Miss Bingley looked from her brother to her sister and back again. She refused to accept what they were saying. She would be silent for now, but she would show them soon enough. They would never be invited to Pemberley or Darcy House once she was mistress.
“It is time to form the line to cast pearls before the swine.” Miss Bingley lifted her nose and with a swish of her gown, led the way to where they would line up.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As affable as Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam normally was, when he was angered, it was a fearsome thing to see. At the moment he was furious, and a certain miscreant was very fortunate Richard did not know how to find him right then.
For not the first time he turned to those who had seen Wickham in the park earlier that day. “Tiffany, Giana, ladies, you are sure all you could see was he was a Lieutenant in the militia, not the battalion or the regiment of which he is part?” Richard interrogated again.
He had spoken to the two footmen who could not tell him anything beyond the fact the man was an officer in the militia. The companions and his cousin could not identify the rank. Thankfully though, from seeing him start as a second lieutenant and his subsequent merit-based promotions, Tiffany could identify the ranks of men in uniform.
“No Rich, as we told you beyond recognising he was not in the regulars and his rank, we can tell you no more,” Tiffany told her brother patiently.
“Richard, you are not disappointed with me for losing my composure and striking him, are you?” Georgiana verified.
“No Giana, not at all. I am sure William will also be as happy as I am that you did. Do not forget his own reaction in Ramsgate,” Richard assured her. “It is not something I would recommend you repeat, but if anyone deserved it then that bas…reprobate did.”
Tiffany gave her younger cousin anI told you solook. Giana had been nervous about her guardians’ reactions, and although she still needed to write a letter to William telling him what occurred, after Richard’s assurances, she felt far more confident.
“Richard, it is just as well you do not know where he is this night,” Lord Matlock stated stoically. “You would have done something rash and we do not want to see you arrested because of something you did to that brigand.”
The Colonel had to acknowledge the rectitude of what his father said. He would not begin this night, but he would begin to look for Wickham. He should never have allowed William to stop him from dealing with the profligate wastrel after Ramsgate. In the Colonel’s mind, Wickham made a fatal error as soon as he approached Giana again.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy stood in his bedchamber, a little behind the half-drawn curtains. His window looked down over the drive so he had a good view of the carriages as each one stopped and disgorged its occupants.
With his opinion regarding Mrs. Bennet pushing her daughters at any eligible man in place, Darcy was very surprised the Bennets were not one of the first families to arrive. By the time he saw Mr. Bennet and a man he had not met yet alight and turn to begin handing out the women, more than twenty conveyances had already emptied themselves of their passengers.
He watched with fascination—telling himself he was simply interested in the tableau in front of the house—as Mr. Bennet handed out his wife, and then his eldest daughter. The other man, who from his outfit Darcy could see was a parson, handed the middle Bennet out of the carriage. Just when Darcy feared Miss Elizabeth had remained at home, her father leaned into the cabin one more time and handed out his second daughter.
The light from the nearby torches reflected off her hair pins. Her gown was a simple light green and seemed to compliment her complexion perfectly. Her shoulders were hidden under a heavy pelisse but from what he could tell, she wore ivory elbow length gloves.
Miss Elizabeth was even more beautiful than he remembered and without knowing it, Darcy had been pulled to the window like a moth to a flame. It was at that moment Miss Elizabeth looked up at him. At first, he did not move but after a few beats, Darcy jumped back as far into his chamber as he was able. He felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment at being seen staring at the object of his fascination by none other than the lady herself.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth had been seated on the forward facing bench next to Jane who was in the centre while her mother was on Jane’s other side, while Father and Mr. Collins sat on the rear facing bench with Mary between them.
She was the final one to be handed out of the carriage before Papa closed the door and the coachman followed the torches to the field where conveyances were being parked for the duration of the ball.
They were about to climb the stairs to the front doors when she felt the sensation of being watched by someone. She lifted her eyes to the second floor of the mansion and there stood Mr. Darcy, doing what he often did, staring at her.
She could not but smile when she saw the way he disappeared as soon as he realised she had seen him looking at her so intently. ‘What could Mr. Darcy mean by the way he always looks at me?’ she asked herself in her head. ‘Could Janey be correct? Is it admiration and not disdain in his looks? Surely not, he would have no interest in me, the dowerless daughter of an insignificant country squire, not to mention he is engaged.’
Jane dropped back so she was next to Lizzy while her parents led the way followed by the engaged couple. When they passed the doors, Mr. Nichols was directing a cadre of footmen who were relieving the guests of their outerwear.
Bennet led his wife to the receiving line. There were cold, but polite, greetings and welcomes from Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. Miss Bingley made thinly veiled disdainful comments and Mr. Bingley was as affable as always.
Bennet wondered if the three siblings had been born of three different mothers; they were so dissimilar. He saw the instant Mr. Bingley spied Jane. His whole countenance lit up with pleasure. Bennet followed his eyes and there was Jane returning his look. He had never seen his eldest show so much emotion in public before.
Just as Jane and Elizabeth reached the Hursts behind Mary and her fiancé, Mr. Darcy arrived in the entrance hall, the other side of the line. Elizabeth had to contain her laughter when she saw Miss Bingley attempt to leave her place next to her brother to make for Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley had to physically restrain his sister.
Even though Charles stopped her from going to Mr. Darcy’s side, Miss Bingley was aware he was looking at her intently. That was until she noted his eyes were following the hated Eliza Bennet as the hoyden moved.
Elizabeth greeted Miss Bingley who pointedly ignored her so she moved on to the brother. “Allow me to apologise for my sister’s rudeness,” Bingley stated contritely.
“You are not the one who needs to do so, Mr. Bingley, although the gesture is much appreciated,” Elizabeth allowed graciously.
