What if the Netherfield Ball was a masked ball?
Chapter 1
'Well Lizzy we are here, now remember no names.' Jane said smiling from behind her angelic mask.
'I know dear Jane, and you look lovely as always. I am sure that Mr. Bingley will be able to tell you apart from everyone else in the room.' Elizabeth said smiling, and placing on her red feathered mask. 'Well here we are.'
'Hello dear ladies. Allow me to escort you both into the ballroom.' Replied a tall dark gentleman in complete black, with a black cape and mask. (A.N. Just picture Antonio Banderas as Zorro)
'Certainly sir. And who might you be?' Elizabeth asked already knowing who it was. For with these easy manners and friendly nature it could only be Mr. Wickham, who Elizabeth hoped to spend the whole evening with and dresses with exceptional care.
'Now my dear lady in red, you know the rules at a mask ball no names. Tonight we could be anyone we want to be.'
'Ok sir, then if I am a lady in red than you are a man in black.' Elizabeth said smiling at him. She has to admit that this man in black was very handsome.
'And you my dear, who might you be?' The man in black said addressing Jane. 'Let me guess you are either a lady in white or an angel?'
'Not an angel sir, but I am a lady in white.' Jane replied blushing.
'Excuse me sir. Would you please introduce me to your lovely ladies?' Replied an obvious Mr. Bingley.
'Certainly my good man. This is a lady in red and a lady in white, ladies this is a man in blue.' The man in black said laughing lightly.
'My dear lady in white you look wonderful, allow me to escort you and claim the first two dances.'
'Why certainly sir. If you both would excuse me.' Jane said smiling at Elizabeth and the man in black.
'Of course. Well shall we my dear lady in red? And if I might be so bold as to claim the first two dances from you.'
'Yes I am ready, and yes you shall.' Elizabeth said smiling at her handsome gentleman. As the entered the ball Elizabeth scanned the room looking and wondering if Mr. Darcy was there and what would he be dressed as? How would the proud Mr. Darcy act if she were with Mr. Wickham the whole time?
'Looking for someone my dear lady.'
'Why yes I was. I was looking for a certain gentleman that we both know.' Elizabeth said hinting to the man in black who she was looking for.
'Oh. Well maybe he must be around here must around here somewhere I mean he is the host's good friend' The man in black said smiling at her.
Chapter 2 ~ Conclusion
'Yes you are right,' Elizabeth said smiling at him. Just then the music started and they both took their places in line and began to dance. (A.N. The beginning dance of the ball, remember it's a mask and Mr. Collins didn't see his cousins before they left.) Elizabeth was amazed at the difference in the man in blacks moves. She danced with Mr. Wickham before and this wasn't his style. The man in black had a more relaxed and carefree approach to it. Elizabeth began to wonder who was this handsome man in black.
As the night wore on she was having fun, dancing with a few others but she would always go back to her man in black. They talked about everything, and she was starting to really enjoy being with him. And now she wished that she knew who this was. Oh! Why do we have to wear these masks? I want to know who you are? I know that you are not Mr. Wickham, so who are you? Elizabeth was talking with Charlotte, when her man in black came over to her and asked her for the next dance. She happily agreed and smiled at him as he walked away.
'Elizabeth do you know who he is?'
'No, I do not know who he is. I am trying to figure that our. But he is so wonderful and caring, I really do think I have found someone I could actually love. I just wish I could find out who he is.' Elizabeth said smiling in his direction.
Charlotte, who was a good observer, knew who it was. She didn't want to tell Elizabeth yet. She wanted her to figure that out for herself.
With that the music started and Elizabeth took her place in line and smiled at her man in black. As the danced started she turned to catch her mysterious man when; suddenly she caught an expression in his eyes. No! It can't be, Elizabeth thought with shock. It can't be Mr. Darcy. This man is at ease and friendly, no it has to be a mistake. This can't be the man that I have fallen for. Oh please say it is a horrible mistake. As the dance went on and was approaching the end, Elizabeth decided to try something.
'So my dear sir. I wonder about something.'
'And what is that my dear lady.' The man in black said smiling at her.
'You said earlier that when we wear these masks we could be anyone we want and just forget ourselves for the night. Is that correct?'
'Yes my lady it is. May I ask why?' The man in black said quietly and hesitantly.
'I was curious, when the night is over will everything go back to the way that it was the day before. Will everyone return to his or her former selves.' Elizabeth said looking at him.
Just then the dance ended and the man in black took her hand. 'My lady, would you perhaps like to continue this conversation outside. You look a little warm.'
'Yes, I think that would be best sir.' Elizabeth said and accepting his arm and proceeded to walk outside with her man in black.
'In response to your question, I believe that everyone adopts a mask when they are not in ease with people and once someone gets to know that person they will see a different person. Please my dear lady in red, believe me in what I say. I will tell you a story if you would like to hear it.' The man in black said motioning to a bench.
