Chapter 1.6 #3
“Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy’s deep voice startled Elizabeth, and she turned her eyes to him, only to be riveted by his gaze. It was the first time he had addressed her since their meeting in Mr Wickham’s company.
“Would you do me the honour of dancing this set with me? I hope it would not be an inconvenience, either for you or for Miss Lucas…”
She frowned and remained unmoving, looking at him incredulously.
What was happening? His face appeared as stern and unreadable as ever, his playfulness betrayed only by his eyes.
He was pleased with himself, but Elizabeth was not diverted.
She felt he had somehow convinced Mr Collins to feign illness so he could have his second dance.
In her heart, she was pleased by the thought that he had acted so improperly simply to gain one more dance with her, and she was infinitely happier to have his company than that of Mr Collins.
Still, his actions disturbed her; she remembered that he was a proud man, accustomed to having his own way.
“Of course, Eliza, go and dance. Do not worry about me,” said Charlotte.
He was waiting, and not wanting to create a scene, she finally agreed. “Thank you, Mr Darcy. I shall be happy to dance with you.”
He offered her his hand, and she took it reluctantly, but his slight touch made her tingle; vivid memories of their ungloved hands together rushed into her mind.
He tightened his grip and led her to the floor.
“Miss Elizabeth, allow me to tell you how wonderful you look this evening.”
“Thank you, Mr Darcy,” was her polite answer.
The music began and they started to dance; every movement that drew them closer or parted them aroused a variety of feelings.
Elizabeth tried not to look at him but could not stop her cheeks from colouring crimson at his closeness.
A quick glance around the room proved that, as she had anticipated, most of the assemblage was staring at them in wonder.
That she had been asked by Mr Darcy for the first set did not go unnoticed.
Darcy searched her face with close attention and great amusement.
He could tell she was displeased, but he was not worried as the reason was not a serious one.
However, she looked amazingly beautiful when angry, and he was enraptured watching her bite her lip and hurl sharp looks from her sparkling eyes.
When their hands touched during the dance, she scarcely held his, but he was more than happy to hold hers as tightly as propriety allowed. Eventually, he broke the silence.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I be so bold as to ask the reason for your obvious displeasure? Do you find my company disagreeable, or is my dancing not to your liking?”
“Mr Darcy, I do not find your company disagreeable, and your dancing style is exquisite.” She stopped for a few seconds, arching her right brow as if challenging him to answer.
“And I am not displeased; I am only worried for my cousin’s health.
Could you enlighten me as to his problem?
You seemed to spend a good deal of time talking to him immediately before his indisposition. ”
She tried earnestly to censure him for his behaviour, but her amusement was obvious, and she tried diligently to maintain a serious demeanour.
However, she had to make him understand that she did not approve of being forced into anything and would not allow him to treat her as a simpleton to be toyed with.
To her utter surprise, Mr Darcy answered with no hesitation or attempt to conceal the truth.
“Yes I could, Miss Elizabeth, since I am familiar with Mr Collins’s indisposition. Do not worry; it is nothing serious.”
Shocked by his open admission, she almost forgot the steps of the dance. “And do you know, by chance, what caused his indisposition?”
“Yes I do, but since I promised my secrecy, I cannot relate any details.”
They were dancing in perfect harmony, looking into each other’s eyes as if trying to intimidate and dominate, duelling with wit and liveliness.
Darcy enjoyed it immensely and did not even try to conceal his feelings.
A smile appeared at the corner of his eyes and lips as he continued, “However, I can say that Mr Collins’s indisposition is a result of his acknowledgment that he had made a choice contrary to his situation and the advice he previously had been given. ”
“I see…And may I ask how he reached that understanding? Did he perhaps ask your opinion?”
“He did.”
“And am I to understand that you disapprove of his choice?”
“Not at all. In truth, I approve of his choice very much. I only pointed out to him that such a choice was perhaps not the most appropriate one for him.”
Elizabeth’s surprise at hearing his words was matched only by that which she had felt when he had spoken of “ten or fifteen years of proper behaviour” being enough.
She understood too well that she was the choice to which he was referring!
She could not believe the proper Mr Darcy would make such a suggestion to her—and more than once.
Whether or not he was serious, it made her uneasy.
She was only beginning to know his character, and her feelings towards him remained ambiguous.
She averted her eyes, blushing and warming at the feeling of his hand taking hers again.
Suddenly, he changed his tone and said quite seriously, “I have a confession to make.”
She looked at him closely, and she was relieved to see a well-known expression of easiness on his face. “Really? I hope it is not a frightening one.”
“Hopefully not, Miss Elizabeth. I took advantage of Mr Collins’s indisposition and offered to take his place in this set with you. I must say that I was happy to do so and I might have encouraged him a little in that regard. I am sorry if I created any inconvenience for you.”
His confession was sincere, and she was pleased to see that he genuinely respected her as evidenced by his insistence that she know the truth of even this preposterous situation.
However, she was not about to let him off so easily, so she answered in her teasing manner, “Well, Mr Darcy, my cousin’s company is very much missed, but I hope I shall become accustomed to yours without any great inconvenience. ”
Her eyes were laughing, and the next time the pattern of the dance brought them together, she took his hand with confidence.
The rest of the set passed with only a few remarks and many exchanged smiles.
They were content in their closeness and the touch of their hands, lingering only a moment more than necessary, each lost in the depths of the other’s eyes, and both hoping for this set to last longer and for their next one together to come sooner.
The amazing event of Mr Darcy’s dancing the first set with Elizabeth Bennet brought the couple to everyone’s attention as the gentleman’s dislike for such frivolous activities was generally acknowledged.
Mr Darcy himself had told Sir William Lucas that dancing was a compliment he never paid to any place—not even to St. James’s—if he could avoid it.
The reason for the miraculous change in Mr Darcy’s opinion quickly became a topic of general wonder.
In a corner of the ballroom, Mr Bennet watched his favourite daughter partnering with Darcy.
He was amused by their obvious argument during the first half of the set but somewhat worried about the way they looked at each other later.
Something seemed to have developed between them in only three days, and it was too much and too hasty for Mr Bennet.
Mrs Bennet was not of the same opinion. When the first dance began, she was talking with Lady Lucas and Mrs Long about how fortunate Jane was to be the object of Mr Bingley’s admiration.
However, the unexpected vision of Elizabeth standing up with Mr Darcy was such a great surprise that she remained silent, watching them incredulously for many minutes, accompanied in her astonishment by the other two ladies.
An unexpected, new prospect—more advantageous than others—seemed to arise before them.
From another corner of the room, imbibing freely from a glass of wine and with a singular frown upon his face, Mr Wickham also fixed his gaze upon Miss Elizabeth and her companion.