Sorry, everyone. This took a while. Thank you for your kind words and good thoughts after my tiny human's medical adventures. The updates may be a little slower in coming – I am finalizing edits for the second book I am publishing. So I am trying to divide time between writing (this story) and editing (the several that I have completed and plan to publish) and while I prefer the former the latter must get done!
If Elizabeth had formed some idea that Mr. Darcy asked her to dance in order to apologize a quarter of an hour of silence thoroughly disabused her of this notion. As they formed lines for the second set, she vacillated between allowing the silence to continue or speaking so as to provoke her partner. In the end that latter impulse won out.
"Mr. Darcy, I believe we must have some conversation."
"Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?" he asked.
"I do not normally require a rule to spark conversation, but perhaps in this case it would be best," she responded with an arch smile. "The weather was remarkably fine today, was it not?"
"Indeed, I found it so."
When no additional remark or question was forthcoming she persisted.
"Now that I have commented on the weather you are to remark on something equally innocuous, Mr. Darcy."
"The rules, yes. Is it too substantive to compliment you on your dancing?"
"A compliment, Mr. Darcy? I am afraid that does violate the established rules of our interactions, for though we have hardly known each other an hour it is clear we are not destined to be the complimenting kind of acquiantances."
"You refer to the conversation you overheard between myself and Mr. Bingley?"
Elizabeth heard in this response his emphasis on the word overheard and was fairly certain he was trying to be polite when what he wanted to say was that she had eavesdropped on their conversation. She could not remember ever taking so thorough a dislike to someone so quickly in all her nineteen years.
"I refer only to the fact that my inadvertent," here she employed her own emphasis and in a way that left no room for doubt about her intention, "knowledge of both your aversion to my person and doubts as to my prospects as well as your apparent desire to become acquainted with me due to my reputation outside of a ballroom. Pray tell, what am I to do with this ill-gotten information?"
The dance ended, but Mr. Darcy seemed determined to answer Elizabeth's question as he escorted her not back to Mr. Lucas, who waited expectantly, nor to her sister who stood with Mr. Bingley by the refreshments, but to the opposite side of the room. When they arrived in a sparsely populated corner, he turned to her.
"I am pleased you have acknowledged that your information was acquired in a less than acceptable manner," he began and though Elizabeth made to interrupt him after this entirely inaccurate statement he pressed on, "still it was ungentlemanly of me to speak so of a lady."
Later when Elizabeth told the story of their dance to Jane, she swore that if she had heard an ounce of actual contrition in Mr. Darcy's voice she would not have reacted as she did. She did not, however, hear any contrition and so she responded accordingly.
"I thank you for that small admission, sir and I will venture to say in return that you need not concern yourself that I will anticipate any gentlemanly behavior in the future. I believe I understand you and have adjusted my expectations accordingly."
She enjoyed the look of confusion and anger on her companion's face for but a moment before turning and leaving him alone with whatever thoughts her words may have incited.
"You look entirely too pleased with yourself," John Lucas said when she joined him.
"I suppose I am," Elizabeth conceded, but still annoyed with him for leaving her with Mr. Darcy in the first place she did not enlighten him as to the cause. "How was your dance with Mary?"
"I could not seem to find her," he said with a smile and absolutely no shame. "Instead I enjoyed watching your dance with the illustrious Mr. Darcy. I believe you exchanged ten words?"
"If we did it was ten too many."
"Oh no, as bad as all that?" He teased.
"Worse," she insisted. They were soon joined by Jane and Kitty neither of whom had missed a set yet.
"John you must go ask a young lady to dance," Kitty said, taking a seat. There is a scarcity of gentlemen and you must do your duty.
"As we know Mr. Darcy will not," Elizabeth put in.
"Elizabeth, that is unkind," Jane admonished. "He has partnered with the only women with whom he is well acquainted and you. Perhaps he is shy and not comfortable asking those he does not know well."
"Perhaps," Elizabeth grudgingly conceded. John went in search of a partner for the next set and Jane and Elizabeth took seats on either side of Kitty.
"You know if you invited your betrothed to Longbourn more often we would have another gentleman to help even out our numbers," Kitty said to Elizabeth with no hint of humour.
"First, he is not my betrothed and you know that. Second, I do not think the ladies of Hertfordshire would thank me for introducing such an inept dancer into our midst as Mr. Collins. Do not argue, Jane," Elizabeth said, as she saw her sister about to interject some kindness about their cousin.
"Miss Bennet," Mr. Bingley stood before them. The ladies stood. "I apologize for interrupting, but I have just learned that this lovely lady is your elusive sister and I came with my friend to request an introduction. Mr. Darcy stood behind Mr. Bingley looking distinctly uncomfortable.
