Chapter Eight #3
When they reached Meryton, Lydia and Kitty immediately spied Mr. Denny, one of the militia officers they had met at the ball, and insisted on crossing the street to converse with him.
He was accompanied by a new gentleman who had recently joined the militia.
Mr. Wickham was particularly handsome, with twinkling brown eyes and an open, cheerful countenance.
Elizabeth liked him immediately. Soon she was laughing at his witticisms, completely distracted from her anger at Mr. Darcy.
Unfortunately, it lasted only until Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley rode into Meryton.
Mr. Bingley immediately struck up a conversation with Jane while Elizabeth’s younger sisters continued to chat with Mr. Denny.
Elizabeth exchanged a nod with Mr. Darcy but did not speak with him.
Mr. Wickham gave Mr. Darcy a smile and nod as if they were acquainted; however, Mr. Darcy glared at the other man and then averted his gaze.
How odd! Mr. Wickham huffed a little laugh, shrugged, and turned to join his friend’s discourse with the younger girls.
He appeared neither amazed nor disconcerted by this rude behavior.
Here was a mystery that Elizabeth was eager to solve. Perhaps Mr. Wickham could shed some light on Mr. Darcy’s mysterious behavior. Unfortunately, the militia officers soon departed, and Elizabeth had no opportunity to ask the questions that haunted her.
***
After a week at Netherfield, Darcy was almost completely himself again. His body no longer ached, his energy had returned, and he no longer resembled a wraith in the mirror. He had not recovered all the weight he had lost, but he was much improved.
In many ways the sojourn at Netherfield had everything that he needed: excellent food, comfortable accommodations, endless options for amusing himself, and the company of friends of his station.
And yet Darcy was displeased. He even found himself musing wistfully about Longbourn.
The Hursts’ conversation was insipid, and Miss Bingley’s fawning attention grated on his nerves.
Bingley was the only company he could stand, and he yearned for more meaningful occupation.
Letters from Richard told Darcy that London had experienced isolated wight attacks.
The necromancer was sending the wights to feed from mages’ life energies.
Following Darcy’s advice, the Council had recruited the country’s two vivomancers, who had proven effective at destroying the wights, but they could not be everywhere at once.
Darcy had volunteered to return to London to help fight the wights, but the director had ordered him to remain in Hertfordshire to protect Elizabeth—since he was one of the few people who knew the Council could avail itself of a third vivomancer if necessary.
When Darcy had read those instructions, he had laughed.
How could he protect her when she would not let him near her?
Bingley was enchanted by Miss Jane Bennet and contrived to visit Longbourn frequently.
Darcy was more than happy to accompany him.
However, Elizabeth was mysteriously absent whenever he arrived.
She was indisposed or had gone for a walk or was engaged in practicing delicate spellcraft.
Darcy, who longed to explain himself to her, was quite frustrated.
As a result, he was eagerly anticipating the upcoming ball at Lucas Lodge. He knew the Bennets had been invited and hoped he could persuade Elizabeth to dance with him—perhaps even agree to a private discussion.
When they first arrived, he was optimistic. Sir William Lucas actually recommended Elizabeth to Darcy as a dancing partner as she happened to pass by. Darcy eagerly took the opportunity to invite her to dance.
But she declined coldly and continued on her way.
Sir William was rather taken aback and soon abandoned the conversation.
Darcy asked no one else to dance, ignoring Miss Bingley’s increasingly imploring—and then frustrated—looks.
He drank wine punch and tracked Elizabeth’s movements around the room.
She danced with a man in clerical garb who had trouble recalling the steps.
A careful inquiry to Lady Lucas revealed that the man was Mr. Bennet’s cousin, who was a guest at Longbourn.
Elizabeth did not appear eager to continue the discourse with the man after their set was finished, and he was soon dancing with Miss Charlotte Lucas.
For the next hour she chatted with friends, but nobody approached her to dance. That pleased the jealous part of Darcy’s soul but made his heart ache on her behalf. Could no other man perceive how wonderful she was?
However, the ballroom was full of militia officers who did not know the Bennet family’s reputation or share the provincial prejudice against magic.
Darcy knew it was only a matter of time until one of the officers invited her to dance.
But when it happened, it was as if Darcy had been plunged into an icy bath.
Wickham was leading Elizabeth onto the dance floor.