by Wendi Sotis
Aiming to distract her mother, Elizabeth asked, “Mama, what do you think of the gowns worn by Mr. Bingley’s sisters?”
“Their gowns are elegant, to be sure,” Mrs. Bennet answered. Lady Lucas opened her mouth as if to speak but closed it when Mrs. Bennet continued, “but they have the benefit of London dressmakers. Of course, if your father would take us to Town twice a year—and if he would open his purse strings wide enough for my brother Gardiner to acquire the best of materials—Jane’s excellent taste and superior figure would put all the ladies in London to shame. Do you not think so, Lady Lucas?”
Lady Lucas nodded her agreement.
Elizabeth glanced at Jane, imagining her own colouring to be of a similar shade as her sister’s deep blush. Since Elizabeth’s attempt at diverting her mother’s conversation had been defeated, she decided not to try again. She hoped that if her mother was not interrupted further, Mrs. Bennet would have followed this line of thought to its natural conclusion before Darcy came to claim his dance with her.
“And Lydia, of course,” Mrs. Bennet began again, with even more enthusiasm, “with her delicate features and lively disposition, will most likely marry highest of all my daughters. But Jane is the eldest and must take precedence... for now.”
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief when Mrs. Bennet nodded vigorously to herself, as she often did when she had finished making her point—and not a moment too soon. When Elizabeth looked away from her mother, she saw Darcy walking towards her.
Darcy bowed his head to Lady Lucas, Mrs. Bennet, and then Jane before meeting Elizabeth’s gaze.
“Miss Elizabeth.”
His eyes twinkled with something she did not recognize, but which caused a thrill to run through her. He offered his arm. She laid her hand upon the fine fabric of his sleeve and allowed him to lead her to the floor.
Several minutes after the music began, when the movement of the dance allowed for conversation, Elizabeth said, “You are quite accomplished for someone who does not enjoy the entertainment, sir.”
He bowed his head in acknowledgment but did not speak.
Unused to remaining quiet during a dance, at her next opportunity, Elizabeth’s eyes shone with a teasing glint as she said, “Miss Darcy will be shocked to hear that her brother has danced every dance thus far this evening.”
His eyes smiled in response, but his facial expression remained stoic.
She caught his gaze and raised an eyebrow. He did not reply.
“Indeed, Mr. Darcy, I believe your sister will declare this an historic event,” Elizabeth goaded, but still he made no response. Curious. He has spoken readily enough in the past.
After a few minutes more, she asked, “Have you known Mr. Bingley long, sir?”
“We met at university several years ago,” Darcy replied and then fell silent once again.
Concluding that as he did not like to dance, he was, perhaps, out of practice and, therefore, was required to concentrate on the steps, Elizabeth gave up on drawing him out for the present. Paying close attention to his movements, she realized his skills and hers were actually well matched.
When the dance required them to stand still whilst the others moved around them, Elizabeth again felt it safe to speak. “I trust Miss Darcy was well when you left her at Matlock?”
“Indeed,” Darcy responded and fell quiet once again.
Well, then... it is not concentration that keeps him from speaking. She asked aloud, “Mr. Darcy, are you unwell?”
He blinked several times in quick succession. “I am quite well, Miss Elizabeth. Why do you ask?”
She chuckled. “Then you do not think it odd to spend a half-hour together without having some conversation?”
He looked down the row of dancers at Bingley, who, Elizabeth noted, was chatting happily as he danced with Charlotte Lucas. Elizabeth and Darcy were then obliged to move in opposite directions. As soon as Darcy neared her again, he asked, “Did you enjoy the remainder of your stay in London?”
Elizabeth smiled at his effort. “We did, although we did not remain at the Gardiners’ for many days after we last saw you. Before we left, my uncle managed to find time to escort us to the Montagu House Museum to view the exhibits there.”
“I thought you had mentioned visiting the British Museum in the past?”
“Yes, but we had not time enough in our schedule to view the Townley Collection of sculpture, so I had hoped to return during this visit.”
Since they were required to move away from one another once more, Elizabeth did not speak to him again until their set was done.
