“Indeed I do,” Mrs. Annesley replied at once. “But first, Miss Bingley, may I compliment you on your attire today? You look very nice in that gown of Willow Green. I particularly like the white lace that adorns your collar and cuffs.”
Caroline thanked Mrs. Annesley with evident sincerity, as Jane and Elizabeth traded glances.
Mrs. Annesley began. “Miss Darcy has been working with a dance master for some time at Pemberley, so she is well acquainted with the dances we can expect at her ball. I assume you will have no difficulties with the dancing, Miss Bingley?”
“I do not expect to, no. Will there be a waltz?”
It was Elizabeth who replied, “Mrs. Annesley and I have discussed this at length. I know the waltz is now being danced at Almack’s, so it is clearly considered permissible, but we both feel that it is not appropriate for a young girl’s coming out ball.”
Georgiana contributed, “I cannot imagine engaging in such behaviour with a gentleman I scarcely know.”
Caroline nodded her understanding.
Mrs. Annesley continued, “In a public setting, it is unwise to dance with anyone if you have not been introduced. However, at a private ball, such as the one that will be hosted here at Darcy House, the rules are a bit relaxed. The Darcys would not invite anyone they did not think respectable, and it might actually appear as an insult to your host and hostess if you insisted on an introduction before accepting a dance.” Mrs. Annesley waited until both her students nodded their understanding before she continued.
“At the conclusion of a dance, a gentleman will offer to fetch you refreshments. It is usually best to decline this offer unless you are merely requesting lemonade or something similar. Remember that your behaviour will be seen by hundreds of people, so it is wise to be very careful as to your consumption of alcoholic beverages; more than one young lady has faced social ruin as a result of too much champagne.”
“Actually, champagne gives me a dreadful headache, so I avoid it,” Caroline said.
“It is perhaps just as well. Gentlemen may be forgiven for over-indulging, but ladies are expected to be above such behaviour.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at that.
“Ah, Mrs. Darcy, you may be skeptical, but you know I am right.”
Jane added, “Indeed, Elizabeth, do you not recall how mortified we were at that dance when Kitty and Lydia had rather too much to drink and went running about with swords in their hands?”
“Oh, heavens, I had managed to forget that!” Elizabeth laughed.
Caroline recalled it all too well, but clamped her lips tight so as to say nothing.
Georgiana said, “Is it true that if I decline to dance with a man that I must sit out the rest of the evening? That seems ever so unfair.”
“Sadly, that is the general expectation,” Mrs. Annesley replied. “If you do not wish to dance with a particular gentleman, for whatever reason, you may plead that you need to rest, and request that the gentleman sit beside you while you do so.”
“So that way you do not have to dance with him, but you do have to make conversation with him,” Elizabeth summarised. “You have to decide which would be preferable. My cousin, Mr. Collins, asked me to dance with him at an assembly in Meryton. I had not expected him to be quite as poor a dancer as he was. Perhaps I should have sat it out with him. But his conversation was so very trying that it truly was Hobson’s choice.”
“It is best not to dance twice with the same gentleman unless you have an understanding with him,” Mrs. Annesley went on. “If a gentleman presses you to accept a second dance, you may simply say that your guardian has forbidden you to do so.”
Georgiana sighed.
Mrs. Annesley asked, “Is that a concern for you, Miss Darcy?”
“Not a concern, exactly…”
“But?”
“Well, perhaps I would like to dance twice with Lord Fane.” She shrugged, trying for nonchalance.
There was a moment’s silence.
“Do not do so,” Mrs. Annesley said, gently. “You have no understanding with him, and if other gentlemen think that you do, it would discourage them from pursuing you.”
“I understand,” Georgiana said, looking down.
“Lord Fane will bow to your guardian’s wishes, Miss Darcy, but that strategy will not do for Miss Bingley. You are of age, are you not, Miss Bingley?”
Caroline did not care to be reminded of her age, but she agreed that this was so.
