The Jane Plan Chapter 2

Oppressive heat greeted Elizabeth when she returned to the ballroom alone. She was met by Mr. Perceval near the balcony door. She felt more than a twinge of guilt when his face lit up upon seeing her. "Miss Bennet, I believe the next dance is ours."

It took her a minute to gather herself. "I believe you are right."

As she took her place in line, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mr. Darcy had also return to the room. Their eyes met as he took up a position along the wall, his expression bore little of the amusement it had in the garden after her quip about keeping her wit at home. If anything, he looked like a gathering storm on the horizon. Dark. Dangerous. Something to take seriously. A frisson of something powerful traveled to her stomach. It was hard to look at anything other than him.

"Are you enjoying your evening, Miss Bennet?"

She forced her attention from Mr. Darcy to her partner. She swallowed, plastering a smile to her lips. "Yes, of course, Mr. Perceval. I am very much."

The structure of the dance changed. Her back was now to Mr. Darcy. It had to be her imagination but she could feel him tracing her figure with his eyes. She was being foolish he probably had moved on. Another turn and she almost gasped. He had moved, but only so he was in her direct line of sight when facing in his direction as she progressed down the line with Mr. Perceval. The frisson became something larger, heavier.

Elizabeth was confused by such blatant attention. She expected him to be as reticent as ever. Hide his attraction to her as thoroughly as he had in the past. She had expected to have to work hard to recapture his attention. It was rather disconcerting to meet with success so easily.

Mr. Perceval frowned as if he noticed her straying attention. "Miss Bennet, you dance very well."

She found it difficult to stand still with her back once more to Mr. Darcy as the next couple completed their form. Her mind felt like mud, her tongue heavy in her mouth. "I don't. Not really. But, you are kindness itself."

The complement seemed to please the gentleman. He rushed forward to take her hands again, turning her. There was a distinct noticeable coloring to Mr. Darcy's cheeks.

Finally, the song came to an end. Elizabeth was relieved when Mr. Perceval led her back to her Aunt Gardiner. "I hope I do not ask too much, Miss Bennet, but I would like to bring my sister by to meet you this week. I know you have plans on the morrow, but the next day. We could take a carriage ride through the _ park together."

As she glanced about the ballroom, she heard herself say distractedly. "Yes, that would be lovely, Mr. Perceval." Distantly she registered her Aunt give him their direction. He lingered for a few minutes longer expressing his intense joy in seeing her again. He reminded her that this was the third ball that they both had attended and the third in which they had danced together. Before leaving her side, Mr. Perceval lifted her hand to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her gloved knuckle. "Until we meet again, Miss Bennet." As she watched him go, her Aunt cast her a worried look.

Elizabeth felt the beginnings of a headache. She would have to worry about this development later. Right now she searched the teaming masses in front of her for Mr. Darcy. He usually was easy to find due to his height but this time it was in vain. Turning back to voice her frustration to her Aunt, she saw him. He had circled the circumference of the room and had basically flanked her. He had a close enough vantage that he had to have overheard the exchange. His eyes blazed the distance between them.

To her relief and her growing vexation, Darcy did not approach her. However, every time she glanced in his direction, his attention was firmly devoted to her. As she danced with other men, as she drank punch, or spoke with her Aunt. It was too much and too little at the same time. Everywhere it seemed she went his eyes bore into her. It was a fact that was gaining the interest of many of the other women in the room.

Elizabeth was overcome in the balmy room. So many people crammed together. Under such scrutiny, her corset was becoming constrictive. Freedom lay on the balcony and she found herself once more outside, breathing in deeply of the cool night air. She needed a moment. Quiet. Time to collect herself.

As she knew she would, Elizabeth heard his footsteps and felt his arrival next to her.

"I see from your behavior tonight that you are trying to dispatch your mother's errand most efficiently." He spoke in a low tone, though it was not necessary, they were quite alone on the balcony.

"Efficiently, Mr. Darcy?"

He looked forward, out across the back gardens. "Is Perce your intended victim, Miss Bennet?"

She tossed back, "Victim? You do not have a flattering impression of my character, Mr. Darcy if you think - "

"Miss Bennet, is he the one you have set your cap on," he rudely cut her off. "That you wish to ensnare? Or is there another unlucky soul?"

No, Mr. Darcy. I have my cap set on Mr. Bingley. To ensnare for Jane. There is no other unlucky soul.

Elizabeth was so irritated by his tone that she almost admitted the truth. Instead, she opened her fan and ignored his question. She owed him no explanation. Let him think as he may. Unlucky soul, indeed! He repeated himself, sounding distinctly unhappy about having to do so.

Mr. Darcy stepped indecently closer to her. The feeling from their earlier conversation on the pathway returned bringing along with it the awareness of his anger. It was so difficult to speak. To say words, form thoughts. It had to be the lingering effects of the heat from inside the ballroom that caused the difficulty.

"You agreed to see Mr. Perceval the day after tomorrow. To meet his sister." He glared at her. "You gave the man clear encouragement when you should have politely declined."

"Why should I have politely declined, Mr. Darcy?" She turned to face him, curious. "I am a gentleman's daughter. He is a gentleman. We are equals. Why should I not encourage such a man? Does he have some deficiency that I should be made aware?" She whispered, "Is he too proud to associate with company he deems beneath him? Does he have a propensity to hate everyone around him?"

