Several of his friends had slapped him on the back, congratulating him on being the architect of the girl’s downfall in Society, saying something on the order of “Demmed toffs deserve wot they get!” He had winced every time. He was no more in favour of the highly privileged class than his brethren, but injuring a young girl who had done no one any harm was more than he had bargained for.
So when he heard that the Countess of Matlock was giving a ball in honour of the new Mrs. Darcy, and that there was a possibility of Miss Darcy attending, he went to the ball himself, disguised as a footman, to learn what he could. The company doing the Matlock’s catering had often hired him in this capacity, and so he had no difficulty in securing the job for the night.
Chapter Eighty-One
Matlock House
The ball was to start at nine, and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were expected to be part of the receiving line. Thus, the Darcys and Mary arrived at Matlock House at a quarter till nine o’clock.
Aunt Ellen was practically incandescent with joy. It seemed that the patronesses of Almack’s had spread the word that the new Mrs. Darcy was completely acceptable, despite her many faults – lack of dowry, lack of connections, and so on – and Miss Darcy had been pronounced not guilty of any wrong doing.
“You look absolutely lovely,” the Countess went on. “I knew this gown would be perfect for my ball!” She clasped her hands to her chest in delight.
***
Two hours later, Elizabeth was glad that her slippers were comfortable, for she had been on her feet since her arrival, just in the receiving line! It seemed that all of society had decided to meet the new Mrs. Darcy. She was introduced a hundred times,and forgot names the moment after she heard them, despite her best efforts.
But – oh! – there was Jane, looking like an angel in her blue silk dress! And Mr. Bingley, grinning from ear to ear! Miss Bingley had gone all out with peacock feathers in her headdress, and a gown the colour of the turquoise in a peacock’s feather!
“If Mama could see us now,” Jane whispered to her sister.
“Just what I said to Mary tonight!” Elizabeth replied.
And the Gardiners! “Oh, Aunt!” Elizabeth hugged her Aunt Gardiner and then presented both Gardiners to the Earl and Countess.
Mrs. Gardiner smiled widely, affection warm in her eyes. “Elizabeth, you look stunning; I almost swallowed my tongue when I saw you!”
The Countess’ eyebrows were raised; she had not expected the Gardiners to be so fashionably dressed. “I am so glad you could come,” she said to Mrs. Gardiner.
Mrs. Gardiner knew exactly what the Countess was thinking, of course, but she smiled, curtsied to just the right degree, and said, “You were very good to include us.”
When the dancing finally began, Mr. Darcy immediately took his wife’s hand and led her to the dance floor. By rights, the Earl of Matlock should have danced with Elizabeth for the first, as he was the host and the ball was in her honour, but Mr. Darcy had insisted on his husbandly prerogative.
Elizabeth felt as if she were in a fairy tale! She was the poor country girl who had managed to find her prince; and what a prince he was tonight!
For Mr. Darcy was utterly resplendent in his black breeches, snow-white stockings (his aunt had no patience for the newerblack stockings), white shirt, and tail coat. His black leather dress pumps were tied with gold ribbons; his cravat sported a gold embroidered border. All in all, his attire had been carefully designed to complement his lady’s gown. Corbin had debated with himself for hours over whether or not the gold border on the cravat was quite proper, but Mr. Darcy had overruled him on the subject.
“You are staring at me,” Mr. Darcy murmured to Elizabeth, when the dance brought them together.
“I cannot help myself; you are without a doubt the most handsome man I have ever seen,” she admitted.
He did not reply, but she saw colour rise in his cheeks. The intense look in his eyes promised her that she would get very little sleep when they returned home!
The evening passed in a blur for Elizabeth. She later could not have recalled what the dances were and what gentlemen she had danced them with, except, of course, for her dances with her husband. Three were rather too many for society’s taste, but he insisted on the supper dance and the final dance in addition to the first.
***
Mary had very much feared that she would dance very little. She was not known, of course, and had very little to recommend her to gentlemen. But she had not reckoned with Colonel Fitzwilliam, who claimed her for the first dance as well as the supper dance. “But – two dances? Is that quite proper?” she had whispered to him.
“It is a private ball, Miss Mary,” he had assured her. “The rules are rather more relaxed.”
“Very well,” she had replied, “I trust you.”
The joy she had felt upon receiving gifts from him had been nothing compared to what she felt during their dances. For all his musculature, his dancing was light and lithe. Dreamily, she wondered if a good deal of sword practice had helped him dance so well. She made a mental note to ask him about it, and completely forgot it a moment later.
“Miss Bennet,” he whispered.
“Yes, Colonel?” Mary was embarrassed that she sounded so breathless.
