1806 (Jane 18; Lizzy 16; Mary 14; Kitty 13; Lydia 11)

The year Jane turned eighteen, she decided at long last that she was ready to come out. Her mother was thrilled! Jane felt eighteen was sufficiently mature, although she had little hope that there were any men in the local families who were marriageable. Her father said the war had reduced the number of men in society, and she knew this herself as they had trouble hiring men for the home farm and more than one of the tenants' sons had joined the army.

Nonetheless, Jane felt it was time to come out. She would not be able to have a London season, they simply did not know anyone in the appropriate circles to sponsor her there, but she was perfectly happy in the local society so did not feel the lack. She had discussed the expense with her father, being nervous about spending the money, but he was prepared for it and told her to go ahead. A little tear had somehow escaped from his eye as she left his study. "I must be smelling onions", he thought, in denial.

She and her mother, along with Elizabeth and Mary for the experience, visited the dressmaker to obtain a new wardrobe that was suitable for an out young lady, and she was looking forward to her first ball.

The trip to the dressmaker was an exciting one, Jane's first grown up lady clothes. Truly she had begun to feel foolish, eighteen and still wearing a girl's clothes, but that was the choice she had made - until now. Now she was ready to approach the world as a woman.

The four ladies heard the bell above the door tinkle as they entered the dressmaker's premises. The business owner came forward with a smile. "Mrs Bennet," she said, "always good to see you. And I see you have your lovely daughters with you. Am I right in thinking that at long last Miss Bennet is coming out, just as you have been wanting?" Fanny spent a lot of time at the dressmakers and had long chats with her, bemoaning the situation.

Mrs Bennet smiled back, "Indeed she is! Finally!" She rolled her eyes then brightened up and continued, "We will, of course, be needing a full wardrobe for Miss Bennet, including morning dresses, riding dresses, outer wear, carriage dresses, several ball gowns -" Jane interrupted, "Mamma, not too much. We can always return." She turned to the modiste "Yes, morning dresses, carriage dresses and outer wear. Also, several evening gowns. But only one riding dress - mamma, I hardly ever ride! - and one ball gown. I think it more sensible to attend a ball and see what the ladies are wearing. I will see how I like the dress for dancing".

Thee modiste curtseyed in acknowledgement. "Now, as to fabrics…" she took them to the nearby display that had a selection of fabrics. Elizabeth held up a blue. "This would look glorious on you in a morning dress, Jane!" Jane smiled back.

~~ HoL ~~

That first assembly was a thing of beauty. Her father led her first dance, as was proper. Her mother looked on proudly. Jane was asked to dance every dance, although all the boys were ones she had grown up with. She felt like the most beautiful creature who had ever lived and went home on a cloud.

Elizabeth waited up for the returning party and Jane talked with Lizzy.

"Tell me, tell me, tell me! What was it like! Did you dance? Tell me everything" her sister badgered her as soon as they were alone together in their room.

"I did, I danced, it was like a dream". Jane had removed her dress already and now she held it up against her chemise and danced around the room.

She sighed happily and looked at Elizabeth, smiling. Elizabeth stepped towards her with a matching smile and took her hand. "You are almost falling asleep on your feet. Let's get you ready for bed" and led her to the mirror.

Taking the pins out of Jane's hair, she asked "Tell me who you danced with!"

"There was Papa, of course, to open the dance, then Mr Oatley asked me for the two second, that was very sweet of his mamma to ask him to do that, he would never have done so otherwise, I am sure. He must be 30 if he is a day! Then Thomas Goulding for the next two. He isn't a very good dancer, I fear, but he was pleased to be dancing with me. He is home from Cambridge for the break, you know. Then old Mr King had to have a dance with the pretty young lady" she giggled.

"But did any of them seem… different on the dance floor? Did you fall in love?" Elizabeth had read the romance novels required for all young women.

Jane seemed to look through the mirror for a long time and then spoke "No. They were still the same boys we have known all our lives. There was nothing new. I fear we will have to go somewhere else to find that, and we have nowhere else to go".

Elizabeth's face fell but her words belied her feeling. "Well, this is naught to be concerned by. It's not as if marriage is mandatory. Longbourn is for us". Elizabeth struck a pose. "I do vow that only the greatest of loves will bring me to the marriage altar!"

Jane looked at her sister with tired affection. "Indeed", she chimed in, "only the greatest of loves will take any of us away from Longbourn!"

It was over an hour later, as they continued talking through the event and the first hints of dawn were showing out the window, before they both stumbled wearily into bed.

~~ HoL ~~

The next morning, Jane woke up feeling tired but happy. All night she had dreamt of dancing. She rang for the maid and as she was being dressed for the day thought about the boys she had danced with and was saddened that none of them showed any promise as marriageable. But only a little.

Her mother and sisters were already awake when she went downstairs. Mary was practicing the piano and Kitty and Lydia were talking. Mrs Piper sat with the girls, keeping her eye on them.

"Jane, my love," said her mother, coming to take both her hands. "What did you think of the ball? You looked beautiful, you danced with some of our local young men, tell me - did any of them catch your eye?" Her mother looked into her eyes and smiled. Her single focus on Jane marrying came as no surprise to Jane.

"Oh mamma," Jane smiled back a little sadly. "I have known all those young men since I was a little girl. None of them would be the right husband for Longbourn".

Her mother only sighed, patted her hand, and went back to the sofa to continue her sewing.

~~ HoL ~~

~~ HoL ~~