Disclaimer: I still do not own this novel. Unfortunately. Hopefully you can all enjoy this just the same! And thank you so much for the positive reaction to the last chapter! I hope I continue to please :)
Four seasons out had done Elizabeth Bennet good. She had learned how to easily appease men, making them feel the superior figure in any conversation that was ultimately, in fact, steered by her. With this talent at ready hand, she departed the dance floor on the arm of Mr. Darcy as he escorted her to dinner. Sitting side by side, she was fully ready to make good use of her ability only to find it was completely unnecessary.
Jane and Bingley sat across from herself and Darcy, Bingley having asked for the dinner set soon after the first had finished. Elizabeth, noticing this with great pleasure, turned her full attention to Mr. Darcy and the obligatory dinner conversation.
"Miss Elizabeth, tell me. What languages do you speak?"
"Why, Mr. Darcy. I did not realize I had to be multi-lingual to survive this conversation!" Elizabeth teased. Darcy turned a bright red as he hurried to clear his mistake.
"Forgive me. I did not mean it to sound like a judgment or interrogation. I was simply curious."
With a pitying smile, Elizabeth rearranged her skirt before saying, "French, Mr. Darcy. French and Italian."
"And do you have any other hobbies apart from speaking French and Italian?" Darcy asked. Elizabeth thought it a very strange word to use and looked up to inquire into his meaning only to find a glint in his eye. It seemed to be the very same glint her father got when he thought he said something particularly amusing to himself. She smiled coyly before demanding, "And what leads you to believe that speaking foreign languages counts as a hobby?"
"Well, Madame, all young ladies have hobbies of the sort. Speaking modern languages, playing the pianoforte, drawing, dancing, singing, embroidery, designing tables and keeping up numerous and elongated correspondents. Tell me, Miss Elizabeth, which of these hobbies do you possess?"
"Drawing has never been my greatest talent, Mr. Darcy, and table designing goes with it. Embroidery demands a patience I do not have. However, you missed one that I find most diverting!" She realized his game soon enough and decided to play along. Not many young men would allow such freedom. He was practically mocking the very restrictions that society laid upon young women! Who was she to deny him?
"And what one is that?" he asked, his curiosity successfully piqued.
"Archery."
"Archery?" This time his shock could not be hidden. His eyebrows shot up as he stared in utter disbelief.
"Yes, archery."
"Why archery?"
"Why not archery?"
"It is just so old fashioned!" argues Mr. Darcy.
"So is embroidering cushions."
Mr. Darcy shook his head in admiration for this strong headed woman. Who was he to disagree with such a statement? He had been mocking it not two minutes previous.
"And what might your favorite volume be, Miss Elizabeth? As I recall you are quite an avid reader." he inquired.
Elizabeth pondered the question carefully before slowly answering, "I have to admit I find Thomas Moore's Utopia to be utterly enthralling. However Plato's philosophy often has me smiling in the most invigorated delight."
At hearing this, Mr. Darcy's respect for her heightened. Any woman he met who claimed to be a great reader always confessed to being so fond of those silly little novels that were meant to keep young ladies such as themselves entertained. That would never be called great reading. Elizabeth…she was a great reader indeed! On the other hand, he was no longer surprised by such an admission.
Their witty banter continued until the dinner plates were removed and the party continued. Lady Matlock observed the couple from her end of the table taking great pleasure in the developments she was noticing. The only thing about the improvements in the situation that she disliked was the possibility that she would not be given the opportunity to meddle. However, on this count she merely decided that she would have to leap into action at the first available moment. She would love to take credit for such a match.
Therefore, as the ball continued she quickly approached Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
"Elizabeth, did I tell you how happy I am that you consented to come to my ball?" Flattery, she believed, always worked.
"Lady Matlock!" Elizabeth quickly dropped into a curtsy before continuing. "I must express my deepest gratitude at being invited! It was most generous of you."
"Oh, nonsense! I have always been fond of you, dear! Can't imagine hosting a social gathering without you!" Elizabeth smiled, graciously accepting the favor as one ought to. "And you know," started Lady Matlock with a sly smile, "I don't believe my nephew Mr. Darcy can now imagine attending one without you being present."
At this Lizzy blushed a dark pink and she quickly looked away. "Lady Matlock, I assure you that that is not the case. He is, however, a wonderful gentleman."
