Chapter 11: The patterns of tides

"If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die." -Shakespeare

Elizabeth's eyes turned repeatedly towards Darcy at dinner. He either conversed with Richard or with Miss Brown, who was seated next to him. She, on the other hand, was surprisingly very quiet and only talked when the others asked her something. Colonel and Georgiana, who was seated next to her, in convenient occasions, asked her if she was alright, but every time she replied with a mere 'Yes.' But she was not -everyone could see it. She attempted to taste the delicious food, which was served, but she could not. She practically pushed her dish away and took some sips of wine.

"Do you intend to become drunk?" Colonel whispered to her ear. "If wine is going to lighten your spirits, I must order to fetch us the barrel," Elizabeth giggled a little and the Colonel continued "At last, Miss Bennet is back. I thought for one moment that I was seated next to a statue."

"I am just a little tired," she lied and took another sip. "You must excuse me if I am not the company you desired."

"You should not unease yourself for my behalf, you are exactly the company I desire."

Elizabeth turned her eyes and met his; she laughed, "Do not make me blush."

Darcy looked at her briefly once more, before he returned his attention again to Penelope, who kept him occupied with a light conversation. Something was wrong, he knew her very well. She was not talking much nor laughing and she seemed to have lost the sparkle in her eyes. She was different, she had changed. But no, the morning when they arrived she was the old Miss Bennet, the woman he fell in love. Now, that lady was stiff and cold, sad like something was troubling her. Nevertheless, she looked like heaven -even in bad spirits. 'What is passing through her mind?' He thought.

"Mr. Darcy?" he heard a light voice, interrupting his thoughts. His eyes fell upon Miss Brown, who was waiting for his reply, "I suppose that I have tired you."

"No, not at all. You must forgive me, for I got distracted."

She smiled a little, "Yes" she paused, trying to think for another subject that they could discuss, "She is blooming"

Darcy looked at Elizabeth, just to see her laughing at something the colonel said. "Yes, she is."

"And that dress looks divine in her, don't you agree?"

"Yes, indeed. I have never seen her more beautiful."

"Ohh! How much I have missed her," Penelope said and Darcy immediately looked at her. 'Were they acquaintances long before they were introduced today?' He thought.

"Stop talking about me!" Georgiana yelled. Darcy paled; of course she must had been talking about his sister. He had never felt more foolish in his entire life; he was about to expose himself. "Shall we talk about something more pleasant?"

As they entered the drawing room and tea was about to be served, he immediately asked Georgiana to play something for them. She happily obeyed, for she knew that her playing was one of the things that gave him pleasure.

"Play something cheerful," the colonel requested and approached Elizabeth, who was seated on the couch, next to Penelope. "You will partner me for this, won't you?"

Elizabeth froze as she saw Richard's hand, extending, waiting for her to take. She looked up, just to meet his eyes and said, "You must forgive me, but I do not think I am in the mood for dancing."

Richard sat next to her on the couch and immediately took her hand, "But I do not have a partner since Darcy will oblige my cousin for a set and I dearly like to dance right now."

Elizabeth's eyes were upon Darcy, who had frozen as he heard his cousin. No, he had not the least intention to dance and if he had the only woman he should dance he would do so with Elizabeth. They kept staring at each other and since no one spoke for a second, she finally replied "I..." She tried to say, but as she saw with the corner of her eye, Darcy approaching Penelope, she continued, "Alright."

The both couples stood in the middle of the room and starting pacing in circles. Elizabeth could hear Mr. Darcy talking to Miss Brown about this dance and her comments on how much she loved this dance. Elizabeth frowned as she heard the reply of Mr. Darcy, who agreed with her.

"Have I done something to upset you?" The colonel asked at last. She looked at him directly on the eyes. But Richard, who saw her expression, continued, "You do not talk and since I am well aware how much you love to dance, still the activity seems not to please you."

"No, do not worry yourself."

"To be fond of dancing is a certain step towards falling in love," he stated.

Elizabeth froze and looked at him, even Darcy looked at him. Darcy's heart immediately popped a little bit more, for his cousin had not gotten over her yet. His eyes fell on Elizabeth then, who turned to look at him but as their eyes met, she instantly took her gaze away.

"I am very pleased, you see, the last time I danced was when you left." That was all she managed to say. Yes, the last time she danced was with Mr. Darcy.

"Really?" Richard asked, not able to believe it. "I never got the chance of teaching waltz, did I?"

Immediately, she laughed and replied, "You did not, but I am sure that now you are here you will devote at least an hour for me, won't you?"

She felt Darcy's intense gaze on her. He thought that he had a heart attack, for his heart stopped a minute. Ohh no, not the waltz again! He did not want to remember all those dradful things he imagined nor the feelings he felt, that tortured him for days. This could not be borne with.

"I must inform you, Elizabeth, that waltz is not socially acceptable. I am scandalized that you still desire to learn," It was Darcy's voice that was heard.

