Elizabeth smiled at her. “I was at my leisure for some hours and wished to pay a visit to my newest acquaintance if you will have me.”
Her maid went to the kitchen, and Elizabeth was shown into a pretty sitting room, fitted up with an elegance and lightness. “This is a handsome room.”
“Thank you.” After a long pause Miss Darcy added, “My brother furnished the room to my pleasure last season. He is very considerate.” She then pressed her lips together and looked away.
Elizabeth suspected that Miss Darcy proceeded from shyness and the fear of doing wrong. “Do you miss school?” Miss Darcy only shrugged. “I have always been surrounded by sisters and would be at a loss without their companionship.”
“My brother removed me from school to give me the advantage of more genteel supervision by a companion.” Miss Darcy cringed, looking more like a little girl than a fashionable young woman. Elizabeth presumed she was thinking of Mrs Younge and Ramsgate and swiftly changed the subject.
“He is certainly a good brother, but I was enquiring whether youmissed the company of ladies your own age. The companionship of an older brother is not equal to the more sisterly friendship of other girls.”
“I miss their company at times.” After a pause, Miss Darcy exerted herself. “Did you and your sisters attend seminary, or were you taught by a governess?”
“We had no governess, nor were we sent to school. We were encouraged to read, and those of us who wished to learn never wanted the means.”
“Did your mother take up your education?”
“No, but my father was supportive of the education of any daughter who showed interest and talent.” It was a shame he did not show that support to all of his girls. It felt like her father showed her too much preference, for she was the one who most often met his mind.
“Yet my brother has said you sing and play very well, and you converse with ease. You are obviously accomplished despite not having the regular instruction of a governess or attending a school.”
“Thank you, but some ladies of our acquaintance argue that my qualities as a proper lady are sorely lacking. I am poor at useless conversation and pretty wiles to win suitors. I have a clever mind and a sharp tongue, and I am ashamed to say I have been cruel enough to use them both against those to whom I should have shown my respect and admiration.”
She fell into contemplative silence, wishing she had known Mr Darcy better earlier in their acquaintance and had been less quick to judge him.
“I spend Thursday mornings in dance lessons with other ladies,” Miss Darcy said shyly. “There is but one in the group for whom I felt anything akin to friendship. My brother may loathe dancing”—she offered a small smile—“but even he would agree to the importance of learning what is fashionable.”
“To execute perfectly the steps of an English country dance and polite conversation while remaining attentive to the demands of the dance requires skill. What did you and your companions review today?”
“The turning waltz.” They spoke animatedly about the intimate dance and its supposed affront to English morals. Miss Darcy declared she would be too mortified to clasp a gentleman so closely, but conceded the dance was graceful.
“It is fortunate that I am far too proper for such wickedness,” Elizabeth said playfully. “Otherwise, I might regret not learning the steps so I might scandalise my country neighbours.”
“There is nothing shocking in the side-by-side position, only in the closed.” Miss Darcy inhaled deeply and nearly tripped over her words. “Would you care for me to show you the steps?”
She is so eager for a friend.Elizabeth warmed to the idea of befriending both Darcy siblings. “Yes! I promise to be an attentive student.”
Miss Darcy walked to a table that contained a chest the size of a hat box. She explained that Mr Darcy had sent to Geneva for a musical box, and it would play a waltz for them while they danced.
Miss Darcy pushed back a chair, and Elizabeth moved a table to the far side of the room. Miss Darcy wound the mechanism, and it began to play. She demonstrated the steps with ease and grace. It was clear to Elizabeth that her new acquaintance was exactly the kind of accomplished lady Miss Bingley had described. She was beautiful and elegant, but Elizabeth decided that Miss Darcy desperately needed a laugh.
“You must show me the closed waltz. I will never shock my sisters if I only watch the side-by-side steps.”
“There are no gentlemen here to partner with.”
Elizabeth suppressed the desire to enquire after the master of the house. “Have you not had to stand up with another lady at a ball for lack of gentleman partners? I have often stood up with one of my sisters, and we enjoy ourselves thoroughly, although I never mastered the art of bowing.” Elizabeth did her best to demonstrate a solemn bow to Miss Darcy, who laughed and offered a deep curtsey.
“May I have the next set, Miss Darcy?”
“Yes, madam, I would be delighted!” Miss Darcy appeared happier and more relaxed than she was in the Gardiners’ drawing room.
They reached an impasse as Miss Darcy only knew the lady’s steps and did not know how to lead her partner. After much confusion as to where hands were to be placed, Elizabeth held out both hands and asked Miss Darcy to dispense with the position of their hands so they could focus on the slide-back-turn movements of their feet.
Miss Darcy stood across from Elizabeth and grasped her hands. “Always start with the outside foot.” Both ladies tried to step to the right and descended into giggles.
“Who is the gentleman, and who is the lady?” Elizabeth laughed.
“I only know the lady’s steps. The gentleman’s are the same but in a different order! It is the gentleman’s responsibility to lead the lady.”
