Following that evening, regular intercourse grew between the gentlemen of Rosings Park and the ladies of Hunsford parsonage. Darcy met Elizabeth while out walking, and often he called on her at the parsonage. The Hunsford party dined at Rosings a further three times.
On the final day of Darcy's stay with his aunt, he walked out with Colonel Fitzwilliam quite early to call upon Elizabeth and Mrs. Collins. It was a damned shame Colonel Fitzwilliam needed to return to London, so he could visit his parents for a few days before he rejoined his regiment. Lady Catherine remained a terrible bore, but Elizabeth's presence had made this visit an actual pleasure.
Near every day he had spoken with her on a call or a walk. The infatuation which led him to desire to marry her was gone, but he'd found in her an excellent friend whose mind worked in a sharp yet charming manner. She was different from any other person he knew. If his own wishes were solely consulted, he would stay in Kent until Elizabeth returned to London.
Even with the presence of Bingley, his clubs, society, lectures, races and so many other entertainments, London was never half so enjoyable as Kent with Elizabeth in it.
Elizabeth sat in the parsonage's small white parlor and wore a bright sprigged muslin dress. He was struck again by the regular features of her face and how deep Elizabeth's eyes were when she looked at him and smiled. However, she was paler than normal, and her smile not so bright.
He pulled a chair next to where she sat on the couch. "Are you well Miss Bennet? Your spirits appear low. Is something the matter?"
Elizabeth flushed and bit her lip, looking away at Darcy's question. She rubbed her cheek as though she were embarrassed. "It is nothing, only a headache."
Darcy frowned and peered closely at her face. "Are you certain? You must care for your health. If there is anything I might do to help, I am at your disposal."
Elizabeth's eyes brightened, and she turned to him with a sweet smile. "I assure you, I am perfectly fine. I know the exact cause of my indisposition, it is nothing dangerous."
Her smile lifted his spirits. Her smiles always were warm and genuine. Perhaps Elizabeth really was well. He replied with his own smile. "I am glad. It would distress me greatly if something was amiss with you. Your friendship is dear to me. I shall miss your presence in London. Neither Bingley, nor any other friend of mine, can argue near so charmingly or cleverly as you."
Elizabeth glanced at where Colonel Fitzwilliam patiently listened to Mr. Collins speak on the other side of the drawing room. "I shall miss your company as well. Excellent as he is, my cousin's conversation lacks something present in yours."
The animation in Elizabeth's face left with a sigh. Her affliction seemed more melancholy than headache. "Miss Bennet, something does bother you. If you do not wish to speak on it, I shall importune you no further, but if anything is the matter which I might help, I beg you ask."
Elizabeth looked down and chewed on her lip. It was a pretty gesture, but she looked discomposed. Darcy wondered what could be the matter. "Is it something amiss with your family, I know Jane and Bingley were well as of a few days ago, and —"
Her clear eyes met his, and their corners crinkled with amusement. "I assure you, it is not an issue of that sort. No one is ill, no one is bankrupt, no one is — well whatever horror your imagination constructed."
While this relieved Darcy of any serious worry, the way Elizabeth sighed and looked down, almost avoiding his gaze, did not satisfy him. What was the matter? She did not want to speak on it; that was clear. He pulled in a deep breath. "So long as you are well, and I can be of no help, I am satisfied. Though only because you assured me the matter is not dangerous."
Elizabeth laughed quickly. "I did claim it was not." She studied his face and then said, blushing and looking at her hands, "I — in truth I am melancholy at parting. Your conversation has been very dear to me."
"Oh." Darcy felt the rope of affection that bound him to Elizabeth tighten. He made her life happier. Elizabeth's embarrassment kept a bright unstoppable smile on his face. He said enthusiastically, "We must see each other when you pass through London. Might I hope you will stay for some period of time? There are a great many sights in town you must see. I shall call upon Bingley while you are resident — I wish Georgiana to make your acquaintance."
"That is an enticing plan. There is nothing I'd like more than to meet Miss Darcy and laugh about town with you." Elizabeth sighed and shook her head. "The melancholy truth is I shall be present one evening alone. My father dearly wishes my presence at home before my summer trip with my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. I do not think it shall be possible."
