Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 18

Lowry House

A Few Evenings Later

The Bingley’s carriage came to a gentle halt, and a few seconds later, the door opened and Bingley stepped out. He helped Jane out first, and then Elizabeth, and then waited patiently as both his wife and her sister adjusted their skirts and pulled their shawls closer around their shoulders.

Elizabeth clung to her shawl as she gazed up at Lowry House, thankful for its comforting warmth against the chill. She was dressed in a fine new gown, of a pleasing sage green that went well with the jade pendant that Jane had lent her. Elizabeth was not one to fawn over sparkling trinkets like some of her younger sisters, but even she was entranced by the splendor of the necklace.

Bingley offered her and his wife an arm, and Elizabeth placed a hand on his arm as he led them up the steps into the house.

The foyer was warm and well-lit, and the three of them merged into the queue to give their wraps to an attendant. After Elizabeth had done so, she turned to admire her sister, who was a radiant sight in the lamplight. She was dressed in her pale blue wedding gown that went most pleasingly with her eyes, and a sparkling sapphire necklace sat around her throat. It had been a recent gift from her husband, and Elizabeth thought that she looked incredibly handsome in it.

Not only was she physically beautiful, but Jane was glowing with joy, her cheeks rosy, with a noticeable spring in her step. It was obvious that her marriage to Mr. Bingley was a happy one. Mr. Bingley was also dressed well, in fine evening attire, and Elizabeth was certain that they would be the most attractive couple at the ball.

As Elizabeth waited with Mr. and Mrs. Bingley to greet their hosts, she looked around the room, admiring the decorations and the attire of her fellow guests. Ahead of her, she caught sight of the Misses St. John, which made her heart leap with cheer. As she watched, the elder Miss St. John happened to turn as well, and the two young women exchanged a smile.

Elizabeth was pleased that have two of her acquaintances here, not only because they were pleasant conversationalists, but because she was not certain that she would be dancing much tonight. Mr. Bingley would doubtless request one dance with her, but she was from out of town and did not know any of the other gentlemen in attendance. If she should not be asked to dance, perhaps at least she would be able to spend a portion of the evening enjoying the company of two friendly and familiar faces.

Eventually, they reached the front of the line. Lady Lowry bestowed a pleasant smile on Jane and said, “Mrs. Bingley, will you not introduce me?”

“Of course,” Jane replied. “Lord and Lady Lowry, may I please introduce my sister, Miss Bennet. Elizabeth, Lord and Lady Lowry.”

Elizabeth curtsied, and then the small party moved on toward the sound of instruments tuning up.

They stepped into the ballroom, which was a grand sight indeed. There were scores of candles set along tables and sconces and in the large, glittering chandelier, along with many gentlemen and women already within, which made the space very warm in comparison to the winter chill outside. The ladies in attendance were dressed in their finest gowns, many with feathered hats, and music was provided by at least a dozen musicians.

The ballroom floor was all but sparkling in the candlelight, and tall vases were set along the wall containing bright and colorful flowers. On the far right side of the room were long tables, set with cakes, tarts, and punch, where many of the guests had gathered while they awaited the first dance. Elizabeth had seen ballrooms before, but this was the most spectacular one that she had ever seen.

“Miss Bennet!”

Elizabeth turned at the cry and smiled at Miss Storey, who was winding her way through the crowd with a young man at her side.

“Miss Storey,” she said. “I am so glad to see you here.”

“I am delighted as well! Now, please do allow me to introduce my brother, Mr. Benjamin Storey. Benjamin, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth curtsied to the young man who boasted blue eyes and dark hair. He was good looking, if not handsome, and she was pleased when the gentleman said, “Miss Bennet, might I have the honor of the first dance?”

“Thank you very much, yes,” she replied, thankful that she would not have to sit out all the dances, at any rate.

Half an hour later, after an exhilarating country dance, Mr. Storey guided Elizabeth off the dance floor and over to a chair, where he offered to fetch her a glass of lemonade. She agreed with a smile and looked around to see Bingley guiding Jane toward her. Jane was smiling, her face flushed, and Elizabeth, once her sister had taken a seat next to her, began fanning her rapidly.

“Thank you, Lizzy,” Jane said, looking fondly after her husband as he made his way toward the now congested table of refreshments. “It is rather hot in here.”

