Another short one - one of two covering the Netherfield Ball. More detailed author note at the end. For now, let's get to it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Although Mr. Collins' movements in the dance did not suggest significant experience in the art, he was attentive to both the dance and his partner. His ease and general cheerfulness seemed to please Elizabeth, whose smiles and laughter illuminated the ballroom of Netherfield more brilliantly than the hundreds of candles that washed the room in a soft glow of artificial light. She was positively radiant.
With great effort, Mr. Darcy tore his eyes away from the vision on the dance floor and began a slow circuit of the room, occasionally nodding in greeting to one or another of Mr. Bingley's guests. Having put some distance between himself and the place that Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her partner occupied in the set, he happened upon Miss Mary Bennet standing off to herself observing the dance.
"Good evening, Miss Mary," he said by way of greeting, coming to stand beside her.
"Mr. Darcy," she gave him a slight curtsy before returning her gaze to the dance floor.
Their previous conversation still fresh in his mind, Mr. Darcy attempted to enter into conversation with the young lady, "Are none of your sisters keeping you company this evening?"
Mary looked at him curiously before answering, "No, sir. They are all dancing at present. I usually bring a book to occupy myself as I seldom dance. They do not usually trouble themselves with entertaining their more reticent sister." She finished with a self-depreciating smile.
"And yet you have no such volume in hand this evening?" his reply came out as a question.
"I have recently come to realize that I ought to exert myself in company rather than taking refuge behind the pages of a book."
"And what progress are you making?"
"Very little, I am afraid," she chuckled mirthlessly.
A short silence ensued as both of them struggled to think of a subject they might discuss with some degree of comfort.
"Mr. Darcy," Mary turned to him, "please do not feel obligated to keep my company in my sisters' absence. I am perfectly content to observe in solitude. I am certain there are other guests who would be far better company than myself."
Mr. Darcy met Mary's gaze and considered her for a moment. "Miss Mary, would you be so good as to honor me with the next dance?"
Mrs. Bennet would have been mortified had she observed the unladylike way in which her middle child gaped at the distinguished gentleman. "Mr. Darcy, I … I had not … you truly do not have to …"
"Miss Mary," Mr. Darcy interrupted her stammered response, "Like you, I have recently had it brought to my attention that I ought to take the trouble of practising exerting myself in company more often. Perhaps we might aid one another in the endeavor? I am perfectly sincere in my request. If you are not so inclined, however, I will not press you on the matter."
His manner was still stiff and formal, but the soft smile the graced his lips won her over, "Yes, Mr. Darcy. I will dance with you." Having observed the gentleman's obvious admiration for her elder sister, Mary held no misapprehension with regard to the gentleman's intentions, even if he did seldom dance. Still, it was an honor to be asked to stand up with him — a distinction that would go far in forwarding her efforts to engage with other members of the assembled party.
Mr. Darcy excused himself, promising to collect her at the start of the next set. True to his word, he soon returned, taking her hand in his and leading her to a place near the middle of the set. Elizabeth, who was conversing with her own partner further up the set, turned and caught a glimpse at the pair of them, her eyes widening as she regarded her sister and Mr. Darcy with astonishment. Mary merely smiled at her sisters' response, turning her attention back to her partner as the orchestra played the opening notes of the dance.
Despite his general reluctance to do so, Mr. Darcy soon proved himself a superior dancer. He moved through the dance with grace and poise. Miss Mary Bennet was far less self-assured, having seldom stood up in company, but the quiet words of encouragement that punctuated their otherwise comfortable silence did much to bolster her confidence. As the final strains of the music faded, Mr. Darcy bowed, Miss Mary curtsied, and the pair departed the dance floor with a hint of brotherly affection on one side and the warm glow of gratitude on the other.
Mary Bennet smiled as she felt Elizabeth come along beside her, gently linking their arms and giving her a sidelong glance. "What kept you, Lizzy," she whispered conspiratorially.
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow in question at her sister, "Have you been expecting me then?"
"You have come to ask how I happened to be dancing with Mr. Darcy."
"Perhaps I simply wish to enjoy a few moments company with my sister," Elizabeth replied, her gaze traveling lazily over the dancers and other guests assembled in the ballroom.
