Chapter 5

T wo days passed in a whirlwind of preparation and anticipation at the Bennet household. The excitement for the ball at Lucas Lodge permeated the air, with each sister attending to her attire and appearance with meticulous care. Gowns were laid out, hair arranged with ribbons and pins, and each young lady added her final touches, eager to present herself at her best. Mrs. Bennet, full of her usual energy, offered advice and exclamations of approval, her spirits lifted by the hope that her daughters might catch the attention of the finest gentlemen at the assembly.

The evening of the ball arrived, and the Bennet family set out for Lucas Lodge. The grand hall was aglow with the soft radiance of countless candles, casting a warm, inviting sheen over the polished wood floors and the opulently adorned walls. The hum of conversation and laughter filled the room, interspersed with the lively sound of a harpsichord.

Upon their arrival, Lydia and Kitty eagerly dashed off to join Maria Lucas and other friends, who were already engaged in conversation with some militia officers. Mrs. Bennet gravitated towards Lady Lucas, Mrs. Long, and some other women, all ready to share the latest gossip. Elizabeth soon spotted her lifelong friend, Charlotte Lucas, who greeted her warmly. The two friends made their way to a quieter spot at the back of the room, slightly removed from the bustling throng.

Mary, the moralist, shook her head as she watched her younger sisters flock to the militia men but chose to stay near the musicians, content to observe the proceedings with a more critical eye. Jane found a chair closer to her mother where she eased herself while relishing a glass of punch.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet and Sir William Lucas were engaged in conversation near the entrance. "Your daughters look charming tonight, Mr. Bennet," Sir William said jovially. "And I hear your cousin is here as well?"

"Indeed, he is," Mr. Bennet replied with a wry smile. "Allow me to introduce him. Mr. Collins, this is Sir William Lucas."

Mr. Collins, who had been standing sheepishly close to the duo, bowed deeply and greeted Sir William. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir William. This ball is truly a magnificent affair."

"I am glad you approve," Sir William said, extending his hand for a handshake, which Mr. Collins eagerly took.

With a rather foolish smile, Mr. Collins added, "Lady Catherine de Bourgh, my esteemed patroness, would be delighted to witness such a fine display of elegance and decorum."

Sir William, taken aback by the sudden mention of Lady Catherine, responded with polite curiosity. "Lady Catherine de Bourgh, you say? I am not familiar with her."

"Ah, yes. You must forgive Mr. Collins. He is quite devoted to Lady Catherine, who seems to have made quite an impression on him. But please, pay no mind to his frequent references to her. It is merely the enthusiasm of a loyal subject." Mr. Bennet, his eyes twinkling with amusement, interjected.

Mr. Collins, undeterred, continued, "Lady Catherine often speaks of the importance of social gatherings as key to promoting community spirit and proper connections. She would find this assembly most agreeable."

"Indeed, Mr. Collins. One must always strive to meet the high standards set by such noble personages." Mr. Bennet, with a dry smile, added.

Sir William, now understanding the situation, nodded appreciatively, though still somewhat bewildered by the fervour with which Mr. Collins spoke of his patroness.

Seated in their secluded corner, Elizabeth and Charlotte conversed in low tones, audible above the music.

"How are you, Charlotte?" Elizabeth inquired with genuine concern. "How have you been fairing?"

"I am well, thank you, Lizzy. Life has been pretty much the same. And how have you been? I hear there have been quite a few new faces at Longbourn." Charlotte smiled.

Elizabeth chuckled. "Indeed, our lives have become quite eventful. We have had three gentlemen make their acquaintance. Mr. Collins, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "I have heard of Mr. Collins and his sweet way of flattery, which is not surprising for someone in the parsonage. His said constant references to a Lady Catherine de Bourgh are however quite amusing."

"I see rumours travel fast." Elizabeth said, "Yes, Mr. Collins does have a way of entwining Lady Catherine into every conversation. He speaks of her as if she were royalty." Elizabeth laughed softly.

"And Mr. Bingley?" Charlotte asked with a knowing smile. "He seems to have made quite an impression."

Elizabeth nodded. "My mother is rather taken by him and is hopeful that he will call on us soon. He has met your father and called on you once, has he not?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes, he has. Has he done the same for you?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, it was Mr. Darcy who stumbled upon our house while trying to find his way to Mr. Bingley's house. That was the reason my father went to Netherfield. According to Papa, Mr. Bingley appears to be a gentleman, but his sisters seem rather off."

Charlotte looked thoughtful. "I have heard about Mr. Darcy as well. My mother was speaking with Mrs. King, and it seems he is said to be very successful."

"Success does not necessarily signify good character. When he first visited our estate, his manner was distant and far from agreeable," Elizabeth remarked, dismissing the notion with a wave of her hand, Mr. Wickham's warning suddenly echoing in her mind.

Charlotte nodded in understanding. "True, Lizzy. It is often the case that success and wealth do not always align with amiability."

The two friends were still laughing on the subject when Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy made their entrance, immediately drawing the attention of many. Within the first five minutes of their appearance, Bingley, with his easy smile and affable manner, greeted everyone warmly. In contrast, Darcy maintained his usual reserve. The Bingley sisters, Caroline and Louisa, resplendent in their fashionable gowns, accompanied them. Their expressions, a blend of pride and condescension, suggested they viewed the assembly with an air of superiority, as if the company were beneath their standard.

Mr. Bingley was all affability and charm, his warm greetings earning smiles from every direction. Several mothers, eager to secure a match for their daughters, attempted to catch his attention with welcoming smiles and polite curtsies. Mr. Darcy, however, kept to himself, staying closer to the door and maintaining his distance, only exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Bennet, Sir William, and sparing Mr. Collins a few minutes of conversation.

