Georgiana turned to him with laughing eyes. “Maybe you should anyway. If I am that stunning, the men at the ball will not wait for a dance.”
Darcy chuckled and patted her arm. “Just take care not to let Kitty and Lydia Bennet draw you into the worst of their intrigues.”
“Do not concern yourself, Brother,” said Georgiana, a trace of smugness clear. “I shall be fine. Perhaps they will even surprise you with their decorum.”
With a smile, Darcy led her down the hall, but as they were approaching the stairs, he noticed a door shift as they walked past—the door to Miss Bingley’s room. Taking care to give no appearance of seeing it, Darcy led his sister to the stairs and down to the entrance hall. When they were out of earshot, Georgiana turned to him and drew close, whispering.
“You saw?”
Darcy nodded. “She means to delay for at least fifteen minutes.”
Georgiana glanced heavenward. “Then it is well that we have planned for that eventuality. You would not wish to miss your dance with Miss Elizabeth.”
“No, I would not.”
A moment later, they reached the entrance and greeted Hurst and Bingley, who were talking together in tones meant to avoid being overheard. Nothing of consequence passed between them as they stood and waited for the hour to arrive, but as they had expected, Miss Bingley did not descend at the appointed time. When the time came and went, Bingley directed a look at Hurst, who shrugged. Then he turned to Mrs. Nichols, the housekeeper, and directed her to send a maid to Caroline’s room.
“Please inform Caroline that if she does not join us within five minutes, we will depart without her.”
Mrs. Nichols, who had been standing nearby waiting for their departure, curtseyed and left to do his bidding, but Darcy saw a look of satisfaction. Servants at an estate were expected to keep their opinions to themselves and give no reaction when instructed, but Darcy could not blame Mrs. Nichols for her slight lapse. Not only had Miss Bingley been unreasonable since her arrival, but her behavior the previous autumn with the servants was intolerable. Mrs. Nichols would need to endure Miss Bingley when the woman discovered they had left without her, but Darcy did not suppose she would suffer long; Miss Bingley would wish to depart at once.
“Do you suppose Miss Bingley will rush down when she realizes we are leaving?” asked Georgiana.
Bingley snorted. “You forget, Georgiana—Caroline’s room overlooks the gardens, not the drive. I doubt she will even deign to show her face until she feels she has delayed us enough.”
When the five minutes elapsed and there was no sign of Miss Bingley, the four left the house where two carriages were waiting, entered Darcy’s conveyance, and then they were off. No howls of protest or hurried footsteps followed them from the estate, proving Bingley correct. Miss Bingley would be furious when she descended.
BY THE TIME DARCY ENDEDhis tale, Miss Elizabeth was laughing. “Well played, Mr. Darcy!”
Darcy shrugged. “It was the obvious response to Miss Bingley’s machinations.”
“I am surprised at Mr. Bingley. I did not suppose he would act in such a way toward his sister. Not only will she be angry when she arrives, but it will be no less than humiliating for her to arrive alone when the rest of your party is already here.”
“Though I beg your pardon, I cannot find any sympathy in my heart for Miss Bingley’s plight.”
“No, I did not suppose you could.”
“You will not hold it against me? I know you considered me uncaring about the feelings of others. I hope you do not believe that anymore.”
The way Miss Elizabeth regarded him, Darcy felt himself measured and judged, though it was not an unpleasant sensation. For the first time in their acquaintance, Darcy wondered if she was seeing the real man, not the one hiding behind his reticence or his reputation or his flaws. Just a man, sincere and striving to be better.
“No, Mr. Darcy, I do not see you as uncaring about the feelings of others, and in the matter of Miss Bingley, I do notblame you at all. Miss Bingley has created your opinion of her with her behavior.”
“That she has.”
Miss Elizabeth shook her head. ‘If you will pardon me, I would rather not speak of Miss Bingley.”
“I agree without reservation.”
For the few minutes remaining until the dancing started, they carried on a lively discussion about nothing in particular, but even more interesting because it was with Miss Elizabeth. They were, he noted, something of a curiosity, gaining several looks that appeared surprised or puzzled. Darcy attributed that to their previous interactions and his previous behavior. As no one approached them, Darcy felt justified in ignoring them for the moment and concentrating his attention on Miss Elizabeth.
The dance, when it came, was both more enjoyable and subtly altered from the dance they had shared at Netherfield. Gone were the tension, the fraught discussion of Wickham, the sense of disharmony—replaced with interest, pleasure, and perhaps even a hint of growing desire. It was still early and there were many miles yet to travel, but Darcy thought they were taking the first steps on the road to happiness.
Then, as if a storm cloud had entered the room, Miss Bingley appeared—eyes blazing, jaw set in a line that bespoke utter fury. It was twenty minutes after the dancing started, even later than Darcy had expected. Whatever else happened, Darcy suspected there would be no choice but to make his sentiments known to her tonight. The question was how she would respond.
Chapter XVI
Possessing only a rudimentary appreciation for the art of dancing, Hurst positioned himself near the entrance with the sole purpose of intercepting Caroline the moment she entered the room. There was little chance he could induce her to see sense—this Hurst knew. But for Bingley’s sake, to avoid his sister embarrassing him, Hurst would make the attempt. If Caroline misbehaved thereafter, he had done what he could, and she would reap the consequences herself.
