Chapter 8
WHERE MR DARCY DOES NOT DANCE.
The second floor of the Grey Goose, where the Meryton Assembly Hall was located, was filled to bursting.
The music was lively, as one would expect at a country dance, and there was a great amount of revelry between the single gentlemen assembled as they vied for the opportunity to claim the most desirable partners.
Darcy blanched when he heard Elizabeth’s name mentioned in concert with that of Mr Ellis.
It seemed that gentleman had received the honour of opening the dance with her, as Bingley predicted.
His progress was as tedious as it was slow, and some effort was required to push his way through the crowd, particularly with Miss Bingley clinging to his arm. Bingley had hurried ahead to search for Miss Bennet, leaving Darcy to escort his sour sister.
Other than a few deferential bows of recognition, the people of Hertfordshire seemed inclined to let him be, and for that he was grateful.
At present, he was focused on one task: locating Elizabeth Bennet.
Even the advantage of his tall frame did little to aid him in such a crush.
After an indeterminable amount of time, he caught sight of Bingley on the opposite side of the room.
Mrs Bennet was speaking animatedly while Bingley watched Miss Bennet dance with one of her neighbours.
Shaking his head, Darcy dragged Miss Bingley in their direction to pay his respects to Elizabeth’s mother.
“How do you do, Mrs Bennet?”
Mrs Bennet ignored him and welcomed Miss Bingley with a great show of cordiality and much fanfare. When Darcy was finally acknowledged by her, it was with an air of one who had been slighted herself.
“Mr Darcy,” she said, “you are welcome, too. It is a great surprise to see you here tonight. We had begun to think your business would keep you from Hertfordshire indefinitely.”
Despite her rudeness, Darcy made an effort to appear affable.
“I regret it has been so, but I assure you, madam, I have completed my business and hope to spend some weeks here with my Hertfordshire friends before I must return to Pemberley for Christmas. If I am late, my sister, who is currently in Derbyshire, will never forgive me.”
Both Bingleys stared at him, as did Mrs Bennet.
Darcy ignored their astonished expressions and cleared his throat. “I trust your family is in good health?”
“Oh, yes,” Mrs Bennet stammered. “We are all in excellent health, sir. But I must say it is hard, very hard indeed, having my youngest daughter settled so far from me. I do not know how poor Lydia shall get on living at such a distance as Newcastle, where she knows no one, save for her dear Wickham. I thank goodness it will not be so with Jane and Elizabeth.”
Darcy, far from gratified to hear any mention of Wickham’s name, was even less pleased to hear such a reference made to Elizabeth. “Is that so?”
“Why, of course, it is so! Netherfield is but three miles from Longbourn you know, and Lucas Lodge is not half that distance. There is no guarantee, I suppose, Lizzy will be able to settle there after the wedding—but what a fine thing it would be if she did!”
Alarmed by such a proclamation, Darcy could do no more than stare.
After what seemed to him a small eternity, Mrs Bennet comprehended his confusion and said, “Oh! But you have not heard, Mr Darcy, that Sir William’s nephew, Mr Ellis, greatly admires my Lizzy.
And a more agreeable, clever gentleman you will not find anywhere.
I daresay he considers her to be the prettiest girl in the world, despite what some other gentlemen might think of her looks.
He opened the dance with her this evening. What a handsome couple they made, too!”
Though an entire year had passed, Mrs Bennet’s reference to what had been Darcy’s initial opinion of her second-eldest daughter was perfectly clear, as was the smug, satisfied look she cast in his direction. Darcy’s mouth felt as dry as a desert.
In contrast, Miss Bingley smiled widely. “How comforting for you, Mrs Bennet. It must indeed be a relief to know that dear Miss Eliza and her fine eyes may soon be so advantageously married and settled within such an easy distance of Longbourn. Tell me, has a date been set for the happy occasion?”
In no humour to endure Miss Bingley’s jealous allusions in addition to such distressing talk, Darcy withdrew his arm from her grasp and moved to stand on the other side of his friend. His head reeled as Mrs Bennet tittered satisfactorily.
Surely, Elizabeth cannot possibly be engaged to this man—not in so little time as ten miserable days, even if she has known him practically her entire life!
