While Darcy and Elizabeth argued about the finer points of Egyptian culture, the rest of their party thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the other exhibits.
Discussing their likes or dislikes of the various items they viewed, both couples learned more about each other and came to a greater understanding.
When the subject of the ball at Almack’s was raised, the gentlemen also agreed to attend the ball the next day.
~T~
The entrance of their party at Almack’s caused quite a stir.
Young ladies were generally escorted to those hallowed halls by their doting parents or guardians to be displayed to society as fresh meat for the marriage mart.
While the Bennet sisters were indeed escorted by the Gardiners, they were also in the company of three very eligible gentlemen, as well as Lord and Lady Matlock, and Mr and Mrs Carleton.
Lady Sefton’s brows rose as she spied Elizabeth on Darcy’s arm. Deveril escorting Jane was not so much of a surprise, since she was already aware that he had declared his interest in Miss Bennet. That Colonel Fitzwilliam was escorting the youngest Bennet sister was easily explained by the presence of Lord and Lady Matlock and therefore raised no speculation.
After greeting everyone in the party, she turned to Darcy. ‘I must confess to prodigious surprise at seeing you here, Mr Darcy. But having met the young ladies, I can understand that even an elusive bachelor like you cannot resist. Although I was not aware that you were even acquainted with the Misses Bennet.’
Darcy put on his most charming smile as he answered, ‘I had the good fortune to briefly encounter the ladies when I stopped in Hertfordshire and then was properly introduced at dinner with Lord and Lady Matlock the other day.’
‘Hertfordshire you say?’ Lady Sefton’s brows climbed even higher than they had earlier as she asked, ‘Please forgive me if I am being indelicate, but is one of these ladies the object of Miss Bingley’s… gossip?’
Elizabeth smiled brightly, having anticipated the question. ‘Indeed, Lady Sefton. But you know how it is with rumours. Someone makes an ill-considered comment to a friend where someone else can overhear a part of it. They add their own interpretation and tell it to someone else. Once the story spreads it is embellished at every retelling. Before you know it, that one commentthat a lady looked tolerably ill, due to the heat of the room and it would tempt fate for her to exert herself, has become an insult worthy of a blood feud.’
‘So, did Darcy insult you or not?’ The lady was not to be diverted.
‘Well yes, Mr Darcy did make an unflattering comment, but he apologised for it at the first opportunity. Did Miss Bingley not mention that? Or perhaps she did not know, after all, Mr Darcy is not accountable to her.’
‘Or perhaps the lady hoped to divert attention from her own behaviour which was probably a major cause for that eviction,’ Lady Sefton speculated.
‘I could not say. I was not privy to the discussion which caused that decision, and I refuse to start unsubstantiated rumours,’ Elizabeth said with a guileless look.
Lady Sefton gave a snort of laughter. ‘Unlike a certain lady who is unsuccessfully attempting to blacken the name of all her rivals.’ She smiled and turned to Lady Matlock. ‘I am pleased to see that your assumption was correct. It will be my pleasure to ensure this information reaches all the right ears.’
‘You are too kind,’ murmured Lady Matlock.
Lady Sefton gave her a mischievous smile. ‘Kindness has nothing to do with it.’
~T~
As the music started for the next set, Darcy bowed to Elizabeth. ‘Would you do me the honour of dancing this set with me… if you are available,’ he asked, careful not to presume that she did not have a dance partner already, despite having just arrived. After all, she could have promised a dance to one of her acquaintances at a previous function.
‘I would love to dance with you, Mr Darcy,’ Elizabeth replied and realised that she was speaking the truth.
When she answered in the affirmative, Darcy recognised that he was pleased that Elizabeth was willing to dance with him. He smiled and proffered his arm to lead the lady to the dance floor. As they made their way there, he noticed with pleasure that she was only lightly resting her hand on his arm, unlike Miss Bingley who had always grasped it tightly. It was an exceedingly pleasant experience.
They danced in silence for a few minutes until he asked, ‘Did you have an enjoyable time at the museum yesterday?’
‘I did indeed. It makes such a difference seeing something in the flesh, so to speak, instead of just reading about it. My father has a number of books on the subject, but it is somehow more real when you can see the objects,’ Elizabeth smiled with such genuine enjoyment that Darcy’s breath caught for a moment. He almost missed it when she asked, ‘What about you? Did you enjoy the exhibition?’
‘I did enjoy seeing it, but I have to confess that my greatest enjoyment was the discussion we had. To me it is a great pleasure being able to have a debate with an educated and erudite opponent. I had not realised that you could read Greek. I suppose it had never occurred to me that a lady could be taught such a subject as I have never met a lady who was as educated as yourself.’
Elizabeth’s eyes sparked as she said, ‘Did you not know that there are thousands of ladies who are taught to speak Greek?’
‘Indeed? I had thought that was a language too difficult for most ladies to master as even many of my fellow students struggled to learn the language.’
‘Yes, Mr Darcy. I know of what I speak. If you wish to verify my assertion, it can be done quite simply.’ Lizzy’s grin widened. ‘All you need to do is go to Greece.’
Darcy stared at her speechlessly for a moment before a guffaw of laughter escaped him. He grimaced and gave her a rueful smile. ‘Touché, Miss Elizabeth.’ Suddenly his demeanour changed to a challenging grin. ‘I wonder how many of those ladies speak English?’
