I must have read it thrice before the message penetrated, at which time I recall laying it down upon the desk with great care, as though it might rear up and bite me if mishandled. I left my seat then, to look out over the street and the park as shame and indignation warred within me.
My pride revolted at having been so summarily dismissed by a tradesman, his recent elevation notwithstanding. My conscience, contrariwise, insisted that his loyalty to his family was just and admirable–unlike my dismissal of his niece which had been quite the opposite. I was not in the habit of considering myself mistaken, but nothing could justify my words about the lady, even had they not had such an unexpected effect.
I began to pace the room. I had been so certain that the matter would be a minoron ditfor a few days before passing from all memory. It seemed I had not correctly reckoned my own power at such a gathering, populated principally by those slightly beneath the Darcys and the Matlocks. I was so accustomed to paying no attention to those with whom I was not closely acquainted that I had forgot they might be paying particular attention to me.That is a mistake I shall not make again, I vowed to myself.Henceforth, all my speech in public will be carefully considered. No man is perfect, but I shall learn from this, and be better than I have been.
I had at least the satisfaction of knowing that none had been materially harmed by my error but myself.
* * *
Late in the daylight hours, I was surprised to receive my eldest cousin. Deane sauntered in and dropped casually into the chair across from me, smiling across the desk’s gleaming top.
“Well, Darcy, you have put your foot in it this time,” he commented without pausing for the usual civilities. “You will want to avoid Pater for a time. He’s excessively put out.”
“I have not the pleasure of understanding you.”
“Came to warn you. He has learnt it was you who insulted Sir Edward’s niece—you might have mentioned that when we discussed the matter! Now he fears that his connexion to you will lead to problems with his investment.”
I did not much care for the relish in my cousin’s tone, but he only smiled more widely when I frowned.
“Pater has vowed to make it right, and I have been ordered to dance with the girl tomorrow at the Burnett-Bellingham ball—say that five times fast,” he digressed with a chuckle. “Dead set on finalising this business, is the old man, and the house of Matlock will be lending its consequence to the plain Bennet until Sir Edward is happy, even if I must dance with her at every opportunity until Christmas.”
I had considered the matter settled too soon, it appeared. “I had not the least notion of my comment being overheard, you know, much less spread about.”
Deane looked at me as though I had lost my wits. “Have you been out in society all these years without realising that every word uttered by wealthy, unmarried men of a certain status is heard by somebody? There is no escaping the attention until you marry. But you may save your apologies until after I have endured half an hour with the girl. If she’s insipid or worse, you shall have to do better!”
“Do you think... Ought I attend and dance with her myself? Would that appease my uncle?”
“I expect it would, yes. Shall we collect you on our way?”
Reluctantly, I accepted that I would be attending my second ball in the course of a week. “Pray do.”
CHAPTER7
ELIZABETH BENNET
Well before the dancing was to commence, I and my empty dance card were ensconced in a corner with Miss Walton, Miss Prentice, and the newest addition to our happy little band of revellers, Lady Julia Moore. Miss Downing had another engagement, but we made a pleasant foursome now that Miss Walton had become more comfortable, and voluble, with us.
I noticed Mr Darcy appear and groaned inwardly. Was I to meet him everywhere? Over a week had passed between our first, disastrous, encounter and his attendance at the Downing party, and I had hoped that we would move largely in different circles. This wish was beginning to appear ill-founded.
I turned my attention away from the insufferable man and back to the conversation of my friends, who were far more deserving of my consideration. I soon found my spirits rising once more and entered into our talk with real enthusiasm, until the approach of a pair of gentlemen silenced us all.
Mr Darcy bowed. “Lady Julia, Miss Walton, Miss Prentice, Miss Bennet, good evening. Are you all acquainted with my cousin, Viscount Deane?”
Lady Julia said that she was and poor Miss Walton, frightened into silence, nodded jerkily. Miss Prentice and I were not. Jane and Mr Bingley approached just then from another direction, and with the viscount’s agreement were included in the introductions.
Lord Matlock’s heir was a handsome, fashionable man of thirty or a little older, I judged, dressed well in colours more cheerful than his sombre cousin favoured. Between the two men there was no great resemblance save for their notable height, lean builds, and the pleasingly masculine shape of their mouths. The viscount was tawny-haired and blue-eyed, while Mr Darcy was as dark of hair and eye as of clothing. He also spoke with great ease and no little charm, while his cousin remained silent after making us all known to one another.
After some minutes of general conversation, Mr Darcy abruptly broke in to address me. “Miss Elizabeth,” he said, fixing me with an intense, impenetrable look. “Would you do me the honour of dancing the third with me?”
Everyone else fell silent and all eyes turned to me. I smiled up at him, and saw him shift his weight in preparation, no doubt, to bow and depart until the appointed time.
In the brightest, most pleasant tone I believe I have ever contrived, I answered, “No, thank you.”
CHAPTER8
FITZWILLIAM DARCY
Now it was not only our party which had gone quiet. It felt to me as though silence rippled out from the centre of that group, that smiling young woman, freezing me to immobility as it passed.