“Not of yet, Miss Bingley, but I expect we will not have to wait long before he makes Lizzy an offer. Oh!” she cried. “Here comes Jane!”
Bingley had already departed and was hurrying across the room to intercept his betrothed, who was at that moment being led from the set by her partner. He kissed Miss Bennet’s proffered hand, then greeted a man Darcy vaguely recognised as Robert Goulding with a good-natured smile and a cordial bow.
As she gazed at Bingley, Darcy observed Jane Bennet’s serene countenance brighten and silently prayed there was any chance that Elizabeth would dare to look upon him with pleasure.
Bingley placed Miss Bennet’s hand upon his arm and covered it with his own, then led her to where Darcy stood with her mother and Miss Bingley.
Further pleasantries were exchanged and Darcy, no longer able to restrain himself, enquired after Elizabeth.
Miss Bennet studied him for a long moment before she said, “My sister is well, Mr Darcy. She was lately dancing with one of our neighbours, Mr Crowell, whose family owns an estate not ten miles from Longbourn. Are you acquainted with him?”
Before he could answer that he did not, in fact, know Mr Crowell, Mrs Bennet said, “As you can see, sir, there are plenty of eligible gentlemen in want of a pretty partner this evening. Of course, that was not the case at the last assembly you attended in Meryton. Now that Jane is to be married, my Elizabeth is quite the favourite here tonight, and she is in excellent looks, if I do say so myself. Ask anyone in attendance and they will tell you it is so, especially dear Mr Crowell.”
She turned to Miss Bennet. “What a fitting match he would be for your sister, Jane, if this business with Mr Ellis comes to nothing. But that is hardly likely, is it? Mr Ellis has been most attentive since his return!”
Miss Bennet offered her mother a tight smile and, to Darcy’s relief, the music resumed before any more could be said of Elizabeth’s suitors.
Eagerly did Bingley lead Miss Bennet to the centre of the room, where countless other couples were forming a new set.
Having yet to see any sign of the object of his desire—or her admirers—Darcy excused himself and made his way to the other side of the room, where he took up a post near the bottom of the formation against the far wall.
Before long, his hopes were answered.
Elizabeth moved with the same grace and lightness of foot she always employed whenever Darcy had the pleasure of seeing her dance.
Her flushed countenance and bright eyes were a telling indication she had likely not been without a partner all evening.
Her gown, the colour of fresh cream with accents of deep burgundy and gold embroidery, fit her to perfection.
Darcy was enthralled by her beauty, which only appeared to have increased since he had last seen her.
An all-too-familiar ache of longing swelled to a powerful proportion within his chest.
Elizabeth was engaged in a lively conversation with her partner, a handsome gentleman who answered her remarks with an alarming ease that indicated a familiarity between them Darcy did not want to consider.
Contrary to the last time he had been in company with her, Elizabeth appeared self-assured and happy.
Her current, carefree demeanour was a far cry from the despondent state and decidedly low spirits he had last witnessed in her.
Though he was pleased to see her spirits so well recovered, Darcy could not help but feel some degree of pain; the restoration of Elizabeth’s exuberance was obviously not owed to him.
The dance forced her to separate from her partner and, as Elizabeth crossed in front of another gentleman, Darcy admired the graceful curve of her neck and the enticing manner that a few wayward curls caressed her skin.
Swallowing his desire, he wished more than ever he had the right to step forward and tear her away from her partner, especially as the two reunited a moment later, resulting in a mischievous curve of her lips.
As the gentleman took her hand in his own, Darcy could not control the jealousy that seared through him, nor the decidedly pained expression that crossed his face. His stoic mask began to slip.
In the next moment, Elizabeth circled around her partner, her eyes met Darcy’s, and her teasing smile was transformed to an expression of shock as she came to a sudden halt in front of him, the steps of the dance all but forgotten.
Elizabeth could hardly credit that he, of all people, could be standing directly in front of her; but as she stared into his eyes, as dark and piercing as ever, and observed the strong line of his jaw, which was clenched so tightly his temples throbbed, she could not deny that it was indeed Fitzwilliam Darcy and no other.
What on earth is he doing here? she wondered in astonishment. He is far too early for Jane’s wedding to Mr Bingley if that is his purpose in coming. Oh! Confusing man! Why can I not be free of him, even for the span of one night?