“It must have been my eagerness for our dance that confused me,” said Fitzwilliam with a chuckle. Then, to Darcy’s dismay, he extended his arm to her. “Shall we?”
Darcy gave his cousin a tight, disappointed smile as Elizabeth took it. Then, with no more than a nod and another ‘excuse me’, they were gone to join the dancers.
Almost beyond his own volition, Darcy followed them at a distance, his jaw tight as he observed the easy conversation between them. He had not done well with his little fit of rage. Now here was Fitzwilliam, who had begun without disadvantage, plying her with every charm he had. The dance began and still they chatted amiably as they circled one another, laughing and talking as they went. His chest tightened. Was it all hopeless? It certainly felt that way.
CHAPTER TEN
“And how has your evening been so far? Enjoyable, I trust?”
The colonel smiled down at her as the first strains of the dance began. Elizabeth could have sworn he took extra care to make his eyes twinkle. He behaved so boldly, but she supposed it must be because she was the only person truly known to him, save for the Bingleys. She knew there was no real intent behind it but was excessively grateful that her mother, whose mind was almost frighteningly fixed on Jane’s glory, had not seemed to notice the colonel’s attentions.
“Very much so,” she replied as she circled around him. “And you?”
“Oh, I am enjoying myself exceedingly. If I lived hereabouts, I daresay I should never go to town for all the diversion to be had right in my own neighbourhood!”
It was gratifying that he should think so. They separated for a short time as the pattern demanded. When they came together again, she said, “How charming it is that you and your brother, who are no doubt accustomed to the highest level of society, should be so easily entertained here in our humble town.”
She found it amusing that the two Fitzwilliam brothers, sons of the Earl of Matlock, should be so kindly to those in Merytonwhile Miss Bingley acted as if she was stepping in manure every time she was forced to speak to anyone beyond her own circle.
“Where is my brother?” The colonel glanced about, his eyes resting on Lord Saye happily ensconced in a group that contained both Mrs Bennet and Lady Lucas. He chuckled softly.
“He has been so sociable to all of them,” Elizabeth said. “They are much obliged.”
“Do not think it is any great condescension on his part. He loves mothers.”
They were again obliged to pause in conversation due to the demands of the dance. When they were again united, Elizabeth asked, “What is it about mothers that draws your brother so?”
“Saye always says that if you want the choicest cuts of meat, you ought to get friendly with the butcher.”
“I am not sure I understand that,” Elizabeth said with a little laugh. “Perhaps I would do best not to ask.”
“Matrons can provide two things my brother loves—gossip and introductions to pretty young ladies. No doubt his pursuit of both is why he sits there.”
“He will need to take care with my mother, then. I am surprised she has not yet put my youngest sister, Lydia, in front of him.” Elizabeth sighed, glancing to where Lydia was teasing a group of young men, including some of the regiment. “Then again, he does not have a red coat, so she would likely not be interested. You, on the other hand…”
The colonel arranged his face into an almost comically suggestive countenance, his lips in a pouty smile and his eyes half-hooded. His voice was low and throaty as he said, “Your sister is a pretty girl, but my idea of beauty is a bit more womanly.”
Elizabeth felt herself colour and willed it back, praying for herself to remain unaffected. Perversely, it had the oppositeeffect; rather than be subdued, her blush spread across her countenance like a roaring fire.
Her embarrassment was not lessened when he continued, “As is Darcy’s. I once heard him say he could not comprehend these men who marry mere girls. No one ought to marry before the age of twenty, in my opinion. You are twenty, I believe?”
Elizabeth gave a discomfited nod, unsure as to the colonel’s meaning. “I shall be one-and-twenty in a few weeks.”
“An excellent age to marry,” he said with a wink.
She gave him a thin smile in reply. “I have always believed marriage has more to do with finding the right partner than arriving at some particular age.”
Thankfully, the dance moved them at that point, and the subject of marriage was left. When they came around again, Elizabeth very much wished to direct the conversation back to more neutral ground.
“Your observations on my sister’s age are not amiss. My father thinks it sound to allow her to follow the regiment to Brighton, but I am not sure she ought to.”
“Which of your sisters is she?” the colonel asked happily, recovering to his more genial aspect.
Elizabeth gestured clandestinely to where Lydia danced with Captain Carter. Unfortunately, just then her sister gave one of her open-mouthed, unrestrained laughs as she allowed him to pull her into his chest in a decidedly improper embrace. Elizabeth grimaced, wishing she had not directed the colonel’s attention in that direction just then. “She is but fifteen.”
“That is full young to be in such a place. No doubt your mother will go with her?”
“Lydia wants to go as the particular guest of Colonel Forster’s wife.” With a little frown, she added, “A lady who is only seventeen herself.”