He'd counted on seeing Elizabeth in London. They would dance at a ball, and she would be in his box at a play. She and Georgiana would meet and become friends. None of that would happen. She would be in Hertfordshire and then the north for months. The season would end; he would return to Pemberley; and he might not see her for a long time.
"I shall find some expedient to call upon you, even if it requires I behave quite rudely towards your brother and sister. I shall not allow our friendship to be broken up so long. I will not. I promise to see you in London."
The depression in Elizabeth lifted at this. "There is the Darcy spirit." She laughed, her fine dark eyes sparkling. "I now have no fear I shall miss you. You are a man to run over all obstacles in your way once determined. I shall depend upon seeing you."
Her confidence in him and eagerness to see him again made him feel as good as making her laugh did.
Eventually their call ended, and he was forced to walk slowly back towards his aunt's house.
The lawn was kept clipped short, and one of the mowers was out in the middle sweeping the long scythe through the grasses. It was a foolish extravagance to cut it as often as his aunt did. His aunt was often extravagant, mistaking expense for substance.
Elizabeth's eyes brightened and she showed that impertinent smirk whenever Lady Catherine asked one of her overbearing questions. She always responded in a playful manner that punctured the pretension without giving offense.
He would miss Elizabeth while they were separate. How he cared for her now was very different from the desperate desire to touch and possess her he felt in the autumn, but the affectionate closeness had more meaning, more permanence. She was burrowing into his soul.
He would find a way for them to meet again after she left London far sooner than Elizabeth expected. She would smile and look at him with warm approval before teasing him when they met again. She liked him quite as much as he liked her.
Darcy stumbled to a stop. Might Elizabeth have a romantic affection for him? Could her sadness at their parting have been due to deeper feelings than only friendship? She had been very affected. Maybe Elizabeth loved him.
He saw Elizabeth bite her lip as she watched him with those large eyes. She had watched him so many times in the past weeks. He had thought she studied whether his manner had actually improved since the autumn. But, if she loved him, she watched because she liked to look on his person.
In his mind Elizabeth stared intently at him through those pretty lashes and spoke in a breathy whisper, I want you to kiss me.
Ridiculous. They had become friends, but her determined dislike of the previous autumn could not become affection so speedily. Before he thought she flirted with him when her true intentions were the opposite. He would not go down the same path again.
Only a foolish man would rush to think a woman had affection for him. Only a foolish man would think friendship meant love.
The next morning Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam left quite early to make the journey to London. For half an hour the two sat in silence while the carriage swayed as it bounced along the road. Was it possible Elizabeth loved him? He could say it was ridiculous many times, but the idea refused to leave.
They had sought each other out on walks, and Elizabeth always treated him warmly and preferred his conversation to that of any other. But that was only because their minds worked similarly, and she found his conversation highly engaging. Darcy smiled. For once he had entertained a lady better than his cousin.
Ha! When a woman was sufficiently clever, he could charm her.
What if she did like him? Did he want to marry Elizabeth? The flush of desire that had raged back into his body shouted yes. He yearned, like a drunken sailor stumbling about for his grog, to make her laugh again. His every emotion said yes.
Yet, he could not trust himself in this matter. These feelings were powerful, but they misled him last January. Should he trust them now? Was his desire rational?
Colonel Fitzwilliam broke Darcy's deepening reverie. "That Miss Bennet — she's a damned fine woman. Damned fine. Don't you agree Darcy?"
Darcy frowned at his cousin but nodded.
"It amazes me she is not married yet. The gentlemen in Hertfordshire must be fools to have not hunted her down. Even with her small dowry, a woman like that would be worth it — don't you agree?" Colonel Fitzwilliam nudged Darcy.
When no reply was made his cousin continued, "That will change soon. Her sister's marriage to Bingley will bring her out into a broader society. Some clever gentleman will find a superior wife in her."
