A Case of Some Delicacy

by K C Kahler

  “It is not necessary, but just out of curiosity, how do you intend to make amends?”

  “By laughing at your every quip, heartily agreeing with your every assertion, and otherwise hanging on your every word. No doubt you will think me quite a nuisance.”

  She laughed, and he thought he was off to an admirable start. “It is unlikely that I should ever think so, though if we discuss literature I shall be very disappointed if you simply agree with everything I say. Such a change would surely make our debates much less lively.”

  “I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours,” he warmly replied.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, my friends and neighbours,” called Sir William from the centre of the room. “Now that our dearest friends have arrived, tardy as usual,”—he winked at Mrs Bennet—“I wish to begin the evening with an announcement. Our dear girl, Charlotte, will be leaving us and starting a new life.”

  Darcy had by this time positioned himself beside and slightly behind Miss Elizabeth. His arm brushed hers, and he thought she leaned slightly into him. It was all he could do to comprehend Sir William’s continued speech.

  “Although this is to be expected, every parent feels a mixture of sorrow and pride on such an occasion. In this instance, however, my wife and I know our sorrow will be brief, for Charlotte has chosen a fine young man for a husband, one already connected to our dear friends, the Bennets. We expect all the benefits of a closer connexion between our houses. So join me in wishing Mr Collins and our Charlotte every happiness for their future life together.”

  The guests broke into applause and a few raucous exclamations. Mr Collins bowed in several directions, very pleased with the attention.

  Sir William held up his hands to indicate he had more to say. “Now, my friends, our Charlotte is not the sort of girl to resent sharing her special night with one of her siblings. Indeed, in this case, her contentment might be incomplete were I not able to make the following announcement. As you know, my eldest son has been away these last two years making his way in the world. Some of you may have heard that he is to return to us very soon.” He swept his arm towards the door. “Lady Lucas and I are proud to announce that our dear boy John is home to share in Charlotte’s happiness this very night.”

  Peter and Walter, a pair of grinning foot guards, flanked the indicated doorway. The assembled guests turned in anticipation. Into this scene stepped John Lucas. A great gasp went up from the room upon seeing his smiling face. “Ah,” he said, “you are all properly awed. A job well done, Mother and Father.”

  The room broke into a mixture of laughter, squeals, and more than a few raucous exclamations. Then Mr Lucas was engulfed by friends, though he was taller than most and therefore remained visible. Miss Elizabeth watched it all with a sweet smile on her face. “A flair for the dramatic, indeed,” she said as she shook her head. “My mother never orchestrated such an entrance.”

  Her mother was at that moment frantically motioning for Elizabeth to join her. “Excuse me for a moment, Mr Darcy.”

  “Isn’t it marvellous?” Mrs Bennet cried, fanning herself when her daughter arrived. “Such a handsome and amiable young man! Oh, Lizzy, you must be so happy to see him. I understand you better now, my clever girl! How indeed could you accept addresses from another when you knew John Lucas would be coming home?”

  “Mama!” came the mortified reply from the love of Darcy’s life, though he could not hear her next words, for she, unlike her mother, had some conception of the volume of her own voice.

  Bingley joined Darcy, and they watched the Bennet ladies gather together. Misses Catherine and Lydia shared their mother’s unbridled enthusiasm for the events of the evening. Miss Lydia was even jumping up and down slightly. “Well, Darcy,” said Bingley, “I feel quite the outsider now. I simply must meet this Lucas fellow.”

  The sequence of events had been a bit worse than Darcy had anticipated, but he was by no means ready to give up his quest. “It appears as if a queue is forming for that purpose. I am sure Miss Bennet will make the introductions.”

  “Excellent plan, Darcy. Shall we?” They joined the Bennet family, which had somehow become the beginning of a parade of well-wishers. Darcy made certain to place himself at Elizabeth’s side.

  Mr and Mrs Bennet and Sir William and Lady Lucas exchanged handshakes and congratulations or embraces and exclamations, respectively. Then Bingley and Miss Bennet followed. As they waited, Elizabeth looked up at Darcy. “Are you ready to conquer that bashful reserve, Mr Darcy? Once more into the breach and all that?”

