Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Frerichs
Cross-posted on elizabethfrerichs dot com and wattpad
Not twenty minutes later, as Mr. Collins drew Elizabeth onto the dance floor, Darcy's stomach churned and he forced his expression to remain impassive. He would have to adjust to others dancing with her, even if they did marry. Elizabeth would never stand for him looming over her like a jealous oaf. Still, something would have to be done about Mr. Collins.
Elizabeth's distress grew palpable as Mr. Collins bumbled through the dance, trodding on her several times and turning the wrong direction, halting the dance and stumbling into the people around them. Something would have to be done soon.
When Elizabeth limped off the dance floor, Darcy nearly ground his teeth and only the surrounding crowd kept him from rushing to her side.
Fortunately, Charlotte Lucas intercepted Elizabeth before long, and Darcy realised how completely he had put Elizabeth's friend out of his mind. He had not even recalled that she would be here tonight. Ruefully, he admitted that it was yet another evidence that Tuesday had been their own little reality and he was not yet adjusted to living in the real world.
Elizabeth winced as she stepped down a bit too hard on her left foot and pain shot through it. Mr. Collins had trod upon that particular foot several times. She would probably be fine before the next set, but for now, she wished for nothing more than to sit down somewhere. Thankfully, Charlotte was drawing near and she could prevail upon her friend to either distract Mr. Collins or to support her while she found a suitable resting place.
"Charlotte! You look lovely tonight."
"Thank you, Eliza. I can tell that you took special pains with your appearance as well."
Charlotte then very obviously turned her attention to Mr. Collins, and Elizabeth blinked at her for a moment before recalling that they had not yet met. Their last Tuesday she had gone into Meryton with Mr. Darcy instead of spending time at the Lucases.
"Oh! Mr. Collins, may I introduce my good friend, Miss Lucas? Miss Lucas, our cousin, Mr. Collins."
Charlotte curtsied, and Mr. Collins began his practised compliments.
Before long, Mr. Darcy, Bingley, and Jane joined them, though Bingley and Jane stayed far enough back that they could conduct their own private conversation.
"Are you well?" Mr. Darcy murmured.
Elizabeth nodded, wishing her mortification had been less complete.
"Are you certain? You were limping."
She smiled up at him. Others had likely noticed how poor Mr. Collins's dancing had been or had commented on how poorly they danced together. Mr. Darcy, however, was only concerned about her injuries. "I have certainly had worse. It is not as though Sisyphus had stepped on my feet."
Darcy hissed. When they both were quite a bit younger, Sisyphus had trod upon Darcy's foot and broken two of his toes. Elizabeth's comparison made his own foot ache in sympathy. "Mr. Collins may not weigh as much as a horse, but it must be painful."
"I will be right as a trivet before long."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Elizabeth shook her head slightly, her gaze still fixed upon Mr. Collins and Miss Lucas. "I will be fine."
"If you think of something—"
"I will let you know," she promised. "You might want to stop looking like you are a hair's breadth from murdering Mr. Collins."
Darcy raised an eyebrow. "Not murdering. Just maiming."
"Poor dancing is hardly a maiming offence," she said with a light laugh.
"Not even when he is dancing with you?"
Elizabeth cast him a quick warning look.
"I will not maim him, I promise."
"Thank you."
"Do you not agree, Mr. Darcy?" Mr. Collins asked. "After all, Lady Catherine is very fond of healthful exercise."
"Particularly when others are doing the exercising," Darcy murmured to Elizabeth.
She snorted, turning her laugh into a cough.
"I apologise, Mr. Collins, what were you saying?" Darcy asked.
Mr. Collins repeated his query about Lady Catherine's approval of balls and dancing and then began a monologue about his own habits of exercise.
An eternity later, the next dance began, and Mr. Collins was forced to end his monologue. He rushed over to Miss Bennet and claimed her hand. Elizabeth was engaged by another young man, and Darcy turned to Miss Lucas.
"Would you do me the honour of this dance, Miss Lucas?"
Miss Lucas's eyes went wide. "Of course, Mr. Darcy."
He doubted he would ever be fond of dancing, but kindness prompted him to ensure Elizabeth's dear friend was not deserted. Not to mention the talk that would arise should he fail to dance with anyone save Elizabeth.
Eventually, after Mr. Collins had danced with all his "fair cousins," Darcy was left alone with the man while the ladies danced and able to introduce the topic of conversation he was most concerned with. "Mr. Collins, I was wondering why you did not ask Miss Bennet for the first set. Are you not concerned that asking Miss Elizabeth may hint at an inappropriate preference?"
Mr. Collins shifted back and forth, like a little boy caught bringing a mouse into Sabbath services. "Inappropriate preference?"