Of course Bingley would want to do Elizabeth a good turn. He and Jane would introduce her around in town at the first opportunity. Thank heavens she would return so speedily to Hertfordshire and her father. It had depressed him that he would have little opportunity to see her in town, but now that seemed an excellent situation. He'd seen that no gentleman in Hertfordshire impressed her.
"I had a thought." Colonel Fitzwilliam pushed Darcy's shoulder. "I want your opinion on this scheme, so pay attention — I have fifteen thousand settled away, and with my salary it would hardly be impossible for me to marry, even if the girl had nothing. I know I have always declared an —"
"You cannot marry Elizabeth! You cannot!" Darcy roared into his cousin's face, baring his teeth, "I will not —"
"Hahahaha!" Colonel Fitzwilliam slapped his leg. "I had wondered how much it would take to make you admit you liked her."
Darcy flushed and the tense anger left him as Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. "I wish you could have seen your own face. That was near the most terrifying look I have ever seen. Well, are you going to act on it? You would be a damned fool not to."
"I don't think Elizabeth likes me."
"Seriously?" Fitzwilliam peered at Darcy and laughed again. "This is perfect. I always knew you could not tell what women think. But this proves it — I have rarely seen a lady so eager for a man's esteem as your Miss Bennet is for yours. What ever made you think she disliked you?"
Darcy sat stiff and didn't reply. He'd told Colonel Fitzwilliam months before about how he'd argued with a lady he nearly decided to marry and that it had convinced him he thought too highly of himself. Colonel Fitzwilliam had thought it was hilarious. He would not admit to his cousin that the lady he'd argued with was Elizabeth.
The admission was unnecessary. "Wait — I should have realized it before — the lady who said you'd behaved as a crowing rooster must have been Miss Bennet. Oh, I wish I had seen her railing at you. She has such bright eyes. I assure you, that lady no longer holds the manner you insulted her against you."
Darcy glared at Colonel Fitzwilliam. Bingley would have ceased to speak if shown that gaze, Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned wider. "You cannot scare me. I have known you since we both were lads jumping in puddles — she most likely argued with you because she liked you."
"That makes no sense." Darcy felt a spasm of rejection again, as he remembered that horrid moment when Elizabeth called him selfish, cruel, and unfeeling. "She thought most ill of me."
"Don't feel bad about it. You have improved, and she likes you now. That is what is important — had some ordinary person offended her she would have laughed and been done with it. Our aunt and her cousin try their best to offend her, and it arouses no dislike."
Colonel Fitzwilliam smirked. "But when insulted by the tall and handsome Mr. Darcy — the man whose noble mien she admired — that was different. Miss Bennet would not have thought ill of you if she did not think well of you."
That made a startling amount of sense. It explained so much. Perhaps when they argued in the autumn, she'd tried to impress him. Elizabeth thought him a friend now, and she argued even more. Hardly an opportunity was lost to challenge him or make him defend some silly hypothetical.
Darcy grinned, not caring that he looked like a lovesick fool. He loved Elizabeth's manner.
He loved Elizabeth. It was that simple.
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed again. "Now that is a silly smile. So will you marry her?"
"I am still not certain she cares for me," Darcy said plaintively.
"Love, it makes the best of men fools." Colonel Fitzwilliam said, "Ask her. You are no coward."
"I think I will."
Once they arrived at Darcy's house, Colonel Fitzwilliam took off to his father's townhouse. Without Georgiana or a guest, the house was empty. Darcy rarely minded solitude, but it now oppressed him. He'd have so little opportunity to see Elizabeth when she was in London. Should he ask her then?
It was late for a call, but Darcy set off for Bingley's house. He more wished to see Elizabeth's sister than Bingley or his own. It would connect him to her. It was near dark when Darcy knocked on his friend's door. It was improper to call so late, and the butler who had been rented along with the house looked askance at him. Darcy stared back firmly though he felt a little guilt.
The man brought Darcy's presence to his master's attention, and Darcy was ushered into the dining room, even though the Bingleys were in the middle of a meal with two guests. He recognized them from Bingley's wedding as Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Darcy went stiff and tall at seeing himself the object of everyone's attention due to his unfashionable intrusion.
