The Grand Entrance
By a stroke of luck, the Bingleys entered between the first and second sets.
Darcy thought ruefully that, had he remained at Netherfield, Miss Bingley would have delayed them another half-hour fawning over him, and they would have brought the second set to an abrupt halt in the middle so everyone could stare at them like beasts in the menagerie.
As it was, he whispered a few more words to Elizabeth, then nearly sprinted across to meet the group before Sir William got them in his clutches.
Elizabeth, taking his suggestion to heart, laughed gaily, spoke to Sir William for a minute to give the poor man time to instruct his friends, then went to find more conspirators.
She had noted the haughty expressions of the ‘ladies’ and correctly suspected they were the cause for poor Mr Darcy being stuck depending on advice from Lizzy and Flora (not that being in such a position was anything to complain of).
She watched with a grimace how the woman tried to take Mr Darcy’s arm, but amusement when he dodged it adroitly. She wondered if he habitually dodged her, or did the ‘polite’ thing, which was apparently to allow someone to manhandle you in the first circles.
~
“Mr Darcy, what has gotten in to you? Why, we—” Miss Bingley screeched the moment he joined.
Darcy, having no time and less inclination to listen to her blathering cut her off.
“Miss Bingley!” He snapped angrily and stared at her until she stopped. “Your brother told you well in advance the time we were to leave. I will not be chastised for leaving a half-hour after the agreed schedule.”
She stared at him in stunned disbelief. He was a taciturn man but usually bound by the rules of politeness to hold his tongue.
She wondered if one of the country mushrooms had gotten her hooks into him but could not believe it.
She wondered if her idiot brother or Mr Hurst had done something to annoy him, or even Louisa, who was admittedly not the brightest woman she knew.
Darcy said, “I have made several acquaintances, such as Sir William, the master of ceremonies, while you did… whatever it was you were doing. I managed to pass myself off with some credit, but I have something to ask of you… nay… demand!”
Both Bingley sisters gasped, since Mr Darcy was well known for his politeness, and never demanded anything.
Bingley laughed openly, “Speak and we shall comply.”
He had no idea what had happened to his friend, but whatever it was, he was all for it. He had been a shell of a man since the previous summer, and while Bingley had no idea why, it was an established fact, and he was about fed up with it.
Darcy continued, “I try to be a private man, but somehow my status always somehow follows wherever I go. The people of this good community have welcomed me, and I do not wish them to know anything of my situation they do not get from my own lips, in my own time. Am I rightly understood?”
Caroline’s first thought was that he may as well have slapped her, since she routinely boasted of his status to ride his coattails, and coincidently to promote the idea that they were more than they seemed. It had worked for years, but he seemed altered.
Her second thought was far more agreeable.
If the country mushrooms of this village knew he was a first-circles gentleman with ten thousand a year, the claws would be out, and every unwed daughter or niece in the county would parade through Netherfield.
If they thought him less, or even ambiguous, then only she, Miss Caroline Bingley, would be in the running, for his attentions.
It took her less than another minute to conclude he did it all for her!
~
Just before Sir William began his assault, Darcy turned to Caroline.
“Miss Bingley, might I request the penultimate set?”
“Of course, Mr Darcy,” she purred, wondering what it all meant.
She supposed they had already missed the first, a country assembly would not have a supper, and the last might be too fast for the man.
The one before would do nicely, and it was not as if they could leave early with her brother in the party.
Sir William accepted introductions from Bingley and suggested they had some time before the second set began to secure introductions to the principal families.
He naturally started with his own and was gratified when Mr Bingley politely requested Charlotte’s next set.
She was happy as well, though she doubted it would amount to anything, since it never did. The man had not even met Jane yet!
She thought very practically that, if Mr Darcy was only modestly prosperous, Charlotte might have a chance, and if he was more prosperous than he seemed (which would imply more money than fashion, considering how rumpled he looked), one of the Bennets might capture him, and then she would have a wealthy friend.
Either way, she would not be hurt by dancing with either Mr Bingley or Mr Darcy.
Miss Bingley was far less gratified when Mr John Lucas politely asked for the next set.
Darcy could easily see the thoughts circling her head and refrained from laughing at the accidental success of his plan (barely).
He would follow Sir William and get introductions to the principal families, even those he had already met.
She would not stray from his side; thus, she had to be introduced.
Once introduced, any man worth his salt (or more likely under Miss Lizzy’s explicit direction), was practically obliged to request a set.
She could not decline without losing out on her set with Darcy.
She was neatly trapped into dancing almost as much as her brother!
When they were introduced to the Bennets, Bingley reacted exactly as Darcy predicted, and Jane reacted exactly as Elizabeth had. It seemed a promising inclination, but it was early days.
Darcy obviously could not ask Elizabeth again, so he asked Mary, who happily, though confusedly, accepted.
He got the idea she did not dance often.
As to the two youngest, he was happy Miss Elizabeth gave him a subtle headshake suggesting he ignore them, which he was happy to do.
They seemed less mature than young Flora, and that seemed far from ideal.
Besides that, they were children as far as he was concerned.
The second set started with Darcy dancing with Miss Mary, Bingley with Miss Lucas, Caroline with John Lucas, and Elizabeth sitting out; though Darcy could see her flitting around like a bee, which he presumed was in furtherance of her diabolical plan. She was a genius!
Halfway through the night, Bingley spoke during the space between two dances.
“I say, Darcy, I was fully prepared to encourage you to dance rather than standing around in a stupid manner. I can assure you that I worked on the speech for an hour at the least. Now it is superfluous, but I feel I cannot waste the effort. Shall I give it a go.”
Darcy laughed gaily, an unheard-of event in new company. “If you feel the need, let fly.”
With a laugh, Bingley chastised him for standing around in a stupid manner, and suggested he ask Elizabeth for a dance. Her eyes filled with mirth, she joined him and suggested he had chosen his victim wrong, as Mr Darcy had already very kindly danced with her.
With a laugh, Bingley went back to his second set with Miss Bennet. It took him days to work out the logical conclusion of a lot of things that had not added up.
They had entered the room at the second set, which meant that Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire, danced the first set for the first time!
He wondered if he would ever tell Caroline but thought not. He would just enjoy being the only person at Netherfield who knew, aside from Darcy of course.