Hello, readers! Second chapter here. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I don't own 'ROTG', 'HTTYD' or 'Pride and Prejudice'

Chapter Two

The moment Jackson walked through the doors and the lively music washed over him, he felt his body to relax as a wide grin split his face. His warm eyes roved around the small space crammed with a multitude of bodies. Several women sat along the walls: the older ones gossiping amongst themselves while the younger ones stared longingly at the dance floor as they watched their fellows dance.

The door shut behind him, sealing him off from the cool night air and locking him away in the warm humidity of bodies sweating from exertion.

"Jack!" he heard a woman call over the loud music.

His brown eyes darted over the heads of the swarming mass to spy a familiar face. If it was at all possible, his smile widened at the sight of her. "Jenny!" he cried in greeting, pleased that she had noticed him.

He took off towards her. When he reached the dainty woman, she grasped ahold of his forearms and pulled him closer for a light kiss as she pressed her cheek against his.

"Have you heard the rumors?" she asked.

"Oh yes," Jackson exclaimed with a roll of his eyes. "Mother wouldn't stop speaking about it. Poor Emma."

"I can only imagine what she had to undergo. My mother is at least as harebrained as yours, and I'm surprised Sophia and I managed to escape unscathed. However, I believe Sophia is enjoying the attention. She is ecstatic by the fact she has been allowed to come out."

"Mary is the same. Honestly, I'm surprised that Father allowed her out so young. Mother, well—Mother is Mother."

The woman laughed as she pulled him closer to the wall, out of the way of the twirling couples. "She is desperate for her daughters to marry. Emma isn't getting any younger, neither am I for that matter. She wishes to give them the best opportunity."

The brown haired man simply rolled his eyes. As the music change, the smile returned to his face. He grasped Jennifer's hand and pulled her to the dance floor. "How about a dance, Ms. Bennett?"

Jennifer let out a laugh as she allowed her childhood friend to drag her alongside of him in a reel.

The change of the gathering was instant. Jennifer pulled Jackson to a stop and their eyes followed the gaze of the crowd. The musicians had fallen silent so the bang of the door closing was exceptionally loud. Brown eyes struggled to see over heads and were finally satisfied with a party of five standing at the entrance of the hall.

A young man with the dark hair stood at the front. His eyes were bright and eager as he gazed out into the silent crowd; a wide smile pulled at his lips. He was accompanied by two women and two men, all of whom appeared to detest their surroundings, especially a copper haired young man to the back of the crowd.

"Please, don't stop on my account," the young man in the front declared. "Please, continue!"

The music began again tentatively and soon the couples were once again swirling and twirling except one. With a quick look shared between the two, Jackson and Jennifer headed to their respective families.

As the young man moved closer to his family, his eyes roamed over the group of people who had entered. A dark haired couple stood arm-in-arm. Her hair pulled back in an extreme bun as her hawkish eyes glared over a strong nose. The man next to her was broad and wide, and he held a lazy expression on his dull face. His pale eyes were focused on the young woman on the other side of Mr. Liely. Jackson had to admit she was quite beautiful. She had a gentle features and golden hair, but her eyes made him shiver. The haughty arrogance that filled them as she surveyed the room set his teeth on edge. Her hands were clutching the arm of the last in the party. He was a small slip of a man, but his form was intimidating. His jaw was firmly etched, and his nose was a prominent feature. Underneath the copper strands that fell across his brow were green eyes that flitted about the room.

Tearing his eyes away from the party, he focused on his family. His mother was bustling around her daughters, straightening dresses, strategically placing curls. It was no surprise that Emma held most of her attention.

"Mamma, do you know who is with him?" Mary asked as she peered over the mingling crowd, straining to see.

She turned to her youngest and whispered conspiratorially, "I heard that those two ladies are his cousins. The dark haired couple is Mr. and Mrs. Snoutley. He has a modest income, but it is rumored that he lives off hers. The other is Abigail Vickson, currently single. And," she continued her voice rising in pitch in her excitement, "The young man with him is Mr. Henry Haddock III."

Henry Haddock III. The name was running rampant in the small room. Voices twittered back and forth about his wealth. His father had died tragically some five years back, leaving him and his younger sister well-endowed with the fortune he had raised as a politician in London. His yearly income was quite a bit more than that of his friend. In addition, his estate, Berk, was known far and wide its beautiful land and wonderful game.

The party was soon abandoned by their charismatic leader as he made a point to be introduced to the principal people at the dance. Each minute led him to a new introduction, new faces, and new young women he humbly asked a dance with. Soon he made his way to Mr. Overland and greeted his family with a wide smile, his bright eyes flitting across each face as he proclaimed that his daughters exceeded the tales of their beauty and grace that he had heard. Jackson—and unfortunately Mrs. Overland, too—noticed that though he spoke to the family as a whole, his eyes never left the face of a blushing Emma. Once his pleasantries were over, he asked her to reserve a dance for him, for he would soon come to collect. She timidly agreed.

