“It is nothing I do not expect,” replied Bingley. “She knows I have the first dance with Miss Bennet and will wish to disrupt it.”
“She may even suspect thatIhave Miss Elizabeth’s first set,” said Darcy.
The grin Bingley directed at him told Darcy all he needed to know about his friend’s feelings on the matter. “Then perhaps we should act to ensure she does not get her way.”
“That is the spirit, Bingley,” said an approving Hurst. “Caroline will not like it, but by the time we reveal our hand, it will be too late to stop anything.”
Bingley nodded and rose to make the arrangements.
THAT EVENING, DARCYentered the assembly rooms in Meryton with fifteen minutes to spare, eyes searching. Only a moment after he entered, Darcy spotted her, standing with her elder sister and Miss Lucas, appearing as lovely as she had the night Darcy had danced with her at Netherfield. As he looked at her, feeling like he was slipping into a trance, Darcy reflected that she had never looked anything other than perfect in his sight. His footsteps drew him to her side as if she were a magnet, no conscious thought guiding his movements. Miss Elizabeth saw him before he arrived, and she turned to face him, Miss Lucas looking on with interest—Miss Bennet was already distracted by Bingley’s presence at Darcy’s side.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said he, catching her hand and bowing to kiss it. “You are a vision tonight.”
There was something in her eyes and the curve of her mouth that suggested she was as affected by him as he was by her. Darcy grasped the notion like a branch in a raging torrent, striving not to drown in the experience. When Miss Elizabeth smiled in greeting, he felt like his heart would burst out of his chest.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I am pleased to see you.”
“I hope you have not forgotten that I hold your first set, Miss Bennet.”
Her soft laughter brought joy to his heart. “Not at all, sir.”
“Then I hope you will allow me to claim your last set, too.” Darcy grinned. “If this is a ball and there is a supper, I should also like to claim your supper set.”
This time, Miss Bennet’s mirth contained a measure of wonder. “There will be no dinner, Mr. Darcy. Are you certain you wish to make such a statement as the first and last dances will display?”
“I have never been more certain.”
Though her eyes searched his, Miss Elizabeth did not demur. “Then the last set is yours, too, Mr. Darcy.”
She then turned playful. “Excuse me, sir, but though I see Mr. Bingley with Jane, Mr. Hurst near the refreshment tables, and your excellent sister already chattering with mine, I do not see Miss Bingley. Did she decide the evening would be too rustic for her sensibilities?”
Having waited for this exact question, Darcy could not keep the smugness from his lips. “So far as I am aware, Miss Bingley has every intention of attending, Miss Elizabeth. There was a slight . . . difficulty when we left, and she did not travel with us.”
“Oh?” asked she, eyebrow raised. “You cannot impart that information and not explain, Mr. Darcy. I insist on being satisfied!”
Darcy chuckled. “Then I shall tell you—the story will amuse you, I am certain.”
DARCY PREPARED FORthe evening with unusual care. Snell, his valet, looked on him with curiosity as Darcy ensured his appearance was as flawless as it could be, noting in his usual quietude the difference between that evening and Darcy’s usual behavior. As was his custom, he said little, fulfilling his duties with the efficiency born of experience, though he could not allow Darcy to depart without a comment or two.
“If you will pardon me, Mr. Darcy, this evening appears to be an important one for you.”
“It is,” replied Darcy, studying his reflection in the mirror.
Snell continued to regard him. “I apologize if I am overstepping, sir, but would it be improper for me to express the hope that your fastidiousness tonight isnota result of the young lady in residence?”
It was all Darcy could do not to laugh. Though Snell had never raised the subject and no one else in his employ aside from Mrs. Reynolds was close enough to ask such a question, Darcy was aware of how Miss Bingley had behaved when she visited Pemberley. Her demanding nature and her interest in the house, when her position as a guest did not warrant it, had not gone unnoticed by the staff. A man’s choice of wife directly affected the servants—Miss Bingley would not be an agreeable mistress, any more than she would be an agreeable wife to Darcy.
“No, Snell, it is not because of Miss Bingley. I have known that lady for three years now, and I have no more interest inher than I did then. My knowledge of her character renders her unpalatable as a wife.”
A nod was all Snell ventured in response—Darcy had known he would say nothing more. It was not proper for a servant to intrude upon the master’s business. Snell had pushed the boundaries with even his oblique comment.
Satisfied, Darcy turned to his longtime valet. “There is no need to wait up for me tonight, Snell. Take a well-deserved break tonight. I shall not require your services until the morning.”
“Very good, Mr. Darcy.”
When Snell left, Darcy looked at himself in the mirror once more and then departed from the room. Out in the hallway, he loitered for a few minutes until his sister emerged from her room and joined him, accepting the offer of his arm.
“You look beautiful tonight, Georgiana,” said Darcy. “If you were not bound by the restrictions of a young girl attending her first event, I might worry about every man in attendance trying to spirit you away.”
