“Thank you.” Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged a smile filled with a meaning Georgiana did not understand. When the music began, Darcy bowed and escorted Elizabeth to the dance floor. They did not speak as they moved through the first dance, but their eyes and their touches said more than words ever could. Laughter and conversation continued through the second dance of the set. Their behavior caused a great deal of gossip behind the fans of the matrons that evening.
Darcy danced next with Georgiana, then danced the sets promised to Miss Bingley and to Jane. Between sets, he and Elizabeth were always together, often with Georgiana or one of Elizabeth’s sisters. As the supper set began, Darcy had Elizabeth back in his arms. While they danced, they spoke of their future, discussing their hopes and dreams. When the set ended, they retrieved Georgiana from her seat and moved into the dining room. They were seated at the main table near Jane and Bingley. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet sat at the other end of the same table near the Hursts and Miss Bingley.
Once everyone was seated, Bingley stood and addressed his guests. “I would like to welcome you all to Netherfield Park and express my gratitude for the warm welcome we received to your neighborhood. I hope you will enjoy yourselves this evening. Before we serve the dinner, Mr. Bennet has an announcement he would like to make.”
As Bingley sat down, a murmur spread through the crowd, speculating at the forthcoming announcement, Mr. Bennet stood and said, “It gives me the greatest pleasure to announce the engagement of my daughter Elizabeth to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. They are to marry in early January.” Loud applause and calls of congratulations followed the announcement.
Bingley stood again, saying, “Please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth.” He paused as the company raised their glasses. “May you have a long and happy life together.” Darcy and Elizabeth smiled at each other as they clinked their glasses and drank in acknowledgment of the toast in their honor. When Mr. Bingley sat down, an army of footmen began serving the white soup. The dinner had started.
The room buzzed with pleasant conversation as the residents of Meryton enjoyed the superb supper prepared by the Bingleys’ chef. After dinner, several of the local ladies entertained. Elizabeth sang a duet to the accompaniment of Mary and Georgiana.
Throughout the dinner and entertainment, Miss Bingley kept up her pleasant façade. When everyone returned to the ballroom, she lingered until she and the servants were the only ones in the room. Crossing the hallway, Caroline glanced about, then turned away from the ballroom and down a corridor towards the back of the house. She opened a door onto the terrace. A tall man dressed entirely in black slipped inside.
Caroline put a finger to her lips to indicate the need for silence. She led the man back the way she had come and paused before a closed door. The gentleman slipped inside the darkened room, lit only by the fire burning in the grate.
“Remain here and stay quiet. I will be back as soon as I can.” At his nod, Caroline exited, closing the door behind her. The man slipped off his coat and took a seat in the chair behind the door to wait.
Miss Bingley’s Scheme Goes Awry
Surprisingly, Lydia did not have a partner for the first set after supper. After watching the dancing for a moment or two, she decided to go to the ladies’ retiring room. When she reached the doorway to the ballroom, she noticed Miss Bingley looking furtively around the hall. Curious, Lydia followed Caroline as the latter disappeared down a long hallway. When the woman reached a doorway, she opened it and a man in black stepped inside. Lydia slipped into a dark alcove as the couple turned and walked back the way Miss Bingley had come. Lydia pressed herself tighter against the wall as they passed her hiding place.
When they turned the corner, Lydia rushed from the alcove to follow. Peeking carefully around the corner, she saw them pause before a door. As the door opened, the light from within reflected on the man’s face. Gasping in surprise, Lydia hurriedly ducked out of sight and put her hand over her mouth to stifle any further sound. She listened for any noise that would indicate the others were coming towards her, but she heard nothing. She dared not look around the corner for fear of discovery, though she placed her ear as close to the edge as possible, straining to hear anything.
Snatches of conversation in Miss Bingley’s quiet voice reached her. “Remain here. . .quiet. . .back. . .soon. . .Remember. . . you must . . .”
