Lit torches lined the driveway towards Netherfield. The carriage bearing the Bennet family joined the queue of their neighbours approaching the house. The atmosphere inside the carriage was one of nervous anticipation and impatience. The carriage was cramped causing Lydia and Kitty to fuss over their gowns being creased. They fidgeted and fretted enough to make the last few yards unpleasant for everyone. Eventually, the carriage disgorged its occupants, the family joined the receiving line and approached their hosts.
Miss Bingley sneered, accepting their greetings with cold civility. The exchange between Mr Bingley and Mr Bennet was everything cordial. Mr Bingley bounced on his toes, his eyes fixed on Jane as he exchanged greetings with the family. As soon as the formalities were over Mr Bingley sought his angel for the first two and was warmly accepted.
Mr Darcy stood to the inside of the door to the ballroom, out of the way of the receiving line, waiting for the family to enter. He offered his own words of welcome to Mr Bennet. Mrs Bennet paused only enough to nod in her own cold civility to Mr Darcy before leaving her husband's arm in favour of joining Lady Lucas at her table. Kitty and Lydia having yet to secure partners for the first set followed their mother and attached themselves to a group of other young ladies, who were holding court over a group of gentlemen, in hopes of being accepted for dances.
"Miss Elizabeth, as I see your sister has been engaged, perhaps you might honour me with the first set?" Mr Darcy offered.
"I am most gratified in your asking Mr Darcy, but I am afraid my cousin Mr Collins has already claimed that dance from me. My second is available, however, and I believe if you are in want of a partner Mary is available. She is to take the second with Mr Collins you see."
Darcy glanced at the parson who was standing off to one side and had yet to make his presence known, then back at Miss Elizabeth. There was something in her manner that made him uneasy. Her words had been bold, and he wondered at her uncomfortable glances at the Parson. With no more thought, his decision was made. "Then Miss Elizabeth, I will accept your second if you, Miss Mary, will accept me for the first?" Mr Darcy turned towards Miss Mary.
Mary had listened to her sister's conversation and was ready to accept the offer should it be extended. Lizzy's words rang in her mind. She must do everything possible to promote Jane. She had not expected the attention of one such as Mr Darcy, but perhaps she could at least not embarrass either of them. "I would be honoured, Mr Darcy. Thank you for your kind offer."
Mr Darcy nodded, his stern visage no less fearsome but the scowl Mary habitually saw was for the moment absent. He held out his hand as the music started and Mary accepted it, allowing him to lead her to the forming set. Mary spared one last glance over her shoulder at Lizzy who frowned but took the arm Mr Collins offered.
As they formed up, Mary took hold of her courage. She would not disgrace herself or her sisters by trying to converse with a gentleman she knew very little of, and who she found intimidating, but she could display good manners. "I would thank you once again, Mr Darcy, for the honour you have bestowed on me. It is good of you to give Lizzy something to look forward to, and for myself, I anticipate much more pleasure in this dance than in any other of the evening." Mary blushed at her daring and fixed her eyes on the tip of Mr Darcy's nose. She was not equal to meeting his eyes but did not wish to appear as nervous as she felt.
The steps of the dance began bringing them together then apart. Mr Darcy was silent. Mary had no notion if he was thinking about her words or not as her eyes remained firmly fixed in their position. If her eyes had made the short journey northwards, they would have found that the habitual frown on her partner's face had returned. It was, however, caused by contemplation so less severe in appearance.
Darcy glanced at Miss Elizabeth who was suffering all the misery of a poor partner. His own moved with grace, her steps never failing to find the beat of the music and he recalled that it was Miss Mary who was reported to be the musical sister. She did not offer any further conversation, and her movements were such that he found no trial in dancing with her.
He had already formed a plan to dance with more of the ladies present this evening after securing a dance with Miss Elizabeth. He had planned to offer only to the very young ladies to avoid giving rise to gossip of a potential match. He could then at least ensure he had performed his duty for Bingley's sake at least.
