The Netherfield gentlemen tried their best to not embarrass themselves by staring in amazement at the sight of the three ladies descending the stairs. They more or less succeeded (almost).
Georgiana's aunt had gifted her with a ballgown to practice dancing since she was expected to be out in another year or so. When she heard about the planned ball, she brought it along just in case she managed to bludgeon her brother into submission. The gown was a gorgeous silk in light pink, with capped sleeves and a moderate square neckline about halfway between Lydia and Mary.
Elizabeth wore a blue satin gown her Aunt Gardiner had purchased during a recent trip to London. It had a fitted bodice and long sleeves, and was somewhat less modest than Georgiana's, though Mrs Bennet would have asked her to go even lower if she had ever seen the gown.
Mary shone in a gown Mrs Gardiner bought for Jane during the same trip. It was also pink, but brighter as appropriate for an older lady who was out. It was made of heavier silk with floral embroidery and a matching sash. Elizabeth and Jane had pressed Mary into a considerably more ornate gown through the simple expedient of exchanging the one in her trunk when she was not looking. Elizabeth was struck by the fact that they did not have to make a single change to the gown—thus demonstrating that in at least some aspects, Mary was nearly indistinguishable from Jane. The battle over hairstyles had been won much more quickly than Elizabeth expected, and the result was quite a beautiful young lady—to the surprise of exactly none except Mary.
Darcy and Fitzwilliam approached with their eyes full of wonder, and fortunately had a few minutes of awaiting their arrival at the bottom of the stairs to regain their wits.
When the ladies had curtsied, Darcy said, "Ladies, you look exceedingly enchanting, one and all."
Naturally the 'one and all' aspect of his gaze was more hypothetical than real, as he could barely tear his eyes from Elizabeth. He whispered, "You not only leave me stunned, but Fitzwilliam is speechless as well, which I can assure you is unprecedented."
All three ladies laughed, and Elizabeth said, "You clean up well yourself, William."
His stare was at the same time disconcerting and thrilling, with more emphasis on the latter. Elizabeth had to admit that he was having an effect, and it was not at all bad.
Fitzwilliam laughed. "Georgiana, I suspect Darcy and I are in trouble. I was planning to carry a cricket bat everywhere when you came out, but now I believe the sword might be required."
The poor girl blushed hard enough to almost pass out, but the compliment gave her the first feeling of being close to grown up, coupled with a feeling that she might finally be able to put her mistakes of the previous summer behind her.
The group chatted for a few more minutes, then went to the parlour for a little bit of wine to prepare for the ordeal to come.
As a long-term resident of Netherfield, Darcy felt obliged to stand in the receiving line, while Elizabeth felt no inclination to join him. Everyone within twenty miles knew they were courting, but they were not engaged, and she would not be rushed. Joining him in the line would have been a tacit admission of an engagement, and she was not ready for that after a week of good behaviour. The colonel joined the receiving line just to fill it out, and to get a chance to be introduced to all the locals without going to the trouble of dragging Darcy or Bingley away from their ladyloves to arrange introductions. It just made sense.
The guests started arriving, and Elizabeth, Mary and Georgiana went to witness their arrival without actually being in the receiving line. The Bennets arrived along with Mr Collins, and Elizabeth was chagrined to realize she had not given the poor man a single thought in the previous week. She remembered she had promised Charlotte that she might promote her a bit but had been too busy to really do anything. She decided the evening was the perfect opportunity to canvass the couple and see if she actually needed to take steps. She understood that Mr Collins had hoped to take one of the Bennet sisters as a bride, but she thought his likelihood of success was essentially nil. She watched for Charlotte so she would have a chance to speak to her while Darcy was engaged in the receiving line.
Jane went through the line just like anybody, and Elizabeth watched her interaction with Mr Bingley avidly. Since their abrupt departure from Netherfield, Jane had kept most of her cards quite close to the chest regarding the gentleman. Elizabeth had not the slightest idea what her sister thought about the man at that point, and their interactions in the receiving line did nothing to enlighten her. They were slightly more than polite to each other, but the gentleman refrained from making a spectacle of himself, while Jane looked as inscrutable as she usually did.
Elizabeth gave up trying to work it out. Jane at least looked beautiful in her second-best ballgown, which was noticeably better than her sisters' best. Right or wrong, everyone had accepted many years ago that Jane was likely to be their saviour. Besides that, arguing with Mrs Bennet had, until recently, been a fool's errand, so the fact that Jane would be better dressed than anyone else was just a given.
