Chapter 7
Peter Daniels was not handsome like Mr. Darcy or his good friend Reed, but he was friendly. Furthermore, he was intelligent and kind-hearted. Of course, like all men, he was struck by the beautiful young ladies his friend Reed introduced. He felt attracted to the angelic, lovely blonde. What he liked the most about her was she had a serene smile despite being very beautiful. She was a contrast to the typical women he encountered at balls organized by the high society. The majority of them were vain, arrogant, and often quite malicious.
After a few minutes of interesting conversation with her and her pleasant Aunt, he decided to ask, "Miss Bennet, would you care to dance the next set with me?"
Jane smiled gratefully and responded immediately, "Yes, Mr. Daniels. Thank you very much." She was content to know that she could at least be sure she would not have to face Mr. Bingley for the next dance.
As the musicians' chords began for the third set, Mr. Bingley realized that Jane would dance with Albert's friend. He was very disappointed because he wished he could spend some time with her and finally have the opportunity to converse without his sisters' interference.
For her part, Caroline saw with horror that Mr. Darcy would dance with Elizabeth. How could he have preferred to dance with that vulgar, savage chit without education than to dance with her? "Charles, I think you should dance with me ..." Caroline wanted to keep a close eye on the impertinent Eliza; she was sure that woman could compromise Mr. Darcy, forcing him to marry her.
"I am sorry, Caroline, but I do not feel inclined to dance," replied Mr. Bingley dryly. He realized his sisters had not let him speak to Jane, so he kept quiet to avoid an argument. But he would not pretend to be happy with the situation because he was not.
Mr. Gardiner would dance with his wife. Albert, so as not to have to share with Bingley's sisters, asked Miss Daniels to dance with him. He remembered her as a pleasant girl, although a little reserved. Samuel went to the refreshment table because he did not like Caroline. So, the Bingleys were left alone, watching how the others danced.
Samuel was standing next to the musician when Sarah Wilson approached him and forced him to dance with her. She thought she was Albert and wanted to use all of her charms to see if he was the proper man for her.
"I learned that you have been living in town for a few months and just moved into a beautiful house near here," Sarah said flirtatiously.
"I have only been here for a few days, madam, and I plan to return home in a few more," Samuel answered, sensing the intentions of the woman who danced with him. She was the typical high society lady, beautiful, educated, and coldly looking for a husband to solve her financial problems.
"And why are you in such a hurry to return north? I assure you that this city has many charms and new friends to discover." Sarah was not sure what was happening. Her butler had told her that the gentleman was Mr. Reed.
"Because my wife and two children are waiting for me. Do you not think that is a good reason?" Samuel was amused with the whole situation.
"Are you married? It is quite objectionable to tell your future business associates that you are single when you are, in truth, married, Mr. Reed. I shall inform my father to rethink if he wants to do business with someone like you." Sarah was angry that she had wasted time flirting with the wrong man.
Samuel almost laughed in the woman's face. He was aware that her father wanted at all costs to be part of his brother's business. Unfortunately, the interest was not mutual. But to avoid problems, he decided to clarify the situation. "I think you are mistaking me for my brother Albert. I am Samuel Reed, Albert's older brother."
"I see," Sarah said, unable to hide her anger. After that, she ignored Samuel for the rest of the set and the night.
Mr. Darcy was silent for several minutes, just watching Elizabeth. He was nervous. He was aware many were looking at him because he rarely danced. Also, he still could not explain to himself why he was dancing with her. "Miss Elizabeth, I was surprised to see you here. I did not know that you and your family knew Lord Wilson or her daughter," said Mr. Darcy to break the awkward silence.
After inviting her to dance and looking at her for several minutes with a disgusted face, Elizabeth could not believe that the gentleman now wanted to make her feel that she was not welcome at the ball. "What a curious coincidence. I am also surprised to see you here," Elizabeth replied defiantly.
"May I ask why?" asked Mr. Darcy, puzzled.
Elizabeth smiled and replied dryly. "I did not expect to find you in a ball, much less dancing with a lady not accustomed to participating in London's social circles," Elizabeth replied with a sardonic smile.
