Mr. Darcy's Foreboding: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Mason Glenna

Author:Mason, Glenna [Mason, Glenna]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2015-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Monday afternoon Bingley made an announcement to Darcy. “I am going to host a ball at Netherfield.”

“Why? You just entertained the neighborhood with a hunt.”

“I know, but Caroline will be arriving sometime in the near future, whenever it gets too dull in town. She has been satisfied so far because many of her society friends returned to town for the archbishop’s celebration of the archangel Michael. They will be going back to the country soon, and I will be receiving notice that she misses me terribly and just has to see me,” Bingley said.

“Of course it will actually mean she’s wilting from boredom.” Bingley added. “Caroline has to be constantly drinking tea with the elite or socializing at a soiree. She has no facility for finding something useful to do, like making bandages for the sick or knitting socks for the soldiers.”

“When she sends notice, I will be leaving for Pemberley.”

“If we’re really fortunate, she won’t come until the Festive Season. I shall hope to entertain the Hursts then too of course.”

“And these eventualities have inspired you to host a ball now? I’m not sure I comprehend.”

“Yes, so I don’t have to host a ball then. If I have a ball now, no one will expect me to entertain during the holidays.”

“With Caroline as your hostess.”

“Exactly. I am quite popular, if I do say so myself, after my hunt breakfast. Can you imagine the nadir I would descend to in the community with Caroline turning her nose up at our guests, as soon as they arrive at the receiving line, snidely demeaning their gowns to Louisa in a purposely loud voice and later laughing at their crude dance acumen? I’d become a pariah.”

“I begin to see your dilemma.”

“So . . . “

“So?”

“So could Georgiana come down for a long week-end and be the hostess at my ball?”

“Georgiana is a school girl. She is not yet out in society.”

“I’d like to ask Miss Bennet of course. But that would hardly be proper since she hasn’t agreed to marry me.”

“Have you asked her?”

“Not yet.”

“That may be why she hasn’t agreed.”

“I realize it was totally acceptable for all the Bennet ladies to help a new neighbor as hostesses for an informal hunt breakfast, but not . . . “ Bingley stopped his statement, with a look of chagrin.

“Yes, but not a formal ball. That would hint at mistress in our always ready for a scandal world.”

“Who then?”

Darcy thought a minute and then had a revelation. “Anne.”

“Anne?”

“Anne de Bourgh.”

“Hallelujah!”

“Yes, hallelujah. It will be a blessing to get her away from Rosings Park and her mother.”

“And a blessing for me to have Lady Anne as my hostess.”

“I wonder,” Darcy hesitated, worrying about the mistress scandal again. Then he brightened. “Would you allow me to host the ball with you? Since Georgiana is too young, it would be expected that my next closest kin, my first cousin Anne, would be requested to assist me. Then there would be nothing for the society wags to complain about.

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