Chapter 33

The residents of Longbourn, sans Cathy, Giana, and Lydia, arrived at Netherfield Park about an hour prior to the time the rest of those invited had been told to arrive. As none of the aforementioned girls had reached the age of fifteen yet, they would not attend the ball—not even until supper. Being well-behaved young ladies, there had not been much more than a muted objection from them. They had the added bonus that Maria Lucas would be joining them when her parents left her off at Longbourn on their way to the ball.

The seven Bennets and Elizabeth joined the residents in the drawing room. Not many minutes after they arrived, the Lucases were shown into the room by Mr. Nichols. Sir William, normally a rather verbose man was downright reticent. The reason was twofold. First, he was still in shock Charlotte, who he had believed was on her way to being well and truly on the shelf at the age of three and twenty, was engaged and was to be a viscountess. The second reason influenced his silence more. As enamoured as he was with his elevation to the knighthood, being in the company of a duke, duchess, marquess, marchioness, earls, countesses, and other titled ladies—which now included the former Eliza Bennet—simply overawed him as he was more than cognisant of the fact his title was nothing to theirs.

Seeing Charlotte, Elizabeth greeted her friend. “Lady Elizabeth,” Charlotte curtsied. She had to try hard not to react and burst into giggles at her friend’s put on scowl.

“It is enough that whenever I am seen in Meryton people who have known me for all of my life now use my honorific and defer to me. I do not need it here among friends and family as well,” Elizabeth huffed.

“Eliza, you well know I was only teasing you,” Charlotte responded, “besides, that is the proper way to address you, is it not?”

“It is, I am just not used to it yet,” Elizabeth told her friend. “You too will have to get used to a title, for once you marry Jamey you will be Lady Hadlock, a viscountess and future countess.”

“There are still times I pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming,” Charlotte owned softly. “I did not think I would find any man, and I would have been willing to settle for a decent man with a good situation. But I love Jamey with all of my being which is why I have to make sure it is all real.”

Before Elizabeth could reply, Emily appeared at her arm. Elizabeth turned to her sister-in-law. “Lizzy, Julia has promised not to go to sleep until her Aunt Lizzy tells her a story. Would it be too much of an imposition to ask this of you? I will keep my soon to be sister-in-law company if you agree.”

“As I am not required in the receiving line there is more than enough time,” Elizabeth averred. “I will happily forgo my glass of sherry to spend some time with my niece.”

Emily squeezed her sister’s hand in thanks. Charlotte shooed Elizabeth away to go to Julia who would be her niece too once she and Jamey married. The sisters to be linked arms and walked towards their men. As Elizabeth passed William, he looked at her with concern thinking she was not well and had to leave the ball. A few words quickly quieted his disquiet, If he had not been so fastidious he would have ignored propriety and accompanied her to the nursery.

William watched as Elizabeth ascended the staircase, with the sway of her skirts in the candlelight, she looked almost ethereal, and his anticipation of dancing two sets with her, and hopefully a third, built.

The three Granger sisters were sitting in a group with Beth Bennet, Fanny, Madeline, Hattie, and Anne Darcy. Rose watched her youngest leave the drawing room, correctly guessing where she was going.

“Lizzy told me she has been enjoying her time at Longbourn,” Rose stated once her daughter had left the room.

“She informed me that she is loving exploring Woburn Abbey too, and found much to occupy her for her few days at Hilldale as well,” Fanny responded. “It is not hard to see that Longbourn is no longer her home. Lizzy will love the opportunities to travel. She told me of the plans to sail on your private ship to the Cape of Good Hope next summer.”

“Philip is adjusting to his new situation very well,” Cilla interjected. “He explained how much he has enjoyed the lessons and the chance to hone his chess skills against his father.”

“Saul related something very similar to us,” Rose agreed. “They both seem to take much pleasure out of beating Thomas at chess now and again. Our husbands,” she looked at her sisters and Anne, “would love to win a game against him, never mind multiple times like the twins and Lizzy do.”