When the music ended, Darcy bowed before her and then reached for her hand. As he placed her hand upon his arm, the expression in his eyes was so intense that she could not look away. A shiver passed up her spine as they strolled around the outskirts of the room. She hoped he was taking the long way ‘round the room on purpose so that he could spend time with her relatively alone before returning her to her mother’s side.
Finding it necessary to break the spell his look threatened to cast upon her, Elizabeth said, “Thank you, sir, for an enjoyable set.” She smiled widely. “You do exceptionally well for a gentleman who declares he does not like dancing. You must have had an excellent teacher.”
“As, I am sure, have you, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Ah, yes, you have found me out—my sisters and I learned from a London master, at my mother’s insistence.” Elizabeth smiled to herself as she thought back to years ago, when Mr. Bennet offered no argument to his wife’s assertion that his daughters must learn to dance from a master since dancing well was a vital accomplishment necessary to finding a husband. Elizabeth remembered being surprised when her father had looked upon his wife with a rare hint of wistful nostalgia in his expression, and she was even more amazed when he agreed to the expense without question. Pulling herself from her reverie, Elizabeth continued, “I am excessively fond of the activity myself, and having four sisters, I have had plenty of opportunities to practice. Mary and I take turns playing while the others dance.”
Darcy’s stoic façade softened as the corners of his lips turned up slightly, better resembling the man she had begun to know at Ramsgate. “I will let you in on a secret—Georgiana’s dance instructor insists she practice as often as possible so she will be ready for her coming out next year.” He chuckled and laid his gloved hand over hers where it rested on his arm. “Oft times in the evening, I will concede to Georgiana’s argument that I am a more appropriate dance partner than would be a footman.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I hope my presence in Ramsgate did not disturb your routine. I would have been delighted to play so that you could have helped Georgie practice. Or perhaps Mrs. Younge could have played while I took the gentleman’s part and danced with her myself, as I do with my younger sisters.”
Elizabeth wondered what part of her statement caused his countenance to stiffen. He promptly removed his warm hand from hers and, surrounded by an uncomfortable silence, they took the last few paces to where Jane was standing alone.
~
Sister... Indeed you would be the perfect sister-in-law for Georgiana, but it cannot be. I am relieved you did not offer to play so that Georgiana could practice her dancing, for I would not have been able to resist asking for your hand, as well. In such an intimate setting, I could not have trusted my ability to keep my feelings for you to myself.
Fearing that if he met Elizabeth’s gaze, he would give his thoughts away, Darcy bowed and then turned to face Jane. Bingley and Charlotte joined them as Darcy asked for Jane’s hand for the next set.
“I am engaged, sir, but I should be happy to oblige you with the set after that,” Jane answered.
Darcy bowed his head in acceptance. After which, all my obligations to my host and my sister’s friends will be fulfilled.
Bingley raised his eyebrows high upon his forehead and then smiled widely. “I believe we should attend more country dances, Darcy. I have not seen you dance so many sets
as you have tonight during an entire season of formal balls in Town.”
Darcy could not stop himself from glancing at Elizabeth, who had been teasing him on the same subject earlier. When their eyes met, she failed at her attempt to contain her amusement. Warmth spread through him at the thought of being the only person aware of the cause of her mirth. Lord, help me; it is much too soon for me to spend time in her company!
“Oh, look,” Bingley exclaimed, “there are my sisters. I shall bring them over and introduce them. Excuse me.” Bingley rushed away and then led the pair of ladies towards the group.
As they approached, Caroline Bingley stepped away from her brother and firmly attached herself to Darcy’s arm. He clenched his jaw at her audacity and returned his gaze to Elizabeth. The way Elizabeth’s back stiffened ever so slightly while watching Caroline’s actions made his breath catch in his chest.
Once Bingley was finished with formal introductions, Caroline turned to Elizabeth and, in a syrupy sweet voice that made Darcy suspicious of her intentions, said, “Having spent so little time in the country, Louisa and I will rely on your expertise to guide us, Miss Elizabeth.” In response to Elizabeth’s confused expression, she continued, “We shall need you to introduce us to the finest families, point out the best shops, and pass along bits of information that might be useful when conversing with our new neighbours.”
