Master of Longbourn Chapter 20 - A dance & a Dunce, a pride and prejudice fanfic

~MoL~

A Dance & a Dunce - Thank you Guest.

Can someone suggest a heading?

Collins and Bingley returned to the party just before the dancing started.

Wanting to regain the good opinion of Collins, Bingley immediately sought out Jane and drew her aside for a private conversation, although they remained in full view of the room.

Jane suppressed a sigh and maintained a pleasant expression, despite fearing that Bingley would declare himself in such a public setting. Her relief was great when the gentleman addressed her.

'Miss Bennet, I must apologise. It has just been pointed out to me that I may have raised your expectations due to my paying marked attention to you. It was unconsciously done and if I have occasioned pain to you, I will do whatever is in my power to do so.'

Jane tilted her head and gave him a speculative look. 'Mr Bingley, are you aware that based on your offer I could demand marriage?'

Bingley blanched and stuttered, 'Oh… ah… I mean… ah…'

Jane, who was kind as always, took pity on him. 'Do not trouble yourself, Mr Bingley. I quite understand your position. As it happens, you did not raise my expectations as I never expected constancy from someone as young as you.'

The look of relief on Bingley's face was almost comical. But Jane had one more piece of advice. 'You should also know that I, just like all my sisters, wish for a man of character and substance. I am afraid that you never qualified.'

Jane smiled and curtsied to Bingley before turning to walk across the room to join her mother and Mr Bingley's sisters.

~MoL~

Collins, pleased with the outcome of his interview with Bingley, scanned the room and spied the lady whose company he had come to enjoy over the past two years.

Even though he could acknowledge that his cousins were more overtly beautiful by current standards of beauty, and despite Mrs Bennet's claim to the contrary, he had come to the opinion that Charlotte Lucas was the most handsome lady of his acquaintance. Her intelligence and good humour enhanced her already lovely features. He also valued her for her kindness and character. The fact that she was eminently practical only added to her appeal.

Admittedly, this realisation had come upon him slowly, as in the early days of his residence at Longbourn he had been too busy learning to manage his estate to pay much attention to anything else.

During her visits to Jane, Charlotte had on occasion had suggestions which helped him in dealing with the local merchants. When he commented on her knowledge, she reminded him with a smile, 'You forget that my father was not always a landowner. Before he was knighted, he was one of those merchants.'

Lately Collins had sought her advice on many occasions, even when he had known the answers. As a consequence, he was forced to admit to himself that seeking her advice was simply an excuse to spend time in Charlotte's company.

Since his very pleasurable conversation with the lady had been interrupted by having to deal with Bingley, he was determined to return to Charlotte. Finding that there would be dancing, Collins immediately requested a dance from Charlotte, which she was only too happy to grant.

They performed the steps in perfect harmony and in companionable silence for a few minutes until Charlotte said, 'Please forgive me for meddling, but I believe that you would be well advised to keep an eye on Mr Fitzwilliam.'

Collins glanced around the room and saw Henry watching Elizabeth as she danced with Darcy. 'I presume that you are concerned for my cousins? Elizabeth in particular?'

'Indeed. I am anxious that he may be becoming obsessed with her.'

'I know that he is something of a ladies' man, but as far as I know, he has never importuned an unwilling lady. Do you have any specific reason for your apprehension?'

'I noticed that he asked Eliza to dance and seemed to be expecting a favourable response. While he appeared to take her refusal in good grace, I happened to be glancing in his direction when Mr Darcy led her to the floor, and he gave them an angry look. It only lasted for a moment, but it disturbed me.'

The dance separated them for a few moments, giving Collins a chance to consider her words. When they could speak again, he said, 'I appreciate your warning, but I believe that it is Darcy at whom he is angry. I suspect that in the near future, that young man will learn a difficult lesson.' Collins grinned as he explained. 'He will discover that Darcy is a much better man.'

'You have known Mr Darcy for a long time?'

Collins nodded. 'Since I was eight years old… nearly two decades. He may at times be somewhat proud and arrogant, but considering all his advantages of intelligence, character, wealth and position, it is not to be wondered at.'

'You admire him,' said Charlotte, making it a statement rather than a question.

'I do. While a was at school I met many sons of the gentry and even the nobility. I am sorry to say that many of their characters left a lot to be desired. Darcy on the other hand has always been honourable. I hear that some of his classmates considered him something of a prig.' He paused before he added, 'I am afraid that unlike Darcy, Mr Henry Fitzwilliam is a little wild, although compared to many others he is relatively tame.'

'You made a point of specifying him by given name. Does he have brothers?'

'Indeed. He has two older brothers. The oldest is Viscount Fanshaw, and the other is Richard Fitzwilliam, who is a colonel in the regulars.' Seeing the quizzical look on her face, he added, 'Richard is only a year or so older than Darcy and I was fortunate to spend time with them when they visited their aunt at Rosings.'

Since Charlotte appeared interested in his early life, Collins related much of that time to her. Without meaning to, he confided in her much more than he had ever told his cousins.

~MoL~

The couple under observation and discussion were having a wonderful time.

Having been freed of Henry's interference they did not immediately burst into speech but simply relished their quiet accord and their compatibility in performing the dance.

Eventually, Elizabeth gave Darcy an impish smile as she teased, 'Should we discuss farming methods or are you inclined towards other topics?'

