Chapter 27 #2
“For someone who loathes dancing, this is quite surprising.”
“Yes, it is,” Mr Bennet answered, then sipped from his glass again.
On the other side of the room, others were even more stunned by the event, some displeased, others simply curious.
Mrs Phillips leant towards her sister Bennet, asking in a low voice filled with astonishment, “Sister, look! Mr Darcy stands with Lizzy for a second set! What could be the meaning of this? Do you think he might…? Is it be possible that…?”
“Oh, Sister, how could it be possible? Do not believe this question has not troubled me all night, but I cannot even entertain such a thought or else my nerves will be aflutter. Mr Darcy — of all people! How could I even imagine that he might have a special design on Lizzy — who is not beautiful like Jane, has no dowry, no demureness or sweetness to attract a man, and even worse, still runs wildly over the fields?”
“This is true, Sister. You must be right, of course. I was just stunned because we all know how much Mr Darcy hates to dance — he said so explicitly even to Sir William!”
“Oh, Sir William is just jealous, I am sure. As for Mr Darcy — he has shown much gratitude to Mr Bennet and Lizzy after…you know. And now, his sister seems to be a good friend to Lizzy too, and his friend is almost married to Jane. Surely he has enough reasons to dance two sets with her.”
“I applaud your reasoning and your wisdom, Sister,” Mrs Phillips concluded as they both enjoyed a little sherry before supper.
The supper set was excitedly anticipated by Elizabeth and Darcy with irregular breathing and their hearts pounding. When the music started, Darcy simply walked towards Elizabeth, who was engaged in conversation with Mr Gardiner, Georgiana, Mary, and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
He bowed to her; she readily placed her hand in his palm and followed his lead, their hands entwined until they reached the dance floor.
Both noticed the curious stares fixed on them and the countless whispered comments, but that was the least of their concerns.
The uneasiness of the first set was now replaced by a slightly awkward excitement, and again, they danced in silence for a while.
“Miss Bennet, I am thinking that books might be a pleasant subject for conversation during this set after all,” Darcy eventually said. “I know you are a great reader — even Miss Bingley agreed on that. I would like to hear more of your favourite authors.”
“Then you will, Mr Darcy,” she replied, wearing the same bright smile. “But you should not count on what Miss Bingley said of me. She disliked me almost from the first moment of our acquaintance, and I do not even know why.”
“I happen to know why, Miss Bennet. Or at least one of the reasons. Nobody knows everything that is in woman’s heart and mind.”
“Nor in a man’s, I assure you. One might be often misled if one assumes too much,” she replied, and he only nodded in agreement, taking a few steps.
“Will you not tell me that one reason, Mr Darcy?”
“I will, Miss Bennet. Perhaps tomorrow? If we happen to meet during your morning walk?”
Her cheeks turned crimson, and she could not dismiss a trace of disappointment as she declared in all honesty, “Oh…I expected tomorrow we would discuss matters not related to Miss Bingley.”
A mischievous little smile twisted his lips. “Your expectation is correct, Miss Bennet. However, as you will see, this subject is somehow related to others.”
She frowned, and her eyebrow arched. “Is it? I look forward to hearing it then, as now I am really puzzled. You have truly aroused my curiosity.”
“Not only in regard to Miss Bingley, I hope?”
The dance made them take a few steps away from each other, then their hands joined again.
“Not at all. I was curious long before you mentioned her. And impatient. And nervous,” she admitted daringly.
“Were you, Miss Bennet? I hope you have no doubt about what I have eagerly waited to tell you and to ask you and what you generously agreed to listen to.” His voice had turned serious and somehow concerned.
“Do not worry, sir, I am perfectly aware of what I agreed to,” she assured him, returning the delight on his face. “Until then, let us discuss books. Is there a particular question you wish to ask me in this regard?”
The conversation continued in the same manner until the music ended. They spoke most of the time, but neither remembered much of what was said, their shared intimacy of thoughts and wishes capturing all their attention.
After the dance, Darcy escorted Elizabeth towards the supper table, but their hopes of staying close to each other were quickly ruined when Jane took Elizabeth’s arm, soon joined by Georgiana and Mary.
Darcy found himself some distance away, so all he could do was to glance at her often with admiration and apparent regret.
Colonel Fitzwilliam, seated near Miss Audley and much closer to Elizabeth, often engaged her in conversation, asking her direct questions which she readily answered.
She too glanced towards Darcy often, but she did not regret the distance between them.
She felt already troubled by all that had transpired between them and by their upcoming meeting; sitting next to him would have certainly tested the little self-control she had left.
Despite having a pleasant time, Elizabeth counted the minutes until the ball would finally come to an end. There was not much for her to expect from it any more — everything she had hoped and dreamed of had already happened.
She had not fixed a certain hour for meeting Darcy the next morning, but she assumed it would occur as soon as they both woke up — and before the late breakfast following a late-night party.
With a sudden clench in her chest, she hoped nothing would delay the final revelation of everything he had to tell her. She was not at all worried about him asking her a question, as she had long known what her answer would be.
She looked across the table one more time, her eyes meeting his gaze.
Stunned and mesmerised, she watched him slowly taking out his pocket watch, looking at it with interest, then placing it on the table to keep it in his sight so he could keep track of the time, a gesture more revealing than volumes of words.