When the music began, each gentleman went to claim his respective Bennet daughter for the first set. Darcy noticed Richard lined up with a happy, glowing Mary Bennet. Darcy could not but notice the contentment on Lizzy’s face as he took her hand and led her to the line forming for the dance and was charmed by it.
After five minutes of silent dancing, Lizzy chose to speak. “Come now, Mr. Darcy, we must have some conversation; a very little will do. We cannot spend a half hour completely in silence.”
“Do you hold conversations as a rule when you dance, madam? If so, what would you like to discuss?” he asked, his eyes soaking in her beauty as he waited for her reply.
“I suppose I could be unsociable and taciturn and remain silent, but this evening I prefer otherwise,” Elizabeth teased.
“I am happy to oblige you, Miss Bennet, please advise me what you would most like to hear,” he returned her jest.
“I could mention the number of couples enjoying the dance and you could remark on the size of the room,” she quipped. “Perhaps by and by I may observe that public balls are not as pleasant as private ones,” she said, arching a brow.
Darcy laughed at her impertinence, enjoying it very much because her words were spoken without malice. “Tell me, do you and your sisters often ride, Miss Elizabeth? I was most impressed with your equestrian skills,” Darcy said, wanting to prove he admired her abilities.
“Yes, Mr. Darcy we do. We ride as often as we can. I also like long rambles in the country. I love to walk as much as I love to ride my stallion, Mercury. Some have called me a great walker. I have been known to return from my walks with petticoats six inches deep in mud. It vexes my maid most exceedingly.” She smiled playfully and he chuckled.
“Both Georgiana and I share your forms of exercise as well, Miss Elizabeth. Pemberley gives us the opportunity for both,” he informed her, holding his breath as he waited for her reaction.
“I think I would like to see Pemberley one day. I have heard both you and Georgiana describing it in glowing terms. Aunt Elaine, Uncle Reggie, Andrew, and Richard have also admired your estate, and have spoken of it and you often through the years.” She started to blush, knowing her speech could be construed as fishing for an invitation to Pemberley.
He noticed it, and his smile deepened. “Do not make yourself uneasy, Miss Elizabeth. Both Georgiana and I would love for you and your family to visit Pemberley. It is, after all, less than two hours by carriage from Snowhaven. I have been considering taking the Earl to task for not bringing you to see us. How pleased we would have been had he done so.” He grinned, relief and pride filling him when she laughed.
They had no chance to continue their conversation because the explosion they all expected, but had hoped would not happen, took place.
After entering the assembly rooms and garnering none of the notice she thought her due, hearing persons of low standing daring to snicker after noticing her outfit, and then noticing the raven-haired beauty dancing withherMr. Darcy—that last straw broke the camel’s back—Caroline told herself, ‘Pemberley is mine! No country chit will take what is mine from me! He hasneverdanced the first set with me!’
When the Master of Ceremonies came to offer his services to Miss Bingley and make introductions, she soon discovered the chit dancing the first set withherMr. Darcy was none other than one of the Bennet daughters.
She now despised anyone named Bennet. The Mr. Bennet she had met displayed such pretensions! The rest of his family could be no different. It was, however, the smile on Darcy’s face that made Caroline see red. Ignoring the rules of the floor, she strode directly to where the grasping Bennet father was standing with a group of other never-will-be’s.
She had no idea who any of them were, but they were here—that was all she needed to know about their standing in society. She had her fill of those so low being amused at her expense. Louisa tried to rein her in, but Caroline slapped her hand away. As soon as she reached Mr. Bennet and the other persons of no consequence, she launched into her speech, which was naught more than another of her tirades.
“It is time to expose your lies once and for all!” she screeched at Mr. Bennet, not noticing—or caring—that everyone in the assembly rooms had gone silent—all dancing having halted. Getting no reaction from him, she pushed herself even closer to carry her point, which to all others in the room was merely an inappropriate tirade of a ridiculous woman.
“Just who do you think you are? You have lied about your connection to my friends the Fitzwilliams, who are Mr. Darcy’s family. The Earl and Countess are far above you, as I am. Now you have presumed to push your grasping daughter to dance with my Mr. Darcy! I know your daughters have but five thousand pounds, which is nothing to my twenty thousand. You will gain nothing from your attempts. Your machinations will not go unpunished. I will be sure to ensure everyone learns of your pathetic attempts to raise your status,” Miss Bingley shrieked in a high-pitched voice. “You are a nobody. No one in my circle would deign to recognise you, you insignificant cockroach!” She stopped to take a breath, nose in the air and pleased with the set-down she had delivered, then glanced around to see how much her words had been appreciated.
It was only then she noticed the disgust on every face—all directed at her. “What are you staring at? Do you not know your betters when you see them,” she hissed.
“Enough!” A voice too near her for comfort exclaimed.
It was a lady unknown to Caroline standing next to Mr. Bennet. How dare she address her in such a manner!
While Miss Bingley paused to take a breath before responding, the woman did not wait for her to speak, asking with calm assurance, “Do you know who I am? I am confused, since you have used my name as if you are known to me. Since you appear ignorant of it, I am Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock.
“When you were rude to our friend, Mr. Bennet, in his own home, mind you, did he not warn your family what he would do if your behaviour was repeated? I find it pitiable when someone naught but a tradesman’s daughter makes the presumptions you have.” Lady Matlock stopped herself from speaking before she could say anything that might stoop to the same level as the virago before her. Then she turned to the man on her right and asked, “Since when have tradesmen’s daughters been included in our circle, Thomas?”
“Elaine, only the angels on high are in the same circle with you and my Fanny. As for the society in which we partake, few use their power with compassion and care. They do not emulate the best of their circle; it is always the worst they follow.” Bennet bowed to her and winked at his Fanny, causing Lord Matlock to chuckle and approve, demonstrated by his clapping Thomas on the back.
Miss Bingley stood frozen in place, the haze of her anger receding only far enough for her to register the unknown lady had saidin his own house, which meant that Mr. Bennet owned Netherfield Park. She had a sinking feeling, although she attempted to maintain an outward display of confidence.
Forcing herself to realise what else had been said, her world began to splinter when she finally realised who she had just denigrated. The woman was the Countess of Matlock, Mr. Darcy’s aunt, the woman she had wanted to meet but had never succeeded in doing so.
‘What have I done?’she thought, then she heard the Countess speak again.
“William, be a dear and introduce us to this...lady.” The Countess’ voice remained pleasant, but her tone dripped with disdain.
“With pleasure, Aunt Elaine.” Darcy turned to his aunt and bowed. “Aunt Elaine, Uncle Reggie, Andrew, and Marie, this is Miss Caroline Bingley, daughter of a most respected tradesman and sister to my very good friend, Charles Bingley. Richard and I have often related tales of her social gaffes to you. Miss Bingley, my uncle and aunt, the Earl and Countess of Matlock; my cousins, the Viscount and Viscountess Hilldale; and my cousin, the Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”
After that introduction, the finality of what she had done hit Caroline. Before her, in an assembly far from the ton, in a shire she had never heard anyone speak of, stood the very persons she had wished to ingratiate herself with—but they looked at her as if she was below a speck of dirt on their shoes. Hearing the Countess inhale, she knew this nightmare was not yet over.
