Love Never Fails

by Jennifer Joy

  Jane wrote often. Her letters were full of news from Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, as well as the children. They were letters penned to make Elizabeth happy, but it pained her to see what was not written. Jane had designated herself to the role of a nanny. She rarely spoke of meeting new people, and she had not attended any public balls. Elizabeth could not lay the blame on her uncle, knowing him to be a sociable man and keen at widening his social circles to the improvement of his business contacts and nieces’ prospects. Elizabeth could only guess that Jane used Emma's slow recovery as an excuse to stay in. She would write to Aunt about it.

  A knock, succeeded by the swishing of stiff, silk skirts, announced the arrival of Lady Rutledge to her room.

  "Good morning, Aunt Lavinia," Elizabeth greeted her with a smile. She still did not think of the lady as her aunt in her own mind, but it had grown increasingly more comfortable for her to address her as such in private and public.

  "I hope you are well-rested. We are to go to a ball this evening!" She clasped her hands together and swayed gently.

  Elizabeth's heart leapt! "How lovely! I dearly love to dance." Perhaps, if it were not a private ball, she might see Jane. She had time to send a message to Gracechurch Street letting them know where she would be. It might be enough to lure Jane away from the house.

  "Good. As my niece, I will encourage you to dance every set should you wish it. When I was your age, my card would fill up before I could cross the entry hall."

  "Is there anything you expect of me?" Elizabeth asked, cautious not to forget her purpose in residing with Lady Rutledge. Even though the lady allowed her full freedom, she was still duty-bound to keep an eye on her.

  "I shall tell you if anything arises, but the ball is to be held by the daughter of Lady Cassandra— one of my dearest friends. Her granddaughter came out this year, and the ball is in her honor. It should be a lavish affair, and I look forward to seeing Lady Cassandra as well as my most intimate friends."

  Elizabeth's excitement diminished at the mention of the exclusivity of the private ball. She would not see Jane there. But she would get to dance— something she had not done for far too long.

  "How lovely it must be to see your dearest friends. I will never go so far away from you that I cannot be easily called."

  "Very well. I will have the maid get your best dress ready. Might I suggest that you rest before we leave? I plan to stay until the last of the guests have departed."

  Much in the style of Mother. Oh, how she missed her.

  Elizabeth changed into her best gown and twisted her hair into the stylish coiffure Kitty had spent hours teaching her so many months ago.

  Lady Rutledge wore a blue silk gown. Sapphire jewels dangled from her ears and throat. A matching silk turban covered most of her silver hair.

  From the moment they entered the residence at Grosvenor Square, Elizabeth felt like she was being watched. Not the flattering gazes of people admiring her new gown or curious about her identity, but rather the criticizing stares of judgment. Lady Rutledge seemed oblivious to it.

  She followed Lady Rutledge inside and through the crush of people until she found the hostess of the party standing surrounded by her gaggle of friends. Lady Rutledge introduced Elizabeth to her friends, but she was soon forgotten as the ladies reminisced about the past and made comments about the other ladies in attendance.

  A smooth voice behind her said, "Come, Eliza, let us take a turn about the room." The hair on Elizabeth's arms stood on end. But she could not refuse Miss Bingley in front of her aunt.

  Lady Rutledge waved her off. "What an excellent idea, Caroline! You can introduce your long-lost cousin to your friends and ensure that she never lacks a dance partner."

  With a coy smile, Miss Bingley linked her arm through Elizabeth's and together they set out across the room. Miss Bingley nodded and smiled at her acquaintances, of whom there were many. She slowed down at certain spots, as if she were displaying Elizabeth to certain groups. They would look at her and nod knowingly, then turn their noses up and talk amongst themselves, every now and again turning around with their eyebrows raised to see if she still stood there.

  Elizabeth could not guess what Miss Bingley was about, but she would not allow herself to be affected by it. She held her head up and forced her shoulders down and away from her ears. When someone narrowed their eyes at her, she smiled back in her most becoming manner. She was satisfied to see quite a few confused expressions cross their snobbish faces.

