[Pride and Prejudice] The leisurely life of Miss Bentley

The annual social season in London starts from the spring when the ice and snow have not completely melted, and lasts until the bitter heat of midsummer.During this period, various social activities emerged one after another. Apart from sleeping, young gentlemen and ladies attended various dances, banquets, exhibitions, concerts, and theater performances.The holding of the socialite adult ball marks the beginning of the annual London social season.

The coming-of-age ball for socialites is extremely important to the unmarried ladies of the upper class, especially the noble ladies. If you are lucky enough to be favored by the Queen at the ball, then finding a favorite husband and son-in-law is not a problem at all.It is therefore a great honor to receive an invitation to the Senior Socialite Ball, and this year almost all the graduates of Villa Pierrefer have received invitations to the Senior Socialite Ball.

For the upcoming ball, Mrs. Hurst was completely prepared, and despite Caroline's protests, she insisted that she wear a corset, insisting on showing a small waist of sixteen or seven inches.It seemed like an extra inch and the world would end, any more and the earth would explode.For the peace of the world, no matter whether it can breathe or not, every lady has to sacrifice her ego and tighten her waist to save the world.Caroline not only made a request to Mrs. Hearst (Mrs. Hearst's original words: The court ball is a lifelong event, if you can't find a suitable candidate, it's fine, it's not worth losing your image, you can't help but feel like you are at a country ball Dressed so casually.) Still reluctantly accepting it, she is even more insensitive to the behavior of dressing up with lace, ribbon bows, feathers and flowers according to the current fashion, she really can’t stand being dressed as a walking Christmas tree, even if this A Christmas tree couldn't be more beautiful!

Every era has its fashion, Caroline will not look down on the fashion of this era, but she does not intend to blindly accept the fashion of this era.

After some debate, the two sisters each made a compromise.Caroline accepted wearing a corset, and Mrs. Hurst specially ordered a long skirt that was actually a 21st century retro style according to Caroline's wishes.

On the day of the ball, Mrs. Hearst took Caroline to start preparations early in the morning. After a long time of tossing, Mrs. Hearst was finally satisfied.Caroline wore this thick white satin sleeveless dress, with layers of floor-sweeping skirts, heavy hand-crafted beads, creating a heavy drape, and complicated laces creating a dreamlike feeling.The low-cut collar is inlaid with starry rhinestones, which is inconspicuous at first glance, but it will inadvertently attract the attention of others.

Caroline is also satisfied. Although there are still lace and braided straps, it is much better than the Christmas tree.

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy had already dressed up according to the gentleman's standard, and they were waiting for them downstairs.

When Caroline and Mrs. Hurst came downstairs, the two gentlemen waiting in the living room couldn't help staring at it for a while.

A lock of beautiful hair is tied into a cloud bun, a pair of beautiful eyes look forward to shine, she is as delicate as a flower, shy and affectionate, her skin is as beautiful as jade fat, and her figure is exquisite. She looks so noble, generous, romantic and elegant. Unbelievably charming.

"Let's go, or we won't be in time." Mr. Darcy came back to his senses, and went out holding his partner's hand.

So, they got into the carriage and the group headed towards Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace is located in Westminster, London. It is a four-story cube gray building.About after Queen Victoria ascended the throne, it began to become the palace of the British royal family.

When the group arrived at Buckingham Palace, it was still early, but the ball hall was already full of ladies and gentlemen.As far as the eye can see, the audience is full of gentlemen wearing traditional tuxedos and colorful medals on their chests, as well as glamorous ladies wearing flowers, holding fans, with big colored silk bows tied around their waists, and fluffy gauze skirts adorned with With lace and feather ribbons, plus jeweled jewelry, each is more luxurious and luxurious than the other, really like shining and moving Christmas trees.

As soon as Caroline entered the ballroom, she received far and near eyes. Compared with these Christmas trees, Caroline's dress was really too plain.But rather than dress up as a Christmas tree, Caroline would rather keep it simple, anyway, she knows what she wants and what kind of outfit suits her, that's enough.

After Queen Victoria entered the venue and gave a short speech, the orchestra began to play the first dance of the evening.

Caroline has admired Queen Victoria for a long time. It can be said that the reason why she argued with Mrs. Hurst about wearing a corset and finally accepted it is that she could see Queen Victoria at the court ball this time.At this time, Queen Victoria had just ascended the throne and married Prince Albert not long ago. Although she was full of majesty, she was still full of joy as a new wife.Caroline sighed deeply when she thought that the queen in history would lose her husband in middle age and spend most of her life depressed.

