Darcy climbed to the aerie and was greeted by a strong sense of pleasure at seeing him and a desire to hunt. As was often the case between he and Georgiana, Darcy had been hoping for the same thing. The two of them had not flown together for several days and a distraction from his own thoughts would be particularly welcome.
Nothing like this had ever happened to Darcy before. No sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that Elizabeth Bennet had hardly a good feature in her face than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. There was no other explanation for such a change but that he was feeling drawn to her because Georgiana would soon be in heat and was feeling amorous. He was glad he had made such a careful inventory of the lady's features lest he think himself sincerely attracted to her. It was inconvenient to find a lady appealing but it gave him hope that Georgiana would be willing to mate, at last. Eleos continued to show no interest but perhaps it was because he was so young. Surely no male Griffin would resist a female in heat. In the past, it had always been Georgiana who rejected her suitors*.
As Georgiana took flight Darcy put these thoughts aside and focused on their mutual enjoyment, letting the wind in his hair** clear his mind. Soon Georgiana spotted her prey and they both became entirely focused on the thrill of the hunt. It was not long before Georgiana had brought down a large buck and Darcy dismounted to let her enjoy her meal. Several hours later they returned home with Georgiana feeling satiated and sleepy. Darcy dismounted with a large yawn. Georgiana extended a wing, inviting him to cuddle beneath it and nap with her.
He petted her beak. "I wish I could dearest, but I promised Bingley to attend a gathering at Lucas Lodge, it is to be a large party."
He felt Georgiana's sympathy as she drifted off to sleep.
(0)
As long as he was careful not to raise expectations, Darcy reasoned, it could not hurt to indulge himself in knowing more of Elizabeth Bennet. As a step toward talking to her himself, he began to attend to her conversations with others. Watching her eyes dance as she spoke with Colonel Foster made the evening, at Lucas Lodge, more bearable. As Darcy approached them the Colonel was saying, "I am afraid I am several dinners in your uncle's dept already, as well as several others in the neighborhood."
Miss Bennet replied, "There is a simple solution. You must hold a ball in Meryton that way you can invite everyone at once."
"You call that a simple solution do you?"
"Nothing could be more so and it has the added advantage of allowing you to invite ladies. I know you do not like to invite my Uncle Phillips without my aunt."
"Very true but I would hardly call it a simple endeavor."
"Surely your officers would not find it disagreeable. I know they are new to the neighborhood and have no particular acquaintances here. They would not detest dancing under such circumstances?"
"No, not at all."
"Of course, we must hope they would not be too nice. With the exception of Jane, we can only offer tolerable dance partners." She must realize Darcy was listening. He was intrigued.
Colonel Foster smiled, "I am sure my officers will be more than pleased with Meryton Society."
"Then there is not a single hindrance to the ball."
At this point, Mrs. Hurst came up and spoke to Darcy and he missed the rest of the conversation. Now he would never know if Miss Bennet had talked Colonel Foster into holding a ball.
Darcy did not even like balls! Clearly, his interest was an emotion he was picking up from Georgiana. He ought to stop paying so much attention to the younger Miss Bennet but no one else had anything interesting to say. A short time later he found himself drifting toward her again wondering what she was saying to Miss Lucas.
He had not intended to speak but Miss Elizabeth Bennet spoke to him saying, "Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"
If she thought to embarrass him he would show her he was not so easily intimidated. "With great energy; but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic." There.
"You are severe on us."
"It will be her turn soon to be teased," said Miss Lucas. "I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows."
"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! - always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, "Very well; if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with - 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge' - and I shall keep mine to swell my song."
Surely there was nothing particularly clever about this remark, nor was her playing by any means capital, but he took pleasure in both, Georgiana must be getting close to her time.
Darcy was sorry when Miss Mary Bennet replaced her sister at the instrument and sorrier still when the youngest Miss Bennets, some of the younger Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room. He stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by his own thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his neighbor, till Sir William thus began –
"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies."
"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance."
Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully," he continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; "and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy. Do you often dance at St. James's?"
"Never, sir."
"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?"
"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it."
After a short pause, Sir William continued, "I saw your Griffin out flying earlier, a magnificent creature. The way she caught the sunlight was dazzling."
Though Darcy cringed inwardly at the wording***, he was pleased by the compliment to Georgiana and would have said so if Sir William had not continued. "You did not ride her here tonight?"