Lydia was shocked into stillness as the sound of footsteps receded. What was he doing here and what did Miss Bingley’s words mean? With unusual clarity, the memory of a discussion with her sisters came rushing back. That memory sparked her into action.
Returning to the ballroom, Lydia found Kitty. Taking her hand, she pulled her sister along until they also found Mary. Grabbing Mary by the hand, Lydia dragged her sisters after her until they reached a small anteroom. In the farthest corner of the room, she related to them what she had seen and heard. Her sisters were as shocked as she was.
“This is what I think we should do.” Lydia began outlining her rapidly developed plan. When she was through, her sisters looked at her, smiles on their faces.
“What if we are dancing when it happens?”
Lydia thought for a moment. “Pretend to be faint and ask your partner to accompany you to the hall.”
Everyone agreed to the plan. One at a time, the three sisters slipped back into the ballroom.
Caroline Bingley wandered the edges of the ballroom, surveying the proceedings and speaking to the occasional guest. Elizabeth was scheduled to dance the last dance with Mr. Darcy, so she would need to strike before then.
At the end of the set, Caroline located Jane and escorted her to the hallway. “Forgive me for disturbing you, but I thought you would wish to know that I observed Miss Elizabeth going upstairs to the ladies’ withdrawing room. She was looking a little pale.”
“Thank you, Miss Bingley. Would you please tell Mr. Bingley I will return soon?”
“Of course.”
Jane ascended the staircase. Caroline watched with a satisfied smile. Returning to the ballroom, she looked for her true prey. The set for the penultimate dance of the evening was about to form. Caroline scanned the crowd and discovered Elizabeth’s partner taking her to the floor. Hurrying in their direction, Caroline arrived just before they joined the set.
“Miss Elizabeth, pray forgive me, but Miss Bennet felt unwell. I took her somewhere she might rest and said that I would fetch you to attend her.”
“Please excuse me, Captain Carter.”
“Of course, Miss Elizabeth. Please let me know if I can be of assistance.”
“Thank you, Captain. Perhaps you would find my sister Mary.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Captain Carter was a tall man. He turned about until he spotted Mary and then moved in her direction as Elizabeth followed Miss Bingley from the room.
Kitty and Lydia were lurking near the entrance to the ballroom and saw Miss Bingley and Elizabeth heading in their direction. After they passed, the girls followed them down the hallway, quiet as mice.
Meanwhile, Captain Carter approached Mary. After explaining what had occurred, Mary asked that he hurry to find Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, then send them to the hallway. She rushed away.
Captain Carter was surprised by the usually calm Miss Mary’s behavior but did as she requested.
Lydia and Kitty stepped into the hallway to see Elizabeth and Miss Bingley before the door where the man in black waited. Whispering into Kitty’s ear, the two young ladies rushed forward, their dancing shoes making almost no sound. The door opened. Running ahead, Kitty pushed Elizabeth to the side before she could enter the room. She shoved with such force that her sister landed on the ground. Lydia now stood behind Miss Bingley and pushed her through the open door. Then she grabbed the door handle and swung the door closed. Kitty joined her. They held on tightly to prevent it from being opened. When she arrived, Mary added her slight weight to the effo
rt.
Everything had happened very quickly and those involved were too surprised to speak. That did not last long, as a cacophony of voices soon spoke at once.
“Lydia, Kitty, what are you doing?” asked a startled Elizabeth from her seat on the floor.
“Elizabeth, are you well?” came Darcy’s worried voice as he moved to assist her in rising.
After a long pause and what sounded like a slap, Miss Bingley’s voice called out to be released as she banged on the door.
It was upon this scene of chaos that Mr. Bingley arrived.
“What in heaven’s name is going on?”
Elizabeth and Darcy had no answer to that question. Mary and Kitty looked to Lydia to answer, as she was the only one, besides Miss Bingley, involved from the beginning. Lydia began her tale of having observed Miss Bingley’s strange actions and of Miss Bingley having let someone in the room. “I believe she lured Lizzy here for the purpose of having her compromised. I think you will agree when you learn who is in there! By the way, after we closed the door, there was a long silence and the sound of a slap.” A broad grin covered Lydia’s face.
