Chapter Two
The assembly rooms in Meryton were lively with music and dancing. Eden stood near the back of the room, watching the dancing with a small smile. She enjoyed the music, but with the lack of men, she allowed the younger girls their time on the floor. They deserved it and daresay, they needed it. She could see Kitty and Lydia already having fun, cheeks flushed bright pink from the heat.
She leaned over to Jane, speaking quietly.
"Well, if everyone man in this room does not end the evening in love with you, then I am no judge of beauty."
"Or men," Jane added.
"Oh, they are far too easy to judge," Lizzie grinned.
"They are not all bad. Think of your Colonel. And you, Eden, one of these days, someone will catch your eye and then you'll have to watch your tongue."
"I am very careful with my tongue," Eden reminded her. Jane smiled, nodding in agreement.
"I know, but it is just a warn—"
The doors swung open, cutting Jane off. A tall man with ginger hair and a bounce in his step was in the middle of the group. He seemed enthusiastic, happy to be there. There was a woman beside him, nose tilted up at the sight of them all. The last person had dark hair. Despite Eden's better judgement, she had to describe him as dashing. He was fairly handsome actually, but he seemed a bit proud.
Everyone parted to let the newcomers walk through the hall. The dark-haired one caught Eden's eye and looked away with a turn of his nose. Scratch dashing. He thought himself superior, thus Eden must keep her distance.
As the dancing began once more, Lizzie's closet friend, Charlotte Lucas, joined them.
"So, which one of the painted peacocks is our Mr. Bingley?" Lizzie asked.
"He is the one on the right, and on the left is his sister."
"And the person with the quizzical brow?" questioned Eden.
"That is his good friend, Mr. Darcy."
"He looks like a miserable, poor soul," Lizzie commented.
"Miserable, he may be, but poor he most certainly is not."
"Oh? Tell me," Lizzie asked.
"Ten thousand a year and he owns half of Derbyshire."
"The miserable half?" Eden mumbled as Mrs. Bennet walked over to join them with Mary.
The three women shared a complicit giggle, Eden ducking her head slightly. Her dark curls spilled over her shoulders. She looked up meekly when Sir Lucas arrived with the new arrivals to introduce them. He leaned close to Mr. Bingley.
"My eldest daughter you know, Mrs. Bennet, Miss Jane, Elizabeth, Eden, and Mary Bennet."
"It is a pleasure," Mrs. Bennet said. "I have two others, but they are already dancing."
"Delighted to make your acquaintance," Mr. Bingley said, his gaze transfixed on Jane.
Eden had been correct when she said that Mr. Bingley couldn't help but fall enamored with Jane. It was just a fact. Her elder sister was a beauty and now maybe she'd find love as well as Lizzie. Sir Lucas cleared his throat.
"And may I introduce Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, in Derbyshire." Mr. Darcy greeted them with a stiff bow and Eden dipped her head in return.
Moments later, they were in a small group, Mr. Bingley close to Jane's side.
"How do you like here in Hertfordshire, Mr. Bingley?" Jane asked.
"Very much," Mr. Bingley said, smiling shyly.
"The Library at Netherfield, I've heard, is one of the finest in the country," Eden remarked.
"Yes, it fills me with guilt."
A small blush appeared around his neck, and he pulled a little at his collar.
"I am not a good reader you see. I prefer being out of doors. I mean, I can read, of course and, and I'm not suggesting you can't read outside of course."
"I wish I read more, but there always seems so many other things to do," Jane murmured.
"That's exactly what I mean!" He beamed at her gratefully.
As the dance came to an end, Mr. Bingley offered his hand to Jane.
"Maybe I have the honor?" She shyly took his hand, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor. From near them, Eden could hear Kitty and Lydia shrieking with Mama, and she closed her eyes with a sigh. Lizzie went to silence them, leaving Eden and Mr. Darcy alone.
"Do you dance, Mr. Darcy?" she asked quietly.
"Not if I can help it," he answered sharply. She looked away from him, watching Jane and Mr. Bingley.
They were enjoying themselves. Mr. Bingley's ears were bright pink. Jane seemed calm and demure and from Eden's point of view, they both seemed smitten with each other. A fine thing.
She took her leave from Mr. Darcy, who didn't seem to mind. He barely gave her a passing glance. She ducked under the benches, sitting by herself to keep from conversation. There was no one to dance with today that she cared for.
Besides, she quite liked being alone. In a family as large as hers, there was not much time for quiet. She grew even quieter when Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy came to a stop beside where she was hidden.
"Upon my word I've never seen so many pretty girls in my life," Mr. Bingley exclaimed.
"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," Mr. Darcy said coolly.
"Oh, she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld, but her sisters, Eden and Elizabeth are very agreeable."
"Miss Elizabeth is, I've heard, soon to be engaged, and her sister is perfectly tolerable, I daresay, but not handsome enough to tempt me."
A saddened smile appeared on Eden's face. She knew too little to judge the man, but to be told that she was not handsome enough to tempt him was truly unwelcomed. Mr. Darcy continued.
"You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
As the two men left, Eden pulled her knees up to her chest.
"Count your blessings," she told herself. "If he liked you, you'd have to talk to him." She steeled her emotions and moved from her hiding spot.
There was no dancing for her at this ball and Lizzie didn't mind keeping her twin company. Nor did it escape her notice how Eden's shoulders tensed when Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley joined them again. Mr. Bingley spoke to Lizzie.
"Your friend Miss Lucas is a most amusing young woman."
"Yes! I adore her," Lizzie grinned.
"It is a pity she is not more handsome," Mrs. Bennet remarked.
"Mama," Eden scolded sharply.
Tutting, Mrs. Bennet turned to Mr. Bingley.
"Of course, it is my Jane who is considered the beauty of the county." Jane flushed a bright pink.
"Oh! Mama, please."
"When she was only fifteen," Mrs. Bennet continued. "There was gentleman so much in love with her that I was sure would make her an offer. However, he did write her some very pretty verses." Eden shook her head.
"And that put paid to it. I wonder who first discovered the power of poetry in driving away love."
She had never care for poetry herself. Or at least, she had never cared for poetry and love. She enjoyed poetry when it came to other things such as life, nature, so forth.
"I thought poetry was the food of love," Mr. Darcy said.
Hesitantly, Eden met his gaze.
"Of a find, stout love it may," she said. "But if it is only a vague inclination, I am convinced that one poor sonnet will kill it stone dead." A glimmer of interest appeared in Mr. Darcy's eyes.
"So, what do you recommend, to encourage affection?" Her eyes softened slightly as she dared to speak her mind.
"Dancing," she told him. "Even if ones partner is barely tolerable."
A faint blush appeared on Mr. Darcy's face. He had not known that she had heard him, which, Eden supposed, she wasn't have meant to. But she had and she let him know it. She was undeserving of his cold nature. They barely knew each other after all. He took his leave rather quickly, moving away from as Lizzie turned her gaze on her twin. She had questions, but from the look in Eden's eye, she would not get answers until late into the night.
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