Happier Than We Deserve by Melissa Halcomb

Author:Melissa Halcomb
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: fiction
Published: 2023-03-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Loreley House, London March 1813

The Bennets’ first official engagement of the Season was a ball given by Lady Stratton. Their preparations were drastically different from every other ball which they had readied for back in Meryton. Besides being much quieter, having fewer ladies to attend, and vastly superior gowns, each of the ladies having their own abigails made dressing a far quicker business. Still, it was a merry household as they laughed over the days of preparing for Meryton’s monthly assemblies; running hither and to, tracking down stolen ribbons and mixed-up slippers.

Though none of them would trade the calmer, lighter, and much more organised preparations of tonight for the chaos they had ever known at Longbourn, not one of them would say they could regret them. Is it not strange how time and circumstance can so drastically alter one’s outlook? What once was bothersome and vexing in the extreme can be revisited with fond remembrance with the passage of time.

“Do you remember,” said Mary with only the barest hint of her former disapproval, “when Kitty hid all her best ribbons so that Lydia could not steal them, and then forgot where she had put them when she needed them for the ball?”

“Because Lydia had already discovered her hiding place and taken them anyway!” Elizabeth finished the tale to peals of laughter.

“Do you recall our last ball?” Jane asked with a trace of melancholy in her gentle voice. “Can you believe it has been more than a year?”

“Mamma was certain that night would provide our salvation,” sighed Elizabeth.

“On two fronts,” Mary reminded her with a roll of her eyes.

Jane grimaced at her reflection in the mirror at her dressing table. “I was so nervous that night! It is hardly a wonder Mr Bingley could believe I had been indifferent to him. I had no notion of how I ought to behave.”

“And it is a wonder Mr Collins could imagine I would accept his proposals! I spent the entire evening trying to avoid him!”

“There will be nothing of that tonight,” said Mamma from the doorway, smiling remorsefully at her children. “I would wish for nothing more for my daughters tonight but that they enjoy themselves. You will be the most beautiful ladies in the room and drive all the other ladies wild with envy when all the men fall madly in love with you.”

“All except one,” said Elizabeth with a sly grin as she wrapped her arms around her mother. “I daresay Mr Hawthorne’s heart is already well spoken for.”

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