A little before the time the guests were invited to arrive, the lengthy receiving line formed. It consisted of the four sets of parents as well as the two engaged couples.

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

By the time Elizabeth entered the ballroom, most had passed through the receiving line and only a few guests were left to still be welcomed. She spied Emily and Sed in a group with Belle and Andrew, Mary and Wickham, Louisa and Harold Hurst, and William. She headed towards the group and as soon as William saw her, there was no missing the way his face lit up with pleasure.

Seeing his reaction to her made her feel the warmth of pleasure tingling from her head to her toes. As she walked towards him seeing the look of love William was directing at her awakened the realisation in Elizabeth that she had begun to have tender feelings for William.

As she approached, William took two steps towards her and offered her his arm, which she took without delay. Rather than just simply rest her hand on his forearm lightly, Elizabeth wound it around his arm. Through her gloves, and his layers of clothing, she could easily discern the muscles in his forearm rippling beneath her fingers. His scent of sandalwood and spice was enticing, not to mention he was the handsomest man of her acquaintance. Her senses were greatly heightened by his presence, and it took all of her control to maintain her equanimity.

William did not miss how welcoming Elizabeth was of him. Her light lavender scent tickled his nostrils as he drank in her essence. Thankfully, as soon as they joined the group, Emily spoke relieving him of the obligation. William was sure Elizabeth’s presence at that moment would have rendered him a blithering idiot had he attempted to speak.

“Did Nurse manage to coax Julia to go to sleep?” Emily enquired.

“Yes, after a brief negotiation,” Elizabeth smiled. “She wanted a second story or, as she claimed, she would never sleep again. In return for my promise to tell her two stories when I visit on the morrow, she agreed to go to sleep.”

“We are indebted to you, Lizzy,” Sed told his youngest sister. “What we will do when we return to Birchington without you, is another tale altogether.”

“It seems the receiving line is over,” Emily cocked her head towards the door where the two engaged couples had just entered and were being followed by the four pairs of parents. She looked at her husband. “I believe you promised me this set.”

Jamey and Charlotte lined up first, then Richard and Jane who were followed by those who were to dance the first set. William and Elizabeth found themselves two couples away from the latter engaged couple. Elaine nodded to the conductor and soon the strains of music were heard and the ball was underway.

For the first half of the initial dance Elizabeth and William passed their time without speaking. Elizabeth decided she had had enough silence. “Come William, we must have some conversation,” Elizabeth commanded.

He looked at her intently, and after a short delay thanks to being separated by the dance, he responded. “Do you talk as a rule when you dance?” William queried.

“You know full well from our prior dances I enjoy speaking with my partner when I dance, it should not be a surprise to you,” Elizabeth stated. “I could comment on the capital work my aunts and mothers did in decorating the ballroom and you could respond by noting that private balls are more enjoyable than public ones.”

“Elizabeth, I will say whatever you desire that I say,” William responded enigmatically. “I suppose we could continue our debate regarding Mary Wollstonecraft’s Thoughts on the Education of Daughters.”

“No William, heaven forfend. Books are not a subject for a ballroom. As much as I love our spirited debates, now is not the ideal time. I do not want our family and friends to think we are out of sorts by going a complete half hour in silence together. They know us too well not to be surprised by quiet between us.”

William beamed a smile, which allowed his dimples to present themselves. How he loved being teased by this wonderful, impertinent, infuriating, intelligent woman. “As I said previously, we can speak on any subject your heart desires.”

Elizabeth blushed deeply because the subject she most wanted to speak of was one she could not raise, certainly not in a ballroom—their possible shared future. “That will do for now. We will have to find a subject to discuss when we dance the supper set so we will not remain silent for that half hour.” Elizabeth arched her eyebrow.

“Challenge accepted,” William replied as he inclined his head to her before they were separated by the dance.

