“Very good,” Mr Darcy said. Far from offering the dance in a spirit of condescension or wishing to avoid the embarrassing snub that Miss Bingley had obviously intended, he seemed delighted and even relieved that she had accepted. His eyes travelled down from her face, resting on the Scottish thistle attached to her bodice. He smiled. “I shall come for you once we are finished with the receiving line.”
“I shall be waiting,” Elizabeth said and walked through the archway leading into the grand salon. She could not help the butterflies dancing in her stomach, nor her breathlessness. It was everything delightful that Mr Darcy had asked her for her first dance. Perhaps all her hopes had been justified. Perhaps he too saw her as more than just a friend.
Mr Collins came up beside her, having finished going down the line and being introduced to their hosts. “Dear cousin, I had intended to ask you to dance the first with me, but I would not dream of resenting Mr Darcy.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth asked politely. Though even the first moments of her cousin’s acquaintance had shown him to be an odious fool, she had intended to give him as much of friendliness and politeness as she could…until he had made clearhis intentions to choose his bride from among the daughters of Longbourn. From the moment of that knowledge, Elizabeth had placed still greater importance on discouraging his advances, for she knew nothing could induce her to marry a man she could not respect. Still, he at least deserved her courtesy, and he obviously wished her to inquire. “Is that so, Mr Collins?”
“He is the nephew of my esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, of whom I have spoken at length.” He cleared his throat and rocked back and forth on his feet. “You know, she has given me the little cottage at the edge of her estate, and often condescends to drive by in her little phaeton and ponies.” He gave a proud smile, as though he had said something very important. “A connection with Mr Darcy cannot be stressed enough, as she highly favours her nephew.”
“I see,” Elizabeth said.
“And so, you see, I could not resent Mr Darcy for his amiable condescension in asking you to dance. And although he has secured your first, I wonder —”
“Oh, there is someone I must go see. Please excuse me, Mr Collins,” Elizabeth said and hurried away before he could ask her for one of her dances on her card. She stopped and looked around to find a person to whom she might speak and make her excuse the truth only once she had achieved a safe distance away. To Elizabeth’s relief, Mr Darcy soon caught her eye and bowed, as though asking her if she might join him. Elizabeth hurried across the room, relieved that her stratagem for preventing Mr Collins from embarrassing them both had worked out so very well. Mr Darcy was watching her eagerly, as though the meeting was as welcome to him as it was to herself. When she stepped up beside him, he offered her his arm, and she took it gratefully. “Your timing is impeccable, sir.”
“Oh?” he asked. “I am glad, although I do not know what I’ve done to be of service.”
“Suffice to say, you saved me from a very unpleasant companion.” Elizabeth smiled and waved him off as if the rest of the story was not worth repeating. She would only have to avoid Mr Collins for the rest of the evening to save herself the embarrassment of dancing with her pompous, ridiculous cousin — and more importantly, the risk of encouraging him in making a declaration that could only be humiliating for them both.
Mr Darcy led her out onto the dance floor, and as the music began, she wished the few moments spent with him could last forever. The first dance set was a Scotch reel. Mr Darcy smiled at the look of pleasure spreading across her face. “Mr Bingley wanted to feature some Scottish dances in honour of our recent trip,” he explained.
They began weaving in a dance set of four partners, moving in a figure-eight pattern.
“How thoughtful. I must confess I have been missing Scotland more with every passing day.” Elizabeth moved toward him, and they took each other’s hands as he spun her in a circle. Then they fanned out again and took the hands of the other two partners before beginning the figure-eight movement again.
When they came close again, she said, “I hope you were not too disappointed with the results of the trip to Strathalt House?” The question and the worry had been assailing her mind since they left Scotland. From what she had learned of his character, Elizabeth did not think he would hold on to resentment that her father had been the one to inherit. But she would not be easy until she knew for sure.
“Not in the slightest. I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, I consider the friendship that was built between our two families to be of more consequence than any house or estate could ever be. And what you did for Georgiana — I would not trade it for anything.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I will always treasure our time together. Georgiana is a dear, dear friend.”
They came to a part in the dance where they faced each other, wrapping their right arms around the other’s waist and turning several times with the other arm held out to the side. His touch and nearness sent butterflies swirling through her, and her heart fluttered with emotion. He did not resent them! Far from it, he called their friendship worth more than any inheritance. Could it be true?
“I am very much enjoying this dance, Miss Elizabeth. I think this is probably the best time I’ve spent on the dance floor in all my years,” Mr Darcy said. He looked down at the Scottish thistle pinned to her gown. “It looks well on you.”
“Thank you, sir.” She took a moment to catch her breath before she went on, for it was a lively dance. “I thought you rarely enjoyed dancing.”
“I thought so as well, but I suppose it depends on one’s partner. Your beautiful eyes were much too tempting for me to resist.”
Elizabeth fell silent, caught off guard by the romance of it all. She had not thought of Mr Darcy as a romantic, but this night was proving that there was still so much for her to learn about him. To learn to know Mr Darcy truly, deeply, to entirely understand his character…Elizabeth could not think of a more enticing prospect.
Far too soon, the dance soon came to a close, and he led her off the dance floor. Elizabeth hated for their time together to end. For the first time in all her years, it occurred to her that it was really rather inconvenient that a man must always ask a woman to dance. Had it not been entirely impossible, she could not have resisted the temptation to ask Mr Darcy to dance again!
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I am sure I will see you again over the course of the evening, but I really should speak to Mr Bingley to be sure he does not need my assistance with anything. It is a pity Georgiana has not yet arrived,” Mr Darcy added, smiling down at her. “You must allow me to thank you again for all the advice and friendship you have given my sister. When she has occasion to attend her first ball, she will be prepared and confident because of you.”
“I know she will have to get used to the whirlwind of public events, but I believe she will do well. Your sister is everything charming. She only needed a little encouragement,” Elizabeth said.
“Thank you,” he said and stepped away, disappearing through the crowd. Elizabeth stepped aside and went over to the wall, where she might take some time to catch her breath. She felt she had never been so happy as she was in that moment. Nothing could be more desirable than a little quiet reflection to soak it all in.
The ball went on pleasantly, with more lively dances and diverting conversations. Better still, Elizabeth succeeded in avoiding Mr Collins, which only added to her relief and enjoyment of the evening.
After some hours had passed and many guests were taking a respite from the dancing to chat around the tables set with food and drink, Elizabeth found herself standing not farfrom Jane. Her sister looked absolutely radiant, smiling brightly among the other guests. Elizabeth took a steadying breath. Perhaps it was time to reach out to her again and make things right.
Elizabeth wove through the crowd and approached her sister with a smile. “You look well this evening, Jane. And I do not believe I have ever attended such an elegant ball. Did you have a pleasant dance with Mr Bingley?”
Jane’s face fell, and the smile altogether disappeared. “Of course. Mr Bingley has very good manners.”
It was not exactly the response she would have expected from a woman who was in love, but she decided not to mention her surprise. “Yes, he does,” she agreed. “He has been very kind to our family, I understand.”