Georgiana burst up from her chair and ran to embrace him. She then looked embarrassedly at the people around the table who grinned at her.
Bingley also stood quickly and stepped forward to heartily grasp Darcy's hand. "I'm so pleased to see you. Very pleased. We had not expected you until tomorrow morning."
Darcy began to stammer an explanation, but Bingley cut him off, "Nevermind that. It doesn't matter why. I am glad to see you. Have you dined yet?" Darcy shook his head no. "Excellent, excellent. You must take a seat with us. It is no imposition — right dear?"
Jane immediately added her assent to Bingley's and said in her soft voice, "We are glad to have you."
Darcy was seated between Mrs. Gardiner and Georgiana. The footman arranged a set of plates and silverware, and Bingley eagerly carved additional slices from the roast goose for him. The cook was informed to produce an extra plate for dessert.
Georgiana peppered Darcy with questions about his stay at Rosings. Half the questions had been answered before in his letters, but after several weeks absence Darcy was happy to entertain his sister. Many questions related to Elizabeth, who Georgiana had developed a lively curiosity about. Prompted by this Jane also asked Darcy questions about how her sister did.
It was a comfortable, pleasant gathering. Jane and Bingley exchanged small smiles and almost indecent marks of affection. For the first time Darcy near burned with envy for the good fortune of his friend. To have a wife to smile at him and share his concerns and entertain his guests. To have a wife at home instead of empty parlors and bedchambers.
He always smirked at those gentlemen who longed for domestic bliss. The pleasures of independence had never palled before. Yet, Bingley was so happy, and Jane so sweet. Darcy wanted Elizabeth. He understood why Bingley preferred Jane, but Elizabeth was immeasurably superior. Jane smiled, Elizabeth laughed.
After the dinner it was determined they would spend another hour together in the drawing room and Georgiana would return with Darcy. The sudden realization that she would leave the roof of her idol sooner than originally planned caused Georgiana to abandon her brother in favor of conversation with Jane.
Darcy sat next to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. They both were neatly dressed with excellent taste. Mr. Gardiner was a vibrant, balding man of about forty. He had a quick smile, and from his manners it would be impossible to tell that Mr. Gardiner was in trade. Or that his sister was Mrs. Bennet.
Darcy had not seen them since the wedding and guiltily suspected his oft mentioned distaste of the Bennet's connections, prior to Bingley's engagement, may have been the cause. Had he not chosen to intrude rudely upon Bingley, without invitation or notice, quite likely he would not have met them again for some time.
From the conversation at dinner, Darcy found they had been regular visitors during the past three weeks, and Georgiana was now on familiar terms with the two. Darcy wished to become friends with them as his sister thought highly of them and they were Elizabeth's favorite relations.
After a few pleasantries, Darcy said to Mrs. Gardiner, "I understand you spent your childhood in Lambton. It is a mere five miles from Pemberley. I do not pass through more than a dozen times in a year, but it is a neat town, and the dining rooms at the inn are excellent. I always stop in when I have business with my tenants in the fields thereabouts."
Mrs. Gardiner had a lively smile, which, despite the absence of a blood relation, reminded Darcy greatly of Elizabeth. "I consider that corner of Derbyshire to be the best in England. The weather, the forests and meadows, the society — perhaps it is only the fond memories of a girl, but I have never so liked a place. That inn — my father was friends with the proprietor, old Mr. Brown. I remember they argued politics and business each time my father stopped in for a meal. He always ensured I had a fine bit of pastry. He would be quite old today — but tell me does Mr. Brown still live?"
Darcy shook his head. "Nay, a fever took him in the winter some three years past. He was well mourned. But his life had been good, and he lived far past the three score and ten years allotted to us. His son-in-law Mr. Kendrick now runs the inn. The food — and pastries — are as excellent as ever."
"Oh." A little depression was in Mrs. Gardiner's eyes. "'Tis strange how life goes. He saw notice of my father's death in the paper and sent us a kind letter. Yet I had no knowledge of his passing. And the lawyer, Mr. Pyne, do you know if —"
Darcy smiled. "Mr. Pyne is alive and well. He recently won a suit for my neighbor brought against me about water rights. A most clever and capable man. I admire him greatly. The manner in which he beat my lawyers, several who were distinguished London solicitors, showed him to have a genius for his profession."
