Thank you all for being patient- this part was tough and I'm not through the woods yet. Please review!
As they piled into the carriage for the ride to Netherfield Elizabeth couldn't help but feel excited about the coming evening. She recalled with a mild blush her walk that morning and smiled at a fleeting thought, "I begin to think Mr. Darcy's manners very pleasant indeed." To her right, Lydia and her mother were talking over one another about the quantity of red coats that would be present that night. Elizabeth started when she heard Lydia say,
"Yes, I fully except that Mr. Wickham will single me out from among all the ladies. We are great friends you know."
Elizabeth unexpectedly answered, "I would have you be more careful about how you choose your friends Lydia. He is not well talked about in town."
"My sisters may be jealous of me but tonight I shall have fun!"
Her sister responded with more intensity, "I am not jealous of you Lydia. Have a care for how we appear with you chasing after officers like a silly flirt!"
Mr. Bennet thought it prudent to interject here as he saw the telltale look in Lizzie's eyes indicating that she was not going to keep her temper in hand, "Now, Lizzie, what can you have against the man? I thought that you received his attentions willingly at your aunts."
She flushed with embarrassment but, oh well, now was as good a time as any to get the word out, "I am ashamed to say I did Father, but since that evening I have heard such reports of him from town that make honest folk cringe."
That unfortunately was all that Lizzie could confess at the moment because Mr. Collins of course had much to say on this head. Mary joined in with him and then Lydia and her mother after conceding that perhaps Mr. Wickham was no good (though he was the handsomest) continued to squeal on about the other officers.
Just when Elizabeth thought they would never arrive they began to see the lighted pathway to the carriage drop off at Netherfield and the whole carriage hushed with amazement at the beauty of Netherfield in the twilight. That is, until Mr. Collins chimed in, "What small front windows Netherfield has in comparison to Rosings. Lady Catherine's windows must be at least double that height and width." He continued like that without response from the rest of the coach occupants until he awkwardly stopped as no one was in the mood to humor him on the subject.
Elizabeth started up the stairs into Netherfield in proper order behind her Mother and Father and Jane escorted by Mr. Collins. She suddenly felt such flutters in her stomach as she had never experienced. She had espied Mr. Darcy standing at the end of the receiving line and it appeared that he had been looking for her. He smiled at her as he waited for the next person in line and the smile went all the way into the depths of her soul. She only paid a scant amount of attention to her family embarrassing themselves with Mr. Bingley and his sisters as she contemplated Mr. Darcy's broad shoulders, tall stature, the wonderful way that his hair swept across his forehead and how his sideburns twitched when he smiled.
She prayed that he was as distracted as she was because her mother was really in fine form this evening. Raving about the decorations and beauty and wealth of Mr. Bingley. It did appear that he took her lack of manners in stride as they approached him, though he was quiet, but when he directly took Mrs. Bennet's hand to shake it and complement her on her fine dress Elizabeth thought she would faint. Had Mr. Darcy just attempted to be civil with her mother? Mrs. Bennet, equally astonished replied, "Why Mr. Darcy, you truly are perceptive! I have refashioned this gown from one of the finest pieces of my wedding trousseau. I can see that you are an admirer of only the finest clothes. You will surely not disagree that my Lizzie," she yanked Elizabeth forward in front of Jane, "looks amazingly well in her silk taffeta. I was just telling Mr. Bennet this evening that Elizabeth's beauty is beginning to finally meet Lydia's."
Mr. Darcy was completely affronted by her speech and regretted soundly his compliment. Not because he gave it untruthfully- Elizabeth's mother did look well this evening and he was trying to be more civil- but because he had encouraged Mrs. Bennet's outburst and the embarrassed flush creeping across Elizabeth's face. Thankfully her parents and family moved on after Mrs. Bennet gave a knowing look to Elizabeth and she had a moment to apologize to Mr. Darcy.
"I am terribly sorry Mr. Darcy. My mother has never learned how to receive a compliment with grace." Neglecting to mention her shamelessly throwing Elizabeth at him.
He simply said, "I am practicing as we discussed this morning Miss Elizabeth and I begin to believe that your mother does not brag enough. Lydia's beauty. Perhaps Aphrodite." Elizabeth caught wind of his flirtation but it was not with playful eyes that he gazed at her as he said this. His eyes wore a dark expression and there was a heaviness and richness that unsettled her stomach. Anyone looking at them would have suspected that he had just given her a stern set down of some sort. She blushed deeply and he continued,
"Do not forget about our dances. I will claim them promptly." With that she was swept forward as new guests arrived and partially in a trance sought to find Miss Lucas.
