Chapter 23

About an hour later, when Mr Darcy had been thoroughly tested and questioned by all of Elizabeth's Meryton acquaintances, he found his patience to be under fire in the extreme as his cousin the Colonel Fitzwilliam stood up with Elizabeth for their agreed upon dance. As if it had not been challenging enough to converse with so many new faces in one evening, he now had to watch his overeager cousin parading around with his lovely fiancée. Georgiana placed a reassuring hand on his arm, sensing that he was not particularly enjoying this portion of the evening.

In fairness, Elizabeth had tried to spend as much time as possible with the Darcys. Though she was very much in demand, she had attempted to savour the few moments she had managed to escape to talk with them. But those moments were fleeting, for her dance card had filled almost immediately upon arrival and in between dances she was continually accosted to be congratulated by another friend or acquaintance. For the lack of time she actually spent conversing with them, she had more than made up for it with the heated looks she bestowed upon him. With her eyes, she told him of her frustration and her love. He did not need to hear her say the words to know that she would much rather be standing right at his side, discussing the ballroom fashions with his sister, or the quality of the musicians with him. He bore his frustration and his boredom with equanimity, focusing on making sure that Georgiana enjoyed her first ball, lest he stand around looking severe and ruin it all.

That was until Richard had come to claim Elizabeth's hand for a set.

He came to break up their small party of three when Elizabeth was over-enthusiastically regaling the Darcy siblings with a tale of a ball in the Meryton hall not too long ago, when a ridiculous elderly local woman had stormed in halfway through, claiming to have seen a spectre.

"I would have been worried if you lived closer to Kent, Lizzy," Georgiana had managed through her silent laughter. "For the way you tell the tale, it is almost as if our Aunt Catherine is in the room."

"Ah, the famous Lady de Bourgh of whom I have heard so much," Lizzy alluded. "Perhaps I should refrain from my storytelling if it brings to the fore such unpleasant memories."

"Well, we would definitely know if she chose to join us," Mr Darcy conceded with a fiery look at Elizabeth.

The colonel chose that moment to join from the floor. When he put his enthusiastic hand out in offer to Elizabeth, Mr Darcy swallowed the bile rising in the back of his throat. He knew he was being ridiculous, and that his jealousy was not overly rooted in truth, but he could not help it.

"I do believe I am due the next set with a rather brilliant partner," he opened.

"What a marvellous coincidence," Elizabeth replied innocently, "for I was just about to send a search party for mine."

"Well, let us be glad in such a setting as this that no such lengths are needed," said Mr Darcy, his tone clipped.

"Right you are, Darce," Richard nodded. "Shall we to the floor, m'lady?"

She followed him gladly, and Mr Darcy glared unhappily at the admittedly enticing sight of Elizabeth's bottom swaying as she walked away from him, for her hand was still on his cousin's arm and there was nothing he could do about it. Despite knowing how much Richard admired Elizabeth, and how much he would give for them to trade places and marry her in his stead, Mr Darcy could only watch as his cousin pretended that was the case whilst they held each other in a dance.

As such, the next twenty minutes were interminable. Georgiana really did try to distract her brother from his jealous brooding, but after five minutes of one-sided conversation during which he spoke perhaps twelve words to her in total, she told him she was going to use the water closet and sought out Mary Bennet on her return. The eldest misses Bennet were both dancing, and Mary had seemed to be the sort of quietly content company she needed to recover from her brother's intensity.

Alone, he allowed his brooding to take full control. He was hyper-aware of where Richard was touching Elizabeth, in a manner that was just about within the bounds of propriety, for they were required to touch where the dance required. But he saw his cousin's lingering hands and admiring gazes, and he hated the jealousy that it made him feel. He trusted Elizabeth, he knew they were intended for each other, and he knew his cousin to be a sensible man. But he had such a hard time keeping his feelings in check around her, that he did not need to see them mirrored in another man. He did not need to be reminded of his failures to restrain himself. He did not need to imagine even for a single second the idea of her not being his. Such was his dark mood that he was not even approached by any of the Meryton locals, for he looked quite fearsome and dour. There was, however, one member of the congregation who was not deterred.

"Mr Darcy, it is good to see you returned to your former self," Caroline said in a level tone, and curtsied.

"Miss Bingley," he greeted warmly. He was truly relieved to have a distraction from the scene on the dance floor, even if it came in the form of a woman for whom he held equally unpleasant feelings. He guided her to the punch bowl, deciding he might as well remove himself from being able to watch Elizabeth brighten the dance floor with another man. After pouring them both a generous glass, he walked with her to the centre of the standing section of the room.

He was feeling charitable after a few minutes of idle chit chat, for she had truly been quite restrained in her usual fawning since the incident of the prior week, save for a few apparent snide remarks about his wife to his sister. Or perhaps the improvement in his mood was instead due to a rapidly consumed glass of punch. In any case, he felt in a mood to build bridges. "You have done a marvellous job with the organisation of this evening. I have it on good authority that this is one of the finest balls that Meryton has seen."

"Why thank you," she gushed, and took a step closer to him. His temporary good mood faltered. "It was rather a feat, considering the short notice and unfamiliarity with Netherfield or its staff."

"Well, the overall effect of your work is more than satisfactory, I would say."

Caroline endeavoured as ever to continue the conversation. She had been concerned that her earlier actions would expel her from the company of the Darcys, and she was cowed at the prospect of losing her Pemberley privilege.

"Do you think you will have music such as this at your wedding?"

"Indeed, it is important to both of us that our guests will have an enjoyable time."

"And when and where can we expect the happy occasion to take place?"

