Chapter 12
Although he tried to avoid it, Darcy watched the Bennets. It reminded him of an accident he came upon when Georgiana was with him in the carriage. He covered her eyes so she would not see the gory details. At the same time, he could not look away.
He overheard the mother and younger ones and disdained their poor conduct. In particular, the youngest. She boldly flitted from one officer to another, teasing and taunting, pressing her barely covered cleavage against their arm. If she did not immediately gain the man’s attention, she purred and petted, then played with a pendant hanging from a chain, moving it back and forth across the top of her breasts. The stupid tart was disgusting. Her next oldest sister parroted her until they were surrounded by drooling men with their tongues hanging out. Lord! If they were his responsibility, he would ship them to a convent, even if they were not Catholic.
Miss Jane Bennet stood quietly next to Bingley. Was it shame or embarrassment with her family that kept her eyes to the floor? From where he sat with Mrs. Hammond, Darcy could not glimpse Miss Bennet’s expression, but Bingley’s constant attendance upon her and his offers of comfort were visible.
Then there was Miss Elizabeth. Disapproval flashed from her eyes until Darcy feared that the younger Bennets would be scorched from the heat.
As he witnessed her struggles, Mrs. Hammond spoke. “She is powerless, you know. She fears not only for her reputation but also for her favorite sister. Even so, she loves her family despite their flaws. It may surprise you to know that on occasion, Kitty, Lydia, and even their mother can be quite gracious and polite.” The elderly woman leaned closer. “Lizzy has had limited exposure to true evil, sir. She is knowledgeable enough to know the danger but not the extent. There is no one with authority to correct them. Unfortunately, embarrassment will follow those girls, and Lizzy will feel the stain most grievously.”
He could not keep from asking, “Will her father not act?”
He could feel her eyes examining him. “You remind me of my husband. He was never one to shift responsibility to someone else. He made the hard choices by always considering the interests of the ship and its crew. If there was someone who robbed the others of peace or did not pull their weight during the long journeys to the far corners of the earth, they were punished harshly. If they did not learn from the discipline, they were put ashore at the next port. No amount of pleading that it was an inconvenience would change his mind. The captain was a fair man. It would have been unjust to give in and he would have lost the respect of the rest of his men had he done so. Was it easy? It never is, is it?”
He appreciated Mrs. Hammond’s insight. “Never.”
“Responsibility has its price,” she murmured.
“Respectfully, Mrs. Hammond, I choose not to see it that way. Responsibility has its rewards.”
She patted his arm. “Go and speak to her, Mr. Darcy. She will be diverted and feel the compliment without increasing her expectations. Our Lizzy may be strong of opinions, but she is tender at heart. This is an evening for feeling special.”
He considered her request. Surely, it would do no harm to stand up with Miss Elizabeth for a second set. It was not a declaration of affection. Rather, it was a kindness to distract her from her family. Since pleasing the elderly woman was gentlemanly, Darcy stood to find her, knowing that he was flirting with danger. The lies ended now. Elizabeth Bennet appealed to his heart on many levels. Her quick mind and witty conversation warmed him. Yet, it was her inner strength, that same need to set things right, that resonated deeply inside him. He wanted one final chance to be close to her before he left the next day for London, never to return. His decision was made. He would feel her passion for life for a moment; then, he would let her go.
“Pardon me,” he said to Mrs. Hammond, his gaze never leaving Miss Elizabeth. “I believe it is time to find a partner.”
Elizabeth stoodacross from Mr. Darcy, waiting for the music to begin. She had witnessed him and Mrs. Hammond with their heads together. It was an easy step to realize that his request was the result of an appeal made by the elderly widow.Although she would much rather have danced with Colonel Fitzwilliam, the gentleman had still not appeared. Surprisingly, she enjoyed her earlier dance with Mr. Darcy. Perhaps they would get on well for another half an hour.
Glancing around the room, she wanted to laugh at the amazement of the few friends and neighbors observing them. The whispers. Pointing fingers. Gasps even. Elizabeth was not the only one surprised that she was again opposite the man whose speech and manners had offended the majority living in and around the small community of Meryton in Hertfordshire. Miss Bingley glared from her post by the wall, then stifled a pretend yawn once she realized Elizabeth saw her.
