Chapter 11

Darcy inwardly groaned when he saw Caroline preening by the staircase. Bingley had spoken to his sister and agreed that as long as she minded her tongue she could attend tonight. Caroline had offered excuses to her brother that the distress of the situation with her carriage was soley responsible for her foul temper earlier and that she had simply been overwhelmed. Bingley had also insisted that she be ready to leave on time or she would be left behind. Knowing his own sister would be staying at Netherfield tonight he was grateful for her sake that she would not have to endure Caroline, but he did not relish Caroline's presence in their party.

"My brother Mr. Darcy has already claimed Miss Bennet for the first set. Having just reccently arrived my first set is unspoken for," Caroline said suggestively.

"I'm sure some of the gentlemen at the dance will be pleased to offer you a set," Darcy responded coldly.

"I would much rather start the evening with a partner I am well acquainted with. Do you intend to dance tonight Mr. Darcy?"

"Yes."

"I shall look forward to dancing with you tonight then."

"I have not requested a set from you Miss Bingley and after the words you spoke out against my friend Gardiner today, I am not likely too," Darcy said in a clipped tone.

"But I am your hostess Mr. Darcy," Caroline said her tone petulant.

"Bingley is my host, if he wishes me to offer a dance to you I will do so," Darcy said turning towards his friend.

Grinning Bingley said, "Darcy As your host I forbid you or the colonel to offer my sister a dance. It shall be part of her punishment. She must accept any other that ask her for a set to show her contrition for the way she spoke regarding the populace, but she shan't be rewarded by dancing with you."

"Very well Bingley," Darcy said giving his friend a satisfied nod while the colonel chuckled.

"Let us be off, shall we?"Bingley said eagerly.

"We are likely to arrive before it has even begun," Caroline said in horror.

"Perhaps the Bennets will be early as well," Col. Fitzwilliam said turning towards the door. Much to Caroline's protest the group headed out. She quieted only when Bingley stated she could go now with them or retire to her room for the night.

…

Elizabeth gave her attire one final glance before sighing, but merrily she said, "I shall never be as pretty as you Jane, but will I do for tonight do you think?"

Jane smiled softly at her sister and said, "I find you to be the prettiest of us all Lizzy. And I dare say Mr. Darcy does as well. I think you will do just fine. You look lovely."

"As do you. Mr. Bingley will be enchanted to see you in that shade of blue."

"He inquired today what color my dress for tonight would be and ask me if it might be acceptable for him to wear a waistcoat of a similar shade," Jane told her sister blushing.

"Ah it will be a proposal by Christmas and a wedding by twelfth night!" Elizabeth teased her sister.

…

The Netherfield party were in fact some of the earliest to arrive. Darcy and Bingley both choose to stay near the door so that they would be on hand to greet the Bennets when they arrived. Darcy stiffened when rather then the anticipated arrival of the Bennets, Wickham stepped through the doorway. "I thought Foster was confining him to barracks," Col. Fitzwilliam growled.

"It seems Wickham charmed his way into attending tonight. Thank God we had previously decided an officers' dance wouldn't be an appropriate entertainment for Georgie," Darcy said, his tone grim.

"I believe I will have a word with him."

"As will I. I haven't thanked you yet for informing Miss Elizabeth of his true character. It was remiss of me."

"You Darcy are too noble. I'm just glad Wickham is finally on someone's leash."

"I hope the colonel you know in Newcastle is firmer then Col. Foster appears to be. I intend to remind Wickham that if in the next month he attempts to flee before being restationed I will call in his debts this time."

It was with grim features that Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam approached Wickham.

"Darcy, Fitzwilliam!" Wickham called out with false cheer as the twosome approached him.

"Wickham," Darcy responded coldly.

"Just what do you intend for this evening?" Col. Fitzwilliam demanded.

"Same as you. Merry company, good food, a few dances with comley country misses," Wickham responded his charming smile firmly in place. "Col. Foster as graciously allowed myself, as an officer, to attend the Officer's ball."

"If you think to ply your trade here tonight, think again. If you put so much as a toe out of line, I will call in your debts. With you locked in the Marchelsa no one would care what lies spill forth from your tongue," Darcy said in a low voice his fist clenched.

"I don't intend to seek the ruination of any young ladies, but rather the forgiveness of one," Wickham said.

"She slapped you, and you think the lady is likely to forgive you?" Col. Fitzwilliam chortled in disbelief.

"That I believe is between the lady and myself."

"Stay away from Elizabeth," Darcy growled.

"Miss Elizabeth is lively and pretty, a combination I can admire. I perhaps would not now seek her good opinion if it were not for you Darcy." Darcy said nothing so Wickham continued, "It was the way you looked at her that first day in Meryton. I wondered what sort of woman would compel you too look at her like she was your whole world. I was determined to learn more about her. I was surprised to find her someone I genuinely liked. She has no artifice about her, she refuses to be impressed by material goods and rank. "

"And she is too good for the likes of you Wickham," Darcy interrupted.

"Steady Darcy," Col. Fitzwilliam said with a restraining hand to Darcy's arm. Darcy glanced down realizing he had pulled back his arm, as if to engage in fistcuffs with Wickham.

"I could tell you were intrigued by her as well Colonel from the moment she slapped me. I considered telling you your cousin was in love with her but thought it would be most amusing for her to be presented to Darcy as your betrothed."

"I have no intentions toward Miss Elizabeth Wickham. I suggest you not bandy about such speculation," Col. Fitzwilliam said tightly.

