"Come stand with me, Miss Elizabeth, it should not be just your sister on display tonight to advantage," the Dowager said as they walked into the drawing room of the great house. The ceilings soared above them, and it was quite grand for a drawing room, even by the upper echelons of the Ton's standards, and Lizzy was quite in awe they were even here. The Dowager's salon was planned for the evening's entertainment meant to be hosted in her great and lovely house, and Elizabeth and Jane had been included among the party, with a pianoforte moved into the drawing room for the very occasion.
"I am sure you have not had so many opportunity to greet guests as they come in," Lady Bowes said to Elizabeth, "but let tonight be an opportunity for you to learn, as I am sure whatever household you end up as mistress of will afford you many evenings like this one." She eyed up her young charge and smiled. "Yes, you cut quite a figure. Madame LaVallier has dressed you perfectly."
Lizzy felt the hint of a blush warm her cheeks, as Jane joined them, and the two sisters stood by the Dowager's side. The room was slowly filling with the crème of the Ton's society, and there were a fair number of admiring glances thrown in the sisters' direction. Women and men entered, couples, and some singles, mostly other young women accompanied by their mamas.
"Lady Fox, welcome, good evening, and your daughter, Miss Fox, a pleasure, might I introduce to you Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet?" The Dowager gestured toward the girls, who curtseyed to the new arrivals. Miss Fox eyed up Jane, with something akin to a predatory look that made her very like her surname, before finding a place in the room. "That one has an eye for which young ladies are to be her competition, for this is her third season out, and she is quite nearly on the shelf, poor thing," Lady Bowes murmured to Lizzy. There were a blur of faces, and introductions, before she turned and nearly gasped.
"Mr. Darcy, how pleasing that you should have accepted my invitation, I know your aunt fancies herself to be quite the appreciator of music, and I suppose you are as well?"
Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat as he bowed to the Dowager and her charges.
"It was my honor to be invited, and... while I cannot claim to the same prowess in musical study as my aunt, I have always found myself to enjoy the sounds of the pianoforte, and the harp."
"Oh, and we have both," Lady Bowes said cheerfully, gesturing toward the back of the room. "But I hope you can find some time to appreciate Miss Elizabeth Bennet on the pianoforte, as she will be playing for us this evening."
Mr. Darcy's eyes flicked to meet Lizzy's, and while she saw no smile on his face, there was a hint of interest in his expression that... made her wonder.
"Indubitably, she will at equal measures impress and inspire jealousy to the young ladies of the Ton," he murmured, before moving on. Following him was Mr. Bingley, who's eyes alighted on Jane and fairly lit from within.
"I hear that we will have the pleasure of Miss Elizabeth playing, but what of you Miss Bennet?" He asked eagerly.
"I shall have to spend my time appreciating the playing, rather than performing, Mr. Bingley, for my sister plays so much better than I do, but perhaps we can discuss it afterwards? If you... are amenable to that?" She asked. Mr. Bingley beamed, and when he left, Lady Bowes whispered in Elizabeth's ear,
"There is more than a hint of interest there, is there not? But is it returned by your sister? For a handsome match there could be a boon to all of your fortunes," she said, and Lizzy couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her.
"I should hope that is not the only reason she would encourage Mr. Bingley, that our fortunes would be lifted by him. It is a true love match I seek for my sister," she replied back and Lady Bowes raised an eyebrow.
"Discerning, and wise, although having spoken to your uncle, it will be difficult for a man to overlook certain things if he is wise to account books," the Dowager said, but not unkindly. "Have you much worry about it holding your aims for your sister back?"
Lizzy knew exactly of what the Dowager spoke. There were sure to be many more, almost all, girls in the Ton with far greater doweries to offer than either Bennet girl.
"I must only hope that he, or any suitor, is so dazzled by her beauty and good heart, that they forget all about the account books," she said drily, prompting a hearty chuckle from the Dowager.
"A wit, and more, aren't you?" She asked, before turning back to continue greeting guests, among whom included Miss Bingley, accompanied by her sister Mrs. Hurst. It was the first time Lizzy had the misfortune to meet the older sister, and from the way the woman's lip curled, she clearly carried the same unpleasant countenance as Miss Bingley.
Thankfully there were ever more people to greet, and after that, light conversation to be had, and a few drinks poured out.
"I am surprised at how many people are here," Lizzy said, and Jane smiled.
