by Tess Quinn
Caroline watched him direct his glance to her, and she nodded yet again as his full lips parted to form the words of a question she did not hear in her sense of altered space and time. She saw the lips settle into a benevolent smile as he raised a sherry decanter. Caroline found herself growing quite warm of a sudden and shy of keeping her gaze on Darcy’s countenance. Lowering her eyes served her no better, however, as she dropped them only to settle upon fawn breeches of soft suede perfectly moulded to long legs and disappearing into luxuriously supple leather boots that hugged muscular calves.
She was unaware of the soft sigh which escaped her; but came aware of the strong hand now in front of her holding out a cordial of sherry. She noted as she slowly reached up to take the glass from him the long, tapered fingers and beautifully groomed nails of the gentleman. Her own small fingers brushed his as she took the glass, sending a shiver down the length of her spine that reverberated long after their flesh had parted. She raised her eyes to meet his…
Real time returned with a sudden jolt as the drawing room door opened to admit Louisa and Aubrey Hurst, who were apparently continuing a standard argument over a hand of cards from the afternoon’s amusements. Caroline glanced briefly at her sister and brother – unsure whether to be chagrined or relieved at their entry – and then back to Darcy to find him regarding her, a quizzical expression of concern as he said, “Are you certain you are quite recovered, Madam, from your recent indisposition?”
“I am quite fully recovered, Sir, thank you.” Caroline covered her embarrassment with a sip of sherry. “I was merely surprised for a moment to find you resident in the room. I had thought you would travel to the assembly with Miss Bennet.” Caroline just managed the last two words without a catch in her soft vocal inflection.
“No, I do not. Bingley and I remained unplanned at Longbourn for a light meal before returning to Netherfield, and as such time was short for us to ready ourselves for the evening’s entertainment. We will travel with you, if you raise no objection.”
“None at all, Mr Darcy.” Caroline surreptitiously pinched her left forearm under her shawl to ensure, once again, she was not dreaming.
In Charles’s absence, Darcy played host and procured drinks for Louisa and Hurst. Caroline took the moment to collect her wits and wonder at Darcy’s solicitous behaviour. The part of her that recollected all too well the events of the past several days warned her not to make too much of this renewed amiability; but another part of her welcomed the opportunity to put herself in good favour with this man.
At last Charles breezed in, throwing a general apology to the room for his tardiness. “I am afraid I became lost in thought in the bath,” he declaimed. “I am amazed I am not full wrinkled!” He noticed his sister now for the first time. “Caroline! My dear, I am delighted you join us tonight, you look well recovered. Does she not?” This last was said to the room at large and he continued without awaiting reply. “You will have all the young men of Meryton clambering to dance with you!”
Caroline reflected that it was not quite the effect she had dressed for, but nonetheless accepted her brother’s compliment in the spirit it was offered. Mr Darcy had excused himself briefly, returning but moments later having exchanged his boots for footwear more appropriate to dancing. Caroline noted that the exposure of the man’s stocking-covered calves did nothing to cool her former appreciation of his form, and then blushed at the thought.
~~~~~~
She found herself seated with her brother whilst Louisa, Hurst and Darcy sat opposite the pair. With the season the sun settled early, such that the carriage’s interior was quite dark for their ride. There was just enough light from the driver’s lantern to softly illumine through the window the outline of Darcy’s face; and Caroline took the opportunity of the darkness in her own corner of the carriage to study him. What was it that gave her of a sudden these physical reactions to looking upon him? Caroline spent the short journey in contented contemplation of that question, coming to no firmer conclusion than that Darcy did, in fact, carry an air of nobility quite naturally.
When they arrived at the Assembly Hall, the dance was already in progress. Only a few carriages sat at the hall’s front, their drivers huddled around a brazier for its heat and to share gossip and warming libations. These were augmented by several more wagons and pony carts haphazardly parked about the lane. But the dearth of carriages was not an indicator of the hall itself, which teemed with all manner of people from the surrounding communities. Local gentry mixed with shopkeepers, lawyers and clerks, land agents and farmers who had walked or ridden their pull-horses to the hall – all manner of the Hertfordshire populace.
