by John Edwards
“Thank you for your kindness, but let me say, I noticed you had the eye of many ladies. Now, you too are a marked man.”
“I would think not, Elizabeth, for this is just the start of the Season. There will be many nights and many other people will parade about, like peacocks, trying to attract a mate. You will be surprised as you go through the Season. Now, with that said, would you honor me Elizabeth for the next dance?”
“Yes, sir, thank you, I should enjoy that.”
“This is a wonderful night for Charlotte and by extension, for myself. Let us give the gentlemen a reason to be jealous.”
They danced together four times that night. John Winstead, when he was not dancing with Elizabeth, kept his eyes on her. He was well aware that many men were interested in dancing with her but she wisely refused them all, referring them instead to Charlotte. Charlotte thus had more men to dance with than any other lady. John appreciated Elizabeth’s concern that Charlotte have a night to remember. Elizabeth kept her eyes studying the people. She saw a few of the older women taking notes and meeting with other women and she assumed that sometime later, they would be used for handicapping the young people.
This being the first party of the season, Elizabeth was surprised to see that Mary Alice had acted quiet and very lady like. There was not a lot to tell Jane about her friend. He had spoken with some of the gentlemen but did not appear to seek out any women but his sister and her friends, though he did dance with Julie and Miss Breckenridge.
Lady Anne was in her element. Lenore was with her and she and Elizabeth talked some, but Lenore was quiet because her friend, Mr. Duncan, was not available to attend. Still, Lenore spoke to Charlotte and Elizabeth and pointed out some of the men she had seen at previous parties that she had attended. Elizabeth made quick mental notes on those men that she should avoid. After the initial dancing, dinner was served. After that, the party continued with more dancing until past eleven when most of the guests started to leave.
The next morning, Elizabeth again rose early and as she came downstairs she saw John Winstead.
“Elizabeth, why are you up so early? Are you not tired from last evening?”
“Why sir, I recall you asked me that very question after the assembly in Hampshire, and I responded that it was surely you who should be tired since you had danced with so many ladies.”
“At least I can say I danced with one lady who accepted no dance offers from any other gentlemen. You see, Elizabeth, I keep an eye out for you.”
Elizabeth then thought, I wonder why? “Now John Winstead, what are your thoughts on the evening?”
“Elizabeth, the party went off with no problems. I believe that most of the people were getting acquainted and taking their time. That is very smart, as there will be many other parties whereby many other ladies and gentlemen will be on display.”
“So you are saying, sir, that the gentlemen should be careful not to invest too much energy in whom to seek out as a partner until all possible partners have been seen an evaluated?”
“I think that is correct. And, Elizabeth, the same applies to the women.”
“Now Mr. Winstead, do you not feel that a young man may lose out on a partner if he moves too slow with her?”
“That is always true, but I believe that both genders should be equally careful during the Season. One can tell a great deal about the folly of those that set off at full speed to secure a partner, when suddenly they see another that they are more interested in. I do believe that one should circulate and meet as many people as one can during the evening. By doing that, one might more easily attract the interest of others.”
“Now sir, are you saying a gentleman should strut around the ball room like a peacock? Are you speaking from experience in these matters or have you seen this in others?”
“It is true, Elizabeth, that I am not experienced in these matters. It just seems logical to me. I have rarely attended such functions, but if I were looking for a partner, I should be slow and careful in my doing so, and I should hope that ladies would be doing the same with me, but I would try to meet as many ladies as I could as early as I could.”
“But this is your chance, sir. You have told me that you wish for Charlotte and I to take full advantage of seeing for ourselves what London society has to offer. You just told me you are inexperienced in these matters, so why do you not choose to put yourself out as a prospective partner?”
“Elizabeth, I have told you this Season is for you and Charlotte. My pleasure is to be with you and her, and to watch over you both. I am not interested in any others. There are many that are tolerable, Elizabeth, but except for you and my sister, none are handsome enough to tempt me.”
Elizabeth thought, Well, he does think I am tolerable. He must have been very amused by my stories about young Mr. Darcy.
“And sir, what do you think of some of the older women who find the Season so important?”
“Elizabeth, I recognize many of these women. It is fun to see their interactions and how serious they take these events. At times I believe they get more happiness out of the Season than the young ladies.”
“But why the note taking sir? Have you not seen this?”
“No, I have not observed that, but I shall in the future. Why do you suppose they are doing this?”
“My guess is to gossip. That is right, they use these notes to gossip.”
“Yes, Elizabeth. Be assured there is much gossip. But why all the note taking? Certainly they would not be needed. The notes must be used for something else. Do you not think they are manipulating the young people’s affairs?”
“That may be possible. Most of these women are widowed or single. I overheard that many of these women will be meeting at Lady Anne’s later today.”