"The details will be enclosed in your brother's invitation," he said, choosing his words carefully. "But we will marry from Hertfordshire before the month is out, and then on to London and finally Derbyshire for the winter."

He had recovered some of his earlier happiness in thinking about his future felicity, and Caroline noticed when she was beaten.

"Within the month?" She exclaimed, shocked at the suddenness. "But that means-"

"We will be married by special licence, yes - I spoke to the archbishop's aide this week. I could not wait for her to be my wife."

He realised that he was erring towards cruelty in his open display of affection, knowing what he knew about Caroline's previous desires on his person and his estate. Though not mean by character, he could not completely forgive her for her trespasses against him and his fiancée, even if it had in fact worked out in the opposite manner to how Caroline had originally intended. With the sense to remind himself that she had accelerated his happy situation, he softened his phrasing. "I hope you comprehend the same happiness some day, Miss Bingley. Despite all that has passed between us, I should very much like to see you and your brother as equally pleasantly situated as myself."

"Thank you, sir," she said, confused. For she had attempted to wreak havoc on his courtship of the man in question. But it was more complicated than all that, for she did enjoy his company, and she wanted to remain in his circles. She decided to let confusion die, and attempt to save face from her previous actions. "I do hope it is a lovely ceremony and that the temperamental Hertfordshire weather stays fine for the occasion."

Their conversation naturally terminated, Mr Darcy went in search of his glistening partner - to rescue her from the clutches of his amorous cousin.

~.~

He found them engaged in cheerful conversation at the punch bowl, and poured himself another generous glass to steel him to face his cousin. He poured her a glass as well, not that he needed an excuse to attend to her, but as a natural break to her conversation with his cousin.

"Fitzwilliam," she said eagerly when he joined them, then blushed at her slip and put her hand over her mouth. She was in quite an excited state, what with the punch she had so far consumed, and the joy of her time on the dance floor. "Mr Darcy," she corrected, enthusiasm mingling with affection in her tone. "I am so glad you returned to us." He held the glass of punch out for her, and smiled openly as she accepted it. It gave him great pleasure to be able to serve her.

"Miss Elizabeth," he bowed over her other hand, and placed a lingering kiss on the smooth gloved knuckles he found there. It was a move that was mostly for his own pleasure, but also designed to remind Richard of her unavailability.

"I hope the pair of you had a pleasant time on the dance floor," he entreated, although his tone was in direct contradiction with his words.

"We did," she breathed. "Colonel Fitzwilliam is a wonderful dancer, and we shared a pleasant conversation also."

"You have found yourself a real gem, cousin," Richard added. He wasn't even trying to irritate Mr Darcy, having felt the heat of his glare at the start of their dance. But his words were true, for Richard knew that if she were not already betrothed to his cousin, he would chase this woman to the ends of the earth. She was as witty as she was beautiful, and the perfect match to draw his sombre cousin out of his shell. He knew that they would make a perfect pairing together, and that Mr Darcy's consequence would only elevate Elizabeth's circumstance and raise her in his esteem. He knew when he was defeated, and offered his resignation to his cousin on a silent platter.

"Yes, I am well aware of my good fortune. In fact Richard, I desire a moment with you in the billiards room," Mr Darcy commanded in a tone that brooked no opposition. "Elizabeth, please let me escort you to my sister."

He walked Elizabeth purposefully towards their sisters, where he once again kissed her knuckles. Georgiana and Mary were pleased with the addition to their party, as short lived as it transpired to be. For Elizabeth was whisked away by a childhood friend for the next dance not ten minutes after she arrived in their company.

The gentlemen carried on into a quieter part of the house on Mr Darcy's quest to find a spot of privacy to talk to his cousin. Mr Darcy rather roughly backed his cousin into a corner when he managed to find a room where they could be alone.

"Richard, let me be very clear when I say these words will only be spelled out to you once. For you are a very dear relation of mine and I should very much like for us to leave this room still fond brothers of sorts."

He waited to make sure that Richard understood the import of his following demands. He nodded sheepishly and bade Mr Darcy to continue.

"I should not have to remind you that my marriage announcement went to the papers this morning and that there, next to my name, was writ the name of a wonderful woman who is extremely precious to me. Lord knows, you were there shortly after I procured a special licence to be wed to her." He paused, swallowing thickly against his irrational anger. He continued in a tight tone, "now, it should follow logically - especially to a gentleman so intelligent as yourself - that she is mine as much as I am hers. You may imagine how well I understand her manifold attractions and allurements, but I will ask you, and I shall ask only once, to at least pretend that you are impervious to them."

"I am just being friendly," he countered. "She likes me too-"

He immediately realised it was the wrong thing to say, for Mr Darcy's eyes went dark and he took a menacing step towards him. Mr Darcy, who was trying his utmost to keep a level head and avoid throttling his cousin.

"I said I would only ask you once. Richard, please do not make me spell it out again."

His tone brooked no opposition.

"I understand," he conceded. "I shall be on my best behaviour."

"Thank you for understanding."

"How could I not?" He mused, almost to himself. "She is so delightful, I am sure I am not the only one who comprehends your unique torture."

"Richard-" came the low, drawn out name from the long-suffering gentleman who could not wait to become her husband. In fact, he remained in the quiet for a few moments after his cousin scampered back to the ballroom. He waited in the dark trying to regain his composure after his cousin's words coupled with the freshness of the experience of dancing with her in public had reduced him to a pile of pure want. She was indeed tempting, and the waiting was indeed a unique torture. Trust Richard to find the words to capture his situation so succinctly.