While he was at Pemberley, he finally met the blond who he had obsessed about when he was younger. Even though they would never have known, he sought an audience with His Grace and the Viscount. They had allowed him to make his amends to the Viscountess. He admitted his former obsession and begged the lady’s pardon, which she granted without reservation.
Mr. Wickham senior would return to Pemberley in a few days, but meanwhile he intended to enjoy his time with his son. He took every opportunity he could to tell George just how proud he was of him.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Like the rest of the inhabitants of the area, the Netherfield Park party arrived before the first set was called, as none in the area believed in being fashionably late—or as some called it,unfashionablyrude. Elizabeth accepted William’s hand with pleasure as he led her to the line forming for the first dance of the first set.
At Longbourn, Bingley and the Hursts departed at the time they desired, not having to wait for Caroline to make her entrance. His younger sister believed the fallacy about being fashionably late.
Just before they departed, Miss Bingley glided into drawing room in an awful burnt orange creation.
“Caroline! Why are you dressed so? I told you, you are not to attend tonight!” Bingley stated angrily.
“It was my hope you would relent, but I see you are not in a mood to be reasonable,” Miss Bingley sniffed.
“No Caroline, I was perfectly serious,” Bingley stated forcefully. “There will be no carriage here if you try to defy me, and I do not see you walking more than a few steps.”
“Do you take me for that harridan, Eliza Bennet, who is known for being a great walker? I will never walk,” Miss Bingley sniffed.
“Then you will remain at the estate as I instructed.” Miss Bingley looked away from her brother but nodded her head. “Do you not understand that we will be lower than anyone there? Regardless of your delusions, the offspring of tradesmen are not, nor will they ever be, above a landed gentleman.” If Bingley had told his sister the same once, he had done it a hundred times. As she always did when reminded of her antecedents, Caroline looked away in fury.
Even after the confrontation with his sister, the Longbourn party arrived at the assembly hall in time for the first dance. Bingley requested the older Long niece’s hand for the first set and was granted it.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Miss Bingley, already fuming after her brother took her to task before he departed and stood by his refusal to take her, realised the Hills were keeping an eye on her. After a little while she left the drawing room and made a show of climbing the stairs.
She first made sure the pillows she had placed under the covers on her bed were still there, and then slammed her bedchamber door—not an uncommon occurrence in the house.
Then she donned her outerwear and waited in the hall above the stairs for ten minutes. She had considered climbing down the trellises outside her window but rejected that idea as too much even for her. When she heard no more noise from below stairs, she carefully descended the stairs, making sure none of them creaked under her weight.
Not seeing anyone about, she slipped out the front door and closed it without a sound. She was sure her brother and sister would never suspect she would walk the mile to the assembly, as they knew how much she detested walking like a commoner—or the hated Eliza Bennet.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After arriving at the assembly hall, she stood in a corner near some huge brute so her family would not see her. Not one person, not even these country mushrooms, had noted her arrival. She sneered at those who snickered giggled when they caught sight of her fashionable outfit. She should have remained unobtrusive, but she could not help herself.
Her plan was simple; as soon as she had an opportunity, she would compromise the Marquess. She was sure her brother was wrong. In front of all of Meryton, there was only one option he would have, to marry her.
She did not see the way the huge man next to her was looking at her or that he seemed to signal others to make them aware of her presence. It was mere minutes before all of the guards were aware of her. Not long after, the Prince and Lord Thomas were informed as well.
To rub salt in the wound of having to walk, her Marquess was dancing with that Eliza Bennet chit. She conveniently forgot the older sister was a Viscountess and the parents were titled. They were Bennets; therefore they were beneath her notice.
When the set ended, Miss Bingley positioned herself where she could watch her prey. Once her Marquess returned Miss Eliza to her family, Miss Bingley, still hidden in the corner, made as if she was talking to someone though no one was close by.
“I agree, she is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to temptanyman. I wonder what the harridan did to cause the Marquess to give consequence to a young lady who should be slighted by all men. I am sure it could only be pity, and she will be the wallflower she deserves to be the rest of the night.” Miss Bingley smiled to herself; sure she had degraded the woman in the eyes of the Marquess.
Now she just had to make her move towards the Marquess. Each time she tried to approach him, someone seemed to be in her way. Across the hall, Bingley was sure he had heard his younger sister’s cutting voice but could not see her. He prayed she was not so far gone that she would have disobey him thusly.
Miss Bingley did not notice the quick shake of the Prince’s head—not that she knew who the man was—when two of the guards in regular clothing gave him a questioning look to see if they should remove the objectionable woman.
Not one man requested her hand for a set as she waited for her chance to approach the Marquess, even though many men waited for the next dance, and the one after. It was evident to her that she was the only lady present who no one would ask to dance. Miss Bingley attempted to approach the Marquess between sets, but he always seemed to be surrounded by other men who looked at her pointedly but did not ask her to dance.
The pressure reached the point of no return when she saw the Marquess lead the hated Bennet chit out for a second set. She found a knife on the refreshment table that had been used to cut cakes and hid it within the folds of her orange monstrosity. She noted which way the line was moving, then started towards her mortal enemy purposefully.
If possible, Elizabeth and Darcy were enjoying their second set together even more than the first. If it were a private ball, the set they were dancing would have been the supper set, but there was no supper at local assemblies.
William and Elizabeth saw the woman in the orange gown—who they believed would not be at the assembly—approach them. She was hard to miss given her outrageously flamboyant garment, and neither missed the malevolent look on her countenance. As she approached, time seemed to slow as they watched her reach into her gown and withdraw a knife. As she drew her hand back, many things happened at the same time.