  Miss Bingley made little effort to speak, making only terse remarks about the size of the room or the number of couples dancing.

  When they rounded a corner and saw Mr. Bingley speaking with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth was relieved to see their familiar faces. As they drew closer, she also saw Colonel Fitzwilliam. His eyes crinkled up in the corners when he saw her, and it was a pleasure to return a smile sincerely given. She had endured enough fake ones in the past few minutes to last a lifetime.

  "Charles, you simply must do me a favor. Eliza and I have walked through all the rooms, and she has yet for a gentleman to ask her to dance. I am in a state of desperation, for Aunt Lavinia requested that I ensure our country cousin at least one dance." She spoke in a voice loud enough for others to hear. A giggle escaped a lady from a group standing nearby.

  Elizabeth clenched her jaw and felt the fist of her free hand tighten. It took everything she had, but she kept her complexion cool and her tongue still.

  Mr. Bingley looked appalled. "How could that be true, Caroline? Miss Bennet is one of the handsomest ladies in this room!"

  Miss Bingley sputtered unintelligibly, giving Elizabeth reason to hope that all was well in the universe and her cuts had not gone completely unnoticed. Before Miss Bingley found her eloquence, she was interrupted by Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  Slapping Mr. Bingley on the back, he said in a merry voice, "That must be it, Bingley. She is so handsome, the men are afraid she will refuse them and thus, like the cowards they are, they do not even ask."

  Elizabeth looked around to see who had heard. The colonel's voice had a bite to it and she could not help but feel the insult to the gentlemen who had overheard. Clearly, the colonel was not afraid of confrontation.

  Oh, would this evening never end? She had not been at the ball for half of an hour, and she felt exhausted knowing that she could anticipate hour upon hour of Miss Bingley's cuts. And though his intentions were honorable, Colonel Fitzwilliam only added more kindling to the fire with his outspoken comment. Elizabeth felt dozens of eyes staring at her.

  Stepping forward, Mr. Darcy extended his arm. "You must forgive me for asking before you are able to, Bingley, but I should very much like the honor of Miss Bennet's first dance in London. That is, if she agrees…" His eyes were so intense as he looked down at her, Elizabeth forgot how to speak. She could have kissed him then and there in front of everyone for his courtesy toward her, but she satisfied herself by extracting her arm from the vice-like grip of Miss Bingley and resting her hand on Mr. Darcy's forearm.

  A huff of air escaped Miss Bingley as they turned toward the dance floor.

  "Thank you," she said, the profundity of her emotions muddling the words which could express how deeply grateful she was for his kindness.

  "It is my pleasure," he said, his tone much lighter than it had been moments ago.

  They lined up with the other couples and the music began. Elizabeth still felt the eyes of multitudes watching her, but they could not bother her. Not when Mr. Darcy wanted to dance with her.

  Chapter 23

  Mr. Darcy was quite probably the most graceful dancing partner Elizabeth had ever had the pleasure to dance with. Unafraid that her toes would be trampled, she swayed and skipped as the music demanded it and soon forgot how unhappy she had been.

  "You are an excellent dancer, Mr. Darcy."

  "I am pleased you find me so, though I do think that you make me appear more skilled than I am. I do not practice often enough to deserve credit."


  "You do not enjoy dancing?"

  A painful expression crossed his face. "I try to avoid it."

  Every time she met Mr. Darcy, she learned something new and surprising. How could a gentleman who danced as confidently as he did not enjoy it? With several minutes before them and nothing to lose, she asked. "I cannot fathom how you can possess such lightness of feet when you confess that you do not like to dance. Pray, tell me how that is possible."

  "Any skill can be learned to exception under the correct tutelage. Unfortunately, I lack the social skills which would encourage me to engage more in the activity."