Mr. Darcy could not help but smile back. He loved having flirtatious arguments with her. It was obvious that Elizabeth wanted to provoke him again: "Baron Wilson has been friends with my maternal family for many years. Therefore, he always invites me to the events he organizes."
"I do not doubt that you are close friends with Lord Wilson, and also, I cannot tell you exactly why we were invited to this event with such distinguished people. But, I want to be clear with you; since I met you in Hertfordshire, I knew you moved in exclusive social circles. But if I remember correctly, you do not like to dance, and you do it rarely, only with women who are pretty enough to tempt you. And yet here you are dancing with a tolerable lady," concluded Elizabeth happily, seeing how Mr. Darcy looked at her surprised.
Apparently, Elizabeth's words had the desired effect. Mr. Darcy did not say anything for several minutes. He did not know whether to laugh, explain himself, or ignore Elizabeth's comment. He remembered perfectly well what he had said to his friend Bingley at that horrible assembly, but he never thought Elizabeth had heard him.
In one of the turns, Mr. Darcy noticed that Albert was closely watching Elizabeth while she conversed with him. He did not understand why Reed was so possessive of her. It was evident that they were nothing more than recent friends. So, he decided he would not indulge Reed, and as long as that set lasted, Elizabeth's attention would be solely on him. "I suppose you are right to be surprised to find me at this event and dancing, Miss Elizabeth. But the truth is that I came because my uncle asked me. But if I think about it, I believe it was not a bad decision to come because I am here dancing with you, thanks to that." When Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth's puzzled countenance and added, "Miss Bennet, I do not dislike dancing so much when I know my dance partner."
If Elizabeth had not met Mr. Darcy in Hertfordshire, she would have thought he was flirting with her. This time, he was not arrogant or prideful; instead, he spoke in a very soft and gentle voice and looked at her curiously. Elizabeth could not help but blush and notice how handsome Mr. Darcy was when he smiled. To escape the awkward moment, Elizabeth jested, "How nice that Miss Bingley is here this evening, too. After dancing with me, you can dance with her, since dancing does not displease you much when you know your dance partner. Besides, I am convinced that if you ask her for the next set, she will happily join you on the dance floor." Elizabeth had to bite her tongue to avoid laughing.
Mr. Darcy realized that Elizabeth was teasing him and replied in a similar tone. "I am sorry, but I forgot to tell you that since I dance very little, I get tired easily, and after dancing with you, I shall need rest for the remainder of the evening." Mr. Darcy could not stop looking at Elizabeth. He could spend hours conversing like that with such a charming lady.
Elizabeth could not help but laugh at Mr. Darcy's witticism. For a few seconds, they both looked at each other, and Elizabeth preferred to avoid that intriguing gentleman's gaze, who at one moment seemed to want to offend her and the other to be his friend.
For his part, Mr. Darcy also decided to ignore Elizabeth for the rest of the set. He realized that he was playing a dangerous game and was aware that he should not create expectations that he knew he could never fulfill. Elizabeth Bennet was a beautiful dream, and he did not want it to become a nightmare.
Albert was curious to know if Mr. Darcy's interest in Elizabeth was genuine. He had always been so serious and reserved that watching him converse animatedly with a young lady socially inferior to him had aroused his curiosity. From what little Albert knew of him, he assumed he was honorable and strictly attached to social norms and took an excessive interest in family and social connections. So, he did not know how to explain his interest in a lady who did not meet the requirements to be the future Mrs. Darcy. Also, it was evident that she did not like him, and he seemed not to notice it at all.
"Mr. Reed, are you staying in town?" Emily asked, pulling Albert out of his thoughts. She watched him for several minutes and saw that he seemed curious about what was happening on the dance floor.
"Yes, now I am living in London, Miss Daniels," he replied kindly.
"Then I shall ask Peter to invite you to his house. Our grandfather will visit us in two days, and I remember that he has always enjoyed your company," said Emily cheerfully. Perhaps if she had the opportunity to speak in a more reserved setting with Albert, she could get to know him better, and maybe he could take an interest in her.