"The Dowager is a popular figure," she replied, and Lizzy nodded. "We are lucky that such a woman took us under her patronage, Lizzy, I still can scarce believe it. Are you nervous to play?"
The room was thronged with people, and there was a way already clear to the pianoforte, but Elizabeth had yet to take her place at it. She was surely not as good as any number of young women in the Ton, but...
As she lifted her head, she found herself under scrutiny, by Mr. Darcy. She met his gaze steadily.
"Not nervous at all," Elizabeth said, lifting her chin. She would show them, one and all, that she belonged there, and prove to the Dowager that the woman's trust in sponsoring them had not been misplaced.
She took her seat at the pianoforte and inhaled slowly, letting the room fall away from her, and began to play, letting her fingers cast across the ivory keys with abandon. She poured her heart into her music, losing herself to the rhythm of the piece, her soul singing with every note she hit. The pain at missing her parents, especially her father, came in the low notes, thundering with the agony of being far away and not able to exchange glances with him at his other daughter's antics. Her nerves at being out in a society that did not want someone of her birth came in the high notes, shivering in the boldness of her delight and vulnerability at being so exposed all at once.
And when the song was done, the room fell silent, and Elizabeth's breath was stolen.
The first one to speak, was not the Dowager, but Mr. Darcy, and it shocked her when she looked up to find him merely feet from her.
"Excellently done," he said, looking as nearly stunned as she. He clapped, suddenly, and all around her the room burst into applause, far outstripping what she believed to be her talent and ability, but she blushed to receive it all the same.
"Thank you," she said softly, and he gave her a half-smile before turning to greet the next young lady that took a seat at the instrument. Elizabeth could only walk away, dumbfounded, to find herself offered a glass of lemonade by a young man who's name escaped her, she was so struck by the reaction to her performance, both from the room... and from Mr. Darcy.
The Dowager's drawing room looked quite different in the light of afternoon, but the pianoforte remained, on display and prepared for a young lady to play at.
"To remind your callers of your exceptional performance," Lady Bowes commented when Lizzy glanced at it, before taking a seat. Mrs. Gardiner had brought her, and Jane, over for the day's calling period, so that the Dowager might better guide their introduction to other members to the Ton.
Elizabeth could not stop amazing at their excellent luck, and had wanted to ask her aunt again, what had been done that the Dowager felt she owed such a debt as to help out the Bennet sisters in this way.
But now was not the time.
Mrs. Gardiner took a chair by the window, while Jane, Lizzy, and the Dowager all sat in sofas facing the door.
"We shall see a fair amount of visits today, and then a private dinner," Lady Bowes mused, "I am much please with the two of you. Your aunt did not lie, you comport yourself prettily for girls who had no benefit of a governess."
Lizzy smiled and Jane looked pleased, gazing down at her embroidery.
The footman entered shortly after, tray in hand, announcing a Lady Gage, a kindly woman who looked at the girls with interest but did not enquire too much about them.
"Lady Gage has a daughter your age, Miss Elizabeth, I am certain she arrived to make your acquaintance," the Dowager said as Lady Gage made her leave, and Jane and Lizzy exchanged glances.
"But why should she be interested in us?" Jane wondered aloud.
"Why, because you are the most interesting young ladies in the room, and you shall soon become the most popular. And when you do, you mustn't forget those who were kind enough to visit you early, and remember them as friends," the Dowager said with a knowing smile. The footman entered into the room once again, silver tray in hand. Lady Bowes looked amused at the cards on display. "Now, it is Miss Bingley, and her sister, Mrs. Hurst."
Lizzy felt her spine stiffen. She was not certain that Miss Bingley and her sister were the type of people who could ever be considered friends.
"Shall we have them in, or not?" Lady Bowes looked about the room. "I feel rather occupied at the moment.
"You cannot mean to send them away! You would not cut them so obviously?" Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed, her shock apparent, but the Dowager Marchioness smiled with amusement, and in that moment Lizzy saw the glint of a very sharp woman under the manners and genteel graces.
"I would not, but it has come to my ears that Miss Bingley speaks very poorly of Miss Elizabeth and Miss Jane, and I do not like those who do not mind their tongues, or their opinions."
Lizzy found herself smiling, and beside her, Jane bit her lip, trying not to look too pleased.
"I shall allow the girls to decide," Lady Bowes said, glancing at Jane, then Lizzy.
