Chapter 30

A note arrived from Lord and Lady Jersey requesting the Bennets and Gardiners arrive an hour earlier than the time listed on the invitation. It stated, in light of the courtship of their son and Miss Bennet, they would like to meet the family before the Bennets made their way through the receiving line.

It was not a hardship to arrive earlier so the residents of Gardiner House who were attending the ball began their preparations that much sooner. Even though she was not attending the event per se , Lilly was as excited as if she was to participate in the ball and would be dancing the night away. She was hoping a friendship between her and Lady Alicia would be born.

The Bennet sisters were all wearing new gowns Madam Chambourg had created for them. The fabric, satin, was the same and the cuts were similar, but the colours suited each of the girl's skin tones. Jane's gown was a shade of pale peach, Elizabeth's a hunter green, and Mary's was a deep burgundy. All three had a string of pearls adorning her neck with matching earrings. A big difference was their coiffures. Jane's hair was swirled atop her head, Lizzy had curling tendrils of her raven-coloured hair framing the sides and back of her head and her maid had created an intricate style with the rest of her hair. Mary had the simplest coiffure with the bulk of her hair in a loose plait which was pinned up at the back while her fringe adorned her forehead.

Seeing her older cousins' gowns excited the anticipation for Lilly as she thought of all the ensembles she would see at Jersey House. As there were eight people on their way to the De Melville's house, both a Gardiner and a Bennet coach were utilised. Bennet, Cilla, Jane, and Mary rode together while Lizzy joined the Gardiners.

The ride to Grosvenor Square was barely a half mile so it felt as if they arrived almost as soon as they departed from Portman Square. Thankfully there was no long line of carriages as one would expect when arriving at the time they originally would have. There was one coach ahead of them, but by the time the Gardiner equipage—which was in the lead—approached the house, the one ahead had been moved.

Light was pouring from every window turning the area in front of the house to almost daylight. As soon as the conveyances halted, footmen extended the steps and the doors were opened.

Jane was both in anticipation and a little apprehensive at the same time. What if Wes's parents did not like and accept her? Would that doom her courtship before it really started? Jane stopped the dark thoughts as she reminded herself of what Wes had said about their children's happiness being paramount to his parents. She knew she was being a silly goose so Jane concentrated on the pleasure she would feel when she saw Wes.

She did not have long to wait. The butler announced them and no sooner had he completed doing so and moved out of the way, when Wes was at her side. "Come Jane, my parents want to meet this wonderous women who has excited my interest. He led Jane towards two elegant looking couples.

"Mother and Father, cousins, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce Miss Jane Bennet to you, Miss Bennet, my mother Lady Sarah De Melville, the Countess of Jersey and my father, Lord Cyril De Melville, the Earl of Jersey. My cousins are Lady Rose Rhys-Davies, the Duchess of Bedford, and her husband Lord Sedgewick Rhys-Davies, the Duke of Bedford. Mother, Father, and cousins, Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire."

Jane gave a deep curtsy and was joined by her Bennet family who were introduced as well.

"Son you forget Bedford and I met Miss Bennet at Gardiner's office," Lord Jersey reminded his son.

"As that was the day I met Jane…Miss Bennet, I could never forget. It was easier to introduce her to everyone," Westmore stated smugly. "Now if you will excuse me, I would like to introduce Miss Bennet to Rebecca, as she has already met Birchington."

While introductions were being made, Madeline accompanied Lilly to Lady Alicia's chambers. It was a matter of minutes before the two girls seemed like they had been friends for years. Madeline left a happy Lilly under the supervision of Lady Alicia's companion and a maid and made her way back downstairs to the drawing room where the before ball aperitif was being enjoyed.

By the time she returned to the room, the Fitzwilliams and a family with whom she was unfamiliar, the Carringtons, had arrived. Unsurprisingly, Mary was with Richard, their heads together in conversation.

Elizabeth found the Marquess and Marchioness of Birchington to be stimulating conversationalists judging by the wide variety of subjects they discussed, from the war to books they had read in common. She felt an affinity to Lady Rebecca who like herself was no shrinking violet. Elizabeth mused that a man who did not stifle her opinions and was not threatened by her intelligence, like Lord Birchington treated his wife, was the type of man who she would need to find in order to be happy in matrimony. That, and a deep abiding love and respect between them, was something else she saw in the couple before her.