After the names Mrs. Gardiner wished to inquire after were exhausted, the two compared anecdotes about the region and memories of particular locations.
A wonderful idea came to Darcy. Elizabeth had told him that she would travel with the Gardiners this summer when they toured the north of England. Might he convince them to stay, perhaps for a substantial period of time, at Pemberley? "Your affection for Lambton is clear, you must wish to see the neighborhood again. Have you any plans to do so?"
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner exchanged a glance, and Mr. Gardiner shrugged. "We had not, we intended this summer to go on a tour through the Lake District. But in the last week a matter of business arose that will require my presence in London for several weeks past the date we hoped to leave. We no longer have time to explore that far north."
Mrs. Gardiner nudged her husband. "He wished to fish and sail on the lakes. However, I have determined to make the best of the situation and have near convinced him to take us to Lambton instead. I have desired to see the neighborhood again for some months now. I only worry that Lizzy will be disappointed at the reduction in our plans, for she is to travel with us."
This fit neatly with Darcy's hope. "If you choose Lambton, it would delight me to host you at Pemberley. While we cannot offer sailing" — Darcy grinned at Mr. Gardiner — "the fishing in my ponds and streams is first-rate. And they are always perfectly stocked — I have fished at the Lakes, and there is no comparison. The park at Pemberley is superior."
"That is a strong inducement," Mr. Gardiner said.
"Do promise to make a plan of it. From Pemberley you could easily visit your acquaintances in Lambton and survey the land about. Besides, you remember from your time in the neighborhood how beautiful the park at Pemberley is. You must make the circuit around it."
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner both looked intrigued by the idea, and Mr. Gardiner tapped his cheek in thought. Darcy suspected he hesitated at accepting his hospitality so quick after they had become properly acquainted. Bingley and Jane had begun to play a game of cards with Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley. Darcy called out, "Bingley, can I convince you to visit Pemberley this year? You must let me introduce your wife to its beauties. Last year it was I who visited, it would be unsporting to not let me return the favor."
Bingley replied, "That is a capital idea. You merely need command me as to the date, and I will be there."
"Would you confirm for Mr. Gardiner that my claims about the excellence of my fishing and sport are not merely the fond exaggerations of an owner, but honest truth?"
"I will freely confirm that the fish in your ponds are large and clever and that a fox hunt on Pemberley's lands in November is close to perfection." Bingley said to the Gardiners, "I see towards what Darcy's requests turn. If you add Derbyshire to your tour of the lakes, it would make an excellent scheme. We all should set out together and travel to Pemberley together. We could stay a few weeks before you set off to the lakes. You can save much of the fare on rented horses."
Bingley added to Darcy, "I must have you and Georgiana at Netherfield for a few weeks before we leave. You could lodge at Netherfield once the season ends, and we all might leave from there for Pemberley once Mr. Gardiner has wrapped his business in London up."
Darcy smiled. The opportunity for several more weeks with Elizabeth was perfect. It would give him ample opportunity to improve her opinion of him if anything was wanting. Then once she had seen Pemberley, he would ask for her hand. Even for a girl as sensible and unimpressed by wealth and consequence as Elizabeth, Pemberley must make him more attractive. "That is an excellent extension of the plan. I will happily follow you to Netherfield."
Bingley shouted, "Gardiner, accept this plan. It's perfect."
Mr. Gardiner smiled and said, "It is impossible for me to object further. I shall hold you to your promises about the fishing. I gained a taste for stream fishing as a boy in Meryton, but in town there is little opportunity to engage in the sport."
The details were soon settled, and Mrs. Gardiner promised to write a letter that evening to inform Elizabeth of the change in their plans. But as a shortening of the trip was unavoidable, she would vouch for her niece thinking it an excellent modification.
Even if she did not — yet — feel affection for him, Darcy knew Mrs. Gardiner was right. Elizabeth had asked him many questions about Pemberley and would love to see it for herself.