Bingley stepped before the door and the three sisters let go. Behind them stood Darcy and Elizabeth, his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side. The door swung open.
Everyone in the hallway gasped at the sight before them. There stood a scarlet-faced Caroline Bingley. The front of her dress appeared torn from the shoulder, and she clutched it to her chest. Her lips were red and swollen, and much of her hair tumbled around her. Over her shoulder could be seen the face of Mr. Collins.
“Caroline, what have you been doing?”
“I was attacked.”
“How did Mr. Collins get here? He was definitely not invited!”
“Indeed, I was. Miss Bingley sent a letter inviting me,” came the pompous reply.
“Caroline, how could you correspond with a man to whom you are not engaged? Well, between that and your appearance, you are well and truly compromised. I will expect you to present yourself to me in the morning, sir, to discuss the marriage settlement.”
“But I do not wish to marry Miss Bingley. I came to marry my cousin, Elizabeth. If Lady Catherine supported my claim to you as I expected, I would not have had to resort to this.”
“Why on earth would you think I would accept you now when I refused you before?” cried Elizabeth. “I detest you!”
“Mr. Collins, as my aunt gave my relationship with Miss Elizabeth her blessing, I doubt she will be pleased when she learns of your behavior this night. She cannot revoke the living, but you might wish she could as living with a disgruntled Lady Catherine is anything but pleasant. As for you, Miss Bingley, when we spoke, you accepted the fact that I would never ask for your hand in marriage,” Darcy said. “Why, then, would you arrange to have Miss Elizabeth compromised?”
“I could not accept that I was not worthy to be Mrs. Darcy while this country nobody was. It isn’t fair. If I cannot have you, neither can she!”
“You have no say in whom I marry and your actions guarantee I will not see you again in the future under any circumstances.” With that, Darcy turned and led Elizabeth away. Her sisters followed her and they all returned to the ballroom. They met Jane at the bottom of the stairs.
“There you are, Lizzy. I was worried about you. Caroline said you went to the ladies’ withdrawing room and that you were unwell. How did you get here?”
“It is a long story, Jane. I will tell you everything tomorrow.”
Darcy offered his other arm to Jane. “Bingley must attend to a household matter. Will you not join us until he returns?”
Jane accepted the arm offered to her and accompanied the others to the ballroom, though she looked in confusion at her sisters trailing them.
Watching the others walk away, Bingley pushed his sister back into the room and closed the door behind him.
“How could you do such a thing, Caroline? What makes you think you have the right to decide whom someone can or cannot love? If you had just accepted his words and left things alone, you would have always been welcome as a part of his circle. Darcy began to relax around you after you two spoke. Now, you have guaranteed that you will never achieve your goal of being part of the first circle of society. You will see him only from afar when he visits his aunt at Rosings Park.”
“I am not going to Rosings Park.”
“Indeed, you are. You and Mr. Collins will marry as soon as I can arrange it.”
“As I said, I do not wish to marry Miss Bingley.”
“You compromised her and you will marry her or I will report your action to the church. Though her behavior sometimes leaves something to be desired, she is attractive and has a dowry of twenty thousand pounds.”
Collins’ eyes lit up at the size of her dowry. “You are correct, Mr. Bingley. I will do my duty.”
“Now you will find yourself a room at the inn in Meryton and report to me first thing tomorrow morning. Remember, I do know where to find you should you fail to appear,” Bingley said sternly. “You, Caroline, will go to your room and remain there until morning. If you do anything other than what I tell you, I will cut off your allowance and send you to our relatives in York to live in disgrace.”
“But, Charles. . .” she began.
“No buts, Caroline.” He took his sister by the arm and stepped into the hallway, where he motioned to a nearby footman. “Please escort Miss Bingley to her room and remain outside her door. She is not feeling well. Do not allow anyone to bother her and do not allow her to exit.”