"That would be great, Miss Daniels," Albert said sincerely. He fondly remembered Roger Daniels, a man of the world, full of adventures. Albert and Emily occasionally chatted as long as the dance allowed it. Still, the truth was that Albert was much more attentive to what was going on between Darcy and Elizabeth than to Miss Daniels' conversation.
Peter looked intensely at Jane, and she seemed absent. Knowing he was a wealthy landlord, most women sought his attention at all costs, just as Sarah Wilson had done earlier. "For how long have you known Mr. Reed, Miss Bennet?" Peter asked to try to converse with Jane and avoid looking at her like a fool.
At that moment, Jane looked at him and saw Peter's smile, trying to start a conversation with her. "Not for too long, Mr. Daniels. He and my Uncle have recently become business partners."
"You are correct; your uncle and Reed commented that they knew each other a few months ago. Do you live in London? Excuse me if I am indiscreet with my question," said Peter, embarrassed by his extreme curiosity.
Jane smiled and replied, "Please, do not worry; you are not bothering me. I am from Hertfordshire and am spending the season with my aunt and uncle."
Peter and Jane kept chatting about various interesting topics. Peter knew Hertfordshire and his surroundings quite well because his grandfather had several businesses in the area. Jane was grateful for this kind gentleman who spoke to her calmly and with genuine interest and made her forget all her tribulations for a moment.
When the third set ended, Mr. Darcy said goodbye to Elizabeth and joined his family. He stayed with them until it was a polite time to leave. He needed to flee that place and stop behaving like an irresponsible, infatuated schoolboy. He had to protect not only his feelings but also Elizabeth's. He had no right to make her believe something was possible between them. He was not a scoundrel, and he would not act like one.
Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner discussed how to protect Jane, especially when they saw the behavior of Mr. Bingley's sisters. Mrs. Gardiner explained to her husband what was happening, and they made sure the Bingleys did not disturb her. So Jane danced with Samuel, Albert, and two of Mr. Gardiner's friends.
The Daniels stayed most of the night with them, and Emily liked the Bennet sisters and their Aunt very much. Also, she saw how his brother looked at Miss Bennet, so she decided to invite them to the dinner she was hosting in honor of her grandfather.
For his part, Samuel Reed waited for the right moment to warn his brother about a certain lady. "Albert, be careful with Miss Wilson; she is after your wallet." Samuel knew that his brother was not interested in women like her, but he preferred to prevent him so that he would avoid her at all costs. A cold, calculating lady like that could very well try to compromise him.
"Do not worry, brother; I knew it since I saw how she looked at me," Albert replied, laughing. "It was too obvious. But, in any case, my interest is elsewhere," Albert added thoughtfully.
"Indeed, little brother?" Samuel asked, smiling and looking at Elizabeth.
Sarah Wilson was furious. Nothing she had planned had worked. Instead, Peter Daniels had spent most of the evening with a silly blonde who was undoubtedly the daughter of some merchant. And Albert Reed, who was so much more handsome than she had thought, had not even looked at her.
Since Sara was unsuccessful with neither Peter nor Albert, she moved to her next target, Charles Bingley.
As expected, Louisa and Caroline were fascinated with their new friend, the ball hostess. They managed to get Charles to dance with her and stay away from Jane. Unsurprisingly, Sarah took the opportunity to befriend Mr. Bingley's sisters and flirt with him.
The ball ran late into the night, and Jane and Elizabeth once got rid of the Bingleys, and Mr. Darcy enjoyed the rest of the evening with their old and new friends. At the end of the ball, everyone went home with a feeling of having gained and lost something.
P&P
Several days after the ball, Mr. Darcy kept himself busy doing the only thing he knew how to do well: working and making money. He led a dull and monotonous life and felt more alone every day.
But keeping himself occupied in his own world had also made him pay no attention to Georgiana. Every day, she was becoming more nervous and withdrawn, and she spent much of the day locked in her room. She only appeared to eat meals and practice the piano with her companion and piano teacher.
