Battle of the Dragons Chapter 28, a pride and prejudice fanfic

I'm sure you've worked it out - we are near the end. I expect I will finish next week. After I edit the story, I will need to remove it for publication.

I hope you enjoy the rest of it.

~O~

Engaging Dragons

Deveril House became a hive of activity as Isabella decided that, since it was the height of the season, she simply had to host a ball. She threw herself into the preparation with great gusto.

Elizabeth was less sanguine about the affair. Not that she minded the ball as such. She loved dancing and now that she had stopped arguing with Darcy, she welcomed an opportunity to dance with him. But really, did Aunt Isabella have to throw a ball in her honour simply because the date coincided with her birthday? During the season it was perfectly acceptable to give a ball simply for the sake of entertainment. It was not necessary to mortify one's relations as an excuse.

In Elizabeth's opinion, Isabella could just as well have hosted the ball in honour of Jane and Richard's engagement. The couple would of course attend and the Matlocks were also to join the festivities and show their support for the couple.

Isabella's reasoning, as she carefully explained to Elizabeth, was that she wanted to keep the receiving line to a minimum and Lady Matlock wanted to host the engagement ball, which was to occur three days later.

Under the circumstances, Elizabeth submitted to the inevitable. At least, as soon as Darcy heard about the ball and that he would be invited, he immediately requested the first and the supper sets from Elizabeth. His reasoning which he explained to Elizabeth was that for once he would be able to enjoy an intelligent conversation during supper.

The following day, Elizabeth informed him, 'It was fortunate that you did not wait to receive the official invitation to ask me to dance. This way I did not have to prevaricate when I had to decline an offer for the first set.'

Upon hearing this, Darcy fought valiantly to suppress the flare of jealousy. 'Who was the intrepid man who hoped to open the ball with you?'

Elizbeth laughed. 'It was Patrick. He claimed that as my highest ranked relative, it was his duty to give me consequence.'

Still struggling with his emotions, Darcy offered, 'It had not occurred to me that as this was a ball in your honour, you should indeed be given all the consequence. If you wish to dance with Markham, I will release you from that set.'

'I will be happy to dance with Patrick… the second set. I have all the consequence I need.' She tilted her head and after a moment's consideration added with a mischievous smile, 'Apart from the fact that I would rather dance with you than Patrick, dancing the first set with a man who normally does not dance, especially the first, is a much bigger coup than dancing with my flirtatious cousin, no matter his rank.'

Darcy listened with dread until Elizabeth mentioned the second set. After that, an ever-widening smile suffused his features. 'While you might gain consequence by having captured such an elusive gentleman, I will gain equal consequence by opening the ball with the most beautiful lady present.'

Elizabeht was uncertain whether she was uncomfortable or flattered at the effusive but sincere praise. She settled for saying, 'I am pleased that we will both gain.'

~O~

Isabella, Jane and Elizabeth spent a couple of busy days employing their best handwriting to pen all the invitations for the numerous guests.

Thanks to their rapprochement, Isabella even sent an invitation to Bingley.

Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, in Bingley's household, the butler had standing instructions to deliver all letters which looked like they might contain invitations, to Caroline. At breakfast that day, Caroline nearly exploded with delight when she broke the seal on the missive, although it was addressed to her brother, and read the card which declared that the Duchess of Markham cordially invited Mr Bingley to a ball at Deveril House on the fifth day of May at eight o'clock in the evening.

'I just knew how it would be. It could not be much longer before we were acknowledged in town,' she crowed, waving the invitation.

When her hand reached the point closest to Bingley, he snatched the card to see for himself if his sister was correct.

'I hate to disappoint you, Caroline, but the invitation is for Mister not Miss Bingley. And even if you wear the breeches in this family, it still does not make you a Mister.'

Caroline waved an airy hand. 'The Duchess simply does not know your exact family situation and therefore left it open whether you wanted to bring a wife or a sister. This is done all the time.'

'I am certain the Duchess would have specified if she wanted me to bring a companion,' Bingley protested.