Elizabeth looked at him, for she did not believe that he wanted to enter their conversation. She took a minute, before she replied; "I find your statement very controversial. I think that you are familiar with the dance, but yet you despise it. Do you truly believe what you are saying or are you trying to provoke me?"

He smiled ironically, for they both knew well that the latter was true. Yes, indeed, he tried to prevent her from the prospect of embracing herself with his cousin. "Waltz is not suitable for young ladies you see, society does not allow it yet."

"But if young ladies cannot know how to waltz, then with whom men would dance it with?" she asked causing everyone to gasp. "I do not dare to think that you are suggesting that you would use your own sex for this kind of dance."

Everyone laughed. It was time for Penelope to speak, "I see that Miss Bennet is very fond of teasing you."

Darcy looked at her, "Yes, indeed, but I think she is fond of teasing in general. Is that not true Elizabeth?"

She turned her gaze again to him and simply replied, "Yes"

Soon, the dance ended and the couples sat again on the couch. Richard obliged Elizabeth to converse again and in most occasions, Miss Brown took part in expressing her opinion. Darcy had noticed a difference about her, in a good way. She was altered, in manners, even in the tone of her voice.

"Do you play Miss Bennet?" The young lady asked her.

"Yes, but very poorly."

"No, that is not true at all." Georgiana interrupted. "She is very good, is she not?"

"She is indeed," Darcy replied and everyone looked at him.

"Why do you not play for us?" Penelope insisted.

"Ohh no I beg you," Elizabeth replied immediately. "After Georgiana's excellent performance, mine would not be justified."

"Yes, that is true" she smiled. "Georgiana is a professional in the pianoforte, on the other hand, I find more interest in the harp"

"I see, Welsh I presume," Elizabeth asked and Penelope nodded. "I would love to hear you play sometime."

"Do you draw?" Miss Brown asked again and Elizabeth shook her head negatively. "That is a pity indeed. I believe that you never had the opportunity to do so."

Elizabeth froze. Did she just offend her? She looked immediately at Darcy, who was looking back at her. In fact, everyone was looking at her waiting for her reply, they knew very well that she could let anything fall down. They all waited patiently for her outburst. When someone challenged her, she fought back. She took a deep breath and with a civil smile she replied, "I am sorry to pain you but you are quite mistaken. You see, I prefer to do fewer things for my only pure pleasure, instead of every features that an accomplished lady should possess, only because her vanity desires to be called thus." Darcy coughed and Richard sighed. How much Darcy loved her, for her sharp tongue, the quickness of her mind and especially the eyes, which were getting darker every time she was angry.

Penelope smiled a little, but not yet defeated, "I cannot say that you are wrong, but yet a lady should have at least the decent virtues that are required by her sex."

"Pray tell me, what are they?"

"Essential requires are civility," she paused and looked at her provocatively "patience, wisdom, characteristics that are universality agreed that any human should have. Then, as for the more complex ones, a proper lady should possess talents for music, dancing, drawing and studying."

Elizabeth laughed. "Mr. Darcy would certainly agree with you, I am sure, for you cease to have the same opinion on this matter, but..."

Penelope looked at him and then quickly responded before Elizabeth could, "And not only on this."

Elizabeth froze and her eyes widened. Georgiana, who sensed her discomfort, immediately spoke, preventing Elizabeth's harsh words to come out. "Penelope, could you please turn the pages for me?" The young lady took her hand and led her to the pianoforte, where they both sat down.

Elizabeth looked at Darcy for the last time, just to see him looking towards the ladies. 'She must still fancy her,' she thought. "I am sorry for my cousin's behavior," she heard the colonel saying in her ear.

"It is fine, I assure you," she smiled a little.

Richard smiled back at her and stood up, walking away, approaching the ladies. Immediately, Darcy took his place and sat next to her. He looked at her and said, almost whispering, causing her to shiver, "I hope that she did not upset you."

Elizabeth looked on his eyes, "She did not."

They kept staring at each other for a while, until Darcy broke the silence, "You look so beautiful tonight."

Elizabeth blushed and looked down, replying in a low voice, "Thank you"

"Do not hide your blush," he laughed. "Have not already told you that you look quite fetching when you do?"

She laughed and her laugh spread across the room, like a soft breeze in autumn. Darcy looked at her and realized again why he had fallen in love with her in the first place. When he stared at her, the whole world stopped. It stopped and all that existed for him was she and his eyes staring at her. There was nothing else. No noise, no other people, no thoughts or worries, no yesterday, no tomorrow. His world just stopped and it was a beautiful place, in which there was only her. Just her, and his eyes staring at her.

It was heaven.

It is quite a long chapter, which many things going on around here. I was inspired by Aaron Zigman music, is one of the best modern composers. Please, take some time to listen to him you are going to cry. In the next one, Darcy and Elizabeth would talk and I am really anxious about it, because I want to make it good.

Anyway, warm my heart, by taking some time to review. You know that I cannot do this without your help.