"Girls, girls, your dresses have arrived from the modiste!" Mrs. Gardiner cried as she bustled into the room, the footmen behind her carrying in their arms arms full of the most exquisite looking packages that Lizzy had ever seen.
Not even a full week since their visit to the modiste, and the promised return was here. It was hard for Lizzy to believe that it had only been five days since their arrival.
The time had flown past in a blur of excitement.
Mrs. Gardiner and the girls had begun making calls, visiting the houses of other families in the afternoon hours. Mrs. Gardiner had chosen what she called 'low stakes' calls to make at first, to test the girls out in their deportment, and get them comfortable with the socializing.
Elizabeth, who had always been the most outspoken of her sisters, was amazed to find herself tongue-tied the first few times they called. But something astonishing had occurred, something that was puzzling her.
She had expected Jane, with her beauty, to draw the most attention, but instead, it was her, Elizabeth, that seemed to catch the eye of the others. It was a strange thing, and a little alarming. She had not sought the attention, and she could not figure out why she seemed to catch the eye of the mothers and the daughters. So far Jane had said nothing to it, nor was she likely to, as Jane did not possess an envious bone in her body, but Elizabeth was confused by it all.
And... it made her concerned that Jane might not attract the proper sort of attention that would make this Season a success for her.
Lizzy pushed that thought aside as they all retired upstairs to their rooms, their abigails helping them with their changes into the new dresses. Lizzy could not wait to see hers, and was pleased with the colors the modiste had chosen. The first was a soft green, almost the color of new grass, that brought out her eyes. It had a modest neckline and a fuller skirt.
"What do you think of this?" Elizabeth asked, holding out her arms and looking down at the puffed sleeves.
"You are beautiful, my dear," Mrs. Gardiner said, sitting on the chaise. "I am pleased, Madame has a way with even the simplest fabric to make it look entirely fashionable and up to the minute."
Jane turned, a blush across her cheeks as her abigail tied the laces at the back of her dress, her hair half done.
"And you, my dearest? Are you pleased with your gown?" Aunt Gardiner smiled fondly at her eldest niece.
"She looks a fairy princess," a small voice piped up by the door, tow-headed Emma who had clearly escaped Nanny peeking around the corner. Her big round eyes shifted to glance at Elizabeth. "Oh! And another!"
"You are not supposed to be here," Mrs. Gardiner admonished gently. "Where is Nanny?"
"Upstairs with the babies," Emma said, clearly not including herself in that grouping. She was not one to be put off, and she marched into the room, her eyes darting to Jane. "You are beautiful," she declared, and Jane colored prettily, pulling out a long gauzy wrap in a fine cotton so light it was nearly transparent. She wrapped it around Emma's shoulders, and knotted it at the front. All of them, even the abigails, laughed as Emma twirled in front of the long mirror before she proclaimed herself also to be a fairy queen.
"Ma'am, I'm so sorry," Nanny puffed as she came into the room, to round Emma up, as Elizabeth rescued the wrap from her small fingers.
"It's alright Nanny. We will see you later, Emma, for tea," Mrs. Gardiner promised her daughter, before the girl was ushered from the room.
"Make sure to pick your finest gown for tonight's evening at Ashford House," Mrs. Gardiner reminded Jane and Elizabeth. "You never know who you might meet."
The coach arrived at the large home in the center of the city, set back from the road. A beautifully arched gate admitted their carriage inside, and Elizabeth felt her heart beating faster, fluttering in her chest. Most homes in London seemed barely able to have enough set-back to enjoy a few steps up to the door, but this home... the Dowager clearly had experienced no large downgrade in her lifestyle after her husband had died and their son inherited the title, for a green lawn stretched some fifteen paces toward the house, with immaculately groomed gravel pathways, winter flowers and grasses set along them blooming. Glittering windows glowed with light from within.
Excitement had taken hold of Elizabeth, and she glanced across at Jane, who seemed to be barely suppressing her own emotions. Mrs. Gardiner looked a fine figure as well, and Elizabeth was so grateful to this Dowager she had not met, for outfitting Mrs. Gardiner as she ought to be in light that she would be with the girls for the entire Season. There would be no sneers from ruthless mamas, eager to find any shortcoming and pounce upon it.
The carriage rolled up to the front of the house, and the footman opened the door, setting the steps down. The three of them emerged, and Elizabeth could not help but feel as if she were out of her depths. But she took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders. She would not show weakness or uncertainty, not now.
