Author's Note: Firstly apologises are in order for my late upload, I was back at college last week and we've been busy finishing our assignments.
Secondly my social life went kind off crazy last week, which always seems to happen during the summer.
I have finished college now (2 weeks early :D) so I'll have more time to write (hopefully)
This story has kind of became personal, unintentionally started of as just another story that I found and edited and now has become more personal. I won't say I'm love that's too strong a word, but I like this guy a lot and this story I think reflects that. This however is more interesting than my crappy love life.
For those waiting for my sequel Something's Amiss In Derbyshire, I have a poll running on my profile of who you guys would like to star in the story all information is given on my profile as well so you understand what I'm on about.
Also quickly I realised I had called Mr Callaghan, Lucas, I forgot about the other Lucas's slip of the mind so to avoid confusion, I've called Old Mr Callaghan - Lord Callaghan and Lucas is called Mr Callaghan like normal. Sorry about that, error on my behalf that was.
Enjoy...
May I Have This Dance?
Elizabeth was not a coward. The people in Meryton saw her as a strong, independent woman. What she was doing now though was very much like cowardliness, she was hiding. She was hiding in one of the corridors of Netherfield. Away from the dance and away from the two men who seemed to hound her. Her mind was in a haze, she could not form any structured thoughts, everything irrational went through her mind and she tried to subdue them. Her heart felt as though it would burst through her chest, she thought of nothing but him. She hated this, she hated hiding, she was not a coward, yet she was hiding. She tried her best to rationalise her thoughts, only memories of him and her would flash through her mind.
There was a door open somewhere; she could feel the cold night creep along her boiling skin. Goose bumps trailed along her body, followed by an involuntary shiver. She could hear the voices from the dance, the warmth vibrate from the dance hall. She was hiding...
Earlier that night...
The Bennet carriage rolled to a stop outside Netherfield, the family inside the carriage prepared for the night ahead. Mixture of emotions played havoc with each individuals mind.
Kitty was excited she loved the dances thrown at Netherfield. Since her elder sisters marriage she had the chance to move up in society all of them had. She relished it even more than her other sisters , she met such people in the highest social circles that she began to mimic how they acted. The way they walked, how they spoke, what was appropriate to say in a conversation. Kitty was a new woman, no longer influenced by her younger sister Lydia. She heard terrible rumours about Mr Wickham, so terribly frightful than when Lydia asked Kitty in a letter to run away up north to join them. Kitty flatly refused, she hated her father at first for not allowing her to go stay with Lydia. Now however she secretly thanked him though she would never admit it. The last few months she was closer to her elder sisters especially Lizzy and she loved her sister even more.
Mrs Bennet mind was quite considerably on a different subject. She wondered what her darling Jane was wearing. When would the baby be born is it a boy or girl? If a girl, would they name it after her. Fanny Bingley. Yes, that would do very nicely. What was the latest news from town? Would Lady Lucas have the latest gossip? Yes, this would turn out to be a most advantages evening. She also hoped if there would be any gentleman for her Lizzy.
Mary remained quiet and pensive. Jane had told her not to play any music tonight. Mary had protested at first but Jane explained she did not want her sister to entertain her guests. Reluctantly she left her music at home and her mother had ordered her to stay by her side. She used to hate having to stay around her mother now though she found Lady Lucas to be quite an intelligent woman.
Mr Bennet studied each of his daughters fares they were all lost in thought. He considered briefly, what Jane had talked to him about Elizabeth and Mr Callaghan. Sure the man had a troubled past but who did not. He had spoken to the lad and he appeared to be a rather smart man. Tonight though he would not think on the matter if Elizabeth had a problem she would come to him. Right now, he wanted out of the carriage and to have a glass of port sit down and discuss the shooting, or read his book that he had tucked away in his pocket.
Elizabeth was third out of the carriage following her parents. She looked around but could not see Mr Callaghan's carriage, perhaps he was already here. For the briefest moment, she thought she could feel someone watching her from one of the windows. Must be Jane she rationalised, who else? Once inside she was relieved of her coat by the door attendant, with a thank you she made her way to the dance.
Her sister at the entrance to the ball greeted her; she said a small hello and promised to talk with her later. Jane had her guests to attend too; Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to see Mr Callaghan. Inside the hall, the music was playing softly in the background; the dances would not start for another ten minutes, so she had plenty of time to talk. The room was becoming crowded with familiar faces; the servants did a spectacular display of intertwining between guests offering glasses of wine and port. She did her best to at moving through the crowd, looking at faces, saying the odd word to people. All the time she felt someone's eyes watching her, her neck tingled. She turned to see if, she wanted to catch the person who was watching her, but again there was no one.
