage to the sun.

"Good evening, Miss Elizabeth," he said, bowing over her hand.

Elizabeth curtseyed. "Mr. Darcy."

"Miss Bennet," he added, nodding to Elizabeth's favourite sister.

Miss Bennet curtseyed. "Mr. Darcy. It seems I owe you my gratitude."

"Oh?"

"Lizzy tells me that you were a source of comfort during a difficult time."

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth, who was smiling fondly and shaking her head.

She gave him a small shrug.

Darcy smiled at Miss Bennet. "If she told you the whole, I believe you would realise that the opposite was true."

"Still, I am glad someone was there to take care of her when I could not."

Elizabeth laughed. "You sound like you are talking about a child or a pet, Jane."

Jane chuckled. "Well, you, like children and pets, require, at times, extra attention."

Darcy's mouth nearly dropped open. He would never have suspected Miss Bennet of having a sense of humour. Then again, Elizabeth was unlikely to maintain a close friendship with someone who lacked a sense of humour.

"Shush! I refuse to stand for such maligning," Elizabeth said, folding her arms and putting her nose in the air.

"I see you are familiar with her ways, Miss Bennet," he said with a smile.

Miss Bennet returned his smile. "Indeed."

"I regret introducing you two," Elizabeth said.

"You did not introduce us," Darcy said promptly.

Elizabeth waved his objection away. "That is immaterial to the situation."

"Well—" Darcy swallowed his comment as Bingley practically pranced over to them, apparently having abandoned the receiving line.

"Miss Bennet. Miss Elizabeth. Please allow me to tell you again how very lovely you look tonight."

A faint blush coloured Miss Bennet's cheeks. "Thank you, Mr. Bingley. You are looking well tonight also. So is your home."

Bingley stared into her eyes, apparently lost in her gaze.

Darcy cleared his throat.

"Caroline decided what decorations she desired, and the servants did an excellent job of executing her vision," Bingley told Miss Bennet. "I had nothing to do with it."

Darcy nearly laughed aloud. Miss Bingley had changed her mind numerous times over the past few days, torn between the various ways Netherfield could be decorated, issuing conflicting orders and generally making the servants' lives difficult. Truly, the splendour of the rooms was due entirely to the servants.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him, and he shook his head subtly.

"Well, however it was done, it looks well," Elizabeth said.

Mr. Collins appeared at her elbow and bowed to the group, paying extra attention to Darcy.

"I could not help but overhear your most recent comment as I drew near, my dear cousin," he said, "and I wholeheartedly agree. Your home is indeed very lovely, Mr. Bingley. It almost reminds me of—"

Darcy cast a speaking glance at Elizabeth as Mr. Collins slipped seamlessly into one of his discourses about Rosings and how beautiful (and expensive) the estate and furnishings were. Over their past months of wagers, he and Elizabeth had concluded that Mr. Collins had several prepared monologues and that he frequently steered the conversation in such a way that he could embark upon them.

For a moment, he considered interrupting the little man, but he did not wish to be rude, even to Mr. Collins. Attempting to mask his boredom, he quietly glanced around the ballroom, looking for Wickham. It was highly unlikely that the man would show himself—but then again, if someone had asked him a year ago about the likelihood of Wickham entrapping Georgiana, he would have scoffed.

"Would you care for some punch, Miss Elizabeth?" he interjected the moment Mr. Collins took a breath.

"If my fair cousin desires punch, I would be more than willing to undertake the necessary effort to procure some for her," Mr. Collins said. "After all, we would not dream of expecting a personage such as yourself to engage in such a menial task."

Elizabeth blinked at him. "Yes, that would be lovely, Mr. Collins."

The man smiled at Darcy as though having won a battle and then left.

Elizabeth gave him a look of mock disapproval. "That was really too bad, Mr. Darcy. Sending the poor man off like that."

"Did you want to listen to his opinion of Rosings?" Darcy shot back.

Miss Bennet cleared her throat gently.

Elizabeth looked over at her sister and then turned her attention to Bingley. "Mr. Bingley, do you prefer a reel to a cotillion?"

Bingley looked back and forth between Elizabeth and Darcy several times before recollecting himself and answering the question. Miss Bennet skillfully steered the conversation forward from there.

A/N: I really love when Darcy and Elizabeth interact in front of other people and accidentally forget they're being watched ;)

Thanks for reading and engaging with this story! I greatly appreciate it! As always, if you notice something that can be strengthened, please pass it along. The ball will take a few chapters since I'm still behind on my editing :)