Anything you recognise is Jane Austen's!

Darcy waited impatiently with Bingley and Caroline at the doors to the ballroom. He knew he was being borderline unwelcoming and occasionally downright uncivil as each new guest arrived, but he could not care less. He knew Caroline thought nothing of it, that he, like she was bored with the country. He was glad she had no idea of his true thoughts; that he was in fact waiting anxiously for Elizabeth, eager to dance and converse with her throughout the night. He was on the verge of stamping his foot like a young boy deprived of his favourite pastime, when he caught the name Bennet.

'Mr Collins, Mr Bennet, Mrs Bennet, Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia Bennet,' announced the butler.

As the Bennet family approached them, he watched Jane and Charles's interactions carefully. They both looked happy to be with each other, conversing in soft tones, and he saw Jane smile softly. If he watched closely enough, he could see what Elizabeth meant about Jane being shy, and in fact began to recognise in her many of the same little mannerisms that he himself sometimes displayed. In fact, he believed she was looking at Bingley now in the way he quite often looked at Elizabeth. He turned back to the rest of the party, satisfied. Now, if only he could persuade Elizabeth to love him.

He scanned the party, looking for her, and his breath caught in his throat. Good Lord, she was beautiful. She was wearing a simple white muslin gown adorned with white lace, showing off her very pleasing figure to perfection. Her unruly chestnut curls were swept into a fine up-do, a string of pearls and white silk flowers entwined within it.

He caught her eye, and realised that, by some divine occurrence, he was last to greet her. He bowed. She curtsied, and met his eye, his favourite look in her fine ones: merry mischief, as though she had done something extremely naughty.

I am pleased to inform you, sir, that Mr Collins has relinquished my first two dances and has demanded that I dance with you at once.' Her eyes twinkled. 'I simply must obey him, or his reputation shall be on the line!'

Darcy could not help himself. He laughed.

Several heads turned their way in astonishment. Mrs Bennet looked at them approvingly, and Darcy could practically see the pound signs flashing in her eyes, but for once, he did not care. Caroline was staring at him and Elizabeth in outraged disdain, and bewilderment. He had never laughed that way with emher/em, she was certain.

He bowed once more, his eyes twinkling. 'However did you persuade him?' He offered her his arm, saying, 'We must make haste. Allow me to escort you to the dance floor at once.'

She took his arm with a pretty smile, and he felt like the happiest man in the world as he led her towards the place where the next set was lining up. He lifted his head proudly, feeling rather smug at all the jealous looks he was receiving from the men, and the incredulous ones from the women.

They took their places in the set, and he kept his eyes on her every moment of the dance. She looked so beautiful, a happy smile on her face, cheeks flushed from the exertion. His fingers tingled every time he touched her hand or her waist as was indicated by the dance, and he wondered if she felt the same spark of electricity whenever they touched.

In the break between sets, Darcy procured her some punch.

'You are very gallant today, Mr Darcy.'

'I am in an uncommonly good mood,' he confessed.

'Yes, I see that,' she replied, sipping her punch. 'What can have caused this change, I wonder?'

Mr Darcy smiled, and leant towards her slightly, as though informing her of some great secret. 'I have so far been able to avoid the clutches of Miss Bingley, and long I hope it may continue.'

'Do not worry, sir. I shall save you the displeasure!' Elizabeth replied, grinning.

Mr Darcy smiled ruefully. 'I thank you for you consideration, but I am afraid you will be engaged for most of the evening.'

'Will I?' she asked in astonishment. 'Do you know something I do not?'

'No,' he said, with a smile at her obliviousness. 'Merely the fact that you are the most divine-looking woman in the room.'

'You jest, Mr Darcy.'

'I am all seriousness,' he replied, his smile vanishing. 'You look perfectly lovely this evening, Miss Elizabeth.'

Her dark eyes searched his carefully before she smiled with pleasure. 'I thank you sir. You have stroked my vanity enough for it to last throughout the evening.'

'I am sure it will endure many more compliments this evening,' Mr Darcy replied.

Before Elizabeth could reply, they were interrupted by Mr Collins, who immediately claimed the next set, if only for appearance's sake. No, if his patroness's nephew was taken with Elizabeth, he would not stand in his way. He had just become further acquainted with Charlotte Lucas, and thought she would make him a most sensible wife.

