“Mr Darcy, I am touched by your kindness.” Jane bowed her head. “I have done nothing to deserve such consideration.”
“I disagree, Miss Jane… you have done so much.” Darcy shook his head. “Even for my dear sister, you gave her confidence to find friends in the Bennet sisters, and to give encouragement to Miss Mary. You have helped my family immeasurably, please do not doubt it.”
“Has my future husband convinced you to visit us at Pemberley?” Elizabeth joined them excitedly. “You shall not disappear when we find your family, I must insist that we correspond often, and that you visit me in Derbyshire.”
“I would enjoy that above anything.” Jane hugged the young lady that she never thought to have the opportunity to befriend.
“Do you know whatIwould enjoy above anything?” Henry Crawford said, bounding up to them. “I would enjoy dancing withyou, Miss Bennet. My sister just informed me that there is often dancing, and if there is, I shall perish if you do not join me for the first.”
“Miss Bennet’s first is spoken for.” Mr Darcy scowled.
“It can’t be, old boy, but I credit you for trying. You could not have known there would be dancing.”
Elizabeth gave a peal of laughter. “Mr Darcy is acquainted with our hosts and their habits, Mr Crawford. In any case, as my future husband, he shall have any set he desires.”
“It is tragic, Miss Bennet–or should I say–soon-to-be Mrs Darcy–that a man arrives two days too late to claim the prize of a lifetime. Had I arrived only a sennight earlier,Imight have been your-soon-to-be-husband,” Mr Crawford flirted with Elizabeth outrageously, immune to the presence of her betrothed.
“Fortunately, Mr Crawford, I am not at all fond of tragedies,” Elizabeth replied, with a flicker of unease in her eyes. “Yours, or anyone’s.”
“They say that an engagement lends a woman a certain radiance,” Crawford persisted. “I wonder if you were as lovely before you were lost to mankind?”
“I fear you may be the sort of gentleman who always prefers that which is not his, so I doubt it.” Elizabeth threaded her arm around Darcy’s.
“I toast you, Darcy.” Crawford raised a glass of punch. “To the triumphant hero–and to the rest of us–who must content ourselves with lesser women.”
“Is he being purposely offensive?”Miss Kitty whispered in Jane’s ear as she joined them.“Mama sent me to talk to him, but I do not think I like him.”
“I hardly know,”Jane whispered back.
Their party broke up as Lydia called for Mary to play so they could dance. Charlotte Collins volunteered in Mary’s stead so that her young friend might join the others for once. Jane watched the couples line up; Darcy and Elizabeth, the Colonel and Miss Mary, John Lucas and Miss Long, Mr Frederick Goulding and Miss Lucas, Mr Rupert Hurst and Miss Crawford, and last, Mr Crawford and Miss Lydia, who was as proud as anything to have been the first to bring the young gentleman to the floor. Mrs Bennet, Mr Bennet, and Mr and Mrs Bingley all glared indignantly at the couple. Lydia was only supposed to dance with her unmarried sisters, Maria Lucas, and other young ladies her age, and perhaps John Lucas or Charles. Lydia knew that she was not meant to be taking to the floor with such a gentleman. Matters in her corner had changed greatly when she returned from Brighton the previous summer.
A few minutes after the set began, Mr Crawford’s motive was clear. Suddenly he nimbly switched partners with Mr Rupert Hurst, and so was dancing with his own sister. A few moments more, and he suddenly switched with Mr Goulding, and a few moments after that, Mr Lucas. It was quite obvious that the man was determined to make his way down the line to Elizabeth and sweep her right out of Darcy’s arms.
What audacity! This man could destroy lives.Jane watched the scene with interest.It cannot be coincidence that these characters travelling toNorthamptonshire–who are so outrageous–were sent here so that I might observe them.
As she watched Colonel Fitzwilliam elegantly stick out his foot and trip Mr Crawford before his own partner could be stolen, Jane finally knew what would happen next in Mansfield Park. Thankfully the dance had separated Crawford from Miss Long, and so the young lady was not pulled down into a compromise. Miss Lydia, outraged that she had been so ill used, stamped her foot and fled to her mother, who scolded her soundly.
Colonel Fitzwilliam executed that rather well.Jane watched as Sir William encouraged Mr Crawford to avoid the dance floor if he was indeed so clumsy, and referred him to stay by the side to speak with Mr Collins, who was also challenged by the dance, and therefore abstained.
As Jane observed the party returning to normal, she knew what she must do when she returned to home and her writing.
Chapter Twelve
Friday 11 December1812
“Jane! Are you up here? Miss Jane?”
Jane looked up from the trunk full of old clothes and sundries that Mrs Nicholls directed her to when Jane informed her that she wished to give Mrs Bingley something to thank her for her hospitality, but had no funds with which to do so. Mrs Nicholls said that there were antiquated but stunningly beautiful items in the trunks left by previous residents that perhaps she could make up new, and Jane was of the hope that she could find something worth embroidering for her hostess.
“I am here, Lizzy!” she called as Elizabeth entered the attics. “Mrs Nicholls thought I might find something that I could turn into an acceptable gift for Mrs Bingley. Look at this wrap! So well stored and preserved! Not a moth hole in sight! Have you ever seen such a lovely blend of silk and cashmere?” Jane held up a shimmering white wrap that must have belonged to one of the previous families of the house. “Do you think that Mrs Bingley would mind if I embroidered this and gave it to her as a thank you for all her kindness? Is it even appropriate to give her a wrap from her own attic?”
“I think it is a lovely idea, and Jane would be so touched by the gesture,” Elizabeth answered. “She sets great store by her needle work, and admires yours greatly. I think she would be very happy to be presented with some of your work.”
“Now I only need to see what Mrs Nicholls has for thread,” Jane mused. “She told me I could look through her sewing box.”
“You know, there is a very fine dark green embroidery thread inmysewing box–which is–I fear–terribly neglected.” Elizabeth inspected the wrap admiringly. “If you used that, it would complement the green gown she plans to wear to the ball. There are even some lovely little seed pearls and beads I never used because I have never enjoyed sewing, particularly. You must come and take what you like!”
Ten minutes later, the ladies had searched Elizabeth’s sewing box, which had been well stocked throughout the years, as Miss Bennet found lovely threads and more to fill it with, but while Elizabeth had no objection to possessing a well stocked sewing box that could serve all of her needs, she did not enjoy needle work for pleasure. She even gave Jane her hoop and sewing bag, so Jane might move the work about the house easily and hide it from Mrs Bingley when necessary. Jane objected to the generous supplies that her friend pressed upon her, but Lizzy insisted that she would soon be Mrs Darcy, and could replace the items easily.