'Nonsense. I shall accompany you and you will see that I am right. And even if I am wrong, you cannot think that she would send me away once I am in her house.' Caroline would not be swayed. 'But I have to find the perfect dress for the occasion. Something which proclaims my exquisite taste as well as our wealth.'

'Caroline. I will not pay for yet another dress. You spent way too much on your wardrobe before we went to Hertfordshire.'

'You worry too much.'

~O~

On the day of the ball, Darcy arrived in the morning as usual to escort Elizabeth on her walk.

This morning, he was rather nervous. Ever since he had requested the courtship with Elizabeth, he had forced himself to be restrained as he did not want to rush her and potentially scare her off. During that time, he felt that they had come to know each other better than he had ever known anyone else, and now he could not imagine life without Elizabeth.

But even more important, he thought he detected a growing warmth from the lady. Darcy prayed that he was not misjudging her feelings… again.

When Elizabeth met him in the foyer, he bowed with a smile. 'My congratulations and best wishes on reaching your majority.'

'Thank you, Mr Darcy. I admit it feels good that I am now in a position to make my own decisions,' Elizabeth answered with a smile of her own. Taking his proffered arm, the couple set off.

Elizabeth noticed the tension and wondered at the cause. Lately Darcy had been much more relaxed around her, even teasing at times. This stiffness was a return to his previous awkwardness. She prayed that it did not mean that he had decided to call off their courtship. Just thinking about the possibility gave her a sinking feeling, making her realise that since he had apologised and they had come to know each other, she had come to care for him… a great deal. Since he had not said anything recently, she shied away from even thinking that she might have fallen in love with him.

Once they were in the park, Darcy said carefully. 'Since you can now decide for yourself, I was hoping to discover if you would consider granting me a third set at your ball tonight… the last set?'

The implication of what Darcy was asking came as a shock to Elizabeth on top of the fears she had entertained only a moment before. When she stopped and stared at Darcy, momentarily completely dumbfounded, he feared the worst. He turned to face her. 'I am sorry. I did not mean to rush you. I was hoping… I mean to say…'

'Mr Darcy,' Elizabeth cut across his babbling, giving Darcy a relieved smile. 'You do realise that the only ones to dance three sets at a ball are engaged couples.'

The smile, as much as the words, gave Darcy the encouragement he needed. Taking her hands in his he said, 'Miss Elizabeth... Elizabeth, I love you more than I can say. If I were to try to tell you all the reasons, we would be here all day. To put it simply, I cannot think of my life without you in it. Would you make me the happiest man and accept my hand in marriage?'

The more Darcy spoke, the more brilliant Elizabeth's smile became. Somewhere in the back of her mind she thought, no wonder he was tense. She squeezed his hands and gave him a simple answer. 'Yes.'

Darcy was lost in the moment as he was granted his heart's desire and started to pull Elizabeth towards him to seal their engagement with a kiss, when someone loudly cleared his throat. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the footman who always accompanied them giving him a pointed look, although a smile tugged at the corners of the man's lips.

With a sigh Darcy turned back to Elizabeth and raised her hands to his lips. 'I hope you are agreeable to a short engagement,' he whispered.

~O~

Isabella had invited family and soon to be family for an early dinner at Deveril House.

Her guests included her three sons, the wives of oldest two, the Gardiners and Mary, Lord and Lady Matlock, their son, Viscount Fanshaw, as well as Richard and Darcy. It was an intimate family dinner of only sixteen people.

Patrick was already chatting with his mother when the Gardiners entered with Mary, completing the party. He immediately homed in on Mary.

'Ah, the most elusive of my cousins. I do hope that you will take pity on me. Your sisters have spurned my request for the first set in favour of their beloveds. I pray that you will not be so cruel but grant me the honour of dancing the first with you.'

Mary was flustered by his impassioned entreaty and looked to her sisters for guidance.

Elizabeth laughed and assured her sister, 'You might as well grant his request. Patrick is a pretty dancer and perfectly harmless, despite his elaborate turn of phrase.'