She greeted her friends from a corner of the room where she and Darcy could see each other but were not in a direct line of sight—mostly because Elizabeth was convinced neither of them would mind their manners very well if they spent the entire time staring at each other, as was their wont. She reflected that the need to take such active measures probably indicated a growing attraction but still found the entire situation unnerving.
Charlotte came directly to Elizabeth after the receiving line, and Elizabeth was surprised to see Mr Collins hovering nearby. She quirked an eyebrow inquiringly.
Her friend replied, "I realize you have been busy, Elizabeth, but Mr Collins has been visiting the neighbours the last five days while you have been… occupied."
Elizabeth blushed, though whether she was worried about her friend chastising her lack of industriousness vis-à-vis her promised help in the husband hunting department, or Charlotte's implications about her busyness, she was unwilling to say.
Charlotte laughed. "Do not look so shocked, my dear. All is well. Mr Collins has made himself agreeable to my family and is opening the dance with me."
Elizabeth nodded, not quite certain what she thought about the whole thing. "I am happy for you."
Charlotte laughed even harder. "Try it with less scepticism next time. I am content with my progress and shall be content with my ultimate success."
"Are you so certain of your success and likely satisfaction."
"I am," Charlotte said with all due seriousness.
"Then I wish you well," she said, happy have the topic finished. She reflected that Charlotte was not a babe in arms, and she knew perfectly well what she was about.
They spent another quarter-hour talking, though they were interrupted from each of her sisters and parents at least once, as well as several other acquaintances. Several men asked Elizabeth for dances, and she granted them, though whether gladly or reluctantly was a question she could not really answer.
Darcy escaped the hordes to join the ladies for a quarter hour before the first set.
As the group was chatting amiably, they were approached by Jason Goulding. Elizabeth performed the introductions.
After a few minutes, he asked, "Miss Mary, might I have the honour of your first set… or another if that is already taken?"
Mary stared at him in shock, thoroughly unable to answer while the poor man fidgeted nervously.
Elizabeth took pity and reached over to take Mary's dance card. "Mary?" she asked softly, which shook her out of her stupor.
"It would be my pleasure, Master Goulding," Mary said shakily.
Elizabeth handed him Mary's dance card, which he quickly filled out. "Might I fetch some refreshment, Miss Mary… ladies?"
"That would be lovely," Elizabeth replied with a smile, and he hied off to the refreshments table with rather nervous alacrity.
Mary still seemed shocked, so Elizabeth said, "Come, Mary. It is not as if you have never danced before."
"Never the first," Mary said emphatically, and then gave a nervous frown.
Darcy asked gently, "Are you nervous about dancing with the gentleman, Miss Mary?"
"No, or course not… it is Jason, after all," she said distractedly.
Darcy scrunched his head in confusion and gave up.
Elizabeth said, "Are you angry that he, and possibly other men, have finally noticed you are pretty?"
Mary scoffed. "In Jane's dress."
Darcy laughed. "As a man, I shall claim expertise. You were pretty before, Miss Mary… you just went out of your way to hide your light under a bushel for your own reasons."
Elizabeth gave him a scowl, but he looked surprisingly unrepentant.
He said gently, "It may look easy, but it takes some courage for a young man to ask a lady to dance. If she appears to be… ahh… unenthusiastic, it is even harder."
"Are you saying he may have noticed me before but lost his nerve?"
"There are many possible explanations," he replied gently.
"That is one. It is also just possible that he is a typical chowderheaded boy without a bit of sense, and he finally noticed you. I believe I can claim expertise on lunkheaded men,", he said with a sigh. "I hate to admit it, but it is also possible he has noticed your status, since your sister is being courted by a wealthy man. I do not say that to boast… but to warn you that it will happen."
Mary frowned, "I am not certain I like that."
"Neither am I, but it is the way of the world. May I make a suggestion?"
"I would hope you know by now that it would be welcome."
Darcy chuckled. "One can never be too careful. Do you find the man sufficiently congenial?"
"I barely know him since he left for university, but I liked him before and know no evil of him."
"Then just think: it is just a dance. That will set your frame of mind correctly. Dance with him. Converse if you feel the urge. Enjoy yourself and do not worry about the rest."
