I thank you all for being so patient. I hope that I will be able to write with some regularity, but it is rather difficult right now. I am determined to finish this book on time though. Starting all over, as you might imagine, set me way back in my schedule.
What would be of enormous use to me is if you all could tell me what questions you still have so I can ensure that I answer all of them in the text. Without writing as constantly as I was before, sometimes I find myself forgetting small things that I need to still take care of in the story. If I could have a long list of questions to take care of, that would help.
Thanks so much for your understanding.
Elizabeth looked into the full-length mirror. The dress she wore was a beautiful light green with intricate white embroidery and lace. A few gold pins held her dark hair in place atop her head. Although she knew it was her reflection, she barely recognised herself.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and Jane entered. With a smile, she softly said, "Elizabeth, you look beautiful."
Elizabeth blushed and replied, "Thank you, Jane."
Mischief shone in Jane's eyes. "If he doesn't fall in love with you looking like that, Mr Darcy is a fool."
The mere thought of Mr Darcy made Elizabeth's body rush with heat. She smiled, looking away.
Jane moved nearer and gently placed her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Do not worry. He shall be overcome by your loveliness. You need not worry."
Her words caused Elizabeth to blush a deeper red. "Thank you," she said. Then she turned to her sister. "And you look beautiful, too. Your blue dress brings out the brightness in your eyes."
Just then, Mrs. Gardiner stepped into the room and bade them to hurry, else they should be late.
"Yes, Lizzy," said Jane with a smirk. "You would not wish to miss the first set."
Elizabeth ignored her sister and took a last look into the mirror. She tucked a curl that had escaped back into place and smoothed her skirt.
"Come now, Elizabeth," said Mrs Gardiner, helping Jane put on her cloak.
Heart beating with anticipation, Elizabeth followed her aunt down the stairs. The carriage was already waiting for them. She sat next to her aunt, who patted her hand gently, sensing her nervousness.
As Elizabeth exited the carriage, she was met with a cacophony of laughter and conversation from the guests. As they entered the ballroom, her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Mr Darcy. She glimpsed him standing in a corner of the room, talking with a gentleman she did not know.
Upon seeing her, he quickly halted his conversation and began to approach.
"Miss Elizabeth, you look lovely tonight," he said with a bow when he reached her.
Trying to stay composed, she replied, "Thank you, Mr Darcy."
Jane coughed, causing him to look towards the others in their group. Looking embarrassed, Mr Darcy apologised and greeted the other members of her party.
"It is well, sir," said Mr Gardiner with a smile. "I know I am not such pleasant company as my niece."
Mrs. Gardiner chastised her husband for teasing Mr Darcy and pulled him away to the refreshment table as Mr Bingley approached to claim Jane for the first set. As they became aware that their dance was starting, Elizabeth and Mr Darcy exchanged glances.
"I believe you have promised me the first set, Miss Elizabeth." Mr Darcy bowed as he spoke.
"I believe you are correct, sir." Elizabeth smiled, feeling a rush of sensation as Mr Darcy held out his arm for her. He guided her to the dance floor, and together they moved to the rhythm of the music.
Elizabeth was unable to look away from him as they danced. As he moved, she couldn't help but notice the combination of grace and strength that characterised his every motion. Responding to his movements with ease, she felt herself becoming more and more drawn to him.
"We must speak a little, Elizabeth," he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers. "else it will look odd to be entirely silent for a half hour together."
"Very well," she laughed, blushing at the memory of their last dance. "I shall observe how pleasant private balls are compared to public ones."
"I do agree. Now I shall observe that there are a great number of couples dancing tonight." As he bent closer towards her, she felt her breath catch in her throat.
"Indeed there are," she whispered. "Do you talk by rule, then, Mr Darcy, when you are dancing?"
He chuckled softly before whispering, "Only if my partner prefers it."
"But what do you prefer, sir?" she asked, eyebrows raised. "To be unsocial and taciturn?"
"I prefer to be in your company." He gazed into her eyes, his voice deep and sincere. Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat in response to the intensity of Mr Darcy's expression. She had not anticipated such a confession from him. Just as she was about to respond, the music abruptly stopped and the surrounding dancers scattered. Elizabeth blinked rapidly, as if rousing from sleep.
