Darcy was fighting to remember his need not to be too prideful and arrogant all the while his aversion to being with those he did not know was welling up in his gut. He saw the portly man with the ruddy face and balding head approach them and tried his best to keep to the back of the group. At least the shrew had not attempted a death grip on one of his arms—yet.
“You and your party are most welcome, Mr Bingley. Except for the one man, I met all of you when I called at Netherfield Park. Would you introduce me to your friend please?” Sir William requested.
Just before he pointed out that it should have been his prerogative to request the introduction, Darcy heard Bingley address the man.
“Good evening, Sir William,” Bingley bowed, “It is my pleasure to present to you Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. Darcy, Sir William Lucas of Lucas Lodge.” The two men bowed to one another.
He thanked his lucky stars; he had not opened his mouth and inserted his shoe. Darcy would not have liked to be embarrassed before all of those present at the ball. After bowing, he said nothing after hearing vaguely that the newly met manwas about to lead them to meet others who were in attendance. He would have thought Miss Bingley would eschew meeting any of the locals, but for some reason the woman seemed keen to be introduced.
Henry drifted back to where his parents and younger sister stood while Mrs Phillips, Jane, and Lizzy caught up with one another. Miss Lucas followed him. He was aware that Maria Lucas had a tendre for him, but he saw her only as the sister of Franklin and Johnny Lucas. Just as he and Miss Lucas arrived, Sir William approached with the Netherfield Park party in tow.
Although he could not understand any titled person not wanting to be addressed by it, Sir William was well aware of the Queen’s edict and Lady Rebecca’s preference regarding how she was to be introduced. “Bennet, I know you called on Mr Bingley, but may I introduce those from Netherfield Park to Mrs Bennet and those of your family who are present?” Bennet nodded, and Sir William made the introductions to those who had not met the Bingleys and Hursts before, and Mr Darcy to Bennet as well.
Bennet schooled his features. Mr Darcy kept his eyes down; hence, he had not seen Becca, because if he had, he would have recognised her as his aunt’s niece.
The man in question made no rude comments, but he gave into his feelings of uncomfortableness and headed to a corner of the assembly hall, which housed a large potted plant, which he hoped would help hide him.
Elizabeth watched from her position between Jane and Charlotte as the tall, extremely handsome man stalked off across the room and took up station behind the indoor shrub. She was as sure as she could be that he was the unmet cousin, Mr Darcy. She ascribed his actions to his dislike of being among those he did not know and not because he thought himself above everyone else in the room.
She noticed Sir William leading the remaining members of the party towards where she, Jane, and Charlotte were standing. Elizabeth saw the instant that the younger man with the strawberry blond hair took note of Jane.
From his reaction, combined with Papa’s descriptions of him, she was sure it was Mr Bingley.
Chapter 17
Bingley had never before seen such a perfect example of an angel. He had been infatuated with others before, but seeing this woman with perfect looks—deep blue eyes, golden blonde hair, flawless features, tall, and willowy—made the others pale in comparison. He could not wait for Sir William to make the introductions so he would be able to beg the beautiful creature for a set, or two, or three.
As soon as Mr Bingley’s eyes locked onto her, Jane could see that the report Mama and Papa had commissioned about his background had been completely accurate. He was leering at her as if she were a side of beef in the butcher’s shop.
“Mr Bingley, Mr and Mrs Hurst, and Miss Bingley,” Sir William had noticed that the man from Derbyshire had defected, “it is my pleasure to introduce you to my eldest daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs Frank Phillips. I am sure you know Phillips, as he is Netherfield Park’s agent.”
Caroline Bingley cared not about some lowly knight’s offspring; she almost urged the man to introduce the two ladies standing next to his daughter. Miss Bingley could smell quality from fifty yards away, and although their gowns were not nearly as fashionable as her own, there was no mistaking the quality. The simple dresses the two were wearing were far above the gowns most of the mushrooms in attendance were wearing.
Suddenly it hit Caroline: when the knight introduced the lady as Mrs Bennet, and the daughter as Mary, she had not paid attention to their outfits. She had assumed that there was no world in which Lady Rebecca would be known as Mrs anything and not by her title. She remonstrated with herself for not paying more attention to the lady, her son, and her daughter.
Caught up in her thoughts, she turned to a lady nearby. “Is Mrs Bennet’s familiar name Rebecca?” she asked without introduction.
It just so happened that the lady she turned to was Beth Bennet, who was sitting with Mrs Goulding and Mrs Purvis, the mothers of the current masters of the two respective family estates. “I am sorry, Miss… We have not been introduced, so it would be improper of me to reply to you,” Beth stated with an expressionless face. “It seems Sir William was attempting to introduce you to two of my granddaughters; mayhap they will be able to gratify your curiosity.”
The setdown she intended to deliver froze in her throat when Caroline noted that the older matron’s gown was the same quality as the two younger ladies. She was snapped out of her thoughts by Sir William.
“Miss Bingley, I was about to introduce these two diamonds of the first waters to you; would you like me to continue?” Sir William enquired.
“Please,” Miss Bingley responded curtly.
“It is my pleasure to make known Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Sir William drawled.
“Miss Bennet, may I have your first available set?” Bingley requested.
“My third is available, Mr Bingley,” Jane replied coolly. She had considered refusing him, but she decided not to sit out for the whole of the assembly.
Bingley was disappointed that she had not granted him her first set. As such, he asked Mrs Phillips to dance; she granted him the second as she was to dance the first with her husband. Miss Elizabeth wrote his name in for the fourth set as she was to partner someone for the opening set.
It took all of her self-control to not interject while her brother asked for dances. Caroline was certain these were the Duke of Devonshire’s granddaughters. Surely there were not another two ladies in the realm, both named Jane Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet, who were sisters, in the age order she expected them to be. Providence had smiled on her to find the ladies she had dreamed of meeting. It was shocking it had occurred here in this little nowhere hamlet.
If things went according to her plans, she would no longer need Mr Darcy and his connections. The granddaughter of a duke was much better than the nephew of an earl. “Miss Bennet, did you have your coming out ball during the Little season of 1807? And Miss Elizabeth, was yours during the same season of 1809?” Miss Bingley enquired excitedly.
Jane and Elizabeth looked at one another. As much as they did not want to confirm this social climber’s suspicions, they also would not dissemble. Lizzy gave a tight nod. “Yes, Miss Bingley, those were the dates of Lizzy’s coming into society, as well as my own two years prior,” Jane acknowledged.
