Love is in the Air

by Denise O'Hara

  “How much of a know it all is he, Jane?”

  “Well, not so much really. He does have a vast knowledge of many topics, it seems. He is obviously an avid reader. Perhaps if he were to share fewer of the things he knows it would make for a more pleasing exchange.”

  “How fewer? I mean, are we hoping he lessens his facts from 7 or 8 to 2 or from 10 to 3 or 4?

  “Perhaps it would be most advantage if he were to lessen his conversation as to length of time. Instead of speaking for thirty minutes straight, it might be lessened considerably.”

  “Oh, dear! Mary would find the most boring man in the neighborhood!”

  “No, Lizzy, I did not say boring. Some of his facts are quite interesting. I learned a great deal on the subject of the diet of those in India. I would have just preferred a shorter oration. But he is very nice.”

  “And how did Kitty’s young man compare? This was your first time being in his company as one who is showing interest in Kitty, I believe rather than just as her friend?”

  “Mr. Covington is such a gentleman! It is obvious by his manners and even the way he carries himself. He comes from a very old English family. He and Harry took to each other right away when we had first met him months ago, and they picked right back up this time as well. Charles and I found him to be a very nice addition to our card table after supper. He is quite attentive to our sister. She seems very pleased.”

  “How is Mr. Joseph at the card table?”

  “He and Mary often prefer to read and discuss. I did overhear the pair of them laughing from time to time. They may not have the social skills of the other couple, but I believe they may be compatible in many ways. She has never looked lovelier. She is wearing her hair in a most becoming style, and her dress was a soft shade of green. It had the effect of her appearing less severe than she had often been formerly. She smiles a great deal more now as well. “

  “Well, that is good to hear. We travel to Longbourn from here and will get to meet the two gentlemen then. If they meet with our approval,” Lizzy said mockingly, “ I think we shall invite both gentlemen to the Ball we will have at Pemberley in two months’ time. We might keep a closer eye on them there.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Anne it has been over three years since our disappointment. No one understands better than myself what that has meant to you. But we can wait no longer for you to marry and produce and heir. You will soon be one and thirty, my dear. You have much to offer and may very likely find someone more agreeable than your cousin. Perhaps someone who is not so stubborn!” Lady Catherine said to her daughter. “Anne, are you listening to me?"

  Anne de Bourgh sighed with boredom. "Yes, Mother, I am listening. I want you to listen to me as well. I want this to be very clear to you; I will not marry out of duty. I am to inherit when.... you.... die. I can live very happily alone with just a few neighbors, carrying out my duties and riding my pony cart. Very happily."

  "Anne Margaret de Bourgh! This is shocking speech! What will become of our line if you do not produce an heir?"

  "Our line will continue regardless, Mother. Darcy has two children now, and they will inherit if I do not have an heir."

  "You would have that woman's children with their unrefined blood inherit Rosings? It is not to be born! You must come to your senses and do your duty!"

  "You are not going to intimidate me into marrying a man I do not like, Mother. I would have to like him very much to consider spending every day with him. I was used to my cousin but I highly doubt I will be comfortable with a stranger around all the time."

  "Will you at least attend the Ball at Pemberley and meet a few prospective gentlemen, my dear? If no one is to your liking, we shall discuss what our next move will be. Perhaps we might host a Ball ourselves if the one at Pemberley does not produce results! Yes, we can certainly do that if the need arises."

  Anne sighed again. "I will go to Pemberley, though it pains me to do so. I should have been Mistress there and do not like being reminded of what I shall never have. But I make no promises, Mother."

  "Of course, my dear! I shall tell Peggy to begin preparing the necessary items! We have until the next full moon and you will need new dresses, five at least! We must begin the preparations immediately! I have been informed that trains on full dress gowns are beginning to go out of fashion, so we must make the adjustments on your lovely yellow satin accordingly. You will need one white silk, or possibly two. We must order long gloves, slippers, and shawls for each dress. I shall have my jeweler bring out my box and you may choose whatever you would like, my dear. Oh you will be the most accomplished and beautiful of all the young ladies! It was a very good thing Mrs. Jenkins has kept up your dance lessons."

  "Yes, Mother, it was a very good thing that I require Mrs. Jenkins to keep my dancing in top form. I would not have it any other way. I am quite fond of dancing, you know," said Anne.

  “Of course you are my dear, of course you are! All of our relations excel at dancing. We must set the example,” her mother said as she walked out of the room quickly. No doubt she wished to end the conversation before her daughter changed her mind.

  Anne sat in the chair by the small fire in her room and drank her hot cocoa. It was not cold enough by most people’s standards for either, but she always felt a chill and she liked her cocoa in any season. Since her disappointment over Darcy, she had not felt inclined to get to know any other man. Her mother had suggested Colonel Fitzwilliam but he was much too loud for her taste. She had always known she would marry Darcy and to have to change her mind and accept that it was not going to come to fruition had not been an easy task for her.

