Page 40 of Wickham Likes 'Em Young
But his attempts to soothe were waved off. “You know that the damp still gets to us, even with an umbrella. Oh, if only you were already wed, Jane.”
Elizabeth said, “As you know, Mama, Jane is everything lovely. Even if some of the curl should come out, Mr Goulding thinks too well of her to repine. He certainly will still call her the handsomest woman in attendance!”
“Thank you, Lizzy,” Jane said calmly.
When they arrived, a footman approached to lower the step, but Elizabeth was surprised to see Darcy smiling and saying something to the footman, who hurried to the next carriage; Darcy handed out each of her sisters and her mother; being the farthest from the door, Elizabeth was last, other than her father, and she thanked her beloved. He waited to ensure that her father had comfortably exited as well, and then he offered Elizabeth his arm and swept around the line of guests, saying in a low voice, “We are the guests of honour. We need not stand in line. Besides, Georgiana and I have something for you.”
Georgiana was waiting in a small parlour out of the way of the guests streaming towards the reception line. Elizabeth hugged her and complimented her on her lovely pink gown.
Georgiana said, “You look truly spectacular, Elizabeth. By the bye, I cannot dance, of course, but did you know that I arranged with your father and Lydia to sit with them and critique the clothing and manners of everybody else?” She laughed and blushed and said, “I mean, that is what Lydia said we would do, but of course we will only say positive things.”
“I dearly hope that Lydia will not insult anyone. I am certain that you will not!”
Darcy reached into his pocket and offered Elizabeth a dark red velvet bag with a pull-string closure. “Georgie and I wantedto bring some of the Darcy jewels for you to wear tonight. We thought the diamonds would suit no matter what colour you were wearing.”
Into her hand he poured a choker, a bracelet, and a pair of earrings. Elizabeth had never seen such beautiful jewellery before. The settings were simple enough and the stones modest enough that the set made a statement of, not just wealth, but also taste. Each piece was truly lovely.
“Thank you both ever so much!” Elizabeth did not have the words to convey how much she felt. Darcy helped fasten the necklace, and Georgiana helped with the other pieces.
“Now, let us greet our hosts,” Darcy said, offering an arm to each lady.
When Elizabeth saw Mr Bingley, after a fortnight ofnotseeing him, she was reminded of what a well-mannered, good-humoured man he was. He was much more friendly and full of fun than Mr Goulding, and a part of Elizabeth regretted that he would not become her brother.
“There is the blushing bride-to-be, looking even more radiant than ever!” Mr Bingley said. “It is so nice to see you.”
“Mr Bingley, Miss Bingley, Mr and Mrs Hurst,” Elizabeth said with a nod to each person. “Fitzwilliam and I are so very grateful that you have honoured us in this way.”
Miss Bingley’s eyes were riveted on the diamond necklace, and she was unable to say anything at all until Georgiana, Darcy, and Elizabeth moved past her.
Elizabeth thought the ballroom was quite wonderful, although a bit excessive—but still, with the entire event in their honour, she should concentrate on the wonderful part. Swaths of green tulle decorated the pillars, and evergreen boughs and holly branches capped all the windows. The beeswax candles were plentiful, and clusters of red hothouse flowers filled every vase.
Mr Bingley was crossing to the musicians, and Elizabeth squeezed his arm as he went by. “You and your sisters have outdone yourselves. This is lovely!” she said.
His smile was wide and happy, although it dimmed a bit as Jane and Mr Goulding passed near. But he said, “Thank you,” with such steadiness, she could not help but admire his good attitude. “And, actually, come with me, you two.”
Darcy steered Georgiana to Elizabeth’s father, and then he and Elizabeth joined Mr Bingley on the dais in the musicians’ gallery.
A few notes were played, and Mr Bingley asked the crowd to quiet. He said, “Thank you all for braving the ominous skies and coming to the Netherfield Park ball. I wished to hold a ball for all the neighbourhood, as a thank you to all of the good folks of Meryton and beyond who have welcomed my family into your homes for the past two months. Even as I contemplated an appropriate date for the ball, my very good friend asked for the hand of a wonderful woman, and she agreed to his proposal. I know everyone here has already heard the news, but it gives me great pleasure to announce the guests of honour, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. I know you will join me in wishing them every possible happiness.” He led the group in applause, which ended up sounding quite thunderous.
Darcy led Elizabeth to the head of the lines forming for the first set of dances. “In my excitement to see these heirlooms gracing your neck and wrist and ears, I neglected to tell you that you look beautiful, Elizabeth.”
“You are quite beautiful yourself, sir. And somehow you have managed to look so without diamonds.”
“I hope you realise that the jewels are enhanced by your beauty, not the other way around.”
“Oh, my goodness, how am I to believe such flattery?”
“Consider the source, madam. I am known for honesty to the point of bluntness. I only speak the truth tonight, as always.”
The music began, and the two danced as if there were no others at the ball. Even when the steps separated them, and they were required to interact with another, they only had eyes for each other.
There were a good many murmurs that passed through the crowd during the dancing, and they continued as the first dance ended and the dancers waited to begin again, but Elizabeth and Darcy paid the whispers no mind. During the second set, Elizabeth danced with Mr Bingley, and Darcy danced with their hostess. Elizabeth had a good time chatting with Mr Bingley, but she noticed that Darcy continued to stare at her and did not seem to answer any of Miss Bingley’s chatter. During the third and fourth sets, he stood against the wall and watched Elizabeth dance with neighbours and friends. His face was calm, but his eyes were as intense as usual.
During the fifth set, which Elizabeth had claimed was to be saved for a family friend, Darcy and Elizabeth went to the spot where Lydia and Georgiana sat next to Mr Bennet. The girls were whispering and giggling, and Elizabeth thought that Georgiana only looked a bit reticent rather than deeply shy. Darcy seemed even more proud of his sister than usual, and Elizabeth was pleased to feel proud of Lydia, as well.
The supper dance found Elizabeth back in Darcy’s arms again, to their mutual delight. As they moved into the supper room, Elizabeth heard a few surprising words amongst the low-voiced chattering and gossip: “I have never seen him upset before, let alonesoupset.”
“Nor her. He always smiles, and she always smiles. But not tonight!”
