Chapter 1.5 #4
As Bingley was accompanying Miss Bennet in the garden, Darcy spent the next half hour in the library in Mr Bennet’s company.
The older gentleman was pleased by the opportunity, but little conversation was possible between the two gentlemen, Mr Collins being present and bestowing continuous praise upon Lady Catherine’s nephew.
Shortly, Mr Bennet brought up the subject of Mr Wickham.
Darcy’s reaction was swift and forceful, confirming for Mr Bennet the tension between the two gentlemen, but he offered only kind words for Mr Wickham’s late father and a brief comment about how he and Mr Wickham had become strangers in the last several years.
As they were not alone, there was no opportunity to speak further on the subject.
The return of the ladies brought them to the drawing room. Refreshments were offered and accepted, and the conversation became easy and animated.
After a few minutes, Darcy mustered the courage to secure a chair close to Elizabeth, and she greeted him with obvious pleasure.
They talked about the weather for a while, but their voices soon were overshadowed by those of the younger Miss Bennets and their mother as they voiced their eager anticipation of the upcoming ball.
Wary at having been refused twice before when he had ventured to ask Elizabeth to dance, Darcy whispered, feeling more embarrassed than he could remember in years, “Miss Elizabeth, speaking of the ball, might I be so bold as to ask for your hand…for a set? I mean…if you still have a set available and if you might feel inclined to dance with me…” He looked and sounded most uncomfortable, almost shy, like a young, insecure lad.
Elizabeth would have laughed had she not been so surprised and thrilled. She felt her heart beating so furiously that she was afraid he could hear it.
“Mr Darcy, I think I shall be very much inclined to dance, thank you. Would you prefer a particular set?” She tried to sound teasing and smiled at him, but she knew her voice was trembling a little.
“No, indeed. I understand that most of your dances are secured, so I should be happy to be accepted for any of them.”
She looked at him, raising her eyebrow in wonder.
“Where did you hear such a thing, sir? Indeed, you are mistaken. I have been asked only for the first set by Mr Collins and for the second by Mr Wickham.”
“But…” He searched her sparkling eyes in confusion, making an effort to remember what he had heard in the garden and to understand why she denied something she said earlier.
Elizabeth could perceive his struggle, and the feeling of having such power over him delighted her profoundly; she could make him happy or miserable with only a word.
She preferred the former, so she added in a playful manner, “If I remember correctly, I told Mr Wickham earlier—if that is the circumstance to which you are referring, sir—that I was already engaged for the first set and would be happy to secure the second for him. Did you hear me say something different, Mr Darcy?”
She was shamelessly flirting with him in front of her entire family and knew she would be embarrassed later at her behaviour, but for the moment, she simply could not restrain herself. From his reaction, she could see that at least he was not displeased with her.
Darcy was not at all displeased; in fact, he was more delighted than he had been in a great while.
Only an hour earlier, he was miserable at the thought that she still preferred Wickham to him, only to discover that she not only refused that man but also offered him the very thing Wickham had requested.
“No, I did not hear anything different. I was just not attentive enough to understand the true meaning of your words. Happily, it is now I who have reached a clearer understanding.”
They were speaking only to each other, their gazes steady, ignoring everyone else.
Her eyes sparkled and her lips tightened in an attempt to stem her laughter while he needed all his strength to fight the desire to take her into his arms. For a second he considered doing just that in order to compromise her and be forced to marry her, but he censured himself for his thoughts.
I am definitely losing my mind. With a discreet smile on his face, Darcy leaned slightly towards Elizabeth, continuing to seek the desired answer.
“Miss Elizabeth, if you are not otherwise engaged, may I request the supper dance?”
“With pleasure, Mr Darcy.” Finally, you have understood!
To her utter surprise, however, he continued his inquiry. “And, as I am such an unpleasant fellow and there are no other ladies desirous of dancing with me, may I dare ask for the last set as well?”
Elizabeth stared into his dark eyes a moment, her surprise obvious.
To be invited to dance by Mr Darcy was a pleasant thought for her and quite amazing, as he made it well known that he disliked such activity.
