Page 30 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

I write this in bed because my feet are too sore to carry me to the writing-desk. I, Anne de Bourgh, danced almost every dance last night. I should hardly believe it, were my feet not still throbbing.

As soon as we arrived, Mrs Bennet took Georgiana and me round the room and introduced us to nearly everyone we had not yet met in Meryton. Lady Lucas presented her son John, who asked me for the first set. I was so surprised that I scarcely answered. Kitty accepted for me with a laugh, then assured me that John was a charming partner and I should be quite at ease with him.

Partway through the dance I realised he was Charlotte’s brother. We spoke of her letters, and I told him she had made friends at Hunsford. He seemed glad to hear it, though he had little good to say of Mr Collins. Charlotte writes to Darcy too; he has asked her to tell him if Mr Collins continues to preach Lady Catherine’s opinions as though they were scripture.

I hope that without her ladyship there to encourage him, Mr Collins may begin to listen more to his wife.

I kept these thoughts from John and made ordinary conversation as we danced. When he brought me back to Mrs Bennet, several gentlemen waited to be introduced. I was flattered until one of them, whose name I have already forgotten, asked after Rosings.

Word of my inheritance has evidently travelled through Meryton. At least one gentleman had noticed Rosings before he noticed me.

I resolved to dance anyway. For the first time I had the strength to accept one partner after another, and I refused no invitation until the supper dance. Then I claimed weariness and went to find Richard. He sat with my uncle and Sir William Lucas in an antechamber. They were discussing fishing; Richard looked in need of rescue.

When he saw me, his face brightened. He rose with some difficulty, leaning on his cane, and asked his father to sit again when the Earl stood to help him. Then he came to meet me.

“Anne, are you well? Your cheeks are glowing with exertion! Do you need to rest?”

“A little,” I said. I wanted his company more than a rest, though I was glad enough to stop dancing. “Will you walk about the room with me and take me in to supper? I do not know the other gentlemen well enough to be comfortable joining them.”

Mrs Bennet and Lizzy would never have left me to sup with strangers, but Richard appeared pleased by my request. He offered me his right arm.

“A pleasure, Anne. I had much rather take supper in your company than anyone else’s, anyway, and you have no idea how much it grieves me that I cannot be one of the swains begging to take a turn with you about the dance floor. You dance beautifully.”

“I do?” I felt my cheeks warm. “I still count the steps under my breath,” I confided as we went towards the supper room, and he laughed.

Kitty and Georgiana danced past, both smiling and bright-eyed. Richard’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Georgiana’s partner, and I was relieved to be able to tell him it was John Lucas.

“Oh, Mrs Collins’ brother?”

“Indeed, and a very old friend of the Bennet family. Perfectly respectful, too,” I said with a teasing smile, “at least, he was when he danced with me.”

“Hm.” Richard’s smile soon returned, however. “Well, I shall trust your judgment. And Darcy, who is as always watching Georgiana like a hawk.”

This last remark was said quite loudly enough for Darcy to hear, as we arrived beside him and Elizabeth. Darcy did not even take his gaze from the dance floor, though Elizabeth laughed.

“Do they provide a good supper here?” Richard asked Elizabeth. “I have somehow worked up an appetite without dancing, and Anne must be hungry after all her exercise.”

“They do. My mother and Lady Lucas took charge of the refreshments some years ago. You will eat nearly as well as you would at Longbourn.”

Elizabeth was right. Darcy and Bingley brought us plates of toast spread with potted meat, small chicken pastries and crisp fish in batter. I tried one of everything within reach, including more than one of the little fruit tartlets.

“You should have a hearty appetite, after so much dancing!” Elizabeth teased gently. “You look to be as happy as I have ever seen you, Anne.”

“I have enjoyed it very much,” I said, “though there is one thing I wish might have been different.”

“Tell us, and we shall put it right if we can,” Bingley said.

“Richard cannot dance with me tonight. I intend to hold him to his promise that he will, when he is well enough.”

“With such incentive, I shall be sure to heal all the faster,” Richard said gamely. “I would not miss the chance of dancing with you for the world, Annie, before you are wed at least, for your new husband might be the jealous type who insists on keeping you all to himself.”

“Husband?” A lady a little further along the table to whom I had not been introduced paused with a ham croquette poised just before her lips. “Is Miss de Bourgh engaged?”

“No, Mrs Goulding,” Elizabeth told her. “But Mr Darcy and I plan to have her in London for the upcoming season, and if you think Miss de Bourgh has been popular tonight, it is nothing to the splash she will make in London.”

“Oh yes!” Mrs Bennet called from farther down the table. “Miss de Bourgh is a great heiress, you understand, and an earl’s niece. No doubt she will marry a gentleman of title.”

I looked down at my plate. She had told the whole table the size of the prize to be won, while I sat beside her.