by Sophia King
Elizabeth felt a twinge of disappointment. He did not seem at all upset at the thought that he might not see her for several days. She had hoped he might suggest another outing for them maybe in the next day or two. The thought of not seeing him again for some time left her feeling quite bereft.
The carriage pulled to a stop outside the Gardiner’s house. Elizabeth bid the Darcy siblings goodbye and climbed out. The rain had stopped, and a brilliant sunshine broke through the clouds. As she walked through the door, she heard the sound of footsteps.
“Miss Bennet,” said Mr Darcy. She turned to face him, her books held against her chest. He removed his hat, and his fingers worked at the brim. His eyes were nervous and unsure, and Elizabeth felt a rush of protective feeling towards him.
“Yes, Mr Darcy?”
They stood facing one another as passers-by walked around them, grumbling at their inconsideration for stopping in the middle of the street.
Darcy swallowed. “I wondered if you would like to join myself and my sister for dinner tonight at our house? We would be most honoured if you would.”
Elizabeth was relieved. So, he did wish to see her again after all. But she also felt a pang of disappointment.
“I am afraid I cannot,” she said with sincere regret. As Darcy’s face fell, she added, “I am obliged to attend a ball with my aunt and uncle and sister tonight. I have not been with them much lately, and so I agreed to join them at the Portland’s ball this evening.”
“The Portland’s, you say?” said Darcy.
“Do you know them?”
“I do. They live quite close to us, and I attended university with the eldest son, George.” Darcy rubbed his jaw, his eyes filled with thought. Elizabeth felt a new hope in her chest.
“I wonder you are not attending also, Mr Darcy? Being a friend of the family and all, I would have thought you’d be there.”
“I do have an invitation as it happens,” he said. “I had not thought to attend.”
Elizabeth’s heart raced. “And now?”
Darcy smiled. “And now, it seems I must ask if I can claim you for the first two dances, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth could have hugged herself with joy. An evening with Mr Darcy in one of the finest ballrooms on London. If her family could have seen her, they would not have believed it.
She smiled mischievously, and tilted her head to the side as if to consider it. Her lips moved, whispering the names of various men as if trying to decide whether or not she could fit Darcy in. Then she grinned at him.
“I would be delighted to accept, Mr Darcy. I look forward to it.”
Darcy gave her a broad smile, looking more handsome than ever.
“Not as much as I am, Miss Bennet. I shall look for you tonight.”
He returned to the carriage and tapped the roof for the driver to pull away. Elizabeth watched him leave, then hugged her books even harder to her chest with a little cry of delight. Who could have thought she’d be excited at the prospect of a dance with Mr Darcy?
Chapter 25
Lydia exclaimed as they entered the ballroom. “La! Don’t they all look fine? I must write and tell Kitty all about this. She will be green with envy to know I am in one of the finest ballrooms in the kingdom.”
As far as Elizabeth knew, Lydia had not written a single word to Kitty since her arrival in London, despite her frequent threats to the contrary. She was quite sure Kitty was free from any bursts of envy.
As soon as they passed through the door, Darcy came towards her at once, as if he had been looking for her.
“You look beautiful, Miss Bennet,” he said quietly as he bent over to kiss her hand. Elizabeth smiled at him, and quickly reintroduced him to her sister. His face clouded over momentarily, but Lydia was too awed by him to make a nuisance of herself. She quickly bobbed a little curtsey, then walked away, but not before looking back over her shoulder to make kissy faces at Elizabeth.
“What of Miss Darcy?” Elizabeth asked quickly, her face red with embarrassment that he might have noticed Lydia’s outrageous behaviour. “Does she not join you tonight?”
Darcy took her arm and led her towards the dance floor. “My sister is not yet out in society,” he said. “She is spending the night playing cards with Miss Annesley. She is not at all sorry to be left behind, though. I imagine when she does come out, she will never be the sort of young lady who takes a great amount of pleasure from a ball.”
“Much like her brother, then,” said Elizabeth with a grin.
“I am taking a great amount of pleasure from this evening,” said Darcy. He smiled. “But none of it is from the ball.”
