Richard sighed as he watched her go. He had to admit for the first time how very grown up she looked this evening. The gown she chose suited her perfectly. The deep emerald green made her eyes sparkle and brightened her complexion while accentuating her figure. The way Elizabeth did her hair was very appealing and framed her face perfectly. He had wanted to tell her just how beautiful she looked all evening, but every time he went to say the words, they got stuck in his throat. The truth was he felt guilty and awkward by how lovely he found her to be. The more he attempted to resist his growing attraction for her, the harder the struggle was. He kept telling himself that the only reason he felt so preoccupied with the attention she was now receiving from other eligible suitors was that he had always watched over and protected her, not because he was jealous in any way.
“Colonel, did you hear me?” Captain Hathaway asked him as he walked up next to him.
Richard shook his head a little, “No Hathaway, I did not. I am sorry. My thoughts were momentarily elsewhere,” he told him. “What did you say?”
“I asked if I might be so bold as to ask for a dance with…” Hathaway began to ask when Richard interrupted him.
“You have already danced two times with my cousin, to dance a third would imply a more serious understanding between the two of you,” Colonel Fitzwilliam cautioned him. “I cannot give you permission to dance with her again this evening. If you wish to call on her tomorrow, I am sure Mrs. Darcy will be there with her to receive callers,” he said somewhat reluctantly.
“Thank you, I will take that under advisement, but I was actually wondering if you would mind if I asked Miss Bennet to dance,” Hathaway told him.
Richard furrowed his brow, “Why are you asking me for permission to dance with Miss Bennet?”
Hathaway smiled, “I suppose because you are my superior officer, and you have already danced with the young lady two times,” he told him. “I was not sure if you might have an understanding with Miss Bennet that I was not aware of. I thought it would be best that I ask before I sought to spend any time with the young lady in question.”
Richard looked over at Kitty and then back to Hathaway, “Why would you think I might have an understanding with Miss Bennet?” he asked him.
Hathaway raised his brow a little, “Am I to understand by your response that you do not have any kind of understanding with her, then?”
Richard shook his head, “No, but why did you think that I had?”
“I suppose because you have been in her company much,” he told him. “You were together at dinner the other evening, and then you were out walking with her again this morning,” he said. “And tonight you have already danced with her two times.”
Richard had been so preoccupied with Georgiana that he had not realized how much time he had been spending with Miss Bennet. He looked over in her direction again and considered how to respond, “I do not have an understanding with her, Hathaway,” he told him. “You are free to do as you like in regard to asking Miss Bennet to dance.”
Lady Knowles walked over to stand with Mrs. Peary and watch the young couples dancing. “I dare say, Lady Catharine was right. Mrs. Darcy is exactly as she said she would be. She is nothing but an inferior, upstart with no understanding of what is right. When I first spoke to her, she did her best to try and fool me with her compliments and gratitude for the invitation to this evening’s ball, but I saw through her.”
“I overheard her tell Lady Maines that she got her dress from a shop in Cheapside,” Mrs. Peary rolled her eyes. “Can you imagine a Darcy buying a gown from Higgins? It really is most shocking. When I think of his poor parents and what they would have gone through, it makes me ill,” Mrs. Peary said as she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve. “At least they did not have to live to see their own son betray all that they taught him in such a manner. I dare say, it would have broken the late Mrs. Darcy’s heart.”
“Well, Lady Catherine’s heart was broken by his actions. To think, young Mr. Darcy would turn his back on his family as he has done by marrying this girl is truly disgraceful,” Lady Knowles said in a snide voice. “Of course, I advised Lady Catherine not to hold this against her nephew. After all, he is young, and it is very probable that Elizabeth Bennet did entrap him with her smiles and charm. This is exactly why we must be so vigilant not to allow our young men to have too much time with those of inferior rank and connection. They cannot think clearly when these upstart social climbers come along, batting their eyes and smiling at them. Sadly, young Mr. Darcy will be forever known as a cautionary tale.”
“I heard that the younger sister’s marriage only took place after she had already been living with the man alone in London for several weeks,” Mrs. Peary commented. “According to what I heard, she was no more than fifteen at the time.
”
“How scandalous!” Lady Knowles replied.
“I have further heard that she is already with child,” she said in a haughty voice. “A child that was conceived in an illicit affair and without the covering of marriage!”
“You know, Lady Catherine tried to persuade him not to marry this girl,” Lady Knowles told her. “She tried her best, but he would not listen, and now his poor sister suffers because of it. Have you noticed how only the officers and a few of the lesser well-connected gentlemen have favored Miss Darcy with a dance? No one with any true rank and breeding will consider her now. She is tainted by her brother’s marriage, and the Bennet family’s lowly connections.”
“I have noticed it,” Mrs. Peary commented. “Although, I must say, Lady Knowles; I was astonished to hear that you had invited young Mr. Darcy and his new wife to your ball. I would have thought you being such dear friends with Lady Catherine that you would have stricken him from your guest list forever.”
