Page 197 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“Elizabeth, you look absolutely wonderful,” Georgiana whispered to her.

“So do you,” Elizabeth answered, trying to smile and jest while she stole a quick glance at the girl’s brother. “But I can understand your astonishment—while you are always beautiful, I look quite ill most of the time.”

“Oh, no, that is not true! That was not what I meant,” Georgiana replied, with genuine concern that Elizabeth had reached such a conclusion.

“Do not worry, my dear,” Darcy interjected. “I have known for some time that Lady Alveston finds enjoyment in professing things she does not believe, only to tease us. Surely she must know that she always looks beautiful too.”

Elizabeth laughed nervously and tried to contradict him, blushing like a young girl while her eyes locked with his. Lady Kendal readily agreed with Darcy, and he continued.

“However, I must share my sister’s compliment. You look remarkably well today, Lady Alveston.”

“Thank you,” she answered in a trembling voice. Coming from him, it was more than a mere compliment.

“May I escort you inside?” he offered, and Lady Kendal readily accepted, taking his arm. Georgiana walked with Kitty and Mary, and Lydia following them, so Darcy offered his other arm to Elizabeth. She took it after a brief hesitation—it was the first time they had purposely touched in more than a year. Her gloved hand barely touched the fabric of his coat, her fingers grasping it to avoid trembling. Through the curious stares, greetings, bows, and whispers, they entered and did not stop until they reached Lady Kendal’s box, where they could finally breathe in relief.

Elizabeth sat in the middle of the box. On one side of her was Georgiana and her sisters, on the other side sat Lady Kendal and there were empty seats for the Gardiners, who were expected to arrive soon.

“Will you stay with us, Mr Darcy? Or do you prefer the company of your cousins and friends?” Lady Kendal enquired.

He seemed undecided, glanced at Elizabeth, then across the auditorium, where Elizabeth had spotted Jane, with Bingley and his sisters.

“I assure you there is no other company I would enjoy more,” he finally answered, with a seriousness that made Elizabeth flush. “I shall go and greet my relatives and then return.”

“Please convey my warm regards to Lord and Lady Matlock, sir. I would do it myself, but I do not feel comfortable enough to walk through the crowd again,” Elizabeth said in complete honesty.

“Of course, that is understandable. I see my cousin Richard and Bingley standing up. I believe they may come and greet you.”

Indeed, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Bingley, Jane, and Anne seemed to be leaving their box. The Matlocks, and the viscount and his wife, waved to them discreetly, while Caroline, Louisa, their husbands, and Miss Pemberton seemed engaged in a private conversation, separately from the others.

Mr and Mrs Gardiner arrived a few minutes later, and immediately after them, the Bingleys and the Fitzwilliams appeared. Greetings were exchanged, and they struck up a conversation while the theatre filled with people all engaging in gossip and chit-chat. Such an event meant more than an exceptional performance of a popular play; it was also an opportunity for people of all ranks and social circles to see and be seen.

One by one, the spectators resumed their places. As he had planned, Darcy accompanied his friends when they returned to the Fitzwilliams’ box and remained there for a short time. While she pretended to listen to her companions, Elizabeth’s glances ran to him often. The distance was moderate so she easily distinguished him speaking to his relatives, then Miss Pemberton and another young lady—the viscount’s sister-in-law—who addressed him, took his arm and whispered to him. Elizabeth was distraught and unreasonably bothered by the sight, and she scolded herself for what she knew to be a ridiculous reaction on her part.

The play finally began but Darcy did not return, much to Elizabeth’s disappointment. For the length of the first act, he remained in his uncle’s box, talking to Lord Matlock most of the time. The performance on the stage was exceptional, but Elizabeth did not pay it due attention. As much as she tried to keep her gaze on the actors, out of the corner of her eye she watched Darcy and even met his gaze several times.

At the first interval, a real uproar of voices made the theatre vibrate. Almost everyone left their seats and went to stretch their legs along the halls, and there was a bustle of activity everywhere.

“Come, let us take a short stroll,” Lady Kendal suggested, and Mr Gardiner offered her his arm. Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner followed them, but the girls chose to remain in the box. Elizabeth would gladly have stayed with them, but she did not want to disappoint Lady Kendal or her aunt.

Almost immediately they were stopped by people approaching Lady Kendal. Some addressed Elizabeth too, and she tried to remember their names.

Amongst all the elegant silhouettes wandering around, she spotted Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Bingley across the hall. The first fixed her with his intense gaze, while the other two smiled and waved to them as they moved closer. However, their union was delayed by interruptions—numerous people approaching them almost at every step. Every time she looked at Darcy through the crowd, his gaze was there, watching her, until he was finally in front of her.

“I just remembered why I loathe attending the theatre on opening night,” the colonel declared. “I hope the performance is worth my vexation and that this actress, Elizabeth O’Neill, is as talented as the newspapers claim.”

“Jane is very excited, and I am glad we are here, for her sake, but I do know what you mean,” Bingley agreed, wiping his forehead.

“I could not agree more,” Mr Gardiner said. “But it is a sacrifice we shall readily accept for the sake of the ladies.”

“Do not be so irritable, gentlemen. You might enjoy your time in the end,” Lady Kendal scolded them in jest. “What about you, Mr Darcy? Do you regret coming too?”

“No, madam,” he answered.

“Of course he does not, since he has so many young ladies chasing him,” the colonel said in a low voice. The others were all amused, and even Elizabeth attempted to smile, hiding her nervousness, but Darcy frowned in disapproval.

“Do not be jealous, Colonel, you had your own admirers when you were single, did you not?”

The colonel shrugged with a mischievous grin, while the lady jested further.