He quickly glanced in the mirror and then laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. He had not felt like this since his years as a youth when the dancing master had finally allowed the boys to dance with the girls. While the future debutantes giggled, the boys milled about the room stealing furtive glances at the young beauties, and he smiled at the memory.
When Darcy saw Elizabeth, he took a deep breath. Before him stood one of the loveliest creatures he had ever seen, and he genuinely feared that he would give himself away. While he was enjoying the view, she had swept the hair off her shoulders, revealing a neck that he longed to kiss, that is, after he had stopped kissing her mouth. And although it was impolite to stare, he could not help himself, and even if he had been able to see only her eyes, he would still have known that she was smiling because all of her emotions were reflected in them.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, may I welcome you back to Netherfield Park?”
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, bowing her head and enjoying a look at his long legs. “There is such a crush of people here. We have been waiting outside for more than fifteen minutes.”
“I wish I had known that.”
“Would you have broken through the crowd and brought us to the beginning of the line or would you have snuck us into the hall by way of the kitchen?”
“Oh, by way of the kitchen definitely. Much more dramatic.”
“Is your sister here, Mr. Darcy?”
“Georgiana was here earlier, but something happened with her dress and she had to leave. In all the time she has been gone, she could easily have made another.”
“You are being too hard on your sister. Making a good appearance is so easy for a man. You put on a handsome waistcoat and coat with a fine pair of boots, and you are done. I envy you.”
“You are once again correct, Miss Elizabeth, and I withdraw my criticism, especially when all of your efforts have been rewarded with such excellent results.”
Darcy looked around and realized that a place had been cleared around them. Since his adoption of a good neighbor policy, he was now a source of special interest to the local population, and because of his height, he was visible to all. He decided it would be best if he visited with others in an attempt to avoid any gossip in connection with Elizabeth, but not before he had seen to his number one priority.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I be so bold as to ask for two dances this evening? I would like to dance with you before the supper break as I wish for you to meet my sister.”
“I would be honored, and I would very much like for you to meet my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner who are visiting from London.”
“Of course, it will be my pleasure.”
“May I ask if you have already decided on the second dance?”
“If you would be so kind, may I request the last dance of the evening?” He had chosen the final dance as it would be their last and not just for the evening.
“I look forward to both dances.” When she started to turn away, he called her back.
“May I ask if you know the name of the gentleman who is speaking to Miss Lucas? I feel as if I have seen him somewhere else.”
“That is Mr. Collins. You may know him as he is Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s vicar.”
“Ah, yes. Now I remember him,” he said in a flat voice.
“Did you hear Mr. Collins preach while you were in Kent?”
At this point, Mr. Darcy went silent, and after a long pause, he said, “I have been in attendance when he was preaching, but…”
“You find such discourse to be tedious.”
Darcy smiled as he recalled their first conversation. “I never was one for listening to sermons. My parents insisted I sit between them in the family pew, so that I would not fidget. But how is it that he has come to be at Netherfield?”
“He is my father’s cousin, and the family estate is entailed away from the female line to his benefit. In an act of generosity, he came to Longbourn in search of a wife, so that we would not find ourselves homeless in the event of our father’s death.”
“Surely, you are not saying that Mr. Collins was interested in making an offer to you?” he asked in genuine amazement.
“I hope I am not so unattractive as to be beneath Mr. Collins’s notice.”
“Are you fishing for a compliment, Miss Elizabeth? Have I not already told you that you are more than tolerable?”
“You did not always think so, Mr. Darcy. At the assembly, you easily resisted my beauty. If I recall correctly, your full statement was, ‘She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.’”
“I imagine you will probably remember that one sentence forever.”
“Yes, I am sure that I will. However, it was greatly appreciated when you came to Longbourn to amend your original statement.”
“It was necessary that I do so as I was in error.”
Lizzy looked embarrassed. “Forgive me, Mr. Darcy. I really was not fishing for a compliment.”
“I did not think you were. If you recall, at Netherfield, we had a discussion on pride versus vanity. I think we agreed that vanity is a failing, but I also mentioned that where there is a real superiority, pride would always be under good regulation. Although you may not comment on your own beauty, as that would be vanity, you may certainly take pride in your appearance as Nature has been exceptionally kind to you.”
“I believe this conversation began with our discussion of Mr. Collins,” Lizzy said in full blush. “He is to be married to my good friend, Charlotte Lucas.”
“Ah, now I understand why people were congregating around her at Lucas Lodge. I think Mr. Collins has done very well for himself as Miss Lucas seems to be a sensible lady and that will serve him well.”
“Most men are in need of sensible wives,” Lizzy added, thinking of her father, “but Mr. Collins most particularly.”
Knowing that the crowd had grown closer, they departed to find other dance partners, all the while thinking of the dance they would shortly have together.
Chapter 13
Darcy was relieved when his sister finally came downstairs because he had found that making himself agreeable to all and sundry was fatiguing, especially if it included a discussion with Mr. Collins about the inhabitants of Rosings Park. Darcy dearly loved his cousin, Anne de Bourgh, and although frail, she was a handsome woman. However, he had never considered her to be a candidate for being the “brightest ornament in the British court if her health had allowed her to be presented to the king and queen,” and the praise Collins heaped upon his grouchy and overbearing Aunt Catherine was not only inaccurate, it was nauseating.
“Where have you been, Georgiana? I was beginning to think you had climbed down the trellis and escaped.”
“Will, as you very well know, I enjoy appearing in public. If anyone could be found on the trellis, it would be you, and I apologize for the delay. While I was speaking to Mrs. Hurst, I noticed a wine stain on the lace on my bodice. I went upstairs and changed into another dress, only to have two buttons pop off, so I sat there while Mrs. Brotherton sewed on the buttons.”
“Popped your buttons, did you? Are you fatter now than you were in May at the start of the season?” he whispered to his sister.
“Will, it is questions such as those that make it clear why you remain a bachelor at twenty-seven,” Georgiana answered, clearly enjoying the affectionate, but teasing, relationship that had developed between them since she had come out into society. “But never mind about my weight. I would like to be introduced to Miss Bennet.”
“She is dancing at present.”
“If Miss Bennet is dancing, then who is speaking to Mr. Bingley?”
“Oh, my mistake. That is Jane Bennet talking with Bingley. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is dancing.”
“Which of the ladies would be Miss Elizabeth?” Georgiana asked, keeping her voice even so that she would not reveal her suspicions that Will’s interest in Elizabeth Bennet was more than that of her being the sister of Mr. Bingley’s intended.