Fitzwilliam moved to her at once with a broad smile. “I would be honoured if you would be my partner, Cousin,” he said.
Darcy glanced at his wife. The temptation was irresistible. He stepped up beside her and reached for her hand, claiming her before them all. “And I would be honoured if you would stand up with me.”
“I would be delighted,” Elizabeth replied at once. With only a brief pause, the footmen moved a little of the furniture and rolled up the carpet, and the impromptu dance could begin.
Lady Catherine had not been entirely wrong. A dance of only two couples meant that the choice of songs and forms must be severely limited. Then, too, the drawing room was not intended for a dance floor. Darcy had never attended so informal an affair before, and certainly he had never meditated hosting one himself.
Yet for all that, he thought he had never enjoyed himself more at a dance. Elizabeth’s delight in the lively amusement was obvious, heightening his own enjoyment of the dance until he found himself laughing aloud from sheer pleasure. As they moved carefully past Anne and Fitzwilliam in the narrow space, Darcy could hear them enjoying themselves just as much — and, casting a glance at the other couple, he could see that Anne moved with surprising grace for having had so little practice. Georgiana played with more vigour than ever, obviouslydelighted that her suggestion had been taken up despite her aunt’s objections.
“Our first ball together at Pemberley is a rather small affair, perhaps, but I like it all the same,” Elizabeth remarked gaily. Darcy looked at her in surprise, for she had nearly echoed his own thoughts.
“As do I,” he replied. “But perhaps we might hold a larger and someone less spontaneous amusement for our neighbours in the spring. Should you enjoy that, do you think?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Indeed I would. Very much so, in fact.”
“Then so it must be,” Darcy said.
“And here I was led to believe that you were a private person, with an aversion to large, boisterous parties. Was I mistaken when we first met?”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps, your good nature has changed me,” Darcy replied. She waved away the compliment with a smile.
All too soon, the music came to an end. Considerate as always, Elizabeth insisted she play the next song so Georgiana could dance. Darcy half-expected his sister to express reluctance. Shy as she was, surely Georgiana had wished to play rather than to dance herself. But here, too, he was surprised. She accepted her husband’s hand with a quickness that spoke of real eagerness, and danced as happily with Fitzwilliam in the next.
Georgiana, breathless and glowing, then begged off any more dances. “I am undone,” she said. “Allow me to play, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth deferred to her with easy grace.
“Ah, what a delightful opportunity to express my appreciation for your hospitality, as well as your other graces,” Wickham said to Elizabeth with a low, theatrical bow. “You will allow me the pleasure of dancing with you, will you not, Mrs Darcy?”
“Certainly, let us dance,” Elizabeth replied. Darcy told himself firmly that there was nothing more than simple politeness in her tone, and that it was absurd of him to feel either concern or jealousy.
Unfortunately, one cannot become less absurd simply by knowing that one’s feelings are illogical. Darcy therefore resolved to take more positive action and asked Anne to join him in the dance.
“Perhaps something a little slower, if you could,” Anne asked Georgiana apologetically. “This is such fun, but I confess I am growing a little weary.”
“Ought you to sit down?” Darcy asked her, a little concerned. “You must not push yourself beyond what is suitable for your health.”
She shook her head. “Only after this dance. For now, I am enjoying myself entirely too much.”
“I shall play something a little slower and more restful,” Georgiana declared, and with that, she began to play the first bars of a waltz.
Darcy had to stop himself from dropping Anne’s hand at once and going to Elizabeth, declaring that Wickham must not dance with her. How ridiculous to feel such jealousy! There wasnothing unsuitable nor dangerous in Elizabeth dancing a waltz with him.
Darcy knew that. Only, it did not stop him from wanting to howl aloud that she must not dance so intimately with anyone but him, and certainly not with Wickham.
“Something troubles you, Cousin?” Anne asked.
“Not at all,” Darcy said, tearing his gaze away from Elizabeth with difficulty. He smiled and tried to find some tolerable degree of conversation. “I am impressed by your lightness of foot, Cousin. I did not think you danced.”
“There are a great many things I would do, if only given the chance,” she said softly. She shot a glance at her mother, who was dozing in her chair near the hearth.
Darcy swallowed hard. He had always wondered how much of Anne’s maladies were inevitable, and how much was due to Lady Catherine’s belief that Anne was weak and sickly. Perhaps Anne was beginning to wonder, too.
“While you are here, why do you not do some of those things? What did you have in mind?” he asked.
“I have never been riding before. Perhaps your wife would be so good as to teach me?”
He laughed. “As she does not yet know how to ride herself, she may not be up for the task. But I might teach you, or Fitzwilliam. Or even Georgiana, for that matter. Though we must wait for a day when it is not snowing, nor yet too icy.”