Mr. Darcy watched with regret as Elizabeth retreated and paid little heed to the new introductions as he was consumed by his thoughts. Just eight hours ago he would never have thought to compliment Mrs. Bennet whether it was merited or not. She was a vulgar woman beneath his notice but this evening when he saw the minute similarity in appearance to Elizabeth and her fine dress he could not resist. He did regret that Mrs. Bennet did not possess an iota of refinement but in fairness to Elizabeth he chose to view her in a less proud manner. She was a mother with an entailed estate, without financial freedom, poorly suited to her husband and bound by the conventions of her sex to silliness and husband chasing. He had met many like her in the ton but they had the money to command deference where Mrs. Bennet did not. She was doing all that she knew how to do and Mr. Darcy thanked providence that it was clearly not Mrs. Bennet who took charge of Elizabeth's education. Mr. Bennet and his encouragement of higher pursuits for his eldest daughters must be behind their manners. He wondered if Mr. Bennet had exhausted his energies or gave up before the last three came around and found it did not matter. He was happy that Elizabeth was who she was regardless of the manners of others.
As the line of arriving guests concluded Mr. Darcy heard the first strain of music and joined the throng in going into the ballroom. The couples were lining up as Mr. Bingley led his sister out to open the ball and Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth standing opposite to Mr. Collins and noted that she was taking no pleasure in whatever it was he was talking about. The dance began and he looked on in consternation as Mr. Collins mis-stepped and trod all over Elizabeth's fine slippers. He also saw with quite a lot of disdain that Mr. Collins attempted to take sloppy liberties with the closeness of her person- grabbing her bare arm at times instead of her gloved hand. This made him furious and he saw that she attempted to reign in his awkwardness but he was entirely left footed on the dance floor and she did not know what she could do about his misplaced hands. Instead of the old feelings that used to wash over him that this was all beneath him he felt intense jealousy and again knew that he had seen such a spectacle before forgiven for station, title or wealth and sought only to rescue Elizabeth from her cousin captor. He was interrupted in this reverie by Miss Charlotte Lucas whom he vaguely remembered being introduced to at the public assembly.
She stood next to him and without ceremony said, "Good evening Mr. Darcy. I see you are enjoying the view of the dance this evening."
Though he would normally have replied with monosyllables he steeled himself to carry on a conversation for Elizabeth and said,"Indeed. I do not much enjoy dancing myself but there is something to be said for watching the dance unfold before you."
She replied, "I find that it gives me time to think and that I like to hear the steady rhythm as I see the couples respond with their movement."
"Indeed. It lulls one into thought, like a ship." Mr. Darcy said.
"I will have to take your word on that for I have never been on the sea."
He turned to her and said, "I suspect you would enjoy it."
"Perhaps."
He turned from her and then as if gaining a second wind turned back and said, "Miss Lucas, would you like to dance?"
Charlotte looked astonished but had the good manners to reply in the affirmative and he offered his hand and they found a spot in line. Mr. Darcy had surprised himself and the whole room but no one more so than Elizabeth who was pleased to see him deign to talk to Charlotte and thought she might need smelling salts when she saw him offer his hand to her to join the dance. Elizabeth wondered if her vanity was prompting her to think that this effort, in addition to his compliment to her mother, was to impress her. All this because she had found fault with Wickham? She thought with a wide grin that she would have to ask Hill more often to find out young men's characters if this were the result.
Mr. Darcy found an agreeable partner in Miss Lucas. She did not carry herself with the grace of Elizabeth and she definitely did not have her lithe figure or witty mind but she was well informed and made quite a few comical observations. He also saw that she commiserated with his desire to spare Elizabeth more embarrassment at the hands of Mr. Collins. She hinted as much to him amidst the second dance and he nodded silently his agreement which she took as tacit permission to interrupt Elizabeth and Mr. Collins. When they arrived at the end of the line Charlotte curtsied to Mr. Darcy and they stepped away from the group and then he saw Charlotte quite stealthily rip a bit of the hem on her dress as she stood by the punch. She promptly told her father about it and insisted that only Elizabeth could help so that Sir Lucas felt it was necessary to politely interrupt Elizabeth. Charlotte and Mr. Darcy shared a conspiratorial smile and Elizabeth led Charlotte from the room.
When they were alone, without ceremony, Charlotte rounded on Elizabeth asking, "You do know that Mr. Darcy is in love with you?"
Elizabeth was speechless.
"I see that you do not as very little could render you without words," Charlotte said with a raised eyebrow. "Believe me. He loves you. Do you return his regard?"
She willed herself to speak, "I hardly know."
Charlotte responded, "You must. You could not deny a man of his standing. It would be unheard of."
It was easier to respond to this, "I most certainly could and you know enough of me to know that I would but if I do love him then of course I will not deny him. I have not formed my feelings completely. His character is very hard to make out and tonight he has confused me yet more. What were you two talking of?"
Charlotte recapped her conversation with her and Elizabeth was more and more amazed as Charlotte said, "Surely this must all be an effort to win you but how did he know that he was not well received? Have you spoken to him on that head?"
Elizabeth blushed, "We did share a chance conversation this morning in which I think that I may have offended him but I had no idea that one conversation could cause such a change to come over someone."
"Well obviously he is not so changed. He must have always possessed some amiability of character. Perhaps we just did not see it under his stiff manners."
