“Well I never!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed at the same volume she had called for Lydia. “What a rude, disagreeable man. Any man would be fortunate to dance with my darling Lydia.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five Bennet sisters, who had turned twenty in March past, rather than join her mother and sisters, had been intercepted by Julian Goulding for the second set and had been standing with him and his parents when Sir William had introduced her mother and some of her sisters to those residing at Netherfield Park.
She had seen the moment the man she assumed was Mr. Bingley took notice of her dearest sister, Jane. Like many before him, he had seemed to be instantly smitten.
Being a sketcher of characters, she decided the two who were obviously Mr. Bingley’s sisters thought themselves far above the company, even though she was aware the family’s money was derived directly from trade.
Given her favourite uncle, Edward Gardiner, her mother’s younger brother and Uncle Philips, married to her aunt and mother’s older sister, Hattie, were both in trade, it would have been hypocritical of her to judge them for their roots.
From the little she had seen, it seemed the overdressed sisters were doing everything they could to distance themselves from trade, the very thing which had purchased their wealth.
The taller of the two men was easily the most handsome man she had ever seen, even with the foreboding look on his noble mien. Her mother said something to the man. Whatever it was she said to him caused him to walk away while Mama was still speaking. He looked decidedly unhappy with whatever she had said to him.
Elizabeth did not miss when her mother had screeched for Lydia causing the latter to come to her side, with Kitty in tow. She could only assume Mama was trying to push a young girl who should be in the schoolroom at the tall man who, if she had to guess, was twice her youngest sister’s age.
Of course her mother could not but expose the family to more ridicule as she flung rather loud and obnoxious comments at the retreating back of the handsome man.
The start of the second set saved Elizabeth from the additional mortification she was sure her mother would have engendered had the dance not been called.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As much as he did not want to dance with her, Darcy was stuck dancing with Miss Bingley for the first set he danced. Mrs. Hurst was to dance with her husband the next set, so he would do his duty as a guest and dance with her during the fourth set.
The set with Mrs. Hurst would be the last he would dance at the country assembly. If it was not judged rude not to stand up with the hostess of the house where he was being hosted, Darcy would have not asked Miss Bingley, with her overly applied scent, to dance. He did not object to the upcoming dance with Mrs. Hurst like he did the one he was trapped dancing with Miss Bingley since the older sister was married.
As he danced he heard talk offive thousand a yearandten thousand a yearbeing bandied about by those at the ball. Why was it that any ball he attended his purported income was soon discussed, even when away from theTonin Town.
He knew not, but all he needed was to survive the dance with Miss Bingley so he could have some solitude before the dance with Mrs. Hurst.
During the dance, Miss Bingley made snide and sneering comments about the area and its inhabitants. Darcy did not feel she needed his input so he remained silent willing the dance to end.
It finally did. Darcy led Miss Bingley to her sister and brother-in-law and then, before she could latch onto his arm, he gave a quick bow and walked away. With his mood even worse than when he arrived, thanks to having to suffer Miss Bingley’s company, he found a corner of the room and hid himself away as best he could.
He did not see or care about those around him, and he certainly did not notice the petite, dark haired, emerald green-eyed young lady who took a seat right behind where he stood.
Chapter 2
Bingley was captivated by the angel with whom he was dancing. When the ball’s third set commenced—his second—he had the pleasure of leading the gorgeous Miss Bennet to the floor.
He was completely lost when she bestowed the first of her smiles on him. She was everything a young lady should be. Miss Bennet was blond, blue eyed, tall, and willowy. Add to that she was very proper and demure. Even better, she was not like so many women Caroline pushed at him who uttered an unending stream of inanities which passed for conversation.
As they danced, Bingley could not help but notice his friend skulking in one of the corners of the room. He was well aware a ball was not Darcy’s favourite pastime, and in particular he seemed out of sorts of late. Yet in Bingley’s mind it was no reason to behave like a bear with a sore head in a neighbourhood where the Bingleys were attempting to establish themselves. When he asked Miss Bennet who the lady was, she indicated it was her next younger sister.
The first dance of the set ended and Bingley was aware he had a few minutes until the next one began. “Please excuse me Miss Bennet,” Bingley requested as he bowed over the beauty’s hand. “I need to go speak to my friend; I vow to return to you in time for the second dance of the set.”
“You will find me here, Sir,” Jane averred demurely.
As he walked Bingley noticed the Bennet sister he had not met, who his partner had pointed out to him, sitting just behind where Darcy was doing his best to blend in with the large potted shrub behind him.
Darcy saw his friend’s approach, hoping Bingley would not importune him to dance, but he was sure it was a vain hope. He girded his loins for the coming confrontation.
Elizabeth had been watching Jane dance with pleasure. She had not missed the way Mr. Bingley was looking at her Janey. It was a look she had observed not a few times before from other men on seeing Jane for the first time.
She was sitting the third set out by choice. Because of the scarcity of men due to the war with the little Corsican’s army, by general agreement all the young ladies chose two sets to sit out so anyone who desired to dance would have a chance to do so. Her second set to sit out would be the sixth.
If Charlotte had not been engaged for this pair of dances, Elizabeth would have sat with her best friend—well best outside of Janey—rather than on her own as she was now.