She loved that sheltered grove on the edge of Rosings's park. Many walks about Pemberley were considerably superior. They would delight Elizabeth. She would smile and look about with eagerly darting eyes as he held her arm and pointed out the varied beauties of his estate.
Despite the briefness of Elizabeth's stay in London — only one evening — Jane was determined to do her sister a good turn and provide for her an opportunity to see something of the pleasures of London before returning to the rustic life in Hertfordshire.
Jane had become stubborn since her marriage. She never used to be so pushy. Protests were useless, and despite having been in a post-chase a full five hours, Elizabeth's comfortable day clothes were stripped off, and she was bathed and placed in a gorgeous yellow ballgown Jane had purchased as a gift. It was almost extravagantly expensive. Then Jane stuck her on a chair in her dressing room, and they talked while Jane's superbly trained lady's maid spent a half hour turning her hair into something that was pronounced barely acceptable.
Jane forced her to borrow a necklace with real diamonds and pushed Elizabeth into the carriage. She was quickly driven through the streets of London's most fashionable districts before they arrived at the destination. It was a large ball held by an Earl who was a friend of Darcy's and an acquaintance of Mr. Bingley's. By the time they arrived at the large house Elizabeth's fatigue and soreness had been replaced by excitement.
Would Darcy be there? She'd been too embarrassed to ask Jane, but she desperately hoped he would. He'd promised to try to see her during the day she was in London, and the ball would be his best opportunity.
It would feel awful if he was not there.
When Darcy left Rosings, Elizabeth had been depressed. He'd not watched her with the intense stare he showed in the autumn, and she started most of their conversations. She'd come to love him after she destroyed his esteem. It was what she deserved for the horrid way she behaved in the autumn. But over the fortnight since, Elizabeth concluded matters were not hopeless.
The scheme, which Mrs. Gardiner claimed to be Darcy's idea, for them to spend three full weeks at Pemberley had been hatched. Darcy had liked her once. It was hardly impossible for that feeling to be renewed with greater intimacy. Nothing would be more natural. Between his stay at Netherfield and the trip to Pemberley, she would have more than a month of his regular company.
The ballroom was crowded and a little too warm. Hundreds of candles burned on an endlessly branching chandelier hung from the center of the room. The expense of clothing and decoration was greater than Elizabeth had ever seen. What would they would be like?
She had seen the aged great in Lady Catherine. Now she would see how the young London set behaved.
So far this only appeared to be a better dressed and more crowded version of the Meryton assembly balls. Elizabeth bit her lip with amusement as she looked about. Surely the possessors of all this wealth would prove somehow more interesting than her neighbors.
Several gentlemen looked at her and Jane with clear appreciation. Elizabeth felt her spirits jump yet higher. She looked very well this evening. If only Darcy was here, it would be perfect. Any admiration he'd once felt must be rekindled if she could smile at him while dressed this way.
Lord Carrington, the host, gave a smooth bow when he greeted them and begged a dance from both Elizabeth and Jane. Several other gentlemen began to approach for introductions.
There was Darcy. Elizabeth lit up like a bright lantern.
He looked at her as he strode towards them, elegantly dodging the people about him. He almost floated through the crowd. His hair fell a little over his forehead. The tightly fitted breeches and perfect fall of Darcy's coat took her breath away.
Darcy had an eager smile as he stepped next to her. "Miss Bennet, you look especially handsome and tempting tonight. You must promise to dance with me twice. Name any sets which appeal to you, for I am unengaged at present."
Elizabeth planned to be bold. But that was impossible. He was so very handsome, and she loved him. She felt a sudden shyness and could not meet Mr. Darcy's gaze. She looked down. His dancing slippers had a silver buckle. The fabric of his stockings clung firmly to Darcy's muscular legs.
"Miss Bennet, are you well?"
Elizabeth forced her eyes up and hurriedly responded, "I apologize. I was — briefly distracted. If you will let me choose any, then the first and — I would say the last, but I'm not sure if I shall be awake that late. I was woken quite early this morning to begin my journey from Kent. Perhaps —" Elizabeth looked at her card and pointed to a set an hour and a half before the ball was to end, "Would this please you?"
