Darcy laughed. “We know Daniel well. He is our business partner, and we go back many years. His wife, Caroline is my daughter’s namesake. I expect them both with their children in a week or two. Perhaps, you can stay with us. We have plenty of room.”
The young man did not really acknowledge the offer, but instead, looked at Caroline, and spoke quite carefully.
“I must apologise Miss Darcy. I believe you overheard part of a conversation, and based on what I could see of your subsequent discussion with them there lunkheads—”
Darcy and Elizabeth laughed heartily, already quite enamoured with the young man. Any man who could tease better than Charles Bingley on first introduction was to be treasured, and his accent was to die for. They had no idea if that was an American affectation, or the man was just amiable, but either way, they were quite pleased.
Caroline was not sure what to say, but he did at least manage a smile.
He continued, “You see, Miss Darcy, you may have missed the part where I admitted I do not have the vaguest idea how to do this kind of dance and was certainlynot tempted to start offwith such a beautiful lady by stomping on her toes or tearing her dress.I offer you my sincere apologies for any offence.”
Caroline gave him an enormous smile, her sense of embarrassment over her incorrect but nearly immutable first impression, (a defect she shared with her mother), being thoroughly stomped by her pleasure at the compliment from a handsome man. She had to admit that a man calling her a ‘beautiful woman’ was not, in fact, the worst thing he could have said.
She was watching him so intently, she did not hear her father whisper to her mother,‘What if I had done that at the Meryton Assembly?’, or her equally quiet answer,‘Where would have been the fun in that?’
Instead of listening to her parents, who, to be honest, were done paying any attention to her anyway, she said, “No apology is necessary, Mr Baker. I would be happy to teach you. The steps are fairly simple, and we can go over into the corner for an impromptu lesson.”
“It would be my greatest pleasure, Miss Darcy.”
With a happy heart, Mr Fitzwilliam, and Mrs Elizabeth Darcy watched their most precious daughter, (aside from the other two or their three sons), start a journey that could well end up with a second Caroline Baker existing in the world—or not, there was no point in trying to predict the future before the first dance.
As Mr Darcy gave Mrs Darcy a kiss that was just a little bit on the far side of propriety, they watched the show and quite liked what they saw. There was no hurry to learn if they would like the young man or not. They had all the time in the world. Marriage was a serious business and not to be rushed!
After all, it wastill death us do part.
~~ Finis ~~