"He is, he is. He is also exceedingly handsome, is he not?"
"He is, Madame."
"And intelligent."
"Very."
"Certainly amiable."
"Indeed."
"He would make a fine husband."
"He would."
Elizabeth froze as she heard her own words slip from her mouth. Her color darkened and Lady Matlock stared at her with barely contained glee.
"I apologize most deeply for what I said. I merely meant that I agreed…that when you said…only that…of course he would make a fine husband. For any woman! Yes, the young lady he falls in love with will be very lucky indeed. Very lucky. I shall be ever so happy for her too and would indeed hope I could be lucky enough to find a man I loved of equal standard. Lady Matlock, I believe I hear my mother calling for me. Y-yes, I see her searching. I do apologize, I must be going to her now."
With her incessant babbling at an end, she swept through the crowd, mortified at her own behavior. And she fled from the presence of Lady Matlock!
Said lady was standing right where Elizabeth left her, feeling very clever. Yes, she did believe she was going to have a very easy time of this matchmaking business.
Mr. Darcy was scanning the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of his wild beauty.
She is not your wild beauty, Darcy. Shape up! he chastised himself. He finally spotted her in what seemed to be an exceedingly embarrassing conversation with his aunt. He prayed that Lady Matlock wasn't doing anything to injure the poor girl's sensitivities. It was his last desire on the planet for her to be uncomfortable.
Why do you feel this way, Darcy? Have you no sense? You've met the woman once and only danced with her once as well! You already abhor the thought of her uncomfortable? Darcy continued berating himself.
Well, you could dance with her again…he thought.
No. That would be entirely inappropriate, leading her on.
Would it be leading her on? Leading her on implied you have no intentions…
But he didn't!
Don't you?
With a growl of annoyance, he stalked over to his aunt's jovial being. "Aunt, may I inquire into the nature of the conversation you just had with Miss Elizabeth Bennet?" he asked uncomfortably.
She whipped around, startled by her nephew's sudden appearance. "Why, William! Have we taught you no manners? You do not sneak up on a lady!"
"I apologize, Aunt," he said with a bow of his head. "I merely saw Miss Bennet looking exceedingly uncomfortable and yourself looking unabashedly content."
Lady Matlock smoothed her skirt before answering, "And is Miss Elizabeth's welfare your immediate concern?"
Her cool countenance made Darcy slightly nervous. Darcy was afraid of no man and more the majority of the time, no woman. But his aunt he was terrified of and he would admit only to himself.
"I just made her acquaintance and found her to be a most charming young lady. I just do not wish her to be misused."
Lady Matlock's eyes studied her nephew carefully. "I assure you, William, that I misuse her in no way. In fact, I adore Miss Elizabeth. I also assure you that she is fine. Why don't you go ask her to dance to ensure her health?" Her sly smile returned though she did her best to hide it from her nephew. It would simply not do to have him guess what she was about. No, that would quite ruin everything. He was not one to feel controlled.
"Aunt, I have already danced with her. Surely you noticed her accompanying me to dinner. From that I was sure you had gleaned that we danced the dinner set together."
"Oh, William, I am very well aware you danced the dinner set."
"Then why have me ask her for another dance? That would be a second dance," he stated dumbly.
Lady Matlock nodded slowly. "Yes, Fitzwilliam, it would be."
"But surely that's the wrong impression," he pleaded.
"Is it, William?" Lady Matlock took her fan and flicked it open, walking away before her nephew had put together a shocked and embarrassed reply.
"Miss Bennet?"
Jane lookup from where she was huddled with her sister to see Mr. Bingley staring beseechingly at her. He noticed Elizabeth smiling brightly at her sister and recalled how charmingly devoted to Jane she had seemed during their dance after dinner. Taking her bright smile as inadvertent confidence, he continued.
"Would it be too forward to ask for the final set with you tonight?"
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged looks, the former urging the latter, and the latter's eyes widening considerably. "M-Mr. Bingley! I…" She took in his sincere countenance and finished, "I would love to dance the final set with you."
Mr. Bingley's entire figure lightened with the response and he quickly bowed before striding off to join a conversation about agriculture and estates. He had a terribly hard time contributing though as he knew that in just half an hour he would be in the wonderful arms of his perfect angel.
