Mr Darcy's Ruthless Proposal Chapter 60: An Unexpected Couple, a pride and prejudice fanfic

It's time for the ball!

Elizabeth Darcy's POV

60. An Unexpected Couple

Although Lady Henrietta was selective in her choice of guests, and I had thought her ballroom was quite ample when seeing some of her preparations the day before (the wax candles and floral arrangements, the placement of settees, sofas and armchairs for those obliged by a lack of partners or physical health to sit out a few dances, the two punch tables with gleaming silver punch bowls), on this, the day of her ball, it seemed on the smaller side. I knew that was an illusion, of course, caused by nearly everyone who was invited attending. For it was the last event for many before returning to the country and many single young men (and some not so young), knew the heiress of Rosings would be present and was in need of a husband.

Guests walked about and chatted while waiting for the Earl and Countess to be announced and officially begin the ball. I observed that many people clustered around Miss de Bourgh and Lady Catherine wherever they went, like bees who have found one of the last blooming flowers. While this occurred, the musicians played light music.

My husband was obliged to introduce me to various august people. Between them and my previous acquainteces (I had met most of them when taking calls with Lady Henrietta), my dance card was almost full. We had reluctantly followed Lady Henrietta's advice, first to give my husband a set of no significance (we decided upon the fourth) and second, for Fitz to seek to secure some sets himself with those of influence, being sure to be as convivial and charming as he could, as a way to obtain their support. As for me, she directed me to be deferential to my betters but to keep my happy manners.

Other guests had been announced as they arrived, and having been informed by Lady Henrietta that Lord Lancaster had indeed requested an invitation for the woman who was then to become and now was his wife, I was surprised they had not yet been announced. But I did not dwell on this for long, for just then Colonel Fitzwilliam approached us, carefully staying more to Fitz's side.

"Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, I am pleased to see you both."

His increased formality, his cautious manner in greeting us did not surprise me. But it made me a little sad.

We returned the greeting and he then asked us, "May I introduce you to my friends?"

The Colonel gestured wide, indicating a man and woman. I noted the man was a trifle stern, the woman was reserved but very beautiful, reminding me of Jane based on her coloring, but her eyes were all too knowing, as if she had seen far more than her years would merit. They both smiled in response without revealing any teeth, while his eyes scanned the room. I could not decide if they were uncomfortable being introduced to me, or just uncomfortable in the surroundings. Not everyone adores a ball.

"Of course, Fitzwilliam," my husband replied.

"Allow me to present Mr. and Miss Stock, of Shropshire." I then remembered that Lady Henrietta had commented about her son specifically wanting them invited, speaking of their kindness to her uncle and speculating that the Colonel might have a tendre for Miss Stock, whose first name was Elizabeth if I recalled correctly.

I turned more to her and Fitz more to him. I was most eager to befriend her if my husband's cousin had an interest there. Indeed, it was somewhat surprising that a woman of her beauty had not married, but perhaps like Jane she lacked a dowry and that was what prevented it.

"Miss Stock, I have heard much about you."

I was about to add, "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance," but before I could she asked, "From who? About what?" Her eyes were wide and scared snd she took a step toward her brother as if seeking reassurance, protection or both.

I could not understand what had caused such a reaction, but still did my best to reassure her, "From Lady Henrietta, from what she heard from Colonel Fitzwilliam. Only good things, to be sure. Lady Henrietta told us that she heard all you and your brother have done to aid her uncle.

"Oh." Miss Stock collected herself and responded, "Mr. Otto is a kind soul, a good neighbor, and it was our pleasure to do what we could."

"I sure she will be pleased you are attending."

We stood there without speaking for several long moments. Anxious to find a new neutral topic, and perhaps help the Colonel if I could, I requested, "Now tell me, are you fond of dancing?"

Although the men were obstensibly talking amongst themselves, I noted that Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed to be carefully listening to all Miss Stock said.

"Yes," said she, "when I can find an agreeable partner who is both skilled at dancing and feels no need to fill the air with unnecessary conversation, or yet worse to ask me many questions that require me to concentrate to give cogent answers. I simply want to let my mind and worries drift away as I twirl, whirl, promenade and move about in each figure. There is a sort of freedom in dancing that we women so seldom have in our lives."

"I understand," I said, and I did. "Now tell me, do you still have room on your dance card?"

She nodded.

"Then let me recommend my husband as a most agreeable partner to you, for he is a fine dancer and might be well relieved to spend a half-hour in silence, as he does not particular enjoy talking to strangers."

"Then why must he dance?" She asked.

"He does not always," I said. "I recall when we met at an assembly he only danced with those in his own party, and when at a private ball favored none but me. But tonight . . . well tonight we are both under orders to be sociable."

Fitz had apparently been attending to our conversation, for he asked, "Miss Stock, would you do me the honor of granting me a dance?" He followed this up with a charming smile.