“Yes, sir.” Bingley watched as they mounted the stairs. With a shake of his head, he turned towards the ballroom. Bingley arrived as the music for the final set started. Glancing about, he found Jane standing with Darcy and Miss Elizabeth. After making his way across the room, he bowed to Jane and said, “I believe this is our dance.”
Jane placed her hand in his and the two couples took to the dance floor. Bingley had planned a waltz for the final set. With broad smiles, the men took the women they loved in their arms and twirled them around the dance floor. Darcy and Bingley were slow to release Jane and Elizabeth from their arms. Darcy and Elizabeth stood holding hands and staring at each other. However, at Elizabeth’s gasp, Darcy turned to see the cause.
Bingley was still holding Jane Bennet’s hands as well. He was down on one knee before her in the middle of the ballroom floor.
“My dear, sweet Miss Bennet, I can wait no longer. I must beg you to accept my hand in marriage. Having you here in my home on this special night, at this special time of year, I want nothing more than to spend Christmas with you now and forever.”
A blushing Jane, with tears spilling from her eyes, took a deep breath and nodded before finding her voice. “I would be delighted to accept, and I would like nothing better than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
The guests burst forth with best wishes and exclamations of delight. Elizabeth rushed into her sister’s arms. “Oh, Jane. I am so happy for you. Is it not wonderful that we both found good men to love and who love us in return? It is even better that they are best friends, for it means we will often be together in the years to come.”
Darcy clapped his friend’s back as Elizabeth spoke with Jane. “Congratulations, Charles. I hope you two will be very happy. Perhaps you should look for an estate close to Pemberley, as I am sure Elizabeth would love to have her dearest sister living nearby.”
There was no chance for them to say more, for by that time Mr. and Mrs. Bennet arrived to offer their congratulations.
“Oh, my dear, Jane. I knew how it would be. I knew you could not be so beautiful for nothing.”
“Congratulations, Jane,” said her father as he kissed her cheek. Extending his hand to Bingley, he said, “Congratulations, young man. I hope you realize how dear my Jane is and will care for her as she deserves.”
“You can count on it, sir.”
Bingl
ey escorted Jane to the door with him to farewell their guests. After the last one departed, the Bennet carriage pulled to the door. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and the younger girls exited the house and Mr. Bennet helped the ladies into the carriage. Standing on opposite sides of the hall, with the open door providing privacy, each gentleman took his ladylove into his arms and bestowed a gentle kiss which gradually grew in intensity. The sound of Mr. Bennet clearing his throat from just beyond the door returned the two couples to their senses. Each man tucked his lady’s arm in his and led her to the family carriage.
Darcy helped Elizabeth into the carriage and kissed her hand before releasing it. “Until tomorrow, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” he breathed as he released her fingers.
Bingley replaced him and handed Jane into the vehicle. Repeating his friend’s actions, he whispered, “Until tomorrow, my angel,” before releasing Jane’s hand. The gentlemen remained until the carriage turned out of the drive. Then they retired to Bingley’s study for a brandy before retiring for the night.
Sharing Christmas
In the days following the departure of the newlywed Collinses, things settled into a pattern. The ladies of Longbourn and Georgiana spent each morning in planning the upcoming double wedding of Jane and Bingley and Elizabeth and Darcy. Georgiana was thrilled to be included in the planning and activities. Her relationship with Elizabeth grew ever closer. Georgiana’s genteel behavior and good sense rubbed off on Kitty and Lydia. Mary also became less rigid and moralistic in her behavior. Georgiana even convinced her to read a novel, which they delighted in discussing together. The Bennet sisters’ more outgoing personalities also helped Georgiana to overcome her extreme shyness.
The gentlemen would arrive an hour before teatime, so the couples could walk or sit on opposite sides of the small back parlor, where they could chaperone one another while still enjoying a modicum of privacy to talk. Sometimes they would sit together and play cards or make plans for spending time together in the future.
A Turn in Their Dance Page 17
