Chapter 9
Mr Darcy’s request took Elizabeth completely by surprise, and when he stepped back she became increasingly nervous.
The first set had already finished, and Mr Bingley was crossing the room, arm in arm with Jane.
Instead of returning her to her family, he intended to introduce her to his sisters and brother-in-law.
Since Elizabeth was in close proximity, the introductions included her too.
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were all smiles and politeness, in utter opposition to what Elizabeth had heard moments earlier. To her, the sisters spoke little, but they complimented Jane, then asked about their family.
Finally, the music resumed, and couples began to take their places for the second set.
Mr Darcy approached her and stretched out his hand.
Reluctantly, she placed her own hand in his palm and immediately quivered.
They were both wearing gloves, but even through the fabric, his touch burned her skin.
Immediately, recollections of her disturbing dream returned to ruin her peace, and she almost stumbled.
“Should we have some conversation, Miss Elizabeth? Or would you rather dance in silence?”
“We might talk, of course, Mr Darcy. For now, I am still stunned by the notion that you asked me to dance, despite your well-known dislike of the activity.”
“I do enjoy dancing from time to time, if the company is pleasant enough.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You should not say that to your friends. They would be offended to know you do not enjoy their company enough to dance but you chose to do so at a country assembly.”
“It is the truth, and I have no wish to conceal it. Besides, I would probably not have danced at all if you were otherwise engaged.”
“What do you mean? You asked me because you noticed I lacked a partner? You invited me out of pity?”
For some reason, she wished to make him as uncomfortable as she was. Apparently, she succeeded, as his frown returned.
“Pity? Why would you assume that?”
“From your own words, sir.”
“Then I failed to express myself properly. Or perhaps you chose to misunderstand me. What I meant was that I have no intention of dancing with anyone else, but I seized this opportunity with the hope of a little conversation.”
His voice was calm and friendly, and she felt a shade of shame.
“I might have misunderstood you, sir. Nevertheless, I am even more surprised that you possess excellent dancing skills for someone who rarely practises.”
“It is my partner’s skills that improve mine,” he replied with a little smile and a glimmer in his dark eyes. She felt a quiver again. For a while, they only followed the music, glancing at each other, as if both were trying to find the right words to continue.
“My shoulder is still uncomfortable, which might affect my movements,” he suddenly said. “However, I am grateful that I escaped the ordeal with only a minor inconvenience, and my heartfelt thanks are long due.”
She looked at him, bewildered at his boldness to open that particular subject.
“Your gratitude has already been expressed through an unexpected and much appreciated gift,” she finally responded.
The smile twisted his lips again. “Any gift was surely insufficient to compensate for the help I received. But I do hope it was enjoyed.”
“Most certainly. Have you been to Brighton this year, Mr Darcy?”
His countenance suddenly darkened, and his answer was delayed. She wondered what could have displeased him so.
“Not in the last two years. I heard from Dr Gardiner that they have been kept in London too for the last two summers. His loyalty to his patients is commendable.”
“My uncle speaks highly of your generosity. It has certainly been a significant help to him and especially to his patients.”
He still seemed slightly uncomfortable, and another pause followed.
“I planned to visit Oakham Mount yesterday, but the storm discouraged me.”
“You should not even attempt riding there in bad weather, Mr Darcy. The path might become dangerous after rain, even for someone familiar with it.”
“I shall keep that in mind. I still intend to visit it on the first morning with appropriate weather,” he declared.
Their glances met and locked for a moment, then she said, “The weather has kept me away from long walks, too, and I look forward to it improving.”
He nodded, proving he understood her meaning, then both continued to dance till the set ended. He took her hand again and accompanied her back to her family. But the moment they were separated, both relief and regret invaded Elizabeth’s heart.
For the rest of the ball, Elizabeth barely spoke to Mr Darcy again. She spent some time with her friend Charlotte Lucas, then she danced several more sets. Mr Darcy did not dance with anyone else but employed his time talking to her father, Mr Bingley, and several other gentlemen.
Mr Bingley asked Jane for a second set, much to Mrs Bennet’s joy and despite his sisters’ glances and whispers. Mr Hurst seemed content to enjoy his drinks in solitude.
By the time the party ended, the rain had once again begun, so there was quite a crush of carriages outside the assembly hall.
“Mr Darcy has offered to convey me home in his carriage,” Mr Bennet said. “Since ours hardly accommodates you all, I accepted.”
Surprised, Elizabeth glanced at her father, then at Mr Darcy, who was waiting a few steps away.
“Mr Bennet, if your wife or one of your daughters wishes to join you, they would be more than welcome,” the gentleman said.
“How kind of you, sir. Mrs Bennet, would you care to come with me and Mr Darcy?”
“No, thank you, Mr Bennet. You may take Lizzy or Mary,” the lady replied, stepping up into their carriage with Jane, Kitty, and Lydia.
Mr Bennet looked at his remaining daughters.
“Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, you are both welcome,” Mr Darcy said, opening the door for them. With little time to ponder the moment, Elizabeth entered, then Mary, then their father; several pairs of eyes stared at them in wonder and disbelief, then the vehicle departed.
As large as the carriage was, Elizabeth still felt crowded, being in such a narrow space with Mr Darcy. They sat opposite each other and did not touch or glance at one another. Restless and anxious, thrills running down her spine, Elizabeth could not decide whether she was too warm or too cold.