Mary laughed gaily. "Lizzy, did you realize you were courting Mr Bingley?"
Laughter erupted from the group just in time for Master Goulding to return with punch for the ladies. They spent a few more minutes chatting until the musicians signalled the first dance.
Darcy joined Elizabeth for the first dance, and Elizabeth read the looks of amazement on her neighbours' faces at the pair of them standing together. Darcy made a very pretty comment about her appearance, to which she gave a very demure reply of approval, the music started, and they were off. The start of the dance required sufficient vigour as to prevent much speech, and they just danced. Elizabeth found the experience thrilling, and as time went on, she lost some of her nervousness. Each time he grabbed her hand just slightly harder than politeness strictly called for, she felt a little thrill of exhilaration, and after the second instance, she started squeezing back. It was not overt, but it was enough to put just a touch bigger smiles on their faces, and a bit more sparkle in their eyes.
Colonel Fitzwilliam opened with Georgiana as planned, and Elizabeth had made certain everyone in the room knew it was her first dance at her first ball so they should all be kind to her. Naturally, she spread the news by simply telling Mrs Bennet once, and then never gave it another thought. Georgiana looked nervous, while the colonel looked quite gallant. Elizabeth spared a few glances during the dance to make certain all was well, but not enough to make her partner feel neglected.
Jane had elected not to open with Mr Bingley, which Elizabeth thought was a good pragmatic decision, but hardly a romantic one. She understood that they were not really courting as such but was halfway of the opinion that Jane should either show a bit more enthusiasm or put the man out of his misery. That, however, was Jane's problem, and she eventually adopted the same attitude she gave Charlotte. Jane was a woman grown, and she knew what she was about. Bingley was also only a few years younger than Darcy, and a good five years older than Elizabeth. She felt not the slightest compulsion to tell either of them what to do.
Mr Bingley's aunt, Mrs Ashford, was barely a decade older than him, and still in the prime of life. Bingley danced the opening set with her, and while it was right and proper to open his first dance with his hostess, Elizabeth guessed that the lack of an opening dance with Jane was noted. She suspected the unmarried mothers and daughters of Meryton were beginning to wonder if he was fair game, and she suspected there was a fair amount of knife-sharpening occurring.
Jane danced with an old friend who everyone knew was simply a good dancer who was not in want of a wife, so nobody read anything into it (believe it if you wish).
The set concluded as usual, and the three eldest Bennet sisters converged on Georgiana to ensure she was enjoying her first ball. The young lady had been nervous as could be but had rallied during the dance and was having a fabulous time. The colonel asserted that it was impossible for a lady to have a bad time in his presence, and Elizabeth almost believed it.
After the gentlemen fetched drinks all around, and everyone took a few minutes to rest and refresh themselves, Elizabeth joined the colonel for the second set. She found the colonel just as voluble and amiable as he had always been, and she had to admit she had never been quite so entertained in a ballroom. They did not speak of anything in particular, and five minutes later she could not have given an account of their conversation for a thousand pounds, but the dance was pleasant.
Darcy naturally danced with his sister, and Elizabeth spent quite a bit of her attention on the pair. The Georgiana of the Netherfield ball was like a blooming rose compared to the wilted lily who appeared at Longbourn less than a week earlier. Elizabeth suspected having two bachelor guardians was not the best recipe for success, but it was not the worst either. The girl seemed to be fine… especially when compared to Lydia who was dancing with Lt Carter next to her.
Jane and Mr Bingley were dancing, and every eye on the room was on the couple. Elizabeth did not pay as much attention to Jane as she might have ordinarily, mainly because she was fully occupied with the Derbyshire residents. There just was not enough room in her mind and attention to spend more time puzzling over Jane and Mr Bingley.
With a start that made her almost stop mid-step, she reflected that she did not have any attention at all to spare Charlotte or Jane. Did that mean she would not turn into a gossiping inveterate matchmaker like her mother, or might she have a better future? Of course, two sets were hardly evidence to draw conclusions about the rest of her life, and the colonel reclaimed her full attention for a few minutes with an amusing observation.
