Longbourn to London (42 page)

“Hear, hear!” chimed in Mr. Hurst, and all laughed and drank amidst the tinkling of one glass touching another.

After everyone had consumed as much champagne as they dared, Mr. Leigh cued the orchestra, and stood in front of the gathered couples. “We shall have a mixture of dances now, which I shall call, and at eleven o’clock, supper will be served.” He bowed, and the couples sorted themselves. Mr. Bennet stood to one side watching, vastly entertained. Several couples changed partners: Jane danced with her uncle, and Bingley danced with Charlotte Collins. Mr. Collins danced with Mrs. Gardiner. The colonel asked to dance with Elizabeth, but Darcy would have none of it.

“It is
my
house and
my
ball and
my
new wife, and I do not mean to share.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head knowingly. “Then I shall wait until the Season, when my parents give my new cousin a ball. There I shall dance with her when you cannot object.”

Darcy nodded with feigned haughtiness. “And so you may, Cousin, unless it is a waltz, or the first dance or the supper set or the last dance.”

Darcy had never enjoyed a better time dancing. Elizabeth was the accomplished partner he remembered, and he wondered where the Bennet girls had learned to dance. He glanced at Jane and Bingley from time to time, and he was again surprised that Bingley could look so buoyant and besotted while Jane merely looked serenely pleased with him and everyone. Darcy could not believe she was a passionate wife, but he expected there were many details he would never, and
should
never, know.

Elizabeth also observed the other dancers when her husband was not whispering seductively in her ear. She particularly noticed how carefully Colonel Fitzwilliam regarded Jane and Bingley. It was not the first time she had seen her new cousin gaze upon her sister with a look that could best be described as a leer.
That man needs to marry, and soon!

Mr. Leigh called for a waltz just before supper. Darcy had returned their champagne glasses to the side table, and as he crossed the room to take Elizabeth’s hand, he and all the others were dumbfounded to see Mr. Bennet approach his favourite daughter and, bowing slightly, ask her to dance. Elizabeth glanced quickly at Darcy, who stopped abruptly. His dimples revealed he had no serious qualms. Elizabeth curtsied. “I would be honoured, Papa.”

They formed the proper frame, the music started, and off they went, father and daughter, swirling around the room. The other couples watched for several bars before joining them. “It has been a long time since we danced together, Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet smiled. “I think you were ten and stood on my feet.”

“I do remember, Papa. We were in your library before there were so many bookcases. One could not dance there now. What was the music? I do not remember.”

“I think Jane managed to play loudly enough that, for once, we heard her.”

“Ah yes, that would have been before Mary took over the pianoforte and Jane gave it up. Papa, I really should scold you for the letter you included with the picnic. I never had any notion of you continuing your dominion as the family rascal into my marriage!”

“I knew you would take it in good part. I was highly entertained by the thank you note Darcy sent and surprised he would take the time away from you to write. The story of your lost shoe, and nearly appearing as the new mistress of Darcy House with a hat on your foot, was most diverting.”

“He wrote to you about
that
? I wonder when he did it!” She sighed loudly in mock perplexity. “Are both the men in my life in need of scolding?”

“It was most generous of him to return the hamper loaded with his fine port. I am much in his debt…again!”

“Did he? He is a man too full of surprises by half!”

They laughed together until Mr. Bennet sensed the music was ending. He had one important question to ask while he could. “Lizzy, are you as happy as you assumed you would be? You look thin! Of course, perhaps you had grown thin before, but now I have not seen you for a se’nnight, and you seem worn. Tell me, is he still the best man you have ever known?”

She saw the loving concern in his eyes. “Oh, Papa, do not worry about me. I am eating.” She sighed dreamily.
And getting a vast deal of exercise!
Her eyes found Darcy’s as he watched her dancing, “Yes, he is still the best man I have ever known. As you said, he is most generous.”

“Yes, I see the lovely pearls. They suit you.”

“No, Papa, that is not my meaning. He loves me just as I am. He
wants
me to tease him. We challenge each other. He is careful to solicit my opinion, even when the topic in question does not concern me. He wishes only to please, Papa, and he does, without fail.”

“Then I am likewise pleased.”

The music ended, and the footmen opened the connecting doors to the grand dining room. Mr. Bennet took Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy, and together they escorted her to supper.

Elizabeth was too excited to partake of the meal, even though Darcy had a menu prepared that included many of her favourite dishes. Elizabeth caught Jane’s eye, and the sisters rose to visit a saloon set aside for the ladies. Darcy and Bingley locked eyes.

“What can they have to discuss? They have only been apart a week.” Bingley smiled tensely.

“Us,” Darcy replied, and both men shrugged.

Darcy watched Elizabeth leaving the room. He noticed the odd styling of the back of her gown, and remembered Sarah had been working on it while he watched Elizabeth adjust her stockings.
Has she lost weight? Enough weight to alter a ball gown she has not worn for a year?

***

The sisters hugged again once they were alone.

“Oh Lizzy! I can see you are very much in love. You did appear so before, of course, but as Mr. Darcy said, your courtship has been tumultuous.”

“When I spoke to you of marrying only for the deepest love…remember? …I had no idea what I meant though I am sure I thought I did. Fitzwilliam may seem difficult to others, but he suits me perfectly.”

“Did you get through the first night well enough?” Jane blushed but did not shy from the topic.

“It was certainly a night of revelations, I must say!” Elizabeth shook her head in wonder, meeting her sister’s eyes with mischievous glee. “But is it not gratifying to be the object of such desire?”

“Lizzy!” Jane’s blush deepened and she lowered her voice. “Charles actually left me for his own bed after a while…after the first time, which did not please me. He thought he was supposed to. Half an hour later he returned, declaring sleeping apart was stupid. We awoke later and consummated our marriage again, which surprised me. But he has not left my bed since.”

