“No, ma’am. I must tread carefully, lest either Darcy or Allen offer correction if I set a foot wrong for any reason.”
Elizabeth glanced across the room. Her brother-in-law was correct. Both Mr. Allen and Mr. Darcy were watching them with marked attention.
She laughed lightly. “Perhaps it is I whom they observe, that they may find fault. Mr. Darcy has discovered nothing to commend and everything to censure in my deportment.”
Mr. Bingley replied, placating. “Darcy can be brusque, Lizzy, but he means well. He is forever correcting me, and I must admit that I am the better for it.”
“Thank you, sir. I shall endeavor to take comfort from your observation.”
The next was the supper set.
When Mr. Darcy approached, his gaze passed over her in a marked, proprietary manner. He led her onto the floor and said, “You have danced most of the night, Miss Bennet.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your partners appear to take great pleasure in your company, ma’am.”
“I believe that they do, Mr. Darcy.”
“Yet, so many of our conversations end in vexation. Why is that, Miss Bennet?”
Her eyes were reproachful. “Perhaps it is your propensity towards ill temper, Mr. Darcy.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, sir. During these weeks we have lived together at Netherfield, that has been my experience. Your manner toward me has altered the longer we remain under the same roof, and I can seem to do nothing right.”
The music began, and they entered the dance.
Elizabeth did not exert herself to keep Mr. Darcy entertained, and he observed it.
“Miss Bennet, have you run out of conversation, ma’am?”
“No, sir.”
“You appear very quiet for so lively a woman. May I know the reason for your churlish manners?”
Elizabeth was surprised into smiling. “I am not churlish, sir. I am only minding my tongue lest I say something you find vexatious and you reproach me here upon the dance floor.”
They were separated then by the figure of the dance. When they came together again, he said, “I do not scold you, and I certainly would not do so in public, even if I believed it necessary.”
Elizabeth said, “Is that so, sir? What was it that you did when I was speaking with Mr. Allen?”
Mr. Darcy replied, “That was a necessary correction, ma’am. It was not a scold. I did not raise my voice, nor did I demean you in any manner. I merely pointed out that you were acting inappropriately by hiding in a corner of the room away from your chaperone.”
She sighed. “It is clear, sir, that I shall never prevail in an argument with you. Therefore, I shall watch my tongue, as I was doing before.”
They remained silent for the rest of the dance.
When it concluded, he led her to the supper table and seated her. “I shall return with our plates.”
Georgiana and Kitty arrived a moment later and seated themselves on the other side of Elizabeth.
Kitty set her dance card down on the table. “I shall fetch the plates for us. Georgiana, you remain to hold our places.
Elizabeth turned toward the young girl. “Have you had many dances, Georgiana?”
“Yes. I have danced with Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Bingley, three with my brother, Mr. Collins, and Miss Lucas’s younger brother, who is only fourteen. He acquitted himself well, Lizzy, though he is very young.”
