The Ball

As fate would have it, Bingley chose to speak aloud,"Lord, she is a beauty, too bad she is not a blonde." Darcy grudgingly turned his head toward Bingley,"what do you mean?" Bingley shrugged and said placidly,"Well, l prefer blondes to brunettes. But it's completely different for you." He winked," You know fully that you can ask her to dance instead of stalking around here stiffly" Darcy scrutinized Elizabeth's features and said,"Why should l do that, even if she is a beauty, there is a large chance that she is nothing but an enchantress."

As Darcy said it, Elizabeth directed curious glances toward the gentlemen and a frown appeared on her delicate feature when she heard what was being said by both gentlemen. She had secretly rejoiced when she heard the strange handsome man approve of her beauty, but dislike was her next emotion when she heard of the man's comments on her as an enchantress. how dare he! Elizabeth thought angrily. What right has he to comment on me when he barely knows me! What an insufferable man!

She was so angry and hurt at that moment. But she chose to lift her head up high, and stalked acorss the rooms. Darcy was startled when he felt Lady Elizabeth's presence as she stalked, her face was a picture of serenity, but Darcy was such an astute person that he immediately realized that lady Elizabeth was only putting on a composed face, but strong emotions were boiling inside. He wanted to stamp his foot and slap his face at the same time for saying such uncourteous things about a lady within the said lady's hearing distance, especially, he thought, a very elegant lady.

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Elizabeth fumed and fumed, and then she scolded herself for thinking so much of a stranger. Hadn't she always ignored every men's comment except her father's? But this man, she mused, was different, he wasn't fawning or stupid, as a matter of fact, he actually looked like a proper intelligent human being! She secretly smiled at this small joke and sighed as another young man came to ask her for a dance, remembering her duty as a hostess, she accepted the invitation graciously and treaded towards the dance floor.

In th meantime, Darcy was desperately trying to work out a solution for this problem. Looking up from the floor, he suddenly caught a glimpse of lady Elizabeth's ball gown and an idea popped into his head. He could ask to be introduced to lady Elizabeth and then ask her to dance, just as Charles suggested. Then he will explain and apologize for his discourteous behaviour. There, they could start their acquaintance all over again with a fonder memory. And since neither in the party would possibly wish to deepen the acquaintance, they could then, at least part with a distant civility.

At last satified with his solution, he confidently strode towards the duke, and politely asked to be introduced to lady Elizabeth. The duke was surprised at such a request, he knew Darcy to be a shy and quite proud man. But here he was, asking to be introduced to his daughter! How odd! But the prospect seemed not entirely unpleasant, Darcy was an honest man and will never stain Elizabeth's honor and reputation. Had thought as much, the duke nodded and called out to Elizabeth affectionately, and motioned for her to join him and Darcy.

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"Good god, what is father doing with that man!" Elizabeth thought as she walked across the great ball room. As she walked nearby the couple, she could sense the younger man's unease and her lips twitched into an almost invisible smile. She deliberately ignored the man and turned towards her father. "Aw, Elizabeth, here you are, this young man here asked to be introduced to you."He winked here and continued,"Anyway, Elizabeth, this is Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire. And this is my daughter, lady Elizabeth Spencer." At the mention of Darcy, ELizabeth chuckled, so all the rumors about how arrogant Mr. Darcy is true!

She curtsied and nodded her head towards the gentleman with considerable indifference, which only provoked Darcy's further interest, for he had never seen any woman except his female relations to treat him with such cold and proud manners. Then at the next moment, he realized, lady Elizabeth was only trying to punish him for his unforgivable speech earlier.

Obviously, Darcy was embarrassed to be treated with such incivilities in front of the ton, especially by a young woman who is making her debut. But he decided to put on his most gentlemanly manners. He bowed elaborately and asked for the next dance, which was accepted with the merest civility.

When the music started, everyone in the ton was shocked to their cores, it was a Waltz! How scandalous! Nobody dared to go onto the dance floor in fear of being the gossip of the town. Lady Elizabeth smirked at the general reaction of the town and addressed to Darcy:"Sir, I suppose that you would not like dance right now, am I right?" Darcy gasped when he heard this comment, it was obviously a challenge rather than a thoughtful suggestion. He wanted to back down but his inner thought told him that it could only increase Lady Elizabeth's contempt of him.

So boldly, he took the challenge, staring into ELizabeth's dark eyes, he said quickly but clearly:"Not at all, madam." Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. Then she turned to face the dance floor and said:" Shall we?"