I saw Miss Stock look over at Mr. Stock, who in turn gave the Colonel a questioning look. The Colonel nodded reassuringly, adding "Darcy is among the best of men."

I was quite impressed with his generosity of spirit, considering all that he had accused my husband of, at least some of which had merit, when it came to me precipitiously becoming Mrs. Darcy before the Colonel could even call on me.

"Too, true," said the Colonel. "Now Miss Stock, before you agree to dance with Darcy, I must request a set myself. For I should be heartbroken," here he placed his hand on his chest and sighed dramatically, signaling that his words were all in good fun, but I also sensed there was some deeper emotion and truth behind them which he was concealing with his lightheartedness, "should you agree to him and leave me without a set."

"It must have been a love match then," said Mr. Stock. "Those are all too rare among high society," said he.

Miss Stock smiled at his playful manner and replied, "Never fear, Colonel Fitzwilliam, for I have more than half my dances still available. Chose the set and it is yours."

Miss Stock chortled and smiled wider than before, this time showing her pretty teeth. "Yes Colonel, I will make that supreme sacrifice, to protect you from such fearsome ladies. Imagine," she said looking at the rest if us, "he can fight the French, live in the field, but he fears seeing signs that women have all the same weaknesses as of all of mankind."

"You have indeed found me out." Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled back at Miss Stock as she handed him her dance card.

After he placed his name on the line besides the supper set and handed it back to her, she handed it to my husband and said, "Pick the time when you think that you shall be most in need of a break." Fitz smiled and did so. A moment later, Mr. Stock was asking me for a set and I obliged him also.

The colonel then said, "You must excuse us now, for there are several other people whom I should like the Stocks to meet." But as he began to pull away, Fitz said "A moment please, Fitzwilliam. Has your mother spoken to you of what your brother has lately done?"

He shook his head, "No, I barely arrived in time to change for the ball."

"This is neither the time nor the place, but it shall have to suffice to say he must be kept far from my wife and," Fitz tilted his head toward Miss Stock, "all vulnerable women."

The Colonel frowned. "I understand. I have already warned them about him generally."

We chatted with a few more people and then something caught my eye. There, to my right, was Mr. Selkirk talking with Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh. There were several other people nearby, apparently waiting for an opportunity to break into the conversation.

I nudged Fitz to draw his attention to said event and opined, "Perhaps progress might be made tonight in Miss de Bourgh gaining her heart's desire."

"Perhaps," he allowed.

This slight distraction had me surprised when Lord Hatchington sidled up to me, but Fitz was not unaware as he pulled me toward him and then circled in front of me to the side closest to his cousin. In a controlled low voice, that reminded me of a dog's deep low growl as he warns others away from his prized bone when they creep too close, he declared "Stay away from Mrs. Darcy!"

So as to not make the family rift open, we were obliged to return the greeting, although Fitz narrowed his eyes as he spat out "Good evening, Hatchington."

I was more measured as I added my own greeting. "Good evening, Lord Hatchington."

"Mrs. Darcy, I hope you have saved a dance for me as you promised," he loudly entoned, smirking in self-satisfaction as our near neighbors turned toward us. He, of course, knew that I had not and my husband would never let me give him one, and indeed I would have much preferred to slap him than dance with him.

"What a pity, I should have liked you to see how well I could partner you." The innuendo was clear enough to me and Fitz as well.

Hatchington's eyes disgustingly drifted over me, lingering on my chest and neckline. "I am sure I will be seeing more of you soon."

My husband had reddened in anger and was clenching his fists, but Hatchington seemed wholly unaffected. I recalled seeing my husband when he was still Mr. Darcy, the man who had slighted me, encounterung Mr. Wickham in Meryton, how Fitz had reddened and Wickham become white with what must have been fear. I did not understand how, having been punished by my husband's fists, and still bearing such residual effects from that encounter, Hatchington could tempt fate again. But likely he thought himself relatively safe with such a large audience in the Earl's home.

"I know, but let us not let him ruin my evening.Just as you cannot properly confront him here, neither can he truly do anything to me. Do not worry: all shall be well." As Fitz and I set off in the other direction, I felt his arm gradually relax..

When we were well away from any who might have heard the encounter, we began greeting others again and the last two lines of my dance card were soon filled. This was just in time, for I spotted the Earl and Countess making their appearance and as prearranged we made our way toward them.

Silence reigned as they were introduced and then the Countess warmly welcomed her guests, adding, as she gestured them forward "We are most delighted to have our dear niece, Miss Anne de Bourgh in attendance from Kent, making her first appearance at our ball. Her mother, Lady Catherine, is of course my husband's beloved sister." Then it was our turn to go forward. "Please also join me in welcoming my nephew Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and his new wife, Elizabeth Darcy nee Bennet, of Hertfordshire. We are so very pleased to introduce these delightful young women to you. Now Miss de Bourgh shall join my husband in opening the dance."