Mrs. Annesley was concerned, and before visiting her sister on her free day, she decided to speak with her employer. "Mr. Darcy, may I have a word with you?"
Mr. Darcy asked Mrs. Annesley to come into his office so she could explain her concerns. "Is there a problem with Georgiana?"
"I am not sure, sir. But she spends much of the time in her bedroom saying she has a headache. She also eats very little and has even lost her interest in the piano. So I think maybe you should call the doctor to see her."
Mr. Darcy explained that Georgiana had been going through periods like that since the previous summer and that she just had to give her time. "In any case, I shall talk to her, and if she continues to be withdrawn, I will call the doctor. Thank you for letting me know."
Mrs. Annesley said goodbye to Mr. Darcy and went to her sister's house. She had awakened early to enjoy the day with her family.
Georgina needed someone to speak openly to her and explain that she was no longer a little girl and what George Wickham had tried to do to her. Instead, she still lived in a fantasy world, dreaming of Prince Charming. After what happened in Ramsgate, Mr. Darcy and Richard thought that the best way to protect her was not to speak about what had happened so that she would quickly forget that horrible incident.
Meanwhile, Georgiana was in her bedroom, very nervous. She had never gone out alone, and even less, she had ridden on a hackney to go to an unknown part of the city. She wished to know if he truly loved her once and for all. She needed to close that painful part of her life. If George truly loved her, she would have been willing to do anything for him, and she would not have allowed her brother to continue to separate them. But if he did not love her, she would be estranged from him forever.
"Betty, I shall stay in bed all day because my head hurts very much. I shall try to sleep; please do not disturb me. I shall let you know if I need something," Georgiana told her maid.
"Yes, Miss Darcy. I hope you can rest and feel better," Betty replied.
The moment Betty left the room, Georgiana got up and dressed quickly. Then, carefully and without anyone noticing, she slipped out the back door of Darcy House and ran for two blocks until she found a carriage that would take her to the agreed place.
P&P
George Wickham was walking impatiently in the park near the commercial district where he waited for the insipid Georgiana Darcy. His situation in Meryton was untenable. After someone alerted the merchants and local gentlemen, he no longer received credit in any shop and was not invited to any of the houses of the most influential people in town. Moreover, he was in debt and decided to try his fortune elsewhere. He had requested a temporary permit from Colonel Forster, who immediately granted it. He did not like how his wife flirted with the young officer.
Luckily, he remembered the name of one of Georgiana's friends. Apparently, that former schoolmate asked her friend to invite her to Pemberley to meet Mr. Darcy. She wrote to Georgiana periodically when she was in Ramsgate, which was why he remembered her. So he had the great idea of writing to Georgiana as Miss Walton. In the first letter, he told her many lies about how much he loved and missed her, and stupid Georgiana believed everything. In that way, the letters became more frequent; thus, they had been in correspondence for almost a month. Wickham, in every letter, told her that he still loved her and that his greatest dream was to marry her so that they could be together forever.
When Mr. Wickham saw Georgiana walking through the park looking for someone, he was grateful for his good fortune. Silly Georgiana Darcy had fallen into his trap, and he would not miss this opportunity. The next time Mr. Darcy would see his sister, she would be Georgiana Wickham.
"My love, you do not know how glad I am to see you. I have missed you dearly."
Georgiana saw George Wickham as handsome as ever and speaking to her so lovingly that she could not help but run into his arms. "Oh, my love, I have also missed you so much." She immediately snuggled into her beloved George's arms and cried joyfully.
P&P
Many thanks to everyone who leaves supportive comments and enthusiastically follows the story.
If you leave me questions as a guest, I am very sorry, but I cannot answer. For those guests who write comments with foul language, I will delete them.
Y para la loca de patio que insiste en leer cada una de mis historias e insultar todo lo que escribo, te cuento que te puedes ir a la mie%^& y quedarte allá! 😀😀😀😀😀😀
In the next chapter, Georgiana realizes that she made a big mistake.
Saludos,
Yo