At Darcy's nod she penciled his name in. Elizabeth's spirits rallied, and with a smile she said, "You must promise to dance most sets tonight. There never are enough gentlemen, and it shall be your duty to help those ladies who are slighted by other men."
"I shall do as you command. I have failed in this duty before, but it shall never be said that I am incapable of improvement. I am even prepared to be introduced to someone in a ballroom. I shall be more forward and dance more than I ever have before."
Elizabeth laughed, but before she could speak a handsome man about Darcy's age, who dressed with a dandy's care, approached them and cried out, "Darcy! You must introduce me to this delightful creature next to you. My eyes have not been able to leave her since she entered the room."
Elizabeth hoped that was frustration — or better jealousy — in Darcy's eyes when he hesitated before performing the ritual. After this Elizabeth and Jane were surrounded with gentlemen seeking an opportunity for a dance, and she had no further opportunity to speak with Mr. Darcy before the music started and they went out to the floor.
Elizabeth was happy to dance with Darcy. She fancied more was present than just friendship and platonic admiration in his eyes. It made Elizabeth nervous and a little quiet. The novelty of the setting also left Elizabeth off balance: The roof was thirty feet above them, and this one room in a private house in London was larger than the assembly hall in Meryton. The other couples were very fine, and many dressed far more expensively than even the gown Jane had gifted her.
Darcy noticed nothing of that. He had been born into this society. Was any hope she might have to attach him a delusion?
Though he did not dance a great deal, Darcy was capable at the art. After a few minutes of mostly silence, he teased Elizabeth into a better mood with entertaining anecdotes of persons in the room. Darcy's eye for character and inconsistency was as good as her father's, and by the end of that dance, she had relaxed.
Immediately Elizabeth was claimed by her next partner, and for the next hours she was passed from gentleman to gentleman. It gratified, but while many were excellent and handsome men, and some possessed even more wealth and consequence than Darcy, none were near his equal.
It was great fun to watch his progress through the room. He danced all but one set during the evening, and that he spent in conversation with several dowagers, who sat on the edges of the room to chaperone their daughters for the evening. Darcy was a handsome figure of a man.
Elizabeth could see that the conversations wore at him. Near the end of the evening, their eyes met as he went to a side table to acquire a glass of wine for his partner of the moment. Darcy looked at her and smirked and shrugged, as though to say, 'Behold I have followed your commands. I am able to put myself to the trouble.'
Their dance arrived at last. Elizabeth's feet hurt, and Jane and Bingley planned to leave after this set. The crowd had thinned greatly, and the number of couples on the floor was a little less than half what it had been at the start. Elizabeth saw Darcy was fatigued, so she smiled at him and held his hand a little tighter than appropriate when he led her to the dance floor, but said nothing.
Darcy smiled at Elizabeth, and for the first minutes of the dance, they enjoyed the sense of contentment and silent companionship together. They were good enough friends it was not necessary to speak. At last Darcy said, a hoarse rasp in his voice, "I feel I have finished a hard day's journey and arrived safely at the inn. I can be myself with you. It exhausts me to make conversation for a half hour with someone I barely know. I do not know that I have ever spoken so much to strangers and bare acquaintances as I have this night."
Elizabeth winsomely smiled at him as she stepped through the next figure of the dance. "And yet, you did so well at it."
"A most excellent lady set the task upon me tonight. I had no choice but to perform."
Elizabeth felt warm and gave Darcy a sparkling toothy smile in reply. He appeared taken aback by Elizabeth's happiness and with an almost embarrassed smile added, "Of late I have attempted to be more social at such gatherings. I do not wish to stupidly stand about the edge of a room always. I find I enjoy it in small quantities. But even if I did not, I ought to practice the art of conversation with strangers."
This resolution on Darcy's part felt almost a compliment to Elizabeth. She smiled too happily and roundly praised Darcy, "It delights me to hear this. That you strive to improve yourself shows your superiority. It shows how excellent and fine of a gentleman you are."
