Chapter 10
The Netherfield Ball Begins
Alighting from the carriage, Elizabeth spied Mr. Darcy in an upstairs window. When their eyes met, he held her gaze only a moment before turning away. She hoped it meant he was even then making his way to her.
When Mr. Collins extended his arm, her mother insisted she take it. Elizabeth ignored them both, walking into the great house surrounded by her sisters.
Elizabeth had bartered with her father for this, a dance with Mr. Collins in trade for seeing Mr. Darcy once more.
She intended to explain her present circumstances and thank him for the remembrances she would forever cherish.
She prayed they might also dance, to collect one last memory of him to treasure.
A future with Mr. Collins repulsed her. But her sisters being without protection terrified her.
Scouring the ballroom to catch even the briefest sight of Mr. Darcy, when their eyes met, the rest of the world faded away. Elizabeth allowed herself to take solace in him until she was forced to attend to those around her, most of whom she derived no pleasure from.
She looked for him again and again. Each time Elizabeth located Mr. Darcy, she found him to be watching her.
In this way, they made dozens of small memories that the two of them alone knew of.
Though she felt hopeless, it was not in understanding that both personas, Mr. Darcy and Prince William, were equally unattainable matches.
It was because of the future her parents had mapped out for her.
Their aunt Gardiner, who had gone to stand with Mr. Darcy, spoke to Jane and Mary. Elizabeth knew they had acquainted their aunt with the full truth of all that had occurred at Longbourn.
Elizabeth overheard Mrs. Bennet announcing to their neighbors her expectation that Elizabeth would do her duty to her family by marrying her cousin.
Many turned their heads from him when Mr. Collins expected an introduction.
These same neighbors expressed their condolences to Elizabeth for being forced into an intolerable alliance.
Some spoke in platitudes, certain that any husband is better than none.
But many took her hand while expressing a moment’s sympathy.
Elizabeth knew some joy in seeing Jane led to the floor by Mr. Bingley to open the ball. She heard her father groan when she declared that she had been ordered to dance with Mr. Collins, so that any within ten feet of her understood why she danced with him.
“Mr. Bennet, you assured me Elizabeth would agree, and quickly, to regain the freedoms she enjoyed with your permission,” Mrs. Bennet seethed.
“I thought ending our constant haranguing of her was enough inducement. I have never stood firm against you above twelve hours. But then, Elizabeth is your daughter. Stubborn is not a trait either of you lacks. The chances for the outcome you wish dwindle with her efforts to anger my cousin.”
When Mr. Collins came to guide Elizabeth out, she folded her arms behind her back.
Lining up to dance, she curtseyed to the ladies on either side.
She felt gratification when Mr. Collins became angry for keeping her face averted from him.
Elizabeth continued to ignore him, dancing the set the same as she would with no partner at all.
Worse, Mr. Collins lacked all grace and hardly knew the steps.
He turned in the wrong direction. He even attempted to keep himself lifted on his toes the whole set, so he would nearly equal Elizabeth’s five-foot-four-inch height.
Throughout the set, Mr. Collins reached for Elizabeth, who made significant efforts to show her rejection of his person.
At the conclusion of the set, Charlotte hooked her arm with one of Elizabeth’s. They removed to a far corner, where Elizabeth informed her dearest friend of what had happened with respect to Mr. Collins.
Their conversation was interrupted by a young man in the shire who had requested Elizabeth’s second set.
She said something to the sixteen-year-old, gangly youth to make him laugh when he led her to the line.
Once the music began, she curtseyed with respect, contrasting her rejection of her former dance partner in favor of a youth half his consequence.
Elizabeth was thankful that many of their neighbors sent her parents looks of censure. At the end of the set, the young man returned Elizabeth to Jane and Charlotte.
“Princess Elizabeth?” Darcy hailed.
The room fell silent.
Elizabeth turned to see Mr. Darcy standing in the middle of the empty floor, a pink camellia in one hand, his other extended to her.
“Prince William,” Elizabeth whispered, taking a hesitant step toward him, wondering if she were but dreaming.