Darcy released Elizabeth's arm with much reluctance, and shot her a meaningful look as she was lead away. She winked at him as Mr Collins led her back onto the dance floor, her eyes brimming with mischief. He turned away to hide his smile.

Almost immediately, he was waylaid by Caroline Bingley.

'There you are, Darcy,' she simpered. 'I was in despair of finding you. I have been bored out of my mind with the endless country talk. I pray, relieve me of my misery! See Miss Eliza? She /spancannot dance for anything!'

Darcy glanced over to where Elizabeth was now dancing with Mr Collins. He winced in sympathy as he trod on her toes.

'I believe it is the cousin who cannot dance,' he replied.

'Ah yes, you danced with her, did you not? Tell me, is she as dreadful as she looks?'

'Quite the opposite,' Darcy informed her, quickly growing irritated. 'Now, if you will excuse me, I am engaged to dance with Miss Lucas.'/

He hurried across the room to Elizabeth's friend Charlotte, congratulating himself on his excellent plan. Not only had he escaped Miss Bingley, but he would improve no end in Elizabeth's eyes if he danced with her friend.

He bowed to Charlotte. 'Miss Lucas, may I have the honour of standing up with you for the next set?'

Charlotte stared at him in surprise. After a moment, she replied, 'You may. Although I suspect this is more for Elizabeth's benefit than mine.'

Darcy's eyes widened at her cunning intuition.

Charlotte frowned. 'It is so, is it not? I have not offended you?'

'Not at all,' he replied automatically. 'It is just – I did not think it was so obvious.'

Charlotte looked at him with a smirk. 'Ah, but you see, I have suspected you having a preference for her for quite a while now. She does not believe me.'

Mr Darcy's heart leapt that they had been having conversations about him, even if Elizabeth did not believe Charlotte's accurate observations. 'Well, I must congratulate you, Miss Lucas. You are very perceptive.'

She smiled and nodded her thanks. Darcy offered her his arm, as the next set was about to begin, and led her across the floor. He quite liked Charlotte, and was inclined to ask her to visit he and Elizabeth at Pemberley if or when they were married. As he took his place in the set, he noticed Elizabeth was partnered with a besotted-looking young soldier. He felt a twinge of jealousy, but could not blame the boy; he was besotted himself, if not as visibly.

As the set progressed, he found himself in possession of Elizabeth's hand twice. On the second occasion, he asked if her next set was taken, wondering if he might have a moment to converse with her then.

'No, I am exhausted! I cannot dance another for a while!'

'Then allow me to fetch you some refreshment afterwards,' he said, pleased.

She smiled in answer, and he released her to claim Charlotte once more.

When the dance was over, he bowed to Charlotte before hurrying off to fetch drinks. Looking back, he saw Charlotte and Elizabeth deep in conversation, so he procured a drink for her as well. When he approached them, he was delighted to see Elizabeth meet his eye and blush before looking away. Charlotte smirked in satisfaction.

He handed her a drink. 'Thank you Mr Darcy,' she said, accepting it. 'If you will excuse me, I must speak with my sister.' She crossed the hall, and Mr Darcy guided Elizabeth over to a set of comfortable chairs.

She sank into one with a relieved groan. 'It was nice of you to dance with Charlotte,' she offered.

'She is a pleasant young lady,' he returned.

'She seems to think you did it for me.'

'Miss Lucas is a very perceptive young woman,' was all he replied.

'So you did?'

'I shall neither confirm nor deny the claim,' he said, smirking.

She glared at him. Oh, how he loved to provoke her. He did not wish to ruin the mood of the evening, however, so he moved on.

'That young soldier you were dancing with was smitten,' he remarked.

'Yes,' Elizabeth said. 'He requested my supper set, and was most disappointed when I said it was taken. He begged me to persuade you to change your mind.' Her eyes twinkled.

'And how are you going to go about that?' Darcy asked, smiling.

'You are no Mr Collins,' she replied. 'I have no wish to be rid of you.'

He smiled widely. 'I am glad.'

Elizabeth stared. 'Mr Darcy – you have dimples!'

He flushed, but smiled even wider. 'Yes, so Georgiana tells me. They are not often on display.'

A new set started up, and they both watched for a moment. A most disgruntled looking Caroline was dancing with one of the militia. Darcy smirked to himself as she glared over at them every so often.

'I am afraid Miss Bingley will hate you with a vengeance after this evening,' Mr Darcy said.