Fitzwilliam Darcy was an enigma. Tall, handsome, and athletic in form, his bearing immediately attracted the attention of female eyes of any age. His wealth and status in society were far more impressive than anyone she met in her almost twenty-one years of experience. He was the grandson of an earl, the highest level of society.
She had no way of comprehending his inner feelings upon his arrival in Meryton. What Elizabeth did know was that after five weeks, even though it had lessened, she still felt the sting of his condemnation. At the same time, she marveled at his tenderness with her friend and even his kindness in escorting her back to Longbourn after the storm. Who was this man?
They stood for some time without speaking until she began to imagine their silence lasting through the two dances. At first, she resolved not to break it. He could speak first.
No! She would not behave badly. Her sisters were already causing enough talk. Elizabeth said, “I do love the simplicity of the melody for this dance.”
“I agree.”
When the music began in earnest, Elizabeth took one step forward. Although she curtsied, her eyes pierced his. Surprised to see turmoil, she momentarily wondered at its cause. For she had no doubt he saw the same in hers.
She swallowed, not quite able to draw her face away from his. What was he about?
After a lengthy pause that completely disconcerted her, she said, “Mr. Bingley is to be commended. The ball appears to be a success.”
Mr. Darcy tipped his head, acknowledging her comment. “I am pleased to see how well my friend followed through once his decision was made to hold a ball. Although he left most of the details to his sisters, who are challenging enough to deal with on any occasion, he took the planning seriously.”
She was surprised at his candor. “Why, Mr. Darcy, for shame.”
His grin matched hers when he said, “You are correct. I should have kept my comment about our hostess to myself. Nonetheless, I know you well enough that you would have known my meaning even if I left the words unsaid.”
What did he mean by that?From his posture, she knew he was complimenting her. Elizabeth peeked at him as she turned with the music. When the pattern brought them back together, she placed her hand in his. Even through their gloves, the touch of his palm on hers sent shivers up her arm. Her eyes shot to his, where the intensity of his gaze threatened to melt her bones. What foolishness is this?
Elizabeth Bennet wasan enchantress with a ready smile, a quick wit, and a happy nature that reeled him in. He needed to leave Hertfordshire and never return before he declared himself in the middle of the dance floor.
His feelings were tumultuous when it came to her. As a man used to restraining his impulses and distancing himself from anyone who might be tempted to prey on his position, he found himself repeatedly failing to ignore the young lady.
Where he had overlooked her at first, upon further acquaintance, he now appreciated her light and pleasing figure, the evenness of her smile, and the sparkling beauty of her eyes. Her countenance, despite being a daughter of a country gentleman of no account, was regal. Darcy suspected she had a spine of steel by the way she defended her errant younger sisters and a mother who were far more vulgar than circumspect.
He had watched her stand up with her father’s cousin. The man was an oaf with little skill on the ballroom floor and even less manners than the lowliest stable boy. There followed a series of gentlemen either the same age as her father or too young to appreciate her fine character who applied for a dance.
Darcy could not have imagined standing up with anyone else. In fact, had they privacy to conduct their conversation without the hearing ears of others in their set, he would have done the unthinkable—boldly flirt with an unattached lady. Unfortunately, they were surrounded by couples who paid them too much attention. Perhaps he should not have sought out Miss Elizabeth twice. To keep her from raised expectations, he would be required to dance with others for the few dances remaining. To single out an unmarried female was to proclaim his affection publicly. He was not ready to take that step, nor would he ever be. Darcy could admire her from a distance, but he would never marry someone with no connections and little to add to the Darcy fortune. She simply would not do for a man of his status.
Lord, but he sounded arrogant! Maybe he was the oaf.
She was as dignified as a queen. Her eyes reflected the flicker of hundreds of candles. Three curls were hanging over her shoulder and down her back. When they stepped close, and her gaze met his, longing for her flowed through his veins and pierced his heart.
She was stunning. If he stayed at Netherfield Park any longer, he was doomed. No more vacillating. His final decision was made. He would leave Hertfordshire in a few hours and never look back.