by Sarah Darcy
Mr Darcy’s Spring Ball.
(Pride & Prejudice Variation: Book 2).
Clean & Wholesome Regency Romance.
Copyright 2018: Sarah Darcy.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in the book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. Amazon Edition.
Sarah Darcy’s Romance Novellas.
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(Pride & Prejudice Variation. Book 1).
A Wayward Duke’s Bride Novella.
Kidnapped by a Highlander. Novella.
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Hello Romance Readers!
I’m Sarah Darcy an English Historical Romance Author. I became a big fan of Jane Austen and all things Regency after seeing the ‘BBC Adaptation 1995’ of Pride & Prejudice.
Like most ladies I was quite taken by Mr Darcy (Colin Firth) after he swam in the lake and emerged looking glorious in his wet white shirt!
Since then I have been hooked on historical regency romance and now I write it. If you enjoy a clean light romance with a dash of humour - you’ve come to the right place! I would love to hear from you. Connect with me on my email or blog.
[email protected]
sarahdarcyhistoricalromanceblog.blogspot.co.uk
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Chapter 1
The fragrant smell of flowers and the sound of birdsong put a spring in everyone’s step, after the long dark months of winter. The March sunshine had also given Elizabeth Bennet's spirit a lift. She had come to Meryton to shop for a new bonnet and lace trimmings with her sister Jane.
But there was another reason for the ‘spring’ in her step – an invitation to Mr Darcy’s spring ball at Rosings Park.
On the way to the Milliner shop they came across a window display of chocolate cakes in the local confectionary shop. ‘Look Jane.’ Elizabeth pointed towards a two-tier cake on a grand cake stand. ‘What a fine cake that is.’
‘Very lavish.’ Jane pressed her gloved fingers against the port glass window for a closer look. ‘Far too grand for Longbourn,’ she pondered. ‘Besides..’ She stepped back from the window. ‘I prefer Mrs Hill’s wholesome baking.’
‘I cannot deny the culinary delights of our housekeeper,’ Elizabeth reflected. ‘But it would be a pleasant diversion to purchase our own cake from an esteemed confectionary shop like this.’
‘Alas we do not have the capital for such a diversion,’ Jane remarked. ‘It would certainly take centre stage on a grand table in Rosings Park though.’
‘Maybe Catherine de Bourgh has commissioned it for the spring ball this weekend.’ Elizabeth playfully took Jane by the arm. ‘She certainly has the capital for such an illustrious venture.’ The sisters laughed as they walked towards the centre of the village.
‘I still can’t believe we have an invitation to Rosings Park.’ Jane clasped her bonnet from a mild spring breeze. ‘Do you think Lady Catherine is aware of it?’
‘Of course she is,’ Elizabeth said. ‘Mr Darcy would never send an invitation to Papa without her permission.’
Jane returned a coy smile. ‘Wasn’t the Christmas ball at Netherfield wonderful. I never thought I’d see Mr Bingley again, after my disastrous visit to his London house,’ she mused. ‘Since the last ball I have treasured every letter he has sent me.’
‘..And I still cherish my kiss from Mr Darcy under the mistletoe.’ Elizabeth lightly brushed her cheek. ‘But alas no letter from Mr Darcy.’
‘I’m sure he still cares for you Lizzy,’ Jane said as they got closer to the Milliner shop. ‘Otherwise he would not have given us an invitation to Rosings Park.’
‘I suppose so,’ Elizabeth replied with a nagging doubt in her heart.
Chapter 2
Jane and Elizabeth became distracted by the sound of hunting horns and the barks of foxhounds. The local hunt had gathered at the centre of the town to ride with the hounds.
Meryton was an ideal meeting place for the traditional spring fox hunt. It was situated at the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside, prime fox hunting territory.
Elizabeth watched the handsome young gentlemen as they rode their horses into the square, before they departed for the hunt. Some of them raised their black top hats to the Bennet sisters as they passed by.
The girls returned looks of admiration as the hunters showed off their muscular physiques beneath black well cut coats, buff coloured breeches and tall shaft riding boots.