~~~~~~
As she handed her cloak off to a footman and prepared to enter the main room, Caroline once again reconsidered a similar moment from a year ago. As then, she stood with her brother and Mr Darcy, Louisa and Hurst just behind. Again, they arrived while the small orchestra played a dance, The Merry Widow, being the second in this set. At least at their entrance tonight, the orchestra had not stopped its play such that the entire populace turned to gawk at the newcomers. Yet here was come Sir William Lucas to greet them, just as he had done that first time, full of himself as host.
As soon as Sir William had done his service, Hurst dragged Louisa to the tearoom for some refreshment, promising his wife he would dance with her later in the evening. Caroline noted that both of her escorts scanned the dancing crowd with their eyes, presumably searching out their respective Bennets. Perhaps the family had not yet arrived? This would suit Caroline perfectly. But then she noted the dour one (Maria was it?) standing against a wall and surveying the dance floor with mild distaste. If one Bennet was present, the entire gaggle of them must be as well.
Caroline glanced round covertly herself, somewhat surprised not to hear the grating whine of Mrs Bennet above the crowd. Ah, there, over to the side of the benches, she espied Jane and Elizabeth, engaged in gay conversation with Mr Tremayne. The mere sight of the ancient gentleman recalled to Caroline the conversation she had overheard in the woods some days back. She felt a slight flush rise in her cheeks, and determined to steer clear of the impish old man and his impertinences.
But avoidance was to be denied her. Charles had also noted his intended near the benches, and pulled at Caroline’s arm as he started forth to join the trio. Caroline was at least gratified to see that as she walked towards them, Mr Bennet appeared holding two cups of punch, handing one to his old friend. At least the two men must maintain each other’s company, leaving Caroline free to make what she could of the evening.
Mr Darcy had also followed along with Charles and Caroline, and as they approached the Bennet group, he immediately stepped forward to shake hands with his future father-in-law and bow to Mr Tremayne. He did so quickly, then immediately rounded the back of them to come to the side of Elizabeth. Caroline supposed that Charles also made his greetings to his elders, but her own attention was diverted, captured by the smile Darcy sported as he asked Elizabeth if she was unspoken for in the next dance.
“I regret, Sir, that I am engaged already for the next pair.” Darcy looked a bit surprised at Elizabeth’s reply, clearly having anticipated her acceptance. “But further to that, Mr Darcy, my card is unfilled, though I have some partiality to the idea of saving the Saraband for my betrothed when he arrives.”
“Very well, Miss Bennet. I will claim you, then, for the dances following next, and the ones after… and pine for you in the interim.” His laugh was low and teasing.
“Oh, no, Sir!” cried Elizabeth. “You must not stand and pine.” She gestured around her at the people in the hall. “For as you see, ladies far outnumber gentlemen this evening, and you would not wish some perfectly tolerable woman to feel snubbed for lack of sufficient partners. Indeed, you must dance every set!”
“Dear lady, I should be happy to oblige, but that you ask too much of me. These overlarge feet of mine were not made for such skilful pursuits.” They laughed before Eliza
beth countered his argument.
“Nonsense! Mr Darcy, I know you to be a man of deliberate action. And what is dancing if not merely action accompanied to time?”
Darcy conceded the point to his lady. “However, since you refuse to allow me to pine,” he added as he turned to Caroline, “perhaps Miss Bingley would allow me to apply for her commitment to the next pair?”
Caroline was taken aback for a moment. She had half a mind to decline, since she had clearly been chosen as consolation. It would be a hollow victory at best, especially as it had been practically put forward by Miss Bennet herself. But then, it was an opportunity too wonderful to reject on flimsy grounds – she would take any chance to show herself to the good among this mixed company.
“I accept, Sir.” She looked to Elizabeth as she said it, but there was no discomfiture in the lady’s countenance. Indeed, Miss Bennet smiled and said, “There, then, it is settled. I am satisfied.”
Before Caroline could consider further remark, Mr Tremayne joined the conversation. “I wonder, Miss Bingley, if you would oblige an old man with the pair afterwards.”
