Elizabeth looked at her husband, who almost imperceptibly shook his head. Lady Catherine had originally been on his list of people to invite, but in light of her hostile visit to Longbourn, they had agreed to cross her off the list. How she had received an invitation was a conundrum.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh!” the butler announced.
Elizabeth’s throat tightened in dread of what the lady might say. She had been loud in her initial disapproval, and Elizabeth was making every effort to correct society’s misapprehensions about her, not add to their grievances.
“I can see that my headstrong brother has not made an effort to come to Mrs Darcy’s ball. How surprising.” Lady Catherine’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “You will not find me so cowardly, or so obtuse as to the workings of highborn society. This is not a time to be missish, which is why I have come to lend my support.”
“Thank you, Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth hastened to say while the lady drew breath. It seemed as if the reversal of opinion the lady had made at Longbourn had been in earnest…
“I would have come sooner if not for my Anne’s precarious health.”
“I perfectly understand,” Elizabeth said, nodding.
“Of course you do. You by no means lack understanding, dear niece. Nor compassion. Anne speaks very highly of you and the service you rendered her at Longbourn.”
“I did nothing out of the ordinary, I am sure. Is Miss de Bourgh well?”
“A little better, but I cannot stay long. I return to Rosings tomorrow morning, but I had to come. I am not ignorant of the trouble you are having being accepted into society, and my presence, even for a short spell, will do much to assuage your problem.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Now, where is everybody?”
Elizabeth gestured at the archways created to guide her guests, and the lady strode towards the ballroom.
“Judge Darcy, Mr Augustus Darcy, Miss Clarissa Darcy,” the butler called.
Elizabeth welcomed the imposing man with as much warmth as she could muster. She had to invite him for the sake of the younger generation, even though she could not manage to like her husband’s uncle. In the judge’s defence, he had not forbidden his daughter from befriending Mary. But as that was his only redeeming quality in her eyes, Elizabeth had yet to relinquish her poor first impression. She greeted his children with genuine pleasure and turned expectantly towards the door.
The next to arrive were her own relations the Gardiners, who bowed and curtsied low to Lady Matlock before greeting the hosts. Mrs Gardiner looked particularly ill at ease, fidgeting with her reticule, a deep frown marring her pretty face. Elizabeth was thinking her aunt need not fret on behalf of the Countess of Matlock when Mrs Gardiner leant close to her ear.
“Are we too early? I was sure the invitation said ten o’clock.”
“It did, and you have arrived exactly on time.” Elizabeth knew this because the large clock in the entrance hall had just chimed ten times.
“But…where are the other carriages?”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth questioned with a sinking feeling.
“We expected to see an extensive line of conveyances and were prepared to wait quite a while to alight. Instead, ours was the only carriage at the front of Darcy House.”
Elizabeth could not help but rush to the door and see for herself. The square looked uncommonly empty, but a lone carriage was moving in her direction, so she hastened back to her husband.
“The Honourable Colonel Greville,” the butler announced, and Mrs Bennet appeared at Elizabeth’s side as soon as the greetings were over.
“Follow me, Colonel,” Mrs Bennet demanded, whisking the officer away.
Five minutes passed before the Honourable Captain Warrender arrived, and soon after, Miss Mildmay and her chaperon.
Perhaps the Bingley party’s perpetual lateness in Meryton was a common occurrence in superior society? Elizabeth considered asking her husband, but a brewing anxiety about the reply made her hesitate. Darcy was studying the floor with intensity. She knew him well enough to understand that tarrying about was his least favourite pursuit, preferring occupation to idleness at all times.
“Perhaps you should count those positive replies…” Lady Matlock suggested when ten minutes passed without any new arrivals.
The butler brought a stack of letters from her sitting room. Elizabeth opened a few to show Lady Matlock.
“Look! They have all accepted. Some terrible accident must be blocking the streets.”
“All of them?” Lady Matlock doubted with raised brows.
