9. Chapter 9

June 6, 2104 - Somehow I managed to cut the word 'Netherfield' at the end of the last chapter. Darcy was riding to Netherfield. I fixed it but in case you missed it before, it's there now. And I check to make sure it didn't happen again in this chapter.

Chapter 9

Elizabeth was not surprised when Mr. Bingley arrived at Longbourn in the company of Mr. Darcy and Georgiana. He seemed to take advantage of every opportunity to visit. As soon as they were seated and the normal pleasantries were dispensed with, Mr. Bingley made his business known. In truth he could hardly contain himself waiting for the opportunity to speak.

"I have come today to personally issue you an invitation to a Ball at Netherfield next Tuesday."

"Oh, a Ball! Mr. Bingley, I am sure it will be the grandest in memory if you are to hold it, sir!" Mrs. Bennet gushed.

"Of course your whole family is invited, including you, Mr. Collins," he added.

"I am sure we will all be there, Mr. Bingley. A Ball! I am so looking forward to it!" Mrs. Bennet went on and on.

Finally Bingley suggested a walk in the garden. Darcy quickly asked Elizabeth to join Georgiana and him before Mr. Collins had the opportunity to request her company. Darcy meant to engage Elizabeth for the supper dance. He knew this would make Georgiana very happy. In fact Georgiana was the one who suggested it. She also suggested that he ask her to open the Ball with him. As much as he was tempted to do so he knew that it would be unwise.

"Georgiana," He had said to her the day before. "As much as I enjoy dancing with Miss Elizabeth you know it would be unwise for me to open the Ball with her. We have discussed how difficult it is dealing with her mother about your acquaintance. Imagine how much more difficult it would be if Mrs. Bennet imagined I was paying attentions to her. She would never have a moment's peace!"

"Once again you have shown you are never wrong, Brother. I agree with the logic of your proposed course of action."

'But I do not agree that you do not wish to show attentions to Elizabeth. When are you going to stop denying that you admire her brother?' Georgiana thought to herself.

"Will you ask her to dance the Supper Dance at least? That way you will secure her for dinner with me, Fitzwilliam."

"I suppose I can do that, just do not expect any more from me."

"Will you open the ball with Miss Bingley then?" She teased.

"Heaven forbid! I will not dance the first set. I may ask her for the next but only to get it out of the way for the evening."

"Wise decision brother. I wish I could dance with you."

"Next year, dear. And just to let you know, you are the only one I would want to open the ball with." He took her hand and smiled down on her. "My dearest sister!"

Now that they were in the garden Darcy wasted no time in engaging Elizabeth.

"Miss Bennet, would you do me the honor of reserving the Supper Dance for me at the Ball."

"Of course, Mr. Darcy, I would be honored sir."

"There you are, Georgiana, your fondest wish has been granted!"

"Georgiana Darcy! What do you have to say for yourself"? Elizabeth mockingly demanded.

"If you must know, Elizabeth, I knew my brother intended to ask you for a dance at the Ball. I simply asked him to choose the Supper Dance so that he might insure that you will be my dinner partner. I thought it was a very good maneuver myself. You must allow me to be selfish once in a while."

"A very reasonable answer, Georgiana. You must promise me then to secure our seats at a table away from Miss Bingley, or my mother for that matter." She added with a knowing look.

"I will do my best, Elizabeth," she promised. "After all, I shall not be dancing and should have time to insure a desirable seating arrangement."

"It seems as if you ladies have everything covered. I only need to need to keep from stepping on Miss Elizabeth's toes and I shall fulfill my part!"

Elsewhere in the garden Mr. Bingley was walking with Jane.

"Miss Bennet?"

"Yes, Mr. Bingley?"

"I should like very much if you would dance the first set with me."

"I would be delighted, sir." Jane replied.

"May I also ask you to reserve the supper dance for me as well?"

"Yes, that is most agreeable, Mr. Bingley!"

He saw the look of heartfelt joy in her acceptance and his own heart leapt with hope.

"I shall very much look forward to dancing again with you, Miss Bennet."

"I too, sir."

They too affected to speak for a while. Finally Jane broke the silence.

"We are all very honored that you chose to deliver the invitation to the ball in person, Mr. Bingley."

"I would not have it any other way."

It was at this point that they met up with Georgiana.

"Mr. Bingley, I came to ask, came to ask…well I came to give Fitzwilliam some time to ask Elizabeth to dance in private." She fibbed. She could see that they had both wanted a few moments of privacy by the looks they exchanged. She misinterpreted their reason for such privacy but she was happy to do whatever she could to forward a match between her beloved bother and her best friend.

Fortunately neither Bingley nor Jane had any inclination to doubt her motives or words so they happily included her in their party.

Georgiana had left Darcy and Elizabeth to ask some question of Mr. Bingley. When she had moved out of earshot, Elizabeth opened the subject they both wished to talk about.

"What news of Mr. Wickham do you have Mr. Darcy?"

"As soon as I reached Netherfield after talking with you yesterday I dispatched an express to my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam." Elizabeth looked at him askance.

