Read Online Cassandra's Sister by Veronica Bennett - Free Book Online Page B

the Comtesse’s house, or indeed at any other place.”
    â€œThank you, Mr Heathcote, for the dance,” she said.
    â€œWe are engaged for the cotillion.”
    â€œI have not forgotten. Oh!” Jenny remembered. “You have not been introduced to Mrs Bigg. And this is my sister, Miss Cassandra Austen.”
    Mr Heathcote bowed to both ladies. “I hope your sister will report my performance happily, Miss Austen,” he said, bestowing a smile on Cassandra. Then he bowed to Jenny, and walked off.
    The evening wore on. Jenny danced with John Portal, who pleased her greatly with his swiftness of foot and lightness of conversation. Then she was asked by Samuel Blackall, a young clergyman attached to the Lefroy party, whom Jenny had met many times, and who achieved neither of these things. But, determined to be pleasant, Jenny found herself accepting another dance from him.
    â€œI can assure you, Miss Austen,” he told her in his grave way, “that my asking you for two dances should not be seen as an indication of designs on you beyond that of amicability. I do not wish to align myself unfairly to any young lady at present because, as you have doubtless noted, I am in considerable demand.”
    â€œThen I thank you for the favour you bestow upon me, Mr Blackall,” said Jenny.
    Elizabeth Bigg had not sat down all evening. Mr John Harwood, originator of Elizabeth’s confusion at Steventon the previous day, arrived late, but not too late to engage her for most of the remaining dances. Jenny took great pleasure in seeing them together. She had always approved of John Harwood, a thoughtful man who always took immaculate care of any woman whose welfare he was charged with. His admiration of Elizabeth was evident in every movement of his face, and it was wonderful to see Elizabeth’s fair head dipping and turning as they spoke, and his hand gripping hers as they went down the dance. Meanwhile, William Heathcote acquitted himself very elegantly in a Scotch air with an unknown girl in a blue dress, and Jenny danced twice with the energetic Ben Lefroy.
    Supper was done, and all but a few scavengers determined to get their full ticket’s worth of refreshment had quitted the supper room. The would-be dancers had returned to the ballroom in threes and fours, and the predicted air of relaxation had descended upon the assembly, when Elizabeth Bigg appeared, flushed and bright-eyed, at Jenny’s side.
    â€œ
He
is here!” she announced in a loud whisper, though the noise was so great that nobody would have heard her had she shouted. “Oh, Jenny, I have waited all my life for him, but at last he has arrived, just when I had given up hope!”
    â€œWho?” asked Jenny, utterly bewildered. “Mr Harwood? But—”
    â€œDo not pretend you are unaware, Jenny, it is too cruel.”
    â€œCruel?”
Jenny was astonished. “But Elizabeth—”
    â€œYou danced with him. I saw you, so do not deny it. And I had to put up with John Lyford! But now he has asked me to dance the last with him.”
    â€œAre you speaking of Mr
Heathcote
?” asked Jenny. But he had engaged
her
, much earlier in the evening, for the last dance! Elizabeth had accused her of cruelty, but what could she, Jenny, accuse
him
of? Forgetfulness, or worse?
    â€œYes, Mr Heathcote!” cried Elizabeth. “Is he not the most perfect man you have ever seen? I have been speaking to him for the last half hour, in the supper room while the servants were clearing it. He did not mind sitting among the crumbs, because all he wanted to do was look at
me
. Oh, Jenny, when he takes my hand in the cotillion, and everyone is looking at him and thinking how handsome he is, why, I don’t know how I shall stop myself shouting with joy!”
    â€œBut what about Mr Harwood?” asked Jenny faintly.
    â€œOh, I have had some dances with him. But, you know, he is not an accomplished