Chapter 27: An Evening at Rosings Park

Elizabeth heard her phone going off as she came out of the shower. It was an email from Jane. She looked over at the clock, it was getting late, but she decided to read Jane's note before she finished getting ready. She walked over and sat down on the bed and began reading.

Lizzy,

How is your visit with Charlotte getting along? I hope you are not working too hard. Do remember you are on vacation so enjoy yourself. Things have been busy here. I have been working so much that I have had little time to be with Charles. I was away for a photo shoot in Ireland, and Charles promised to come down and spend time with me. But then he suddenly changed his mind. He phoned at the last minute and said he was too busy. He has canceled the last four of our dates with the same excuse that he's either busy, work is hectic, or he has obligations to his family that's keeping him in London. He has not been back to Netherfield at all. Perhaps I'm worrying for nothing, though, as I said I have been busy as well. It is possible that our schedules are just mixed up right now. I know if you were here you would tell me I'm worried for nothing. Oh, Lizzy, I do hope that I'm only worrying for nothing, but I can't help feeling something has changed.

I Miss you and look forward to when you get home.

Love your sister,

Jane

Elizabeth closed the email. She wondered why Charles would all the sudden become so busy that he wouldn't have time for Jane. Before he seemed to have all the time in the world to spend with her. She thought about the last time they were all together at the party at Netherfield. Charles was by Jane's side for most of the night. The only thing she could think of that went wrong that night, was having Lydia invite Wickham after both she and Jane expressly told her not to.

She thought about Darcy, he was upset that night, but surely, he was over it by now. She had spent time with him over the past week, and he made no mention of it bothering him. The change in Charles couldn't be anything to do with that.

Elizabeth sigh, if only she had more time to respond to Jane's note. She looked over at the clock, then typed in a text, "Got your email, and yes you are worrying for nothing! :)" She sent off the message hoping it would help calm her sister's fears. She sat looking at her phone for a moment longer and reread over the message she had just sent. She hoped everything was fine, deep down inside she had her own nagging feeling that something was off. Charles not wanting to spend time with Jane just made no sense to her.

It was the sound of Collins calling out to Charlotte that got Elizabeth up and moving again. She went over to her closet and pulled out her dress. She chose a beautiful full-length evening dress with just enough slit on the side to be interesting, but not inappropriate. The neckline was modest but playful, and she just loved the color, a rich, beautiful, deep ruby-red, that set off her eyes, added brightness to her complexion and proved she had a few curves of her own. After getting into her dress, she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. With her hair done up and her grandmother's vintage jewelry pieces, she had to admit she looked good and she felt wonderful. She took in a deep breath, "Let's see if you still think I have nothing of interest to you, Mr. Darcy," she said to herself. She had to admit when she bought this dress she was hoping that she would have an occasion to wear it when Darcy would be able to see her in it. Even though she kept insisting to herself the things he said about her looks didn't bother her, deep down they did. If she were honest, there was a part of her that wanted to make him regret what he said just a little. "Maybe…" she said softly as she finished her hair. "Just maybe I can make you eat those words."

Elizabeth came to the party with Collins and Charlotte exactly at seven o'clock as per the time indicated on the invitation. The room was crowded, and Elizabeth's didn't recognize any of the guest except for two, Richard and Darcy. They were both standing not far from the entry way, and Darcy's eyes caught hers almost at once. She could see by the look on his face that he approved of how she looked. She smiled, she had wanted to get that kind of reaction out of him since the day they first met. She had to admit seeing the admiration there in his eyes kind of made her feel good.

Darcy wasted no time in going over to Elizabeth. He smiled as he came up to her. "You look stunning this evening," he told her without hesitation.

Elizabeth blushed, "Thank you," she said softly. "I have to admit, I was a little nervous about wearing the red, but now I'm glad I did."

Darcy smiled, "No the red is perfect," he told her unable to take his eyes off her. "You look..." he started to say when Richard came up alongside him.