"What is it, Miss Elizabeth?"

"Your cousin shares a name with you sir."

"Yes, it is the Darcy tradition that the eldest son bears his mother's family name."

"I see, pray continue about Mr. Wickham. I am sorry to distract you."

"As I said, I sent my cousin an express telling him about Wickham. I related to him that Wickham had joined the militia and asked if he could manage to get him transferred to another regiment. Colonel Fitzwilliam has many connections. I received an express from him late last night saying that he had begun the process of getting him transferred and expected to know more in a few days. He was pleased to be able to exert some control over Wickham. He wanted to run him through after Ramsgate. In the meantime, I will make sure that I am with Georgiana when she is away from Netherfield. I believe Wickham will be gone in the next four to six days so it should not be too much of a strain. Perhaps you can arrange another walk with her for the next few days."

"Yes, I will do that. I shall also keep my ears open to discover if Mr. Wickham has started spreading lies about you." At this Elizabeth wore a most mischievous grin. "I never thought I would see the day when I was glad my mother loved to gossip. If there are any ill rumors about you, she will know as soon as they are about."

Darcy wisely kept his comments to himself and smiled faintly.

"Let us rejoin the others. Bingley has much to do today. He has been neglecting a few things around Netherfield since he began seriously contemplating this Ball. I need to remind him to do his duty first."

"You are as invaluable as a friend as you are as a brother, Mr. Darcy. I pity the person to cross you sir."

"You have nothing to fear on that score I am sure, madam."

They then joined Jane, Georgiana and Bingley and heading back to the house.

"Miss Bennet," Bingley began. "My sisters asked me to convey an invitation to come for tea the day after tomorrow. May I tell them you will come?"

"I must check with Mama first, but I believe I will be able to come."

"It is a good thing they did not ask for today or tomorrow, Mr. Bingley" Elizabeth said.

"And why is that, Miss Elizabeth?" Bingley asked.

"Sir, with your invitation to the ball this morning I am sure our mother will have plenty for us to do to procure needed items for the ball as well as accompanying her to call around the neighborhood to discuss those same preparations for the ball. You see, we will be quite busy between now and the Tuesday!"

"Then I hazard that means you will not be available to accompany me on a walk tomorrow, Elizabeth?"

"No, Georgiana, I can scarce avoid the same fate as my sisters."

"Can you come the day after tomorrow? You could come with Miss Bennet when she comes to tea. Please say yes, no offense Miss Bennet, but I do not wish to spend the day with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. They are so much older than I and they do not enjoy walking as I do." Georgiana could say more, but not in the presence of their brother or Miss Bennet.

"Then I must rescue you from the clutches of three ancient women, Georgiana!"

"Lizzy!"

"Sorry, Jane! Elizabeth smiled coyly.

Once they made their way back into the house the three visitors took their leave and made arrangements for a carriage to pick up the two eldest Miss Bennets two days hence.

Elizabeth was not able to keep her spirits in check and foolishly asked Mr. Collins if he intended to accept the invitation to the Ball.

"Would it be proper for you to attend?"

"I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing myself, that I shall hope to be honored with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially, a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her."

Elizabeth was left in the unhappy position of opening the ball of the season with the man she had the least desire of doing so. She only hoped he had a better command of the dance than she dreaded he actually possessed.

Late that evening when the rest of the house was comfortably settled into their rooms Jane sought out Elizabeth. The two sisters had, for as long as they both could remember, enjoyed spending time with each other in such a manner. It had become a custom to resurrect the events of days such as today.

"Did Mr. Bingley ask you to dance, Jane?" Elizabeth began.

"He asked me to reserve the first set and the Supper Dance."

"So you are to open the ball with your Mr. Bingley."

"He is not my Mr. Bingley, Lizzy." Jane blushed.

"I think he will remedy that shortly, Jane." Elizabeth dared. Jane would not answer her on that affair.

"Did Mr. Darcy ask you to dance, Lizzy?"

"Yes he did. He also asked for the Supper Dance so that he could secure me as a dinner partner with Georgiana. He claimed it was her idea and she would not deny it."

Jane was puzzled. It appeared Miss Darcy was there when he asked Lizzy to dance. Why had she said otherwise?

"Was Miss Darcy with you when he asked?"

"Yes, then she said she had a question for Mr. Bingley and left us alone for a few minutes before we joined you again."

"That is curious, she said she wanted to give her brother some privacy to ask you to dance."

Elizabeth started to laugh. "I think Georgiana was trying to give us some privacy. I fear my friend is trying her hand at matchmaking!"

At this Jane joined in on Elizabeth's laughter. "Do you mind, Lizzy?"

"Mr. Darcy would never be able to offer me anything other than friendship. I am afraid he looks at me as his sister's friend and nothing else. I am too insignificant to garner any interest on his part."

"You have not answered my question, Elizabeth."

"I would rather Georgiana not play matchmaker, Jane. I would not wish for her to get her hopes raised needlessly."

"Would you welcome his attentions if he offered them?"

"That is a moot question, he never would stoop to anyone my level."

"But if he did?"