  Her mother had often made comments about her daughter having excellent taste in all things. Anne knew this to be true on many levels, such as in her taste in men. Darcy had been the most handsome man she had ever known. Not that she had been around a great number of men since coming of age. She was supposed to marry her attractive cousin and being that she was of a somewhat sickly nature, she had not ventured out of her own neighborhood too often.

  But she noticed every man that she did meet and had an exceptional eye for all things of beauty. She could barely tolerate being in the company of any who were not up to her standards, such as Mr. Collins. She felt sorry for Mrs. Collins, who she had come to know as a rather intelligent and nice person, though plain of face.

  Love was not necessary but she must enjoy the gentleman’s company and he must be at least as tall and handsome as the one who she had wanted.

  Perhaps she was not as sickly as her mother thought she was, but she felt no need or desire to correct the assumption. It was true that she certainly did not have the endurance or stamina of her mother. She liked to think of herself as others before her who had aristocratic blood. She was delicate and need not expend herself on trivial matters. Why should she be proficient at the piano when she could hire a companion to play for her at her request? Her previous companion had one day suggested Anne could perhaps do more than she did. She had said, “We do not want others to consider us lazy, do we?” Though Mrs. Smith had been with her for seven years, Anne had gotten up when the other woman had spoken those words and gone directly to her Mother to find a replacement. Anne was never one to raise her voice or berate the woman, and yet, the woman obviously did not know her place and Anne was never to be spoken to like that again. The companion she had now had been with her for almost ten years and had suited her very well. Mrs. Jenkins talked when Anne wanted to engage in conversation, played music and learned new pieces when Anne required it and left her alone when she desired quiet.

  She was not going to lower her standards just to produce an heir. She would go to the Ball at Pemberley but her expectations for finding a desirable life-long companion were not high.

  Chapter Nineteen

  If ever there was a place that a Ball could be held, the Darcy estate of Pemberley was the greatest there was.

  Lady Catherine and Anne de Bourgh were expected to appear
at the gathering; they were Mr. Darcy's relations, and though invited as a courtesy, were not really expected to attend. But to the Darcy’s surprise, they had accepted the invitation. Mr. Darcy and his Aunt had mended their differences over his choice of a wife, to a certain degree. Lady Catherine had informed her nephew in a disappointed tone that at four and thirty, Anne was in immediate need of a husband, and the Ball would be an excellent opportunity of meeting eligible gentlemen. The de Bourghs arrived as guests at Pemberley two days prior to the Ball in their barouche. They rested for the most part before the Ball, usually only coming down for dinner.

  Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their two daughters who remained at Longbourn traveled together the day before the Ball. The Darcys had met both Mary and Kitty’s young men when they had last visited Longbourn, and one of them had made a good impression on them with his attentive and easygoing manners. The other they had been forewarned about and managed to have only brief interactions with. The Bingleys had already met and had liked Mr. Covington very much indeed. Now that Mr. Covington had shown himself to be worthy of Kitty's time and attention, Lizzy wanted to keep a close eye on the man to make sure that he was well and true to her. To both Mr. Covington and Kitty’s delight, he was extended an invitation to the Pemberley ball, as was Mr. Joseph, Mary’s beau.

  The night of the Ball arrived and Lizzy and Jane went to check on their sister’s progress. “Oh Kitty! You look absolutely beautiful!” commented Lizzy.

  Kitty was encouraged by her older sisters to wear a pale yellow gown that would be shown to best advantage by the hundreds of lanterns that would be glowing in the ball room. Her hair was done up very becomingly. Though it could hardly hold a curl, there were pins inserted to keep two ringlets in place for the evening. A string of pearls that Lizzy used to wear adorned her chestnut hair and the effect was quite lovely.

  “And Mary, I have never seen you look more lovely, my dear,” Jane said. Mary bore little resemblance to the girl they had said goodbye to on their wedding day. Her hair was capable of curling beautifully but Mary rarely had let the maid assist her in it. She had always been more focused on her enjoyment of playing the piano at such a gathering than to be concerned about her appearance. But tonight her hair was done up with masses of curls, much resembling how Lizzy had worn hers to the Netherfield Ball several years ago. She had gotten new glasses that were lighter and more attractive. Her dress was white and the contrast of it with her dark curls was very flattering, and since she was more often indoors than out, her complexion was untanned and was much appreciated by the women of society.

  “Thank you,” she said, feeling like she might even pass for pretty this evening. All she really wanted was for Mr. Joseph to think so.

  Georgiana smiled to herself as she gazed out at the yard filled with carriages and barouches, and guests milling around. The last time they had attempted to attend a ball, the household had fallen deathly ill from the influenza. Since then, the grand estates of both Pemberley and Bethany House had only seen a small hand full of guests. Family for the most part.

  Mostly.

  Georgiana gazed down at the lovely comb that rested in her hands. One of many gifts Alex had bestowed upon her, despite her protests. She imagined his partnership with Darcy paid well, but she could not help but feel guilty over him spending his earnings on trinkets.