Knowing his parents wanted to get to know Jane before the ball, Westmore led her back to them after they had greeted the new arrivals. After some discussion and questions which went both ways, the Earl and Countess were convinced the lady before them would make their son happy and would one day be their daughter. They heartily approved of their son's choice.

Now that all of her irrational fears had been assuaged, Jane concentrated on enjoying the ball and looked forward to her two sets with Wes.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Thanks to their early arrival, those who had been in the drawing room were shown directly into the ballroom when Lord and Lady Jersey took up their station to form the receiving line.

As Richard was engaged to Mary, he had the pleasure of writing his name in for the three principal sets, he also reserved one each from Jane and Lizzy. Jane's suitor also took one of the sisters' open sets. By the time the men they had met prior to the ball had all made requests, none of the Bennet sisters had many available sets. Elizabeth was the only one who had not her first two dances spoken for yet.

It did not take long before a good representation of the upper ten thousand were filing into Jersey House. Much to Lilly's pleasure, besides the fact she and Alli were already on familiar name terms, her new friend showed her a spot where they could sit and watch those attending the ball as they wended their way through the receiving line. Unless one knew where to look, those waiting to enter the ballroom did not know they were being observed. Lady Jersey was fully aware her youngest would be watching, and looked up at her and her new friend. She gave them an indulgent smile and returned to her duties.

It took close to an hour until the final guests made their way into the ballroom. The two excited girls who had been looking at the fashions and jewels returned to Lady Alicia's suite to excitedly chatter about all they had observed .

In the ballroom, many men, both single and married, sought introductions to the three previously unknown beauties. One was the lady they had read about who was engaged to Richard Fitzwilliam while the other two seemed unattached. The Bennet sisters' dance cards were speedily filled up. In the end Elizabeth would dance the first with an aging, but harmless looking, baronet who reminded her a lot of Sir William Lucas.

It was by far the largest ballroom she had ever seen. Elizabeth estimated the assembly hall in Meryton would fit into this space a minimum of five times.

Bennet and Gardiner led their respective wives to the line forming for the first set. Neither couple danced as much as they did when they were younger, however, at any ball or assembly they attended, they danced at least twice with their respective spouses. Thankfully as married ladies, they did not worry about having to sit out if they refused any offers to dance. As it was, if they did not want to dance a set, both Cilla and Maddie would demur in a way which never gave offence to the man requesting.

Not a few eyebrows were raised, and there was much whispering behind fans when Lord Westmore led the exquisite blonde, who was identified as Miss Bennet, out for the first set. He usually made a point not to dance the significant sets unless with a married lady or family member. The whispering reached a fever pitch when the Viscount partnered the same lady for the supper set. Never had they seen him dance a second set with any lady, not even a family member!

The questions were answered when Lord Jersey announced that his son was in an official courtship with Miss Jane Bennet. Many jealous unmarried women looked to find fault in the lady who had succeeded where they had failed, and when they could find none, they disliked her even more! The problem not only was now the lady was connected to the De Melvilles, but she in turn was also connected to the Fitzwilliams thanks to the sister's engagement—in addition, the two former families were closely connected to the Rhys-Davies, Carringtons, and Winstons, to mention just a few. They would have to hate and be envious of her in silence. To go against some of the most powerful families in the Ton , seeing that Lady Jersey was a patroness of Almack's, would be social suicide.

During the evening the Countess of Jersey introduced the three Bennet sisters to four of her fellow patronesses—Countess Lieven, Princess Esterhazy, Lady Sefton, and Lady Cowper—who were present at her ball. All uniformly approved of the young ladies so, vouchers to Almack's—if they desired them—were assured.

When the final set of the night was called by Lady Jersey, as much as Jane and Westmore would have wanted to dance together, they both sat out and used the time to talk with one another. With the volume of noise in the ballroom it was not always easy to hear what the other was saying, but the most important thing is they were close one to the other. Without telling the other, each one felt themselves inching closer to falling off the precipice of love.