A servant from the local tavern offered a tray of port to the gentlemen of the hunt. One of them gave a toast to Lord Marlborough who was hosting the hunt at his estate. Jane recognised the duke as he raised his glass in the air. ‘Isn’t that Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy?’
Elizabeth couldn’t see his face properly as he clinked glasses with another gentleman. ‘Where?’
‘Over there,’ Jane whispered in her ear.
‘It is Mr Darcy.’ Her heart missed a beat. She had forgotten how handsome he looked. Why did she feel this way about him?
She tried to make sense of the emotions that he stirred in her body. Although her heart yearned for Fitzwilliam, deep down she knew that her hopes of a betrothal would be impossible to achieve.
How could she capture the heart of a duke, who was part of a class that was distinctively different to her own? Doubts began to plaque her mind. Was it true love that she felt? Or was it just a passing infatuation?
Jane watched a small crowd gather around Fitzwilliam. ‘I didn’t know Mr Darcy was part of the local hunt in Meryton?’
‘Lord Marlborough must have sent him an invitation,’ Elizabeth replied in a vague tone. ‘..Talking about invitations I’m beginning to regret mine to the ball.’
Jane had not heard Elizabeth’s comment; she was too busy scanning the crowd for another duke. ‘I wonder if Mr Bingley is here?’ She took hold of her sister’s hand. ‘We must walk over and find him.’
As Elizabeth stepped forward Mr Darcy stared directly at her. The allure of his smouldering brown eyes took her breath away. She tried to look away but the potent desire of his gaze overwhelmed her. She felt as if time had stood still and they were the only two people in the square.
All kinds of thoughts whirled around her head. What would this love lead to? A happy fulfilled heart? Or a broken heart?
‘Jane.’ Elizabeth broke away from his lingering gaze in a state of unrest. ‘We must take our leave.’
‘But why?’ Jane was annoyed by her sudden departure, she had not seen Fitzwilliam’s intimate gaze.
‘Make haste,’ Elizabeth quickly walked away towards the village shops.
‘Miss Elizabeth Bennet?’ Mr Darcy called over to her, but she kept on walking.
‘Jane come away,’ she ordered without a backward glance.
‘Lizzy.’ Jane caught up with her and took hold of her elbow. ‘Why such haste?’
‘I’ll explain inside.’ Elizabeth ushered her sister inside the Milliner shop.
Chapter 3
‘I’m sorry Jane,’ Elizabeth panted as she steadied her hand on the shop counter. ‘I could not stay a moment longer.’
‘Are you not well?’
‘..I think Mr Darcy seen me in the crowd.’
‘What’s wrong with that?’ Jane admired a fashionable hat adorned with ostrich feathers. ‘Don’t you want him to remember you?’
‘I’m not even sure if he still likes me?’ Elizabeth ran a finger along the fine feathers of the hat.
‘Three months has passed since we last met.’
‘It’s not that long,’ Jane replied with a faint smile. ‘I believe your overset about nothing. When we meet at the ball this weekend all will be well again.’
‘I wish I could believe you.’ Elizabeth’s attention was diverted by another hat from the shelf.
‘Good morning ladies,’ Madame Fontaine said in a French accent. ‘Have you come to gossip or are you going to buy a bonnet today.’ She did not like women to browse and gossip on her premises.
‘Forgive me Madame Fontaine,’ Elizabeth said with a gracious smile. ‘But very much the latter.’
‘Let me draw your attention to my latest range of spring bonnets, hats and turbans.’ She directed them to a large collection of straw and velvet bonnets in an array of pastel colours with matching silk ribbons. Some were trimmed with lace or had a light flattering veil to be worn over the face. ‘These are all the rage in Paris.’
Madame Fontaine always had an eye for capital. But she had the annoying habit of speaking to her customers with one eye over their shoulder. Today was no exception, as soon as she saw an affluent carriage roll up outside her shop with a young rich heiress - the Bennet sisters meagre funds were soon forgotten.
‘Excuse me ladies I have an important customer to attend to.’ Madame Fontaine regally swept towards the entrance of the shop. ‘Let me know when you have made your decision.’
∞∞∞
As Jane pondered which bonnet to purchase her conversation came back to Mr Darcy. ‘Lizzy you must come to the spring ball this weekend.’
