Thanks for welcoming me back to the blog Maria Grazia! In my Pride and Prejudice novella A Hopeful Holiday, Darcy never returned to Hertfordshire, although he did send Bingley back to Jane. He felt Elizabeth would never forgive him after Lydia had to marry Wickham, and Elizabeth thinks that Darcy could never suffer to be his brother-in-law. They find themselves in Kent over Christmas where the social event of the season is Lady Catherine’s masquerade ball.
Is a masquerade just like a Halloween party? Sort of.
The basic concept is obvious: a masquerade is an event where you attend wearing a mask and typically in costume. Public masquerade balls were introduced to London in 1708, and they flourished throughout the century, often having connections to Twelfth Night and the holiday season. Masquerades were also private affairs like any other ball, starting late in the evening with dancing, card tables, supper, and continuing until dawn. Tradition held that no one would reveal who they were until midnight.
A simple costume was a domino, a large cloak and hood worn with a mask that covered half of the face, and they were worn by both men and women. Others wore a costume with a half mask that only covered the eyes—what we now call a domino mask (think Robin from Batman). Or they wore a full mask with rounded edges that covered the whole face. They could be completely black or sometimes they were painted with a face.
But what did regency masquerade goers wear if they wanted a real costume? They could either create their own costumes or there were places where you could rent them for the occasion. Classical heroes and gods from antiquity, representations of dress from other nations, animals, dress from ages past, religious costumes, kings and queens, servants, and characters from opera might all be found at a ball.
There was a significant behavioral license at a masquerade, like approaching and dancing with people you didn’t know, or men dressing as women, or acting in character the entire evening—even if that meant acting badly. If you aren’t recognized, it allowed participants to assume an identity for the evening and subvert expectations.
Here’s an excerpt from A Hopeful Holiday where Elizabeth has been invited to attend Lady Catherine’s New Year’s Eve masquerade ball where Darcy is sure to attend.
“You shall enjoy
the masquerade tonight,” Charlotte said after breakfast. “You always did love a
ball and dancing until dawn.” She handed Elizabeth yesterday’s newspaper. “Here
is what is mentioned under the county’s Christmas festivities.”
The Dowager Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s
Masquerade Ball
Takes place
tomorrow at Rosings. This is expected to be a most brilliant concern. All the
neighbouring nobility and gentry are invited, as well as the whole of their connexions in high life, who may be disposed to attend from any distance. None
shall be admitted who are not masked. The mansion is a noble residence and all
of the apartments will be decorated with coloured lamps and emblems of the
season. The dancing is expected to commence at nine o’clock, the supper and
unmasking at twelve, and dancing with be renewed and continue until a very late
hour.
“It will be a
larger affair than I originally supposed,” Elizabeth said.
“I understand
that Lady Catherine has masquerade dress to select from for those who do not
have their own. Miss de Bourgh will have many to choose from since her mother
hosts a ball every New Year’s Eve. What character would you like to assume?”
She was more
interested in what Darcy would wear, and if she could learn who he was before
much of the night had passed. “Perhaps I shall dress as a man? It might be
diverting to dance all night in trousers.”
“Not if you have
to dance the gentleman’s part,” said Charlotte, “and dance with only ladies.”
“I am not
certain how far Lady Catherine’s love of a masquerade goes. She may draw the
line at men turned to women, and vice versa.”
“I think even
she would not host such a ball if she then insisted on stringent rules for the
masquerade dress.”
“Whatever her
opinion is, I am certain to hear it,” Elizabeth said.
Charlotte
smiled. “Now that Sir Hugh de Bourgh is also at Rosings, you shall not be
wanting for other company to punctuate her ladyship’s attention. He is here, I
suspect, because he has hopes to be remembered in her ladyship’s will.”
“He is a
barrister, Mr Collins said, and he inherited the baronetcy but nothing else?”
“Yes, Miss de
Bourgh is the heiress of everything on the de Bourgh side, but Lady Catherine
still has some of her own property to dispose of. I thought it civil of Sir
Hugh to call here so soon after he arrived. It will be pleasant to have another
young man in the party.”
Elizabeth looked
into her empty tea cup. “I am not certain that I like Sir Hugh. He could be
remarked for his good address and wish of paying attention, but he seemed a
cold man.”
“You judge too
quickly, Eliza.”
“Did you not
think that Sir Hugh took greater pleasure in preventing Mr Darcy from speaking
with me than from speaking with me himself?”
“Perhaps you
think that because you were disappointed to have your private conversation
interrupted.” Elizabeth felt her cheeks flush. “I can see I have embarrassed
you, and I did promise to say no more about it. Just know that I think Mr Darcy
is in your power, and you could have him if you help him on.”
Masquerade balls were whimsical and lively events, and well-suited to Christmas season frivolities. Be sure to read A Hopeful Holiday to see what Darcy and Elizabeth wear to Lady Catherine’s masquerade, and to find out how these two learn to have some reason to hope the other might love them.
Heather Moll
Lady Catherine’s New Year’s Eve masquerade ball is the social event of the season and, amid the festivities and mistletoe, both Darcy and Elizabeth hope for a reason to make their affections known. But will her ladyship’s interference, the sudden appearance of her scheming nephew, and Elizabeth and Darcy’s insecurities prevent them from finding happiness during the holiday season?
4 comments:
Thank you so much for welcoming me and A Hopeful Holiday today!
I look forward to enjoying it.
Pleasure! Welcome back to My Jane Austen Book Club, Heather 🤗
This sounds lovely.
d
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