At the end of the dance, Rose, Anne, and Fanny sat together as they watched the second set commence. Each had danced the first with her husband, but unlike the younger generation, they would not dance every set. “Was it just me, or is there magnetism which pulls Lizzy and William together. Look at them, they are dancing with others and yet each time they are able, their eyes find each other,” Rose observed.

“For William, he has looked at her so since the assembly when they met, and for her it began some weeks later,” Fanny shared.

“Rose, William is well aware Lizzy has just joined your family. As such, he will wait as long as you require before he declares himself,” Anne revealed. “It seems they will have a love match like the rest of us in the family.”

“Sedgewick and I had this discussion…” Rose shared what they had observed and resolved as far as Lizzy and a possible courtship or engagement was concerned. Now she understood why William said he would wait until after Lizzy’s ball to declare himself.

“That is very laudable that you are willing to allow things to occur naturally and will not place any time restrictions on them if William declares himself,” Fanny stated. She looked at Anne. “Anne, will you inform your son there is no artificial barrier to his speaking to Lizzy on this subject?”

“For our part, if you say something to correct his perception, we will not object,” Rose assured her friend. “William resides at Rivington in Surrey, does he not?”

“Indeed he does,” Anne responded.

“Rose, in that case they will be relatively close to both of us,” Fanny noted. “In what part of Surrey is the estate located?”

“Very close to the border with Kent and closer to London. It is less than two hours to London and Robert informed me only about forty miles to Longbourn,” Anne averred. “I believe if one travels directly, it is not much further than to Woburn Abbey.”

As Rose looked at Fanny, she stated, “In that case, Lizzy will be close to both of us making it an easy distance on good roads to see her and William when they are not in London. Of course, that is predicated on William asking and Lizzy accepting him.”

“Given how they look at one another and always gravitate to each other when they are in company together, I am sure if he asks, she will accept him,” Fanny opined.

“As long as he does not slight her during his proposal as he almost did when they first met,” Anne smiled. She was overjoyed at the way William had reformed his character. Regardless of what others like Richard had said to him about the need to make adjustments, Anne was certain it was his meeting Lizzy which had been the catalyst for meaningful amendment to her son’s behaviour to others.

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

During the supper set, rather than speak, Elizabeth and William simply got lost in one another’s eyes whenever the dances brought them together. Whenever she was close to William she felt all was right with the world. This feeling, more than anything else, told Elizabeth she was moving beyond tender feelings and beginning to fall in love with him.

At the end of the dance, William guided Elizabeth to a table where they joined Jane and Richard, Charlotte and Jamey, and Mary and George Wickham. As soon as the men left their ladies to make plates for them and themselves, Jane, Charlotte, and Mary looked at Elizabeth expectantly. “Do you and William have an understanding?” Jane asked.

“No, he has not spoken yet,” Elizabeth answered truthfully leaving out his almost declaration when they had met at Oakham Mount two days ago.

“But you want him to, do you not Eliza?” Charlotte assumed.

Accompanied by a blush, Elizabeth nodded. “I am sure he will not declare himself until he knows how long Mother and Father set before he is allowed to do so.”

Bedford was walking his wife to the table where they would join her sisters, their husbands, and the Darcy parents when he overheard the conversation between Miss Lucas and his youngest. He guided Rose to one side and put his mouth near her ear. “We need to inform William he is free to proceed as long as Lizzy agrees, do we not?”

“It is already in motion,” Rose averred. Her husband returned a quizzical look with raised eyebrows. Rose briefly related the conversation she had with Anne and Fanny as it pertained to Lizzy and William. “Anne will inform William before the night is out, but she will suggest he wait to speak until after Jane and Richard’s wedding on Friday.”

After nodding his understanding, Bedford led his wife to the table and joined the other three couples who were waiting. Once Rose was seated, the four men went to make the needed plates.