Elizabeth passed a straw bonnet over to Jane with a vague expression. ‘To be honest I don’t know what to do?’
‘I’m sure Mr Darcy would want you there,’ Jane said as she fingered a fine white ribbon tied around the rim.
‘I wish I could believe you.’ Elizabeth watched Jane as she pondered between a straw bonnet with a white ribbon and one with a yellow ribbon. Elizabeth persuaded her to try the bonnet with the yellow ribbon as it complemented her golden hair colour.
‘I believe Mr Bingley would be quite taken by that bonnet,’ Elizabeth said as she saw her reflection in the mirror.’ A smile spread across Jane’s face. ‘Especially after the number of letters he has sent you.’
‘That’s kind of you to say that. But I’m sure there must be a reason for Mr Darcy’s lack of response to your own correspondence.’ Jane took the bonnet off and looked at the other hats on the display. ‘I cannot believe his affection for you would have ceased so quickly.’
‘You don’t understand.’ Elizabeth admired a green silk ribbon draped around a hat in her hand. ‘After a few glasses of punch everyone seems agreeable.’
‘Indeed,’ Jane replied. ‘But I cannot recollect Mr Darcy being three sheets to the wind.’
‘No he wasn’t.’ Elizabeth recalled their acquaintance at the Christmas ball. It was such a magical moment when she thought she had captured his heart. It all seemed too good to be true at the time - and maybe it was.
After the ball Elizabeth secretly envied Jane when another correspondence from Mr Charles Bingley was delivered to Longbourn. She would retire to her bedroom and devour every single word that Charles had written. He wrote about his busy commitments in London and always signed his letters off with sweet declarations of love for her.
Elizabeth would gaze out of the window and long for the day when she would receive an affectionate correspondence from Fitzwilliam. But she received no response, not even a reference to her in Mr Bingley’s letters.
As she pondered his lack of commitment to her, in the Milliner shop, she reached the conclusion that Mr Darcy did not care for her. It was time to put him out of her mind for good.
‘I’ve come to a decision,’ Elizabeth declared. ‘I cannot attend Mr Darcy’s spring ball.’
‘That cannot be.’ Jane nearly dropped a bonnet on the floor. ‘But why?’
Chapter 4
Jane stared at her sister waiting for an answer. ‘It’s the right thing to do,’ Elizabeth replied as she gazed at another hat from a small collection. ‘I’ve had my doubts about the invitation all along.’
‘But you must go,’ Jane gently pulled her by the arm. ‘Papa has already agreed to the invitation.’
‘But I would feel a fool if he showed no interest in me again.’
‘Lizzy,’ Jane tried to reason with her but to no avail. ‘I can’t believe how selfish you are being.’
‘Selfish,’ Elizabeth was astonished by her outburst. ‘Why do you say that?’
‘Don’t you see,’ Jane let out an exasperated sigh. ‘If you don’t attend the ball Papa might decide to keep us all at home.’
‘He would never do that,’ Elizabeth said. ‘He always has our best interests at heart.’
‘I know he will and I will miss my only chance to meet Mr Bingley again,’ Jane asserted. ‘What about Lydia and Kitty? It might be months before they are invited to another ball as grand as this one.’
‘You misunderstand me.’ Elizabeth looked at a hat with a bright pink bow. ‘You can go without me, as long as Mama acts as a chaperone.’
‘Lizzy.’ Jane raised her voice in frustration. ‘I can’t go without you.’
‘Ladies, please lower your voice,’ Madame Fontaine called over as she presented a range of elaborate hats to the heiress. ‘This is a high class establishment,’ she said. ‘Not a gin shop in billingsgate market.’
‘I beg your pardon,’ Elizabeth replied. ‘We certainly don’t frequent such establishments as you well know.’
The young heiress was shocked by Elizabeth’s rude outburst. ‘Just a jest my Lady,’ Madame Fontaine reassured her with a false smile. ‘One moment please.’ She walked over and glanced at a number of hats piled on the counter. ‘I see no sign of a purchase ladies.’