  He sounded so arrogant when his deeds toward her had been so chivalrous, the contrast made her laugh. "You are full of contradictions, sir. You profess not to like meeting people nor to have any skill in conversation, yet I have judged your character to be everything affable and considerate."

  "You judge too easily, Miss Bennet," he said, his voice devoid of laughter.

  She pondered his dry reply. She took no offense at it, for she did not believe it to be true. That Mr. Darcy errantly believed himself to be haughty and pompous must be the case. He had no reason to lie, nor did Elizabeth think him capable of duplicity.

  Taking his statements against his own character, she challenged him. "A man’s character is proved through his actions. I refuse to believe you anything other than what I have experienced for myself. Should everyone in this room speak against you, I would remember how you handed a stranger a handkerchief and how you asked me to dance when no one else would. Perhaps you acted against your better judgment. It would not surprise me to hear you say so, and thus I say it before you have the chance. However, I think that you are an honorable gentleman. And I thank you."

  Could she now read his thoughts? Knowing that he deserved her criticism made him desire her approval all the more intensely.

  He nodded, trying to think of how he could reply. He wanted to change the topic, but she deserved more acknowledgment than a simple nod.

  "Will your sister join you in town during the Season?" she asked. She was a mind-reader.

  "She is with my aunt, Lady Matlock— Colonel Fitzwilliam's mother— touring the Lake District. They plan to join us in town in June."

  "That is only just over a month away! How delightful to be reunited with your family."

  He heard the longing in her voice as plainly as if she had stated it. "Do you miss your family?" he asked.

  She smiled, her eyes glistening with the tears of one too long separated from the ones she held dearest. Georgiana had a much more difficult time adjusting after Father's death than he had. Girls were not trained to be independent from their families, leaving one home to marry into another without any time to be alone in the world. He admired Miss Elizabeth's gumption for setting out on her own so boldly without anyone to guide her in the path she had chosen. She was an extraordinary woman.

  "I miss them a great deal— much more than I had thought possible. We are as different as night and day amongst ourselves, but we have always been together. Even though I have not always been the best daughter and sister, I know that they love me still." Her voice wavered ever so slightly.

  "That is as it should be. If circumstances changed, would you reunite yourself with them?"

  "If they would have me. They all seem to have moved on with their lives… as they should."

  He made a mental note to remember that. With Georgiana and Aunt Helen coming to town in a month's time, the Bennets might be a welcome addition to their circle of friends. Darcy would find out what he could.

  "You mentioned that you are different from your family?" He paused, knowing she would be happy to speak of her family as most people were.

  "My eldest sister, Jane, is the gentlest lady I have yet to meet. She thinks kindly toward everyone and never suffers an ill temper.”

  “Her disposition sounds similar to that of Bingley.”

  She smiled. “Then you are fortunate to have such a friend. I am grateful for the good friends I have.”

  "Lady Rutledge has taken a liking to you, as well. Now that you know her better, do you like staying with her?"

  "I am grateful she likes me," she said, her smile widening. "Otherwise, I know her capable of making me miserable. I have never met anyone like her."

  Darcy sighed. "She is unique, but I hold her in high regard. She lives in a way which better suits her happiness and pays little attention to the expectations of others without neglecting her responsibilities."

  "I had noticed that. Still, I can see how she would cause Mr. Bingley a great deal of trouble."

  Chuckling, he bowed as the music came to an end. He watched her curtsy, a curl of hair bewitching him at the nape of her unadorned neck. He had never wished to wind his finger in a lady's hair so badly as he did that moment.

  Someone bumped into him, nearly sending him across the small space separating him from Miss Elizabeth. He turned to see who the culprit was. Richard.

  His cousin stood with a large grin on his face. "I apologize, Darcy. Sometimes I do not realize my own strength."

  Darcy rolled his eyes. "What brings you here?"

