Page 47 of The Wager
“I know. I just do not like it, not when you all look like fairy princesses.”
Jane held out her hand and beckoned both girls to come down to where they had gathered in the foyer. As usual, Lydia reached her first and took Jane’s hand in hers. Kitty trailed behind and waited silently.
Elizabeth watched as her eldest sister carefully reached up to her elegant coiffure, removing two small roses. She gave each girl a flower and kissed them on the cheek.
“Hold these close and dream of the ball. Tomorrow morning, I shall tell you everything that happened and what everybody’s dress looked like.”
“Thank you, Janie,” Kitty whispered.
“Time is marching on, ladies,” Papa called out. “If we wish to avoid a long line of carriages, we should leave now.”
He held out his arm for Mamma and escorted her into their comfortable equipage before handing up his daughters, who took the rear-facing seats. He then climbed in next to his wife, and even though it was dark, Elizabeth could see, from the full moon’s light, he was very proud of them all.
ElizabethandJane,alongsidethe viscount and Mr. Darcy, were engaged in pleasant conversation while the ballroom filled with guests. When the influx of people had dwindled substantially, Mr. Bingley was able to leave the receiving line and join them. Upon espying Jane standing next to the viscount, he approached with a wide smile on his face.
“Miss Hamilton, I am so glad you waited for me. Would you honor me with the first set of dances to open the ball?”
“My first set is already spoken for,” she replied in her soft voice.
“Oh…”
Elizabeth noted that Mr. Bingley had a perplexed look about him, as though he had not expected anyone but himself to ask her sister for one of the premiere sets.
“Dare I request your second set, or have all your dances been spoken for by the gentlemen in Meryton?”
His tone betrayed a touch of unexpected belligerence and twin flags of color rose on Jane’s cheeks, a sure sign of burgeoning anger. Elizabeth thought Mr. Bingley had better tread lightly, or he would receive a blistering set down from her normally placid sister.
“My dance card is not yet full…sir. The fourth is available.”
Mr. Bingley’s face paled at Jane’s subtle chastisement and he turned to Elizabeth.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I entreat you to open my ball with me?”
“Forgive me, Mr. Bingley, my first set is already spoken for.”
“I see,” was all he said before he gave them all a curt bow and strode across the room toward his sisters.
When the musicians began playing the opening chords of the first set, Mr. Bingley was seen escorting Miss Bingley to the head of the line. Jane and the viscount were paired next to the surly brother and pouting sister as Viscount Ashton was the highest-ranked gentleman in the room.Poor Jane, Elizabeth commiserated silently for her sister. It would be a miserable two half-hours, seeing as their primary exchange partners were disgruntled siblings. Even though she and Darcy were third down the line and part of their triple minor set, there was nothing they could do to alleviate their suffering. But shecouldsmile at her partner, which is what she did for the entirety of their dance.
Once the set was finished, Mr. Darcy escorted her to the terrace doors. They did not go outside, choosing to enjoy the soft breeze wafting in through one of the opened doors.
“I wish I did not have to leave for Town on the morrow,” he said while holding her hand as they faced the room and waited for Elizabeth’s next partner to escort her to the dance floor. “I also wish I had all your dances tonight. I do not want to share you with anyone.”
“Think of it as penance for how I will feel on the tenth of this month when you will be dancing with beautiful women at Lady Kildair’s ball.”
“For you, I shall frolic about the ballroom with only ugly matrons.”
She laughed gaily at his teasing.
“If you choose that route, please ensure their dance is a pleasant one. Gentlemen do not understand the plight of women who are not handsome. They love music and dancing just as much as the pretty girls but are so often overlooked. Beauty is more than what the human eye can see.”
Darcy lifted her hand and pressed it against his mouth.
“You, my dear, are beautiful on the surface and in your soul. I shall treasure you, always.”
“I will take our cousin’s hand now.” Ashton interrupted their flirting and grinned when Darcy flushed a dull red. “Although I am exceedingly glad you make my dour cousin happy, dear Elizabeth, we are in public and he must behave the gentleman.”
Elizabeth took her fan and tapped the viscount on his forearm.
