Elizabeth Bennet had anticipated the assembly with all the pleasant expectation the prospect of a country dance among familiar neighbours could supply. The evening had more than usual interest due to the expected attendance of the new tenant of Netherfield Park, together with his entourage of friends and family.
Elizabeth wore her best gown, had her hair artfully arranged, and completed the ensemble with her garnet cross. She and her sisters arrived, greeted friends, and happily accepted invitations to dance.
There were, as usual, more ladies than gentlemen present, and so she was happy to sit out several dances to allow her sisters their share of partners. During one such interlude, she idly watched their new neighbour, Mr Bingley, accost his taciturn friend, Mr Darcy, and urge him to dance. She was entertained by the exchange – all delight and enthusiasm on the one part and all disdain and reluctance on the other – until she heard herself mentioned. At this point, Mr Darcy turned to look at her. His eye caught hers, and she quickly looked away, yet remained exceedingly interested to hear how he would respond.
He did not disappoint. He managed to insult her with such overweening arrogance, shewing just how much above his company he felt himself to be, that she could not but be delighted by the folly of it all.
She wasted no time in self-pity. If the proud Mr Darcy was not tempted onto the dance floor by the prospect of a set with her, it was small loss: she had plenty of dance partners amongst her neighbours, and good friends with whom to chat between sets. Indeed, he had given her the liveliest topic for conversation she could have wished for. She wasted no time in retailing his remarks, highlighting their absurdity and giving rise to general laughter.
At one point, while laughing at just this subject, she caught his curious gaze from the other side of the hall. She raised one eyebrow in challenge, as if to say "despise me if you dare, sir," and turned back to her friends.
Unspoken from across the room came back his answer, "Indeed, I do not dare."
Jane Austen's characters borrowed with respect and love.
© 2017