'Please do so sir.'
'Very well. I believe by now you know a certain gentleman well enough but not well. This gentleman lost his parents when he was young and became a guardian to his younger sister. He loves her dearly and would do anything to protect her. Anything. You have a loved sister, so I know that you would do the same for her. Last summer she went with her companion to Ramsgate and meet up with a certain officer. He persuaded her to be in love with him and consented to an elopement. She was fifteen at the time. So you see my dear lady in red, the gentleman you expected me to be isn't. And I will leave you now, for no doubt you know who I am and now that you do, you don't want to be near me. So I will bid you good night my dear lady in red.' Then the man in black bowed to her and began to walk away.
'Wait my dear man in black. Please don't go yet.' Elizabeth said standing up and walking over to him. 'Why did you tell me this story? Why would you trust someone you don't even know, how do you know who I even am?'
'I would know you anywhere my dear lady, my dear Elizabeth.' The man in black said honestly. 'I told you for that reason. Because you are dear to me, I have fallen in love with you. I don't want you to be taken in by Wickham's charms and lies. So I told you. And now you know who I am? But do you Elizabeth, do you really know who I am?'
'I don't know sir. I thought I knew you yesterday, but today I am not so sure. I was actually enjoying myself tonight with you, from the first dance I knew that you weren't Mr. Wickham. I kept wondering who you were and when I found out that it was you I decided that I would like to know my dear man in black more.' Elizabeth said smiling at him.
'Then my dear Elizabeth may we take off these masks?' The man in black said.
'Yes, sometimes I feel like I am suffering in these things.' Elizabeth said and turning around to talk off her mask. She turned around and said, 'Hello Mr. Darcy.'
'Hello Miss Bennet.' Darcy said smiling at her.
'Oh, it's Miss Bennet again, what happened to Elizabeth?' Elizabeth said smiling at him, arching her brow to smirk at him.
'I no longer wear the mask, so...' Darcy said trailing off.
'You assumed you couldn't call me Elizabeth anymore. Well that won't do. I insist that you call me Elizabeth.'
'Than you must do the same.'
'I cannot sir, I do not know your given name.'
'Oh sorry, it's Fitzwilliam. My sister however calls me William.' Darcy said smiling at her.
'Very well my dear William, shall we go for a walk or place these masks on and go back inside and dance some more.'
'I much prefer a walk to these awful masks.' Darcy said smiling at her. He then offered his arm to her and they left the patio and went for a walk in the gardens. As they were walking and laughing, Elizabeth was amazed the person she was with. She assumed that once he knew that she knew whom he was that her man in black would disappear. However he didn't. They were able to talk and laugh and really began to understand each other. No longer were there barriers. Finally it was time for them to return to the ball.
'Elizabeth may I ask you a question?'
'Yes you may William?' Elizabeth said playing with her mask.
'You already know that I love you, and now I know that I cannot live without you in my life. I love your laugh, your smile, and I love they way you tease me and challenge every word that I say. I know that I don't deserve you, but I will forever try and prove myself to you. Will you my dear lady in red marry me and make me the happiest man alive?' Darcy said holding her hands in his.
'Yes, I will marry you dear man in black. For I also know that I love you as well, and thanks to these little masks I would never had known that. I was falling for you when I didn't know who you were. I realized when we were dancing and later when you told me about your sister that I didn't want to lose you and that I loved you. You truly are the best man I have ever known.' Elizabeth said smiling at her dear man in black.
Darcy smiled at her and bent down and places the gentlest of kisses on her lips. He then pulled her into his arms and held her for a few minutes. 'My dear we better return to the ball. People will wonder what happen to us.'
'Yes we better. Oh I meant to ask you? Did Mr. Wickham come tonight?' Elizabeth said placing her mask back on her face.
'I don't think so. But we shall never know shall we my dear lady in red.' Darcy said smiling at her.
'No we shall not, but I am glad that I got to know you dear man in black. I love you Fitzwilliam Darcy.'
'And I love you Elizabeth Bennet, forever.' Darcy said, escorting her back into the ballroom. 'My dear lady in red may I be bold enough to claim the rest of your dances?'
'Yes you shall sir.' Elizabeth said smiling at her fiancée.
The rest of the ball passed smoothly, two other couples became engaged as well. Mr. Collins believing Mary was Elizabeth fell for her and asked her to marry him and read with him forever. And of course, Jane and her man in blue became engaged. As for Mr. Wickham, he was there and dressed in orange and his plan to take Elizabeth away from Darcy failed because he mistook the lady in orange for Elizabeth AS IF! and well he realized his mistake Of course, once he found out who she was he left, but not first observing Darcy with his lady in red, dancing the waltz.