Update ch 47
The following day, Elizabeth received a note inviting her and Jane to the home of Lady Matlock to prepare for the ball. Elizabeth laughed and declared that Mr. Darcy's aunt did not believe a maid on Gracechurch Street could possibly know how to pin hair, but she was secretly worried that Lady Matlock would find fault with her. She knew Lady Matlock was nothing like Lady Catherine, but it did not prevent her from worrying. Lady Catherine was upset about their betrothal, and she did not want to be the cause of another breach in the Darcy family.
At the appointed time, Lady Matlock's carriage arrived with the hood down. Elizabeth was glad she had donned her best day gown, because she realized they would be seen by everyone as they moved past Bond Street toward the Mayfair district. Many ladies shopping for last minute trinkets stopped to watch them pass. There might as well have been signs up declaring that two eligible, rich men were being taken off the market. This thought made Elizabeth laugh, and most of her nerves dissipated. After all, if Mr. Darcy felt she was worthy of being Mrs. Darcy, who were the rest of them to doubt her abilities?
The home of Lord and Lady Matlock filled an entire block, with gardens around all the edges. It was as though the city had grown around an estate, which Elizabeth supposed was possible. Fewer people were walking around, as it was too late in the day for a stroll and there were no shops nearby, so no one else saw Lady Matlock greet Elizabeth and Jane as though they were old friends and family. This helped dissipate the rest of Elizabeth's nerves, and she enjoyed sitting with Lady Matlock as the maids prepared each of them for the ball.
"Oh, this gown is lovely, Elizabeth. This must be a new design from Miss Enderby's designs. I would recognize her work anywhere. She is absolutely the best. You will be the belle of the ball, and the envy of all the ladies."
"I anticipated that would be the case because of my betrothed."
Lady Matlock laughed. "You will be hated for taking him off the marriage mart. As though any of them stood any chance with him. I had only known you for half an hour when I knew you would be a perfect addition to our family." She paused so that her maid could apply some rouge to her cheeks. "Not that I hadn't attempted to get some of them into his thoughts. I ensured he met every eligible lady in London and Derbyshire, and not a single one ever drew his notice. I can see his standards were much higher than social status, and I am thrilled to know you will be his."
Elizabeth released a long breath as the maid tugged at her hair to set a pin in. "Thank you, Lady Matlock, for your unwavering support. My mother had despaired that I would ever catch a husband with my wild ways, always traipsing through the countryside and speaking my mind."
"While most mothers do not wish for outspoken daughters, it is a benefit to your taciturn husband. You will keep him interested with your wild ways, as you call them." She touched Elizabeth's nose with her dainty finger in a small show of affection. "You will draw him out and make him more sociable, and he will give you a steady hand to lean on." She returned her attention to her own vanity mirror as the maid resumed pinning her hair.
"Now I can focus my attention back on my boys. They are also indecisive about marrying. I hope they will see how happy you have made Fitzwilliam. That might encourage them to look for wives for themselves. The viscount especially, must marry and begin giving me grandsons soon. The earldom is not secure until he does, and some members of society have begun tittering that my sons do not wish to marry, and the Matlock line will die with them. My husband's odious cousin has been inviting himself to our estate to learn how to manage it when the time comes. The presumption!" She paused to see Jane looking nervous. "Do not worry dear, they were not invited tonight. I have no use for such people."
The side door opened, causing Elizabeth and Jane to startle, but they relaxed instantly when Anne and Georgiana entered. "I sat with Anne while she rested, but we were told to come here to prepare for the ball. I am so excited!"
"Shall you be in attendance, Georgiana?" Elizabeth asked, astonished that a girl not out would be there.
Georgiana giggled nervously. "No, I might watch from the balcony where no one will see me. I am only here to help my cousin prepare."
She then sat on the bed and watched as four maids shuffled here and there about their work to prepare 4 ladies for a much anticipated ball. Elizabeth was the first to declare herself ready, so she turned and began helping the maid preparing Anne.
"Elizabeth Bennet!" Lady Matlock protested. "You shall give poor Sarah a harder time if you interrupt like that. They are well trained. You must learn to be a proper lady and sit still."
Jane hid a snicker behind her gloved fingers. "Mama has said so for a long time. I do not think Lizzy is capable of sitting quietly."
"What will Mr. Darcy think?" Lady Matlock scoffed playfully.
"He learned very early how to watch me wander around the room. I used to think he disliked me because he seemed so serious."
"But he was seriously thinking of you, or at least about what he wished to do with you." The girls blushed and shrieked at the thought. "He may not have thought of marrying you so early in your acquaintance, but a man never stares at someone he dislikes for more than a passing fancy."
"So, I have learned, Lady Matlock." Elizabeth took her seat and took a deep breath. "And Mr. Darcy shall have to learn to read to me while I pace the library in the middle of winter when I cannot go out for my walks."
The other ladies finally calmed their cheeks as Jane explained how they would always know when it rained because Lizzy would be pacing the hall and stairs early in the morning.
"Did you not have a good enough gallery in your home?" Lady Matlock asked.
"No, our grandfather turned the gallery into a larger dining hall and parlor so that my grandmother could host extravagant dinners. The former dining room was converted into a music room where we can spend our less quiet evenings." Jane explained.
"Well, Pemberley's gallery is on the first floor of the guest wing and very well carpeted, so your pacing shall not disturb your family. And if your guests do not like your pacing, then they can return home that much quicker."
Lizzy sighed. "I long to see Pemberley. I have heard everyone say such wonderful things. The library is astonishing, the gallery long, and the grounds exquisite."
"Do not forget the delectable food from the best chefs in Derbyshire."
Elizabeth laughed. "I shall have to remake new gowns if I am to eat so well and not be allowed out of doors through the long winter."
