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“Miss Elizabeth, may I ask something?” Darcy enquired when the dance brought them back together.

“You may, but the first dance is almost over, and we will have a five-minute break before the next one. I suggest we speak then when we are not concentrating on the figures of the dance,” Elizabeth responded.

As he saw sense in her suggestion, Darcy nodded his agreement.

Even though she thought Mr Bingley was an affable man, and he did dance well, Jane was ready to scream! All he ever spoke of was her superficial beauty. No matter how many times she attempted to redirect the conversation, he always came back to her outward looks.

The truth was that had not Cousin Collins opened her eyes to the realities of the world, she would have made excuses for Mr Bingley’s immaturity and followed her mother’s instructions to catch the man she knew was not right for her.

Jane felt relief when the first dance of the set ended, and Mr Bingley went to fetch a glass of lemonade for her. It gave her some breathing space.

Darcy had not been the only one to notice that Miss Bennet was fighting to keep her features schooled. William Collins and Mary saw it as well. William wondered if he had to ask Biggs to have one of his men stand on Mr Bingley’s foot before he requested a second set with Cousin Jane. That way, she would not be forced to refuse him if she so desired. He would wait and see. He did note that Mr Darcy was leading Cousin Elizabeth to the side of the room where no one was close to them. As they could be seen from anywhere in the ballroom, he was not concerned.

“What is it that you wanted to know, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth queried quietly once no one was near them.

“I hope you do not take offence at this question because I know as well as any how close you and Miss Bennet are,” Darcy began with a lowered voice. He would not make the same faux pas he had at the assembly by speaking where he could be heard and not lowering his voice. “I have observed that your sister does not take pleasure in my friend’s company like he does in hers. I worry if he offers for her…” Darcy felt a little indignant that Miss Elizabeth was giggling at his concerns for his friend.

“I am sorry. I am amused because Jane does not feel that she and Mr Bingley are compatible. It is why she would not grant him more than one significant set tonight, although he asked for three. Jane does not enjoy being judged on her beauty alone. She is looking for a resolute man who is mature. The man she bestows her heart on will have to see all of her, not just her façade,” Elizabeth explained. “None of us three eldest sisters will marry without love and respect, regardless of financial considerations.”

Hearing what Miss Elizabeth said dispelled his worry for his friend. Miss Bennet would not accept him if she were not so inclined. She was not wrong that Bingley needed to become his own man and mature. What gave Darcy hope he had never had before was that Miss Elizabeth had granted him two significant sets, especially after what she said about her sister’s reasons for not granting Bingley the same.

For the first time since Mr Collins had revealed his cousin’s dislike of Darcy’s person, he had hope for a future with the lady he loved. When he led her back to the line before the commencement of the second dance, there was a spring in his step.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Since she had come out, Lydia was used to dancing every set. Unlike her other simple sisters, she did not sit out some sets like they did. What did she care if there were some ladies who did not have an opportunity to dance? If they were as pretty and lively as her, they would not be wallflowers. However, this ball, the one she had demanded that Mr Bingley hold, was not unfolding as she desired it should.

The first set she danced was the fourth of the ball, and that was with Johnny Lucas. His brother had partnered Kitty, and now she was waiting for Franklin Lucas, not an officer but a regular man, to come collect her for the two dances before the supper set. How embarrassing that she, Lydia Frances Bennet, had not been asked to dance by a single officer, nor did she have a partner for the supper set? Lydia tried to ignore the fact that it was only because Mamma had almost ordered the two Lucas sons to dance with her and Kitty that she had danced at all. This night was supposed to be a triumph for her.

Why was her Wicky not here? When she met him in the morning on the morrow, she would make her displeasure known before she allowed him any kisses or to touch her in her special place again.

How was it fair that mousy Maria Lucas had danced with three officers and she, not one? Even that timid Miss Darcy had danced with Colonel Fitzwilliam. Thinking of that girl, Lydia could not believe that at sixteen she was not out yet. Thanks to being able to manipulate Mamma, Lydia had come out a month before her fifteenth birthday.

None of that helped when she was having such a miserable time. She had told the huge lieutenant that he needed to dance with her. Unlike the militia officers, he had not cut her, but he had snickered and walked away without asking her to dance.

Something else Lydia could not understand was how it was that each time she asked for punch, she ended up with lemonade. No, things were not going according to her plans.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Fanny did not know how it happened, but at supper, she, her husband, and two youngest daughters had ended up at a table as far from her three eldest daughters as possible. Every time she had aimed for a table in the centre of the dining area, a soldier had been in the way. At least Hattie and Frank Phillips were seated with them, so they did not look like they were being ostracised.

She shared Lydia’s anger when she looked across at the tables where the Lucases were seated. The sons had each escorted a Long niece to supper, while plain Charlotte had Colonel Forster next to her, and Lieutenant Denny, who had always paid such attention to her Lydia, was seated next to Maria Lucas.

Sir William and Lady Lucas were with the Longs and Gouldings at the next table. Fanny was sure that her friend, Sarah Lucas, was well pleased that her two daughters were accompanied by officers when Fanny’s Lydia, who deserved their attention far more, was not with any man as her escort, never mind an officer. This was not right! What had happened to turn her world on its head?

William Collins could not have been more pleased that his men had made sure that the rest of the Bennets were seated as far away from them as possible. He had very much enjoyed his two sets of dances with Mary and looked forward to the final set as her partner. He was not flattering himself when he opined that Mary had liked dancing with him as much as he did with her. She was glowing with happiness, and William had been amused at the looks Mary had received from her neighbours. They had never seen her as she was this night. She was herself without hiding her beauty away. After Lord Hilldale, Fitzwilliam, Darcy—he had been asked to call him that—and Mr Bingley had reserved sets, there were very few remaining for the local men who clamoured to dance with her. He looked around the table.

Cousin Elizabeth was chatting away with Miss Darcy, who looked far more relaxed than she had when they had met her and her companion before the start of the ball. Darcy was seated next to Cousin Elizabeth, watching the interaction with his sister and looking like the cat who got the cream. On Miss Darcy’s other side sat Fitzwilliam and Miss de Bourgh, lost in one another’s company. The final couple was Lord Hilldale and Cousin Jane. William would not speculate about the future, but he could see that they were enjoying their discussion.

He saw Mr Bingley, who did not look pleased, stand and head towards the table where he and the others were seated. He approached and stood near Cousin Jane, ignoring the fact she was conversing at that moment.

“I thought you were only granting one set to anyone tonight. I suppose if I were a viscount and not the son of a tradesman, I too would have had a second set,” Bingley said bitterly. He was disappointed, and he had given into that emotion before thinking about what he was to say or do.

“Bingley!” Darcy and Fitzwilliam chorused.

Hilldale was about to set the spoilt puppy down when Miss Bennet rested her hand on his arm to stay his words.

“Mr Bingley, I did not say I would not dance a second set with you. What I said was that I would not dance two or more significant sets with any one man. You will note that Lord Hilldale was not granted two of the three sets I mentioned,” Jane stated firmly, but calmly. “Neither your status nor Lord Hilldale’s is material to me. As you know, both of my uncles are in trade, and I could not love them more.”