Chapter Ten – Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

"I humbly beg your forgiveness, Lady Jane. The words I spoke were of a distracted mind and meant no slight upon your person. Lord and Lady Clarges, I beg your forgiveness for my unintended slight to your family," Darcy bowed his head in apology to Lady Jane and her parents.

The assembly hall was quiet as Darcy apologized to the Bennet family. It's not every day that someone insults a family of peers and gets away with it. The curiosity was intense for how the Bennets would react.

There was silence as Lord Bennet levelled his stare at Darcy. A moment passed with not a sound to be heard. "In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed*. To Lady Jane herself, there could be no possibility of objection**; are you so secure in your social standing that you would consider slandering any woman in a large group"?

Darcy's ears burned bright red, and a noticeable flush was creeping above his cravat. To be under the scrutiny of not just a Marquis but the whole town was incredibly uncomfortable. "I am not my Lord."

"Then let this be a lesson to you. Sir Bingley and his family are invited to dine with us on the morrow. We shall see you, Mr. Darcy, another time. Jane, do you have anything to add?"

"I accept your apology, Mr. Darcy. If you will excuse me, the next set is forming."

Mr. Darcy slinked off to the corner of the assembly to seek fresh air and escape the stares. Bingley left him alone to collect Miss Goulding for their set.

Of all the things I could do on my first night. Damaging Bingley's and my reputation in one sentence, all from being sidetracked by a set of fine eyes. That is doing it, brown, Darcy, even you know that. All the troubles with the home farm, the thoroughbreds, Georgiana, and my father's death have left me more discomposed than usual. I was invited here to enjoy Bingley's company before the Season, and here I go, poisoning the well immediately before beginning the hunt for the future Mrs. Darcy. I dare not chance upsetting the town any further. Thank goodness I did not receive the cut direct!

Darcy spent the remainder of the evening alone, pondering how he would be able to make amends and affect a proper introduction to the woman he now knew to be Lady Elizabeth Bennet.

Charles Bingley was sitting in his carriage pondering his family's good fortune of being invited to dine with the Marquis' family so soon after arriving in Meryton. The Hurts would pose no problem to his evening's enjoyment; Caroline was his only obstacle. Hopefully, the family status they would be dining with would frighten her into good manners. It was a great honour and boon to the Bingley social standing in Meryton if the Bennets were to accept him into their society. If they were to extend that grace into the next Season in Town, Bingley would have no issues getting Caroline married.

Jane and Elizabeth bid their parents good night and turned themselves over to the care of their abigails. There would be time to discuss the assembly after their toilette. By tomorrow, their abigails' would have heard of Mr. Darcy's remarks, which were undoubtedly already circulating in the stables around town. Ready for bed, the girls doubled up in Jane's room to discuss the night. "Are you well, Elizabeth? You have been very quiet since we left the assembly."

"I almost feel cheated, Jane. We are expected to make good matches now that Papa is the Marquis. The only men I can enjoy dancing with are John Lucas and Robert Goulding. None of the men in town were good enough last season; they all lacked a certain amount of wit."

"I suppose Mr. Darcy didn't quite match up to his applauded attributes?"

"She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me. Really, Jane, you'd think our dowries would render us at least slightly better than tolerable."

"What a dreadful thing to say about any woman."

"Well, when we do meet, I should ask after Lady Matlock. She was most solicitous to us when we were last in town, and I would be pleased to make her acquaintance again."

"And not ask after Napoleon's Bane?"

Jane took a swift pillow to the face.

"Like that would be appropriate!" – the second pillow aimed at Jane did not succeed. It was Elizabeth's turn to be upset by the goose feathers' successful attempt at flight.

"Even though Sir Bingley is a dashed dream keeping such company, Sir Brampton promised to call upon you. Now that our year of mourning is up, perhaps he will call again. If he does, I would not be surprised to find you engaged and wed by the end of the Season."

"I will hold out no hope for Sir Brampton, Elizabeth. He might not call."

"Oh, my dear sweet Jane, now that we are out of mourning, I imagine once we are in town, suitors will be lined up down the block for your hand. And if not, perhaps Lady Matlock's sons are better behaved than the Matlock nephew!"

"Then we shall simply have to find unicorns in the ready stock of suitors you imagine!"

The girls tumbled, giggling into bed, happy to be out in society once again.

*Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 11

**Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 10