What she saw next stunned her. Her eyes wandered to the end of the room and met with Mr Callaghan's. She was stunned by who she saw standing with him. She noticed Lord and Lady Callaghan deep in conversation with the Lucas's. She turned and went to grab a glass of wine, when Maria Lucas met her.
"Lizzy," Maria squeaked. "Did you hear that Lord and Lady Callaghan are here for the dance?"
"Indeed I had not heard I only just now saw them." Elizabeth answered.
"Lord Callaghan looks well does he not?"
"Very well," Elizabeth said casting her eyes to the ground trying to ensure that Maria does not see the disappointment in them.
"You do not think this is a good thing?" Maria innocent as usual stared at her lost.
"Oh yes a very good thing I am glad that he is well, I was just shocked that was all."
"Think of it Lizzy he will be able to throw balls now that he is well."
"I think there will be some more time to wait before the Callaghan's throw a ball." Lizzy said smiling.
"On the contrary I am happy to throw you a ball Miss Bennet." Elizabeth turned at the sound of Mr Callaghan's voice.
"I am most grateful but I thought it best for your father to recover first." She replied.
"He will not recover," Mr Callaghan, growled, Elizabeth, noticed the surprise on Maria's face, she was not accustomed to Mr Callaghan and found his very presence scary.
"Forgive me but I believe he looked well."
"Indeed he is, but I would never let looks fool you Miss Bennet." Mr Callaghan smirked.
Again, Elizabeth had the sense of someone watching her, she felt it from behind this time and she checked over her shoulder, to find no one out of the ordinary.
"Is there a problem Miss Bennet?" Mr Callaghan asked worried.
"No, no problem, I just..." She lost her voice half way through her sentence when her sister entered the dance hall with Mr Bingley and their guest.
If it were not bad enough for Maria to have Lord and Lady Callaghan here with their sons, then she would be a ball of nerves after the Bingley's guest entered. The room seemed too stunned into silence at the sight of the tall man. The Bingley's entered shaking hands and talking as their friends eyes slowly swept through the crowd. His eyes connected with Lizzy's and that tingle sensation returned.
"Who is that?" Mr Callaghan asked, not understanding why everyone had fallen quiet.
"Mr Darcy..." Maria whispered.
"From Pemberley?"
"The very same," Elizabeth answered looking anywhere but at Mr Darcy.
"Oh I had heard much about him,"
"Lizzy maybe his here to see you," Maria whispered not to quiet though as Mr Callaghan heard, his eyes became stone cold at the prospect there maybe another man after Elizabeth's hand.
"Hush Maria, do not say such silly things." Elizabeth scorned her; fearful of how much the girl knew of her and Darcy's last encounter.
"Charlotte said," Maria began.
"Charlotte was wrong," Elizabeth hissed.
"No do tell what did Charlotte say?" Mr Callaghan asked if anything this made Maria become silent and shake her head.
"Mr Darcy," Elizabeth greeted as he approached, ignoring Mr Callaghan's stare.
"Miss Bennet," Mr Darcy bowed. "It is a pleasure to see you again."
A pleasure, how could it be a pleasure to see me, I refused him quite abhorrently to his face, how could he stand the sight of me? Perhaps he is just being civil for Mr Bingley's sake.
"Not at all sir the pleasures all mine." She smiled she could play along. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him smiling in return. Did I just make him smile?
"Would you do me the honour of introducing me to your friend?"
"Certainly Mr Darcy this is Mr Callaghan his family just recently moved back to Meryton."
"I had heard of your father's illness I offer my condolences." Darcy said bowing.
"Offer them to him, he is here." Mr Callaghan answered rudely.
Maria seemed to still at the tension between the two men, as both men observed the other. Elizabeth was unsure herself what to do, she tried to think of a way to change subject.
"I hoped you had pleasant journey sir?" Elizabeth said breaking the silence and making Mr Darcy look at her.
"Yes it was smooth journey." Mr Darcy answered, not taking Mr Callaghan out of his sight, which was when he heard the music change to indicate start of dance. "If you're not otherwise engaged may I have the honour of the first two dances?"