Elizabeth flushed and laughed. “Thank you, Mr Darcy.”
“I think they are about to play the first dance,” said Darcy. “Shall we go out?”
They lined up with the other couples. Darcy bowed to her and Elizabeth couldn’t help but notice how superior her partner was to every other man there. None of the others were as tall and handsome. None of them had that look of nobility that bespoke a true gentleman.
They did not speak at first. They were too busy looking at each other and smiling. Elizabeth could hardly believe such a change could have come over her in such a short space of time. When she had been banished to London in disgrace for refusing to marry Mr Collins, never did she imagine she would end up falling deeper and deeper for the proud, haughty Mr Darcy. The heart was a strange thing, as her sister Mary was fond of saying.
The dance ended, and they broke apart reluctantly.
“Miss Bennet, I wonder if you and your family will join myself and my sister at our home tomorrow evening?” said Darcy nervously. Elizabeth was elated. At this rate, she would have seen him several days in a row.
“Of course,” she said.
“Mr Darcy. I did not know you planned to be here, sir,” cried a breathy, high-pitched voice Elizabeth remembered all too well. Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged a resigned look and moved apart to greet Miss Bennet as she descended upon Darcy, all smiles and lace. “How cruel you are to not spend time with us. Louisa and I have been saying we are quite desolate without you.” She beamed up into his face, Elizabeth’s presence by his side entirely unnoticed. Darcy coughed to clear his throat. His face burned as Elizabeth gave him a knowing grin. Poor Miss Bingley had no idea how obvious she was in her desire to be Mrs Darcy.
“Miss Bingley. I am also surprised to see you here. I had not thought of attending, but I changed my mind.” He gestured towards Elizabeth. “You remember Miss Elizabeth Bennet, of course?”
Miss Bingley’s smile faded as she turned to look at her rival. He face paled. Elizabeth looked far prettier than she had ever seen her. In her golden dress, and with delicate flowers woven through her dark curls, she was easily one of the prettiest ladies in the room. She inclined her head.
“Miss Eliza,” she said with a raised eyebrow. “How shocked I am to see you here. I did not know you had any plans to come to London.”
“Nor should you have known,” replied Elizabeth cheerfully. “I did not know myself until several days before I arrived.”
“And you rushed straight to London soon after we departed?” said Miss Bingley, her eyebrows raised in genteel surprise, while looking at Mr Darcy. She clearly hoped to convey the idea that Elizabeth’s sudden trip to London had been with the express intention to trap Mr Darcy into matrimony. Her eyes fixed on Darcy’s as if she hoped to put him on his guard.
“Is it not a coincidence?” said Darcy. “I should never have known Miss Elizabeth was here if Georgiana and I had not run into her by chance in New Bond Street.”
Miss Bingley tried and failed to keep her expression pleasantly neutral. “And you came to the ball together? It looks as if you have just finished a dance,” she said, looking between both of them.
“Yes, we have,” said Darcy firmly. “Now, if you do not mind, it is time for the second dance Miss Bennet promised me.”
He led Elizabeth back to the floor before Miss Bingley
could drop heavy hints that she should be his partner for the third dance. It would have been impossible for him to ignore her hints without being rude, and he could not do so to the sister of a friend, even a friend he was not currently on speaking terms with. It was far better that he avoid her hints all together.
Elizabeth did not question why Darcy had not been in contact with Bingley’s family. Arguments between the closest of friends happened all the time, and she was sure both men were mature enough that they could work it out in their own time. But the presence of Miss Bingley put on awkward strain on the evening, and neither could return to the light, playful conversation they had enjoyed earlier.
When the dance ended, Mr Darcy left with the promise of finding some refreshments. Elizabeth turned to find a place to sit, away from the over-heated crowd. At once, Miss Bingley appeared by her side. She fanned herself and blew up towards her face in a rather unladylike manner. Elizabeth wondered what the mistresses at her fine ladies academy would think if they saw her behave in such a way, and looked away to hide her smile.