Before the ball, Jane had told Wes she intended to remain with the Gardiners until her two sisters returned from Kent after Easter when they would all make for Longbourn to prepare for Mary's wedding. He was more than pleased she would be in London for another three months.

Westmore had a feeling it would not be long before their status changed from courting to engaged. He would wait until he could determine when Jane was ready for him to propose, but he was certain it was when, not if.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Even Elizabeth, who was wont to rise at first light, slept late after the ball which had ended in the early hours of the morning. Those who had attended the Jersey ball broke their fasts at midday. It was the middle of the afternoon before the Gardiner parents made the short coach ride to Grosvenor Square to collect Lilly who had insisted she would prefer to sleep at her new friend's house.

The knocker at Gardiner House was not up to allow the residents to rest, but that did not stop Richard and Westmore arriving around the time the Gardiners left to collect their eldest.

Rather than walk in Hyde Park, due to the fact it was approaching the so-called fashionable hour, the two couples and Elizabeth walked around the small green in the centre of Portman Square. As would be expected, Biggs and Johns were close by.

That evening, the dinner at Matlock House was enjoyed by all and it was where the Bennets met Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and her daughter Anne. Both de Bourgh women were especially keen to come to know Mary as she would be living with them, or more accurately, they would be living with her and Richard, after the wedding. Lady Catherine pledged to ease Mary's transition into her role as mistress of Rosings Park and volunteered she and Anne would take up residence in the dower house. Mary, with Richard's support, made it eminently clear neither de Bourgh lady would be leaving their home.

It was not hard to tell how quickly Anne de Bourgh tired while expending very little effort, but she had a dry wit, similar to Mary's and seemed to be an intelligent lady. Her companion, Mrs. Jenkinson, who was more a nurse, was always close by. As they would all be cousins when Mary wed Richard, the Bennet sisters and Anne decided to use familiar names soon after meeting one another.

Lady Catherine was especially intrigued by the middle Bennet daughter who was as smart as a whip. She was pleased to learn both she and Miss Mary would be resident at Hunsford from mid-March until after Easter .

After spending some time with Lady Catherine and her decided opinions on many subjects, the Bennets enjoyed tales of the past voyages, and some of the exotic destinations, the Rhys-Davies and those who had sailed with them on previous holidays, including the Fitzwilliams and De Melvilles, had visited.

Elizabeth especially wanted to hear about the upcoming voyage to the West Indies, with the first ports of call in Jamaica. It was a great pity her family had not been previously connected to the Duke of Bedford as she would have possibly been allowed to join them on the epic journey they were about to undertake. It did not take long to learn why the Fitzwilliams and the Duchess would not be on board The Rose . She admired the selflessness of those who would remain in England to tend to Lady Marie Fitzwilliam as she prepared to deliver her first child.

The only offspring of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford the Bennets did not meet was Lady Charity, who was close in age to Lady Alicia, and was already with her sister in Staffordshire.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy agreed to allow Anna to convince him to permit her to journey to Hilldale earlier than had been planned so she would be able to spend more time with Charity. Before he escorted her and Mrs. Annesley to Hilldale, Darcy dashed off a note to his cousins to verify they were sanguine with Anna arriving early.

With the turmoil he was feeling, Darcy was well aware he was not good company for his sister and the last thing he wanted was for her to think his mood had anything to do with her, or because of something she had or had not done. He was hoping Marie and Andrew would write back in the affirmative so Anna would not have to see the times he felt anguish as he went over his past actions in his head. When he viewed certain things through the prism his aunt and uncle had held up and forced him to look through, he was not well pleased.

Thankfully the wait for a reply was not long, and his cousins confirmed Anna was more than welcome any time Darcy wanted to bring her. The next day the two Darcys and Anna's companion were on their way to Staffordshire. Hilldale, when one did not count the time to stop, was less than a five hour carriage ride. Due to the short winter daylight hours, Darcy would overnight at his cousins' estate and depart for Pemberley the following morning.

The morning of the departure, before Anna joined Darcy, he read the Times of London as he did every day. Also as he did every day, he left the section of the paper which contained the gossip and society sections untouched. Any other day, Anna would have perused those sections, but he had rushed her to depart as soon as may be.

As such, he was unaware the name Bennet featured prominently in the society pages, and to a lesser extent in the gossip column.