Elizabeth raised both eyebrows and replied, “Life in Hertfordshire is much simpler than that of living in Town. I am afraid we do not have many shops to choose from, as one would in London; therefore, you will have no difficulties choosing between them. As to our neighbours, I am certain you will find the people here are, at heart, very much like those in most places, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline was up to something, but Darcy could not yet determine what it was. Although she smiled at Elizabeth, the way Caroline had tightened her grip on his arm after hearing the lady’s response told Darcy she was not at all pleased.
Whilst still in Ramsgate, he had thought that the ladies of the ton would not know what to make of Elizabeth if they had the chance. He now could see he had been correct. Any of them would have taken a request such as Caroline’s as a compliment and in return, would have shared as much gossip as possible, in an attempt at proving herself indispensable. It was not so with Elizabeth. Clearly, she was above all that—her comfort in her intelligence and her person prohibited the groveling he had so often witnessed in most ladies among his acquaintance whenever they neared a lady who was more elegantly dressed, of greater wealth, or more highly connected than themselves.
In every way he had witnessed thus far, Elizabeth’s character was truly superior to most of the ladies he had known before her.
~
The movements of Elizabeth’s companions slowed, signaling that a scene depicted in a drawing was about to occur. She quickly glanced at Jane and Bingley and smiled. Ah, there it is—the look shared by them in the picture. They are already on their way towards falling in love. Remembering what else she had seen in the drawing, her gaze moved to Darcy. His expression was even more adoring than the one she had been warned to expect, which stirred such strong feelings within her own breast that she found she could not breathe.
The moment lasted for such a long time that Elizabeth thought the time had come to a complete standstill. Eventually, all returned to normal, and Caroline Bingley again demanded her attention.
“Miss Eliza, I do hope you will call on us next week. Louisa and I are used to being busy in Town. If the weather is fine, the gentlemen plan to be out shooting every day, and we would appreciate your company—along with Miss Bennet, of course.”
After such a lengthy shift in the passage of time, it took longer than usual for Elizabeth to recover her senses, and she could not reply immediately. Hearing her name diverted Jane’s attention from Bingley to the conversation between Caroline and Elizabeth. Jane immediately recognized her sister’s predicament and answered for her, “We would enjoy that very much, Miss Bingley.”
~%~
Since returning home from the ball, Elizabeth had been worried about Jane. It was unlike her sister to remain so quiet after a ball. At the very least, Elizabeth had expected her to speak of Mr. Bingley. “Is something wrong, Jane?”
Jane hesitated as she finished braiding Elizabeth’s hair and then met her sister’s gaze in the vanity’s mirror. “Why did you not tell me you received a drawing of the ball?”
Elizabeth smiled. “If I had told you, I would have felt obligated to show it to you. I did not want to spoil your meeting with Mr. Bingley by having you expect it.”
Jane furrowed her brow. “Do you think your being warned of Mr. Darcy ruined your first meeting somehow?”
Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “I know not, but I do think the sketches have caused me to have false hopes in regards to the gentleman. Mr. Darcy’s behaviour varied so widely this evening, I cannot make any sense of it.” She sighed heavily. “I am sure you saw the way he allowed Miss Bingley to lay claim to him whenever he was not dancing? I am afraid we have misinterpreted his presence in the drawings, Jane, and we must face the fact: he was included only because he is Georgiana’s brother.” Elizabeth reached into her drawer and pulled out the latest picture, holding it up so they both could see it. “When I opened this, I felt strongly I should not show it to you until after the assembly ball. Once we arrived in Meryton, I meant to tell you only that I expected to see Mr. Darcy this evening, but we were interrupted.”
Jane’s gasp was audible as she snatched the page from her sister, holding it at an angle close to the candle to illuminate the drawing better. “Lizzy! Please tell me that my feelings towards Mr. Bingley were not as obvious as this depicts!”
