Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
T he dance Elizabeth shared with Mr Davis was pleasant, but she could give only half a mind to the conversation. She was too distracted by Mr Darcy, where he was, what he did, and how soon she could return to him. Her thoughts were interrupted when she overheard the conversation between two ladies in the dance line beside her. Amidst their hushed tones, the mention of Mr Darcy’s name piqued her attention.
“And did you see Mr Darcy in attendance? He is Lady Catherine’s nephew,” said the lady in a pink gown.
“Indeed, I believe he was initially held with great esteem,” responded a tall woman clad in blue. “Many of us were excited at the prospect of meeting him, but he has acted in such a way tonight that people feel quite the opposite now.”
Despite their attempt to speak discreetly, their words carried over the music and chatter in the assembly hall .
“Indeed!” The woman in pink leant towards her friend. “He carries himself in such an aloof, haughty manner.”
Elizabeth looked away from them so as not to be caught eavesdropping, but still strained to hear as the tall woman responded, “Yes! He could not be bothered to converse, and much less dance, with any local ladies. Mr Matthews, whom he has met before, said Mr Darcy hardly acknowledged him when he attempted to speak with him.”
“That is appalling behaviour indeed.”
The movement of the dance required the women to part to join their partners for a period. When they returned to their line, the woman in pink pointed across the room and continued in a lowered voice. “Do you see Miss Hughes over there? I was astonished she attended tonight after what happened at the last assembly.”
As the women began giggling and the conversation shifted, Elizabeth found herself lost in her own thoughts again.
He has been so pleasant with me tonight. But could these women be correct? Or are these just the words of busybodies looking for fault in anyone?
Perhaps due to her distraction, her dance partner stepped on her foot during the last moves of the dance. With only a thin slipper to cushion the blow, she needed to bite her lip to conceal her cry as pain shot through her. Unaware of any injury caused to her, Mr Davis walked her off the floor. When she was free of him, she hobbled to the chairs occupied by the matrons and chaperons and sank into one, her foot throbbing.
Mr Darcy was at her side again quickly, and asked her for another dance .
“I would be honoured, sir,” she said, rising from the chair only to lose her balance immediately.
He reached for her, looking alarmed. “What is the matter? Are you injured?”
“Not seriously, no,” she assured him. “Alas, I do believe I must sit this dance out. Forgive me.”
“Not at all. I shall remain with you.”
“I would like that,” she replied, feeling suddenly shy. She sat again and he took the chair next to hers. They chatted for a short while, making inconsequential observations on the room around them. After some time, she gestured over to a line of women sitting out of the dance, waiting for a partner.
“Poor dears. It is difficult to be excited to attend an assembly, but then sit out for a lack of gentlemen. It has surely happened to me before, and it is an unhappy feeling.”
“That surprises me. I presumed to imagine that you would be asked to dance every set when you are at an assembly or ball.”
“That is kind of you to say sir, but I assure you it is not true.” With studied nonchalance she added, “It would be good of you to dance with one of them—I imagine you must know at least one or two of them.”
“I usually do not dance with those outside of my party.”
“You danced with me, did you not? And I flatter myself to say the experience was not wholly disagreeable else you should not have asked me a second time. Surely to dance with another could not be so wholly dreadful.”
“Would it please you if I asked someone else to dance?”
“It would,” she said sincerely. “I cannot abide the notion of anyone departing the night unhappily.”
“Then I shall,” he said. “To please you.”
She smiled and then watched as Mr Darcy walked over to the line of ladies wanting partners. She could not help but notice what a tall and entrancing image he made while moving across the room. He asked the lady who—in Elizabeth’s estimation—was the plainest one of all, and he led her out to the forming set.
She watched as the woman and Mr Darcy made their way up and down the line. Her heart swelled at the sight, and she felt satisfied. Some might have thought him excessively proud, but she believed it was only because he had never been challenged to be otherwise. As evidenced by his current occupation, he was willing to hear her perspectives and opinions. That he had done as she bid him was undeniably endearing.
After dancing with two other ladies, he finally made his way back to her. They spent the rest of the evening talking animatedly over the chatter and music.
I have never been so content in all my life.
Thoughts of the evening filled Darcy’s head as his carriage moved from Westerham back to Rosings Park. At some point in the night—he could not quite say when—Miss Elizabeth Bennet had irrevocably stolen his heart. He supposed it had been coming on gradually since they first met. What had started as lingering interest had grown into full-blown love.
She will be my downfall , he mused with a prickle of trepidation. My undoing.
He looked out the carriage window, seeing the silvery moonlight over the landscape and wondering whether she too saw it and perhaps thought of him. He never should have fallen for someone like her but he had. Undeniably he had. Perhaps she was his undoing but now she would have to be his deliverance too, setting him free from the strictures of his responsibilities and from living a life of dutiful pretence. He would marry for love. There would be consequences, but to have her at his side would be well worth whatever difficulties might arise.
All of it was done save for one thing—a formal question and announcement.