"Miss Elizabeth, could I persuade you to take a turn around the room?" Mr Darcy asked, brushing Elizabeth's arm with his.
She placed her hand on his arm and smiled up at him. "I would like that very much, Mr Darcy."
They had walked barely a quarter of the circumference of the room when a high voice shrieked, "Mr Darcy! Miss Eliza!" Mr Darcy winced. Well did he know the voice!
Miss Bingley came into view and hastened towards them, her insincere smile widening. "Good evening!" she said. "I trust you both are having a pleasant time."
Elizabeth forced an icy smile and nodded her head in agreement, silently praying for the conversation to end.
Mr Darcy bowed slightly and replied, "The evening has been pleasant thus far, Miss Bingley."
"Indeed. Although I do wish that the musicians were better," said Miss Bingley. She then went on to pick apart every aspect of the ball until Mr Darcy began to look visibly bored.
"Where is Miss Darcy? I had so hoped to see her tonight," Miss Bingley continued, hoping to keep him a moment longer.
"My sister is not out, as you know, so she is at Darcy House," was his only response.
Miss Bingley briefly displayed disappointment on her face, but quickly recovered and complimented the magnificence of Darcy House. Elizabeth's eyes searched for an escape while she pretended to listen.
Thankfully, Louisa appeared, seeking her sister. "Jane wishes to introduce her uncle Gardiner to you, Caroline," she said, guiding her away.
Elizabeth and Mr Darcy exchanged a knowing glance as they observed Miss Bingley's frown as her sister led her away.
"Shall we walk on, Miss Elizabeth?" he asked her.
"Indeed," she said, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.
The intensity of attention they drew while walking made Elizabeth very uncomfortable. Some whispered to each other as they passed. Others openly stared at them. A curiosity persisted among individuals regarding the nature of the relationship between herself and Mr Darcy, if one could even be said to exist.
Mr Darcy seemed to grasp her discomfort, for he laid a gentle hand over hers. "Ignore them, Elizabeth."
"I find it rather hard to do so," she answered frankly.
"I understand. I have been troubled by such attention since I came into my inheritance," he admitted. "Are you made very uncomfortable by it? I could fetch your relations so you might return to their home."
"I shall be well, sir," she said. "I just needed a moment of peace. I thank you for attending to this need."
"I shall always be at your service," he said, his gaze earnest.
She was about to reply, but did not have the chance.
"Miss Elizabeth! There you are! Mr Bingley is looking for you; you had promised him the next dance," said Mr Mallory. He approached but suddenly paused when he realised they were not alone. "I'm sorry for interrupting you," he politely acknowledged upon seeing Mr Darcy.
"Miss Elizabeth seemed to be a bit overwhelmed by the crowd. Are you feeling better now?" inquired Mr Darcy.
"Indeed, I am," she responded, suppressing her doubts.
"Shall we then proceed to find Mr Bingley?" asked Mr Mallory. Extending his arm, he offered it to Elizabeth as the musicians began playing a lively tune.
Elizabeth accepted Mr Mallory's gesture with a nod and apologised with a smile to Mr Darcy as she left his side. As they walked away, she sensed his gaze upon them, but resisted the urge to turn around. A moment later, Mr Bingley emerged to claim their dance.
Elizabeth smiled and gracefully curtsied, her mannerisms belying her unease. As they began the dance, she felt Mr Bingley's eyes upon her as he noticed her distracted behaviour.
"Are you well, Miss Elizabeth?" Mr Bingley asked, clearly concerned. "You are unusually quiet."
Elizabeth flushed at his inquiry and quickly reassured him, "I am quite well. I am only taking in the elegance of the room. I have never been at a ball so large or in a place so fine. I have no notion how my aunt and uncle even secured the invitation." Elizabeth felt even more embarrassed, having admitted more than she wished.
"Mr Gardiner is very respected, despite his ties to trade. However, I do flatter myself that my own connexion to the Gardiners, or rather, my future connexion to them, may have influenced the invitation. More than once, I have been asked about my future bride and her family."