Darcy's lips quirked into an amused smile as he said, 'Shall you always tease me about my choice of conversation?'

'You have to admit that it has the advantage of novelty. Most gentlemen would choose a different topic,' Elizabeth answered, trying to ignore the swarm of butterflies which took flight in her stomach at the sight of his smile. It is unclear whether it was a boon to her that she did not realise how devastating her answering smile was to Darcy.

'Very well, I shall take this a compliment. But instead of estate matters, shall we be conventional and discuss the Bard?' Darcy suggested. 'Do you prefer to read his plays or watch them on stage?'

'They both have their charm. By reading the story, I can focus on the nuances of the words, whereas watching the play requires no effort on my part and I can get lost in the story.' She tilted her head and asked, 'What about you, sir? What is your preferred method of enjoying his works?'

'Like you, I enjoy both. But I have a slight preference for reading the plays with my sister when Georgiana and I take turns reading aloud to each other.'

'I have not tried that method. I believe that some of my sisters might enjoy such a diversion. Especially if we stick to the comedies.' Elizabeth smiled widely. 'I confess that although I too prefer the comedies, I would judge that your preference would be the histories.'

'As it happens, it depends on my mood what I prefer to read or watch. I have had some more frivolous moments where I have thoroughly enjoyed a comedy.'

'You have frivolous moments, Mr Darcy? Surely not. I had judged you to be an exceedingly serious and proper Englishman. You know, stiff upper lip and all that.'

Darcy's lips briefly quirked in that half smile which Elizabeth was coming to know and adore. The one where his eyes sparkled with amusement. 'It seems that your cousin is more discrete than mine. Richard delights in regaling his family with stories of my foibles and the scrapes we used to get into.'

'Do tell. Was my cousin a part of those scrapes? I always had the impression that he was too well mannered to be involved in high jinks.'

'Miss Elizabeth, since your cousin did not divulge my less than glorious moments, I am afraid that I must repay his discretion with my own.'

'So, he was not always a model of propriety,' Elizabeth said with a wide smile. 'I am relieved to hear that.'

'I hate to disappoint you, but mostly he got into trouble because he was trying to get Richard and me out of it.'

'It does you credit to protect my cousin, but mostly is not always, and I am pleased to hear that he is just as human as the rest of us.'

'You object to perfection?'

'Indeed. Since I am fully aware that I am less than perfect, it makes me feel quite uncomfortable dealing with someone who was without a fault.'

'In that case, I should hope that you find me quite likeable as I have many faults… as you know.' The words came out of Darcy's mouth before he could stop to think about them. When he realised what he had said, he could not help it, but the tips of his ears turned a lovely shade of pink.

He was grateful that the dance separated them for a few moments so that he could regain his composure. Darcy had not meant to make it so obvious that he craved Elizabeth's company and approbation. It made him feel quite vulnerable.

Elizabeth too was grateful for the reprieve. She felt rather flustered, not knowing how to respond to Darcy's comment. It had obviously been made without consideration as to the message it conveyed. From all she knew about the gentleman, she had expected him to only be interested in a friendship with her. She had been sure that he would look for a wife amongst the first circles. Yet the tone of voice and his expression, even more than his words, gave her the impression that she may have been mistaken.

Not wanting to get her hopes up, she decided to take his words at face value. Therefore, when the dance brought them together again, she teased, 'If I were to find someone more likeable due to the greatest number of flaws, I would be head over heels in love with… your cousin.'

The comment startled Darcy, and he felt a stab of pain until he worked out what she meant. He could not help but smile as he said teasingly, 'It seems that you are very hard to please. A man must not be perfect but also not have too many flaws to be acceptable to you.'

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled as she said, 'I am afraid I have given away a long-held secret. Women consider that a perfect man is imperfect. You may take this both ways.'

Darcy could not help but laugh at the quip and the atmosphere lightened again between them as he relaxed. 'I suppose Shakespeare was a master at creating imperfect characters. What do you think of…'

Their discussion about various characters in Shakespeare's plays became heated. So engrossed were they that they performed the steps of the dance without paying the slightest attention to the movements, even though they performed flawlessly. When the music stopped, they moved to the side of the room, still without paying attention to their surroundings.

It must have been twenty minutes later, when they recalled themselves to their company.

~MoL~

Henry watched from the side-lines for a few minutes, his forehead creased into a slight frown.

He wondered what Elizabeth could possibly be discussing with his dour cousin and why she was even dancing with him.

After severe cogitation he came to the conclusion that the lady was kindness itself since she was obviously taking pity on Darcy by spending time with him to ensure he would not feel completely left out. After all, Henry knew how inept Darcy was at recommending himself to ladies.

That kindness, not to mention Elizabeth's beauty and her teasing wit, stirred something unfamiliar in Henry. He could not recognise the feeling and was uncertain if he liked it. Eventually, he shrugged off his introspection and turned his attention to the other guests.

In the end he settled for dancing with Miss Bingley.

~MoL~

A/N

About Bingley and Henry. I believe that their attitude is perfectly normal for young men of the era. They don't push the issue but are happy to take an opportunity when it is offered. Darcy in this story is more of an exception than they – or perhaps more discrete.

During the Victorian era, attitudes were very prudish, which most romance writers apply to the Regency era, even though the Georgian/Regency era was rather debauched. Just check up on Prinny.

I'm afraid I like to introduce a touch of reality… 😊

~MoL~