Vol 1, Chapter 3
The two oldest Lucas boys danced the first set with Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, Franklin Lucas with the former and his younger brother John with the latter.
Esther opened the assembly with Julian Goulding, while her parents danced a few couples down the line from their youngest daughter and watched her with obvious pride.
The Netherfield party had not arrived by the time the first set finished in fact, they only arrived as the second set was ending.
Darcy would not have been unhappy about being so late but for the reason, which, of course, was the cloying Miss Bingley.
He was hoping that she would not be fishing for compliments about her outfit, he did not know if he had it in him to prevaricate as much as would be needed to find a compliment.
As he entered, Bingley saw a blond angel being led back to Mr Bennet, who had thankfully called on him at Netherfield, so he led his party over. He greeted Mr. Bennet first, then turned his attention to the blond goddess in an obvious bid for an introduction.
Darcy stalked off before he could be introduced, believing that the whispers throughout the room as they entered were from people discussing Bingley’s wealth, and his own, which happened at practically every ball they attended.
Had Darcy listened and not assumed, he would have heard comments on a visage, the pleasure of being able to meet new friends, and planning of invitations so that they would feel welcome in the neighbourhood, for none were vulgar enough to talk about money.
In his preoccupied state, he did not see the looks of disdain that he was receiving from the locals for his rude and arrogant behaviour in being unwilling to stay for an introduction to one of their most prominent members.
“Good evening, Mr. Bennet,” Bingley bowed.
“Welcome, Mr. Bingley,” Bennet returned. “Would you introduce me to your party, please?”
“Well I never!” Miss Bingley fairly screeched. “How can it be that this man asks you to introduce us? Does he think he is above us and our wealth?”
“Caroline! Please forgive my sister, Mr. Bennet,” Bingley asked contritely, not missing the looks of scorn directed at himself and his party from those nearby.
“That, I assume, is your younger sister, Miss Bingley,” Bennet glanced at her then proceeded without allowing Bingley time to respond.
“Given that you and your sisters are the children of a tradesman, I will forgive Miss Bingley’s rudeness this one time.
” Miss Bingley’s pallor was changing colours, soon almost matching the colour of her hideous ensemble.
“As I am a landed gentleman, as are a good number of those here, you are the lowest ranked in the room. Therefore, it is my prerogative to request the introduction.”
“Caroline, hold your tongue! Not another word!” Mrs. Hurst hissed at her sister quietly, and Miss Bingley’s surprise ensured her silence, as she was not used to her sister censuring her.
“May I introduce the rest of my party?” Bingley asked nervously and Bennet nodded. “Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hurst, my brother-in-law and sister, my younger sister you already identified. This is …” Bingley trailed off, for the first time noticing that Darcy was no longer with his party.
“My wife Mrs. Bennet, my oldest daughter, Miss Jane Bennet, and my two younger daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Esther Bennet.” Each lady curtsied as they were introduced.
“Miss Bennet, may I have the honour of your next set?” Bingley requested hopefully.
“I am sitting out the next, Mr. Bingley,” Jane replied. Seeing the question in his look she explained that all the young ladies would sit out at least two sets to allow others to dance. “But I have the one after that free, if you would like it.”
“Thank you, Miss Bennet.” Bingley then turned to her sisters. “Are either of you free for the next set?”
“I have a partner, Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth informed him.
“My card has a space on it,” Esther replied shyly.
“Then shall we, Miss Esther?” Bingley offered the youngest Bennet sister his arm and she laid her dainty hand on it lightly.
Darcy had begun to notice a chill in the air as he walked around the room, but it was not the weather.
He danced a set each with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and having discharged his duty to his hosts, he stalked around the room with his mask of hauteur and disdain firmly in place.
He had developed the mask soon after coming out into society.
It was bad enough when he was merely the heir, but when he returned to society after mourning his father, he felt like a fox trying to escape a pack of rabid hounds.
He found the mask effective at keeping any but the most determined from him, and for those he would make a curt comment and excuse himself.
Most got the message; Miss Bingley was an unfortunate exception.
The time dragged on. He again walked around, and this time he began to notice that not only did no one seem interested in him, they also seemed disdainful of him!
How could it possibly be that these inconsequential nobodies with no class, wealth, or connections were disdainful of him? He was Fitzwilliam Darcy!
Bingley approached his friend and got his attention. “Come, Darcy,” said he. “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. The next set will begin in under three minutes. You had better dance.”
“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room with whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with,” Darcy returned with disdain.
“I would not be so fastidious as you are for a kingdom!” cried Bingley. “Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them who are uncommonly pretty. Did you not meet the Bennet sisters? They are all handsome women, Darcy.”
“You danced with the only handsome girl in the room,” Darcy averred, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet who was talking to a friend across the hall.
“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!” Bingley followed his friend’s eyes to see who he was referring to.
“In fact, she is an angel. But there is one of her sisters, sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty and, I dare say, very agreeable. Do let me ask Miss Bennet to introduce you.”
“Which do you mean?” Darcy asked and, turning around looked for a moment at Elizabeth until he caught her eye.
He withdrew his own and coldly said: “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me. I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your current partner, for you are wasting your time with me.” Bingley was ashamed of his friend’s rude words, and it did not help that he was receiving frosty looks from those around him.
Elizabeth, who had been sitting out one of her two planned non-dance sets, heard every word.
She had enough self-confidence to know the rude man’s words were not true, as her mother praised her and her sisters’ inner and outer beauty consistently.
Her first inclination was to give the arrogant and proud man a set-down, but her manners won out and she refrained.
Darcy heard a tinkling laugh as the young lady who had been sitting nearby walked past him.
He was aware he had been overheard, which was part of his aim so he could destroy any hopes of those present, so far below him, who might think he would lower his standards to dance with them.
As the Bennet daughter with the chestnut curls walked past him, she turned and gave him such a look that, if he had been made of water, would have frozen him instantly.
She had the greenest eyes he had ever seen, and they were blazing with anger directed at him.
It was then he looked at her, truly looked at her for the first time, and discovered his words a lie.
While it was true that she looked different from her blond sister, more petite though full figured, she was the opposite of his assertion to Bingley.
He had never before seen a woman as beautiful as she.
He watched her join her sisters, some friends, and an older couple he assumed were her parents.
It was then he noted that their gowns were much finer than he would expect to see in a market town.
He cringed when all of those around her turned and looked at him as if he were the lowest in the room.
Darcy suddenly wanted to find a rock beneath which to crawl and hide.
“Lizzy, what that man said about you was beyond the pale,” her mother agreed when Elizabeth had relayed what had transpired. “However, we will not be the cause of gossip; you know how your father and I feel about that subject.”
“I know, Mama. I will not repeat what happened to any outside of this circle,” Elizabeth promised.
“You are a good girl, Lizzy,” her father added.
“Miss Lucas and Miss Maria, I ask the same of you, not to repeat what that man said, despite his lack of manners. I will inform your father so you will not be withholding information from him.” He smiled gently at them when both Lucas girls promised Mr. Bennet that they too would remain silent on the subject.
“Bingley, what say you that we leave?” Darcy approached his friend.
“I think that is best, Darce,” Bingley replied and went to collect his sisters and brother-in- law. “Sir William, my friend is fatigued from his travels today, so we are departing early. Thank you for inviting us to the assembly.” Bingley said to their host before they departed.
The remaining participants at the assembly enjoyed the rest of the dance, and the Netherfield Party was missed by no one.
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