‘There will be one soon,’ Jane responded. ‘We are spoilt for choice.’ She looked at Elizabeth engaged in a frosty stare with Madame Fontaine. ‘Don’t you agree Lizzy?’
‘Indeed. But as we have limited capital.’ Elizabeth glanced back at the heiress, amidst boxes of hats just delivered from London. ‘And we have been left to fend for ourselves. It may be some time.’
Madame Fontaine turned her back on the sisters and lavished more attention and praise on the rich heiress, much to Elizabeth’s annoyance.
∞∞∞
‘Forget about her,’ Jane whispered. ‘Have you made up your mind yet?’
Elizabeth gazed down at the counter. ‘Shall I pick a hat with a yellow ribbon or a blue one?’
‘I don’t mean the hats. You did not answer my question,’ Jane replied in an irritated tone. ‘Are you attending the ball?’
‘I don’t know what to do.’ Elizabeth gazed at the assorted bonnets before her. ‘My mind says no.’ She recalled Mr Darcy’s lingering gaze. ‘But my heart says yes.’
Chapter 5
‘The Bennet sisters.’ A deep voice boomed behind them. ‘I thought I saw you in the village before.’
‘Mr Darcy?’ Jane said as she turned around with Elizabeth. They gave a polite curtesy to his short bow. ‘Your Grace. How pleasant to see you.’
Fitzwilliam returned a warm smile to Elizabeth, but she was so startled by his presence she averted her eyes. During an awkward silence he looked back at Jane. ‘Are your family well?’ he asked in a gracious manner.
‘Very well indeed,’ Jane replied. She looked back at Elizabeth for a response.
‘Forgive me your Grace.’ Elizabeth gradually composed herself. ‘I did not expect to see you here.’ She looked out the shop window at the assembled hunt. ‘I did not know you were part of the Meryton hunting set.’
‘I have been invited for a spring hunt by Lord Marlborough.’ He became distracted by a hunting horn. ‘He owns the Grange manor estate nearby.’
Elizabeth tried to continue the conversation but was overwhelmed by negative thoughts. She was convinced that Fitzwilliam was just making polite conversation and would rat
her be engaged with the gentlemen of the hunt.
She also had serious doubts about the invitation to the ball. Why would someone as highly esteemed as Mr Darcy be interested in her? Maybe he was only being polite after she saved Georgianna from Mr Wickham’s embrace at the Christmas ball.
Jane broke another awkward silence. ‘We are looking forward to the ball at Rosings Park. I’m sure it will be a grand affair.’
‘I’m sure it will be,’ Mr Darcy replied with a pleasant smile. ‘I am pleased that Mr Bennet acknowledged my invitation.’ He tried to catch Elizabeth’s attention but she was lost in her own thoughts. ‘I look forward to seeing all the Bennet sisters at the ball.’
Elizabeth had to stop this nonsense. A romantic attachment with Mr Darcy had to be banished from her mind. ‘Forgive me I must take my leave.’
‘Are you not well?’ Fitzwilliam asked.
‘I’m sorry Mr Darcy but I cannot attend the ball.’
Jane was shocked by her announcement. ‘Lizzy what are you saying?’
‘But you must come,’ Mr Darcy insisted. ‘Your absence would certainly be noticed.’
‘I ‘er have to help Papa manage his estate.’ Elizabeth was never good at bare face lies. ‘There have been a few disputes about the Fencing Act.’
‘That’s Papa’s concern not yours,’ Jane interrupted, as she tried to change her mind.
‘..He has to calm some frayed tempers,’ Elizabeth rambled on. ‘If he has a lady in attendance it may help.’
‘You must be careful when facing angry tenants,’ Fitzwilliam warned. ‘The Fencing Act has caused a lot of grief for tenants. It you need any help in the matter I could offer my services.’
‘Thank you Mr Darcy.’ Elizabeth gave a brief courtesy and turned away. ‘But Papa is more than capable of handling his estate.’
‘I hope you change your mind about the ball,’ Fitzwilliam said before she departed.
‘Good bye Mr Darcy.’ Elizabeth walked out of the shop in a quandary.
‘Lizzy what are you up to?’ Jane called after her on the way to the drapery shop.