  He grinned. “With you by my side I shall be quite brave.”

  She leaned in to whisper, “Have no fear; I promise to rescue you from Mr Collins this time.”

  By this time, they were standing directly in front of Sir William and Lady Lucas. Elizabeth greeted Sir William warmly, expressing her pleasure at their good fortune. As Darcy shook Sir William’s hand, she moved on. “You have outdone yourself this time, Lady Lucas. My mother will not stop talking about your grand surprise for weeks.”

  Lady Lucas smiled at Elizabeth fondly and grasped her hands. “I think after we Lucases, you must be the person happiest to see our John again. You have been a true friend to all my children, and I say now without any impertinence or presumption, and as sincere as may be, I hope to one day call you more than a friend to them.”

  Elizabeth coloured and stammered. Lady Lucas patted her cheek. “I do not mean to embarrass you, child. Truly, do not think me meddling, only hopeful. Now go along and welcome John home. He is most desirous to speak to you.”

  Darcy began to doubt the wisdom of having positioned himself thus, to so easily hear all of this. He went through the motions of congratulating Lady Lucas and soon joined Elizabeth in front of Mr John Lucas himself. “Miss Elizabeth,” Mr Lucas said as he bowed formally over her hand, “I cannot tell you how happy I am to finally see you again. You look very well.”

  She rolled her eyes at him but was by no means displeased. “Allow me to introduce Mr Darcy,” she said, motioning towards Darcy.

  John Lucas grinned. “Ah! Mr Darcy! A pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir. I had been wondering who that great, tall fellow could be.”

  Darcy returned an awkward greeting but Elizabeth interrupted, “Mr Lucas, you must not tease Mr Darcy. He is not accustomed to it.”

  Mr Lucas looked between them, “Is he not?”

  She blushed, and Darcy had no idea how to correctly interpret this exchange. He redirected the conversation. “You made quite an entrance, Mr Lucas.”

  “Oh yes, my mother is savouring her success. But it is she who will be surprised when I make my own announcement at dinner.”

  Darcy remembered from his dance with Miss Lucas at the ball that her brother had purchased a house in town as a surprise for his family. “How long were you in London before coming to Hertfordshire?”

  Mr Lucas raised his eyebrows in surprise and then glanced at Elizabeth, who was even more confused by the abrupt question. Darcy realised his mistake, but the other man smoothly covered it. “About a fortnight. Mr Gardiner sends his regards, Li—Miss Elizabeth.”

  “You saw my uncle?” she asked with delight.

  “Indeed, I have invested with him and expect much success. He is a shrewd businessman. I also saw your aunt and young cousins. They are very excited to see you.”

  “Oh, I cannot wait to see them!”

  “What a Christmas we shall all have together: the Lucases, Bennets, and Gardiners.”

  “It will be wonderful, but do not forget Mr Bingley. You just met my future brother, did you not? What do you think of him?”

  “An exceedingly pleasant chap, indeed. And he has made Ja—Miss Bennet very happy, so of course I approve. We already have made great plans for sport.”

  “Oh dear. I hope Mr Bingley has been sufficiently warned about you.”

  “If he has not, no doubt you will take it upon yourself to do so.”

  “Well, I am rather
fond of him. There’s no telling what calamity might befall him if he follows you into the countryside with loaded weapons.”

  Mr Lucas rolled his eyes. “Look at how you have engrossed my attention, Miss Elizabeth. The other guests wait impatiently for you to move along.”

  “Come, Mr Darcy, we shall not keep Mr Lucas from his adoring public any longer.”

  As they began to move away, Mr Lucas leaned in to Elizabeth. “I am still counting on that dance, Lizzy,” he whispered. Then he turned away and exclaimed, “Miss Mary! You are just the young lady I wished to speak to about the possibility of some dancing tonight.”

  Never had it been so apparent how very important the Bennet and Lucas families were to each other. Darcy watched as Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lucas warmly embraced and exchanged greetings.

  “Mr Collins,” Elizabeth then said, “I again congratulate you on your engagement, and I thank you, for you have made possible that I may call Charlotte my dear cousin as well as my dear friend.”

