Most surprising was when Robert Darcy requested the supper set from his late wife’s older sister. Darcy would have loved for his Anne to have been present to witness how much her sister Catherine had changed. Darcy felt it was only right he recognise Catherine’s efforts by dancing with her. The dance signalled to theTonthe complete reconciliation within the family.
“Come, William,” Elizabeth said archly, “we cannot dance the whole half hour complete without some conversation; what will people say?” Lizzy teased lightly as they danced the first of their two scheduled sets—the supper set.
“Do you talk as a rule when you dance, Lizzy?” William returned. “Name the topic and we will discuss it. Would you like to discuss the new edition of Cowper’s you are reading?”
“No, books are not a fit subject for discussion in a ballroom,” Elizabeth replied with mock severity. “I could comment on the number of guests, and you could remark about the lovely decorations Mama and her helpers have made.”
“I am at your disposal your Roy…madame.” William stopped himself before he completed his attempted jest knowing how close he came to making an unintended revelation in a crowded ball room.
The guests were split between those representing the four and twenty families of gentlefolk in the area and those from London. He might have been able to explain his slip as a jest, but he would rather not take such a chance.
“That is enough conversation for now,” Elizabeth granted, and they enjoyed the rest of the set in companionable silence. At its completion, William led Elizabeth to sit at a table with her three sisters and their partners.
William Collins, as a family member—albeit distant—had been invited to the ball. He was awestruck at the number of highly ranked personages, from a Prince on down. Luckily, he schooled his features and did not fawn over anyone. It was not the first time in his five-and-twenty years Collins had been thankful he had not taken his father—who used to fawn over the high-born—as an exemplar of how to behave towards others.
Collins passed supper most pleasantly with his partner for the supper set—Miss Charlotte Lucas. Before the meal was complete, Collins solicited the final set from his partner, who gladly granted those dances.
After supper, Kitty departed without complaint, and it was not long before she was regaling Gigi and Lydia with her experiences at her first private ball.
The rest of the ball passed as balls do, without any remarkable occurrences.
Chapter 26
On Sunday evening, Fanny gave Jane the pre-wedding night talk. Jane had the example of her parent’s felicitous marriage, and even before her mother stressed the marital bed was not a duty but rather could and should be a pleasure, Jane had realised such based on not only her parents’ marriage but based on the example of their closest friends as well.
Deeply in love with Andrew, she was confident he would be solicitous of her needs before listening to her mother’s talk, but the last vestiges of nervousness Jane had felt were banished by her mother’s assurances.
Andrew and Jane had managed some stolen kisses. From the way her body had reacted to him, Jane was anticipating more eagerly—both his kisses and what was to follow. Every time they allowed themselves such a moment—when they managed to gain some much wanted privacy—and forced themselves to stop well before either of them wanted to, the more she anticipated discovering the passions hovering just below the surface she knew were waiting to be freed for their wedding night. Considering that, she had to smile. It was both well considered and sweet that he was helping her overcome her concerns by allowing her to feel such powerful desires as he inspired.
After her mother departed, Lizzy—who would stand up with her—joined Jane in her bedchamber. “I will miss you, Janie, but I could not ask for a better older brother than Andrew. You two fit together like a hand in a glove,” Elizabeth enthused as the two laid on the bed next to one another.
“I will miss you, my sisters, and my brother,” Jane responded wistfully. “But it is the way of things, is it not? As women, if and when we marry, we cleave unto our husbands and go whither he goes. The truth is, Lizzy, that even though I will miss all of you and Mama and Papa, I am excited to begin my life with Andrew.”
“How did you know you were in love with him?” Elizabeth asked shyly.
“Is your question related to your feelings for a certain tall and studious cousin of Andrew’s?” Jane prodded.
“Possibly.” Elizabeth blushed deeply.
“Elizabeth Pricilla Francine Bennet! Do not try to be evasive with me. Neither I nor any of the rest of us are blind. We have long seen the way the two of you look at one another.” Jane replied gently.
“It is him I am drawn to above anyone,” Elizabeth admitted softly without lifting her eyes to look at her sister.
“In my case, there was not one thing that proved to me I loved Andrew, but two,” Jane revealed. “Whenever Andrew was not with me, I would be thinking of him, willing him to come back to me. The second—which to me was even more indicative of love—was there was no version of my future I could envisage of which Andrew was not a part.”
“If that is the case, then I am in love with William,” Elizabeth admitted both to herself and Jane. “I was worried he thought me too high for him as he seemed to pull back after I learned of my parentage. There was a time I thought he would not ask me to dance at the ball, but whatever was holding him back no longer seems to be an issue.”
“Andrew told me that William is not one to act impulsively. Surely you have seen in your debates with him how deliberative he is?” Jane asked.
“It is true, he does like to cogitate fully before giving his opinion. I cannot wait until we are able to move forward together as more than just friends. I would give up my title and my wealth if they were impediments to my one day being with William,” Elizabeth told her older sister.
“That will not be necessary, Lizzy, but your statement only proves the depth of your feelings and love for William. He is a very lucky man to have won your heart, sister dearest.” Jane squeezed Elizabeth’s hand.
“Are you nervous for—well you know—the wedding night?” Elizabeth asked despite her embarrassment.
“That is not the question I would expect from a younger sister not yet out,” Jane teased.
“We do live on a working farm, and you know I love to read,” Elizabeth countered.