“Jamey and Charlotte informed us they will marry on the first Friday in October,” Cilla told her sisters and friend. “They will marry from St. Alfred’s here in Meryton. Fanny and Thomas have already volunteered the use of Netherfield Park and Longbourn to host anyone who needs accommodation before the wedding.”

“Will there be a pre-wedding ball?” Eliane enquired.

“They demurred,” Cilla related, “as they are included in tonight’s celebrations to honour their engagement, they feel there is no need for such a fête before their wedding as well. They will be happy with a family dinner with some dancing as was recently held at this estate.”

“According to Fanny, that way will be better for Sir William and Sarah Lucas,” Elaine revealed. “She opined had there been another ball, they would have felt obligated to contribute to the expenses.”

Fanny and Bennet were seated with Sir William and Lady Lucas, the Gardiners, and Philipses. Fanny related what Rose had revealed regarding Lizzy and William. “My prediction is there will be an official courtship soon after the wedding, and then an engagement towards the end of the year, with the wedding after Lizzy turns nineteen. She has never wanted to marry at too young an age, which in the past, she has opined eighteen was.”

Even though there was a hole in her heart left by Lizzy not being the daughter of her body, Fanny felt good about the world. She had two sons, and as much as her heart broke for Cilla’s loss, it was glorious to find out she had sons, and then to be reunited with the twins. She looked across at the table where Saul and Philip sat. The former sat with the eldest Goulding daughter while the latter had partnered the older Long niece. They were at a table with Emily and Sed, and Belle and Andrew. It amused Fanny at how every mother in the area with daughters of marriageable age were pushing them at her sons even though they still had more than two years remaining to complete their educations at Cambridge. Since word had spread through the neighbourhood regarding the Bennets’ ownership of Netherfield Park and the true income of Longbourn was made known, the Bennet sons were looked upon as prime marriage material.

It amused Fanny rather than vexed her. She imagined had they not been in the position they were, she may have tried to push her daughters at any eligible men like the other mothers were doing. She cringed when she thought in that scenario she may have pushed her Janey at an unworthy man like Mr. Bingley. She batted those thoughts away; happy it was not the case.

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

Aware the final dance of the night was a waltz; Elizabeth had not awarded that set to anyone. At the end of supper, once those who desired had exhibited on the available instruments, William asked if her final set was open, and she had shivered with pleasure that he had seemed to read her mind. He was the only one she could imagine dancing such an intimate dance with. She would ask Mother to make sure one of the dances at her introductory ball would be a waltz regardless of London society’s rejection of such an improper and scandalous dance.

As it was exactly what she had hoped for; she had granted his request with alacrity. The first dance of the final pair was a country dance. All through the steps, Elizabeth’s mind was on being held by William in the upcoming dance. The music ended and she and William curtsied and bowed to one another.

As soon as William saw the conductor raise his baton, he gently brought her to himself and placed his hands, as she did the same, for the waltz’s hold. The music began and soon they were twirling with the rise and fall of the dance as they moved around the dance floor.

Elizabeth saw and heard nothing else other than William. His hand on her shoulder blade burned into her, as did their hands where they touched .If that was not enough, her left hand, thanks to the disparity in their height, barely reached, but was resting on his shoulder. It was as if it was just the two of them dancing and not the twenty other couples on the floor as well.

When the music stopped, Elizabeth and William did not until Richard placed his hand on William’s other shoulder which broke the spell between him and Elizabeth.

All too soon the party from Longbourn was saying their farewells and William was watching the retreating carriage which bore his love away from him.

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

His melancholy at missing Elizabeth was soon transformed into abject joy when his parents conveyed what Lady Rose had revealed regarding when he would be allowed to declare himself to Elizabeth. William understood Elizabeth may want to wait until she was nineteen to marry. He also accepted their suggestion he delay until after Richard and Jane’s departure from their wedding breakfast before he spoke to Lizzy about a courtship.

When he finally fell asleep that night, all he could think about was Friday when he could declare himself to Elizabeth.