Chapter 8 #2
“And I will bring you some punch,” Charlotte promised, before Elizabeth had time to stop her.
Indeed, a single moment outside was enough for Elizabeth to feel better. The cold breeze caressed her face, the sky was clear, torches lit up the street and the candles were still burning in several houses.
From under the balcony, the voices of people and the barking of dogs added to the din of voices from inside the assembly.
“Lizzy, my dear, do you feel better?”
“Yes, very much so,” she assured her sister. At that moment, Charlotte appeared, sadly with Mrs. Bennet trailing behind her, who had been worried where her eldest daughters had disappeared to.
The balcony door closed behind them, and suddenly the noise from inside diminished. As Mrs. Bennet was about to speak, clear voices from below drew their attention.
“Come, Darcy,” said Mr. Bingley, “I must have you dance. You cannot leave now, this is preposterous. And I hate to see you standing by yourself in this improperly stupid manner.”
“I am afraid this stupid manner is the only one available to me tonight, Bingley. I warned you earlier, I daresay.”
“Come now, you must dance and I am sure you will feel a lot better! Just two sets! Or a single one, if you please.”
“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am well acquainted with my partner. And your sisters are already engaged.”
“But I can introduce you to any young lady you like. Or to all of them and you may choose who to invite to dance.”
“Absurd. At an assembly such as this, it would be insupportable. Standing up with any woman would be a punishment.”
“You cannot be so fastidious, Darcy! I never met with so many lovely girls in one evening. Several of them are uncommonly pretty; it only takes one look to see that.”
“You have danced with the only handsome girl in the room, Bingley.”
“Oh yes, she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! I am going to ask her for a second set. But there are also some of her sisters and friends who are very pretty and I am sure very pleasant too. Let me introduce you!”
“Bingley, I have looked and noticed all I care for. There are several tolerable girls in the room, but none of them handsome enough to tempt me to stay any longer at this assembly. You should return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, instead of wasting your time with me. I will take the carriage back to Netherfield and will send it back for you.”
A few more arguments followed, and then they heard the sound of steps. The four ladies on the balcony stared at each other in disbelief, shocked, offended, angry with one gentleman and exceedingly pleased with the other.
Elizabeth was grieved and ashamed, as her suspicions that Darcy had seen her and wished to leave just to avoid her increased.
He had sounded so harsh, so rude, so coarse, and so disdainful, that she was horrified; her heart ached and her mind tried to understand the alteration of his behaviour.
That uncivil, discourteous and spiteful man was not the one she had met at Pemberley and of whom everyone who knew him spoke so highly.
“Upon my word, what a horrible man!” Mrs. Bennet burst out.
“Who does he think he is? Tolerable? Insupportable? Dancing would be a punishment for him? Who would want to dance with such an ungallant and ill-mannered man? His only good quality is that he admitted Jane was the most beautiful—I will grant him that! But there is nothing else good to say about him!”
“Mama, please,” Jane tried to temper her mother. “Let us enter and mind our words. We must not forget he is Mr. Bingley’s friend.”
“He might well be the friend of the Prince Regent and the richest in England! He has a horrible character, he is proud, disagreeable, and I am glad he has gone and left us all to enjoy the ball! And he is not even so handsome, after all! He cannot be compared with the pleasant and amiable Mr. Bingley!”
“Mama, please,” Jane repeated.
“Yes, yes, let us not stay here any longer; Mr. Bingley is surely searching for you to ask for a second set.”
Elizabeth remained behind, catching her breath a little. She knew she had to be strong and bear the night to the end. She imagined she looked distressed, as Charlotte was watching her, worried, waiting.
She tried to smile and was ready to enter.
A sound of wheels and horses disturbed the curious crowd in front of the assembly and Elizabeth noticed a large carriage leaving in some haste.
Through the window, she observed Darcy’s profile, cold and stern.
Charlotte called her name and Darcy turned towards her at the same moment.
Their eyes met and locked and his expression changed instantly.
Surprise, astonishment and doubt burdened his countenance and he kept his position at the window, staring at her, until the carriage disappeared into the night.
Unsteady on her feet, with her heart pounding and her breath ragged, Elizabeth’s doubts vanished; he had not seen her until that very moment.
The revelation threw her into more turmoil and, despite her attempts to appear composed when she entered the ballroom, she could not recover enough to behave in her usual manner.
The ball continued, and Mrs. Bennet was now carefully sharing the appalling scenes and Mr. Darcy’s horrible offences against the entire population of Meryton with everyone.
Jane danced with Mr. Bingley for a second time but her sister’s happiness was little palliation for Elizabeth.
She refused any invitation to dance and finally, after the third set, she begged Sir William to help her return to Longbourn in his carriage.
Mrs. Bennet’s concern for her second daughter’s headache could not compare with her excitement at seeing her first daughter so much admired, so Elizabeth returned home alone, relieved by the lack of company.
There, she hurried to her chamber and threw herself into her bed, overwhelmed by feelings and fears that she had hoped had diminished since she had returned from Pemberley.
She had been proven wrong on that count, but now she doubted the true character of the man who had caused her long-lasting torment.