His entourage did not appear too devastated at being left to their own devices as they stood amongst themselves, the sisters and Mr. Snoutely sharing sneers and whispers, their eyes devouring each person who passed them. Mr. Haddock, however seemed extremely bored and above it all. His long fingers occasional played with his cuffs, pulled down on his waist coat, adjusted his cravat as his green eyes gazed over the throng of people. Occasionally he would remove himself from the group and pace around the room, his eyes hesitant to meet anyone's as he chose to remain in the acquaintance of only those in his own group. Though rumors had quickly flown through the small room at his ten thousand a-year and his handsome countenance, soon each person was gladly avoiding him as he them. He was cool, distant, and very proud. He only danced twice, once with Ms. Vickson and once with Mrs. Snoutely.

Jackson stood against the wall to the side of a gaggling group of older women from town. His brown eyes followed the movements of Mr. Haddock, annoyance rising in him at each passing moment. He could not understand how a man such as Mr. Liely could be associated with such an arrogant and boring man. Mr. Liely was enjoyable and eager for a fun time. He smiled briefly as his eyes darted to his dancing form entwining in and out of bodies until he clamped hands with Jennifer.

"Dear Jack, why aren't you out dancing? There are many young ladies who are in need of a partner," came a woman's voice at his elbow.

"But then I would have to leave you dear ladies to your own means. I could not be so rude," he responded with a dashing smile as he turned his brown eyes to her.

Mrs. Long laughed as she pushed him away from the wall. "Go and enjoy yourself. It isn't right for you to have a frown on your face. Old ladies like ourselves are quite amused by our gossip."

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. With a slight bow and quick parting, he weaved his way to Sarah who sat quietly with their gabbing mother. He held out his hand to her and she accepted with a wide smile. Pulling her to her feet, he led her to the floor and into the next dance. He smiled as he spied Mr. Liely with his eldest sister in tow.

His father had long since gone home during the course of the long night, and now everyone would soon follow suit as the second the last dance began. Jackson had returned to his place by the wall, his chest heaving with exertion as beads of sweat drizzled down the back of his neck. The lack of gentlemen had him dancing the past ten dances, and he would have danced another had his knees not felt like they would protest against carrying his weight at any moment. He pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed it over his face, collecting the droplets of water that rested on his skin. Taking a deep breath, he pocketed the damp material and made his way to the refreshment table on shaking legs.

The punch bowl was nearly drained, but the young Mr. Overland managed to scoop out enough for a mouthful or two and pour it into one of the few remaining glasses. Resting a hand on the table he leaned on it and took a sip of the warmed liquid. He grimaced slightly. It was better than nothing.

Out of the corner of his eye he spied Mr. Haddock, standing away from the crowd as usual. His features were trained, but Jackson could see the urgency to remove himself from the room underneath. Well, he thought, it would acceptable for him to leave, nobody wishes for him to stay.

Mr. Liely walked up to his friend, an earnest smile on his face as he clamped an arm around his friend's shoulders.

Well, maybe one person.

"Come, Haddock! I won't have you standing around here. There are so many beautiful girls here to dance with. My partner would be more than pleased to introduce you to any one of them."

"You know how I feel about dancing. It is not pleasurable unless I am well acquainted with my partner. Your cousins are engaged, and there is no other woman in the room with who such an activity would not prove most difficult."

"Confound it, Haddock! There are plenty of beautiful women here—"

"I fear you are with the only truly beautiful woman in this room. There is no one else who would possibly tempt me."

Mr. Liely's eyes softened as his gaze turned to the eldest Ms. Overland. "She is quite beautiful. But, I will not have you stand here as such. If a no woman here can tempt you to dance, surely there is a gentleman here who would be able to hold his own against you in a discussion. Perhaps Ms. Overland's brother? I've heard he has quite the mouth on him."

Mr. Haddock scoffed. "A mouth possibly, but what of a brain? He is far too amused with the simple pleasures in life to have any appreciation or any knowledge of a topic worthy of discussion. However, it is not his fault. If he had been born into a better family, I have no doubt he would have been able to…" his voice trailed off as the two began to walk away, taking a turn about the room.

Jackson clenched the glass in his hands until his knuckles turned as white as snow. That man was infuriating. If he had no desire to affiliate with him, he would return the sentiment.

Apart from the incident by the punch bowl, the last bit of the evening went quite well. Mr. Liely exclaimed that he enjoyed the event so much that he must hold a dance at Dreki Vollr, those present invited to attend of course. The Overland family returned home in high spirits to find Mr. Overland still up, a book in his hands with his glasses perched on his nose. He inquired after the rest of the evening and soon regretted the maelstrom that his wife became as she prattled of about the delightful Mr. Liely, how his cousins had adored Emma and how he had dance with her twice. Mr. Haddock did not escape her terrible tongue as she lashed into him and his pride. She was glad he had not been taken with any of her daughters and that they returned such sentiments.

"Ten thousand a-year," she exclaimed, "is not worth the agony it would cause me to bear him as a son-in-law!"