But Caroline didn't have time to think about it after Caroline's eye addiction.According to the usual practice, after the ladies present have danced with their male companions, they can be invited by the gentlemen present to dance, and they can also get to know more gentlemen through the introduction of family members or friends.

Caroline thought that she had been submerged in a pile of Christmas trees long ago, and no one noticed her, but in the end, people kept paying attention and wanted to come forward to invite her to dance.So I had to cover my face with the fan in my left hand. God knows why these people like dancing so much. Can't we just stand and chat?

In Britain at the end of the [-]th century, because it was not easy to openly talk about love in social situations, the ladies invented the "fan language" to express their feelings.Fan the fan slowly, it means "you are indifferent to me", fan the fan faster, "I am single...".The index finger is placed on the fan bone, which means "we must talk".Holding the fan in front of the face with the right hand, "Come on...", and holding the fan in the left hand in front of the face, "Don't be courteous to me".There are also various other fan language combined with the location of the station.

……

When Caroline was studying, she was dazed by so many kinds of fan words, but fortunately, there were only a few commonly used ones, and this was the one she used most skillfully: holding the fan in her left hand to shield her face.The use of these fan words is particularly important only at dances in London. Dances in villages and other places are not so particular. If you really don’t want to dance, you can just say no.

And these fan words have a big limitation. If gentlemen don't give up pretending to be stupid and come forward to invite dancers or meet acquaintances, ladies still have to agree to invite dancers. Not against wolves.

No, after Caroline danced the first dance with Mr. Darcy, she met her acquaintance Miss Kester and her brother Mr. Kester.

In his early years, Mr. Kester married a merchant's daughter out of family business needs.His wife passed away after leaving him the only heir.Generally, this kind of marriage out of interests does not have much emotional content, and the same is true for Mr. Kester and his wife.Although it is said that the husband and wife have a hundred days of kindness, but when the person is gone, they will not be sad for a while, and then they can do whatever they should.

Since the death of his late wife, Mr. Kester rested his mind and devoted himself to teaching his son.This time I came to the ball because my younger sister, Miss Kester, received an invitation to the socialite's coming-of-age ball.

After having a meet-and-greet with Miss Kester, Mr. Kester stepped forward and invited Caroline to dance for some reason.After a dance, there was nothing special, the two just exchanged a few words and it was over.Caroline just thinks that at this kind of ball, it is too strenuous to have to be extravagant and distracted from fishing for a rich man. Christmas trees, you have worked hard!

On the other side of the ball, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy did not end up.Mr. Darcy is in the same style as before, and Mr. Bingley looks depressed when he looks at the Christmas tree ladies all over the field, and thinks of the delicate lily in Hertfordshire.But now it can be said that it is in the examination period for Miss Jane Bennet, and I can only hope that this lady can respond to my affection.At the moment, he had nothing to say, so he said to Mr. Darcy: "Darcy, you are still the same, and you were not seen dancing at the court ball."

"You didn't go to the dance either, which is more surprising. It's not like you at all." Darcy replied.

"...For some reason, when I come back from the country, I can't bring up these dances in London." Mr. Bingley said sullenly, and suddenly remembered Mr. Darcy's kindness, and said again, "Why don't we go to the opposite side for a drink?" Have some bourbon or something."

Darcy's thoughts moved slightly, Charles was clearly unable to extricate himself, and he actually thought of drinking to relieve his sorrow (Mr. Darcy, you are thinking too much).If this is the case, Miss Jane Bennet had better be rotten wood. If this lady is really unable to support the wall, even if Bingley objects to him again, he will be separated from Miss Jane Bennet.

Mr. Darcy was about to say something, but stopped looking into the distance. Mr. Bingley was curious, followed his gaze, and suddenly realized: "That is the brother of Caroline's friend Miss Kester, Ever since Caroline saved his sister, whenever she sees Caroline at a ball, she always comes to pay her respects."

"Mr. Kester? The one whose wife died a few years ago and left a son? The Kester family doesn't seem to have any business relationship with us." Mr. Darcy watched the pair walk out from the dance floor The men and women said coldly.

The gentleman and lady walking in this direction from the dance floor were, of course, Mr. Kester and Caroline.Although Mr. Kester lost his wife, he has neither bald head nor greasy ears and fat intestines. He has a big fat belly and is at the age of a flower. Standing with Caroline is quite suitable.But in some people's eyes, it is particularly dazzling.

The author has something to say: Don’t you really want to see Bentley and Jane Bennet together? Originally, I wanted to write about Bentley’s married life after falling in love and killing each other...

ps. During the National Day holiday, where are you planning to go? I have something to do on the 2nd and 7th of a certain night, so I need to ask for leave in advance.Happy National Day~~