The third set saw Darcy dance with Jane, which attracted every eye in the room. Since a good case could be made that the most handsome man in the room was dancing with the most beautiful woman, everyone wanted to see the spectacle. The fact that Mr Darcy had chosen Elizabeth over Jane was not as big of a mystery as one would think. Everyone who knew Jane understood that she was a woman of great beauty, but without a certain spark her younger sister possessed. A lucky man like Mr Darcy could choose fire or beauty, or in the case of Miss Elizabeth, both. Everyone knew Jane was considered the beauty of the county, but nobody disputed that was mainly because carrying that attitude made life around Mrs Bennet easier.
Elizabeth hand-picked a couple of local gentlemen to dance with Georgiana, all relatively young, all very much married, all excellent dancers, and all men she had known for years. Her beau seemed happy to leave the selection to her, and the colonel did not even feel the need to look threatening… though she thought that in some ways she was spoiling his fun.
Once Georgiana was situated, the colonel danced with Elizabeth as they had arranged.
Mr Bingley danced that set with Charlotte, who Elizabeth had observed barely survived her dance with Mr Collins. She saw the couple out of the corner of her eye but had not honestly given it much attention. All she could determine was that they were dances of mortification. Mr Collins, awkward and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it. Charlotte had gamely spent some effort trying to keep him from killing anybody and had mostly succeeded. Fortunately, Charlotte would be happy to never dance again until the end of time, so it was not a tremendous impediment.
Elizabeth and Georgiana sat out the set and spent the time in quite discussion about the various dancers, carefully avoiding any question that might be considered awkward involving any of the Bennet ladies and any of the Netherfield gentlemen.
The fourth paired Darcy with Mary, and Elizabeth thought life was just too easy for the Derbyshire gentleman. He could easily dance from dusk to dawn and never run out of her sisters and friends, so would never have to trouble himself to dance with strangers. Naturally, not having to dance with Mr Bingley's sisters counted as the greatest good fortune of all.
The supper set arrived and Elizabeth found herself feeling more thrilled and less nervous with her beau. She was becoming accustomed to being with him and had to sheepishly admit that she was beginning to miss him when he was away (not that he had been absent for more than a few hours since their courtship began). She also just might admit to herself (in the dead of night with the covers pulled over her head) that she felt something that might easily pass for jealousy when he danced with others. She would never admit it to another soul, but it was interesting.
The colonel stood up again with Georgiana, obviously not willing to leave her to the tender mercies of a local man for supper.
Jane surprised Elizabeth by giving Mr Bingley the supper set, though Elizabeth could not discern what her feelings were on the subject. Jane had a long-standing habit of being inscrutable, and her attitude during the set showed she had reverted to form. Elizabeth observed that and did not give it another thought.
Mr Collins spent the supper set talking with Charlotte in a conspicuous but private corner, and Elizabeth suspected that particular courtship would be smooth sailing. Neither party seemed fastidious, and both were getting exactly what they wanted in a partner. Elizabeth wondered what Lady Catherine was like, but not enough to spend any time on it. She also believed Charlotte would be an excellent mistress to Longbourn when the time came and would probably have knocked Mr Collins into line by then, so the pair might do much better than anyone would expect.
Supper was a perfectly designed affair, and she wondered how credit should be apportioned between Mrs Ashford, Miss Bingley, and Mr Bingley. The food was tastefully elegant, well-cooked, and well represented. She felt certain that if Miss Bingley had continued, the meal would have been delicious, but designed more to impress than to eat. Of course, she reflected, that could just as easily be sour grapes.
She was surprised to find her father had come out of his usual comatose stupor for the evening, and he was riding herd on Mrs Bennet and the two youngest with surprising firmness. Elizabeth had to wonder if Darcy or the colonel had made any vague hints to the gentleman, but decided some things were best left to the unknown.
After supper, ladies were asked to entertain. Much to Elizabeth's happy surprise, and Darcy and Fitzwilliam's shock, Georgiana performed a duet with Mary. It was clear they were both nervous at the start, but they evened out halfway through, and both seemed to be enjoying themselves at the end. The audience agreed with her assessment and rewarded the players with a hearty round of applause.
Some of the other ladies performed, but Elizabeth demurred a request. Mr Collins looked ready to make some sort of speech, but a subtle hint from Charlotte settled him down, much to Elizabeth's amusement.
Elizabeth could not dance a third time with Darcy without announcing an engagement or having one presumed, and she had neglected her social obligations in the first half of the evening, so she sent Darcy to dance with Georgiana again, and went to converse with some friends she had not had time to greet thus far and regale them with wild tales of being courted by one Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.