Chapter 28
Elizabeth sat in front of the mirror in her room, sitting still — if a little impatiently — while Jane put the final touches on her hair for the ball at Netherfield.
Mr Darcy had sent a formal written invitation following soon after his spoken one. Even aside from her own anticipated pleasure in dancing, Elizabeth was glad that the Darcys had chosen to host a ball. It was certain to cement Georgiana’s popularity with the neighbouring families, for everyone enjoyed a ball. Indeed, it was all people for miles around could seem to talk about. It would be the party of the winter season.
“There,” Jane said. She placed her hands on Elizabeth’s shoulders and smiled at her through the worn mirror. “You look like Aphrodite.”
Elizabeth could not help but laugh. “You go too far in your praise of me, sister. But I appreciate the sentiment.”
“I mean it,” Jane said. She went to the full-length mirror and smoothed down her pale blue gown. Elizabeth joined her, wrapping an arm around Jane’s waist, dressed in a white gown. Jane leaned her head against Elizabeth’s. “Mr Darcy will not be able to take his eyes off you.”
Elizabeth jerked up, then searched Jane’s eyes. “Why do you say that?”
Jane waved her off, giggling as she went and sat at the vanity to finish putting a few silk flowers in her hair. “You know very well what I mean. You have been seeing a lot of each other lately. And I see how you look at him when you are walking together in town, or around Longbourn.”
“And how is that?” Elizabeth asked.
Jane turned and faced her, giving her a pointed stare for a moment. “Like every bit of you comes to life.”
Elizabeth could not argue. It was exactly how she felt. Instead, she looked down at her hands, wringing them absently. Was Jane imagining things? Surely Mr Darcy’s treatment of her was in return for the service Elizabeth had done for his sister. He was grateful. That was all.
Wasn’t it?
“Well, no matter,” Elizabeth said. It would be better not to get her hopes up. “We cannot be selfish with his time tonight. He and Miss Darcy will be the hosts, after all, and he will have to introduce Mr Bingley and Miss Bingley to everyone in Meryton. I doubt he will have time to see us, past welcoming us into his home.”
The little smile that appeared on her face made it obvious that Jane saw right through her excuses. But she said nothing.
The sun had already set when they arrived at Netherfield. There were carriages lined up as far as the eye could see as they came down the country lane toward the great house. It did Elizabeth’s heart good to see the old mansion alight again. Ever since the old owner’s death, it had sat as a lonely reminder ofwhat had been. Now, the house would have a new life, and she could only hope that Mr Darcy would never leave.
When they arrived, they had to wait in a long line of guests waiting in the welcome line. She spotted Mr Darcy and Georgiana standing at the entrance to the grand salon. When it was their turn, Elizabeth felt her whole being come to life, just as Jane had described it. Mr Darcy’s eyes fell upon her and a smile crossed his lips. It fell away as he looked her over.
Elizabeth caught her breath. It did not at all appear as though he did not wish to see her. On the contrary, that serious look made it seem as though the sight of her meant…everything.
She could not disagree with the sentiment. One look at his handsome face, and exactly as Jane had said, Elizabeth felt her whole being coming alive.
Chapter 29
Darcy’s mouth went dry as Mr and Mrs Bennet stepped forward to greet him. He returned their compliments and greeted Elizabeth’s sisters, leaving her for last. He bowed at the waist as she curtsied to him.
“How good of you to come,” he said. It was much the same as he said to all his guests, but to Elizabeth, he meant every word with a meaning that he hoped he could convey through his eyes.
“I am honoured,” she said.
They stood in silence for several seconds, a shared moment that must have seemed long to the other guests standing nearby. But he could not seem to speak or to take his eyes off her.
Dressed in a flowing white gown, she seemed almost to glow. Her dark curls were piled elegantly atop her head, with tiny seed beads woven throughout. A small plume of white feathers was tucked into a simple silver comb. But it was her eyes that captured him. What was it about her dark brown eyes that so bewitched him?
“Well, I suppose I should join my family in the salon,” she said with an embarrassed smile.
“I will come and find you when I have dispensed with my duties here,” he said hurriedly as she started to walk away.
Elizabeth turned to him and smiled. “Do,” she replied softly.
An hour passed before he could keep his promise and begin searching for her. It was necessary to make haste, for the dancing would soon begin, and he had no intention of opening the ball with anyone but Elizabeth. There was no other woman he would rather stand up with, although Miss Bingley had hinted hard for the invitation. Darcy had no intention of either raising her hopes or obliging her. Bingley could ask her if he wished, although Darcy assumed he would ask Miss Jane Bennet.
Darcy walked through the halls and dining room, parlour and drawing room before he found Elizabeth. She was standing in a relatively deserted part of the house, a long hallway occupied only by herself and the portraits of the late owner’s family. She turned as he came into the corridor, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the hundreds of candles that had been lit for the festivities.
Darcy walked over to her, trying to still his beating heart long enough to speak with her without a shaking voice. “There you are.”
