Elizabeth Newark - The Darcys Give a Ball

“Yes, Mr. Collins?” said Charlotte, turning to face him. “Is there something more you need?”

“Oh—I trust you will have a safe journey and a pleasant visit.”

“Thank you, Mr. Collins.” Charlotte looked at her husband with some surprise. His humor was odd, to say the least. It must be the gout, though usually that tended to make him irritable rather than amiable. “Now, say good-bye to your father, Eliza.”

“Good-bye, Papa,” said Eliza from the doorway. “I am so sorry you are sick.”

She could not, although she knew she should, say with honesty she was sorry he would not accompany them. Mr. Collins had a tendency to attract unwelcome notice; he had caused her to blush on many social occasions. She walked ahead of her mother towards the staircase, but Charlotte hesitated.

Stepping back to the bed, she smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from the sheet, and patted her husband’s hand.

“Remember, you are to stay safely in bed. Mrs. Spong will take care of you. Good-bye, Mr. Collins.”

The greetings continued in the hall at Pemberley. Were Charlotte’s eyes twinkling? Her bonnet shadowed her face; Elizabeth could not tell. She had herself well in hand, despite the sudden elation in her heart. She expressed polite sympathy.

Now she was shaking hands with Jonathan Collins. He was not handsome but his likeness to Charlotte and his sweet-tempered smile impressed her favorably. There was an agreeable sharpness and delicacy in the setting of his eyes, which were gray and well-opened. The footmen were carrying in the luggage. She gestured to her housekeeper.

“Mrs. Cleghorn will show you to your rooms. Come down as soon as you are comfortable. Jane is here, and her young people, and everyone is looking forward to making your acquaintance.”

The sound of horses’ hooves returned her attention to the open front door. A second carriage was sweeping towards them, a crest discernible on the door.

“Why, it is dear Georgiana. How delightful she has arrived in such good time.”

The carriage drew to a stop, the steps were let down and a slender lady, in early middle age, descended, followed by a young girl. Elizabeth stepped forward, a smile on her lips, which froze as yet another female form climbed out of the carriage.

“Miss Bingley!” Elizabeth caught a glance from Georgiana Baluster that held a touch of rueful desperation. “Welcome to Pemberley,” she said at once, inclining her head with formal courtesy.

Caroline Bingley’s affection for her “dear Georgiana” had continued over the years, punctuated by as many visits to the Balusters’s residence as she felt the traffic could bear. She professed extreme affection for Lucy, and did her best to create for herself the role of duenna. Lord Charles, as part of his devotion to his wife, liked her to be at his side as much as possible. “They have trustworthy tutors and governesses, my dear. So please, dearest Georgiana, do not distress yourself so much over the children.” Georgiana tried to divide herself as fairly as she could, but a space had been there, and Miss Bingley had inserted herself into it. At a family gathering, she had once heard Mrs. Darcy remark, quite idly, that Henry and quiet little Lucy dealt well together (Lucy was then nine and Henry fifteen). Since that time, Caroline Bingley had appointed herself matchmaker, and continued to do her best to throw Lucy and Henry together. Learning of the proposed Pemberley ball from a letter from Jane to her sisters-in-law, she had descended on Georgiana in just such time as would enable her to accompany the Baluster party to Pemberley.

She now acknowledged Mrs. Darcy’s greeting by a gracious bow, turning immediately to Lucy.

“Lucy dear, the sun, the sun! Do go inside, in the shade—remember your complexion! Nothing so harmful to the skin! Freckles, you know, so vulgar and coarse! And you are looking a little peaked—a strenuous drive, although dear Lord Charles’s carriage is so well sprung—you know you are not strong!”

Henry and Juliet were occupied in greeting the Collinses, but as the newcomers swept into the hall, Miss Bingley seized Henry’s arm, neatly cutting him away from Eliza.

“Henry! How good to see you! And how tall you are grown! Your cousin Lucy is a little tired. Do you go and help her.”

Georgiana looked annoyed. “Lucy is perfectly well, Caroline. Please do not fuss.” Her husband, last out of the carriage, had now joined her, and they paused for their introduction to Charlotte.

The housekeeper, Mrs. Cleghorn, patiently waiting in the background, now came forward and led the visitors upstairs. A hasty aside from Mrs. Darcy informed her that the unexpected visitor should be allotted the blue room in the East Wing.

Juliet had fluttered quickly from Eliza Collins to Lucy Baluster. “Dear Lucy, it is an age since we met.” Her cheek made brief contact with her cousin’s. “Let us all meet in the yellow saloon,” she said, “just as quickly as we can.”

Jonathan Collins, looking back as he mounted the stairs at the newcomer he had scarcely had time to greet, saw a pensive, heart-shaped face. Her eyes were downcast, showing long lashes in half-moons on her cheeks, as she listened to her cousin’s chatter. He paused again as they reached the first landing. The great marble-floored hall beneath him glowed with light from the sunshine pouring through the open doors. A crimson Turkish carpet covered part of the black-and-white tiles and continued up the staircase. The banisters were picked out with gold paint, and lining the stairway were portraits of imposing people in robes and jewels. The girl mounting the stairs behind him was dressed entirely in white, which took on a shimmer of reflected light from sunshine and polished wood and marble and gold paint. Everything was new and exciting, the building grander than any he had previously entered. But it was the girl who held his eye, and at that moment she raised those long dark lashes and looked up at him. He smiled involuntarily, and for a moment her lips too curved upward and her eyes brightened. But just then Miss Bingley spoke, and the girl frowned and looked away. Jonathan took a deep breath.

Mrs. Cleghorn showed Charlotte and Eliza their bedrooms, and then left them together while she escorted Jonathan to his room. Charlotte looked about her with a reminiscent eye; it was many years since she had stayed at Pemberley. She sighed a little. It was a weakness, she knew, but she had always had a liking for consequence. And the splendors of Pemberley were nothing if not consequential. She removed her outer garments, smoothed her hair, and joined Eliza.

Eliza was wide-eyed. She took off her bonnet and laid it on a chair, twisting round as she took in her surroundings. There was a four-poster bed with lacy pillows piled high, and a white counterpane. Three little wooden steps enabled one to reach the bed. An armchair, padded with rose-colored velvet, stood by the window; it had polished, curly feet like paws. There was a dresser skirted with lace. Deep rose velvet drapery over white lace curtains festooned the windows, which stood open. The air was warm and the scent of honeysuckle poured into the room.

“Oh Mama,” said Eliza. “It’s like a fairy tale.”

She had been silent with wonder ever since the carriage entered the Pemberley grounds, and had watched with shining eyes and parted lips as the house itself came into sight and grew ever closer—and grander. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing to great advantage on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high and wooded hills. In front, a stream of some natural importance had been swelled into a lake, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned. They had descended a hill, crossed a bridge, and finally arrived at the house itself. Every disposition of the ground was good, and Eliza now looked from her window on the whole scene, the lake, the trees—chestnuts, beeches, oaks, willows bending gracefully over their reflections in the water—and the winding of the valley, with delight. Ducks were swimming on the lake. She was enchanted.