Knowing her shy sister would be mortified if it were so, Elizabeth answered truthfully, “Worry not, dear Jane; I could see it, but I doubt many others would have noticed.”
Jane did not remove her eyes from the picture as a smile spread slowly across her face. “Mr. Bingley is everything a gentleman should be, is he not?”
“Yes – yes, he is all that is handsome and amiable, and he seems genuinely interested in the comfort of those around him. I give you leave to like him, Jane.”
“Thank you, dear,” Jane replied, still too busy examining the drawing to look up. “I must admit that I was too distracted by your condition at the time to notice Mr. Darcy’s expression, but here I can see he is certainly not hiding his feelings for you!”
“I thought so, too, when I first saw it, Jane, but I fear I will suffer a serious disappointment if we should continue to go on in this manner. No matter my feelings when I look at his picture, we—I must stop jumping to conclusions about Mr. Darcy’s role in my future happiness.”
Chapter 13
October 3, 1811
“I refuse to accompany you, Charles, and I am sure Louisa will agree with my reasoning. It is customary for those of slight acquaintance to refrain from making morning calls the day following a ball, and I will not break with tradition in such a manner,” Caroline stated firmly over a late breakfast.
“And I am confident that since I go to Longbourn to return Mr. Bennet’s visit, and since that gentleman did not attend the ball last evening, I shall offend no one, Sister.”
Bingley turned to greet Darcy as he arrived at the breakfast room. “I expected that you would have already eaten, Darcy, and I would find you in the library or riding by this time.”
“Anticipating you would arise later than usual, I took my ride earlier this morning, before breaking my fast,” Darcy replied as he made his way to the sideboard to fill a plate.
“Then you are free to come along with me to Longbourn to meet Mr. Bennet?”
Caroline laughed. “Charles, I am certain Mr. Darcy would rather remain here in comfort, than visit our neighbours, who, judging by what we saw last evening, have no taste or sense of fashion—excluding the eldest two daughters, of course. You should take last night’s behaviour as a warning, Brother;
I fear you may arrive at Longbourn only to find a theatre or circus where the manor house should be! The most complimentary thing I can say of the youngest two Misses Bennet is that they are untamed and undisciplined, but it is no wonder since they are out so young—and with the eldest two still unmarried. I cannot understand Mrs. Bennet’s choice to allow such conduct; she made not the slightest attempt at managing them. Louisa and I have decided that we shall never set foot on Longbourn’s property. We shall see the eldest two daughters only at Netherfield.”
For once, I must agree with Miss Bingley’s appraisal of Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest daughters. But seeing where Elizabeth lives might be helpful to my quest to overcome this unhealthy infatuation.
Darcy finished filling his plate and joined his hosts at the table. “I shall be happy to accompany you, Bingley.”
Instead of answering his friend, Bingley was distracted by the need to slap his sister’s back whilst she choked on her tea.
~%~
The housekeeper curtsied to the gentlemen at the door. “I’m sorry, sirs, but the master isn’t home just now.”
“Thank you; may I leave my card, please?” Bingley handed over his card, and, after a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Are the ladies of the house within? We were introduced last evening and would like to pay our respects—if they are receiving.”
Mrs. Hill gestured for the gentlemen to enter the house. “Wait here, please.” The housekeeper departed through a door further down the hallway.
“Bingley, your sister was correct; it is considered poor form to call the day after—” Darcy stopped speaking when the door opened again and Mrs. Hill bustled into the hall.
“Mrs. Bennet is receiving, sirs.” She seemed to take her time collecting their hats and coats, and then led them to the door through which she had passed earlier.
Mrs. Bennet rose. “Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, it is good to see you again so soon,” the matron exclaimed with vigor. “Of course, you remember Jane, but I do not believe you have met my younger daughters: Mary, Catherine, and Lydia.” The ladies curtsied as they were introduced. “Elizabeth will join us shortly, I am sure. I do hope you will excuse my husband for being absent; he rode off to see a tenant quite early this morning. If you would stay for tea, perhaps he will be home in time to receive you.”