"At least you would protect her and care for her spirit. Darcy cares for naught but wealth, connections and reputation. What will he do when her flightest sister embarrasses the Bennet family and those connected with them? Or what about when Miss Elizabeth slaps a member of his vauted first cirlce for inappropriate remarks? You Colonel would see a spirtied creature like Miss Elizabeth tied to such a dour man as Darcy?" Wickham ask in challenge.

"I'd teach her how to punch so she could make her displeasure known more effectively," Darcy said, steel in his tone. "I would offer her and her family what comfort and assistance I could. I would do anything and everything in my power to ensure she never had cause to feel sorrow, because you were right, she is my whole world. And it would do well for you to remember that."

"I suggest Lt. Wickham you be on your best behavior tonight and not attempt to flee your duties anytime soon," Col. Fitzwilliam cut in.

"I have no intentions of fleeing. I considered it, but am loath to give Miss Elizabeth further reason to despise me. She won't marry you for your fortune Darcy."

"No, she won't. She'll marry me only if I hold her heart, which only makes me value her more," Darcy said before turning to return to his post by the enterance. It wasn't much later that the Bennets arrived. Darcy stepped forward to greet them when he felt Caroline grasp his arm. He gave her a cold look and she released him.

"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy mummered warmly as he greeted her.

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said with a smile. "I did not expect to see your party here so early."

"Some of us were very eager to attend." When she raised a brow in question he added, "Bingley told his sister she could either arrive early with us or stay home. Neither of us had any intentions of allowing Miss Bingley to cause us to miss our promised dances."

Before Elizabeth could respond Col. Forester stepped towards the musicians and after thanking everyone for attending offically opened the dance and ask the musicians to begin. Darcy proudly led Elizabeth out onto the dance floor. His pride was not cold or distant this time though. It was the pride of a man very much in love with a worthy woman and his pleasure at having her near him. At the end of the dance Darcy reluctantly released her to her next partner, an officer in the milita. It was a few dances later with another milita officer that Wickham approached her. He smoothly replaced Lt. Saunders as her partner.

"Mr. Wickham," Elizabeth bit off her eyes flashing.

"I wish to offer my apologies Miss Elizabeth," Wickham said mesmerized by the spark in her. It had galled him to see her laughing and dancing with Darcy. Here was a passionate, lively woman and she would be wasted on a cold fish like Darcy. "If you would allow me to explain-"

"I have no need for your explanations," she said cutting him off.

"So you shall refuse to dance with me and thereby not dance the rest of the evening?" Wickham challenged.

"Lt. Wickham, if a lady refuses to dance with a gentleman she must sit out the rest of the evening. But you sir are not a gentleman. I believe there is no etiquette stating a lady must sit out if she refuses a rogue," Elizabeth said and then she proceeded to walk off.

"Lizzy! This is my set I believe, " her uncle's voice said from behind her.

"So it is," Elizabeth said gratefully accepting her uncle's escort to the dance floor.

"That man appeared to be importuning you," Gardiner observed.

"That vile creature, is none other then the Mr. Wickham you heard about at Longbourne," Elizabeth informed him.

"I understood him to be confined to the barracks. "

"So did I."

"I cannot say I like this conquest of yours as much as the other one."

"Lt. Wickham is certainly not a conquest of mine."

"And what about the other one? Do you esteem him?"

"The other one uncle?"

"My buisness associate. He is a reserved man, but quite clearly in love with you Lizzy."

"I don't think this is an appropriate topic for the dance floor."

"I dare say it isn't, but he hasn't taken his eyes off you and I need to know how I should act. I would wager that he will be meeting us before we leave the floor. Had I not have been there Lt. Wickham would have found a furious protector ready to defend you in him."

"He is not what I thought he once was."

"Yes, your aunt mentioned you were not very impressed with him. But now?"

"I, I think uncle he is perhaps just what a good man ought to be. Loyal, intelligent, kind, caring."

"I am glad to hear it Lizzy. He has invested with me for 5 years. He is a man I respect. His character is solid. He is a fair man."

"Thank you uncle," Elizabeth said as the dance came to a close. Just as her uncle predicted at the edge of the dance floor Darcy greeted them. His eyes anxiously searched her features to ensure that she was well. As she assured him Wickham had not unduly upset her she felt something click into place in her heart. She was, she realized, falling in love with the man in front of her if not already in love with him. The knowledge startled her but was not unwelcome.

…

"You are very quite sister," Jane said as Elizabeth ran a brush through her favorite sister's hair.

"Jane, how is a lady to know for sure that she is in love?"

"Are you in love Lizzy?" Jane ask turning around.

"Not yet, I do not believe. But I think I could be."

"Mr. Darcy is a good man. As you once gave me leave to like I give you leave to like, or love him."

"And because my sister gives me leave to love a man, I can know I am in love?"

"Well I am your elder sister. If Kitty or Lydia gave you leave to like or love a man, I wouldn't put much stock in it."

"Jane!"

"I might be apt to think well of people in general but I can assure you I have very high standards for the man that wins my dearest sister's heart. Your Mr. Darcy meets them in spades. Therefore as your elder sister I give you leave to love him. Now doesn't that simplify things?"L

Laughing Elizabeth said, "He is perhaps the man most suited to me. Our Uncle Gardiner recommends him as a good man he respects, which as you know I find to be a very high recommendation. You also see the good in him, which is not surprising since you see the good in all. I do esteem him very much Jane, despite his new behavior being very reccent."

"Mayhap you have finally met the real Mr. Darcy."

"I do believe so."

"And do you sister dear think he might win your heart and spend his life with you?"

"I think a lifetime spent with him would perhaps be very agreeable, more then agreeable."