Hepatica stood above the entrance hall watching Padfoot and Aunt Maria, or Lord and Lady Matlock as she is supposed to remember to call them in public, greeting so many people around at the receiving line. Before the start of the Ball and she was introduced to the masses as 'Lady Hepatica Potter of De Miroe'. Then soon after being paraded around on the arm of Theo – Danville, she really had to remember their public names. It was a tedious time, many young men and married older ones too, complimented her, kissed her hand or pretended to and smiled a smarmy smile like the one Malfoy used to when trying to appear affable.
Luckily it was only for 45 minutes. The last people she greeted was two of her cousins, the Crowned Prince and Regent, George, and his brother the next in line, Frederick. Who both managed to get 2 of her early dances as a show of welcome since their parents weren't able to come. They wouldn't be staying the whole ball and leaving just after the Supper set.
Spending only a few moments before the start of the dancing talking with Georgie, Jane and Lizzy. Danville was constantly by her side introducing any that came up to her letting all four of the ladies' dance cards soon becoming full, right before the first sounds of the band starting up. Mr Darcy came to collect Hepatica for the first dance and placed them at the top of the dance line as the guest of honor for the ball.
Nothing of note happened besides being a fun night. Full of laughing and dancing. Having a pleasant dinner partner in Mr Darcy he didn't seem to mind when they talked about innovations like the railway and the steam engine and where something like that could be used with, getting to know a few of her cousins, they were polite and kind to her even with their rumored gambling rakish-like ways. Even if it was hard to really talk to them when surrounded by others while dancing. It was nice.
Jane danced 2 prominent dances and one inconsequential dance with Moore and even one with Danville to show family support to the 'match' as 3 dances was practically a declaration. Lizzy managed to find a pleasant supper partner in a, Mr De'Ville, an acquaintance of the Colonels. Georgie was also glad all her important dances were already covered by the males in the family and partnered with her cousin the Colonel for supper. She really had no interest in having it seen she was interested in anyone just yet. Like Hepatica she didn't feel the need to be married just because she as now 'out'.
Hepatica exhibited along with many other young ladies after supper, playing a pleasant short piece that she knew both Matlock and Danville enjoyed reminiscent of Blossom Dearies version from the 1960's, 'Someone the watch over me'.
She had even made the acquaintance of a few other ladies that had more in their head than gossip and lace that she wouldn't mind getting to know better, including Miss Harrow the young girl that intrigued her while taking her curtsy. Ending the night pleasantly, dancing the final with Danville at 3am marking the start of The/her 'Season'.
The days after the ball were something Hepatica could do without, the waiting at home while gentleman after gentleman came to talk to her. A few weren't bad conversationalists, open to talking about something other than the weather or fashion. But most left a lot to be desired, being so full of their own self worth. And they said gentlemen were more educated than women in this age being sent off to some of the best school like Oxford or Harvard. That those inoculate conversations about superficial things would get a woman to like them enough to want to marry them. Hepatica didn't see it and she had the most basic of muggle educations herself.
Not that she was looking for a partner, but she also couldn't come out and declare she had no intention of marriage to anyone. According to Aunt Maria it was important not to burn the bridge over the roses and water them every now and then, even if she didn't plan on picking any. Or something along those lines.
A pleasant regular visitor was Mr Darcy, he really was turning into an invaluable friend. Always there at a function she was also invited to and willing to offer a dance or to take her away from an undesirable conversation, they didn't always dance two dances and he didn't always get a prominent one but more often than not she would close with him or manage supper set. Even Colonel Fitzwilliam would help and keep the people that got too close away and was a nice dancer too, always helping when Darcy was busy. They must be tag teaming supervising her.
A week after the ball Danville rode on to Longbourne to get permission/blessings from Mr Bennet. Arriving back late the same day and giving Jane and Lizzy more time in London for the engagement he had asked of Jane the day after Hepatica's ball. Though it was only for another month as all three girls would be going back along with the Gardiners for Mary's wedding that crept up on them, her quiet courtship and engagement to the young handsome newly elevated Rector at Meryton taking the town by surprise. Moore was planning a way for himself to be able to follow Jane to Longborne to continue their engagement which was hoping lead to a wedding to be scheduled in 6 weeks after Mary's.
Hepatica had the idea of taking over the rental from Mr Bingley if he had no intention of resuming his stay in the county. Though Moore felt weird asking him when he was engaged to the woman Bingley showed favor to. She instead asked Mr Philips to find a short term stay of 4 months near Longborne. Purvis lodge was willing to do a short term stay of 6 months for them for the time of Jane and Moore's engagement since they would be moving into their country estate in Sussex after the wedding.
Hepatica was happy to be the Hostess for Moore with Georgie accompanying them, Theo and Padfoot would stop in regularly when Parliament would allow it being only an easy 3-4 hour trip on a nice day. Even Mr Darcy would stop in since his sister was staying with them. It was also a great excuse to end the season in London early which she was happy for, even if Aunt Maria wasn't. For though the odd dinner and Ball was nice it still annoyed her tremendously as people kept trying to unsubtly get close to her. Most men she knew only wanted her money, made clear by their comments on how she needed help to manage it or something else derogatory but was considered normal in this day and age.
She might not have had a large muggle education but she remembered enough to know where stable businesses would be to invest with and was happy having the control over her own finances. With Darcy, the Colonel and even Moore also starting to take her investments seriously and invest themselves. Considering most of those that made the insinuation the men she did trust would usually tell her how they liked to spend their money and though they had titles or decent estates they had very little in the coffers. No rake was going to get access to her money to gamble away while she was forced to stay home and pump out baby's.
Georgiana felt the same way. She also felt too young to want to marry in her first season even if one or two of the men that called regularly seemed nice. She was of the opinion that if they were sincere they would still be available and pay court next season too, men had that luxury to wait longer than women usually. Two weeks before they were to return to Hertfordshire, Mrs Bennet sent Mary to London to shop for her Trousseau, at Hepatica's insistence. Hepatica adding to the amount Mr Bennet gave her for shopping claiming it as her wedding present, finding outfits and a dress that would look beautiful and be changed easily to be functional for a Rectors wife. A Married woman as part of the community as a Pastors' wife would need a respectable wardrobe, according to Aunt Maria and Mrs Gardiner. Along with a pretty upright piano that would fit nicely in the modest house they would be living in.
It felt like time went quickly before they were in the Danville carriage big enough to comfortably fit the 5 of them with Moore riding along side and a servants carriage following behind before breaking off and making it's way to Purvis Lodge while the ladies went on to Longborne.
There was a moment of nostalgia that hit Hepatica in the chest listening to Mrs Bennet's enthusiasm of their arrival. She had lot to be happy about. Her middle daughter to be married and her eldest finally engaged, and to a Viscount no less. Hepatica, Georgie and Moore stayed for tea and a recounting of all the gatherings and excitement she they had missed. She was happy to see Lydia and Kitty were still calmer than when she first met them. Not even getting upset at the militia leaving, they'd rather wait to have a season in town after Jane is married. They also got along with Georgie as well being on a nickname basis by the end of the tea.
Soon the Wedding was on them, Mary looked a wonder as beautiful as any of her sisters could be. Hepatica thought it had to do with the genuine smile on her face. Mrs Bennet prepared a feast worthy of a wedding. Before the couple set off for 2 weeks in Bath for their honeymoon. Not before Hepatica promised to hold a ball at Purvis lodge once they had returned. She really did enjoy this smaller town setting.