  If Mr Collins harboured any ill will towards Elizabeth, surely this sincere and gracious speech must have ended it. He bowed to her. “Dear Cousin Elizabeth, you are very kind. The Bennets’ acceptance of my olive branch, and your gracious welcome when I first came to Hertfordshire, have restored me to my own family and gifted me with a new one. We must never let silly quarrels come between dear relations again.”

  “You may depend upon it, Mr Collins.”

  Mr Collins turned to address Darcy then, but Elizabeth intervened, “Mr Darcy, I see we are wanted by Jane and Mr Bingley. Excuse us, Charlotte, Mr Collins.” Proper bows and curtseys were exchanged, and then they were away from the receiving line.

  “You amaze me,” Darcy said.

  “How so?”

  “You know just what to say to charm everyone, from servants to pompous parsons.”

  She smiled up at him. “Would you like to know my secret?”

  “I would indeed.”

  “A combination of sweetness and archness, or so I am told.” She winked. Good God, she winked at me. He inhaled sharply, and she laughed.

  The next quarter of an hour was spent in conversation with Bingley and Miss Bennet, while the Lucases continued to receive their guests. Darcy could barely keep his eyes from Elizabeth, and he barely tried. More often than not, she returned his gaze with a small smile. Then the Hursts and Miss Bingley joined them as well as Miss Mary. Conversation flowed pleasantly between them all, the only hitches caused by Miss Bingley on occasion. But even she could not distract Darcy from his purpose—a singular focus on a certain young lady.

  Miss Lydia soon appeared, briefly greeting everyone but her own sisters. To Darcy, she said, “I am sorry I did not greet you sooner, Mr Darcy. I have been quite overset by Kitty and Maria, and the excitement of the evening.”

  He was spared replying when Sir William exclaimed, “Capital! Capital!” to his eldest son. Then to the room, he announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, we shall pass the time before dinner with dancing,” which was much to the delight of his guests.

  “Oh Mary! I am sent by John to make sure you play now. Come along.” Lydia pulled Mary towards the pianoforte.

  In the next moment, John Lucas crossed the room under the eager eyes of every young lady and every hopeful mother to bow before Elizabeth. “May I have this dance?”

  “You may,” she answered.

  Darcy watched with clenched fists as they walked away. Several other couples followed—Bingley and Miss Bennet, Mr Collins and Miss Lucas, Henry Long and Miss Catherine, Colonel Forster and his wife, and Miss Lydia and Gus Goulding. Miss Mary played a lively air, and the dancers made a jolly display, except for Mr Collins of course. Miss Elizabeth laughed through much of the dance, gazing upon her partner with a fond expression that made Darcy’s chest tighten. He comforted himself with the thought that the next dance would be his, though it was cold comfort in the face of such joy.

  When the dance ended, everyone applauded. Darcy approached the dancers to claim a certain young lady, but before he arrived he saw Peter Lucas entreat Elizabeth for a dance. She sought Darcy with her eyes but accepted. He knew she could not refuse the lad, so he had to wait through a reel. Bingley joined him as Miss Bennet was standing up with John Lucas, and the two men watched the two sisters like the lovesick whelps that they were.

  When the second dance ended, dinner was announced. John Lucas went to the pianoforte. “I hope you will be amenable to a few more songs after dinner, Miss Mary, for I have yet to dance with all your sisters.” He offered his arm and escorted Miss Mary into the dining room. Darcy went to Elizabeth and did the same.

  The seating arrangements were not to his liking at all. Elizabeth was seated next to John Lucas near one end of the table, while Darcy was placed near the opposite end. Throughout the meal, he managed scant conversation with Bingley and Miss Bennet, but his attention could not be shaken from the laughing couple at the other end of the room. Only the thought of his upcoming dance—and Elizabeth’s frequent smiling glances at him—kept him from sinking into despair. John Lucas made his announcement between courses, and everyone was much impressed. Sir William and Lady Lucas veritably glowed with pride and pleasure, and Elizabeth seemed truly shocked.

  The final course was cleared, and the ladies returned to the drawing room while the gentlemen enjoyed port and cigars. Most of the gentlemen enjoyed them, that is, but one spent his time impatiently stalking the edges of the room. Finally, John Lucas suggested they re-join the ladies.

