Chapter 24 #2
“Now, is that likely, after the charming package they sent to you yesterday?” Priscilla asked.
“They went to your favourite sweet shop and sent us all our favourite confections, and Lydia even sent you that lovely bouquet of flowers. I am certain she picked and arranged it herself. We are confined to the house until your brother has made us safe, but our friends will be waiting when it is over.”
Anne was troubled by matters of a more romantic consideration. Days had passed since Mr Bingley had promised to teach her how to dance. Had he forgotten? Was she so uninteresting as to leave his thoughts the moment she was out of his sight?
“It is an unreasonable delay,” she complained. “How unfair that villainy must interfere with my plans.”
Mr Bingley appeared on Saturday, with a lovely arrangement of flowers and enough cheer that everyone in the house must be improved by his appearance, in Anne’s opinion.
Anne had never received flowers before from anyone except her cousins on her birthday. It had never occurred to her that she might merit such attention. She blushed as they were presented.
Mr Bingley bowed over her hand with gratifying seriousness. “Miss de Bourgh, I hope you will forgive my tardiness. I have been assisting your cousin, but I am here to keep my promise.”
“Of course, Mr Bingley. It is good of you to remember.” Anne set the flowers aside.
“I trust you have not overexerted yourself since I last saw you? I would hate to see you take ill if we forge ahead when we ought to have waited.” His expression was hopeful.
“I have done nothing but look at clothes since we last met,” Anne assured him.
“Excellent! I admire your restraint, Miss de Bourgh.” He smiled gently. “It would not do to strain yourself. Now, we need someone to play the instrument. Might one of your cousins indulge us?”
He rang for the maid, and some minutes later, they were joined by Georgiana, who went quietly to the window without speaking, and Priscilla, who was prepared to be of assistance.
“First, I should like to have Lady Priscilla demonstrate the steps if she will be so kind. And perhaps Miss Darcy would assist us at the pianoforte?” Mr Bingley directed.
“Oh! I could not possibly, just now.” Georgiana nearly flinched at the request.
“Of course you can, Miss Darcy,” Mr Bingley encouraged. “It is only a dance lesson for your cousin. Nothing scandalous. It is not even a Sunday. It cannot be considered wicked.”
Georgiana smiled slightly at his cheer, and Priscilla looked triumphant as her cousin began to play, for she had not touched the instrument in days.
Priscilla raised her skirts a few inches so her cousin could observe her steps. Mr Bingley took Anne’s hand and led her to stand beside her cousin, and tentatively, she began to imitate Priscilla.
“One, two, three–one, two, three–very good, Miss de Bourgh!” Mr Bingley praised. “See, it is not so very hard.”
Anne’s brow furrowed in concentration. This was the first and most important undertaking she had ever begun, and she could not bear to fail. Especially not in front of Mr Bingley. She turned in the same manner as Priscilla. Perhaps her movements were not as graceful, but they were competent.
“Capital!” Bingley was thrilled.
“Truly?” Anne asked in surprise.
“Indeed!” Mr Bingley assured her.
“I feel that I am not as elegant as my cousin,” she worried.
“No one is so elegant when they are just beginning, Anne,” Priscilla promised her. “I was gangly and stepped all over everyone’s feet when I began learning. Even my own.”
Mr Bingley and Priscilla danced together in great exaggeration to demonstrate the turn that was expected next, and Georgiana could not help but giggle from her place at the pianoforte.
Priscilla seemed pleased by this and endeavoured to behave in an even more cheerful manner. The oppressive mood seemed to lift from Georgiana as the two ladies and Mr Bingley worked with Anne.
After a half hour of such activity, a small crash was heard from a nearby room, and, murmuring an apology, Georgiana rose from the pianoforte and rushed from the room to see what had happened. With a promise to return soon, Priscilla followed her, leaving the door ajar, as was proper.
Alone in the room, Bingley turned to Anne. “Are you tired?”
“A bit,” she admitted.
“Then you must rest!” He went to lead her to a chair.
“Not yet!” she objected.
“Miss de Bourgh, you must not over-exert yourself.” Mr Bingley looked at her in concern.
“It is only…” she trailed off.
“Yes?” He smiled gently.
“I have waited so long. I am not ready to stop,” she admitted.
“Very well, but we must take it quite slow, and you should rest soon.” He watched her face carefully for signs of strain.
“I will,” she promised, and he took her hand and led her through the first steps of the dance.
They danced slowly, without music, and Anne spent much of it looking down at their feet and counting.
“You are doing quite well, Miss de Bourgh,” Mr Bingley said. “Soon, you will remember the steps without effort, and you will be less nervous, I promise you.”
Anne glanced up, and their eyes met. Suddenly, even though they were quite alone, it was as if the entire room seemed to melt away. Their steps faltered, then stopped entirely.
After a long moment, Anne coloured, then looked down. Then she met his gaze again. “Thank you.”
“It is my pleasure to be of service to you, Miss de Bourgh.” He bowed low and kissed her hand as her heart pounded wildly.
When Georgiana and Priscilla joined them again twenty minutes later, the two of them were sitting on a sofa together while Anne rested, and Mr Bingley questioned her about the things she had never done, and what she would like to do.
“I am stronger than my mother gives me credit for, I am sure of it,” Anne was saying.
Bingley looked outraged on her behalf. “I am certain of it, Miss de Bourgh. It does not seem that there is any proper reason for you to be so ill.”
“My mother insists that exertion is nearly always lethal,” Anne continued. “But it does not seem to do other ladies any harm.”