“I did have a mind to do so,” Lady Knowles admitted. “And I said as much to Lord Knowles. However, he bid me not to. He hopes to still have some kind of future business dealings with young Mr. Darcy, so I relented and sent the invitation. Of course, I informed Lady Catherine that I had received her letter too late and that the invitation had already been sent. I did, however, assure her that I would be very sure that Elizabeth Darcy was excluded from all of London’s best parties and balls that I had influence over going forward.”
“I really do not know what Mr. Darcy is thinking,” Mrs. Peary said in a huff. “Why I was speaking to Lady Catherine only yesterday, and she was beside herself with grief for poor Anne. Lady Catherine said Anne was so crushed by her broken engagement to Mr. Darcy that she will not recover.”
“He is a rogue, to be sure. To make poor Anne wait for him as he did, only to break things off with her for someone of such low breeding as Elizabeth Bennet, is beyond the pale,” Lady Knowles sighed. “Oh well, perhaps some tragedy will befall the new Mrs. Darcy and all could be made right.”
Mrs. Peary sighed, “One can only hope for such an outcome, for Lady Catherine’s sake, and that of her daughter.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam had heard enough. He had a mind to tell both Lady Knowles and Mrs. Peary off right then and there but decided against it. Instead, he cleared his throat loud enough to get their attention. When they turned around, they had the most horrified looks on their faces. “Colonel Fitzwilliam!” Lady Knowles said astonished to see him there.
“Excuse me, ladies,” he said in a very stern voice. “I was just looking for my cousin, Mr. Darcy,” he told them both. “I have a matter that has just come to my attention that I must speak with him about. Would either of you know where he might be?”
Lady Knowles’s mouth dropped open, “I…” she swallowed hard. “I believe he is speaking with Lord Knowles in his study,” she commented.
“Wonderful, I was hoping to speak with him as well,” the Colonel commented. “I am sure he will be very interested to hear this,” he said as he narrowed his eyes and shook his head in disgust at the two of them before walking away.
Lady Knowles’s eyes opened wide as she l
ooked to her friend, “Do you suppose he heard us?”
Mrs. Peary shook her head, “Who can say, perhaps he did not,” she tried to ease the concerns of her friend. “Although, he did seem very upset,” she admitted.
“Lord Knowles will be very angry with me if I have done anything to ruin his chances at any future business prospects with Mr. Darcy,” she said as she rushed off after the Colonel. “Colonel Fitzwilliam!” she called out as she waved her handkerchief in the air.
Caroline felt weary. She had only danced a handful of times all evening, but she felt as if she had danced each one. She looked around the room and saw the line of ladies standing there who had not been asked to dance. Several of them she knew. Although they all came from exemplary families, they all shared one thing in common; each one was getting too old to be considered for marriage. Reminded of the fact that she was nearing seven and twenty, Caroline dreaded what was inevitably waiting; her own place in that line of ladies considered too old to marry. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes against the pounding in her head. She decided to speak with Charles and ask if he would see her back to Windham House. She turned and ran directly into someone, “Oh, Mr. Fitzwilliam, I beg your pardon sir,” she said blushing from embarrassment. “I did not see you there.”
“Seems we keep running into each other,” Owen said as he bowed ever so slightly to her.
Caroline smiled, “I am truly sorry,” she said again. “My mind was otherwise occupied.”
“Do not be troubled, Miss Bingley,” Owen said as he guided her away from the couples dancing. “I was the one at fault. I should have announced myself sooner. You should not be embarrassed; you had no way of knowing I was behind you.”
Caroline smiled, “That is very kind of you to say,” she said as she looked up into his stormy gray eyes. “Have you only just arrived?” she asked him.
“Yes, I came at the urging of my mother and the admonishment of my father,” he told her.
Caroline almost laughed, “So, are you saying you were coerced into attending this evening’s ball?” she asked him.
Owen nodded his head, “That is precisely what I am saying,” he told her. “And what of you? The last we spoke this afternoon, you did not plan on attending,” he commented. “What brought about this change of heart?”
Caroline hesitated for a moment. She looked over at Jane who was speaking with Elizabeth and Charles, “I cannot say,” she told him. “Truly, my intention was not to come. And yet, here I am.”
Again Owen found himself intrigued by her response. “Now, that is a very vague answer indeed,” he told her. “Come now, Miss Bingley; I am sure you can do better than that.”
Caroline laughed a little, “Truly, I cannot,” she told him as she looked over at Jane. “I could explain to you in great detail all the reasons that were given to me by my brother espousing why I must attend this evening, and yet I have no wish to bore you. So the only answer I can give is that I am here.”
This time Owen laughed, “So, you were coerced into coming as well, then?” he commented.
Caroline thought about it for a moment then laughed along with him. “Yes, I believe I was,” she told him.
“Do you not like to dance?” he asked her.