"I see," said Elizabeth. "And how are your plans for the wedding coming along?"
"I have very little to do with any of it," he replied. "My part is only to keep my sisters from spending my entire income on decorations."
"I hope my sister has not been too influenced by them and is spending too much," Elizabeth said with a smile.
Mr Bingley laughed, "Not at all, Miss Elizabeth. She is the opposite. I have to try to convince Jane that she is not asking too much and that she must tell my sisters what it is that she wishes." His face turned serious. "I do worry that she will be constantly giving into my sisters' whims."
Elizabeth understood Mr Bingley's concerns well. She had already experienced the influence of his overbearing sisters. "I understand the difficulties of familial obligations," she said in a comforting tone. "But Jane is an intelligent lady who knows her own mind. If she truly cared about something regarding the wedding, she would ensure she got it, likely by making your sisters think it was their idea to begin with."
"I have noticed that, Miss Elizabeth." Mr Bingley smiled broadly. "I have often come away from a conversation with her, unsure of if the conclusion was my idea or hers."
Elizabeth chuckled, "That is a sign of a truly great relationship. When both parties are able to work together, even if one is more subtle in their approach."
"I believe so as well," Mr Bingley said with a smile.
As the dance ended, Elizabeth curtsied to Mr Bingley and excused herself to go find her aunt and uncle. She felt a sense of relief as she made her way through the throngs of people, finally finding the familiar faces of her relatives.
"Elizabeth," said Mr Gardiner with a smile. "Come. I must introduce you to some of my acquaintances."
Elizabeth smiled at her uncle and followed him to a group of gentlemen he was conversing with. She was introduced to them, but her mind was still on Mr Darcy and their dance. She looked around the room, searching for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Miss Elizabeth," came Mr Mallory's baritone from nearby, "I do believe it is time for our dance, if it still pleases you to dance with me."
Elizabeth excused herself from her conversation with Lord Cordele and turned to Mr Mallory. "Of course, sir."
Mr Mallory extended his arm, which Elizabeth accepted with a nod and gracious smile. They approached the dance floor, which was now congested with couples performing the latest quadrille. While they were dancing, Elizabeth was acutely aware of the gaze of the room, as it had been earlier when she was with Mr Darcy.
"You are garnering a great deal of attention, Miss Elizabeth," Mr Mallory observed.
"It is... rather disconcerting, sir," said Elizabeth, "to be started at so openly."
"I would think a lady so lovely as you are would be used to being admired."
Elizabeth was taken aback by his words. "It is kind of you to say so," she said, uncertain how else to reply.
"I believe I know the reason for the attention this evening, however," he pressed on. "I must ask if the general assumption is true, madam."
"I am not aware of to what you refer."
"That you and Mr Darcy have some sort of understanding? I believed, that is, I hoped that this might not be the case, but it becomes more and more difficult to delude myself. You are too kind to let me endure such misery," Mr Mallory said earnestly.
His boldness caught Elizabeth off guard. Why should Mr Mallory be concerned about Mr Darcy's feelings towards her? What is the basis for his assumption that she was attached to Mr. Darcy?
"I must admit that no promises have been made between Mr. Darcy and me, sir," she replied.
"Do you hope there to be, Miss Elizabeth?" His manner had relaxed slightly at her words, but there was still a stiffness about him.
"I do not believe it is proper to discuss such things, sir," she said, a frown marring her usually cheerful features.
Mr Mallory's expression dropped, but he regained his composure quickly. "Of course, Miss Elizabeth. My apologies if I have caused you any offense."
Elizabeth finished their dance with a final curtsey and headed towards a quieter area of the ballroom. Uncertainty filled her as she let out a sigh, wondering if the whole night would be filled with awkward exchanges.
Thankfully, that was the last she had to endure, for the rest of her partners were mere acquaintances with no interest in such personal matters. Most spoke of her sister's engagement and asked whether the happy couple would reside in London or Hertfordshire after the wedding, if a date had been set, where the wedding would be, and if she was enjoying assisting her sister in planning. Even so, she felt conscious of the eyes on her throughout the evening, particularly those belonging to two gentlemen who watched her much more than the others.