'Your hurt my feelings, Cousin Lizzy,' the gentleman protested, pressing his hand to his heart.

'You cannot deny it. I have danced with you, and you did not step on my toes even once.'

'That is not the problem, and you know it. It is the cruellest insult to a gentleman to be called harmless.'

'Even if it is true?'

'That makes it worse.'

Before the persiflage could get completely out of hand, Mary regained enough of her composure to say. 'Thank you, Cousin Patrick, I would love to dance with you.'

'At last. A lady who takes pity on me. I shall not be relegated to being a wallflower all night.'

Darcy, who never left Elizabeth's side, laughed at Patrick's statement and countered, 'That has been my prerogative in the past.' Seeing that the whole family was listening to the banter, he glanced at Elizabeth. At her nod, he announced, 'But that is in the past. From now on, I shall always have a lady with whom to dance. Elizabeth has done me the honour and agreed to become my dance partner for life.'

Elizabeth grinned at his phrasing. I have also agreed to become his wife.'

~O~

A couple of hours later, Darcy muttered to Elizabeth, 'Perhaps I should have held off until tomorrow to propose.'

'Or you could have held off announcing our engagement until the end of the ball, then you would not be stuck in this receiving line with me,' Elizabeth replied quietly while there was a brief lull in the arrival of the guests.

Due to their engagement, Isabella had decreed that it would be sensible for Darcy to be introduced as Elizabeth's fiancé to simplify the announcement. While there was a chance that because of that Elizabeth would receive fewer requests for dances, it did not matter to her as she hand enough male relatives, her own and Darcy's, in attendance who would happily stand up with her. Now that Darcy had claimed her last set, Elizabeth had enough partners to fill her dance-card.

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the latest guests, whom Isabella greeted, 'Cordelia, how lovely to see you and your delightful husband.'

'Isabella, it is wonderful to be here and help to celebrate your niece's majority.' She turned to Elizabeth. 'Miss Bennet, my best wishes for your future.' The wish was echoed by her husband.

'Thank you, Lady Worthington, Lord Worthington,' Elizabeth curtsied to the couple.

Isabella smiled at her friends. 'As it happens, we celebrate even more than that. She and Mr Darcy have become engaged today. Do you know Mr Darcy?' She gestured towards the gentleman.

'We have indeed met Mr Darcy. I must congratulate you on your excellent taste.'

'Lord and Lady Worthington, I am pleased to see you again and I thank you. I am most fortunate that Miss Bennet has accepted my proposal,' Darcy greeted them with his best smile.

He was rewarded by a surprised look and a comment, 'Love becomes you,' from Lady Worthington.

They soon moved on as more guests arrived and this conversation was repeated in a similar fashion by each group.

~O~

As it was after eight o'clock and all, but two guest had arrived, Isabella released her victims from the receiving line.

Darcy escorted Elizabeth to the side of the massive foyer where a footman waited with a tray and drinks for each of them. Several chairs had been placed there which were somewhat screened by large pot plants. They were grateful for a brief opportunity to sit after standing still for nearly an hour.

'I think in future I prefer to simply attend balls rather than be the main attraction,' sighed Elizabeth.

'It is called being the guest of honour,' corrected Darcy with a teasing smile.

'You may call it whatever you wish, but I know the truth.'

~O~

A number of guests were still loitering in the foyer, catching up with various friends, when there was a disturbance at the entrance.

Guessing the identity of the latecomer, Elizabeth and Darcy rose for a better look. Seeing Bingley and his sister just inside the entrance, Elizabeth exclaimed, 'Oh, dear lord. For once, the dress she chose is appropriate, but she must be wearing every piece of jewellery she owns.'

Miss Bingley seemed to be displeased with the butler, who blocked her from penetrating further into the room.

'Stand aside for your betters,' Miss Bingley's strident voice cut across the foyer and drew the attention of everyone.

'It seems the entertainment has arrived,' muttered Darcy with a smirk.

~O~