Caroline shook her head, “On the contrary; I enjoy both dinner parties and balls very much.”
“Then why is it you did not wish to come to this evening’s ball?” he asked her.
She thought about why it was she had been reluctant to attend. It was her unease over seeing Lord Ashworth again that made her want to stay away. The fear of running into him had been on her heart and mind for the better part of the day. And yet, when Charles insisted she come, she did not have her usual resolve, and she relented. She looked up at Owen and smiled, “Again, I cannot say,” she told him.
Owen found himself feeling very taken with her. She was so very different than how his brother had described her. Even though there was a part of him that felt conflicted over his growing attraction to Miss Bingley; he could not seem to help himself. “Tell me, Miss Bingley, do you plan to remain in town for the holiday season?” he asked her. “I only ask because my brother mentioned that the Darcys are planning to return to Pemberley for Christmas time.”
Caroline shrugged her shoulders. “I do not know,” she told him. “I have not confirmed my plans as of yet. I had thought of remaining in town with my sister and her husband if my brother and his wife should decide to return to Netherfield.” She looked up at him and found herself drawn to his smile and the way his thick, dark curls fell across his forehead. She hesitated for a moment, then said, “What are your plans, Mr. Fitzwilliam? Do you intend to stay in town for Christmas?”
Owen took in a small breath and furrowed his brow. “I know my mother hopes that I will join her and my father for Christmas here in London,” he began to say. “However, I am like you, still unsure of my plans.”
“Christmas in London can be very lovely,” Caroline said somewhat absentmindedly.
Owen looked into her eyes intently. “Do you really think so, or is that just the polite thing to say these days?” he asked her.
Caroline was somewhat surprised by his question. She found herself unable to break away from his intense gaze. In a moment of real honesty, she nodded her head, “Yes, I really do think that. I truly do prefer being here than I do anywhere else.”
“So being in London among all the crowds of people that you do not know or even truly care to know is preferable to you than being among family and close friends?” Owen asked her.
Caroline frowned just a little. She was somewhat bewildered by what he asked. “Yes, at times, it is preferable to me,” she said somewhat defensively. “I find there are times I would rather be with people I really do not know, to that of family and close acquaintances.”
“Tell me, why would that be, Miss Bingley?” Owen asked her.
She lowered her gaze for a moment and considered how she should respond. “Sometimes it is easier to be with strangers than it is to be with those who know you, I think,” she said as she looked over at Charles and Jane.
“That is a rather odd thing to say,” he told her. “Do you not like the company of your own family?”
Caroline looked back at him. She searched for what to say next. “I do enjoy my brother’s company,” she said somewhat surprised by the truth in what she had said. “And the company of his wife. But there are times that the emotion and sentiment of those so blissfully happy can be a painful reminder that I am not always so. I believe it is easier to lose oneself in a crowd of strangers than it is to be always around those who are closest to you.”
Owen arched his brow, somewhat surprised by what she said. “You astonish me, Miss Bingley,” he told her.
“Why is that, Mr. Fitzwilliam?” she asked.
“Because I understood from my brother that you have never married, and yet you talk as if you have at one time loved very deeply…” he said as he watched her reaction to his words.
Caroline swallowed hard and looked away from him. She fought back the tears that filled her eyes as she found herself feeling very uncomfortable all of the sudden. “I should go and join my brother and sister-in-law,” she said just as she was about to turn and walk away.
“You cannot leave yet, Miss Bingley,” he called out to her and took hold of her hand. “I have requested a dance with you, and you still have not answered me.”
Caroline quickly blinked away the tears and took in a small breath to help get her emotions under control. She looked over and saw that the other couples were very close to finishing their dance. She considered refusing him but did not want to be rude. “All right, I will dance with you, Mr. Fitzwilliam,” she said softly.
“Very good,” he said as he released her hand. “Then the next two dances are mine,” he said before letting her go to join Charles and Jane.
Elizabeth stood near the balcony watching as the couples finished their dance. She had already danced s
everal dances with Charles, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Captain Hathaway and Lieutenant Maines, as well as General Billingsworth, but had yet to dance even once with her husband. She was glad to see her sister and Georgiana enjoying themselves. Although she was having an enjoyable evening, she did not miss how distant William had been with her for most of the night. She realized more than ever that she did not like arguing with him. Elizabeth thought about her actions from earlier in the day. She realized that she had behaved unfairly with William. She was wrong for getting so upset with him. She knew that he was right, she was behaving just a little bit like her mother. A fact that truly made her feel terrible. William was right; it was not her place to go behind Caroline’s back and attempt to find her a husband. She had not asked for her help, and she most certainly would not want it. She was just about to go and find William when she caught him walk up next to her from the corner of her eye.
Darcy looked out at the couples who were dancing. “I believe the next dance will be the last,” he commented.
“I thought I heard Lady Knowles say as much,” she commented without looking in his direction.
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