“Richard told me he has never seen his cousin so keen to dance with any lady, and until tonight, he had never seen him dance more than once with anyone.”
“He did seem to single you out for his attention,” Kitty added.
“You mean as Mr. Bingley did with you,” Elizabeth responded to take the attention from herself.
“He only danced with me once,” Kitty deflected.
“True,” Elizabeth said with a sly look. “However, he didrequestanother, and I heard you explaining our parents’ stricture regarding not dancing more than one set with any man until you come out in London.”
Now it was Kitty’s turn to blush.
“Kitty did exactly what she should have,” Fanny interjected to settle things. “Your sister cannot control who asks for how many sets, and with Mr. Bingley being new to thearea he was not aware of the rules we have imposed regarding dances with Kitty until next year.”
Elizabeth decided to hold her peace and not mention their tenant at Netherfield Park had not requested a second set of any other dance partner.
“Thankfully all five of you are very good girls and know how to behave with decorum and propriety.” Bennet looked at his wife and took one of her hands in his own, and added, “I, nowe, could not be more proud of all of you.”
“Regarding the future, none of us know what it holds, soque sera sera. When and if there is something to decide, it will be done at that time.” Fanny smiled at her girls.
Fanny and Bennet had noted Mr. Darcy’s marked attention to Elizabeth before he had requested and danced the final set with her. If he continued to pay exclusive attention to his second daughter, Bennet would ask him about his intentions towards Lizzy.
As much as she wanted Lizzy to be happy, Fanny was selfishly hoping if that was where things led, there would be a lengthy courtship and engagement period.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The three men on their way back to Netherfield Park were all in very good spirits. In fact, Darcy felt downright jubilant.
His eyes pointed to the heavens. ‘Mother and Father, I think I have found the other half of my heart,’ Darcy told his late parents silently. ‘I know, I know, it is far too early to be sure, but I feel it in my heart that Miss Bennet is the one. Yes, I will take my time and get to know her before I do anything precipitous. I can already tell how intelligent and witty she is, and she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. Her eyes! I was lost as soon as I looked into the finest eyes in the world, at least in my opinion. She is so very much more than her looks.’
His silent communication with his late parents wasdisturbed when Richard, who was sitting next to Bingley on the forward-facing bench opposite his cousin, kicked his foot. “William, where were you? I called you three times.”
“Please pardon my inattention, Richard,” Darcy requested contritely. “What did you say?”
“Never have you singled out any lady before as you did with Lizzy tonight,” Richard pointed out. “As one of her brothers, I must ask you what your intentions are towards my sister.” He then turned to the smug-looking man sitting next to him. “Bingley, my sister Kitty had better not be another one of your ‘fall in and out of love with’ ladies.”
Bingley’s smug look faded in an instant. “I-I d-do not do that…any longer,” Bingley spluttered.
“Do not forget, Kitty is only out locally and will come out in London next year, which is why she could not dance a second set with you,” Richard warned.
“Miss Kitty did explain that,” Bingley responded.
“William, did you forget about my question?” Richard reminded him with raised eyebrows.
Darcy had rather hoped his cousin had forgotten about him once he had focused on Bingley. No such luck. How could he explain the feelings roiling within himself to Richard? He could hardly understand them himself.
“All I will tell you is that my intentions towards your sister are completely honourable,” Darcy assured his cousin as the coach began to slow for their arrival at Netherfield Park.
“All jesting aside, I know you would never trifle with a lady’s affections,” Richard slapped William’s back after they alighted from the coach. “What say you two, a nightcap is in order, is it not?”
Neither of the other men disagreed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Caroline Bingley heard the coach arriving.
After the way her aunt had dealt with her, she was not confident the reception from her brother would be very warm. She cared not for his approbation. All that was important was Mr. Darcy being in the same house, and she would compromise him this night. She was aware the door leading into the hallway was locked and being guarded, but as much as she abhorred having to use it, the servants’ door and corridor would enable her to escape her chambers. Once out, she would discover where Mr. Darcy was sleeping.
When he woke up next to her naked form, he would have no choice but to marry her. Caroline was sure she was about to get her due.
