A flush stole over her face as her imagination carried her away.That lock of hair brushing his left brow adds to his masculine beauty.
“And the gentleman behind him?” asked Abigail.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth replied. “They are so alike in feature, they might pass for brothers.”
“They must be closely related then. Perhaps handsome cousins,” Abby said lightly. “Our little assembly is well supplied with handsome young men tonight.”
Mrs. Bennet gathered her daughters together and asked Sir William Lucas to introduce them. Miss Caroline Bingley received the civility with thin courtesy, and the sour-faced woman withdrew from the Bennet women as soon as it could politely be done. She followed her sister and Mr. Hurst to a corner of the room, as far as they could get from the press of people. Mr. Bingley, however, looked at Jane as if he had been transfixed, and begged the favor of her hand for her earliest open set of dances.
Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, meanwhile, moved closer to Elizabeth and bowed over her hand with a warmth that pleased her. Darcy said, “Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Gardiner told me you lived in Hertfordshire, though he never named the town. I feel very fortunate that it is located only a few miles from Netherfield Park.”
The colonel grinned at Elizabeth and added, “You may be sure, Miss Elizabeth, that our morning rides will often bring us into Meryton.”
She asked teasingly, “Into Meryton, sir?”
“In hopes of meeting with you,” he said lightly.
“I live a mile farther along at Longbourn, my father’s estate,” Elizabeth answered. “I am most often found upon Oakham Mount in the early hours. I do not ride, so I am beholden to my own two feet if I wish to catch the sunrise.”
“An early riser,” the colonel laughed. “There is not one lady of my acquaintance who seeks the dawn.”
Darcy said, “My sister is with us and hopes very much to see you again. May we ride to Longbourn tomorrow to pay our respects?”
Elizabeth felt the compliment and colored with pleasure. “We shall be at home, Mr. Darcy. I would only warn you that I am one of five sisters, and the youngest two are very young indeed. You have been introduced. I pray you will suspend judgment of the elder pair when you come to know the younger sisters a little better.”
Darcy’s smile revealed his white, evenly spaced teeth and, to Elizabeth’s surprise, a pair of dimples. “I shall not judge you at all, Miss Bennet. I have come to know you already as a well-bred and obliging young lady. May I have your next available set?”
“Because of the war and the claims of the universities, we are sadly short of gentlemen,” she said with a playful air. “Accordingly, our rules differ: one may dance more than twice with the same partner; and owing to the scarcity, my next set is free, sir.”
“The one after is mine,” the colonel said at once.
Alexander Lucas stood at the far side of the room beside Miss King, watching as the men from the Netherfield party spoke with Elizabeth. He made sure they were flirting with her.
He had returned to Meryton only last week, after a three-week visit in town to stretch his wings,as his father had called it. Yet he had not paid a call on the Bennets, most especially on Elizabeth, and now felt the loss of her company.
When Darcy asked for her hand a second time, Alexander’s jaw tightened, and he swore under his breath.
“The devil, she is dancing with that peacock again.”
Miss King looked at him in surprise. “Why should it matter? Your mother said she means nothing to you.”
Alexander bit his lip. He had promised his mother he would try to see if the new heiress held any attraction for him, but thus far, he found her insipid.
Darcy led her out. Her bright manners soon drew him from reserve; he smiled, and now and then even chuckled. The second dance of the set proved to be a waltz. Elizabeth felt a touch of embarrassment, but Darcy appeared very well satisfied by the choice and brought her on with quiet assurance. His hand rested at her waist, and her hand lay in his. Always the gentleman, he kept a proper distance; she was conscious of the strength and precision with which he guided her through the turns. He was very handsome, and he carried with him the clean scent of fine linen and shaving soap. He met her eyes and held them. Elizabeth had never enjoyed a dance so entirely.
When the set ended, he returned her to the side of the room where Jane now stood with Mr. Bingley in cheerful conversation. Colonel Fitzwilliam claimed his turn. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, he had made a quiet arrangement with the leader of the musicians; his set also included a waltz. He talked delightful nonsense in the first dance and quite carriedher along in the second. When he led her back, Elizabeth owned to herself that the two handsome cousins had turned her head.
Miss Bingley approached at that moment and laid long fingers upon Darcy’s arm, leaning close to whisper in his ear. Elizabeth could not help noticing the ease with which the lady took possession. Mr. Darcy disengaged himself with visible discomfort and, turning from Miss Bingley, said to Elizabeth, “Miss Bennet, you are a fine dancer. I enjoyed our set very much.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she said with a smile. “I imagine you dance in London with the brightest flowers of the ton, so I take your compliment to heart.”
Miss Bingley gave a short laugh. “Miss Elizabeth’s step is very light, though her slippers have seen much service.” Her gaze fell to Elizabeth’s feet, then lifted to her gown. “Indeed, Miss Elizabeth proves that a lady may please without expense. Nothing about her attire is new, and yet she has managed to capture the attention of some.”
Color rose in Elizabeth’s cheeks, but Mr. Darcy spoke at once. “It has long been my opinion that natural beauty requires little aid. Miss Elizabeth could attend an assembly in stockinged feet and wearing a frock fashioned of flour sacks, and still outshine every woman in the room.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Since the usual restrictions don’t constrain us, may I have your next free set?”
“Yes,” she said, recovering her composure. “The next is free.”
The colonel gave a low laugh. “Then I, likewise, shall avail myself of these freedoms and lay claim to the following set.” Elizabeth smiled gratefully at him and agreed.
