Page 59 of Eavesdroppers Never Hear
The group chatted for a few more minutes, then went to the parlour for a little bit of wine to prepare for the ordeal to come.
As a long-term resident of Netherfield, Darcy felt obliged to stand in the receiving line, while Elizabeth felt no inclination to join him. Everyone within twenty miles knew they were courting, but they were not engaged, and she would not be rushed. Joining him in the line would have been a tacit admission of an engagement, and she was not ready for that after a week of good behaviour. The colonel joined the receiving line just to fill it out, and to get a chance to be introduced to all the locals without going to the trouble of dragging Darcy or Bingley away from their ladyloves to arrange introductions.
~~~~~
The guests started arriving, so Elizabeth, Mary, and Georgiana went to witness their arrival. The Bennets arrived along with Mr Collins, and Elizabeth was chagrined to realize she had not given the poor man a single thought in the previous week. She remembered she promised Charlotte that she might promote her a bit but had been too busy to really do anything. She decided the evening was the perfect opportunity to canvass the couple and see if she needed to take steps. She understood that Mr Collins hoped to take one of the Bennet sisters as a bride, but she thought his likelihood of success essentially nil. She watched for Charlotte so she would have a chance to speak to her while Darcy was engaged in the receiving line.
Jane went through the line just like anybody, and Elizabeth watched her interaction with Mr Bingley avidly. Since their abrupt departure from Netherfield, Jane had kept most of her cards close regarding the gentleman. Elizabeth had not the slightest idea what her sister thought about the man at that point, and their interactions in the receiving line did nothing to enlighten her. They were slightly more than polite to each other, but the gentleman refrained from making a spectacle of himself, while Jane looked as inscrutable as she usually did.
Elizabeth gave up trying to work it out. Jane at least looked beautiful in her second-best ballgown, which was noticeably better than her sisters’ best. Right or wrong, everyone had accepted many years ago that Jane was likely to be their saviour. Besides that, arguing with Mrs Bennet had, until recently, been a fool’s errand, so the fact that Jane would be better dressed than anyone else was a given.
She greeted her friends from a corner of the room where she and Darcy could see each other but were not in a direct line of sight—mostly because Elizabeth was convinced neither of them would mind their manners very well if they spent the entire timestaring at each other, as was their wont. She reflected that the need to take such active measures probably indicated a growing attraction but still found the entire situation unnerving.
~~~~~
Charlotte came directly to Elizabeth after the receiving line, and Elizabeth was surprised to see Mr Collins hovering nearby. She quirked an eyebrow inquiringly.
Her friend replied, “I realize you have been busy, Elizabeth, but Mr Collins has been visiting the neighbours the last five days while you have been… occupied.”
Elizabeth blushed, though whether she was worried about her friend chastising her lack of industriousness vis-à-vis her promised help in the husband hunting department, or Charlotte’s implications about her busyness, she was unwilling to say.
Charlotte laughed. “Do not look so shocked, my dear. All is well. Mr Collins has made himself agreeable to my family and is opening the dance with me.”
Elizabeth nodded, not certain what she thought about the whole thing. “I am happy for you.”
Charlotte laughed even harder. “Try it with less scepticism next time. I am content with my progress and shall be content with my ultimate success.”
“Are you so certain of your success and likely satisfaction.”
“I am,” Charlotte said with all due seriousness.
“Then I wish you well,” she said, happy have the topic finished. She reflected that Charlotte was not a babe in arms, and she knew perfectly well what she was about.
They spent another quarter-hour talking, though they were interrupted from each of her sisters and parents at least once, as well as several other acquaintances. Several men askedElizabeth for dances, and she granted them, though whether gladly or reluctantly was a question she could not really answer.
Darcy escaped the hordes to join the ladies for a quarter hour before the first set.
~~~~~
As the group was chatting amiably, Jason Goulding approached, and Elizabeth performed introductions.
After a few minutes, he asked, “Miss Mary, might I have the honour of your first set… or another if that is already taken?”
Mary stared at him in shock, thoroughly unable to answer while the poor man fidgeted nervously.
Elizabeth took pity and reached over to take Mary’s dance card. “Mary?” she asked softly, which shook her out of her stupor.
“It would be my pleasure, Master Goulding,” Mary said shakily.
Elizabeth handed him Mary’s dance card, which he quickly filled out. “Might I fetch some refreshment, Miss Mary… ladies?”
“That would be lovely,” Elizabeth replied with a smile, and he hied off to the refreshments table with rather nervous alacrity.
Mary still seemed shocked, so Elizabeth said, “Come, Mary. It is not as if you never danced before.”
“Never the first,” Mary said emphatically, and then gave a nervous frown.
Darcy asked gently, “Are you nervous about dancing with the gentleman?”