“Mr Tremayne, I did not realize you danced.”
“I am not the hopper I used to be, I own, and no longer fit for an evening’s full program. But I subscribe to the notion that exercise is essential to the preservation of health. So what say you? Will you take a chance that I might expire in mid-step?”
Caroline clearly could not refuse. To do so would force her to sit out any other opportunities that might arise to her advantage. She accepted with as much grace as she could muster, and then followed with, “but Sir, if you should find yourself unable to undertake or complete the set, you must tell me. I would not have you suffer in my cause.”
Elizabeth laughed heartily at this. “I rather think, Miss Bingley, that Mr Tremayne jests with you! For only before your arrival, he danced Mr Coney’s Maggot and Most Comical Fellow with my sister Kitty and rivalled her in both her steps and her enthusiasm. That is no mean feat. Indeed, does not Samuel Buchan recommend both dancing and riding as highly conducive to preserve a healthy constitution?” She flicked a quick look at Caroline.
The little man actually blushed at Elizabeth’s praise, and bowed to the compliment with a twinkle in his eye and that wheezy laugh of his. “Indeed, such young folk all around make me feel my oats again. Though dancing comes to me by rote at my age. Why, I feel as if I have been dancing since fair Terpsichore stepped down from the Parnassian hills to teach its pleasures to the Greeks. And I fear my riding days are well behind me, so dance is all that remains.” He turned to Mr Bennet. “John, why do you not round up your lovely wife and join as well?”
“Good heavens, no!” the man decried. “I will leave that to people who enjoy such caprice. Moreover, Mrs Bennet is firmly ensconced in the tea room with Mrs Lucas and Mrs Long, no doubt submitting them to every detail of my daughters’ upcoming nuptials.” At this, Mr Bennet looked to Jane and then to Elizabeth with a prideful smile. “And truly, it provides the most peace I have been served all week, so I have no desire to curtail her gloating.”
Everyone laughed at this remark, but Caroline began to wonder how she might break up the women’s conference. How could she point out to Mr Darcy the disadvantages of the Bennet family if the worst offender actually behaved herself?
“Oh, but would she not prefer to gain pleasure from watching Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth dance with their grooms?” Caroline asked.
Mr Bennet shook his head absently and sighed. “She would gain far more pleasure in securing suitable young men for Mary and Kitty, I should think. A formidable task that remains, for they are the silliest females to ever set foot in an assembly.”
“Papa,” said Jane, a sweet but chastising smile in her expression. Elizabeth jumped in, saying “You know, Father, that you would miss them terribly if all your daughters were to leave your house at the same time. For whom then would Mama have to turn her attentions upon but you?”
“Indeed, you make a point, my dear Lizzy. Always my sensible girl.” He moved his eyes momentarily to Darcy, a glance of respect mixed with melancholy. Caroline might almost think that Mr Bennet regretted Elizabeth’s betrothal.
The set had finished some moments before and the orchestra, having taken a short break, began to tune up for the next, signalling the dancers to take their places. A tall and gangly young man with auburn curls gone wild upon his head approached to claim Elizabeth; she briefly introduced him as a Mr Cramphorn before Charles and Jane, then Darcy and Caroline, followed them into place on the floor. The first dance was formed of three couples and Caroline was delighted to see that she and Darcy, by virtue of the shape the line had taken, were not part of the Bennet six, but instead would dance as part of an adjacent group.
The music was struck, and Caroline curtseyed to her partner across the line, he responding with a bow. They began to move into the steps of the gavotte and once established in its pattern, Caroline found a moment to introduce comment.
“This is very much similar to the affair we attended a year past, is it not?”
“Indeed. But for the altered connections it could be the same.”
Caroline passed and turned and replied. “Altered opinions as well, I dare say. I recall well that neither of us held our neighbours in particular esteem on that occasion.”
Darcy chuckled, as he made his turn and met with Caroline again to lead her down the line. Caroline glanced to her partner, preparatory to comment upon the unchanged calibre of the Meryton populace, but her remarks went unspoken. For she noted that Mr Darcy was not attending to her particularly, but rather was watching the next group over. Charles and Jane awaited their turn in the line with eyes for no one but each other. Just beyond them, Elizabeth was laughing as she walked with her young partner who appeared totally entranced by her discourse.