“It is,” Elizabeth agreed, and then looked to the right and said, “It appears that our hosts agree with you, as they are opening the doors to the outside.”

Jane sighed in relief and then, after recovering her breath, remarked, “I hope you enjoyed your dance partner?”

“Yes, he is an excellent dancer and seems good natured,” Elizabeth replied, just as the man in question approached with a glass of lemonade.

Elizabeth rose to her feet along with Jane, and as soon as she had accepted the glass, she introduced Jane. Not surprisingly, Mr. Storey’s eyes widened at the vision before him, and he immediately asked to be on Jane’s dance card.

At this moment, Lady Audrey Galpin appeared, dressed expensively in blue silk which matched her eyes, with a young gentleman at her side who was, Elizabeth thought, in his early twenties.

“My dear Mrs. Bingley, Miss Bennet, Mr. Bingley,” Lady Audrey exclaimed, “please allow me to introduce my brother, Lord Montcalm. Adam, Mrs. Bingley, her sister, Miss Bennet, and Mr. Bingley.”

The ladies curtsied, the gentlemen bowed, and Lord Montcalm said, “Might I have the honor of dancing with both of you ladies?”

Elizabeth was a trifle startled but readily agreed, and Jane after her. Bingley asked to dance with Lady Audrey and Miss Storey, and a few minutes later, Elizabeth stepped onto the dance floor with Lord Montcalm at her side.

The dance was a cotillion, and Elizabeth found her partner respectably competent, though he was not quite as sprightly as Mr. Storey. He was not a loquacious man, and they only exchanged a few remarks during the half hour, but Elizabeth did not mind. The exercise, and the pleasure of dancing, and the charming music, made the entire affair enjoyable.

When the musicians had played the last note for the cotillion, Lord Montcalm led Elizabeth over to where Lady Audrey was seated with the Misses St. John. Lady Audrey, upon observing the pair, smiled up at them and said, “Well, Miss Bennet, I hope my brother proved a good partner?”

“Indeed he did,” Elizabeth replied. “It was a most gratifying dance.”

“I promise you that I performed more than adequately, Audrey,” Montcalm replied with a smile, displaying a set of dimples, and turned to Elizabeth. “I do not pretend to be a great dancer, and am also a trifle out of practice, as this is my first ball of the year.”

“Did you just arrive in London, then?” Elizabeth asked curiously.

“Aaron is the miscreant who stole my book, Miss Bennet,” Lady Audrey declared. “He came to London last week, stayed a few days, and then went back to our country estate of Langford in Somerset for a few days, and has recently returned. He obviously enjoys traveling more than I do.”

Elizabeth glanced at Lord Montcalm and was relieved to see that he was chuckling. It seemed that Lady Audrey and her brother enjoyed an affectionate relationship.

“I insist on explaining that, Miss Bennet,” he said, looking at Elizabeth with twinkling eyes. “I freely confess that I enjoy the country more than Town, but in this case, my father summoned me back to Langford because of some business matters.”

“And do you think you will be returning to Somerset tomorrow, perhaps?” Elizabeth asked archly.

He laughed, sat down next to her, and shook his head. “I plan to be in Town for at least the next few weeks. My mother is here, and Audrey, and I hope my father will be content without me.”

“Our father is a wonderful man,” Lady Audrey explained, “but he is also anxious about his health and has been worrying for ten years that he will die and leave Aaron unprepared to manage the estate. He is, in fact, quite healthy save for periodic attacks of gout, but he refuses to believe that he is not on death’s door.”

“I am sorry,” Elizabeth said. “That must be difficult.”

“It is, rather,” Lord Montcalm said with a sigh, “but come, tell me about yourself, will you not? I have never met you before; is this your first Season?”

“It is. I hail from Hertfordshire, where my father is master of a modest estate. My sister Jane married Mr. Bingley only last month, and they kindly invited me to live with them for a few weeks during the Season.”

“We are pleased to have you,” Lady Audrey said. “There are not enough intelligent, bookish ladies in Town.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said.

“Miss Bennet,” Lord Montcalm said, leaning forward with a serious expression on his face, “I would be glad to arrange for you to read a copy of Lord Byron’s epic poem, if you like.”

This provoked Lady Audrey to smack her brother with her folded fan, and Elizabeth laughed.