Chapter 6 #3
“Pray you were not vexed that Lord Holland showed me the thoroughbreds you have stabled here at Avondale. Could that have been the reason for your unenthusiastic response the last time I saw you?”
“I confess that I would have liked to have been the one to introduce you to some of my most prized possessions, but as I said, I was jealous of your being with Holland. For one, I was caught completely by surprise. But more important, I did not like seeing you with him.”
Her stomach fluttered. How could she not have been flattered that such a man would be bothered enough by the thought of her being with another that he would confess it out loud?
“Well then, I should hate to think of you truly suffering on my account, sir, for what bites at one’s equanimity more than jealousy?
We must endeavour to see that you never feel that way again. ”
“Are you laughing at me, Miss Bennet?”
“Are you not to be teased, Mr. Darcy?”
“I find it hard to forgive the follies of others when exercised at my expense.”
“What a shame, for I dearly love to laugh.”
“Well, if that is indeed the case, I will have to allow for exceptions—keeping in mind your good intention.”
“Indeed, I would never intentionally cause you any discomfort. You are in no danger from me.”
“On the contrary, Miss Bennet. I find I am in grave danger as regards you. However, you will hear no complaints from me.”
By now he was standing directly before her—towering over her and peering into her eyes.
His avowal, coupled with the soul-searing look on his face, threw Elizabeth’s emotions into a frenzy.
Elizabeth’s heartbeat fluttered. He moistened his lips, encouraging her to do the same.
Her heart beat violently against her chest, and her entire body tingled with expectation.
Oh, what a night for a first kiss ever. He leaned closer—closed his eyes and moved closer still, arousing every fibre in her being.
This could be the start of something—something.
Reason trumped desire, and Elizabeth eased away.
She turned her head to look away and took a sip of her punch. “I suppose you and I should find our way to the ballroom, sir. Our absence will be duly noted. How will I explain what kept me to my aunt and other inquiring minds?”
Surrendering the battle against his overwhelming need to touch her, Darcy swept a loosened curl behind her ear. “You might say you were availing yourself of the opportunity to sketch my character.”
Darcy reached for Elizabeth’s hand and bestowed a moist kiss on her palm. “Come, let us return to the ballroom and enjoy another set before supper.”
“Two sets, Mr. Darcy! What will people think?”
“Let others think what they will. I am of a mind to sketch your character as well, and I am finding that I need more time—the rest of the evening, in fact. I should also hope to spend tomorrow and the day after that in said endeavour. My curiosity, when it comes to you, is insatiable.”
Less than a week later, Lady Clarissa once again entertained a house full of dinner guests.
To her way of thinking, what was the purpose of such abundance if she could not share it with the people who meant most to her?
Very often that meant all the best families in Bosley.
After dinner, when everyone was gathered in the grand parlour enjoying one of Lady Clarissa’s exhibitions on the pianoforte, Lord Holland saw Miss Bingley standing alone in a corner.
By the dour look on her face, she was not happy.
He could easily guess what the cause of her distress was.
He had yet to notice his friend paying any attention to the young woman during her stay at Avondale.
As she was his guest, albeit his uninvited guest, he felt obliged to spend a bit of time with her, especially as her acquaintances were few.
He crossed the room with deliberate strides and bowed slightly before her.
“Miss Bingley, how are you this evening?”
“I get along very well, my lord.” She plastered a smile on her face. “May I take this time to thank you once again for your kind hospitality towards my brother, Charles, and me?”
“It is my pleasure, madam.”
Caroline leaned in conspiratorially. “So, what do you think of our Miss Eliza Bennet, Lord Holland?”
“Miss Bennet is lovely. She is a refreshing change.”
“She is different. I will give you that.”
“Be careful, Miss Bingley. Your voice rings with disapproval.”
“You mistake me, my lord. I simply detect in her none of the evidence of good breeding and taste that renders her suitable for our society. She is impertinent in a manner that is hardly attractive, and she has an unrefined air that evidences her lack of accomplishment.”
Caroline huffed. “For my own part,” she said, “I must confess that I see nothing of beauty in her. Her face is too thin, her complexion has no brilliancy, and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way. As for her eyes, I can perceive nothing extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all.”
Lord Holland’s threshold for tolerating his friend Bingley’s sister had always been low, and it was falling even lower by the second.
Surely she did not consider such an unflattering comportment to be sufficient means of recommending herself amongst strangers, which is exactly what she was to most of the people assembled at his home that evening.
His nettled silence only encouraged her.
“The fact is that she has little to recommend herself except being an excellent walker. What sort of accomplishment is that for a proper young woman?”
Lord Holland directed his gaze to Elizabeth and Darcy standing across the room engaged in what looked like an intimate discourse. Caroline’s eyes followed that same path.
“It appears as though not everyone shares your unflattering opinion of the young lady,” said his lordship.
“If you are speaking of Mr. Darcy, I must say, I do not know what has gotten into him. He seems captivated by what he described to me as her fine eyes.”
Lord Holland silently reflected on how much he would love to switch places with Darcy at the moment. “Well, as I said, Miss Bennet is quite lovely. She is, in fact, one of the loveliest women of my acquaintance.”
His avowal immediately met with Caroline’s displeasure, judging by the look she bestowed.
“Oh, please, my lord. Do not tell me that you, too, are taken in by her low, country arts and allurements.” She threw a disgusted glance at Elizabeth.
“I wager neither you nor Mr. Darcy would be half so impressed if you really knew what she is about.”
“What have you to accuse Miss Bennet of, Miss Bingley?”
“There are many things about the woman that are in stark contrast to the facade afforded by her presence in Bosley, but as I am not one to gossip, you shall not hear any of that from me.” Caroline curtsied, signalling her intention to say no more on the subject at that time.
“Pardon me, my lord.” With that, she went away.
Caroline did not get very far. Lady Vanessa, who had been standing close enough to hear the last of Caroline’s words to Lord Holland, beckoned the young lady’s attention. She approached Caroline. “Miss Bingley, shall we take a turn about the room?”
Caroline readily acquiesced, and Lady Vanessa and she began walking arm in arm. “How are you enjoying your stay in Bosley?”
“I find the society to be quite lovely, your ladyship.”
“Excellent. I am sure you have observed by now that we are a very close-knit society. In fact, Lady Clarissa and I are family. What is more, she is my dearest friend.”
“Lady Clarissa is someone whom I have come to appreciate as well.”
“I should warn you that Lady Clarissa is not one to tolerate dissension, nor does she countenance the idea of anyone disparaging her family. I could not help but hear your uncharitable remarks about my niece, whom her ladyship also regards as family. Whatever it is that you consider as sufficient motive to demean my niece, I suggest you take a good look in the mirror. You might reflect upon your own family legacy.”
Lady Vanessa cast a disheartened glance towards the part of the room where Darcy and Elizabeth sat.
“No doubt your distaste is fuelled by your displeasure in seeing the object of your desire bestowing his attentions towards my niece, but that is hardly any of my concern. I only care about my niece’s felicity, hence the purpose of this little tête-à-tête.
Unless you desire an abrupt end to your acceptance amongst our society, I advise you to mind your tongue. ”