"I should not turn them away," Jane said immediately, although Lizzy took a moment to think on it.
"It is important to be the model of behavior you wish to see in others," Lizzy said after a thought. "We should accept them."
Mrs. Gardiner held her breath, until the Dowager smiled broadly, and Lizzy realized they had passed a test of some sort.
"Excellent, girls, yes, show them in," she commanded the footman. In came the two other sisters, curtseying and murmuring thank yous at being welcomed. Miss Bingley looked about the room, her expression one of haughty appraisal.
"Good afternoon," Miss Bingley said, "I hope you are doing well today, your ladyship."
"I am very well, thank you. And how do you fare, Miss Bingley? Mrs. Hurst?" Lady Bowes asked, and the sisters nodded and murmured.
"We are quite well, thank you. We came to inquire, if we could have the privilege of properly meeting the two newest members of the Ton? It is ever so busy at salons and dinner parties, we scarcely had a chance to know them prior to this." Miss Bingley looked directly at Lizzy, although Mrs. Hurst seemed focused on Jane. Lizzy felt as if she were a vole being eyed up by a fox, and that Miss Bingely in actuality sought to find out her weaknesses.
"Certainly," the Dowager said, "for you are both here. May I introduce Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Miss Jane Bennet?"
Lizzy and Jane both rose and curtseyed, and Miss Bingley's gaze stayed attached to Lizzy as she smiled, seemingly pleased at what she found there. They made polite conversation, and the dowager gave no hint that she had been on the cusp of refusing the two entry into her drawing room, a remarkable feat.
Mrs. Bennet was not at the same level of adept skill as the dowager when it came to hiding her feelings, and Lizzy was grateful to be able to learn such discretion at Lady Bowe's side.
"Miss Elizabeth?" Miss Bingley calling her attention made Lizzy realize that she had stopped listening, and had been lost in her thoughts.
"Oh, I apologize, I was woolgathering. What were you saying?" Lizzy asked, and Miss Bingley's smile seemed to grow wider, pleased at such a lapse.
"I was wondering to which pianoforte master you owe your credible performance to at the salon the other evening? I had not heard of one in all of Hertfordshire that could boast to teaching a student with such skill?" While it was a compliment, Lizzy could clearly hear the venom in Miss Bingley's voice, and she chose her words carefully.
"Oh, my mother taught me. She was ever so proficient at the instrument, and I had a natural inclination toward the notes, or so she claimed," Elizabeth said, and beside her, the Dowager Marchioness gave her a side-long look.
"Your mother? No master? No governess, either?" Miss Bingley asked, and Lizzy could see the clear trap that the girl was setting for her.
Alas, Miss Bingley did not see the very trap she was setting for herself in the same sweep.
"No, myself and my sisters kept my mother busy with our education, we did not have the opportunity for a governess, and as you've said, masters at the pianoforte are hard to come by in Hertfordshire," Lizzy started, and Miss Bingley fairly salivated at this tidbit, at least, until Lizzy continued. "But I clearly did not feel the lack of such instruction, as you stated, my performance was credible and I demonstrate skill enough at the pianoforte to impress."
"Yes, only imagine if you'd had a master to teach you," the dowager commented, "Mr. Darcy hardly contained himself the other night, what might he have done if you'd had more tutelage? Make an offer immediately and right there in front of my entire salon?" Lady Bowes smiled at Lizzy, while Miss Bingley looked like someone had dumped a basket of angry cats in her lap, and said nothing else for the short remainder of their calling time, before hastily leaving barely saying goodbye to Lizzy on the way out.
"Well done, Elizabeth," the dowager murmured to her before their next caller arrived, patting her on the hand with kind affection, "only leave yourself vulnerable to a viper if you already have it by the throat. Very, very well done."
The footman entered, tray in hand, and as the dowager glanced at it, her eyes lit up with joy.
"Yes, yes, bring them in," she said, and in walked the Duchess of Newcastle, and her daughter, Lady Emmeline.
"Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennet," Emmeline gushed as the old women talked, "I am so grateful to see you both, let's practice our duet, shall we, Miss Elizabeth?"
Lizzy's heart swelled with joy, and she went to the pianoforte, wondering at the marvel that her life was becoming.
I am so sorry I was unable to update last week, it had been a horrid time of travel for me in urgency. I hope you are all so very well!
Nora