"I cannot imagine that Lady Catherine would support a preference towards Miss Elizabeth."
Mr. Collins puffed himself up. "Actually, Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine herself sent me upon the errand of obtaining a wife. In fact, she has done much to the parsonage to renovate it for my bride's convenience."
Darcy pasted on a frown of concern. "She specified that you marry one of your cousins?"
"Well, no, but it seems to be the least I can do, considering the, uh, circumstances, and when I informed Lady Catherine of my intentions, she was very supportive."
Darcy nodded in pretended thoughtfulness. "Would Lady Catherine find Miss Elizabeth suitable, or would she prefer someone a bit less opinionated?"
"Opinionated, Mr. Darcy?" Mr. Collins asked with bewilderment.
Darcy clasped his hands behind his back. "In my experience, my aunt surrounds herself with people who share her opinions. Do you believe Miss Elizabeth's opinions would coincide with Lady Catherine's?"
"I am certain that once Miss Elizabeth recognises Lady Catherine's wisdom, she will at once be won over to Lady Catherine's way of thinking—for how can anyone argue with truth?"
"I see." Darcy paused as though hesitant to suggest the next bit. "But, if she does not, will she avoid sharing her difference in opinion?"
"Miss Elizabeth is more than capable of bowing to superior wisdom. In fact, I have heard her do so when her sister or her father has pointed out a flaw in her argument," Mr. Collins said after a moment's consideration.
"I see. I have noticed a certain—outspokenness in her character that I fear would annoy Lady Catherine."
Mr. Collins frowned. "I shall give further consideration to the matter."
"That is all I ask," he said and excused himself to go find Colonel Forster.
Hopefully that would be enough to convince Mr. Collins to cease pursuing Elizabeth. He briefly considered putting Mr. Collins off the Bennets altogether, particularly as becoming related to the man sounded like a sentence to consistent boredom, but Miss Mary might like Mr. Collins and the Bennets would be better off retaining Longbourn.
Much as he had every time they had spoken about Wickham previously, Colonel Forster was willing to keep an eye on Wickham. Darcy still hated to leave Elizabeth in Hertfordshire with Wickham, but, between her uncle and Colonel Forster, she, and hopefully the rest of Hertfordshire, should remain safe. In addition to finding Colonel Forster, Darcy's trip around the perimeter of the dance floor had provided him with the opportunity to greet several of the people he had met previously. Sir William Lucas had been invaluable in re-introducing him to various of Hertfordshire's denizens.
By the time he returned to where he and Elizabeth had been standing between dances, Darcy was finally able to escort Elizabeth onto the dance floor. Bingley had reclaimed Miss Bennet, and Mr. Collins was anxiously examining them from the outskirts.
The music began, and Darcy studied his partner. Her limp had vanished, indicating that her foot was indeed feeling better. It was the work of an instant to imagine her as his partner at all the society balls his aunt insisted he attend. She would be radiant, able to match wits and debate, and injecting a note of true kindness into the ton.
"La Boulanger is one of my favourite dances," she said, her gaze fixed in front of her.
Darcy raised an eyebrow.
"Come, Mr. Darcy, we may not dance in silence," she said, a teasing challenge in her tone. "I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples."
"I will say whatever you wish for me to say, Miss Elizabeth."
A slight smile tugged at her lips. "That reply will do for the present. Perhaps, by and by, I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones."
Darcy chuckled. "I will be glad to listen to your remark on private balls. Might I suggest another topic, however? What are you reading at the moment?"
"Essay on Prints."
"Again?"
She shrugged. "It has been several weeks since I read anything by Gilpin."
"Old favourites are sometimes the best."
"Indeed."
As their fingers clasped and unclasped in the figures of the dance, Darcy wished her hands were gloveless and that he could feel the softness of her skin. He wished they were married already. "Do you believe you are re-adjusting?"
"After a week?" Elizabeth's eyebrows went up. "Perhaps slowly, but I believe it will take some time. What about you?"
Darcy shook his head ruefully. "No. I am merely—I leave for London tomorrow, and I am ambivalent about the matter."
"As am I," she murmured. She glanced at the people around them. "But let us talk of something else."
A/N: I did a bunch of research for this chapter, but I couldn't find anything on when one was required to dance with the hostess? Does anyone know that off the top of their heads? Would it be a huge slight if Mr. Darcy doesn't dance with Caroline first (or at all)? I feel like he would be scrupulously polite but might err on the side of not dancing first with Caroline just to try to get his disinterest through her skull.
Thanks for reading and engaging with this story! I think I said this already, but we'll be on shorter chapters until I'm caught up with my editing. Lord willing, that will be soon, but RL. It's a thing!
As always, if you notice something that can be strengthened, please let me know. I use all that feedback to make changes to the final version! :)