Caroline rather felt that the pair made a well-matched couple. Mr Cramphorn was obviously a clerk of some sort; one could actually see the ink permanently staining his fingers as he reached out to Elizabeth in the dance. With a smirk Caroline said, “Do you concern yourself, Mr Darcy, with being replaced in Miss Bennet’s affections by a mere clerk?”
“Certainly not!” Darcy glanced at Caroline to measure the intimation of her remark. She smiled demurely to convey that it had been a jest, though in her heart she hoped the recognition of Miss Bennet’s choice in dancing partner would register in Mr Darcy’s sense of pride. He adopted a serious countenance by way of reply.
“I do not concern myself at all, Madam, on account of Miss Bennet. I know well both her heart and her observance of propriety.”
A complex repositioning in the dance prohibited further reply for a moment. When the couple again reunited, Caroline took a different approach.
“How well you dance tonight, Mr Darcy. And for near two years now I have thought you did not particularly appreciate the exercise.”
“Your approbation of my humble efforts is a reward, I fear, beyond my just deserving. And you would not be far wrong in your judgment of my history with the activity. Of late, however, I have found it to be much less objectionable when one has a partner who derives such obvious pleasure in the undertaking.” Darcy’s comment was perfectly placed with the final notes of the orchestra. As they stood awaiting the strains of the next dance, Caroline replied.
“You are quite correct, Mr Darcy. One’s partner makes all the difference.” She smiled broadly, leaving the gentleman to wonder yet again at her meaning.
The second dance commenced, one of a much livelier sort which precluded easy converse. Darcy continued to divide his glances between Caroline and Elizabeth Bennet, on occasion catching that lady’s eye and sharing a smile across the distance with her. Caroline was much relieved when the dance ended as she felt quite neglected. Her consternation grew deeper as she realized that she was promised for the next set to Mr Tremayne. She did wonder briefly if she could avoid partnering with him by slipping outside for some air, but realized he wou
ld only claim her for a later pairing. At some point, she would have to oblige the old codger. Best to have it done sooner.
The orchestra took its leave once again for a time, and Darcy and Caroline rejoined their party as Miss Elizabeth Bennet commented on the closeness of the hall tonight. Darcy offered to collect a punch for everyone to refresh themselves and Charles followed him off to assist, leaving the ladies clustered together.
“How well you look this evening, Miss Bingley.” Elizabeth smiled at Caroline. “I had heard you to be under the weather, but you appear in fine form tonight.”
“I am well recovered. A megrim took hold, but the break in the weather has eased it greatly.”
“Ah, I am pleased to hear it,” said Elizabeth. “I thought perhaps you suffered some ill consequences from your accident on Tuesday. I must say when I knew of it, it served to reaffirm my mistrust of horses.”
Caroline was shocked. She would not have thought Mr Darcy to be so callous as to repeat the events of that day, even to Miss Bennet his fiancée. But she must maintain her composure, must salvage the turn this horrid conversation could take.
“In truth I cannot blame the horse. The weather was extreme and it panicked.” A slight pause. “I am only grateful Mr Darcy was there to lend me his support.” She smiled and nodded slightly to Elizabeth.
“Indeed, I was quite cross with Mr Darcy!” At this statement, Caroline was taken up short. Elizabeth seemed to realize the effect of her words and hastened to add, “Oh dear, no, I mean I am pleased that he came to your rescue. Of course, I would expect nothing less of the gentleman. I merely meant that I was vexed with Mr Darcy for saying nothing to me of your calamity immediately it happened. Why, I had to hear of it from the butcher on Tuesday afternoon!”
“I see,” said Caroline, feeling that this discourse was becoming more mortifying by the moment.
“I trust you know, Miss Bingley, that had I been aware of your suffering the sooner, I would have hastened to express myself regarding your misfortune. I told Mr Darcy as much on Tuesday evening when I prised the particulars of your misadventure from him.”
