Darcy remained hidden in the shadows of the ballroom, just behind the door, so he could avoid the gaze of the eager mammas and simpering daughters. He was glad that Andy would attract most of the attention. Even though Darcy was still a great match for most every lady present, the lure of a title was too strong to be ignored. Darcy suspected that Miss Bennet was not enthralled with Lord Barlow's title, although it did add to his appeal.

Despite being a guest and not the host, Darcy did not join the receiving line. He contemplated that he might have been able to if he had desired, however Georgiana would have needed to follow suit as well, and she was far too timid for that. Instead, she sat nearby with Mrs. Annesley and Miss Baxter, one of the young ladies from a nearby estate. Miss Baxter was more outgoing than Georgiana and demonstrated a genuine interest in Georgiana, not her brother. Because of this rare combination and its positive influence on Georgiana, Darcy and the Melbridges attempted to foster the connection and were glad to see the two ladies together. It would be good for her to have friends to keep her company, for she would not dance as much as many of the other ladies. This evening, Georgiana was only allowed to dance with her cousins, her uncle, and Darcy, as she had not been formally presented in society.

Nevertheless, his attention was not centred on Georgiana. Miss Bennet and her relatives had arrived. She was now being greeted by the Melbridges and his cousins in the receiving line. Lady Melbridge's voice was filled with admiration as she praised Miss Bennet's beauty and Darcy silently concurred. Her dress was a simple white gown, with intricate ivory and pink embroidery that created a beautiful pattern as she moved, glinting in the light. She wore pearls about her neck and wrist and had a few jewelled pins in her hair. She looked much lovelier than most of the other ladies, who felt the need to wear more plumage than the average ostrich and garish colours that looked good on very few ladies.

"Mr. Darcy!" came a voice from behind him.

He sighed internally and greeted Lady Shillingford.

"It is good to see you, young man," said the ancient countess. "I am always telling your aunt that she needs to ensure you attend her functions. With so many men away serving king and country, there are not enough gentlemen at these events. Some ladies are always made to sit down. I do hope you are prepared to dance tonight."

"I am, your ladyship. Might I ask if you have any free places on your dance card?" Darcy asked gallantly.

"Not for me, you silly man. I am far too old for that. But I don't want to see you stalking about as your aunt told me you do in London. There are a great many pretty girls here tonight and you ought to dance with them."

"I do plan to, Lady Shillingford." Darcy was distracted from his conversation with his aunt's friend by the entrance of Miss Bennet's party into the ballroom.

"Oh, she's a pretty thing," her ladyship observed, following his gaze.

"Indeed," said Darcy without thinking. "Miss Bennet is lovely."

"You are acquainted with her, then."

Darcy felt his cheeks flush when he realised he had spoken aloud and quickly straightened his posture. "Only a slight acquaintance."

Lady Shillingford emitted a sound from her throat that clearly expressed her disbelief. "Introduce me, young man."

Darcy, feeling powerless, offered his arm to the lady and escorted her to where Miss Bennet and Mrs. Collins had congregated along with several other ladies. The group grew silent at his approach.

"Mrs. Collins, Miss Bennet, Miss Garren, Miss Bale, Good evening," said Darcy with a bow. The ladies responded in kind. Miss Bale, the only one acquainted with Lady Shillingford, greeted her as well.

"Lady Shillingford wished to be introduced to Mrs. Collins and Miss Bennet. I presume you do not object to my introducing Miss Garron as well?"

Lady Shillingford did not object. Although the Garrons were only recently come up from trade, they were considered very genteel. Introductions were made and everyone fell to speaking.

"I was most surprised to see you here, Mrs. Collins, I must admit," said Miss Garron, not unkindly. "I had no idea that you were acquainted with the Melbridges."

"We were not before last week. We are, however, somewhat more acquainted with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy, for they visited Hertfordshire in the fall," Jane answered.

"Indeed, and how delightful we found it," said Mr. Darcy in an attempt to be pleasant. Elizabeth looked at him strangely.

"And is your father's estate then in Hertfordshire?" asked Lady Shillingford.

"It is," said Elizabeth. "It is near Meryton, which is about twenty miles from London."

"How convenient!" exclaimed Lady Shillingford. "You must be constantly having visitors breaking their journey at your home."

Elizabeth and Jane were rather uncertain as to how to reply to such a question, for they were not as well-connected as to habitually have visitors, yet those who they knew did prefer to make a break in their journey at Longbourn. Thus, they each simply mumbled in agreement.

They then were asked about their family, their relations in town, and even the size of their father's estate. They were quite shocked at such forwardness on the part of Lady Shillingford, but Jane understood her ladyship's motivation. It was quite obvious to Jane that Mr. Darcy's feelings towards her sister had materially changed. Since Lady Shillingford was a very good friend of Lady Melbridge, it was clear she was looking to see if Elizabeth would be suitable for Mr. Darcy. How Elizabeth fared in her assessment, Jane could not know, for the lady gave very little away in her demeanour or speech.