That night dancing was pleasant enough as though I did not know any of my partners well, they were all much more skilled at dancing than Mr. Collins had been. My husband was dancing too, of course, and whenever he could arrange it he lined up near me. But near or far, he often looked toward me and I towards him. During the first set, especially, I must have looked at him far more than was seemly, wishing we could be dancing together.

"So, it is true," my partner for the first, Lord Hosser, a Baron who was perhaps near the end of his sixth decade but still nimble enough opined as we circled in the dance.

"What is, my lord?"

"That you and Darcy are a love match."

"Yes," I agreed, looking not at my partner but at my husband. But not wanting to be rude, I forced my eyes back on my partner.

"Do you think my son shall have any luck with Miss de Bourgh?" He looked over at her and I saw that she was dancing with a young man who resembled the Baron. "Or is she out of his reach? He is my heir, but I am hearty and hale, as you can see."

We were too far apart them for me to make any reply, but when we came together again I opined, "Miss de Bourgh values character over status or wealth, prefers to live a quiet life in the country."

"I see." Lord Hosser replied. "But shall a reasonable expectation be enough for her mother, I wonder . . . ."

We separated and when we came together again he confided in a lower voice, "My son said Lady Catherine was none too welcoming when Lady Henrietta introduced him to Miss de Bourgh and he asked for a dance."

"I should hope Miss de Bourgh shall know her own mind." I replied more out of hope than conviction.

As the evening wore on, Baron Hosser turned out to not be the only man with similar questions for me. I quite imagined that the Earl's home would be inundated with single male callers over the next three weeks, the Countess having informed us that the family would delay leaving for the country that long to give Miss de Bourgh a chance to receive suitors. Luckily, we were not similarly obliged to remain, although I had toyed with the idea of requesting from Fitz that we delay our departure as well, so as to support Miss de Bourgh.

During the fourth, while dancing with with my husband, I had to look twice to confirm what I was not certain I had observed the first time. Lady Catherine was dancing with Mr. Selkirk! Visually they were a mismatch as she towered over him, and he was as spider shanked as ever, but they still moved well together. They both had serious miens, but neither looked unhappy.

When Fitz and I came back together again in the dance, I remarked "I did not know that Lady Catherine still danced."

His brow wrinkled, "I have not ever known her to do so." I saw him scan about for her and then noted his surprise when he spotted Lady Catherine upon Mr. Selkirk's arm as they prominated down the length of the dance.

"Curious," said he.

"This bodes well for her accepting him as a son, does it not?" I asked, most pleased for Miss de Bourgh.

"I wonder . . ." By now it was our turn to prominade down the center of the ballroom, to join the other couples below. He said nothing more for this entire portion of the dance, apparently deep in thought.

Finally he added, "I never thought there was a particular regard for either toward the other, no more than a mutual respect, for they have known each other the whole length of her marriage, as he was an understeward then, and then for all of his. But now?"

"What are you saying?"

"What if Mr. Selkirk's regard for the daughter is in the nature of paternal love, and he in fact might have romantic feelings for the mother, instead?"

I could not help but turn back to look at them, stumbling momentarily, but catching myself on my husband's arm.

"They are just dancing, nothing more."

"Yes, but she never dances, and he must have asked her and not Anne. What man would be so bold if he preferred the other?"

The dance ended just then and I saw how Mr. Selkirk walked Lady Catherine to the side of the floor. Fitz exited the dance floor with me to the same side and I ventured a bit closer to them, feeling very curious. With their heads inclined toward each other as they talked, they seemed friendlier than simply steward to de facto mistress of the estate. I caught her saying, in a murmur barely above a whisper, "Oh Robbie, I was so worried I would miss a step, had to concentrate so carefully."

"I did as well," said he, his voice no louder than hers, "for I have not danced in many years."

"It was so very delightful, although I do not think I could really enjoy it properly while trying so hard to acquit myself with credit. I am only sorry that now our set has come and gone." Lady Catherine's eyes were bright, her cheeks had a becoming blush from her exertions, and I could see in her the young woman she once must have been.

"Do you have another dance lined up now?" asked she.

"Not at all. I am no prize here among nobility and there is none but you I would deign to ask. And you, my dear Elsie?"

My mind puzzled about how she could be "Elsie" but I soon concluded he had said "L.C." an abbreviation of Lady Catherine. Such familiarity on both their parts was wholly unexpected.

"Oh no, I do not dance."

"Well seeing how well you did, I would wager that you may get some other offers to dance."

"Be that as it may, I am well satisfied to sit out and see Anne take a turn with her many partners."

I had heard enough. I turned back to Fitz and saw a bemused look upon his face. I admitted, "I think you are right, that there is something there. I only hope that Miss de Bourgh shall not be too disappointed."

A/N: Did I surprise anyone? I did not know how things were going to turn out with Mr. Selkirk until I wrote this chapter, but what the exact relationship is between Mr. Selkirk and L.C. is yet to be defined. I have some ideas, though.