"Shows my superiority?" Darcy's eyes gleamed. "You ought not to praise me so well, for I shall begin to think too highly of myself — excess of humility is by no means my failing."
Elizabeth laughed. "I have my own vice. By no means praise me for my cleverness."
"Then I shall only think highly of your cleverness and never praise you direct for it."
They beamed at each other. The horrid argument in January had turned into a mutual jest, which helped cement their friendship and — she hoped — affection.
As the set continued Darcy acted uncomfortable. He uncharacteristically stumbled over a step, and his face took that stiff expression he used to hide emotion. He opened his mouth to speak once, but nothing was said. What could he possibly find such difficulty with? Elizabeth felt tense and unsure whether to hope or fear.
At last Darcy said, "It has been on my mind of late that I ought to marry."
Elizabeth swallowed, and the odd idea that he might of a sudden ask her here, in the middle of this crush, came to her mind. Or would he, as all his words to her had been of friendship, beg her to speak her opinion on some other lady he liked.
When Elizabeth's face froze, Darcy added hurriedly, "There are general reasons. It has been on my mind. I have seen your sister and Bingley. The happiness of their marriage does make me long for similar bliss. I have reached the age where a man ought to marry, Georgiana needs a sister…" Darcy trailed off and cleared his throat.
Elizabeth's heart stuttered uncomfortably, but she forced herself to speak. She wished to encourage him. Was she on his mind? Was this a general intention? "I think it an excellent plan for you to marry. However, you must choose the right woman." Elizabeth smiled archly, "Do you think this wife might dance with you in a London ballroom?"
Darcy held Elizabeth's hand as they twisted through the next figure. His manner had become easier at Elizabeth's words and smile. "And how do you think the right woman would behave? What sort of wife do I need?"
Elizabeth bit her lip. She would behave as she always did. He spoke obliquely and deserved a teasing answer. "Why, someone who never teases or quarrels with you. A woman who combines perfect deference on the outside with perfect mercenary greed on the inside. Miss Bingley is your ideal."
Darcy looked like he'd bitten through the worm in a rotten apple. Elizabeth laughed, and at the sound his expression brightened. She saw he loved her laughter. Thrilled Elizabeth spoke, "You need a woman who will quarrel and dispute with you in fun. It ought to be someone pricklier and less pleasant than Jane." Elizabeth finished with a dancing smile, "After all you are not nearly so agreeable or easy as Bingley."
"You have diagnosed my needs perfectly. But she must also be a dear friend and have the most beautiful and striking eyes. While I might dance with her in a London ballroom, such a woman could not be met in one. My only hope would be to meet such a lady in the assembly rooms of some small country town. But I am such a fool that if I did, I would likely insult her."
Elizabeth's heart beat fast. She stared at Darcy and barely noticed that the music had stopped and the dance ended. "And she would be such a fool as to be deeply offended and not see your good qualities at first. But over time — any such girl must come to love you."
Darcy still held her hand in his warm large one. The speech affected him and brought his color high. "Elizabeth —"
"Lizzy — Lizzy." Jane grabbed Elizabeth's arm and pulled her away from Darcy. "Charles is already dozing. We must leave." Jane yawned. "I am quite tired myself, and you were up so early — Mr. Darcy, I apologize for stealing your partner, but I am sure you shall not mind."
Something in Darcy's stare made Elizabeth smile and said he minded very much. Jane added chirpily, "Oh, you look to be in a quite ill mood yourself, you must be tired too. Mr. Darcy, promise me you shall leave right after us and go straight to bed."
Without waiting for a reply Jane started to pull Elizabeth away. Elizabeth disentangled her arm from Jane's and looked at Darcy. It was impossible to leave him like this. She looked longingly into his eyes.
Darcy's brow cleared, and he kissed her hand again while Jane watched them. "Miss Bennet, soon we shall see each other again. I am eager to become friends with your friends in Meryton, and you must see Pemberley. I so want you to see my home. Once you have, we will finish this interrupted conversation. It — there is no hurry, and my home has always been so dear to my heart once you have seen it —"
Elizabeth hoped she understood him aright. "I shall take that as a promise."