Chapter Seven
Hundreds of guests swarmed Netherfield at the weeks end. All the women were dressed in various shades of white, looking like a sea of swans. The men were either dressed in their red officers outfits or in black and white. It was quite a regal affair.
Eden stood in the back of her large family; dark hair pinned up in a magnificent fashion. She had tried to argue that it was too grand, but after seeing the women around her, she sighed in resignment. She smiled kindly at Mr. Bingley and Caroline when she greeted them. "How are you, Miss Eden?" Mr. Bingley questioned. "I heard you were feeling poorly."
"Just the season's change," Eden said. "I am feeling much better." She nodded at Caroline before following her sisters further away.
Once more, she steeled herself to be a wallflower. There were more than enough men to dance with, but she declined several offers. She might have been feeling better, but the heat in the room was stifling and she could feel a headache coming on.
She spotted Lizzie speaking shortly with Mr. Collins and made her way over to them.
"Perhaps you will do me the honor, Miss Lizzie? Of a dance?" Mr. Collins was asking.
"Oh, I didn't think you danced, Mr. Collins," Lizzie said. She was trying to fend him off.
"I do not consider it incompatible with the office of a clergyman to indulge in such an innocent diversion… In fact, several people, her ladyship included, have complimented me on my lightness of foot."
Trying to be polite, Eden inserted herself into the conversation.
"Is that so, Mr. Collins?" she asked. "You are a remarkable dancer?"
"As I have been told, Miss Eden."
"Well, Lizzie is not much of a dancer and will unfortunately decline, however, I have yet to dance if you'll choose me." A flash of disappointment came across Mr. Collins' face, but he nodded at her.
"It would be a delight, Miss Eden."
He was silent as they danced, Eden relishing in the fact, though she could see his eyes wandering to Lizzie. Although Eden wanted nothing to do with the man in front of her, she still felt dejected that once more someone would choose one of her sisters over herself.
When the danced ended, Mr. Collins left her, going to find Lizzie, whom Eden had lost track of. Hopefully her twin was hiding in one of the resting rooms. She made her away to Charlotte and was stopped by Mr. Darcy. He was stiff, formal like always, hands clasped behind his back.
"May I have the next dance, Miss Eden?"
The young woman was unable to keep the look of shock out of her eyes as she dipped her head.
"You may." He walked away as Charlotte gapped at her. "Did I just agree to dance with Mr. Darcy?" Eden asked quietly.
Charlotte grinned, "I dare say you will find him very amiable, Eden."
"That's the problem," Eden muttered. "For Lizzie has sworn to loathe him for all eternity and by dancing with him, I will fall under her wrath."
"Lizzie will not hold a grudge against you long, Eden dear. You are far too sweet for her to loathe." They shared a friendly smile before Charlotte was whisked away and Eden made her way back to Mr. Darcy.
They danced in silence, quite enjoyable actually, but also awkward. She looked over at him.
"I love a Sarabande," she remarked.
"Indeed," he agreed. "Most invigorating." They went silent again until Eden couldn't stand it. Normally she detested conversation, but with the brooding man beside her, she needed it.
"It is your turn to say something, Mr. Darcy—I talked about the dance, now you ought to remark on the size of the room or the number of couples."
"I am perfectly happy to oblige, please advise me of what you would like most to hear."
"That reply will do for the present."
"Do you talk as a rule while dancing?"
"No, actually. I do not much care for idle chatter, but I'd much prefer the idle chatter to being unsociable and taciturn."
She could see him rolling her words over in his mind.
"Tell me," he said. "Do your sisters often walk to Meryton?" Before Eden could answer, she was whisked away by an elderly gentleman. As was the choreography of the dance. She laughed quietly, smiling at her new partner.
"Hello, Mr. Post. How are you?" she asked, quite loudly. The man winked at her, giving her a toothless smile.
"Quite well, Miss Eden. Quite well."
Mr. Post spun her around and she found herself back in Mr. Darcy's arms. She continued their previous conversation, lifting one hand to her head. She was suddenly feeling very fatigued.
"Yes, we often walk to Meryton as it is a great opportunity to meet new people. I was rather ill, so I missed the past visit."
"As I heard, how are you feeling now?"
"I am well, thank you for inquiring."
"Are you certain? You are looking peaked."
"Just from the dance," she told him.
"Ah… Did your sister, Elizabeth, tell her about her new acquaintance?"
"Mr. Wickham? Yes, she did."
The man in front of her rolled his eyes.
"Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners he is sure of making friends—whether he is capable of retaining them is less certain."
"He has been unlucky as to lose your friendship, then?" He nodded. "And, as you stated before, that is an irreversible event?"
"It is."
Mr. Darcy's face started to close off, as if her question had offended him.
"Why do you ask such a question?"
"To make out your character," she replied.
"And what have you discovered?"
"Very little. I hear such different accounts of you which puzzles me exceedingly. For I do not know what is true and what is mere rumors."
"I hope to afford you more clarity in the future," he murmured as the dance came to an end. They bowed politely to each other before he walked off.
Eden made her way to the doors leading to the terrace. Her heart needed to rest. It was pounding out of her chest. She gripped the railing, looking out in the dark night. She took a deep breath, allowing the cold air to clean out her lungs. At this rate, she would need to convince her family to allow her to leave sooner rather than later.
Someone called her name and she turned to see Lizzie bounding over to her, dragging a man along with her. A smile broke out on Eden's face as she dipped into a curtsy.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam."
"Hello, Miss Eden. Pleasure to see you again." He took her hand, kissing her knuckles lightly.
She had always liked Colonel Fitzwilliam. He wasn't a necessarily handsome man, but he had a kind face and had an easy laugh. He was quick witted like Lizzie, calm yet teasing. They suited each other well.
Her grip on the railing of the terrace, tightened again as Lizzie pulled the Colonel away to talk with Charlotte. Soon wedding bells would ring out for Lizzie and Jane. Although… Eden had grown concerned about Jane and Mr. Bingley. They were both too shy to express their opinions for each other. She was beginning to wonder if they ever would. With Caroline's determination to keep the two apart and Mrs. Bennet's ever running tongue, it wasn't looking very pretty.
Pushing herself away from the railing, she headed back inside, declining offers to dance. She found Mr. Bennet leaning against a wall with Mary.
"Papa, I'm feeling faint," she told him. "Can we please return home." He looked sharply at her, concern drawing his brows together.
"Are you sure, Eden?"
"Well, let me take the carriage and Giles will return after I'm home."
"You're leaving?"
Turning, Eden gave Mr. Bingley a small nod.
"I'm afraid that I'm not as well as I thought I was."
"Please, then take my carriage," Mr. Bingley said quickly. "I'd hate for your horses to grow tired going back and forth."
"I do not want to impose."
"It's not an imposition if I'm offering," promised Mr. Bingley.
"What is an imposition?" Caroline asked, joining them.
"Miss Bennet is feeling ill again," her brother answered. "I have offered our carriage to return her home." Caroline looked to Eden.
"You are ill?"
"The excitement of the evening has worn me down."
"Ah, I see."
The woman did not see, Eden could tell. She seemed the type of woman to find everyone else an obstacle in what she wanted to achieve, and that thing was Mr. Darcy. Eden wasn't going to fight for him or did she care.
"I'll have the footman bring the carriage around for you," Mr. Bingley said.
"I am in your debt."
"Not at all, I assure."
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