But being invited by him for two sets was unbelievable, and so it would be for everyone in the neighbourhood; the gossips would have ample ammunition for several days!
Was he aware of the implications? She could only hope he was.
Not wanting to show her dismay, she answered teasingly, “You may dare ask, Mr Darcy, and yes, I shall accept, thank you, but only if there are no other ladies desirous of your company and no other gentlemen ask me for the favour of that set.”
He lowered his voice, clearly flirting with her. “This is not at all fair, Miss Elizabeth. You put my request under a condition impossible to achieve. It is very likely your card will be filled before the ball begins, and that is precisely why I ask the favour a day before the event.”
She held his eyes briefly, blushing from his closeness.
In order to conceal her emotion, she answered in the same whispering voice while lifting a flushed and smiling face to him.
“It is not at all an impossible condition, sir. As we both know, I was slighted by other men on a previous occasion, so it is likely to happen again.”
Darcy took the hit as well as he could, knowing he deserved the reminder of his outrageous words against her. He searched her eyes to be sure she was not upset, and she was not; the laughing sparkles were still there, and he breathed in relief.
Putting aside his usual reserve, he allowed himself to take full delight in her company. He even enjoyed being teased and found great amusement in teasing her back, so he responded before fully pondering his reply.
“Your harsh words are well deserved, Miss Elizabeth, and I shall do everything in my power to make amends for my comment on that dreadful evening. Perhaps ten or fifteen years of proper behaviour will be sufficient to obtain your forgiveness.”
Before Elizabeth could completely grasp the import of his words, they were interrupted by Mr Bingley, who had just declined Mrs Bennet’s invitation to stay for dinner. He explained that he had much unfinished business as he was forced to leave for London the day after the ball.
Mrs Bennet’s disappointment was at least as great as Jane’s was, but she expressed it in a far more blaring and inarticulate manner.
She became somewhat calmer when Bingley explained that he was hoping to resolve his business in town within a week and that neither his sister nor Darcy would accompany him.
He also promised to accept a dinner invitation for the first evening of his return, indicating that it was time for them to take their leave.
A few minutes later, both gentlemen departed for Netherfield, content with their day and leaving behind the two eldest Miss Bennets: one smiling sweetly to Mr Bingley and the other still trying to recover from the shock of Mr Darcy’s words and the implication of what he had said to her.
∞∞∞
After a glance towards his daughter, Mr Bennet went directly to the library; understanding the message, Elizabeth followed him only a few minutes later.
“Sit down, my child. Would you like a drink? We have much to discuss, and it might take a while.”
“Is there something particular you would like to ask me?”
“Yes, I want to ask you about many particular subjects. For instance, I understand there is a story you should share with me.”
“I do not exactly know what you mean, Papa.”
“Really? So there is more than one story you should share with me?” She did not answer.
“Well, let us start with the end. Would you be so kind as to tell me the story involving those two gentlemen I had the pleasure of meeting today? That is, if you trust your father well enough to reveal such a secret.”
Elizabeth hesitated a few moments before she finally began to relate what she heard from Mr Wickham.
She was displeased about having to tell her father such a disadvantageous story about Mr Darcy precisely when she was so uncertain of her own feelings regarding both gentlemen.
As she spoke, she watched Mr Bennet, but his countenance was unreadable.
When she finished, he looked at her silently for some time and then finally spoke.
“Well, my child…that is quite a story, is it not?”
“Yes, indeed. However, Papa, as Jane said, it is possible that a great misunderstanding provoked the story.”
“Aha. Jane said that? But what do you say, Lizzy?”
She looked at him and blushed deeply. “I must confess I did trust Mr Wickham implicitly. I never questioned the veracity of what he told me—at least, not until very recently.”
“I see… Are you involved in some sort of relationship with Mr Wickham?”
“Papa, how can you ask such a thing? Of course not! I met Mr Wickham only four days ago!”
“Well, you could have misled me in this as well. Considering your private discussion with the gentleman, I should say you were intimately involved.”
She looked at him gravely and lowered her eyes. “Mr Darcy asked me the same question. He, too, implied that I must have had a close acquaintance with Mr Wickham or he would not have trusted me with such a private matter.”