Mr Darcy could not help but question his own motivation for being at Meryton for the Ball. As he alighted from the chaise and took the arm of Mr Bingley's sister and escorted her inside the hall, a sense of irritation overcame him.
He stood waiting with infinite patience as the Ladies Maid of the house helped Miss Bingley out of her travelling cloak. He also endeavoured to ignore Mr Hurst's demands to usher his own wife inside the room in haste—presumably so Mr Hurst could avail himself of their guest's hospitality.
As they proceeded through the house toward the grand ballroom, Darcy could sense all eyes on the Bingley party. The intense scrutiny only increased when they entered the grand ballroom. Under a large, ornate chandelier, ladies and gentlemen danced, swirling in circles around each other and then forming long, formal lines. Officers from the regiment stationed nearby in the bright red and gold of formal uniform broke the sea of black and white in the lines of gentleman dancers. The ladies, in their assorted long pastel white, yellow and lemon dresses seemed almost to float across the room as they moved in time to the music.
Darcy began to regret his decision to accompany the party to the assembly almost immediately. Perhaps it may well have been the irritating way his good friend Mr Bingley seemed determined to meet every person in the room. Or it could have been the sound of the music and merriment coming from the cheerful townsfolk. Ordinarily he liked to keep himself to himself, but on this occasion he had been persuaded to attend against his better judgment. Darcy knew his attempts to avoid the acquaintance of the entire town were likely to make him unpopular, but he cared little for the opinion of others.
As the evening wore on, Darcy watched from a remote corner of the room while Bingley's brother-in-law, Mr Hurst made plain his intention to consume large quantities of alcohol—presumably in an attempt to dispel his own inadequacies.
Darcy continued to pace the perimeter, occasionally stopping and then moving on for no more apparent reason than he could no longer stand the scrutiny of those nearby. He made up his mind that if those present before him were the elite of Hertfordshire, then it may well please him to return to London as soon as possible. Were it not for the enduring friendship with Mr Bingley he could have found little reason to venture from the grounds of Netherfield Park this evening.
Almost from the moment he had stepped down from the chaise, Darcy had been aware of the murmur of gossip around his financial position. This added to the uncomfortable situation in which he now found himself.
Darcy watched Bingley take pleasure dancing with the most handsome woman in the room, marvelling at his friend's ability to put everyone around him at ease. It wasn't a skill that he himself had mastered. Darcy had never been sure of the motives of many a person who wished to make his acquaintance.
"Come, Darcy, Bingley said as he arrived at his side, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself while I'm enjoying the company of the charming Miss Bennet." Bingley's eye travelled across the room toward the gracious blonde woman dressed in a fine golden print, who now sat with a mousy and plain looking woman in white. The women chatted together and then cast quick glances in the direction of the two friends.
"I certainly shall not," Darcy replied, "you know how much I detest it unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."
"Oh, I would not be so fastidious as you are," Bingley said with a chuckle. "For a Kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty."
"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," Darcy answered tilting his head toward the blonde Miss Bennet.
"Oh, she is one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever beheld!" Bingley agreed, "But there is one of her sisters sitting just behind you. She is very pretty and I dare say agreeable. Let me ask my partner to introduce you."
"What do you mean?" Darcy asked as he followed the gaze of his friend to a raven-haired woman in a pale blue dress. He caught the young lady Elizabeth's eye and she smiled up at him. He withdrew his gaze and said in a cool tone, "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men." The feeling of unease had not left Darcy, even with the positive air brought to his side by his friend, Mr Bingley. "You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
Bingley shrugged and returned to the side of the elder Miss Bennet. They had been friends for too long for Bingley to try to persuade Darcy otherwise when his mind was made up.
Before the evening drew to a close, Darcy thought better of the comments of his friend. Although Darcy had spent no time with anyone except the party he had arrived with, he at least took to the dance floor twice. Once with Miss Bingley and the second time with Mrs Hurst. Darcy knew as the evening came to a close and Bingley made himself popular by announcing that the next Ball would be held at Netherfield Park, Darcy had made himself thoroughly unpopular with his hosts—especially when he declined to be introduced to any other lady in the room.
Darcy heard the whispers circulating around the room of his being proud and above his company. Even his large estate in Derbyshire could not prevent him from being seen as unworthy a companion for his friend, the most popular, Mr Bingley.