"Mrs. Gardiner, and Miss Bennets, you are the last to arrive for tonight's gathering, but the most anticipated by far," the butler greeted them, the door opening smoothly before they even had a chance to wait on the lintel. The entryway, as they were ushered inside, was richly paneled and decorated, a wide staircase rising upward from it. "You might find the coat room through here," he said, waiting outside a door to the left as he gestured for them to go inside. Jane pulled on Lizzy's hand, her eyes wide and bright with excitement as they went in, a maid at hand to help them with their pelisses and setting to rights their hair from the coach ride over.
As the maid left them, Mrs. Gardiner gathered her nieces close, taking a hand from each of them and squeezing their fingers in hers gently.
"Luck, tonight, my dearest ones," she whispered, "let us show the Dowager how very right she was to sponsor you both and bestow this blessing on our family." Jane nodded eagerly, and Elizabeth bit her lower lip. It was scarcely to believed, that her life, and her future happiness, were riding on this.
The door opened, and a butler announced, "Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Jane Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
The drawing room sparkled like a jewel box in the sun, and the breath left Elizabeth's body as she looked up. Chandeliers, row after row of them glittered with long tapered candles promising a lengthy evening.
There were more people inside than she had counted on, and Jane fairly trembled beside her as all eyes turned toward them.
A formidable lady in celestial blue was at the center of a knot of other women, and as Mrs. Gardiner turned toward her, Elizabeth knew at once.
This woman was the Dowager Marchioness. Silver and gray hair threaded through her curls, charmingly arranged in a braid, a younger style than Lizzy would have expected for a dowager to wear, but it suited the elder woman.
The ladies around her parted without a word from the Dowager, and she walked toward them. Lizzy held her breath as the Dowager's discerning gaze slid past Mrs. Gardiner, onto Jane.
Elizabeth watched carefully for any hint of disapproval, the slightest arch of an eyebrow or narrowing of lips. She let out the air she'd been holding in when there was nothing. The three of them stopped short, and Mrs. Gardiner dropped into a deep curtsey, Jane following suit and Lizzy quickly did the same.
"Mrs. Gardiner, it is a pleasure to have you join our company tonight," the Dowager said, and Lizzy snuck a glance toward her aunt, and then around the room. All company had ceased to look at the newcomers, and Elizabeth was more grateful than ever that their aunt had seen fit to arrange visits to Madam LaVallier before they went out for their first real evening in town.
The dresses in this room would have cost enough to keep all of Longbourn's tenants in coal for the entire winter, for several years. Jewelry glittered on necks and wrists, dizzying to look at.
"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Bowes, if I might present my nieces, Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
The grand lady cast her eyes over toward the girls again, this time not just looking at Jane, but Lizzy too.
Elizabeth felt the measuring stare and returned it as she rose from a second curtsey, and hoped that even if she was perhaps not up to standard, Jane would be.
But the Dowager allowed a hint of a smile, and Elizabeth felt as if she had stepped into a full beam of sunshine. Warmth flooded her from top to toe.
"They are handsome, as you described well, Mrs. Gardiner," Lady Bowes murmured. "An excellent addition to my little company." She gestured toward the waiting ladies, and beyond them, Lizzy saw a grouping of men gathered near the fireplace, all looking with varying degrees of interest. "Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, you both turn out better than expected, and there will be many introductions to be made. Why don't you come with me? Mrs. Gardiner, you remember Lady Acton…"
Another lady had approached, stepping up to Mrs. Gardiner's side, and despite the difference in their rank, immediately fell into conversation with the girls' aunt like they had been long-time friends.
Jane snuck a startled look at Elizabeth. What kind of company had their aunt come into, that she now walked among the titled and some of them welcomed her as if she belonged?
Heart in her throat, Elizabeth stepped toward Lady Bowes.
"We are grateful that you have sponsored us for the Season, my lady, thank you for the generosity you have shown us so far—"
Lady Bowes held up her hand to forestall any more talk, and Elizabeth snapped her mouth shut.
"Your aunt said you would be a credit to her, and to me, and while looks can deceive, already I believe you will be. Come, let's show you around. I did not spend my late husband's coin on those gowns for them to hide in the shadows," the dowager murmured those last words for the girls' ears alone, and Elizabeth had to fight to contain a laugh. How different the dowager was from her imaginings. Lizzy had thought that she would be more like Lady Lucas, pinched in the face and forever frowning.
Oh, if only Charlotte could be here with them, to see these glittering lights, and experience it alongside the two of them. Anything to rescue her from her bitter, annoyed mama.
"Lizzy, can you even believe it?" Jane whispered to her so softly that Elizabeth could scarcely hear her. But no, it did indeed feel like a dream. Lady Bowes introduced them in a flurry, and to Elizabeth's surprise, not even half of the women there were titled. It set her at ease to be in such mixed company, although as a Mrs. Alscott greeted her with a kind smile and exceptionally refined manners, Lizzy realized that one didn't need a title before a name in order to be as elevated as could be.