The older women of Meryton, who were gathered in clusters, whispered animatedly. "Did you hear? Mr. Darcy called on the Bennets first," one lady remarked, her eyes wide with the thrill of gossip. "They say he has a fortune of ten thousand a year."

"Indeed," another replied. "It is speculated that he has gone to see Mr. Bennet about one of his daughters."

A number of them debated the veracity of this claim, while others considered its likelihood. Mrs. Bennet, perceiving how this rumour could elevate her daughters' prospects in the eyes of any gentleman, saw no need to correct the misconception.

As the whispers grew louder, Darcy who had also heard the rumour, found himself wondering why neither Mrs. Bennet nor her husband had made any attempt to correct the misconception. Surely, since he was aware of these rumors, they must have heard them too. Yet, no effort had been made to dispel the false impressions spreading through the room, leaving Darcy to contemplate the implications of their silence.

Meanwhile, the Bingley sisters, with their manner of condescension, surveyed the room with expressions of both interest and disdain. Caroline Bingley, in particular, seemed to take pleasure in observing the lively assembly, her eyes occasionally flickering towards Mr. Darcy with a possessive gleam.

As the music began to play, signalling the start of the dances, Mr. Bingley made his way towards Mrs. Bennet. With a polite bow, he requested the honour of dancing the first set with Jane. Mrs. Bennet, beaming with pride, eagerly accepted on her daughter's behalf, and Jane, blushing with pleasure, took Mr. Bingley's arm and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.

Elizabeth watched with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction as her sister was escorted by the amiable Mr. Bingley. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy remained by the door, observing the scene with his usual detachment. His eyes occasionally swept the room, but he made no move to engage in the festivities.

Lydia, with her characteristic exuberance, found herself dancing with one of the militia men, while Kitty danced the first set with Mr. Collins. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at the sight, knowing how much it delighted her younger sisters.

As the first dance commenced, one thing was soon obvious to those in the assembly who watched with keen interest. Mr. Bingley and Jane moved gracefully through the set, their evident enjoyment of each other's company becoming the subject of approving whispers among the guests.

For the second set, Mr. Bingley once again chose Jane as his partner, much to Mrs. Bennet's delight. Lydia and Kitty each danced with different militia men, while Mr. Collins, with a look of determined politeness, asked Charlotte to dance. Elizabeth, however, remained seated, having been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances.

Throughout the first two sets, Mr. Darcy appeared resolute in his determination to engage with no one, his gaze briefly alighting on the dancers before returning to the landscape outside, as if something of great importance had captured his attention there. The guests began murmuring about Mr. Darcy's apparent pride and his refusal to dance with anyone, noting his indifference even as he evidently overheard their conversations.

Observing the laughter and the clear admiration Mr. Bingley showed for the eldest Bennet sister, one of the women soon started a rumour that Mr. Darcy's intentions must be directed towards Elizabeth. However, another questioned why, if that were the case, he had not asked her to dance.

The persistence of these rumours however, began to kindle a slow-burning anger within Darcy. How easily the people formed opinions, and how carelessly they spread them without concern for truth, made his blood boil. Darcy's irritation grew, particularly as he caught Elizabeth Bennet's eyes more than once.

Her gaze, while not unkind, held a certain inscrutability that reminded him of the mystery that had first intrigued him when he saw her. Yet, he could not help but wonder why she was watching him so intently—or why she, too, made no effort to correct the falsehoods circulating about him. Did she find some amusement in his discomfort? The thoughts unsettled him, leaving him to question not just the behaviour of those around him, but also the true nature of the Elizabeth Bennet.

When there was a break for the second set, Elizabeth found herself sitting close enough to overhear a conversation between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, who had stepped away from the dance floor for a few minutes to urge his friend to join in.

Come, Darcy," urged Bingley, "you must dance. There are plenty of pretty girls here tonight that are lovely to dance with."

"You know I do not like partaking in such amusements, Bingley," Darcy replied coolly.

"But surely, Darcy, you can make an exception tonight," Bingley insisted. "There are many lovely ladies present, including the Bennet sisters."

Darcy remained unmoved. "You forget that I have already had the misfortune of meeting the Bennet family even before you. Your charming companion is the only one of the group who is tolerable. The others are hardly worth noting."

Caroline Bingley, who had been listening with evident interest, interjected with a sly smile, "I thought, Mr. Darcy, that you might have taken a liking to the Bennet sisters, given that some are already saying you have eyes for Miss Elizabeth."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet?" Darcy's response was measured. "I can assure you, Caroline, that aside from thanking their father, who seems to be a man of kind heart despite his incessant jest, there is nothing about the family which I find agreeable. Her sisters are silly, and her mother is overly familiar. She is surely not handsome enough to entice me."

Elizabeth felt her face flush with a mix of embarrassment and indignation. She gritted her teeth as a surge of anger coursed through her. She could hardly believe the audacity of Mr. Darcy's words and the coldness with which he dismissed her and her family.

"Come now, Darcy, surely you exaggerate," said Mr. Bingley, attempting to cool the tension. "There are many fine qualities among the Bennets."

But Darcy remained firm. "I speak only the truth, Bingley. Now, if you will excuse me, I have no desire to engage in this tiresome assembly any further."

Caroline Bingley smirked, clearly pleased with Darcy's disdainful remarks. Her sister, Louisa, smiled condescendingly at Elizabeth as she watched her face go red.