  Dropping his voice and stepping closer so that Miss Elizabeth might hear, he said, "I overheard the gossip and am here to put an end to it." Looking at Miss Elizabeth, he said, "Miss Bingley has spent the past week slandering you. She has let it be known that you were the one to suggest posing as a niece to preserve your dignity and set yourself up in Society." Putting his hand over his heart and striking a pose, he did his best imitation of Miss Bingley. "I am appalled at her presumptuousness in assuming a relation to our great family, so that she might marry into a fortune." He leaned in and said as softly as a man incapable of a whisper, “This will put a bur in her side!”

  Miss Elizabeth giggled. "I know I should be offended, but I have decided that nothing will spoil this evening."

  "Good. That is the spirit! Now," said Richard, extending his arm out to Miss Elizabeth, “may I have the honor of the next dance?" To Darcy he added, "Between the two of us, we shall see that Miss Bingley's plans are frustrated. Oh, how I take pleasure in bringing her down a notch! Look at her glaring at us!" he chortled.

  Miss Elizabeth accepted his request, and Darcy departed before the music began. He was fairly certain that the other gentlemen would follow his and Richard's example so that Miss Elizabeth would never lack a partner for the duration of the ball, but he would ensure her one more dance. He strode across the rooms in search of Bingley.

  Elizabeth danced all evening, the gentlemen lining up to ask for their turn.

  She danced until she could no longer feel her feet and her cheeks ached from her constant smiles. The evening improved greatly after her initial ostracism, but none of the men could compete with Mr. Darcy. Once again, he had come to her rescue.

  Miss Bingley glared at her every so often, only a handful of her dearest friends surrounding her and talking behind their fans. She had lost her battle that night, thanks in good part to the colonel, who stood near Miss Bingley and beamed at her whenever she looked his way. He took great pleasure in frustrating her every move and even favored her with a dance. Miss Bingley struggled to keep her haughty pose in check, but there were brief moments when she appeared to genuinely enjoy herself with the colonel.

  However, Elizabeth did not forget who had acted first. Mr. Darcy, without knowing the source of a ballroom full of snubs toward her, had asked her to dance. He had not hesitated.

  Hobbling over to the corner with a view of the dance floor and an easy distance from the refreshment table, Elizabeth joined Lady Rutledge. On seeing her coming, Lady Rutledge patted the empty space on the couch next to her and made a comment which made her friends welcome her with smiles.

  "I declare your first ball in London to be a great success," she said as Elizabeth eased the weight off her feet.

  "I have never danced so much in all my life," said Elizabeth. To the grandmother of the hostess, she added, "Nor have I seen suc
h an exquisitely decorated room. Your granddaughter will look back on this evening with much pleasure for years to come."

  They chatted for some time until Mr. and Miss Bingley came over to bid them good evening.

  As Miss Bingley leaned in to kiss her aunt, Elizabeth heard Lady Rutledge say, "Now that did not turn out quite as you expected, did it?" With the sweetest of smiles from a loving aunt, she told them to rest well.

  Nothing escaped Lady Rutledge's notice.

  Chapter 24

  Miss Bingley did not call during the next couple of days. Not that Elizabeth missed her. She was too busy.

  She still had not heard from Mother. If it had not been for Jane's reassurances in her letters, Elizabeth would have worried a great deal more than she did.

  Elizabeth sat next to Lady Rutledge, reading aloud to her until their next social engagement, when Miss Bingley was announced.

  She waltzed into the comfortable drawing room and sank down in a plush chair opposite her aunt, while doing her best to ignore Elizabeth.

  "It is about time you called, Caroline. I had begun to think that you had left town. That would have been very unpleasant of you without telling me of it first." Lady Rutledge chided her niece in a sharp tone.

  Arranging her skirts to the best effect, even though no gentlemen were present in the room to impress, she answered, "I have hardly been at home lately what with all of the demands on my schedule."

  "I am glad to hear it. You have already made it through a few seasons without snagging a husband. I suspect that you will have better success this year."