"No. I came by carriage with the others."
"Perhaps another time she will see fit to grace us with her presence. The Children would adore it."
"Georgiana is not like Eleos. She is shy of strangers."
"Georgiana, an unusual name for a griffin. Are they not normally named after Greek gods or goddesses?
"Yes."
Sir William paused, as if hoping Darcy would say more, then continued. "They all have different personalities, do they? Bennet's old Griffin never comes out of the Library but I took that to be because of his age. Daskalos was originally bonded with Bennet's father."
"Was he?" That was interesting. It was rare for a Griffin to form a new bond when their bonded passed away.
"You know Bennet well I take it."
"I have dinned with him four times since coming into the neighborhood. Before that, I did not know him at all." Did this fool think everyone who had bonded with a Griffin knew each other?
"I had some thought of securing a place at a Griffin birth for one of my sons, but I did not judge the odds to be worth the risk."
Darcy made no reply. His attention had been drawn by Miss Elizabeth Bennet who was moving toward them.
Sir William addressed her saying, "My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? - Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you."
He took her hand and would have given it to Darcy who, though surprised, was not unwilling to take it but she drew back saying, "Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."
Darcy had little choice but to request the honor of her hand but she refused him. Nor was she convinced by Sir William who continued to press her to dance with Darcy.
"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half-hour." What could Sir William be thinking to press her so when she had clearly declared she did not wish to dance and he knew by his own admission that Darcy disliked dancing? What possible interest could he have in the matter?
"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Miss Bennet smiling.
"He is indeed; but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance - for who would object to such a partner?"
Elizabeth looked archly and turned away. Ah, perhaps this was his punishment for his comments at the assembly, or perhaps she was being considerate, assuming he did not wish to dance. He would not have minded dancing, but it was just as well, he would rather speak with her more before standing up for half an hour together. In addition, it was pleasant to watch her walk away.
Sir William, blessedly left him alone as well and he continued to think of Miss Elizabeth Bennet with some complacency when Miss Bingley accosted him. "I can guess the subject of your reverie."
"I should imagine not."
"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner - in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise - the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"
"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, "Which lady has the credit of inspiring such reflections?"
Darcy replied with great intrepidity, "Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favorite? - and pray, when am I to wish you joy?"
"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."
"Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed; and, of course, she will be always at Pemberley with you."
He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain herself in this manner. Miss Bingley could not know that his change of opinion toward the younger Miss Bennet was due to Georgiana's state and Darcy felt no temptation to enlighten her. As her wit flowed on he reflected with gratitude that Miss Bingley continued to hold no appeal, nor for that matter, did Mrs. Hurst. As long as he was careful, his being temporarily charmed by Miss Elizabeth Bennet would do no harm, and might make gatherings more pleasant until Georgiana mated and the fascination wore off. It would be awkward indeed to be attracted by a woman who was staying in the same house.
*People tend to forget the emotional bond between a human and a Griffin works both ways. One plausible explanation for Georgiana's not being interested in mating is Darcy's lack of interest in Anne deBourgh. His earlier thoughts indicate his only objection to the match is Miss deBourgh's health, but if on an emotional level he dislikes the idea of marrying her it could make Georgiana resistant to mating, especially in this case since the match between Darcy and his cousin is dependent on Georgiana's offspring.
**Most gentlemen did not bother with a top hat while flying as the only way to keep it on would be with some sort of a strap and that would look silly. The body heat of a griffin is high enough to keep a passenger warm.
***Darcy cringed because to say "your griffin" implies ownership. To say "Your bonded" would be to name the relationship, like saying "your sister" but to say "your griffin" is like saying "your horse".
AN:
Thank you very much to all who favorited, followed, and especially reviewed. I'm glad people are enjoying the endnotes. I'm having so much fun with those.
For those who are wondering, there is a reason for Georgiana's name, it will come up later.
Soon I'll be able to give more of Lizzy's POV. So far, except for the morning when she saw the griffins, things with the Bennets have been going on exactly as in the original, but with a griffin reading in the library, not getting involved. I'm eager to get Lizzy to Netherfield where things get interesting.
If anyone is looking for a Halloween read, I'll be running a 99cent countdown deal on my book, Darcy Bites, on Amazon, Oct 3- Oct 9 in the US and UK.