  Georgiana examined the polished shells crafted into a delicate flower, surrounded by small birds of the Orient. Alex had found it shortly after telling her about spending a stormy month in the Orient. She had been entertained for days with details about the land far beyond these shores. He had been so proud to present it to her, that she had changed the dress she intended to wear to the ball to one that matched the comb perfectly. She was glad she had as this was going to be a special night to remember. Her pale rose colored gown was cut to accent her womanly figure and she felt like quite the adult in it.

  She carefully secured the comb in her hair, arranging her blonde hair carefully around it. She tried to imagine walking the streets of the Orient or perhaps magical ports of India. Perhaps one day, she and Alex would see the far off reaches of the world together?

  She felt her face color as she carefully checked the skirt of her dress, fretting over each detail. She could not remember ever being quite so fussy about her appearances. Always neat and worthy of the Darcy name, of course, but never so keen as to if her dress was just so.

  Then again, she was never officially engaged before!

  She let out a nervous breath and paced the room as she tried to regain her composure. This wasn't like the other parties. This time she was not just Georgiana, sister to Fitzwilliam Darcy, pianist, young lady. She was Georgiana Darcy, fiancé to Alex du Pont.

  “Georgiana!!” A breathless young woman flew into the room, dress shimmering in the fading light as she darted forward and wrapped delicate arms around Georgiana's neck. “I cannot believe you took so long to write me!”

  “Kitty!” Georgiana declared delightedly as she returned the young woman's embrace. Kitty had become one of her closest friends in the world in the years since Darcy and Elizabeth had wed.

  “And here I thought you to be fully reformed, Kitty.” Elizabeth said in a teasing tone as she whisked gracefully into the room.

  “Never!” Kitty proclaimed with a beaming exaggerated smile before untangling herself from Georgiana. “Though we will not let the dashing young gentlemen downstairs know that, agreed?”

  Georgiana smiled and nodded her head at her best friend.

  *********

  There was a gentle breeze and all the lights of Pemberley were lit up and the full moon was over head giving a mesmerizing glow.

  To Kitty it seemed like forever since the halls of Pemberley were so lively. Kitty had inched up to Mr. Covington as soon as he had arrived. He was ever the gentleman, once even taking her hand in his and kissing it sweetly. To her delight, many of the young ladies whispered behind their fans. To be the subject of adoration of this wonderful man was more than enough to make her the happiest she had ever been.

  She stayed by his side whenever they were not dancing with others, and he gave no indication that he found her company unpleasant. Even when he was talking with a few of the older gentlemen that were at the dance, with a barely discernable touch of his hand against hers, he seemed to be reassuring himself that she had not left his side.

  "I am in the law," he said to a man that questioned his occupation, quietly, as though he was ashamed of it, "My second oldest brother is a justice in London and I had a notion that I would be able to see him more often if I could find a way to the courtroom. My mother forbade me from committing a crime, so I had to find an alternative."

  A few of the men laughed at the joke and Kitty watched as Mr. Covington's ears turned red. She thought of how he had let his guard down in the streets, how he had approached her so carefully. This was a man she was willing to marry, and she hoped that he would propose to her soon.

  She looked over at her dearest friend. Georgiana Darcy was radiant, thought Kitty. She was beauty and grace incarnate, and was dancing mostly with the man to whom she was to marry.

  For Georgiana, it felt as if the world had stopped, leaving just the two of them alone in it. Alex smiled down at Georgiana as they slowly waltzed along the dance floor. To hold her hand as they entered the ball room. To have his hand about her waist as they glided across the floor to the music.

  It was one of the few times that they could do such. It was maddening, to be so close. Darcy tried to give them space. But there were times he acted more of a father than an older brother. A very strict and proper father. Which was understandable as head of a very reputable household.

  Georgiana gazed up at him. Her eyes were truly mesmerizing. He could scarcely find words to say. But he had no regrets. He was perfectly content just staring into her eyes while they danced.

  But all too soon, the music ended. He could not suppress a sigh as he kissed the back of her hand before they s
lowly made their way back to the crowd. He did not take his eyes off her as they walked side by side. “You look absolutely stunning tonight.”

  She beamed as she shook her head in polite denial. “Not nearly as much as Elizabeth or Kitty.”

  “Nonsense. I have scarcely noticed anyone else since you have appeared.” Alex smiled boldly as he let his hand linger on hers a moment longer. “Where is Kitty anyway? Have you met this Mr. Covington she goes on about?”

  “She is somewhere nearby.” Georgiana looked around and swept her hand in the direction of her friend who seemed to be paying overmuch attention to a young man. “Yes I have met him. He seems to be a very nice gentleman. I have missed her greatly. Perhaps not so much as I would have before, had you not been here. She used to spend a great deal of time at Pemberley when we were younger. Elizabeth helped her with her etiquette. She tended to be quite a bit wilder back then.”

  “Is that so?” he asked with interest. Georgiana was a quiet woman. She rarely liked to talk overmuch about herself. Anything she decided to share was worth listening to. He rose a brow as he asked teasingly, “She did not get you into too much trouble I hope? Any stories I should know about?”

  She laughed softly and shook her head again, beaming over at him. “None worth mentioning.”