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“Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Lady Maria nearly choked on her tea, Susan’s second son!
“Do you know him?”
“Not well, but I am close friends with his mother. If nothing else I can tell her that he acted the gentleman at the Harrington Ball.”
--
It was not until her fourth event that Elizabeth attended a second ball, the intervening events had been a dinner and a less formal soiree. It was also to be attended by the Duke.
“Will you grant me a dance tonight Miss Bennet?”
“I would be delighted to, but may I request it be one of the sets after supper?”
“Of course. Is there a particular reason?”
“Dancing with the gentleman who will the premier Lord at the event will incite talk. I would prefer not to be the subject of conversation for everyone at supper.”
The Duke of Desmond laughed, his enjoyment of the contrary nature of Elizabeth showing.
“Knowing you now as I do, I understand. At the same time, we understand each other well enough for you to know that there will be no expectations raised with any of the young ladies. My aunt has been very clear in her discussions, it is now well known and accepted within the Ton.”
“There are two things I would say in response Lord Roderick. The first is there will be the wilfully blind and deaf who think that you have just not met the right young lady, and they are that young lady. And the other is I am making my way in society and do not wish a target on my back. Any of the sets before supper, and of course the last set, lead to speculation. I appreciate the honour of being asked but the sixth or seventh set are less conspicuous.”
The Duke had been such a regular visitor to Hanover Square that he had granted Elizabeth leave to call him by his given name, rather than constantly being addressed as ‘Your Grace’.
“I understand your reasoning, as well as the tenacious claws of the matchmaking mamas and their daughters. But I put you on notice, at future events I might need you to save me from stubborn suitors.”
They laughed but there was a truth to the statement. Nothing had been said between them but it was clearly understood they were friends, with no inclination on either side for there to be more. Lady Maria had discussed it with Lady Susan. The two old friends were now meeting weekly.
“So Richard danced with Miss Bennet?”
“He did, and was the only one of her nine dance partners who she appreciated.”
Lady Maria explained Elizabeth’s detailed notes on the event, which had been repeated after the dinner two nights earlier.
“We all keep track of things in our head, it is normal and necessary. But this is taking it to another level.”
“For Elizabeth, it is a return to the familiar. She is entering a new society even though she has spent close to five years in London. There has been so much change in her life over the last year and this is a way for her to maintain her balance, keep her poise.”
“When I think on your words I can see what you mean. Most of the guests at these events have been trained from an early age in how to act. They will have literally years of experience on her. How did she perform?”
“Very well. She is not a stupid young lady, anything but. She knows how to dance, although the tale behind that is quite funny.”
“How do you mean?”
“She did not attend one dance while she lived in London. She had been taught in her childhood and youth but had never danced in public. She was fortunate that her two cousins were setting forth on their own education and so she was able to refresh her skills as part of their tutelage. She attended two Assemblies in Hertfordshire but that was it. The Harrington Ball was only the third time she had danced in public. Actually, there was a fourth time, but she only lasted seven minutes before her partner for the first set crushed her foot and she was unable to dance for the rest of the evening.”
The conversation was side-tracked for a few minutes as the inadequacies of Mr. Collins were detailed.
“What has been the reaction to her? Has she made a positive impression?”
“I am partial but I believe so. She is honest and unaffected, she does not try to be someone she is not. She tells people that she is the daughter of a minor country gentleman and that she now lives in London under the guardianship of Sir Edward Gardiner.”
“She was probably the lowest ranked lady at the Harrington’s Ball.”
“I do not doubt that. But she seems to use it to her advantage.”