"We do not always remain indoors. Perhaps your husband will teach you to skate on the ice on the lake. It is quite invigorating for those used to outdoor activities."
Jane grew excited at this. "Oh, I should be terrified of moving so quickly on ice, but I am certain Elizabeth would become proficient quickly. She has always had excellent posture and balance."
Lady Matlock eyed Elizabeth for a moment. Elizabeth stared right back, and eventually Lady Matlock replied, "Yes, Elizabeth, your natural posture is quite to your benefit. Your bearing is quite ladylike and will help you survive anyone who thinks you do not belong."
Elizabeth blushed as she began to thank her ladyship, but she was stopped by a knock at the door. Lady Matlock pinned one more curl in place before she quietly made her way to the door. Once it opened, the colonel announced, "The guests have started arriving, and I have been sent to tell you all to come down."
"Hmpf." Lady Matlock rolled her eyes. "That only means that you and Fitz are here, and you do not wish to be entertained by your father." She gave her son a disappointed face.
"Hey! You cannot blame me for preferring your company to his. You are far more intelligent and easier to listen to, even when you are planning a ball. Besides, Fitz is pacing around the library in his desperation to see someone with gorgeous brunette curls that he has declared he has not seen in an age."
Elizabeth laughed to hide her blush.
Lady Matlock enjoyed the praise from her son. "Very well, we are as ready as we shall be for now. The ball is not for hours, and we ought to exert ourselves so that we can rest before the ball or else we shall be too tired to last until dawn." She turned to Elizabeth, who was grateful that her blush had subsided before it could be noticed. "I wish to see you dance with Fitz. That will help me determine the order of the songs the orchestra should play."
"You wish to order the songs based on my dancing." Elizabeth statement sounded more like a question. It was a very odd request.
"Yes, for if you dance well enough, I shall be able to include a few waltzes tonight. It is not quite the fashion, but since you are an outsider to our ranks, it will be good to have something else to talk about, and no one would dare consider me anything but the height of fashion." Lady Matlock allowed her maid to finish three more pins before she declared they were all ready. Anne joined them from the neighboring room as they walked to the ball room where the orchestra had already assembled and had left their pianoforte. Anne took a seat beside Georgiana at the pianoforte and watched her cousin produce music as though she were touched by the muses.
Mr. Darcy arrived in short order, having been alerted by his cousin that the ladies had come down to entertain them. When his aunt suggested they dance a waltz, he blushed, knowing how much he would have to restrain his emotions to dance such a scandalous dance in front of his aunt. With a deep breath, he moved towards Elizabeth and gently moved his hands to position one on her back and with the other, took her hand and held it up gracefully.
"Have you danced the waltz before?" he asked while the music was still beginning.
Elizabeth replied that she had, and then she asked if he were nervous, "You are looking as though you would rather be anywhere else. Perhaps I should have asked you if you have danced the waltz before. Your dancing masters would not have included it when you were young."
"You are quite right, but my sister's dance master did include it, and I would not let her dance with anyone but myself."
"I have only danced with my sisters, so this is a very new experience for me as well." She blushed as he moved his hand so that he could rub circles with his thumb without anyone noticing. She shivered delightfully and leaned slightly into his hand.
The music began and there was no room for conversation as they twirled around the room. Mr. Darcy was torn between enjoying the closeness of Elizabeth in his arms and disgust that his entire family was watching their every move. Thankfully, they were halfway through the set when Lady Matlock was summoned by a servant to another room. After a quick look from Darcy, the colonel encouraged Anne to rest, and offered to escort Jane and his cousin upstairs.
Georgiana was the only one left in the room with them, and she was so lost in the music, she did not notice when Mr. Darcy stopped dancing and led Elizabeth through a hidden door to a room where no one would look for them. He lost no time before he pulled Elizabeth to him and kissed her with all the pent-up ardor he had been resisting during the dance. They did not pull apart until they heard his aunt reenter the room and exclaim at having found it empty.
Mr. Darcy reluctantly slowed his kisses, pulling back far enough to notice how affected she appeared. "Two weeks cannot pass soon enough, Lizzy." He kissed her once more and added, "I do not believe my aunt will keep quiet if she sees the state I have put you in. Your maid shall be able to rectify the damage before you are seen." He then declared that she should take the stairs in the servants' hall and directed her as to the route before he turned to face his aunt.
Attempting to act as though he had not ravished his future bride in the other room, he calmly stated, "They were tired, so they retired to rest. I shall sit in the study to read while I wait for the ball to start. Have you seen enough to arrange the music to your liking?" He walked past her as she rolled her eyes and chose to say nothing of his appearance.
"Yes, you two will be the talk of the town. She looks and acts like one of the haute ton without all the formality. Everyone will adore her or envy her. You will have to be careful that the debutantes do not attempt to sabotage her gown to keep you available." With a laugh, she moved to the piano to alert Georgiana that she ought to rest if she hoped to stay awake watching the ball. Georgiana startled to find that everyone else had left. She always did get lost in her music.
AN: Thank you for reading! For those of you following, I am getting into a better place mentally, and it has helped me see to an end of the story. My life is getting back on track, and my mother in law is settling into a respite care place which is really helping. Perhaps this will give me time to catch up on grading, now that I will have all that free time I keep hearing teachers get.
I am reaching the end of the story, so I wish to caution the slow readers that I will leave this uploaded for at least 1 week before the majority will be removed for publication. I want all of you to read it for free, so make sure you are staying on top of my slow updates. I don't want you to miss the ending. You deserve to read the full ending before it is pulled.
I hope the coming holiday season sees you happy, healthy, and rested. May all your troubles be solveable, and may ODC get a great HEA.
