Chapter Two #3
Elizabeth could protest no further; Mr. Darcy led her across the room to join the set beside Jane and Mr. Bingley, who both looked at them with happy surprise.
Mr. Darcy was a fine dancer; Elizabeth was chagrined, and a little annoyed to discover it. “You acquit yourself well, sir; shall I next discover you cavorting around a fire, or painting your face with woad?”
He barked out a laugh before schooling his countenance into a mirror of her own arch expression. “I shall limit my oddities to eavesdropping for the time being.”
“A very gracious repayment for my condescension, in standing up with a gentleman who was slighted by other ladies.”
Elizabeth had just enough time to relish his look of understanding before the music came to an end.
The other dancers all applauded one another, but Elizabeth merely dipped into a curtsey before stalking toward the instrument.
Mary had delighted them for long enough, and Elizabeth had no wish to speak to anybody of her brief dance with Mr. Darcy.
Darcy watched Elizabeth stride away, marveling at her confident steps. He was an ass. It was mortifying to have his own indefensible insult flung back at him, all the more so because she clearly had no interest in hearing his apology. And he was sorry indeed.
Though his approval of his friend’s growing regard for the eldest Miss Bennet had faltered at times, due to the behavior of her relations, Darcy had come to esteem the second Miss Bennet above anybody else he had met in Meryton.
He now found her quite fetching. Her figure was light and pleasing, her manners were beguiling in their playfulness, and her dark eyes were rendered uncommonly intelligent when she spoke.
It struck him as strange that she and Miss Bingley had been so often in conversation this evening, and at the dinners Miss Bingley had attended since recovering from her indisposition.
Since the abatement of her megrims, Miss Bingley had been aloof toward Darcy, and he could not fault her for it.
He appreciated that it must have been difficult to hear him speak as he had done when she was eavesdropping, but it was done for the best.
But then, Miss Bingley had been cordial to the eldest Miss Bennet; even now, she was smiling in conversation with Bingley and his lady.
Darcy had made a point of voicing his approbation of Bingley’s interest in Miss Bennet in the hope that Miss Bingley would likewise accept it, for he had seen her interfere in previous attachments she had thought beneath her brother.
He was gratified that Miss Bingley had taken his words to heart, though this could not explain her interest in Miss Elizabeth.
Darcy wondered if perhaps Miss Bingley believed that Miss Elizabeth’s manners, which were open and artless, were more suited to her gregarious brother. The thought nettled at him. No indeed, Bingley would do better with the placid beauty than the satirical minx.
When Miss Bingley turned away from her brother, Mr. Darcy moved that way and stood beside her at the periphery of the room; the spot afforded them a view of Miss Elizabeth at the pianoforte. “I believe I can guess your thoughts,” he said to her.
Her eyes widened a little. “I should imagine not.”
“Surely you are thinking that it may not be as bad as you feared, to pass so many evenings in such a fashion, now that you have come to know Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth a little better. You quite despaired of the society when first we came, but since Miss Elizabeth’s kindness when you were unwell, I have witnessed you taking pains to nurture the acquaintance.
Your efforts must mean a great deal to your brother. ”
Miss Bingley smiled, but her eyes betrayed her surprise; Darcy had never praised her so directly, for fear of giving her false hope.
Her eyes narrowed a little, a wicked smile playing at her lips.
“And I suppose now you are the one thinking it insupportable to be amongst such company, for I have been sociable, but you have spoken very little.”
It was another first for her to speak so archly to him, and infinitely better than her previous fawning.
He began to hope that they might continue as friends, now that the possibility of his marrying her had been forever closed.
“No indeed. I have danced a little; my mind is more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”
She made a droll face at him. “Can you mean Elizabeth Bennet? Has my itinerant physician made such an impression on you? Pray, when am I to wish you joy?”
Darcy felt his face burn as Miss Bingley’s smile grew genuine. “You do your new friend mischief with such a rapid imagination—from admiration to love, and love to matrimony. But I expected you to be wishing me joy.”
“And so I shall, when the matter is settled. You and Charles shall be brothers, and all your children shall hear the tale of how you once said that she was not handsome enough to tempt you.”
Darcy’s mirth ebbed away as once again a lady cut him to ribbons and then left him alone with his recriminations.