Longbourn was only a short distance away, so there was little time for conversation. Mr Darcy left the three Bennets at their door, then continued on to Netherfield, and that was all.
Shortly after, the family reunited, and Mrs Bennet asked for some tea while she shared her happiness at Jane’s undeniable success.
“Two sets with Mr Bingley! Only Jane, nobody else! And he introduced her to his sisters! This is beyond my prayers! I am sure he will call tomorrow! Such a charming and handsome young man!”
“Lizzy, I could not believe you danced with Mr Darcy!” Lydia interjected.
“Neither could I,” Mrs Bennet admitted. “Did you ask him to do that, Mr Bennet? You seemed to speak to him a great deal this evening.”
Elizabeth looked at her father, curious and fearing his answer.
“Your assumption is too absurd to even be debated, Mrs Bennet. Mr Darcy is certainly not the kind of gentleman whom I could dare tell what to do, and he is undoubtedly not the sort of man to act according to others’ suggestions.”
“Then who knows why he did it! Mr Darcy seems a very peculiar sort of man,” Mrs Bennet concluded. “Did he say anything specific, Lizzy? What did you talk about?”
“We talked about Uncle Gardiner, mostly, Mama. Mr Darcy admires Uncle’s work, and I understand from my aunt that he has given most generously to support it.”
“Oh, well, that makes sense. I am sure Jane had a more pleasant conversation with Mr Bingley. You are so well suited! Even Lady Lucas said so!”
The conversation continued on similar subjects, and it was very late when the family finally retired.
Once in their room, Jane continued to talk about Mr Bingley, but Elizabeth hardly listened.
She could not stop thinking of Mr Darcy, pondering his decision to single her out and dance only with her.
But what truly kept her awake was the lasting sensation of his hand touching hers during the dance.
The fabric of both their gloves had not been enough to protect her.
∞∞∞
A clap of thunder woke Elizabeth, and she felt an immediate sting of disappointment.
It was raining hard, preventing any plans to walk — or ride — to Oakham Mount.
At breakfast, Mrs Bennet returned to her favourite subjects of the ball and Mr Bingley, while Lydia revealed what she had heard about the forthcoming arrival of a militia regiment, much to the disinterest of Mr Bennet.
The following two days, despite the lasting rain, brought much joy to Longbourn and the whole of Meryton. As planned, the regiment arrived and settled, causing more delight than the neighbourhood had known in a long time.
Mrs Bennet was concerned that Mr Bingley had not called, and nothing comforted her, but Lydia and Kitty were overjoyed.
When the rain finally stopped, they almost ran into the town to see the miracle with their own eyes, returning wet and dirty yet satisfied and happy, talking about nothing but the handsome officers.
Elizabeth slowly returned to her usual self, managing to keep her distressing thoughts under good regulation.
She believed — and prayed! — that she would be perfectly capable of holding a private meeting and a long conversation with Mr Darcy as soon as the opportunity presented itself. But the rain had its own plans.
The following day, Mrs Bennet’s nerves were put on trial when Jane received a letter from Netherfield.
“It is from Miss Bingley, Mama,” she said, opening it eagerly. “She invites me and Lizzy to have tea with her and Mrs Hurst. The gentlemen are to visit the officers.”
“Oh, you must go! Of course you must! Mr Bingley is not at home, you say? What a pity! Still, he might return. Come, let us find you an appropriate dress.” There was not much else Jane could do but obey.
Left by herself to prepare for the visit, Elizabeth realised her claims of composure and self-control had been utterly wrong.
A state of nervousness overwhelmed her again, making her angry and irritated with herself.
Why would she be so agitated? After all, Mr Darcy would not even be there!
And even if he were, why would she respond so unreasonably to the presence of a kind and polite gentleman? He had done nothing to embarrass her.
She was ready long before Jane and grew more impatient as the minutes went by. Her sister finally appeared, looking handsome but rather overdressed for a simple invitation to tea.
Mr Bennet called for the carriage, and by the time Elizabeth and Jane left, the pouring rain had returned, and the wind had increased. The driver proceeded cautiously, keeping the horses at a steady pace.
“Perhaps we should not have agreed to go today, Lizzy. This is quite a nasty storm.”
“Dear Jane, you know Mama would not have allowed you to refuse the invitation,” Elizabeth said, laughing. “Do not be concerned. We are almost there. I can see Netherfield in the distance.”
“I am not concerned, Lizzy. I am not a child who is afraid of the rain. I was just thinking that, no matter how careful we are, we shall not be able to avoid getting wet and dirtying our petticoats.”
Elizabeth laughed again. “Well, dearest, no matter how dirty we become, Mr Bingley will not be there to see it.”
Her last words were rendered inaudible by a powerful clap of thunder that shook the carriage, and a bolt of lightning cut through the sky.
The terrified neighing of a horse was the first warning, then the carriage pitched forwards, moving at an increasing speed.
They could hear the driver’s repeated demands, calling to the horses, but another clap of thunder obscured his words.
The vehicle’s motions threw Elizabeth and Jane closer, and they embraced each other, but they were violently separated when the carriage fell to one side, the sound of the breaking wheel almost as powerful as the thunder.