“It is intolerably hot, is it not?” she complained. “Come, Miss Eliza. Let us walk towards the terrace. I am sure you must be longing for some air. Oh, do not worry about Mr Darcy,” she said with a gay laugh. “Look, see? He has forgotten you already.” She nodded to where Darcy stood deep in conversation with two other gentleman. Miss Bingley laughed again to hide the harshness of her remark. She could have spared herself the trouble. Elizabeth was not so fragile that the man she cared for could not spare a few minutes conversation with someone else without her falling to pieces. But it was true that she was longing to feel some sweet air on her face. She was not thrilled at the prospect of Miss Bingley’s company, but she felt she could endure it if it meant she could finally breathe. She took Miss Bingley’s offered arm and together, they passed through the fluttering white curtains out onto the terrace.
The Portlands had put a lot of effort into the night’s ball. Little lanterns lit up the gardens, reminding Elizabeth of the Gardens where she had first become aware of Darcy’s feelings for her. She smiled. If Miss Bingley knew what she had put Elizabeth in mind of, she would be most sorry.
“Have any of your sisters come with you to London?” Miss Bingley asked as they walked down the steps towards the lawn.
“Only one,” said Elizabeth. She glanced up at Miss Bingley to see her reaction. Miss Bingley hesitated and her eyes flickered. Elizabeth had suspected Miss Bingley either wanted to know the degree of her relationship with Darcy, or whether she needed to be concerned that Jane had come to London with her, and Mr Bingley would need to be kept carefully from her allurements.
“You mean Miss Bennet, of course,” said Miss Bingley. She tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace. “How delightful. I am surprised I did not see her in the ballroom?”
Elizabeth relented. “I would have been very surprised if you had,” she said. “Considering she is not in London. Jane remains in Hertfordshire. No, the sister accompanying me is Lydia.”
“Ah, Miss Lydia,” said Miss Bingley. “The darling of the regiment. I would have thought she would have preferred to go to Brighton with the officers?”
Elizabeth declined to respond. Miss Bingley was in a marginally better mood now that she knew Jane was not in London.
“One always worries so about one’s siblings, would you not agree, Miss Eliza? I always feel I must take good care of my brother and my sister, and I am sure you feel the same way about your four sisters.”
“I certainly do,” said Elizabeth shortly. Where on earth was Miss Bingley going with these statements? Was she about to admit she had separated Jane and Bingley? She could not imagine even Miss Bingley would be so bold.
“That is precisely how I feel about my brother Charles,” said Miss Bingley. “I want him to be happy. He deserves to be happy, Miss Eliza.”
Elizabeth did not respond. They strolled down towards a pretty little pond, lit up by fairy lights. The scene was beautiful, but Elizabeth could take no enjoyment from it while being in Miss Bingley’s company.
“I am sure he shall be happy with Miss Parker,” said Miss Bingley with affected casualness. She glanced at Elizabeth out of the corner of her eye to see the affect of her words on her. Elizabeth stiffened and she looked away. Miss Bingley continued; “She is one of my dearest friends, aside from Miss Darcy, of course. She is of an age with him, and a great beauty. She also has everything that is desirable in terms of name, rank and wealth. I should not speak so crassly, but it is hard not to rejoice in bringing around such a perfect match. I am sure you will join me in congratulating my brother when he announces his engagement. I know he was always a great favourite with your family. The news will bring joy to Longbourn.”
Elizabeth stared at Miss Bingley with wonder. How could a woman be so unfeeling that she would deliberately seek to wound? What on earth ailed her?
Miss Bingley’s smile faltered under Elizabeth’s steady stare.
“The air is not so sweet out here after all,” said Elizabeth finally. “I must return at once. Mr Darcy will be wondering where I am.” She dropped a curtsey to Miss Bingley and walked quickly across the lawn.
Chapter 26
Darcy looked at her with concern when she returned. He glanced behind her to see Miss Bingley follow her in.
“Miss Elizabeth, are you well?” he asked. He led her to a chair and sat beside her, his warm hand covering hers. She smiled at him.
