Except for the three youngest Bennets and Giana who would not be attending, everyone else made their way upstairs to rest. Sir Lewis made for his daughter’s chambers to inform her of the engagement between Jane and Andrew.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Caroline, why are you dressed for a ball and waiting at the door?” Bingley asked as he took his overcoat, hat, gloves, and cane from the butler.
“Did you not take pity on me having to remain here alone?” Miss Bingley stated trying her best to look wretched.
“No Caroline, I did not!” Bingley exclaimed. “Even had I changed my mind, you still would not be admitted, the invitation was for me, and mealone.”
Miss Bingley was about to unleash a tantrum when her brother’s promise regarding her being sent north pierced her consciousness. As much as she wanted to release her vitriol, she did not want to be sent away. Instead, she bit the inside of her mouth and held her peace. She turned on her heel and flounced back towards the stairs to go up and change out of her ball gown.
She needed to remain with her brother until she succeeded in capturing Mr. Darcy. The additional reason Miss Bingley so wanted to attend the ball was she was aware the unmarried Viscount Hilldale would be present. As far as she knew, Lord Hilldale was as rich as Mr. Darcy, and being a viscountess and a future countess would have done nicely.
Bingley shook his head at his sister’s temerity as his coach carried him towards Grosvenor Square. For her to think he would take her with him after the conversation earlier in the day was incomprehensible.
He had much more pleasant things to think about. Fitzwilliam had described the sister of the debutante. She was an angel based on his description, and was unattached. If only she had multiple sets still open, he would be daring and request a second one. Bingley’s friend had informed him Miss Bennet and her sisters had no dowries to speak of, but with the wealth his father left him, Bingley’s angel, when he selected one, would not be required to possess a large dowry.
Thinking about the dowry made him shake his head as he thought about Caroline’s wrongheaded opinions regarding their wealth, and the effect it had on their position in society. His sister believed it raised them to the heights, when he well knew, as did anyone with even a slight education, it was birth and connections, not wealth which determined one’s rank. As he had told her, his father had wasted his money having Caroline educated as she had learnt nothing.
Soon enough his coach joined the line of conveyances waiting to allow the occupants to alight at Matlock House.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Richard was pleased he had caught Bingley before he approached Jane. The drop in his friend's face when he was informed of the engagement had made him feel contrite for ever mentioning her to his friend. But at least when the announcement was made at supper, Bingley would not beunprepared. There was no missing the look of longing the man had when he watched Jane dancing the first with Andrew.
For his part, the disappointment that the veritable angel on earth had been proposed to that very day did not stop Bingley from enjoying himself at the ball. Not one built for sadness, Bingley enjoyed himself immensely regardless of the disappointment. He had danced the third with Miss Bennet and would dance the second set after supper with the debutante.
It was well Fitzwilliam had prepared him for the lightning-fast wit and intelligence of Miss Elizabeth. Besides her colouring, hair colour, eye colour, and stature all being wrong for him, his friend had been correct in his assessment few men would be able to keep pace with her intellectually.
Elizabeth was enjoying the ball, doubly so whenever she saw her Janey glowing when in Andrew’s company. She had danced the first—as would be expected—with Papa, and then the following sets with Uncles Reggie, Lewis, Edward, and Frank.
Richard had partnered with her for the supper set. He was one of the big brother’s she never had, and she felt no romantic inclination towards him at all. Even if she had, she would never have allowed it to blossom. There was no missing the furtive glances passing between Mary and Richard. After Jane and Andrew married Richard would then become her brother indeed. However, in her opinion, he would become her brother again sometime after Mary came out into society.
As Elizabeth was only eighteen, she was not looking for her life partner yet. When and if she met him, she was sure she would know. In the meantime, Jane and Andrew had said they would discuss a wedding date on the morrow once they had slept after the ball.
At supper, Charlotte and her partner along with Jane and Andrew were among the couples seated at the table.Elizabeth was well pleased the Lucases had been able to join them as they had for Jane’s ball some two years ago.
After supper she was to dance with Sir William, then Richard’s friend, Mr. Bingley—the one who had been looking longingly at Jane since they were introduced—and then the next sets with each of the two Lucas brothers. Her final two sets were with men she had not met before she had been introduced to them at the ball. One of them was a marquess, Lord Archibald Chamberlain, the Marquess of Hertford Heights. He was a friend of Andrew’s.
Every experience, the décor of the room, the people, and dances, were all being filed away in her memories. On the morrow, or later the same day, she would be making a full report to Anne.
Uncle Lewis had told her during their dances how pleased Anne had been when he had shared the news about the engagement. Elizabeth had just listened and not reacted to the wistful way Uncle Lewis spoke of his time with Anne before the ball. She was used to the periods of melancholy which would grip him when he thought about all the things Anne would never be able to do in her short life.
Elizabeth had been one of the members of the family who farewelled the guests and was ready to just drop into her bed when she finally reached her chambers.
The maid Aunt Elaine had assigned her made short work of helping her change. She washed her face, rubbed some tooth powder on her teeth, and then fell into bed. She fell asleep with a smile on her face within seconds of her head resting on the pillows.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As late as it was when Elizabeth had gone to sleep, she was up earlier than anyone else. She had slept an hour or two longer than normal but was still awake with little more than four hours of sleep. After enjoying a steaming cup of hotchocolate, Elizabeth made her way to Anne’s chambers.
John Biggs was standing outside her friend’s door dutifully. “Is Miss Anne awake?” Elizabeth asked the gentle giant—gentle to anyone but those who meant harm to the one he was protecting.
“Aye, Miss Lizzy. I seen Missus Jenki bring ‘er sum tea ‘alf ‘our ago,” Biggs responded.
Elizabeth thanked the huge man and knocked on the door. It was opened by Mrs. Jenkinson who stood back when she saw who was there. “Did Anne have a good night?” Elizabeth queried quietly.
“She did. All the rest she has had of late has caused her to recuperate, if only a little,” Mrs. Jenkinson shared.
