Chapter 26:

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were having an easy conversation with Miss Penelope and the Dowager Viscountess, observing the beautiful couple dancing. The music had ended, the ballroom was clapping, and the couple was walking back towards their family.

"Dance with Jane" whispered Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy, who looked at her with utter surprise.

"You know I loath dancing" said Mr. Darcy, causing Elizabeth to raise her hand to hold back laughter.

"Yes, I know you loath dancing and you also love me and I love Jane and I want suitors to see her" explained Elizabeth, as if it was so very obvious.

"Mr. Bingley is keen on winning her heart" said Mr. Darcy seriously, "And I believe he is making his way over here, look" he said, motioning towards Mr. Bingley and his sister, Miss Caroline Bingley who looked at the Darcys as if holding back disgust.

"Humph. I am not sure he deserves her but I will not intervene. She should choose" said Elizabeth. "Please dance with her" she pleaded in a whisper.

"Do you wish me to dance with her before Mr. Bingley asks for a dance?" asked Mr. Darcy, raising an eyebrow. Elizabeth gave him a sly smile. "I thought you said you would not intervene."

"I will not intervene...much" teased Elizabeth. "Oh Jane, what a lovely dance!" said Elizabeth, now turning her attention to Jane and the Viscount who had joined their circle.

"Marvelous!" said the Dowager Viscountess, always eager to see a lady who might catch her son's interest.

"Miss Bennet, if you are not otherwise engaged—" began Mr. Darcy towards Jane, but before he could finished they were interrupted by the arrival of Mr. and Miss Bingley in their inner circle.

"Mr. Darcy! Mrs. Darcy!" said Mr. Bingley jovially, "Miss Bennet" he added, in a soft voice.

"Mr. Bingley" said Elizabeth with a forced smile, "I do not know if you have met the Viscount, the Dowager Viscountess and their daughter, Miss Penelope Murphy." Introductions were made but Mr. Bingley did not remove his eyes from Jane, who looked as lovely as he had remembered.

"Mrs. Darcy" said Miss Bingley, in a forced smile and greeting. It pained her to utter those words which she had always expected would belong to her.

"Miss Bingley" said Elizabeth, in a sugary sweet tone, "What a lovely pleasure to see you here."

"My darling" said Elizabeth, reaching for her arm, "I believe you were in the middle of asking Jane a question."

"Would you do me the honor of dancing the next set, Miss Bennet?" asked Mr. Darcy.

"Of course" said Jane, surprised but pleased, for she was not sure she was ready to dance with Mr. Bingley just yet. Jane had allowed her heart to fall so fast last time, that she wanted to hold to it close this time.

"Miss Murphy" said Mr. Bingley, "Would you care to dance?"

"Of course" said Penelope, always eager to dance, for she loved it very much so. Mr. Bingley led her to the dance floor where they were joined by the other couples and though Mr. Bingley and Miss Murphy enjoyed an easy conversation, Mr. Bingley could not stop staring at Miss Bennet.

The Viscount knew he would have to offer one of the ladies for a dance and he first asked Mrs. Darcy who demurely and with a twinkle of her eye declined, but encouraged him to ask Miss Bingley, who she noted had not yet danced. He bitterly obliged and the comparison between his first and second partner could not have been more stark.

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After the dance, the Viscount excused himself, something about needing a glass of port.

"Is that strong enough?" whispered Elizabeth, her eyes still sparkling. The Viscount gave her a sly smile.

"Miss Bennet" said the Viscount, before leaving, "I enjoyed dancing with you. I would like to call on you tomorrow, perhaps you can accompany my sister and I on a walk?"

"That would be lovely" said Jane. Mr. Bingley looked at the interaction with confusion, for he was sure his Jane was waiting for him and would have surely said no. The Murphys left and the Darcys, the Bingleys and Miss Bennet remained.

"Would you like a drink, Miss Bennet?" asked Mr. Bingley politely.

"I thank you" said Miss Bennet nodding softly. Mr. Bingley asked the other ladies if they likewise wanted a drink and with an order full of drinks, he went off to the refreshments to get some lemonades. Mr. Darcy offered to accompany him.

"I believe I owe you a congratulations" said Miss Bingley sneeringly.

"I believe you do" said Elizabeth, giving her a wide smile, "I thank you."

"How did you manage to capture Mr. Darcy?" asked Miss Bingley, hinting at nefarious methods.

