Chapter 18
After leaving Mary and her brother to dance, Amelia went to the supper room.
Of course, at the low subscription prices for these assemblies, a full meal was not served, but there were a couple platters of cheeses, some bread and sweet rolls, and hot tea, as well as a large punchbowl of negus.
She would have preferred a cool beverage to the warm wine punch, but as it was the only other option, Amelia moved towards the table.
As she reached for the pewter handle of the ladle, her hand collided with another’s. She jerked her hand back with a small gasp and heard a familiar chuckle.
“Forgive me, Amelia. It seems we are again wanting the same thing at the same time,” Mr. Bennet said.
Amelia took a step back, and gave a small curtsey.
“Good evening, Mr. Bennet,” she said formally.
Noting his confused countenance, she glanced around to see whether anyone was watching.
Assured they were not being observed, she said in a lower voice, “Pray pardon the formality of my greeting. I only wish to keep from drawing attention to ourselves, of course.” She turned away slightly and casually picked up a punch cup. “I am so happy to see you, Eugene.”
“And I you,” he said softly. “May I?” He took the cup from her hand and filled it with the warm mixture of port wine, water, and sugar, and handed it to her, then served himself. The two strolled to a corner of the room where they could observe others.
“You are not dancing?” Mr. Bennet asked.
“I had a set reserved with my brother, but I felt a bit faint from the heat and asked him to escort Mary onto the floor instead so I could get a drink.”
“Mary? But she rarely dances.”
“Really? She seemed content to do so. Oh dear, I hope I have not erred in asking her to step in for me.”
“The only issue will be whether she knows the steps at all! Robert may have a challenge on his hand, but it will likely be fine. Do not overly concern yourself.”
“And…are you of a mind to dance tonight, Eugene?” She kept her eyes on the others in the room as she asked, a serene, impersonal expression on her face as if they were not truly having a conversation.
In a similar fashion, Mr. Bennet looked placidly straight ahead. “I know very few of the newer dances, but if they play a tune for a good old country dance, I might be inclined to take to the floor. If…you would be my partner.”
Amelia briefly cut her eyes over to see whether he was teasing, but he appeared in earnest.
“I should love it above all things, but…would that be wise? You have nearly six months more of mourning. People would talk.”
“Let them. If I do not have some happiness in my life, I believe I shall not live the next six weeks altogether, Amelia. You are all I think of, day and night.”
“And you are so often in my thoughts, I fear Robert thinks me quite addlepated these days. More often than I care to admit, he has to ask me something twice because I did not hear him the first time. My mind being more…pleasurably occupied.”
A movement at the door caught Amelia’s eye, and she sharply drew in her breath.
Mr. Collins was entering the supper room.
He immediately spied her and gave a nod along with what Amelia thought was a smirking smile.
Struggling to remain calm, Amelia finished her drink and set the cup down on a nearby table.
To anyone observing, there was nothing that would signify she and Mr. Bennet had anything more than a casual, genial relationship, but she knew Mr. Collins had deep suspicions.
She should leave the assembly soon, perhaps tell Robert she was unwell.
She turned to curtsey to her companion. Under her breath, she murmured, “I must decline any dances with you tonight. But soon, Eugene, soon.”
She swept out of the room, leaving him gazing with longing after her.
***
Kitty plopped down on a chair next to her sister.
“Oh, it is utterly stifling in here! Why do they not open any windows?”
“I feel quite comfortable,” Mary replied. “But then, I have not been dancing nearly every set as you have.”
Kitty sat up again, her eyes shining with excitement.
“To own it, Mary, I do not think I have ever been more popular at an assembly! Without Jane and Lizzy to steal my thunder with their beauty, some gentlemen are noticing me for the first time, it seems. But you look quite well, Mary—your hairstyle is so becoming and Mama’s necklace goes perfectly with your new dress. ”
Mary gave Kitty a sharp look—was she sincere? She appeared so.
“Thank you. Much good it does me though. I have only had the one dance with Mr. Yarby, and I am certain it was only because Amelia asked him to do so.” As she spoke, her eyes followed the rector, still on the dance floor—now with a girl Mary knew only slightly.
Agnes was her name, she recalled. Blonde, lithe, and exceedingly pretty, Agnes was sixteen and just come out into society.
Did Yarby find the girl attractive? She could not tell. She prayed not.
Kitty frowned. “And yet I believe he thinks highly of you.”
Mary turned her attention from the dance floor to her sister. “How so? Why do you say such a thing?”
“Because he told me so while we were dancing.” Kitty rolled her eyes. “Quite rude to speak of another lady while dancing with me, in my opinion, but as it was only you—my sister—I suppose he did not think it would be impolite.”
“What…did he say about me?”
“Oh, something about your having a fine mind. He admires that you like to read. I think he was trying to encourage me to read more, but there is no one in the family who cares for reading less than I. Except for Lydia, of course. Oh, I am so looking forward to Lydia being here with the twins! Do you think she will bring us both presents? Quite frankly, I don’t expect much this year with Mama gone.
How could Papa possibly know what to buy us?
I can only hope Jane and Lizzy send nice gifts. ”
She prattled on about her eagerness for Christmas, but Mary did not hear a word she said.
He thinks I have a fine mind! My plan to win him with my intelligence is working. Now that I am back, I shall continue to bring my questions of scripture to him. And soon—soon he will no doubt figure out that he could not choose a better wife from among the ladies of Meryton than me.