Chapter 8 #2
Soon, the ballroom began to fill, and every time someone entered, Elizabeth glanced nervously at the door.
Her patience was almost worn out when finally the Netherfield party made an appearance.
All eyes turned to the entrance, curiosity replacing the previous chatter with silence.
Mr Bingley, however, needed only a moment before he greeted everyone, smiling joyfully.
The others in his group offered only cold and wordless acknowledgements, then the two ladies and a third gentleman moved into a corner.
Mr Darcy looked uneasy and undecided; he met Elizabeth’s eyes for a fleeting moment, then followed Mr Bingley and was introduced to some gentlemen.
“Girls, girls, come here!” Mrs Bennet called in a loud whisper to Elizabeth and Jane, beckoning them towards herself.
“I just heard that most people in Meryton are not acquainted with Mr Bingley! He will first have to be introduced before he can dance with anyone else! How fortunate for us! Look, he is coming over here! Jane, smile!”
Jane threw Elizabeth a mortified glance, then forced a smile onto her crimson face. Elizabeth felt her cheeks burning too, and she wondered whether she looked as silly as her poor sister. Mr Bingley, however, appeared enchanted.
“Mrs Bennet, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, how lovely to see you again!”
“Mr Bingley! We are all so happy to have you here!” Mrs Bennet declared. “And Mr Darcy, of course…”
The second gentleman chose to only nod, his countenance stern. Elizabeth stole another glance at him, trying to guess his thoughts. His posture was uneasy amid such a gathering, his discomfort more obvious when contrasted with Mr Bingley’s cheerful disposition.
“Thank you, Mrs Bennet. I have brought my sisters and my brother-in-law tonight. They are standing over there. And Darcy, of course.”
“I am sure everyone is delighted by your presence,” Mrs Bennet said.
“I am certainly delighted to be here! Miss Bennet, if you are not otherwise engaged, may I have the first set?” Mr Bingley enquired. Jane seemed surprised by the sudden invitation, but soon her smile widened most becomingly.
“Of course, sir. It would be my pleasure.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” Mrs Bennet cried, embarrassing them further. “And you, Mr Darcy? I hope you will dance too?”
“I have not decided yet, ma’am. I am not particularly fond of dancing. But it is a pleasure to see you again.” His last words added a little politeness to his otherwise rude statement.
Elizabeth fought with disappointment, censuring herself harshly.
What else did she expect? It was absurd to presume Mr Darcy would dance with her, especially knowing his dislike of the activity.
He bowed to them, exchanging another glance with her, then stepped back to stand near the wall.
Mr Bingley’s sisters were only a short distance from him, but he did not seem eager to join them either.
After a few minutes, Elizabeth was stunned to see the aloof gentleman walking towards her father and occupying the free chair next to him.
Well, at least he is showing some courtesy to someone in my family, Elizabeth mused.
The music began, and the pairs began to line up for the first set, led by Mr Bingley and Jane. Mrs Bennet’s pride could be easily seen from across the room, and so could Jane’s delight.
Since gentlemen were scarce, Elizabeth sat out for the first set, taking a seat next to Mary and watching the dancers. On the other side of the room, her father was speaking to Mr Darcy, slightly apart from the other gentlemen.
“I wonder whether we are safe here,” a woman’s voice said from behind the column to Elizabeth’s right, piquing her curiosity.
“I am not concerned about our safety but about our sanity,” another female replied. “What could Charles possibly have been thinking to drag us all to this silly country assembly?”
“From what I remember,” a male voice interjected, “Bingley did not drag any of us. He asked whether we wanted to join him, and you both agreed. Why would you complain now?”
“My dear, we agreed because we could not possibly allow my brother to come unchaperoned. He is unwise at the best of times, so God knows what kind of trouble he might find for himself in such a place as this.”
“Do not be ridiculous, Louisa. Bingley is a fine man, and I have never witnessed him doing anything foolish. You should admit you were curious to meet all these people and find reasons to gossip about them afterwards!”
“Mr Hurst! That is a most ungentlemanlike thing to say!” the second woman answered.
“It might be, but it is also completely honest,” the man declared, amusing Elizabeth. She guessed that the speakers must be Mr Bingley’s sisters and his brother-in-law.
“Regardless, my sympathy goes to poor Mr Darcy,” the first woman said.
“He is accustomed to the most refined company and the most elegant places. It must be awful for him to be trapped in this room with these people. From St James’s Palace and Almack’s to this rustic assembly — it must be absolutely insufferable! ”
“From what I have seen so far,” the male voice interjected again, “Darcy seems to be enjoying himself as little here as he usually does in the other places you mentioned. I would wager he will not dance at all, as is his habit. On the other hand, I must admit the brandy is rather fine, so I have no reason to complain.”
“Mr Hurst, you are insufferable too!” the first woman concluded.
Elizabeth could not suppress her smile. The short dialogue was as amusing as it was revealing about the three people’s characters.
How was it possible that Mr Bingley, who appeared to be all that was amiable and kind, could be so utterly different from his fastidious sisters?
She turned to look at them, wondering whether they knew of her presence, when she startled as a hoarse voice addressed her from only inches away.
“Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the honour of dancing the next set with me?”
Heat rose within her. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat and calm her pounding heart.
“Thank you, yes, Mr Darcy,” she finally managed to reply. Movement to her right made her turn; three pairs of eyes gazed at her in disbelief from around the column. What else could she do but smile at them, as well as at Mr Darcy?