"I abducted him" teased Elizabeth, holding back laughter for the irony in her words, "Oh Miss Bingley, it was a matter of the heart. I do wish you should find similar happiness." Miss Bingley forced a smile.

"I believe the Viscount is quite smitten with me" she remarked, emphasizing the word 'Viscount' as if to hint that she would get someone of higher rank.

"Oh! Is that why he asked Jane on a walk?" asked Elizabeth, not holding back when it came to Caroline. She loathed her and would not put up with her snobbishness anymore. Not now that she was Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy.

"Lizzy!" whispered Jane with a meaningful look, she never liked to argue or make anyone feel uncomfortable. "How long are you in town, Miss Bingley?"

"I do not know" said Miss Bingley, still looking at Elizabeth. "I imagine through the end of the Season."

The gentleman returned and if they noticed the cold demeanor of the ladies, they said nothing of the sort.

"Miss Bennet, if you are not already engaged, may I have the Supper Set?" asked Mr. Bingley, eager to dance with his angel.

Jane smiled becomingly and nodded, though her heart sank at the thought of spending an entire dance and supper with him. All of the sudden it dawned on her, perhaps she was no longer interested.

Mr. Bingley smiled eagerly, looking at her in a way that made her uncomfortable—as if she were a prize. And she was no prize. Specially not one that could be picked up at one's will and then thrown when no longer convenient.

"Would you like to dance, my dear?" asked Mr. Darcy, reaching for his wife's hand.

"I would be delighted" said Elizabeth, blushing as he kissed the inside of her wrist. Miss Bingley looked at their interaction with disgust. He led her unto the dance floor where many whispers and looks accompanied them, the ton was finally seeing the new Mrs. Darcy.

Elizabeth looked only at Mr. Darcy, admiring how handsome he looked, even if he seemed a bit serious.

"So scandalous" teased Lizzy, "Dancing with one's wife."

Mr. Darcy smiled, "It is permissible—I inquired" he answered, giving her a sideways smile, "Unfortunately, only one dance is considered acceptable if other ladies are otherwise not engaged."

"Miss Bingley looks rather not engaged" teased Lizzy, letting him led her in the steps.

"I think I am beginning to feel ill, perhaps we should leave early" said Mr. Darcy, faking a cough.

"I see" said Elizabeth, smiling. They continued to dance and twirl, their conversation a mixture of flirtation, teasing, and good fun. To those in attendance it was clear the Mr. Darcy was smitten with the new Mrs. Darcy.

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Jane Bennet needed some fresh air. She was dreading the Supper Set with Mr. Bingley but could not recant her answer. She danced with other gentlemen, all agreeable, and all seemingly taken with Mrs. Darcy's pretty sister. She was glad for the distraction as well as the attention, she was not bound to anyone and she truly did want to marry. Not because society expected it nor because it was a chance to up her status, but rather because she wanted a home, a family, children, love, and warmth. That is what she wanted-to live in the country, preferably, surrounded by children and perhaps animals, and live happily ever after...

"Miss Bennet" said a voice, interrupting her thoughts.

"Viscount!" said Jane, turning around and seeing the handsome Viscount Peter Murphy materialize infront of her. She had not heard him join her in the terrace, as she was lost in thought, staring at the stars glittering in the dark sky.

"Were you looking for a particular star?" asked the Viscount, now joining her by the railing.

"I beg your pardon?" asked Jane, unsure of what he was referring to.

"It is a beautiful night, you could see Saturn from here" he said, pointing up at the sky.

Jane looked towards where he was pointing. He smiled, noting she did not see what he meant and leaned closer, reaching for her hand.

"There" he said, moving her arm with his and pointing towards a bright star, that seemed bigger than the others.

"My, it is beautiful!" exclaimed Jane, one eye still closed as she looked at the star. He was still holding her hand and he turned to look at her.

"Indeed" he said, in a voice that made her blush, and smile, and forget all about her dreaded Supper Set with Mr. Bingley.

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Hi! Sorry for the short update, that was all I got a chance to write today and I rather update with something short vs have to wait until I have time again to write.

I found it funny that someone said that I chose a Viscount so Jane could marry better bc she is beautiful. I actually chose a viscount to make the point that Jane does and has never cared about that. Mr. Bingley was a downgrade, bc he was not a titled gentleman, and she did not care about that.

So what did you think of this chapter?

xoxo