Jane and Elizabeth were speaking to Maria Lucas when Mr. Darcy arrived at the assembly. After he greeted the three of them Jane looked around and then asked "Did Mr. Bingley come with you?"
"I am sorry Miss Bennet, he did not."
"Oh, I see." Jane rubbed her temple. "I feel a megrim coming on; I think I'll go sit down."
Both Elizabeth and Maria offered to sit with her but Jane said "My thanks to you both but you should go enjoy yourselves. Lizzy, I believe you promised Mr. Darcy the first set; and Maria, if I am not mistaken, I believe Mark Goulding is coming this way and it appears he is looking for you. Don't mind me; I'll be fine."
After Maria left with Mark Goulding Elizabeth looked back at Jane and winked.
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After their set Elizabeth led Mr. Darcy over to where Mrs. Bennet was holding court with Lady Lucas and the other grande dames of Meryton society. When she gained her mother's attention she said "Mama, Jane has the megrim; perhaps she should go home."
"I'm sure that it's just a little trifling headache," said Mrs. Bennet. She thought for a moment and then said "Why don't you and Mr. Darcy walk her over to your Aunt Philip's. Jane can sit with your aunt and uncle; it'll do her good to get away from all this noise. Come, I'll tell her myself."
The old biddies watched the two Bennets and Mr. Darcy walk towards Miss Bennet and tittered amongst themselves. They knew that it was the absence of Mr. Bingley that had caused Miss Bennet's heartache, not headache, and they pitied her, although their pity did not quite cancel out their envy of Miss Elizabeth for having landed Mr. Darcy, a much bigger fish than Mr. Bingley.
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When Jane finished changing her dancing slippers for her half boots she stood and her mother placed her cloak on her shoulders. Mrs. Bennet took the opportunity to whisper some last-minute advice to her eldest daughter. "Don't just tell him how you feel; you must show him. Men are such dolts when it comes to talking about feelings." She patted Jane's cheek. "Remember: show, don't tell."
In her normal, much louder, voice Mrs. Bennet said "Now Mr. Darcy, I rely on your honour as a gentleman to not take advantage of this situation you and Elizabeth find yourselves in."
This admonition brought forth an embarrassed, mumbled 'yes, ma'am" from Mr. Darcy, who had in fact been planning on taking all the advantage he could, and a squawked 'Mama!' from Elizabeth, who had been thinking along similar lines as her betrothed.
Bidding her daughters and Mr. Darcy farewell Mrs. Bennet re-entered the assembly rooms. She had one further task – to tell her friends that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy had decided to keep Jane company at the Philips; they'd enjoy that tidbit, especially when she told them Mr. Darcy couldn't stand watching Elizabeth dance with other gentlemen.
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The walk in the moonlight by Mr. Darcy and the two Bennet ladies down the block and around the corner to Mr. Philips' office was conducted in silence. Mrs. Philips was watching for them and she opened the door before they could knock; she locked it behind them and then, without a word being spoken, she led them through the office, through the living quarters, and then out through the garden to the road where Mr. Philips, not his footman (who had been given the night off) had been watching the coach and team.
Mr. Darcy handed Jane and Elizabeth into the coach and then climbed up into the coachman's seat.
Not five minutes after leaving the assembly rooms they were off to Netherfield.