Elizabeth’s competitive nature surfaced. “Between dinner and breakfast our first night, Fitzwilliam had me, well, we were at each other, really, four times.” Jane looked sufficiently alarmed to suit Elizabeth immensely.

After Jane had a moment to absorb this information, she asked, “And how was the first time?”

“It was somewhat painful, but not unbearable at all, and Fitzwilliam was so…concerned. I felt such a need to console him! It was absurd, but he was so very dear, and I was sufficiently brave. And you, dear Jane? Did you master your nerves?”

“I
was
nervous, even though Mama lent me the use of Annie for the night. Charles wanted to undress me, but you know what my wedding costume entailed.” The sisters laughed. “But he did the most remarkable thing. I should not speak of it, but it was so unexpected. I tried to discourage him…and I am sure this was quite improper, but it was so soothing when he, and I, were joined the first time, it hardly hurt at all, and I did not bleed but just a trace on my nightgown. Nothing Annie could not rinse away.”

With a strange feeling of déjà vu, and the room slowly starting to spin, Elizabeth asked, “What did Mr. Bingley do, Jane?” She anticipated the answer, and she was not found wrong when Jane whispered her reply.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam told him what to do. He…Charles, kissed me, after a fashion, between my legs.” Jane’s cheeks had never burned hotter—she had consumed sufficient champagne to let down her armour of perpetual serenity. “He assured me it would ease everything, or so he was told. It was disconcerting, but only in the feelings it aroused in my heart, not in any painful way. And it seemed to make…what happened…much easier.”

Steady, Lizzy, oh brace yourself. What am I hearing? It must be so if Jane is saying it
. Elizabeth endeavoured with every fibre of her being to not appear dumbstruck.

“Are you surprised at me, Lizzy? Surely, with your adventurous nature, you have granted such favours to Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth nodded, unseeing.
I? Adventurous?
Elizabeth felt faint, and took Jane’s hand, saying only, “Thank you for your candour. My Fitzwilliam would not ask his cousin for advice. Jealousy, you see.” She thought of how the colonel continued to look at Jane.
No wonder. He knows more than a man ought of another man’s wife
. Elizabeth stood suddenly, energy and alarm joining to produce impulsive movement. “Surely, they will be waiting the remainder of the dancing for us.”

As Elizabeth said the words, the saloon door opened and Georgiana ran a few steps into the room. “Ah! This is where my new sisters have got to!” She approached and took their hands. “I so look forward to all of us being together for Christmas at Pemberley. It is the family I have longed for.” Georgiana’s joy lightened Elizabeth’s strained spirits, and with arms entwined, the three women returned to the ballroom.

***

When Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Jane reappeared, Darcy and Bingley approached with mock reproofs. “We shall not let the two of you out alone together ever again!” Bingley chided them, betrayed by a laugh.

Darcy started to make a similar comment to Elizabeth but caught the strange cast of her eyes. She brushed past him and made for the champagne table where she poured herself a glass and drank it quickly, suppressing a burp behind her gloved hand. He took her hand and looked into her face with concern. “May I have the next, dearest Elizabeth?”

The light came back to her eyes. “Of course you may. I would like nothing better.” The orchestra struck up a simple country reel, and the couples danced boisterously. There was a gathering around the champagne table when the dance stopped, and Mr. Leigh called another reel. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, used to keeping early hours with their children, sat out the dance and announced at its end that they would say their goodnights. Elizabeth and Darcy saw them to the entry hall and waited with them for their carriage.

“I would not presume to speak for my dear wife,” Darcy said, “but I think in this instance she will agree. We are both keenly aware of our debt to you for understanding our feelings before we did ourselves.” He kissed his new aunt’s hand, and slapped Mr. Gardiner on his back.

“Aunt, Uncle, this has been a divine evening, more so because you could be here. That you would do this for me…other than saying thank you and agreeing with Fitzwilliam, I am at a loss as to how to repay your kindness.” Elizabeth held her aunt’s eyes for an extra moment. “It will be delightful to host you and the children for Christmas. Please come as early as may be.”

There were tears of happiness in Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes as she looked at Darcy and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth managed not to cry and laughed instead.

When the door closed behind the Gardiners, Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand. “Are you well, Elizabeth? I realised Sarah was altering your gown when I peeked in upon you earlier. You have lost weight? I had not noticed until tonight. And since returning to the dance, you have been quiet.”

“I am well, Fitzwilliam. My appetite abandoned me entirely whilst we were waiting for news of Lydia. Her visit to Longbourn as a married woman disturbed me further. Then you came back to Meryton, and that was unsettling, too, in its way. I am quite sure once we are at Pemberley, I shall become the plump and buxom minx you fell in love with. You must not concern yourself.”

Darcy gave her a searing look. He gently slid the tips of his fingers from her neck down her chest, over the pearls, and finally hooked his fingers inside the low neckline of her gown. “I would not call you less than buxom now, Lizzy. My imagination ran wild when we danced at Netherfield. How I longed to touch you like this. I shall remember it the rest of my life.”

Elizabeth met his gaze. “
This
is a night I shall remember the rest of my life. Much about myself has been revealed to me. Who stays with us besides Jane and Charles?” She wanted to understand how much, or how little, privacy was to be theirs for the night. They began making their way back to the ballroom.

“I hope you will not object. Georgiana is to stay, as are the Collinses, until late tomorrow morning when they will return to Rosings. The Bingleys wish to remain for a day or two, that Jane may do some shopping without having to answer to…
anyone
. I have given them leave to stay as long as they wish, just so they join us, without fail, at Pemberley in a fortnight. I hope you will not regret delaying our departure another day. It is already a late night; we shall not want to begin a long journey tomorrow.”