At his touch, she wilted with the relief of knowing she was not. Her hand not being held within his, she pressed to her heart because it threatened to rise out of her chest in her jubilation.
“Am I too late? Have you agreed to be his wife?” Mr. Darcy asked, ignoring all of what occurred around them.
“I have not. Now I must find a way to care for my sisters, so none are forced to endure him against their wishes.”
Mr. Collins fumed. “Cousin Elizabeth, your duty is to attend me when I speak. Did you not hear me? Come. We will speak with your parents about your lack of attendance as a wife should.”
Mr. Darcy did not look at Mr. Collins, though the man tripped over himself in his rush to reach them. Then Mr. Darcy nodded curtly to a man she did not recognize.
There Are Times a Man Must Take Action
“Come, sir. You are the toad, not the prince. I am certain Lady Catherine, whom you have mentioned more than a dozen times this evening, will be seriously displeased by the spectacle you make tonight. It does not reflect upon her with any credit.”
Mr. Collins said, “He will wed his cousin Anne de Bourgh, and I am promised Cousin Elizabeth despite her lack of manifold attractions. I will teach her the ramifications of defying one’s hus—”
“Speak no evil of Mr. Darcy nor his intended, sir, or I will make you rue the day you did, Mr. Toad.”
“Remind me to give you a raise tomorrow, Carpe,” Darcy said, his eyes remaining fixed on Miss Elizabeth’s face.
“I will not, sir. This service is a pleasure to perform,” Carpe said, walking Mr. Collins to Mrs. Bennet so he no longer required consideration.
“I know we have not spent above two hours together, but I have long known of you from a trusted source. All too fast. I know it is too fast, Miss Elizabeth. But your uncle informed me you are at your majority, and we can, if you should but wish—”
Elizabeth reached out to take the camellia.
Resting her hand just above his, they held it between them.
When Darcy let it go, he cupped Elizabeth’s cheeks, kissing her with the same fervor she had kissed him next to the river.
It was neither surprise nor exclamations of compromise filling the ballroom, but applause increased when Mr. Darcy took a knee.
“Marry me, Elizabeth. Let me love you. Protect you. Honor you as you deserve.”
“Knowing as I do that together we would care for our sisters, I would marry you tomorrow. Tonight, even.”
“All your sisters may come with us if they should wish it.”
“I shall take all the Miss Bennets with me.” Georgiana clapped, one hand already holding that of Miss Mary’s, so the two rejoiced as one.
“Just what are we supposed to do now that she has compromised herself like a wonton and is in full disgrace?” Mrs. Bennet pulled her husband along, marching toward her daughters.
“Mrs. Bennet,” Darcy stated with the authority stemming from being his own master these many years. “Unless Elizabeth sends you an invitation, you will not be welcome when we say our vows. Both you and Mr. Bennet are to be refused access to my homes until such a day Elizabeth chooses otherwise.”
“You cannot keep me from my daughter. I am her mother. She will need me to help her redecorate your homes, and I must advise her when she has her gowns made,” Mrs. Bennet said, shrill in her greatest upset displayed to date.
“As her husband, I can. And I intend to until my wife tells me she would have your company.” Darcy ignored the woman’s indignation, instead kissing Elizabeth when he saw her devotion for his defending of her to her mother.
“Oh, I knew how it would be,” Mrs. Gardiner said, joining her nieces. “Perhaps not quite under these circumstances, but I have long believed the two of you a perfect match. Though you are not so formed for one another as Jane and Mr. Bingley are, your differences make you perfect one to the other.”
All in the room heard Miss Bingley’s demand, “Why has the music stopped?” The door in the direction of the kitchens closed, punctuating her question in the again silent ballroom.
Darcy heard her gasp, surmising that she saw him holding Elizabeth's hand in his own. He suspected that, though he felt like his dreams were coming to life this night, Miss Bingley was diving into a nightmare when her cry of “no” echoed in the ballroom.
He lifted the hand he held to his lips, bestowing a kiss upon Elizabeth’s palm. “Yes,” Darcy murmured, lowering until his forehead rested against Elizabeth’s. “A thousand times, yes.”