Thank you everyone for your patience and support.

I've tried to work out a chapter outline so hopefully I'll be able to get the chapters out regularly and more frequent.

Here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 8: An Awkward Dance

After that dance Darcy watched as Lizzy and James made their way back, determined to have the next dance. Once her brother let go of her hand he spoke up, "Would you do me the honor of dancing the next with me Miss Elizabeth?"

Lizzy couldn't quite hide the smile that sprung to her face, "Yes sir, I will."

After Bingley came back Darcy offered his arm to her and led her towards the dance floor. Was it his imagination or was his arm a bit lighter where she had her arm?

The couple took their places and began the dance once the music began to play.

"I appreciate the honor, Miss Bennet." Darcy said. He cringed at his attempt to begin a conversation.

She thought it was rather charming how nervous he seemed to be. "Not at all Mr Darcy. The pleasure is mine." Though, now she spoke, she seemed to be just as nervous.

They danced in silence for a moment, both too embarrassed at their own words to speak first.

Finally, Darcy settled on a familiar topic, "Did you finish the book you were reading when I was at Longborn last?"

Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief, "I did sir. It was quite enjoyable. You said that you'd read that volume before, did you not?"

He nodded. Books, he could talk about. "I have, though I wonder what you must have thought about it."

She smiled, "I would love to relate all of my thoughts about the subject to you sir, unfortunately, I can not speak of books in a ballroom."

He nodded, "I understand. Do you and your family go to these kinds of events often?"

They passed each other in the dance, "As often as we can, though my father and brother don't much care for them."

Lizzy and Darcy both heard a laugh coming down the line that belonged to Kitty. "I see Miss Kitty rather enjoys them."

She nodded, "Indeed she does. She prefers the company of many and the opportunity to socialize with many different types of people. She always seems more carefree compared to when we're at home."

"She certainly is lively." he commented.

"Would you say that being lively is a negative trait?" Elizabeth asked.

"Not at all, as long as the young lady is not overly so as to go beyond the bounds of propriety."

Elizabeth wasn't sure if he was looking down on her sister. Kitty did tend to laugh a little louder around company and tended to be friendlier toward strangers and members of the militia. But that was just the way Kitty was, Elizabeth never considered her sister's actions to be past the bounds of propriety.

They stayed silent for a few minutes till finally, Elizabeth spoke, "I do not consider any of my sister's actions to be past the bounds of propriety, simply that they are expressing themselves."

Darcy was stunned for a moment, had he insulted her sister? He couldn't think of anything that would have suggested it, maybe perhaps his comment on Miss Kitty's behavior but he hadn't intended it to be an insult.

"Forgive me if I insulted your sister, I was merely commenting on her different behavior than the one I observed at Longborn."

"Aren't we all? Don't we all behave differently when in the company of broader society?" Elizabeth challenged.

They lapsed into silence again and while Elizabeth took that as a win, Darcy considered that. Perhaps she was right, for example Georgiana was lively while at Pemberly and Longborn but while at Netherfield she was shy and reserved. And it wasn't just at Netherfield, his dear sister was like that wherever she met new people. Perhaps if Georgiana did it, it wouldn't be so far outside of the realm of possibility for young Kitty Bennet to have a more boisterous energy while at an assembly.

They didn't talk for the rest of the dance, though there wasn't much after their last prolonged pause. Once it was over and they clapped for the musicians Darcy offered his arm. Elizabeth took it without hesitation which pleased the gentleman.

"I'd like to thank you for your time Miss Bennet" he said on their way back, "You have given me much to think of during this assembly."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrow but decided to only say "You're very welcome sir and thank you for asking me to dance."

Oh, if only the gentleman knew how much she'd agonized over a simple dance with him, he might have not been as anxious.

Caroline Bingley found the whole gathering, minus her one dance with Mr Darcy, a complete waste of time. She even mentioned to her brother and the aforementioned gentleman that, if she were forced into such company regularly, it would be intolerable.

Unfortunately for her, both gentlemen found the company pleasant, as long as they could spend plenty of time with the ladies of Longborn.

For the rest of the assembly Darcy kept a close eye on his friend and Miss Bennet. It was clear to him that his friend was on his way to being, if he was not already, very much in love with the eldest Miss Bennet.

He watched as she danced with him, spoke with him and even as she spoke to others, to see how her behavior towards his friend and others differed so that he could more accurately decipher her regard towards his dear friend. Though he could see no sign of her flirting with other men, he was not seeing any sign of peculiar regard.

He hoped for his friend's sake that she was just terribly shy, and not leading his friend on. From what he had observed, her character did not seem to indicate she would be such a scheming temptress. Though he reasoned that he had not known her long, he wished to keep a close eye on her behavior for any warning signs.

Elizabeth stayed close to her brother for most of the night, though she was asked to dance a time or two by a gentleman. She was disappointed that her first dance with Mr Darcy had to be so painfully awkward. She had danced with many men and never found it to be awkward in the least.

She hoped that she might have a chance to redeem herself. For she was not a young lady new to society but a young woman who could navigate her way through a social gathering with skill and a pleasant demeanor.

Luckily when Mr Bennet informed his children, in front of the Netherfield party, that they were to go after this next dance both Bingley and Darcy took the opportunity.

"Miss Bennet," they said as one while Elizabeth smiled.

"Might I have the honor of the last dance with you tonight?" Bingley asked Jane.

She blushed and nodded.

"Miss Elizabeth, might I as well secure your hand for this next dance?" Darcy hoped she'd say yes though after their last dance who could blame her for waiting till another time. He needn't have worried.

"Why of course sir."

When the dance ended and Kitty skipped her way over, Darcy and Bingley led their partners onto the floor for the next.

"I hope you did not find this country dance too intolerable." Elizabeth said curtsying.

"Not at all," Darcy bowed. "I found it to be interesting. I would say at least Bingley seems to have enjoyed himself immensely."

"I'm sure he could find plenty of admirers among his neighbors." Elizabeth said, looking towards the couple.

Darcy wondered if it might be a good time to get an insight on Miss Bennet's temperament. "Miss Bennet seems to be a good match for my friend." He wasn't convinced, though they did seem to complement each other.

"Oh yes." Elizabeth smiled, "Jane is a wonderful person, though she tends to be shy in social gatherings."

Darcy nodded and focused on the calm dance.

The two exchanged smiles and looked deeply into each other's eyes, as long as propriety would allow. There were bits of pleasant conversation exchange and when the dance had ended they both walked away from it feeling a lot better than the last.

Thank you for reading. Feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think so far. Make sure to follow if you want to keep up with this story. Thanks again.