Jane greeted Mr. Bingley with a warm smile and performed the introductions.
"Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy may I present my sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
Two bows and one curtsey later Elizabeth looked at Mr. Darcy with a tilted head and a small smile.
"Jane, Mr. Bingley did you not see Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy danced the last together?" Kitty asked. Of course, Jane had known, she had been partnered with a neighbor during the dance Elizabeth shared with Darcy, but she thought there was no harm in performing an introduction when neither party seemed eager to claim the prior acquaintance.
"Splendid," Mr. Bingley said. "Darcy has been most eager to meet you. I imagine you two will never run out of things to talk about. We already knew about your involvement in the running of your father's estate, but Miss Bennet also tells me you are a great reader. Darcy reads more than anyone I know." He smiled between them as if anticipating a congenial conversation or in-depth discussion at that very moment.
Mr. Bingley seemed so genuinely pleased and eager Elizabeth was inclined to let matters rest with Mr. Darcy until she saw that gentleman's face – a mix of haughty disdain and disinterest.
"I admire your optimism, Mr. Bingley," she said cheerily. "However, I do believe that, after learning Mr. Darcy's true opinion of me before we even met it is unlikely we will be fast friends."
When Mr. Bingley looked confused Kitty rushed to explain.
"I am afraid Lizzy overheard your conversation about her with Mr. Darcy."
"How do you know that?" Elizabeth asked, momentarily forgetting the two gentlemen.
"Oh, John Lucas has been having great fun telling the story," Kitty explained, much to Elizabeth's horror. She had not intended for the entirety of the assembly to learn of what she heard, but she should have known better. John was as much of a gossip as his father and unless she specifically told him to keep something in confidence, he would be eager to share it with any and everyone.
Darcy seemed to be about to contribute something when Bingley laughed. This was not at all the reaction Elizabeth had been expecting.
"Miss Elizabeth, of course you were not meant to hear that exchange and both Darcy and I owe you our humblest apologies," at the words humble and apology Elizabeth raised a brow at Mr. Darcy as if to ask if he would be participating in this forthcoming display of remorse and humility. His eyes, which she found already resting on herself, darted away. "I can understand how you would have been offended, but please know Darcy meant not a word of it."
"I am afraid I don't understand," Elizabeth said.
"You see I tend to make quite a nuisance of myself at balls, soirees, dinners – anywhere Darcy and I find ourselves among strangers or new acquaintances. I am always eager for him to meet new people and he is always eager not to. It has become something of a game. He has found that I will not desist in harassing him until he relents, which he rarely does, or he says something so offensive that I must quit the field."
Kitty laughed while Jane seemed torn between relief at having an explanation for the insult to her sister and horror at such a game between friends.
"In the end, it is no excuse. We should not speak so even if we mean nothing by it. I apologize for the offense you must justifiably be feeling," Bingley said with a sincerity Elizabeth did not doubt. Jane beamed an approving smile at him and as his eyes seemed to continually stray back to her, he caught it before she looked away. Bingley then looked to his friend clearly expecting a similar recitation. Elizabeth looked at him trying to suppress a smile of triumphant expectation.
"Indeed, I once again offer my apologies," Mr. Darcy said with a formal bow. It was likely only Elizabeth who heard that the emphasis was placed not on the word apologies but the word again. Mr. Darcy resented being called to publicly repent for an action she suspected he did not regret at all.
"He may not sound it, but I assure you he is sincere," Bingley said with a smile. Then extending a hand to Kitty said, "Miss Catherine I have not yet had the pleasure. Would you favor me with the next set?"
"I would be delighted, Mr. Bingley."
Although Mr. Darcy looked like he meant to say something to one or both of the remaining Bennet sisters he did not get the chance.
"Lizzy, Jane, which one of you will delight me for the next half an hour by taking the floor with me?" he asked, then turning said, "Mr. Darcy, my apologies I did not see you there."
It was a fairly unbelievable statement. Between Mr. Darcy's imposing height, his status as a newcomer and general proximity it was unlikely he had gone unnoticed. Dear John was angry at the man on her behalf and meant to snub him. Elizabeth tried to hide her chuckle by pretending to cough, but she was fairly certain that fooled no one.
"I would be happy to," Jane agreed with alacrity and the two absconded before Elizabeth could protest. She had no intention of being alone in the company of Mr. Darcy once again.
"You will excuse me," with a nod and a curtsy she too was gone, leaving Mr. Darcy the way he seemed to like best, alone.