Chapter 21 Insulting #2
"My aunt says they have little but their charms to recommend them, although my uncle did leave a small bequest for the eldest. In fact, she told me they would be here by way of warning me that they are on the hunt for a wealthy match."
"Most young ladies are and with less to show for it. She is certainly pretty enough that a man might be willing to overlook a slim dowry if his own finances are good, especially with the connection to the Damasks and their relatives."
"I suppose," Darcy said noncommittally.
"Well, the next dance will be forming up soon. I think I shall go see if Sir Barnaby would introduce me to the lovely Miss Bennet. Will you come along?"
"No, I prefer to avoid the Bennets altogether. I have heard too many negative things about them from my aunt to feel comfortable even talking with them."
Giving him a perplexed look, Tavistock offered a slight bow. "Less competition, I suppose. Good evening, Darcy."
Darcy returned the bow and went back to looking around the room for signs of his mystery lady. Thank heavens she was no Bennet.
~o~
Because of the crowds, Darcy had trouble seeing all those on the dance floor at any one time from his vantage point to the side. He decided to move around the room a bit and see if he could watch the dancers while checking in the side rooms as well.
The noise was truly wearing on him. Everywhere there were people - noisy, boisterous people, talking and laughing over the equally boisterous music. If he did not find her soon, Darcy knew he would have to give up before the headache that had been building all evening overcame him.
Then, he heard it. From one of the side rooms came that distinctive laugh. His headache evaporated as he focused on the sound, following it like a hunting dog follows the scent of the fox. He was not going to lose her this time.
Turning into the open doorway near the refreshment table, he saw her and stopped in his tracks. She was even more stunning than he had remembered.
Without the bonnet to hide them, her dark curls in their intricate braided arrangement made a glossy crown atop her head.
Her figure, which was pleasantly revealed by the cut of the cream evening gown decorated with embroidered roses of deep red and intertwined stems and leaves of dark, mossy green, was even more appealing than he had imagined.
Although she was clearly relaxed and comfortable in her current company, her posture and stance were the height of elegant perfection, as was her every move.
Her eyes sparkled with good humor as she spoke with a stately looking middle-aged gentleman who was, unfortunately, a stranger to Darcy.
"For all of that, it is my older sister who is the popular dance partner here," he heard her say in a pleasantly modulated voice.
As Darcy stood there trying to decide what to do, the noise of the crowd by the refreshment table drowned out what she and her companion said next, although he strained his ears even as he considered what to do.
"Oh, but you are already a part of the family, Miss Elizabeth Rose," he heard the older man say teasingly during a brief lull in the noise.
Darcy smiled. He knew her name! Elizabeth Rose – how fitting. Now, he simply had to find someone to introduce them.
Trying to keep her in view, he looked around in hopes of spotting a familiar face nearby.
It seemed most of these people were from outside of his usual small circle of acquaintances.
To his relief, he spotted the father of a boy he had known slightly at school heading for the punch bowl.
They had been introduced once. He hoped it would be enough. Darcy approached the man.
"Lord Sattler?" he began. "I do not know if you remember me, but I am Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley."
The man looked at him searchingly before a look of recognition dawned on him. "Ah, yes, George Darcy's son. You were at school with my younger boy, Tobias. I would not have recognized you, no."
Both men bowed. In accordance with the difference in rank, Darcy waited for the older man to continue the conversation. He soon did.
"I was sorry to hear of your father's passing. He was a good man. We played a few games of chess together. What can I do for you, young Mr. Darcy?"
That was the opening Darcy had waited for.
"I was hoping you might be able to help me, Lord Sattler," he said.
He gestured in the direction of Miss Rose.
"Do you happen to know the dark-haired young woman over there, the one in the gown decorated with roses, or her companion?
I should like to ask her to dance, but I require an introduction. "
Lord Sattler raised an eyebrow as he looked in the direction Darcy had indicated.
"I see the attraction," he said. "Hmm. I am sorry to say I do not know the young lady.
