This is a short sequel story to Prideful & Persuaded and therefore contains spoilers:
As Elizabeth Darcy settled herself into a comfortable seat with the other chaperones, she looked happily up at Georgiana. It was her second season and from what Elizabeth could discern from her smile and graceful movements, she would enjoy this one far more than the first. The shyness which had made Georgiana’s first foray into society a trial had dissipated enough for some true enjoyment. Her happiness tonight, however, was undoubtedly supported by her charming partner, whom the whole family was hoping would soon make an offer.
Looking about her, Elizabeth gave credit to Caroline’s taste. The house had been magnificent when Elizabeth had visited three years prior, when it had been the Rushworths’, and if anything, it was improved now. Elizabeth mused to herself that Caroline certainly had gotten her pennyworth for her penny. The guest list was surely the envy of most women in London.
Elizabeth was surprised when the seat beside her was claimed by none other than Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Are you not dancing tonight?” she asked.
He replied curtly, “There is nothing to tempt me to dance.”
Elizabeth smiled kindly, “Dancing is the first step to falling in love.”
“Dancing is only a first step towards rejection,” said he.
“Take care, Colonel, that speech savours strongly of disappointment.”
“And why should it not?” he cried, “There is not a woman in the world that will have me! Poor second son that I am.”
Elizabeth could have reminded her cousin that he was hardly poor, but taking some pity on him, she replied, “I know ten women who would have you in a heartbeat.”
“Ten women of fortune?”
“No, there is an unaccountable bias in favour of eldest sons among women of fortune.”
“I may as well accept my fate and cease with this tiresome charade.”
“Are your demands somewhat more rational than previously? I do not know if I can secure fifty thousand pounds,” Elizabeth looked beside the fire, where Miss de Bourgh sat wrapped in elegant furs and fast asleep, “unless you wish to marry your cousin.”
“Heavens no!” the Colonel cried, “I shall lower my expectations of fortune by half if you can find a woman with a touch of wit.”
“Only by half? That is still a hard duty.”
“One third then, if she is also reasonably pretty.”
Elizabeth sighed, “Let me speak to our honourable hostess,” she said, and rising with some difficulty from the comfortable chair due to her present condition, went to find Lady Elliot.
——
Caroline Elliot was watching the dancers with great complacency. The magnificent house on Wimpole Street was filled with their most distinguished acquaintance and her gown, despite her condition, was sure to be the talk of the town for a fortnight. (It shall not be spoken of that Mr. Rushworth agreed to rent the house at a bargain price to the Elliots if they would help him find a new wife.) When Caroline was finally finished greeting the multitude of distinguished guests, she began to make her way towards where the other women disinclined to dance were congregated. She spied Elizabeth Darcy, but was accosted before she reached her by Mrs. Susan Taylor.
Caroline’s widowed friend was not her usual happy self, “Why are you not dancing?” Caroline asked.
“There is nothing to tempt me to dance,” Susan said dourly.
“Nothing to tempt you?” Caroline cried, “I have assembled the grandest collection of charming men in the kingdom!”
“They are not interested in an old widow,” Susan muttered.
“Old?” Caroline cried, and then moving closer spoke in a whisper, “Susan, we are the same age. Do not speak of either of us as ‘old.’ Besides, what is age when you have fortune?”
“Men are too fastidious, they want youth, beauty, and fortune.”
Caroline could not disagree, but she was rather confused, “You have no intention of marrying, why do you suddenly speak of love.”
Susan looked rather silly and said, “A woman is allowed to change her mind! I find myself rather sick of solitude, now that I have married off all my most deserving friends.”
Caroline said seriously, “Of course a woman may change her mind! You owe no apology to the general public and certainly not to me. It would give me pleasure to see you happily settled, even if the world may be unreasonably discontented by your wishes.”
“You know I cannot sacrifice my current style of living, however,” Susan frowned, “I cannot abide the retirement of the country. I need someone with open, well-bred manners who prefers town.”
“There must be someone present tonight who would meet your expectations. Allow me to think on it,” Caroline promised, and continued on towards Elizabeth, who was by now approaching her.
——
“Caroline,” Elizabeth began, “I require your advice.”
“I had just come to ask the same of you,” Caroline replied, and then politely said, “please begin.”
“Is there any woman here, of adequate fortune, who would accept the second son of an earl with no great independence?”
“You speak of your cousin?” Caroline said, glancing to where he sat moping.
“You have found me out, he is feeling rather despondent.”
Caroline smiled, “You have managed to solve my predicament before I even made it known, I have the perfect potential prospect for your Colonel.”
“Have you indeed?” Elizabeth said, with one brow raised.
“Do you remember my dear friend, Mrs. Taylor? Her jointure is more than generous.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said, with some hesitation.
“Despite all her noble intentions to the contrary, she is feeling something of an inclination to marry. I daresay she would find your cousin’s situation more than suitable.”
“I refuse to play matchmaker,” said Elizabeth, “but there can be no harm in making them known to each other.”
Caroline agreed and went to find her friend.
“Susan,” she began, “What say you to a man of considerable rank but only a passable independence?”
“Is he also old, ill-tempered, and plain?”
“Not in the least!”
“Then I shall have to make myself interesting.”
——
“Colonel,” Elizabeth began, “our hostess wishes to introduce you to her friend, Mrs. Taylor.”
“Mrs. Taylor?” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, with scepticism.
“Mrs. Taylor, a very young widow with a respectable independence,” Elizabeth was forced to add.
“I will confess to being interested,” said he. He watched for a moment as Lady Elliot directed Mr. Rushworth to sit beside his cousin, and then proceeded to ask Mrs. Taylor for the next dance.
——
Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared to be precisely the man to deserve and attach Mrs. Taylor; both Elizabeth and Caroline agreed. After dancing with each other at the proper number of balls, the Colonel justified these opinions by proposing marriage and an engagement was entered into, much to the satisfaction of their families and friends. The wedding was no distant event, as the parties had only themselves to please, and nothing but the necessary preparations to wait for.
The only alloy to the great happiness of Colonel and Mrs. Fitzwilliam on their wedding day was that the friends who had introduced them were unable to partake in the celebration on account of their simultaneous confinements. The Fitzwilliams returned this compliment by missing the double wedding of Georgiana Darcy (to her charming mysterious suitor) and Anne de Bourgh and Mr. Rushworth, due to the safe delivery of their firstborn son.