Opportunities do not come every day Jane.
Make the most of any that you get.
Her aunt was the most sensible woman she had ever known—the only reason Jane and Lizzy were not grown-up versions of Lydia. The two had been discussing everything from Jane’s four-month bout of defeatist and self-inflicted melancholy to her recent determination to better both herself and her prospects; followed by a discussion of what little they knew of Elizabeth and her new friend.
When asked for advice about Anne, Mrs Gardiner replied, “Jane, you live your life with too little suspicion—your sister with too much. Between the two, you are reasonably sensible.”
Jane always delighted when her aunt spoke so, and sometimes wished she were as clever. Aware of her own virtues and defects, Jane knew that both Lizzy and her aunt were smarter than she was, but she possessed her own strengths and hoped to be as worthy one day.
“Henceforth, I shall aspire to distrust everyone I meet, which will be most convenient, as I have been asked to a ball on Tuesday next.”
“Are you certain you wish to enter that snake pit?” her aunt asked in surprise.
Jane understood her meaning well enough. Her aunt was in trade, but that did not mean she was unaware of the ways of the ton. She referred to the infamous behaviour of many in high society who would naturally attend such an event.
“There is nothing for it. I would be content to meet your associates, and I am certain I have been a disappointment to you with all my moping about these four months, but it is just one ball. Now that I am willing to speak with a man without biting his head off, I think I may find the exercise worthwhile. And I must admit… well… Miss de Bourgh needs me—and nobody has needed me for a long time. My mother needs me when she has her bouts of nerves, but that is merely using me. Lizzy and Charlotte do not need anybody for anything and let us not discuss my younger sisters.”
“Jane Bennet—that is the most unforgiving speech I ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me to see you again the dupe of your mother’s self-inflicted problems.”
Both ladies laughed and gradually became easier. They spent the next hour in less dangerous waters, and Jane was happy to receive yet another lesson in how a true lady behaved. It was difficult in Longbourn to even remember what it was like to have people of good humour, good breeding, and good manners. Shecould happily live her whole life in Gracechurch Street if it were not such an imposition on her aunt and uncle.
Their discussion was interrupted by the butler announcing, “Miss de Bourgh.”
They barely had time to rise when Anne bustled in, followed by footmen carrying trunks, and four seamstresses. Say what one might about Miss de Bourgh, she took her ball seriously.
Introductions were proffered, and Miss de Bourgh received her first lesson in how a true lady behaved. Her mother spoke endlessly of good breeding, and the general lack thereof in people of trade, but Mrs Gardiner showed the error of Lady Catherine’s attitude.
“Mrs Gardiner, I hope I have not overstepped by inviting Jane to the ball on Tuesday next. I realise it was improper for me to do so without seeking your consent, but I hope you will forgive me.”
Madeleine Gardiner laughed at the young lady. “Of course. We do not mind at all, save that my husband and I cannot chaperone. I realise you are both of age and long out of the schoolroom, but since this is your first ball, I would feel better if you had someone to depend upon.”
“Would my aunt, Lady Clarissa, suffice? She specifically requested the honour of your company for tea tomorrow, that you might feel comfortable with her as Jane’s chaperone for the evening.”
The ladies agreed to the scheme, and after further discussion, they turned to the serious business of making a pair of Georgiana Darcy’s new, unworn ballgowns fit both ladies. Anne had mentioned she was borrowing her cousin’s gowns, but had not been specific about which cousin, and had no intention of doing so. She reasoned that what Jane did not know would not hurt her, and frankly Georgiana had so many gowns she would scarcely notice the absence of two. Darcy believed new gownsmade his sister happy, and Georgiana thought receiving them made her brother happy; thus, new gowns appeared regularly, with neither sibling particularly interested in the enterprise, but neither having sense enough to just ask.
Anne found the whole thing too entertaining to comment on; modistes and merchants had to eat, after all. The most absurd part was that Georgiana had four good ball gowns when she was not even out! Anne had not the slightest compulsion to ask Darcy or Georgiana. She simply chose what she wanted and went about her business.
The following day, tea with her Aunt Clarissa was notable only for its lack of notoriety. The ladies had a lovely meeting, and all departed thoroughly impressed with one another. Lady Clarissa was as unlike Lady Catherine as possible. She had never had a tradesman’s wife to tea simply because the idea had never occurred to her; but she planned to carry on the acquaintance with Mrs Gardiner and wasted no time arranging a dinner party the following week.
Upon meeting Jane Bennet, the lady regretted one of the great disappointments of her life. Her husband had died too soon, and for the first time in some years, she wished she had an unmarried son. It would have been great entertainment to introduce the two, but she was philosophical about the matter. If she did not have a son, she could certainly find some worthy man.
The ton was about to receive quite a surprise.
Soon enough, the ladies were dressed in their borrowed finery and adorned with borrowed jewellery. It amused them that Anne owned an enormous quantity of family jewels sitting snugly in the safe at Rosings, yet was obliged to borrow somefor a ball. Borrowing the Darcy jewels seemed excessive, so they obtained a few necklaces, earrings, and seed pearls from Lady Clarissa and Mrs Gardiner. In no time at all, they were in the receiving line, and soon stood at the edge of the proceedings, waiting for the dancing to begin.
Anne, feeling a bit overwhelmed, asked, “Jane, I… well, I do not actually know what happens now.”
“Who can say for me? But you simply stand here, and you will have your dance card—”
She never quite even got the words out, before a young man was introduced by Lady Clarissa’s youngest daughter as Mr Stilson. He was a somewhat nervous young man, possessed of a certain boyish charm, stammering and stuttering before them. The young ladies had to devise a scheme to manage him. Jane calmed him with her gentle manners and natural empathy, enhanced by what she had learned from her Aunt Gardiner, and directed him to Anne with some less than subtle techniques she learned from her sister Lizzy.
As instructed, the young man solicited Anne for the first set and Jane for the second. When Anne accepted, his look of heartfelt delight was so endearing that both ladies were pleased with their evening's work and thought they could quite happily return home at that moment and consider it a success. Of course, they had yet to dance, but there was time.
They stood there laughing together, attracting attention from the other gentlemen in the room. Manoeuvres were being made to secure introductions, and Jane looked towards the door. She gasped in surprise and grasped Anne’s arm.
“Ow!”
Jane released her and coloured sheepishly, but Anne laughed. “Come, come, Jane, you cannot believe I am so frail as to be hurt bythat.”