  Darcy immediately sought Elizabeth out, and was welcomed by her smiling face. He forgot all about his worries at dinner. Coffee and tea were served and enjoyed amidst multiple conversations. Eventually, John Lucas approached. “Miss Elizabeth, it has been far too long since I have had the pleasure of hearing you play and sing. Will you honour us with a performance?”

  “How can I deny such an earnest entreaty? I doubt my performance will live up to your memory. I am bound to disappoint.”

  “I do not believe that possible.”

  She made her way to the instrument and began a song from memory. Darcy stood entranced by her unaffected manner, her ringing voice, and the sheer beauty of her. Amidst the applause, John Lucas went to her side and leaned down to whisper something. She laughed and nodded. He then turned and stalked towards Miss Mary. “Your sister and I have plotted against you, Miss Mary. Now you simply must dance with me.”

  So another dance commenced, this time with Elizabeth playing. When it was over, Mary quickly made her escape to the pianoforte, offering to play again for the other dancers.

  Elizabeth had hardly risen from the bench before Darcy was at her side. “You are unusually eager to dance tonight, Mr Darcy.”

  “I am only eager to dance with you, Miss Elizabeth.”

  She put her hand on his arm, and he led her to her place. They soon were joined by John Lucas and Miss Lydia. Before the music started, Elizabeth looked significantly towards another younger sister, partnered with a young captain but staring at John Lucas in wide-eyed awe.

  “Is there something amiss with my attire, Miss Catherine?” John Lucas asked.

  “No. Nothing at all is amiss. I like your green waistcoat very much.”

  “I thank you. I was told once green suits me.”

  “Oh yes, it does. But you should avoid my mother tonight, I think. There’s no telling what she will say about your legs.”

  Miss Lydia laughed heartily, and Elizabeth, although clearly embarrassed, fought laughter as well. Her mirth lasted well into their dance, and when it ended, Darcy crossed to her. “You look flushed, Miss Elizabeth. Might I escort you to the balcony for some fresh air?”

  “Ah, yes. I am rather warm after such a lively dance.”

  As soon as they were through the door, they burst into laughter. “Poor Kitty! Poor John!” she exclaimed as she turned to face him. “Oh, but I must be amused, else I should be mortified.”

  They laughed together for a few minutes as the sound of the
next dance drifted to them, and then the mood silently yet perceptibly shifted. They no longer laughed. Darcy’s back was to the door and the light of the drawing room. Before him stood Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the woman he loved. She looked up at him in the dim light, and he thought he saw that look; that look she reserved only for her dearest loved ones. He stepped closer, and she did not retreat. He stepped closer, improperly close, and still she looked at him in that way. His breathing was shallow, and he could not have spoken even if he knew what to say. He took another step. A kiss; a kiss will tell her what I cannot say.

  “Lizzy! I must speak with you this instant!” Miss Lydia testily called from behind him. “If Mr Darcy will spare you, that is.”

  Elizabeth exhaled and stepped away from him. The spell had been broken. “Forgive me,” she whispered as she went to her sister.

  Darcy remained on the balcony, gripping the railing and trying to compose himself.

  “Kitty!” Lydia yelled. “You have had use of the mirror quite long enough! Let me have it now!”

  “Oh, stop your fussing. Your precious Mr Darcy does not care what colour ribbons you wear in your hair tonight.”

  Lydia kicked the leg of Kitty’s chair. “You are fussing more than usual tonight. Could it be for Henry Long’s benefit? Perhaps I will tell Mama of his interest after all.”

  Kitty quickly relinquished the much-coveted chair, which was quickly occupied by a smug Lydia. This Henry Long situation might prove to be very useful indeed.

  But Kitty’s assertion about Mr Darcy’s lack of interest certainly chafed. Lydia had only seen him once since the ball, when he dined at Longbourn. He was less taciturn in general that night, but his new penchant for conversation was directed at everyone but Lydia. She had discussed her new book with him, but Lizzy and Mr Bennet were more prominent players in that conversation than she. Mr Darcy’s behaviour towards her was what it always had been: civil, and even friendly at times, but nothing more. When would she be rewarded for all of her hard work? Tonight. Lydia decided tonight would be different.