If Bingley was serious about Miss Bennet, then Darcy could not afford, in good consciousness, to damage his friends standing in the neighbourhood, even if it meant the pain of dancing. Three before supper and three after would see him through the evening. Darcy did not plan for any of his dances to be with Miss Bingley. He was confident that Mr Bennet could be prevailed upon for conversation within one of the card rooms. That would allow himself a break from the dancing and the opportunity to avoid Miss Bingley if he felt she was stalking him in hopes of a dance herself.
The dance ended and Darcy bowed to Miss Mary as she curtsied back. Darcy offered his arm and led Miss Mary back to her father. There he found Miss Elizabeth waiting. Darcy handed Miss Mary off to Mr Collins and offered his arm to Miss Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled warmly at him as he led them to the set. Stood across from her he watched as she subtly flexed her feet.
"Are you well Miss Elizabeth? I confess that I should be unwilling to give up the privilege of dancing with you, but if you are injured, I should not wish further harm upon you by the rigours of the dance."
As the dance began, Elizabeth made sure that she showed no discomfort as she took the first steps. "I am quite well Mr Darcy, have no fear. Mr Collins was not familiar with all the steps of the last. Perhaps as a clergyman, this is to be expected. I trust you shall have no similar problems? You danced quite well with Mary just now, I am sure she can have no complaints even though you do dislike the activity."
Darcy was surprised by her comment, and it must have shown on his face for Miss Elizabeth smiled and continued. "Come, Mr Darcy, upon your first evening in company you did not dance a step despite the lack of gentlemen and the abundance of ladies. Nor any other evenings in company that offered the amusement, you have yet to spend an evening engaged in the activity."
Mr Darcy could not help the rush of indignation at her words. "I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party.''
"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ballroom."
"I believe Miss Elizabeth that after making your acquaintance you refused my offer of dancing when the occasion allowed me to extend it."
"Ah," Elizabeth said "You are correct, although you made the acquaintance of Jane and Charlotte as well, did you not? You cannot mean to say that you have been refused every dance you have requested? I should feel entirely responsible if my actions have set such a sequence of events in motion."
"Then you may be easy that you have not. You are the only partner I was desirous of that has refused my suit." Darcy flushed slightly wondering if his words had been too revealing.
"Miss Bingley would indeed censure me for such an insult. You would have my apologies if I caused offence," Elizabeth teased trying to make her partner smile. She felt all the guilt of refusing this gentleman's hand now she had set aside her hostility toward him. Indeed, he did dance exceptionally well, and she felt all the joy of it after her miserable set with Mr Collins.
"Miss Bingley is as she has ever been since I first made her acquaintance," Mr Darcy returned blandly.
"And when was this?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"I first met Bingley in the spring of year seven. I believe I met Miss Bingley not many months past that date."
"And how did you meet? Mr Bingley is much younger than yourself. I cannot think it could have been through your schooling."
"No, I met Bingley after I had completed my education. He was still in attendance. I offered to settle a dispute between him and another."
"So you rescued him from unfortunate circumstances and he worships you as a younger brother to an elder?"
"I do not believe Bingley worships me."
"Well perhaps not. Having no brothers to look up to or observe, perhaps I am not familiar with how it goes. But Thomas Lucas looks up to his elder brother John, and I am acquainted enough with both to see that some parallels can be drawn. You are here in an advisory capacity to Mr Bingley are you not? You have knowledge and experience you are sharing with him so that he might make his way. Is that not something an elder brother might do for a younger when there are no fathers or uncles that might fill the role?"
"I believe that you suppose correctly, Miss Elizabeth. I had not thought about it in those terms. Bingley is a dear friend, and I would offer what aid I could that he desired."
The conversation fell silent between them as they moved through the rest of the dance. As it drew to a close Elizabeth chose to break the comfortable silence. "You must accept my thanks and congratulations, Mr Darcy. You are an excellent dancer, and I am heartily sorry that I have only one dance with you to claim."
