Close Quarters: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Lorraine Hetschel

Author:Lorraine Hetschel [Hetschel, Lorraine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
ISBN: 9798332892424
Goodreads: 216946353
Published: 2024-07-28T04:00:00+00:00

“Anne! You have now changed three times! Pick your gown and settle, or your hair will not be completed in time for the carriage,” Elizabeth admonished her friend. She was sitting in her gown while her maid pinned her curls into place with opal hairpins. Maria sat on the bed, already dressed and ready, watching the pair with unrestrained wonder and anticipation.

Anne sat down in her chemise in frustration. “Tonight must be perfect, for there shall not be another chance for my plans to come to fruition.”

Elizabeth laughed. “What plans? You will dance with your cousins and perhaps a couple other gentlemen.”

“I cannot tell you yet. Oh, the green dress shall have to suffice!” The maid returned with the green dress she had been told to put away earlier. Quickly, Anne stepped into the dress and her maid began fastening the buttons. As soon as she was free, Anne pulled away to her bed to pull a stack of letters out from under her pillows.

“Anne! Who are those for?” Elizabeth asked impatiently. Anne’s penchant for letter writing knew no bounds, it seemed, for Elizabeth had been asked to help post letters almost every day. “Surely those letters can wait until morning.”

Anne blushed and took her seat as she pushed the letters into the pockets sewn into her gown. “Never you mind, but they are important for tonight. At least some of them will be. I have a few contingencies planned out that could make some necessary. I am always prepared.” Anne took Elizabeth’s seat in front of the mirror so that her maid could complete her coiffure.

The three ladies were ready to descend to the parlor to await the carriage half an hour later. Anne was wearing a pink dress, having changed it one more time. She would have changed again as they were leaving the room, but Elizabeth announced that Anne would tire herself before the ball if she changed back into the green dress, so Anne tucked her letters away again and allowed herself to be led out of the room.

Anne’s pale-pink dress was modestly cut, with dark red roses and green stems and leaves embroidered along the edges and over her chest. It was very striking and must have taken hours to prepare. Elizabeth’s pale-yellow dress with matching embroidered yellow roses was less pronounced but still very pretty. Maria’s white dress with pink roses along the sleeves was more fitting her newly out status, and Charlotte’s darker blue dress with red roses fit her married status.

The gentlemen behaved as expected. Mr. Darcy gaped at Elizabeth until Lady Catherine reminded him to turn his attention to her daughter. The colonel was effusive in his praise first to Anne and then to the others so that Lady Catherine could not complain. Mr. Collins stated that everyone was dressed in a manner to praise Lady Catherine’s good sense and condescension. He very proudly stood by his wife, believing his parson suit to be just as beautiful as her dress.

With laughing

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