Richard reached his hand out and took Elizabeth's in his. "I think the word my cousin was looking for is gorgeous."

"Thank you, Richard," she smiled. It was strange but hearing him say she was gorgeous didn't mean as much as seeing Darcy's reaction to her. She almost wished Richard wouldn't have come along so soon. She would have liked to hear what Darcy was going to say to her at that moment.

The music began to play, and Richard pulled Elizabeth to one side. "So I hope you don't mind if I claim this first dance with you?" he said as he led her out onto the dance floor.

Elizabeth smiled and looked back over at Darcy. His demeanor changed, but she didn't know why. "I don't mind," she told Richard as he pulled her into his arms and they began dancing.

Darcy watched the two of them as they danced together. He tried to keep himself from feeling agitated. Richard's behavior proved that he was clearly interested in her. Why shouldn't he be, she was everything he said she was.

When the song finally ended, Darcy made his way over to the two of them and stepped in, "Elizabeth also promised me a dance this evening," he said as he took her hand in his. "You won't mind holding my drink for me will you cousin," he said as he handed Richard his empty glass and led her back out on the dance floor.

Richard laughed as he watched them go. Darcy was jealous; there was no doubt about it. He motioned for the waiter to come by and he put down the empty glass then took out his cell phone and texted Georgiana, "Plan, the little green monster is in full swing, and by the look on your brother's face it's working!"

Darcy pulled Elizabeth into his arms and held her close. She had to admit he was a better dancer than Richard. She found herself staring at him and blushed when he caught her. She smiled and lowered her gaze back down toward the floor; it was his turn to stare at her.

She looked around the room and tried to think of something to say. "I'm surprised by how many guests there are attending this evening. I told Charlotte this party would be just like any other we have gone to, but I think I spoke too soon."

"Yes, my aunt does like to make a show of it," Darcy said as he looked around. "Were you nervous about coming this evening?"

"I wasn't nervous, but Charlotte was. This is the first party she has attended that Lady Catherine has given since marrying and moving to Rosings."

Darcy understood. "My aunt can be intimidating, but Charlotte has nothing to worry about, she will do fine," he told her. "I have heard my aunt speak rather fondly of your friend. I believe she likes her and having her around is good for my aunt as well."

"I'm surprised to hear you say that," Elizabeth admitted. "I'm glad, though, for Charlotte sake. She so wanted to make a good impression. Sometimes it can be difficult to be in a crowd of people who you don't know."

"Yes, I agree completely," he said. "Especially when it's clear everyone else already knows one another."

Elizabeth thought back to the first time they met at the Lucas party. She wondered if he felt at odds that night because he was the stranger in a room full of people who already knew each other. Was it possible she had mistaken his behavior that night? As she thought about the Lucas party, her thoughts turned to Jane. She found herself thinking about her email, and that nagging unsettled feeling came back.

"Is everything all right?" Darcy asked her.

Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled. "Yes, everything is fine," she told him realizing this time it was her who had gotten lost in her thoughts.

He stared into her eyes, "Are you sure? It's just that you seemed like you were a million miles away?"

She laughed, "I guess I was for a moment. I was thinking about an email I got and became distracted."

Darcy's voice was filled with concern for her. "Is everything all right? Is your family all doing well?"

"Yes everyone is fine," she told him. "It's just that I got an email from Jane this afternoon just before we left and she has been busy working."

"She did mention this was a busier time of year for her," he remembered.

"Yes, it can be," she said. "Jane said Charles has been busy with his work too. She said the two of them have barely had any time to spend together."

"I know Charles mentioned work being hectic, and that he has found himself very busy with family obligations this summer," he told her.

"Jane mentioned that he hasn't been back to Netherfield," she said to him. "I guess you were right about his work keeping him more to London."

Darcy wanted to change the subject. He knew why Charles wasn't spending time at Netherfield, but he didn't want to say anything more to Elizabeth about it. He tried to think of what to say, "Charlotte mentioned that you wanted to take a hike up to the peak tomorrow to get some shots of the sun setting on Rosings."