"Then let us hope that we are granted the opportunity to dance once again Miss Elizabeth. I would not suspend any pleasure of yours it is in my power to grant."
Elizabeth blushed at the bold speech beginning to see that she had indeed been blind to his preference. He had been quite evident in it throughout their conversations so far this evening. Her eyes were lowered for her curtsey, and it took a breath to steady her sudden nerves to allow her to raise them to meet his gaze again. The warmth she felt in his gaze wholly stilled the air in her lungs. She was quite sure everyone in the ballroom could see it.
Mr Darcy held his arm out to escort her back to her father, and after an inhale to resume her breathing and gather her courage, Elizabeth took it.
Her flushed countenance had not abated by the time they reached Mr Bennet, and Mr Darcy begged to bring her some punch. A murmured word of thanks sent him across to the refreshments table. Elizabeth watched as he moved through the crowd with a commanding elegance. The other guests seemingly melting out of his path. Elizabeth wondered if he had affixed his most fearsome scowl in place to make sure he was not hindered. A small snort of amusement at the idea escaped her.
"Lizzy?" Jane asked as she returned to her family party.
Elizabeth smiled turning to Jane observing the quizzical look on her face. "It was nothing Jane, just a stray thought."
"Indeed," Jane smiled. "How did you enjoy your dance?"
"I would caution you against dancing with Mr Collins, sister," Elizabeth replied mischievously.
"And what of Mr Darcy?" Jane asked with humoured patience.
"He performed admirably. How was Mr Bingley?"
"Delightful," Jane replied primly with a small delighted smile.
"Dear Jane, I do not believe I have seen you so happy."
"I certainly believe that I have not been so," Jane replied then nudged Elizabeth with an elbow as Mr Darcy returned to Elizabeth's side.
"Miss Bennet," Mr Darcy greeted Jane politely handing Elizabeth the first glass of punch, then the second to Miss Bennet.
"Mr Darcy," Jane replied warmly, delighted by the small measure of preference Mr Darcy had just shown her sister. "I hope you have enjoyed your dances, sir,"
"Thank you, Miss Bennet, I have."
"As I was saying to Mr Bingley, Caroline is to be commended. The ballroom is quite lovely." Jane said politely to Mr Darcy.
Mr Darcy glanced around the room taking it in for the first time. "Yes," he agreed nonchalantly. "I suppose she is to be. I believe Miss Bingley quite despaired of securing the floral displays."
"They are not from Netherfield's hothouse?" Jane enquired. "The hothouses here were always well tended, I remember from my visits as a child."
"You were familiar with the estate?" Mr Darcy asked politely.
"Oh well, perhaps not very familiar, but Mrs Morris the late wife of Mr Morris, whose estate it is, was fond of children. I was permitted to visit, and the hothouse was my favourite place. The flowers were quite beautiful to a small child. Lizzy preferred the stand of chestnuts of course, so she might collect the conkers. Lizzy claimed that they were her secret weapon." Jane confided merrily.
"Jane," Lizzy protested laughing. "You should not give away my secrets so readily."
"You were successful at conkers Miss Elizabeth?"
"Indeed, Mr Darcy I was unbeaten. John Lucas would pay dearly to learn of from where my success came." Elizabeth declared.
Mr Darcy stayed a few minutes longer before excusing himself from the company of Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth. He had spotted Caroline Bingley crossing the room towards their group and had no intention of staying and listening to Miss Bingley's thinly veiled distaste for the Bennets. It was particularly uncomfortable for him as he was in possession of information that Miss Bingley was not.
Darcy glanced around the ballroom to see if he could spot the principal parties and could see neither Charles nor Mr Bennet. Sighing in resignation, he stopped by the younger Miss Lucas and offered his hand in the next. Blushing heavily Miss Maria managed to stumble out an acceptance, and Darcy led her to the set that was forming up.