'I would far rather be hated by her than liked,' Elizabeth replied. 'Will she not hate you too? You have deliberately avoided her for most of the evening, and have not even danced with her.'

'Alas, I can never remain in Miss Bingley's bad books for long. I must endeavour to infuriate her often.'

'That must be an easy task.'

'Hardly,' Mr Darcy scoffed. 'She is determined I am a saint, and barely understands my put-downs. I would dearly love to tell her plainly that she shall never be Mistress of Pemberley, but I cannot if I wish to remain friends with Bingley.'

'Surely –'

They were interrupted by another soldier. He bowed to them. 'Miss Elizabeth, may I request your hand for the next set?'

Elizabeth sighed inwardly, as did Darcy. He knew that if she refused she would have to sit out the rest of the dances, including the supper set with him. Taking pity on her, he cut in before she could assent, 'Miss Elizabeth is already engaged for the next.'

The corner of his mouth curled up slightly as he felt Elizabeth's astonished stare. 'That is a blatant lie, sir,' she hissed, looking shocked. He grinned.

'The supper set, then?' Mr Thomas asked hopefully, missing this exchange.

'That is already claimed by Mr Darcy,' Elizabeth replied.

Darcy was most amused to be on the receiving end of a sudden glare. 'I apologise, Mr Thomas,' he said, getting to his feet and bowing. 'Will you allow me to introduce you to Miss Kitty? I am persuaded you will find her very agreeable.'

Thomas allowed himself to be led over to Elizabeth's sister, who happily accepted his offer. Darcy returned to Elizabeth, only to find an irate Caroline standing over her. He groaned inwardly, but bowed.

'Miss Bingley.' He took his seat once more. 'A wonderful evening, is it not?'

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the corner of Elizabeth's mouth curl upwards.

Caroline glared at him. 'Oh, yes, Mr Darcy.' She turned towards him, and he saw to his mingled disgust and horror that she had pulled down the front of her dress slightly, her bosom protruding most inappropriately. 'Why, Louisa and I were just wondering whom you had engaged for the supper set, for we have only seen you dance with Miss Eliza and Miss Lucas!'

'I admire your keen observations,' Darcy said. He rather thought she missed the sarcasm. 'Miss Elizabeth's hand is engaged to me for the supper set.'

Caroline looked outraged.

'Miss Eliza! I know you think she has fine eyes, but how you could wish to dine with her is beyond my belief! I remember, when we first knew her, how amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, "She a beauty!—I should as soon call her mother a wit." But afterwards she seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time.'

'Yes,' replied Darcy, who had listened to Miss Bingley's tirade with increasing disbelief, 'but that was only when I first saw her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.'

Miss Bingley was left dumbstruck. She walked away without a word, and Darcy let out a sigh of relief, only to find Elizabeth looking at him, tears forming around the glare in her eyes. Darcy's heart sank. If Caroline had ruined this evening, he would never forgive her.

'Elizabeth –'

'I do not know whether to be offended, or extremely grateful, or flattered!' she said. 'You are a mass of contradictions.' She got to her feet, but Darcy grabbed her wrist.

'Elizabeth, please! Let me explain.' His eyes begged her to relent. 'Please,' he whispered. Perhaps his tortured expression touched her, for she sat down.

'Well?' she asked.

'I only ever said those things to Miss Bingley because I was trying desperately to convince her – and myself – that I had no preference for you. I took no pleasure from saying it, you may be sure.' He loosened his hold on her wrist to let his fingers slip down the back of her hand and clasp hers. 'Please do not let her ruin this evening. It is what she wants.'

Elizabeth's beautiful eyes lifted to his. They were no longer angry; now they were filled with apologetic tears. 'I am sorry, Fitzwilliam,' she said hesitantly. His heart soared. It was the first time she had ever addressed him so informally. 'You are right, I am constantly wilfully misunderstanding you.'

He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a reverent kiss to it, not caring about propriety or who may be watching. She blushed becomingly and he set her hand back in her lap.

'Thank you, Elizabeth. And I find it most endearing that you are rarely searching for compliments in my words.'

'Oh, yes, I am sure that the ladies of the Ton could find a compliment even in a comment about the weather, say.'

'You are quite correct in your observation,' Mr Darcy said, amused.

They sat in a comfortable silence, watching the dancing, until the time came for them to stand up for the supper set.

Hope you liked it! More to come tomorrow :)