Mary turned to face Elizabeth, gently tugging on their linked arms so that they were facing each other. Mary's expression mirrored the arched brow and smirk her elder sister so often presented in company she found particularly amusing. Elizabeth could not help the grin that formed at the realization that her sister was using her own wiles against her.
"Very well then, Mary. I can see that the improvements you have so recently been undertaking will not be entirely in my favor," Elizabeth conceded, "How came you to be dancing with that odious man?"
Mary furrowed her brow at Elizabeth choice of adjectives to describe her former dance partner, "You misjudge him, Lizzy."
Elizabeth huffed in annoyance at hearing an echo of Charlotte's reproofs from her younger sister.
"He is shy, Lizzy. Like me, he is uncomfortable in company."
"A man of his standing and intelligence, Mary? A gentleman of the ton?" Elizabeth's incredulity at seeing her sister standing up with Mr. Darcy was nothing to her disbelief at this revelation.
Mary looked around warily as her sister's unrestrained outburst drew some curious glances from a few of Mr. Bingley's other guests nearby. "Not everyone is as adept as you are at conversing and meeting new people, Lizzy," Mary replied in a more subdued tone, hoping her sister would follow her example so as not to attract an audience, "Mr. Darcy and I spoke of it on the way to Oakham Mount on the day of our picnic. We agreed that you would advise us that we would not be so indisposed to such engagements were we to take the trouble of practising more. Mr. Darcy sought me out this evening to make good on such advice as we thought you might give. He encouraged me throughout our dance, and his attentions brought other gentlemen's notice to me as well. I have had two additional offers to dance since I stood up with him. He has done me a kindness, Lizzy. I cannot allow you to call him odious when I know it to be untrue," Mary defended.
Much to Elizabeth's chagrin, the man himself approached the pair of them before she could formulate an adequate response to such an unexpected disclosure. He bowed in greeting and inquired whether Elizabeth was already engaged for the supper set. His disappointment at discovering she was to dance the supper set with her cousin — their second of the evening — was palpable. He schooled his features quickly, however, and instead secured her hand for the next. Mary gave her sister a beseeching look as her own partner came to collect her and Mr. Darcy in turn led Elizabeth to a vacant place in the set.
Elizabeth struggled to rein in her thoughts and compose herself as she gazed across the set at the striking figure Mr. Darcy presented in his dark blue coat and intricately embroidered gold waistcoat. The hue of his coat combined with some unspoken struggle gave his piercing blue eyes a particularly stormy aspect as he absently surveyed the room. She observed him as he clenched and unclenched his right hand as it hung by his side, belying his otherwise calm demeanor. She wondered if he was even aware he did it as he stopped abruptly when their eyes met and he realized she was watching him. They exchanged polite smiles as the musicians began to play, thus beginning a dance composed of simple steps and unguarded conversation that neither of them would soon forget.
A/N: I am still working through voice and POV issues. A lot of that will likely have to be revamped in edits when the story is complete and I can sit down and go through it as a whole. I'm finding it rather difficult to be consistent when I'm writing in bits and pieces over such a long period of time.
For this chapter, I originally planned to cover the Bennets' arrival at the ball and an abridged version of the conversation between Denny and Lizzy regarding Wickham's absence as well as the first dance between Collins and Lizzy. I am finding, however, that there are a lot of extra details (whether in Jane's original work or in between major scenes for my FF piece that may simply be too cumbersome to include. Do I really need to touch on why Wickham isn't there if Darcy and Lizzy will end up discussing him during their dance anyway? Likewise, if Lizzy is to have a second dance with Collins, is it really necessary to cover both in excruciating detail rather than give the quick outside glimpse at the first as I've done here and reserve dialogue and details for the second (realistically the more significant of the two as it shows a decided preference)? Real questions, dear readers. What are your thoughts? You may reserve your judgement for after the second portion of the Netherfield Ball if you like, but I would truly love to hear from you as I work to refine my art.
Up Next: Darcy and Lizzy dance, Collins and Lizzy have their second dance of the evening, supper shenanigans, and an interesting discovery on the carriage ride home.
PS: I've recently started playing catch up on OUAT with my teenage daughter. There is some fantastic FF out there for that series as well. If things don't work out with Mr. Darcy, I would happily settle for Killian Jones. ;)