Thankfully, the evaluation could not go on much longer, for the first strains of the first set began and their partners came to collect them for the first dance. Elizabeth was to dance the first sets with Mr. Vanstone, as Mrs. Vanstone did not wish to dance. They were paired in the first set with Lord Barlow and Miss Darcy, which delighted each couple very much. Miss Darcy had been frightened that she might be paired with someone she was unacquainted with, requiring her to make conversation with relative strangers. The second set was lively, so Miss Darcy's concerns were of very little moment; she would not spend more than a few seconds with anyone but Lord Barlow during the dance.

How pleased Elizabeth was when Lord Barlow came to collect her for the third set. It was an honour to be singled out so by a titled gentleman, and besides that he was a very fine dancer. They spoke of very little of import, but he told her about many of the other people in attendance. Particularly though, Lord Barlow attempted to show Mr. Darcy's favourable qualities, mentioning how he helped this gentleman with that and that widow with this. By the end of the dances, Elizabeth realised what Lord Barlow was doing in mentioning Mr. Darcy so often. Mr. Darcy was so proud and honourable a gentleman that he could not bear to think that someone might not think well of him. Elizabeth thought that over the last week that she and Darcy had developed a sort of friendship, but perhaps Lord Barlow, or even Mr. Darcy, was yet unaware of her changed opinion of him. She should have to make it known to him that she considered him a friend.

She endeavoured to do so when she danced the next with Mr. Darcy, mentioned her dance with Lord Barlow and how highly Lord Barlow spoke of Mr. Darcy.

"I am glad to hear I have his good opinion," said Mr. Darcy.

"Indeed. He thinks you the very finest of cousins. If all he says is true, I would have to agree. I should have liked to have a cousin such as you, although I suppose that you and Mr. Collins are in some ways very similar."

Darcy took Elizabeth's comments to be a hope that she might one day become his cousin and his face grew dark. Elizabeth supposed this change in mood to be due to her comparison of him to her cousin, which she thought a great sign of arrogance on his part. She was aware that he was a proud man, but Mr. Collins was a good man; it was no insult to be compared to him. She tried to make this clear, but Darcy seemed distracted and cross for the rest of their dance, although he strove not to show it.

Darcy very much would have liked to retire to his rooms then. However, he had promised both his aunt and Lady Shillingford that he would dance, so he did. He did not like overmuch that the mammas and their daughters all considered it a sign of favour when he asked their daughters to dance. Eventually, he decided to stop asking those who were asked to dance by the others and instead sought out the wallflowers. They did not attach such significance to a dance, believing that Mr. Darcy was simply being gallant and attempting to ensure all ladies had a chance to dance.

Elizabeth would have considered her evening very fine, if it were not for the glare Darcy often directed towards her. Every time she caught sight of him, he was looking at her with an expression of disapproval. She was uncertain how a simple comparison had offended him so greatly. Perhaps she ought to apologise when next she saw him. Still, there was no reason to look sour all evening. She resolved to think of him no more that evening, instead focusing on her partners, all of whom were delightful young men with charming manners and excellent dancing skills.

Darcy did ride out the next day, but feeling unequal to visiting Eastburn, lest he see Miss Bennet, he rode in the opposite direction. Now that the ball was over, he wondered if he ought to simply return with his sister to Pemberley. After all, what was keeping him here at Brawnstead? He had used the excuse of the ball to delay his departure, but he had no more reasons that he could use to excuse his presence. If he remained, he would have to admit, at least to himself, that he remained for Miss Bennet.

His aunt would not let him leave so simply as that, however, as she had noticed his melancholy and supposed its source. She, thence, had extended invitations to several families of their acquaintance, along with Miss Bennet and her relations, so they all might together celebrate Lord Melbridge's birthday with a house party. Never before has Lord Melbridge had such a to-do made of his birthday, but she excused it by saying he was to turn sixty and thus it was a very special birthday.

"I must return to Pemberley, Aunt," said Darcy when he heard of the celebration. "There will be the May festivals, and I must be there."

"Pish, let your steward take care of it," was her answer.

"Uncle surely must understand that I have duties to see to. Georgiana can remain, if you will continue to have her."

"Your uncle will not understand in the least why his favourite nephew does not attend the house party for his birthday. What will everyone think when they hear you left just before the occasion? They shall think you cross with your uncle!"

"They shall not if only you tell them that I wished to attend but had much to attend to at Pemberley."

"She shall not allow you to get out of it, Darcy," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. "She already wrote to my commanding officer and demanded that I have leave, as I was meant to return to the army office next week."

Darcy tried several more tactics, but Lady Melbridge would not allow him to go, certain it would cause a great scandal if he did not attend. Delighted, she then knew she had two weeks until the party began — during which time she might invite Miss Bennet and her relations to often come to tea or dinner — and then the house party, where she might put them together as often as possible. She would see Darcy settled. Her own sons were more difficult, as they had no one they fancied — at least that she knew of — but they could be dragged about by her to the season and her friends' homes. Darcy could not be, so she would make the most of the time she had.