"The Bennet girls are here under my patronage this Season," the dowager commented, and there were a few side-glances from some of the younger ladies, the party numbering almost ten in total. One, a Miss Bingley, seemed to almost turn up her nose at that thought, but Elizabeth ignored it as Mrs. Alscott asked her,
"I have never heard of Meryton, but Hertfordshire is a most lovely setting. You must be missing it already, aren't you?"
Lizzy caught Jane looking toward the grouping of men by the fireplace before answering.
"Very much, but we are grateful to Lady Bowes for her sponsorship, and I'm sure we will back in Meryton before we know it."
"Back in Meryton, with your family?" Miss Bingley spoke up, and the sneer that Elizabeth had seen previously re-emerged, this time with a cruel glint in the other girl's eyes. "Not anticipating making a match then, are you?" She smiled, cat-like, and her dress rustled as she walked away.
Mrs. Alscott reached out and put a gentle hand on Lizzy's wrist, just for a moment.
"Careful with that one," Mrs. Alscott's voice was low, "no few of my friend, married, and unmarried, have come to grief for catching her attention." Lizzy's heart squeezed, and her throat went tight, but she nodded and tried to give a comforting smile to the older woman.
At least there were some new friends here, in amongst the unkind and the cruel.
Lizzy moved to the side as some of the women began speaking, and bumped into Jane, who barely seemed to notice her.
"Jane?" Elizabeth glanced at her sister, who's gaze was trained steadily on the men at the fire. "What is it?"
"That man there," Jane murmured, before looking away quickly to smile at her sister. "I am being quite ridiculous, aren't I? But for a moment, I thought he was looking at me…" Elizabeth followed where her sister's gaze had rested, to a gentleman in the knot. He wasn't the tallest of the men, but he did have a shock of blond hair, and when he smiled at the taller brunet gentleman beside him, Elizabeth thought him quite handsome.
Miss Bingley, in her expensive skirts, pricier than the dresses the Bennet girls wore, walked up to the two men, both of whom nodded their heads to her in greeting.
A third man approached, with such an open and cheerful expression on his face, joining them, and Miss Bingley turned to him, linking arms with him in a most intimate fashion.
"Who do you suppose that is?" Jane said, but not quiet enough.
"That is Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley's brother. Their family might not be titled, but his income is substantial, and her dowry should have helped her find a match before now," Mrs. Alscott supplied, an amused look on her face. "But alas, it has not."
"And the men with them?" Jane fidgeted, seemingly almost anxious, and Lizzy fought the urge to comfort her sister.
"The blond man is Colonel Fitzwilliam, cousin to the darker-haired man beside him, Mr. Darcy. The three are fast friends, thick as thieves, it's said, although I personally do not have deep acquaintances with any of them. If they keep company with Miss Bingley, it does not say much for them," Mrs. Alscott murmured, flicking her fan open and giving it a quick flutter. "The Colonel and Mr. Darcy are nephews to the Earl of Matlock, whom you might find around somewhere…"
Elizabeth was about to ask more questions, when the dowager, and Mrs. Gardiner, returned to them.
"There are many more faces for you to become acquainted with," Lady Bowes said, "might I borrow the Bennets from you, Mrs. Alscott?"
"Of course, your ladyship," Mrs. Alscott replied, sweeping her eyes low.
"I am having a salon in a few week's time, so that some of the young ladies of the Ton might present their accomplishments at the pianoforte," Lady Bowes commented as she glided across the floors trailing Jane, and a step behind her, Lizzy. "I would be pleased if the both of you would prepare a performance for it. Miss Bennet, do you find you prefer to play, or to accompany with voice while Miss Elizabeth plays?"
"My sister is quite accomplished as a singer," Lizzy said quickly, a feeling of apprehension growing as they approached the men, and some women, gathered at the fireplace. Surely, they would have to meet these people, it only made sense, but Lizzy felt like there was some way the Bennet sisters would somehow not measure up.
It ate at her.
Whatever happened, she was going to work her hardest to ensure that Jane was displayed to her very best.
"I am looking forward to your presentation," Lady Bowes said, but until then, this evening will have to do to satisfy your desire for society. Soon, everything will be open to you and you'll have the full taste of it. Ah, Colonel Fitzwilliam, may I have your attention for a moment?"
I am so pleased to announce that Duty and Desire is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, and more! You may purchase it right away or wait for a new chapter to be uploaded here. Thank you for all your loving support.
- Nora