"I have never given it any thought, Jane. I am not sure I can answer that. I suppose that if he did single me out that I would have to consider whether I welcomed him or not. For now, I could not say."

"Elizabeth, you are my sister and I am partial, but I think you and Mr. Darcy would suit very well. Mr. Bingley has the highest opinion of him and Miss Darcy already loves you as a sister."

"But society would not approve, Jane. Mr. Darcy has a duty to marry well. I am sure he intends to fulfill that duty. Enough about Mr. Darcy, Jane, tell me what you plan to wear and how you think you will do your hair for the ball!"

The two spent the next half hour discussing their planned preparations. Jane agreed with Elizabeth's intention of weaving fresh flowers in her hair. They would be lovely set off against her dark tresses.

The next day panned out much in the manner Elizabeth predicted. By that evening she was sure there was nothing left to plan or discuss other than how many more days there were before Tuesday's Ball.

The following day gray skies greeted Elizabeth when she awoke. The skies threatened rain all morning and when the carriage arrived to take them to Netherfield Elizabeth could smell the approaching rain. She was about to send her regrets to Miss Darcy when the footman handed her a note.

Elizabeth,

I know it looks like rain and that will mean an end to our planned walk today. Please, still come and see me. I cannot abide another day alone with Miss Bingley without your company. I promise we shall find something to amuse ourselves. Even if it means I have to bully my brother into giving us a lesson at billiards!

Georgiana

Elizabeth grinned at her note and allowed herself to be handed into the carriage. They were not halfway to Netherfield when the rain began. By the time they had arrived the shower had passed but the planned walk was definitely going to be cancelled. The two ladies were announced in the drawing room where the ladies of the house were all assembled.

"I am afraid we shall have to postpone our walk for another day, Georgiana," Elizabeth began once the civilities were finished and they were seated. "What do you have planned for us instead?"

"I had a delivery of a few new books yesterday. They are in my room. Would you like to come with me and see them?"

"Yes I would but I think we should wait awhile. I would not want Miss Bingley to overwhelm my sister with our hasty withdrawal."

"Of course, let us wait ten minutes and then I shall announce our intentions to our hostess." Georgiana replied.

They talked of the new music Georgiana had been working on. Miss Bingley exclaimed how beautifully 'dear' Georgiana played and continued to praise her in a like manner until Georgiana made their excuses to leave to see the new books.

"I should be very interested in seeing them as well, Georgiana. I do so love a good book," Miss Bingley added attempting to show her implied intimacy with the young lady.

"Yes, Miss Bingley, we will return soon," was all Georgiana trusted herself to say as she and Elizabeth left the room.

"Dearest Georgiana," Elizabeth began in her best Miss Bingley voice as soon as they were safely upstairs, "I am sure your taste in books is exquisite, as to match your skill at the pianoforte. Oh that all ladies were as accomplished as we are!"

Both ladies burst out in laugher at this and it was several minutes before either of them had any semblance of self-control. At last they were both able to overcome their giggles and peruse Georgiana's newest books, two novels and a new book of poetry by Coleridge.

"I think Miss Bingley might be interested in these novels but I sincerely doubt she has the… the patience for Coleridge," Elizabeth tried to say with a straight face. Once again the two Ladies spent considerable time regaining their composure. First one would start giggle and that would ruin the other's self-control. They traded doing this to each other until a knock on the door finally brought them back to some semblance of proper decorum.

"Georgiana, it is Fitzwilliam. Is Miss Elizabeth in there with you?"

Opening the door she responded in the affirmative.

"Miss Elizabeth, your sister wishes to leave soon. She is afraid of become stranded here because of the weather."

"I think once is enough for the both of us being houseguests here during this house party. Dear Jane is always right about these things. I should make myself ready to leave, Georgiana."

"I will be happy to escort you both down stairs," Darcy volunteered.

"Do not forget the books Georgiana. I am sure Miss Bingley is dying to see them!" said Elizabeth dryly.

Neither woman dared look at the other for fear that they would start laughing all over again. With their dignity intact they were led into the drawing room where Jane was anxiously awaiting them.

"I have ordered the carriage be brought around front for you ladies." Darcy told them. The butler then informed them that it had just arrived and Jane and Elizabeth made their farewells and headed to the carriage.

"Thank you for coming," Georgiana quietly spoke to Elizabeth. "I do not think that I have laughed so much at one time."

"When the weather has cleared I shall send word when I can come again for our postponed walk." Elizabeth responded.

"I am looking forward to it."

Jane and Elizabeth hurried into the carriage and headed back to Longbourn.

Unfortunately the poor weather held until the day of the Ball. Elizabeth's patience would be greatly tried being tied indoors. If it had not been for the ball to look forward to the entire house would have been in a pitiable state. Indeed, the greatest trial was enduring Mr. Collins. Elizabeth found herself often forced to retreat to her or Jane's room for sanctuary.

It was with great joy then that Tuesday morning dawned bright and clear. It was a good omen for the promise that the ball held for the night.

Elizabeth is determined to be practical. Teasing woman! Feel free to vent in a review. ;-)