"You may." Elizabeth answered automatically. Why? Why did you just agree to dance with him? She asked herself.
"Thank you." Darcy replied holding at his hand for her to take.
As he led her to the dance floor, he could not help but gloat at the first small victory he had just won over Mr Callaghan. He also relished the opportunity to speak with Elizabeth and to hope that her not rejecting him is a good sign.
The music began to play as the dancers took to their positions; she ignored the looks her neighbours were giving her at the sight of her dancing with Mr Darcy. She had danced with him before why should this be any different.
The dance started and everyone moved in harmony. She found it hard for her not to break eye contact with Mr Darcy; his charming brown eyes seemed different to the first time they met. She thought of various ideas to start the conversation, but could think of nothing.
"I heard you toured the Lakes with your aunt and uncle over the summer?" Mr Darcy stated, bringing her back to the present.
"Yes, we spent two weeks there until we had to return due to an unfortunate nature." Elizabeth still felt upset every time she remembered the news of her sister Lydia when she had ran away with Mr Wickham. Partly because of she had fallen for his tricks and accused Mr Darcy of something he had not done.
She felt Mr Darcy tighten her hand in comfort, how could he possibly know what her thoughts were? Or know anything about Lydia and Mr Wickham? She turned her gaze to his face not realising she had turned from him because of her thoughts. He however seemed to be concentrating on the dance, and not looking at her, perhaps he had squeezed my hand unintentionally? She rationalised, but a part of her knew this was not the case.
"Did you enjoy the tour?" He asked.
"Indeed I did, the Lake District was beautiful." She said smiling once again.
"I am glad to hear it,"
They were separated for a few minutes due to the dance. Elizabeth could not help but notice that Mr Callaghan had joined his family and was staring at her and Mr Darcy. She turned her eyes from him back to her partner, as he took her hand again; she felt the comfort, the protection he offered.
"I am to offer my congratulations for both your sisters' marriages." Darcy said once they reunited. "I see my friend Bingley is very happy." Elizabeth noted how Mr Darcy would not venture near the mention of Lydia, and Elizabeth had no intention to either.
"Indeed, so I believe is my sister," Elizabeth said. "I was surprised to not see you present at the wedding?"
"I was unavailable at the time; I had the most urgent business to attend too." Darcy lied he still felt hurt by Bingley's reaction to his news of hiding Jane from him in London, he did not think the man capable of keeping a grudge.
"I am sad to hear it." She said.
The dances ended, after Darcy and Elizabeth talked about their favourite books and the current happenings in town. Elizabeth had not felt so alive, her heart felt as though it could burst. She felt as though she was floating on nothing, her mind tried to understand his caring nature, his caresses he made with his fingers on her hand. Blast the infernal man, how could she be so stupid.
She escaped to the other side of the room, where Kitty sat watching the dance in a cool calm manner she had managed to improve greatly without Lydia's influence and become a very smart girl.
"Lizzy you look unwell." Kitty said as she approached.
"I am well, I'm just thinking." She said smiling.
"I believe you are in love Lizzy," Kitty replied, nodding her head at Elizabeth's shocked expression.
Mr Callaghan was approaching before Elizabeth could recover and argue with her sister. Kitty made a fast escape, silently thanking Mr Callaghan for the interruption, she learnt long ago not to get involved in her sisters affairs. Elizabeth recovered enough to accept Mr Callaghan's dance invitation, as he led to the floor, she murmured to herself.
"In love with whom?"
That was when things became out of hand and Mr Callaghan began to probe into her history with Mr Darcy. She could not believe her sister for saying such a thing and within earshot of friends, she would get her revenge later. She became uneasy with Mr Callaghan everything he said, she could not recall, she could think of nothing else but dancing and talking with Mr Darcy. She made some feeble excuse to Mr Callaghan about needing to talk with her father and she would find him for another dance, he seemed most eager to keep her dancing. He left her with a bow and she fled like the coward she was.
Now she was hiding in the darkened corridors, away from everyone. She hated this hiding, she hated what the men did to her, she hated everything about this night that resulted in her not being able to understand what was going on.
That was when she realised she was not alone, when she realised she was followed. She looked up to meet his eyes, they held so much pain there, so much longing. She hated this. He looked aloof in the dark corridor and yet he looked so at home his features cold as the night's air and so inviting. Before she could speak, a commotion had broken out in the dance. She could hear the heightened voices, the shouting and the threats.
"Come," He said offering her his hand.