Mr. Darcy smiled thinly. "I am not aware of any such flaws in his character. Save one. Mr. Perceval is a simple man with a simple mind. You would grow bored before your courtship has even begun, Miss Bennet. I wish to spare him the heart break when you discover the fact for yourself."

"Perhaps you should go to your friend now and council him on how to best safeguard his heart from me. Tell him I wish to ensnare him." The carefully constructed plan to regain his regard flew from her mind. Her resentment over his interference with her sister and Mr. Bingley rose to the fore. "You've been so prodigiously successful in the past swaying your friends with your opinions. Strange that you chose to apply to me instead of him. Then, again, perhaps you consider us better friends than you and Mr. Perceval?"

"Friends, Miss Bennet. Hardly. I cannot look at you and think we will ever be friends." The smile became a sneer. "I have kindly warned you not to tease men in London. Perhaps, I should have been more specific in my instruction. Do not tease me, Miss Bennet. You will find I am no longer in the mood to endure it."

"No longer in the mood, Mr. Darcy? For teasing?" She giggled with feeling. "Whenever have you been in the mind to be teased?"

There was no further warning as he hauled her against him, pressing his mouth hard against her own. Every single thought she had evaporated from her head.

Heat. What had she known of heat in the ballroom? She felt scorched wherever they touched. His moan vibrated into her, became a part of her, consumed her with its hunger.

Then, she was free. Released as suddenly as she had been captured. He took a step back from her, shock warring with another feeling across his own face.

Stunned, she touched her bruised lips. It had never occurred to her a man's touch could provoke such a feeling. To be kissed by Mr. Darcy. In such a way. His reserve hid his passionate nature so well that she had forgotten it was there. Latent, dormant. This was the second time she had stirred it into action. However, nothing, not even the memories of his awful proposal and his reaction to her subsequent rejection, would have prepared her for this assault to her senses. The complete and utter break with propriety.

"I apologize, Miss Bennet, for my behavior. There is no excuse for what I have done. " The anger that had been in his eyes moments before had been supplanted by self-recrimination. His voice sounded abnormal, "If you believe I have irreparably tarnished your reputation, I will ride for Longborn in the morning to apply to your father for your hand immediately."

Elizabeth returned to herself suddenly. No, it was too soon for an application for her hand. If she played her cards correctly, she would get away without either of her parents finding out about his regard as she had in Kent. She had to slow him down. Impede him. Mr. Bingley must be brought back into her family's sphere without such drastic measures being taken. She hoped to manipulate a marriage proposal, just not her own. Marrying a man she loved was still her ideal.

"I believe my reputation is quite secure, Mr. Darcy." She glanced about. They were still quite alone. "You can quit looking as if you are going to the gallows. Some other man will possess the unfortunate luck to suffer my mother's euphoria at an engagement. You are quite safe from me."

She expected to see relief, but instead he scowled. "You are quite determined to have Mr. Perceval then?"

"I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders. "He seems like a kind, compassionate sort of man. I might be able to overlook quickness of mind for these considerations - "

He snorted, plucking at the fingers of his own gloves. "You'd be miserable, Miss Bennet, in a marriage with such dullness. You crave stimulus."

"You speak as though you are an authority where it concerns me." She had to admit this strange side of Mr. Darcy intrigued her. "We both know you are not."

He moved closer again. Once more, she held her ground. "When you look at me, in such a way, Miss Bennet, I wish to kiss the smug expression from your lips."

When he said such things, she wanted him too.

Everything happened slowly. She raised her chin in silent challenge. His hands moved to her shoulders, squeezing her. Her lashes lowered as she tried to mentally prepare herself for his touch.

The doors to the balcony opened, he dropped his hands from her and Elizabeth felt annoyed at the interruption. As the other couple moved to the other end of the balcony where the gentleman was pointing out a constellation, she glanced sideways under her lashes at him. Mr. Darcy had the sore expression of being perturbed. The interrupted kiss had left them both wanting. For one brief moment, they were of the same mind.

He glanced at her then, took a deep breath, "Your plans for tomorrow, Miss Bennet, they are firm?"

"Yes, they are." From his countenance, it was clear he thought those plans included another man. "I plan on taking my cousins for a much deserved excursion to _ park."

"And, about what time will this excursion take place?"

The idea of Mr. Darcy surrounded by her exuberant cousins made her struggle for an answer. Would seeing her with the children encourage or discourage him? It was a gamble.

His cheeks once more were turning ruddy as he was forced to wait for her answer.

"We plan on being in the park around noon."

He rubbed at his mouth. "By the entrance closest to Cheapside?"

"Yes." She admitted, watching his reaction. He gripped the balustrade. "The children enjoy the area by the lake. . ."

He turned to her. "Yes. I know it."

"It is a favorite of theirs." What was happening to her? Her heart hammered in her chest. sss

His voice turned husky. "I believe it will be a favorite of mine as well."

The couple that joined them had exhausted the sky and made move to return indoors. Mr. Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm. "I think it will be safer if we also return indoors, Miss Bennet."

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