Elizabeth noticed his demeanor changed at the mention of Charles and Jane. She found it odd that he purposefully changed the subject. She thought about saying something more but decided perhaps it was best just to let it go. They were getting along so well; perhaps it was best not to bring up topics they argued about in the past. "I do want to get some shots from up there. Not sure if they will really be of any use to the magazine spread I'm working on, but I still want them for my own personal collections," she explained.

"I have been up there myself many times, I would be happy to show you the best trails and some of the more scenic areas around the property," he told her. "If you like?"

Elizabeth smiled, "Oh that's very kind of you. Richard offered the same thing earlier. Maybe Charlotte would like to come, and we could all go together," she suggested.

Darcy stiffened a little at the mention of his cousin's name. "That's a great idea," he commented. He didn't want her to see how disappointed he was that they wouldn't be alone for the hike. "I thought I saw you out riding early this afternoon with Richard," he commented. "I was surprised; I thought you didn't care for riding."

"Usually I don't, but your cousin was very persuasive, and we didn't go very far," she told him. "I have to admit I'm learning to enjoy riding a bit more now that I'm older."

Darcy feigned a smile, "Perhaps it was the company that made it so much more enjoyable for you this time," he said trying not to feel jealous.

Elizabeth was a little puzzled by the comment. "I guess maybe. Richard is a very nice guy and a lot less critical than my mother. It was difficult to enjoy myself back then always having someone very critical around kind of zaps the joy out of it."

They didn't talk after that and Richard was there to take her for the next dance as soon as the music ended. "Thanks, Darcy," he said as he led Elizabeth away from him.

Darcy's eyes narrowed as he watched them dance together. He felt sick inside, he wanted more than anything to go and tell Richard that he couldn't dance with her, but he knew he had no right to do so. He watched as Richard and Elizabeth talked and laughed. He imagined all the funny and interesting things he was telling her. Richard always did have a way with the ladies. Several times he noticed Elizabeth glance over in his direction, on one occasion their eyes met and she smiled at him. Darcy moved to the back of the room. He didn't want to watch as Richard poured on the charm and won her heart.

Elizabeth frowned a little at Darcy's reaction when she looked over at him. She turned to Richard and asked, "Is Mr. Darcy feeling all right this evening?"

Richard looked over at Darcy just in time to see the scowl on his face. He smiled, "He does look a little green this evening doesn't he."

Elizabeth didn't understand the comment was a joke. "Is he ill?" she asked her voice filled with concern.

Richard shook his head, "No he's fine," he told her. "May I ask why do you still call him Mr. Darcy? I thought the two of you were becoming friends while you have been here," he commented.

Elizabeth looked over again in Darcy direction, but he was gone. She turned her attention back to Richard. "We are becoming friends, at least I think we are. I hope we are."

"Then why so formal with each other?" he asked.

"Well honestly at first I felt that keeping things on a business level with more formality was probably a good idea. I was working for him when I was doing Georgiana's portraits," she explained. "Then we spent time together with my sister Jane and her boyfriend Charles. We did get to know each other on a more personal level, and he did ask me to call him by his given name, but very soon after we had a bit of a falling out and I went back to calling him, Mr. Darcy."

"I see, but what about now?" he asked her. "I have seen the two of you walking together and spending time together. Do you still feel like you should keep things so formal and business with him now?"

"No not at all, I just don't know how to move on from him being Mr. Darcy, and me being Miss Bennet. Even after spending time together here at Rosings he hasn't asked me to call him by his given name, and I guess I'm afraid to do so on my own. I don't want to presume anything," Elizabeth couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling that she had before. "It's gotten really warm in here, isn't it? Do you mind if we step outside for a moment and get some fresh air?"

"Not at all," Richard said as he took her hand in his and led the way out onto the balcony.