They looked over and saw his sister waving for his attention, and he took his leave of her. She observed him look at his sister’s sketchbookand compliment her, as Elizabeth rose and made her way to join her sisters and their group. She followed them for the rest of the day, and just before she was handed up into her carriage, Miss Darcy rushed up to her and thrust a drawing of the abbey at her.
“Elizabeth, a keepsake of your visit here,” she said breathlessly.
“Oh, what a darling you are, Georgiana!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she admired the drawing. “Thank you so much for your kindness.”
“You are very welcome, Miss Elizabeth.” Miss Darcy curtsied and turned away.
“Georgie!” Elizabeth called after her. “Please, thank your brother for his kindness as well.”
Miss Darcy gave her an incandescent smile, and returned to her carriage with Miss Bates.
CHAPTER 28
The party often paired off to dance a few reels each evening, but once a week, Mrs Darlington arranged a proper dance for her guests. There were no society rules attached to these dances. For example, a couple could dance as many times as they chose, more than three times even, and nothing would be said. A lady could decline to dance with a gentleman and still dance with others, and no one would judge her for it. Every other dance was the waltz.
Mrs Darlington certainly knew how to give her guests the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company without expectations being raised by society, Elizabeth observed to herself as she made her way downstairs with her sisters. She saw no harm in the departure from such rules with proper chaperones present.
There were two others present. Mrs Darlington liked to invite her parson and his daughter on such evenings. They did not concern themselves with the number of times her guests danced with each other, and it gave Miss Irving the opportunity to socialise outside of her own neighbourhood. Mrs Darlington always hoped the spinster would meet someone at one of her parties and make a match. Miss Irving was twenty-seven, and with a dowry of only five hundred, never had a suitor.
“Look at the flowers, Lizzy, Mrs Higglebottom told me that they are made of silk, so that Mrs Darlington need not empty her gardens on our dances each week. The ladies spent an entire winter creating them.” Mary pointed out the decorations to Elizabeth, who was duly impressed. The Bennet ladies all chorused a compliment to their hostess as they entered the room.
“Enjoy yourself tonight, Mary dear.” Elizabeth pressed her sister’s hand as they parted. “It has brought me great joy to see you appreciated as you deserve here.”
“Who would believe thatIof all the ladies would havetwo suitors?” Mary giggled.
“I would believe it, and I cannot wait to learn who will win your heart.” Elizabeth waved her sister off as the music started, and Colonel Gordon approached to claim Mary’s hand.
Elizabeth danced the first with Mr Cartwright, but thereafter she was popular enough that her hand was sought by most of the gentlemen over the course of the evening. She was one who they felt comfortable dancing with in between paying attention to the ladies they truly wished to court. Elizabeth had no objection to making conversation with most of them, even though she had no romantic hopes.It is better than attending an assembly in Meryton,she thought.In Meryton, all of the men take the opportunity of a dance to persuade me to invest in something, and the women act as if I behave like a trollop each time I take to the floor.
She accepted Mr Elwood’s arm into supper, understanding that while Colonel Gordon was courting her sister, Mr Elwood would use the opportunity to learn more about Mary from Elizabeth.
“Mr Elwood, I understand that you are very passionate about your charities. I have accompanied my aunt for her charitable outings in London many times. What endeavours do you favour with your time?”
“I enjoy my work with the wounded officers most, Miss Elizabeth.” The man looked surreptitiously over at Mary as he spoke. “Although, I also volunteer at several schools, to teach special skills, and I am on the board of two orphanages.”
Elizabeth listened to the man speak of his interests throughout the meal, and answered his questions about her sister, noticing that Mary looked over to Mr Elwood nearly as often as he looked at her.
“May I have this dance,Miss Elizabeth?” Mr Darcy bowed in front of her as she re-entered the ballroom after supper.
“You may,” answered Elizabeth in surprise as she took his arm. Why should Mr Darcy wish to dance with her? A waltz started, and her cheeks flamed. Oh heavens, was her countenance to betray her admiration for the man against her will? She blushed wildly as she fought to keep her reaction to him under control.
He had so far only danced with his sister, Miss Bates, and the parson’s daughter, presumably as a kindness to his aunt. Elizabeth darted a glance at Mrs Darlington and saw her host watching them with interest, and blushed further as she noticed his sister and his friends doing the same.
If Elizabeth thought drawing the man out on a walk in the early morning was difficult, it was nothing to making him speak on a dance floor in front of a room full of people.
“This is a very pleasant waltz,” Elizabeth tried.
“Oh yes, most invigorating.” Mr Darcy avoided her eye.
After a moment, Elizabeth tried again. “It is your turn to say something, Mr Darcy. I spoke of the dance, now you ought to make a remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.”
“Whatever you wish to hear, Miss Elizabeth, consider it said.” Mr Darcy smiled at her cheek.
“Very well then. That will do for the present. Perhaps by and by, I might observe that these private dances are much pleasanter than public ones. But for now, we may remain silent.” She did her best not to think about the muscles of his arm moving under her fingers as they spun about the floor. She was beginning to feel dizzy. Traitorous was her countenance tonight!
At length the dance ended, and Elizabeth escaped onto the terrace. “Lizzy, are you all right?” Jane followed her outside swiftly. “You looked almost unwell while you were dancing with Mr Darcy.”
“I am so mortified, Jane!” Elizabeth cried. “Mrs Darlington told us not to chase her godson, and I cannot help it. I admire him, and tonight, I could not hide it.”