“Yes, I am alright. I am just fatigued from the heat of the room. There is nothing to concern yourself with.”
Hs fingers curled around hers. She responded by turning her palm up so they were holding hands, hidden from the crowds by the folds of her skirts. She raised her eyes to meet his. He looked at her with such emotion that she forgot to breathe.
“Miss Bennet,” he said softly. “I…”
“Miss Eliza, your sister is having a fine time here this evening,” sang Miss Bingley, appearing at once by their side. Mr Darcy closed his eyes to gather his patience. At a moment like this, he wished it was permissible to swear at a lady. Miss Bingley pretended not to notice their entwined hands and glanced around the ballroom with a smile. “I have just seen her return from outside. I am not sure where she could have been going at this time of night, when she has all the enjoyments she could want or need here. The young are peculiar, are they not?”
Elizabeth reluctantly withdrew her hand from Darcy’s. For a moment, he briefly held her fingers a little tighter, then released her. She sighed and stood up. She knew Miss Bingley was causing trouble, but knowing Lydia as she did, Elizabeth wished to check on her and make sure she did not bring disgrace to the family.
“Where is she?” she asked. Miss Bingley pointed to where she had last seen her, her eyes still fixed on Darcy.
“I will escort you,” said Darcy at once. But Elizabeth shook her head at him with a smile.
“I think I should attend to my sister alone,” she said. “I may wish to speak with her.”
Darcy nodded reluctantly. As Elizabeth moved away, she heard him ask Caroline about Bingley. She was too far away to hear her response.
Lydia was giggling and laughing with a young man as they stood together in a little alcove. Her eyes were bright and her colour high. When she saw Elizabeth coming towards her, she greeted her with giddy excitement.
“I am having the most wonderful time tonight, Lizzy. Aren’t you? This is Mr Elton. Say good evening to my sister, Mr Elton.”
As Mr Elton bowed, Elizabeth turned to her sister.
“Lydia, may I speak to you a moment? Mr Elton may excuse us.”
Lydia pouted as the young man moved away.
“You look cross, Lizzy. What on earth ails you? Has that dull Mr Darcy said something to offend again? Were you waiting for a proposal and he failed to give one? I hope you and he will not become another Jane and Mr Bingley. I have enough spinster sisters on my hands.”
“Lydia,” Elizabeth cut in. �
�I have heard you have been seen returning to the house from outside. Is it true?”
Lydia laughed. “Oh yes, it is true. Tell me, who is the spy?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “That does not matter. What on earth are you thinking by going outside alone? You know how people will talk about you.”
“Lizzy, there is nothing to worry about,” Lydia protested. “I merely wished for some fresh air. I have returned, have I not?”
“Yes, but people will say you sneaked out to meet a man,” said Elizabeth.
Lydia waved her fan dismissively. “Oh, people will say all sorts of things. I doubt anyone apart from you and your spy are paying too much attention to me. But if you are going to behave so, I will go out onto the terrace next time I desire some air. Is that agreeable to you?”
Elizabeth gave an exasperated sigh. “Yes, that is agreeable. And please, try to behave as you ought. These are Aunt and Uncle’s friends. They have been so good to us, and I would not see their reputations harmed in any way by their kindness towards us.”
A look of shame crossed Lydia’s face, and she nodded. “You are right. I did not think.”
Elizabeth was surprised at how easy that was. Perhaps Lydia was finally growing up?
“Thank you,”she said. “You may return to your Mr Elton if you like.”
Lydia laughed. “Oh, him? He is tolerable, but not nearly dashing enough for me. He serves as a welcome distraction for tonight and that is all.”
“Dashing men may not always be the best,” said Elizabeth. She thought of Wickham and Darcy. One of them steadfast and true, the other charming and fickle. “They can rouse a woman’s interest, but cannot hold it for long. Do not be deceived by flashy appearances.”
“You have certainly changed your tune, Lizzy.” Lydia opened her fan and fluttered it against her cheeks. “I remember not so long ago, you liked a dashing man in uniform very well. Have you forgotten Wickham already?”
