Within a few days of arriving in Hertfordshire, Lord Sebastian received several invitations from the leading families of Meryton and the surrounding area, including dinners, teas, and even a ball. Since he was naturally sociable and the Darcys were invited to several parties, he gladly accepted most of the invitations. These social events would be excellent opportunities to spend time with Georgiana and get to know her better.
The first of the parties he attended was at Netherfield Park. It was a dinner with the same people as the one he hosted at his house just a few days earlier. He had the dubious pleasure of sitting near Caroline Bingley and, frustratingly, far from Georgiana and the lovely Miss Bennet.
Although the dinner was delicious, consisting of seven courses and three desserts, it was long and tedious. With regret, Lord Sebastian noted that at the other end of the table, Darcy, Georgiana, and Miss Bennet conversed animatedly and often laughed at something amusing Miss Bennet said to them. At the same time, he had to feign interest in the insipid and unstimulating conversation and comments from Miss Bingley. The lady constantly praised everything he said, agreed with everything he said and did, and even praised how he chewed his food. The lady was intolerable!
It was only after a brief separation of the sexes that, when he returned to the drawing-room, he was able to speak for the first time that night with Georgiana. She was in an animated conversation with Miss Bennet.
"I do not believe you, Lizzy; please tell me the truth!" exclaimed Georgiana.
Elizabeth smiled and said, "I am not lying; you can ask Mary; she was with me when I did it, and she never lied."
"Poor cat!" Georgiana exclaimed, "But I do not understand why you wanted to paint the cat black if it was white, and you told me it was a beautiful cat and was also your favourite. It does not make sense!"
Elizabeth laughed. "Well, I was only seven years old, and a few days before, I had read a fairy tale about a witch and a magical cat. Since that cat was black, I thought black cats had magical powers, and I wanted to have a magical cat, so I decided to paint my cat."
Lord Sebastian, accompanied by Darcy, interrupted the amusing conversation at that moment.
"Do you have a magical cat? I want to have one too! Where do you get them?"
Georgiana and Elizabeth laughed heartily at Lord Sebastian's comment, and Darcy smiled slightly. Miss Bingley, who was conversing with Mary at the time, looked at Lord Sebastian and Darcy with a frown and immediately suggested they go to the music room to play cards.
Lord Sebastian offered his arm to Georgiana and Darcy to Elizabeth; the four declined the invitation to play cards and continued talking animatedly. The Bartons and Bingley agreed to play cards, and Miss Bingley had to play to make four.
An hour later, the guests left, and a very disappointed Caroline retired to her room. The night had not been what she had anticipated; she did not like Lord Sebastian's attention to Georgiana or Darcy's attention to Miss Bennet. She had to change her strategy to get Darcy to pay attention to her, but she was unsure what else she could do. She refused to give up because she was convinced Darcy was the love of her life.
The next day, Sir William was hosting a dinner party at Lucas Lodge in honour of Lord Sebastian. Despite Mr. Collins' vehement protests, Sir William invited the Bartons since they were Lord Sebastian's cousins and Elizabeth Bennet. But he refrained from inviting the Stevenses, Kitty, and Lydia.