“Then I have a plan, Elizabeth. You know that my aunt and her two friends will stop by to interview you and Charlotte early this afternoon. I believe that they will return to Lady Anne’s later and meet with other women for further discussions and there will be many notes. Many papers will be thrown away or burned. I suspect that if we could see these papers, we might be quite surprised.”
Elizabeth then told John Winstead of the list of names and that his aunt has told Charlotte and her that her friends and her use a rating system. “This is all strange, Elizabeth. Are these ladies gambling on the outcomes of the Season?”
“I do not know, sir, but I did see that there was a mark beside your and my name and it did not appear elsewhere on that list, is that not strange?”
“Why yes, it is strange. Maybe it is just a note to eliminate you and I from consideration by the ladies.”
“No, there is more to it. You are listed as the number one available gentleman. I am listed as a companion, yet you and I have a common marking. What does it all mean?”
“Elizabeth, I told you weeks ago that Lady Anne professes herself to be a matchmaker.”
“Then what would the special mark on the list signify?”
“That I will have to find out, will you help me, Elizabeth?”
She nodded her head in approval. Now John Winstead was interested in this business about the women. He asked Elizabeth to be silent about these discussions and she noticed the look in his eyes, which looked full of mischief. “Stay as long with the women today as you can, but do not give them any cause to suspect you of anything. After your meeting is over, you and I alone will talk, but again Elizabeth, do not tell Charlotte or anyone else of what you suspect.”
That afternoon Lady Anne and her friends arrived. Again, there were many questions that were asked of Charlotte and Elizabeth. Finally a question was asked by Lady Anne’s friend that surprised Elizabeth, though Charlotte thought nothing of it. “Now have either of you heard which women like which men? and which men like which women?” one woman asked, hoping to draw out more information. Elizabeth thought these and similar questions would be asked many times as they progressed through the season, with each event affecting the odds of certain couples
first courting, then becoming engaged and finally being married.
After the women left, Elizabeth met John Winstead outside for a walk and she discussed what was said.
“Now Elizabeth, it may be too early to get our answer, but I have spoken to my aunt’s housekeeper and she told me that Lady Anne has hosted this circle of friends during the last fifteen Seasons. Also, she meets with many ladies very soon after weekend events, to discuss things. She said that many times she is given many papers to burn. I indicated that I would like to review those papers and asked her if she would save them for me. Of course I told her that I would never reveal that she had given me this and would destroy all the papers when I had finished studying them. Then I gave her some money and promised her additional monies every week she provided me information.”
“Sir, I believe there should be a treasure trove of information to tell us what these ladies are all about. Then maybe we can interpret what those symbols are beside our names.”
They soon laughed then they returned inside the house.
Later that day, the women met at Lady Anne’s and the next morning John Winstead picked up the papers at a dedicated drop area. He would wait to read the papers alongside Elizabeth, for Charlotte and her were then visiting with the modiste.
All was ready for the Presentation of debutantes at court the next Saturday evening. Lady Anne had made the application for Charlotte’s presentation months earlier, and just three weeks ago she received acceptance of the application by a royal summons from the Lord Chamberlain to attend the presentation that next Saturday. Charlotte had practiced her curtsy in front of Elizabeth and Lady Anne, being careful to leave without turning her back. Her court dress was a lovely white evening dress and a veil which was accented by ostrich feathers. The dress was accented by short sleeves but with full length white arm gloves and a train which Charlotte would hold until she was ready to be presented. Charlotte chose a pearl necklace that her mother had worn before her.
Soon Charlotte and many other debutantes had their official presentation at court. All the anticipation and nerves had everyone on edge these last couple of weeks and now all felt relieved that they could now fully immerse themselves in the Season.
CHAPTER 14
A LONG SHOT COMES IN
Even before Charlotte’s presentation at court, John Winstead and Elizabeth had gleaned much information from the papers they had in their possession. One of the women left her key to the rating system that the women used to handicap any possible romances that might develop for the debutantes. They discerned that the early money was that near forty percent of the young ladies would receive an offer from a gentleman during the season or within a month thereafter. Bets were to be made on the names of the first ten debutantes who would be offered. Likewise, bets would be made on the first ten gentleman who would make offers. Experience would seem to dictate that the more a gentleman and a lady saw of each other that they would court each other, but the Season always held many surprises, thus a long shot betting line was available.
As the weeks went by Elizabeth and John enjoyed reviewing the women’s handicapping almost as much as the events themselves. Until the midpoint of the season, betting odds were being adjusted each week, but the week after the midpoint of the season, odds were finalized and the women met, again at Lady Anne’s town home, and made their wagers. Notes that had been passed to John Winstead were not fully complete but it appeared that nearly four thousand pounds in wagers were made that day.