"Perhaps." Elizabeth said sighing. They were then interrupted by a soft rap on the door and a tall, thin man dressed in fine livery entered. He addressed Charlotte saying, "Madam, Mr. Darcy sent me to see that the hem of your dress is repaired adequately for the evening." The two girls realized this must be Mr. Darcy's personal man and this kind gesture gave Elizabeth yet another thing to think on.
In truth, Mr. Sharp had heard quite a bit of their conversation before he came in. It was unintentional, but he justifiably had an interest in the lady who had captured his master's heart. It was hard to believe any one was worthy of him and he most certainly wanted to make sure that she was not enamored with his fortune or station. From the sounds of the conversation, Mr. Sharp's approval would be gained and then he thought to himself, "But I know better than to think that Mr. Darcy would seek to truly please any but himself in this kind of decision." Nor would I.
Mr. Sharp repaired the small rip in Charlotte's dress so admirably that none could see that there was a rip at all and the two ladies returned to the party. In addition to the enlightening conversation that Charlotte and Elizabeth shared, Mrs. Bennet was doing her own conversing. She forcibly pulled Mr. Collins aside to a near deserted room and spoke in a whisper, "Sir, I know we discussed Miss Elizabeth as our olive branch but I really do believe that she would not be a good fit for you." Mrs. Bennet proceeded to outline several reasons that she did not think that they would suit and then she wisely used her biggest trump card when he still seem unfazed saying, "But, Mr. Collins, what would Lady Catherine say about my bold and rash Lizzie? At times she is just not fit for polite company. Takes after her father I'm afraid."
At this Mr. Collins was all horror and needed convincing that any of the girls would be acceptable to his noble patroness but Mrs. Bennet was too wily for him and she suggested such merit in her middle daughter who was so opposite to Lizzie that Mr. Collins could not help but agree with her observations. After he excused himself to find the young lady, "and bestow upon her all the compliments pleasing a young woman," Mr. Bennet approached Mrs. Bennet and said, "You were extraordinarily sly with Mr. Collins just then. You cannot possibly have meant to spare Lizzie. What do you have planned?"
She started at his words because she was surprised to see him there and knew that he had overheard her but then she sidled next to him and coyly asked, "My dear Mr. Bennet whatever can you mean? Sly? I have no recollection." He laughed while excusing himself and felt a tinge of something he had not felt in a long time: interest in his wife.
Mr. Bennet figured he ought to keep an eye on her latest handiwork and handiwork it was. It was with a large amount of disbelief that Mr. Bennet watched as Mr. Collins led his middle daughter to the dance floor. She never danced and always had a long and conservative excuse at the ready but it appeared that she followed him with alacrity. For some reason, even with their terrible form and figures, the two of them actually complemented one another in the reel. There was genuine mirth between them at their missed steps and Mr. Bennet heard as they moved within range of him Mr. Collins actually talk of something other than Lady Catherine or her estate. In fact, it sounded like their conversation was of a spontaneous sort even if the subject was utterly dull. He could not believe his eyes or ears. This defied reality. Would no one act in character this evening?
Mr. Darcy claimed his fair partner when she returned to the ballroom. The music had already progressed to near the end of the third reel and he knew that he only had two more dances left before dinner was served. He wanted them to be perfect and he said as much before they began, "Miss Elizabeth, I find that two dances will not be near enough to share all that I have to tell you this evening. I know I promised to tell you of Mr. Wickham but now I only wish to do so if that is your absolute desire. If not, let us enjoy our company without the ghost of one not worth more of our precious time than we have already afforded him."
She answered, "It is not my desire to talk of him. This morning I told you I disbelieved him and I do not need to hear your story to be certain. In fact, may I be so bold as to change the subject and say thank you?"
"For what?"
"For treating my family and my friends with kindness when they deserve only civility and condescension."
He smiled at her, "In that you are wrong. Miss Lucas is very sensible and observant and though she might be lost in London crowds, she is better educated company then half the women there."
Elizabeth feigned anger but her smile was obvious as she said, "And you thought to find only country chits and bumpkins in these parts."
"In fairness, yes, but I should have stuck with my gut about the country. Why should I not be pleased in Hertforshire when I am so well pleased in Derbyshire?"
Laughing she said, "Indeed, sir, why not?"
The music struck up and he held out his hand to lead her to the line not realizing that she had removed her gloves and the shock of their bare hands touching for the very first time caused him to stop suddenly and look at her. She was not looking at him. She too was looking her hand placed lightly on his. He forced himself to continue walking and they shared the smallest glance transmitting intense waves of attraction on both sides. When they took their place across from one another neither could look the other in the eye as they were both focused on physically connecting again in the dance. This potent and almost tangible desire to touch and be touched was so strong that neither of them found words to occupy the half hour of dance. All but Charlotte thought that, though they made a handsome couple, they certainly could have nothing in common since they said not a word to one another. In fact, there were many women who harrumphed at Elizabeth when she stayed with him for the second dance. Mr. Darcy was on the dance floor finally! They wanted their shot with the man with ten thousand pounds a year!