Well, not his angle exactly. More like an angel. God's angel. Filled with heavenly grace and unearthly beauty. As bright as the sun and as pure as the moon. As perfectly delightful as—
"Bingley!"
He snapped to attention at the announcement of his name and he was met with Mr. Harold's confused features. "Old chap, are you quite alright? We've been wondering after you for a good three minutes now, man!"
Embarrassment flooding his senses, Bingley rushed his reply. "Oh yes! Yes everything is perfect! I assure you! Absolutely perfect," he finished with a smile.
"Glad to hear it! Now, what crop system do you find most effective?"
"I could not say. Gentlemen, you must excuse me. It is time I find my partner and prepare for the next dance." He gracefully bowed out of the circle and went in search of Darcy. He found him just as Lady Matlock was leaving his speechless side.
"Good God, Darcy! What ever happened to you?" Bingley exclaimed.
"Elizabeth Bennet."
"Bingley, I've told you several times now! I cannot ask Miss Elizabeth to dance a second time!"
"And why ever not, Darcy? Surely you do not think her inferior!" Bingley guffawed.
"No, no, certainly not!"
"Then what?"
"I…I cannot say," Darcy admitted.
Bingley looked confused. "As in…it's a secret?"
"No, nothing like that. I just…" Darcy sighed tiredly. "I just don't know."
"Don't know what, Darcy?"
"I find her appealing and entertaining company. I enjoy being around her and it's wonderful to speak with a woman who is my equal in every way, accomplishments included. I just…"
"You can't let yourself go."
It was not a question.
"Why do you think I never show up to these balls, Bingley? I try to avoid all contact with the ton and its ladies."
"But why this lady?"
"Because I haven't found a way to convince myself she is that lady."
Darcy sighed and Bingley marveled his friend's inability to trust any sort of decent human nature. He shook his head dejectedly and patted his friend's shoulder.
"Well Will, I just hope you don't regret it if you end up losing her."
Darcy's head turned and snapped at Bingley. "Lose her?" he hissed. "I don't have her! I don't want her! What made you think I did?"
Bingley's eyes widened to a size that would have been comical if they hadn't been staring at a severely spurned Miss Elizabeth. She stood for a moment, her chin high and her hands clenching onto fistfuls of her gown. She turned on her prettiest smile before addressing the situation.
"Yes Mr. Bingley. What made you think he did? I certainly never entertained the possibility myself."
Darcy froze. He refused to look down. He refused to look at Bingley. He refused to look at Elizabeth. He refused to look at any of those gathered there that evening.
So he closed his eyes and willed it all away. In actuality, he willed himself away. Perhaps to the first circle of Hell where liars and those with severe anger management issues belonged.
"Miss Elizabeth!" Bingley squeaked. He gruffly cleared his throat before continuing. "Miss Elizabeth. How wonderful to see you! May I help you in any way?" His looks of completely contrived eagerness made her smile gratefully at the man.
"Yes, my dear sister sent me to tell you that the last dance is about to begin. She is currently occupied with Miss Lark, but she will break away as soon as you retrieve her."
Bingley bowed in acknowledgment and gratitude. After shooting a grimace at his friend, she quickly exited the awkward situation. Elizabeth was about to follow suit and had in fact turned her back on Darcy when his voice caused her to halt.
"Miss Elizabeth."
Refusing to turn, she just waited for him to speak again.
"May I have this last dance?"
She was almost too shocked to think of a reply.
Almost.
"Mr. Darcy, we don't want to give Mr. Bingley the wrong impression again, do we? He was already horribly confused about the situation. It's best not to make it any worse for him."
Before her refusal had registered with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth was lost in the crowd.
Lady Matlock sighed from her spot amidst her guests. Her nephew could be so foolish when he wanted to be.
Unfortunately, he could also be foolish when he didn't want to be, and that was his downfall on most occasions. Mr. Darcy was not a foolish man. One would have to be deranged to even entertain the idea. He certainly did seem to have his moments though. Lady Matlock sighed over this little mishap and decided to leave it be for the night. Her nephew was not one to live in disgrace, be it personal or public. He would fix this in his own due time and then she would happily resume her position matchmaker when that time came.
Until then, however, she had guests to see off.
Please review and tell me what you think! :) And do remember that, as different circumstances were present as the Bennet children were raised, the dynamic will be very different the responses to certain situation will alter. Just a warning!
