Chapter 1.12 #3
“Well, most people believe that Mrs Darcy is the one who trapped you into this marriage and wonder how she did it,” James continued, and Elizabeth paled at this offensive remark.
“Then you may inform them that they could not be further from the truth. I had to use all my powers of persuasion to convince Elizabeth to accept me, and I happily succeeded.”
“Good, now that we are all clear on that subject, I shall leave you,” the colonel said. “Lady Constance is looking at me quite insistently. James, I think Lord Matlock is waiting for you.”
Darcy looked at Elizabeth with concern. “Are you well? You must forgive James. He never knows when to stop before crossing the line from joke to offense.”
“Yes, I am well; do not worry. There is nothing for which to forgive Mr Darcy. He seemed quite pleasant and friendly. I must agree, however, that his remarks were rather improper.”
“Yes, he possesses the gift of charming people and making friends rather quickly, but he loses them as easily,” Darcy said, and Elizabeth remembered similar remarks about Wickham at the Netherfield ball.
She glanced at Mr James Darcy then back at her husband and wondered what his cousin did that deserved Mr Darcy’s disapproval.
“I thank you for protecting me against the rumours and accusations that I have trapped you,” she whispered, and despite her uneasiness, she forced a smile.
“I said nothing but the truth. I shall do what is necessary to protect you. As for rumours—do not worry. James will spread my words around the room and around Town very quickly,” he concluded, and Elizabeth covered her mouth with her gloved hand to hide a laugh, her other hand still resting on his arm.
“So there was a strategy involved. However, were you not too harsh with your cousin?”
“Not at all, I assure you. I have known him since he was born, and I have great affection for him, but his behaviour in the last years deserves to be met with severity. But enough of that. I want you to enjoy this evening. I know you are fond of balls and parties.” He smiled.
“I do like to dance. And speaking of that, be assured that your effort to dance with me, despite disliking the activity, is not unappreciated,” she teased him.
“It is no effort. As I said, one might change one’s likes and dislikes after marriage,” he whispered, leaning slightly towards her, and Elizabeth struggled to regain her composure as she again noticed many pairs of eyes on them.
Darcy looked around then continued in the same quiet voice.
“My Aunt’s New Year’s dinners were always large gatherings, but not quite like this one.
I think she extended the list of guests precisely to introduce you to London society.
I should apologise. I am afraid you will not have an easy evening despite your enjoyment of parties. ”
“Oh, there is surely no need to apologise—not after you promised to dance ‘several sets’ with me,” Elizabeth replied in the same teasing manner.
“And I feel I owe Lady Matlock my gratitude. It is a relief to be ‘introduced’ to London society in her house. However, I surely hope that not all of London society is here tonight.”
“Fortunately, many people have left London and will only return for the Season. And I am very pleased to see that you are amused by the situation. I was concerned that you might find the entire dinner party a bit overwhelming. I know I do.”
“I doubt that anything might truly overwhelm you under any circumstances,” she said, her voice a mix of teasing and gravity. He responded with another smile.
Elizabeth’s spirits rose with each passing moment. The short conversation with her husband helped her to relax, and she quite enjoyed their brief, playful exchange.
They danced together but spoke very little.
Most of the time, their eyes were on each other, and each time the steps required it, their hands met, and Elizabeth felt his fingers linger over hers a beat longer than necessary.
She blushed, but she entered quickly into the little game and began to enjoy it.
Sharing a small gesture with her husband in a room full of people who examined her with harsh curiosity was pleasant in a strange way.
Darcy complimented Elizabeth’s appearance and her elegant dancing, and she reminded him how much Sir William had admired his dancing skills even in Hertfordshire.
“Both then and now, my dancing skills are highly improved by the performance of my partner. Even Sir William agreed on that,” he said, continuing their teasing banter.
“Indeed, sir, your pleasant conversation and sense of humour are excellent and valuable additions to your ten thousand a year. If Meryton society had benefitted more from your talents, I am sure their admiration would be boundless.”
He struggled not to laugh, but when the dancing steps allowed it, he leant towards her only a little to say in a low voice, “Now your eyes are truly sparkling, as I told you earlier. And if you speak of my qualities, madam, please do not neglect my being tall and handsome, as Mrs Bennet generously pointed out several times.”
Her smiling eyes and her lips, tightly concealing her laughter, offered the only reply such a statement deserved.
Every minute of the dance found Elizabeth more at ease and more delighted with the company of her husband, and the chance of just gazing at him allowed her to discover many expressions, small gestures, frowns, and smiles that she had missed earlier.
At the same time, she found herself in the midst of a strange tumult of feelings that made her warm and flushed or cold and shivering from one moment to the next.
A deep sense of regret overwhelmed her when the music stopped.
∞∞∞
Darcy held Elizabeth’s hand and conducted her to Georgiana. The ladies remained by themselves while Darcy joined the colonel and a few other gentlemen.
“Elizabeth is truly a remarkable woman,” the colonel said, handing him a glass of brandy. Darcy said nothing, and his cousin continued. “You looked like a real, normal newlywed couple—and quite affectionate with each other, I might say.”
“We are a real, normal newlywed couple, Cousin,” Darcy replied in earnest.
“I am glad to hear it. Am I to understand, then, that all is well? As you expected?”
“Very well.” He finished his brandy then suddenly looked towards Elizabeth as the music started again. “Lord Clayton just asked Elizabeth to dance?!”
“Is that a statement or a question?” said the colonel, laughing. “Well, they have moved to the dance floor, so you have your answer. Do not tell me you are jealous.”
“You are quite annoying sometimes,” Darcy interrupted hastily.
A few moments later, he attempted to join a conversation with Lord Matlock, struggling not to glance towards the dance floor too often, until Lady Matlock approached their group and demanded from the young gentlemen whether any unmarried lady was lacking a partner and to perform their duties accordingly.
Thus, Darcy, the colonel, and the viscount obeyed, and each invited a young lady to dance.
None of them looked as burdened by the task as Darcy.
Trying to pay attention to his dance partner, Darcy met Elizabeth’s laughing eyes, and he had no choice but to allow a smile to light his countenance. Then, he finally turned to his partner, Lady Clarisse, the eldest daughter of Lord , and inquired whether she was enjoying the party.
∞∞∞
That set came to an end and the next began, which brought Elizabeth and James Darcy together. Elizabeth had only a few minutes to exchange brief words with her husband before he withdrew to a corner when the music started.
From the first steps, Elizabeth noticed that her partner was a skilful and elegant dancer. He did not wait a moment before he expressed his pleasure in her company.
“I am very happy to meet you at last, Mrs Darcy. I heard wonderful things about you.”
“Truly, sir? I am very surprised. May I will ask from whom you heard these ‘wonderful things’? I know my husband to be guarded in sharing his opinions.”
“Oh, not from Darcy, that is certain. In fact, he was so slick that he did not even tell us about your marriage. We had to learn of it from a newspaper. But we do have a mutual friend who seemed to enjoy expressing his admiration of you quite openly.”
Elizabeth watched him with puzzlement, so he continued, his smile even larger. “I am speaking of Mr Wickham. I can see you are surprised. He and I have known each other since we were children, and both of us spent much time at Pemberley. He—”
“That is quite surprising indeed. I would not have guessed it.”