I have a passing acquaintance with Lord Sheldon, however.
Let me just fill my cup and then I will go over with you to see if an introduction can be arranged. "
Darcy thanked him, trying to hide his impatience as they waited for Lord Sattler's turn to have his cup filled by the servant tending the punch bowl.
He kept one eye on his mystery lady as he and his companion conversed about Darcy's experiences taking over the running of Pemberley.
Finally, with filled glass in hand, Lord Sattler led the way to Miss Elizabeth Rose and the man he had identified as Lord Sheldon.
"Good evening, Lord Sheldon," Lord Sattler said as they stopped next to the two who had continued in their lively conversation all the while.
"Pardon the intrusion, but this young man of my acquaintance, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, wonders if he might obtain an introduction to the young lady so he may ask her to dance. "
Lord Sheldon looked questioningly at Miss Elizabeth. She responded with the slightest of nods.
"I have heard the master of Pemberley spoken of as a respectable man," Lord Sheldon replied. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance. This young lady is Miss Eliz…"
A commotion from the refreshment table, occasioned by a tipsy man who had fallen onto it, drowned out the rest of what Lord Sheldon said.
It was of no matter, though, for Darcy already knew her name.
He caught the words "visit" and "sister” but paid them little attention.
He was happily gazing into those sparkling green eyes.
Miss Rose dipped her head slightly as she performed a graceful curtsy in response to his bow. As they broke eye contact, he was released from his silence. Darcy smiled, an unusual act for him during an introduction.
"As you have been warned," he said almost teasingly, although loud enough to be heard over the commotion that was still going on behind them.
"I was wondering if you might do me the honor of dancing the next with me?
Or any other set you wish, if that one is not free.
" He added the last sentence hastily, not wanting to lose any chance to continue the acquaintance.
She smiled pleasantly in return, although not with the liveliness she had shown while conversing with Lord Sheldon. "I would be pleased to dance the next set with you, Mr. Darcy. By the sound of the music, it should be forming any time now."
He offered his arm and she rested her hand lightly upon it. "Gentlemen," he said by way of parting, giving each man a stately nod instead of bowing.
At first, Darcy could not think of anything to say. Miss Rose seemed to be waiting for him to start the conversation, so they went to the dance floor in silence and joined one of the sets forming there. As they waited for the first couple to start down the line, he finally roused himself to speak.
"I am very glad you were willing to dance with me this evening, Miss Elizabeth."
"Dancing is one of the primary purposes of such a gathering," she said pleasantly, although he could see what might have been mirth dancing in her eyes.
He fell silent again for a short while, wondering what else to say. How did one get to know a complete stranger in such a situation? He finally had an idea.
"Did you enjoy reading The Natural History of Selborne, Miss Elizabeth?" he asked.
The amusement in her expression changed to surprise. "How do you know I read the book?" she asked.
Darcy suddenly realized how awkward his question sounded.
"I saw you in Hatchards a few weeks ago, the day you made the purchase.
I overheard you talking with your companion about how you had purchased the book to read on a journey you were about to take.
Your conversation caught my attention because I had come to the shop to buy that very book on the recommendation of a correspondent.
I also planned to read it on my journey here.
I wanted to speak with you at the time, but you were busy with your conversation and there was no one available to introduce us. "
The alarm in her expression faded, although she still regarded him a bit warily. Darcy mentally kicked himself for not having considered what he might say when he finally found his mystery woman.
"I apologize if my question has made you uneasy at all," he added after a brief pause.
Before she could reply, their turn came to dance down the line.
He went through the sequence without embarrassing himself.
He could dance after all, even if he did not enjoy the exercise, and had learned the steps because it was his duty as a gentleman to know.
Miss Elizabeth, he noted, was graceful and light on her feet as she executed the sequence perfectly.
"Your knowledge of my purchase did surprise me," she said in the pause before their next run down the line. "As you heard, I purchased that volume along with a few others to keep me occupied on my journey here."
"And did you enjoy it?" he asked, hoping all was well again.