John Winstead studied the women’s papers more than Elizabeth but had not been forthright with her, because he had deciphered the markings alongside Elizabeth’s and his name. Lady Anne had made a long shot bet that Elizabeth and John Winstead would become engaged and marry before the year was over. John also saw that many women did not agree with Lady Anne, and the odds were heavily against that engagement.
He had not danced much with Elizabeth and had several ladies and some companions working hard to win his favor. To any casual observer, one would not think that he and Elizabeth had much interest in each other, but each evening after the events, John and her would discuss their evening and share notes. They discussed the recent events much the same as Lady Anne and her friends, and in so doing, found that Jane’s beau had been faithful to her. Mary Alice had ceased to be aggressive and had attracted the interest of a gentleman of no minor fortune. There had been few stories of an unpleasant nature and only a couple of disagreements between ladies as well as between gentlemen. Charlotte had three gentlemen seeking her attention but she was not interested in any, choosing to wait for next year’s Season.
Elizabeth was fascinated by John Winstead, and knew herself to be so much in love with him that she had to fight the many urges she felt. Never had she seen the gentleman smile as much as he did when they sat in his study reviewing the many notes they now had access to. They often sat close beside the other and she felt his touches and watched his face become animated as she engaged in their usual bantering. She was certain what she wanted and needed from him, but she would have to move as slowly as he. No longer was he the man that others would say was of a stiff manner. Yes, he was a man of wealth, and this was easily discerned by his fashionable dress and status in the best of society, but he cared for Elizabeth and she knew it, and he cared for others too, and for that she loved him.
John Winstead knew that Elizabeth was all he had ever wanted in a woman. He did not dwell on her lack of fortune or her status in society, he was captivated by her friendly manner and her goodness and by her vivacious personality that he found engaging and that often challenged him. At times he found himself getting lost in the very depths of her fine eyes. With Elizabeth, he was happy. There was a mutual respect and admiration that he felt they had for one another.
Just as with Elizabeth, he had other feelings and many evenings he could not rise from his chair so soon after she had left his side, until he could calm himself. John Winstead knew himself to be in love and he did not fight it. Now all he had to do was find some way to tell Elizabeth about his feelings, but it would be after the Season.
He and Elizabeth took many walks together and visited many sights in London. They made a handsome couple and often had people staring at them. One day an older couple greeted them, “Pardon me sir, my wife has asked me if you are on your honeymoon, you look so very happy together?” John looked at Elizabeth who immediately felt her blush come on and turned her face down as she softly giggled and gently squeezed John’s hand.
“Yes, I am glad that you asked that question. You may tell your lovely wife that I have felt thus so about my Elizabeth for a long time, but I have been afraid to ask her if she would accept me.”
“And you, Miss Elizabeth, do you intend to let your friend suffer, or do you have feelings the same?”
Elizabeth could not control herself, she looked at the man who had now stepped back to be with his wife as they watched and listened for what next would be said. “John Winstead,” she said, trying to keep her composure but unable to hide the happiness in her voice, “I must declare that I have been in love with you for many weeks now. You must have seen that in me?”
They walked off the path away from the others and he pulled her up against him and held her in his arms. He was a gentleman and she a gentleman’s daughter but now they were a couple in love and locked in an embrace of their choosing. Elizabeth knew she was in danger but she did not care as she wrapped her arms around his back as he lifted her face to his own. “Elizabeth, I do love you with such a passion I have never experienced. You must know that it is my desire to spend my life with you and so I ask you to, that is, would you consent to, make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”
As tears ran down her face, she told him yes. She looked at him with bright loving eyes that sparkled and then fluttered her eyes as she readied for his kiss, which came gently at first with their lips touching and, once he observed no resistance from her he returned to savor a long kiss that he deep
ened such that Elizabeth felt faint at the emotions overcoming her. He felt her arms tighten as he held her and noticed she was nearly breathless as she sought his lips for her own kiss to him in return. He knew he was in danger now so he slowly relaxed his hold on Elizabeth and they soon found a seat. John Winstead had never seen Elizabeth so beautiful and for the rest of that day and evening too, he noticed many times that she would softly giggle, such was her happiness. John Winstead held her close to himself and gently stroked her arms and her small hand, taking care to gently rub her fingers and her sensitive nails before turning her hand to his lips which soon followed to the inside of her wrist. What is this? He does have magic fingers but he knows me more than I know myself.
“John Winstead, you do not know how I have dreamed of you so many nights, how I have prayed for your safety and thanked God for your goodness. I should have been happy to be near you but you have made my dreams a reality. Please, please believe me that I will be your best friend and your loving wife as long as I live.”
“Elizabeth, I feel the same. I often prayed for a woman that I could love who would love me in return. Providence put us together on that coach from Brandywine months ago and almost from that first day I felt my life had changed for the better, and then I saw you at the assembly in Wakefield. That did it for me - you had captured my heart.”