Writing Assignment 5

Tonight’s Ball

Katherine inhaled the sweet, fresh air as she made her way home after her morning walk. The air was brisk and turned her cheeks a rosy hue, but she adored the feeling it gave her, exalting. She stopped by a pasture where a beautiful horse stood, careful to keep her gown out of the mud, and stroked its long neck. How beautiful, she thought, If only my family could afford such a magnificent horse. She stroked it longingly for a while until the wind almost took her bonnet from her head and she decided it was time to return home. Her mother would soon need assistance with morning chores, and if she did not return home now, she knew her mother would be unpleasantly vexed.

As Katherine walked down the driveway to her home, her mind wandered toward the book she had started this week. She hoped she would have time to read it today, for it was full of intrigue and forbidden love affairs. As Katherine was now of an age, she, too, was to be thinking of someone to marry. Convinced that only the deepest love would induce her into matrimony, Katherine began to dread the ball that was to take place tonight, as she could just imagine her mother pushing her onto the richest men at the party, as she did at every ball. Tonight, a young man named Charles Whittaker with an income of seven thousand pounds a year was hosting the ball, as he had just settled in at Netherfield for a few months, at least. Katherine, however, could care less, as she could just imagine the mundane, tiring talk, and the seemingly never-ending dancing through which she would have to suffer. Besides, with nothing but her charms to recommend her, Katherine was sure no man of seven thousand pounds was going to ask her for her hand in marriage, no matter how well-respected her family was despite their unfortunate circumstances. Perhaps her father could excuse her from attending the night’s festivities.

As the maid, Margaret, opened the door for Katherine and she removed her bonnet, Katherine was greeted by the shouts of her two younger sisters who were arguing over a gown that would be worn to tonight’s ball. They were in such a rage, that Jane nearly knocked a candlestick onto the wooden floor. “Stop your bickering!” yelled Katherine, “Jane, give the gown to Charlotte, for it does not suit you. Wear your blue gown instead. If you do not stop arguing, you will surely start a fire!” Katherine went to move the candlestick away from harm’s way as Jane stormed from the room and Charlotte clutched the gown to her breast in silent victory. “Don’t look so smug, Charlotte. If father had seen this, you would not be so pleased.” Charlotte glared at Katherine as she left the room, her head held high with her hair still in braids. Katherine then went to help her mother with her duties, including preparing for that night’s activities. When she saw her mother in the frantic stress that always accompanied preparations for entering into an event of good society, it was clear that she would have to attend the ball with her family.

That night, Katherine stepped off the carriage in a white gown looking just as handsome as any other girl entering the ball, even if her dress was not quite as grand as some. Margaret had done her hair well, as she adorned Katherine’s golden tendrils with sweet baby’s breath. Katherine, however, was still not pleased to be there, as she could already spot the shallow and boring people filing into the entrance of Mr. Whittaker’s mansion. It is quite a site though, Katherine thought. She couldn’t help but be impressed with the utter grandeur of his home. And this is only a temporary house, she thought, I can’t imagine what his actual home must be like. And to be mistress of all this? But without another thought to be had, Katherine felt her mother pushing her toward the entrance, clearly eager to meet Mr. Whittaker.

As they entered the house, people were already dancing and drinking merrily. Many of the faces were all people with whom Katherine was acquainted, as Netherfield was, after all, a very small town. Her mother, of course, was quick to point out Mr. Whittaker, who was standing in the corner with his sister and her fiancé. Well, he is quite handsome, Katherine thought, I must give him credit for that. Mr. Whittaker was tall and dark-haired. His face possessed strong features and his figure was lean. He was dressed, of course, very handsomely in a blue coat. Katherine’s father guided them toward Mr. Whittaker for an introduction, and as they approached him, Katherine could not help but see how proud he seemed to be. She wondered if he was enjoying himself at all.

As Katherine was introduced, she smiled and curtsied and said everything politely as she should. Her sisters were behaving exceedingly silly, as they giggled and smiled at everything Mr. Whittaker said. Bored and somewhat embarrassed, Katherine’s eyes wandered toward the ceiling to admire the decorations. Suddenly, however, she was surprised to hear Mr. Whittaker address her personally. “Pardon me?” she said. Katherine could not believe it, but he was asking to claim the next dance. With no excuse to come up with, Katherine accepted, even to the displeasure of his sister.

They entered the dance floor and began to dance; men and women wove between each other, the gowns swaying to and fro, the men’s boots stomping on the wooden floors. Mr. Whittaker’s hands were cold, but Katherine much preferred them to warm and clammy hands. He smiled at her as they danced, making Katherine blush, for she had never received such attentions from a man of his stature before. He asked her to dance two more times that night, and they were able to talk of things that Katherine had never talked about at a ball before—literature, politics, and art. At the end of the evening, Mr. Whittaker escorted Katherine and her family to their carriage. She and her family were the last to leave. They said their good-byes and as the carriage drove away, she turned around to look at Mr. Whittaker, who still stood in the middle of the driveway. He soon disappeared as they turned a corner, and a smile crept on Katherine’s face as she settled in for the journey home.