Page 40 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)
A t last, he crossed to Miss Bennet, and extended his hand. “I believe this dance is ours, Miss Bennet.” He smiled in relief that it was time.
She smiled back at him, although there was a slight caution behind her eyes, and he berated himself again for hurting her.
As they took their places ready for the dance, he realised it was a quadrille, and he found himself holding his breath that they might have amiable partners.
He was fortunate. Their partnering pair were a married couple from the local area whom they did not know.
But the quadrille was an energetic dance; there would be little conversation.
At least they could talk at supper, and he found himself desperate for a quiet time with her.
This might be the last evening he would see her and have the opportunity to talk together.
In a brief moment of stillness while the other couple were dancing around them, he could speak. “Are you enjoying the ball, Miss Bennet?”
She hesitated. “I am. It is very well organised — which I ought to have expected, of course. And it is the culmination of an … interesting fortnight, during which I have made a very good friend.” Her eyes were resting on Lady Mildred, who was dancing with her father.
At least he seemed to be being gentle with her.
Darcy watched her. “She is fortunate to have such a good friend in you. My sister is much the same; she lacks confidence in herself as being worthy of friends.”
“I am sure her belief is misplaced, however real it feels to her. Miss Darcy sounds an estimable girl, with what you have said about her passion for music.” She hesitated again. “I am glad she took enjoyment from the shawl she chose, and I hope it gives her the same courage that mine gives me.”
There was no time for him to reply, but as they took their turn in the dance, he thought she could sense his frustration. But he could tell her during the supper how much he appreciated her insight and understanding; how much it would assist him to help his sister gain confidence.
She would make Georgiana a wonderful sister. I wonder if it would be possible. Uncle Henry will be furious, but it is Richard and Georgiana I care about. If they approve, then I will have no concern for others, although it would be helpful if they like her.
But then a jolt of pain shot through him. She didn’t want a husband; did not wish to marry.
I can wait. Lady Palmer seems to think she might change her mind. Darcy pulled his mind to the present; he would enjoy her company every moment he could. At least he knew where to find her; Gardiner’s wasn’t going anywhere. Neither was Longbourn.
Supper was both a delight and a torture. Lady Mildred sat at the top table with her father, and the seat beside Miss Bennet was taken by Talbot, with his supper partner on his other side; a lady Darcy did not know.
The first words Talbot spoke to Miss Bennet showed how foolish the man was. “Well, Miss Bennet, perhaps you could show me your dance card. I must have a set, you know.”
Boorish man. His supper partner looked quite disconcerted; he ought to be escorting her, not importuning Miss Bennet. But Darcy ought to have known she was as capable of dealing with the man as she was of managing her youngest sister.
“I am very sorry, Mr. Talbot, but I am not inclined to dance further this evening.” She spoke firmly, not giving any excuses.
Talbot appeared ready to explode, but Darcy intervened quickly. “Miss Bennet, I was wondering if you have finished The Odyssey and if you consider reading in Greek helps you understand the language better than reading a how to learn Greek textbook?”
Miss Bennet laughed. “Oh yes, indeed. Pope’s translation I found reasonably true to the original, very different from the Chapman version, which diverged quite considerably in many places. I concluded by attempting my own translation with a dictionary for some of the parts which varied so widely.”
Darcy was vastly amused at the horror on Talbot’s face, but continued his conversation. “Do you intend to read any other of the classics in the original?”
“I might do,” she spoke lightly. “If I can find the time to do so. I do find myself quite busy at present.”
He nodded. “I think it admirable you find the time for philanthropic work when in town, and I know how much the tenants at … your estate appreciate your visits there.”
He breathed carefully; he had almost given away where she lived. He must be more careful.
She changed the subject, talking cheerfully about the meal and the quality of the pheasants the gentlemen had supplied for the table from their shoots. She was an extremely knowledgeable young lady.
He could not lose her. Surely he could not.
It was much later on in the evening, when Darcy was impatiently waiting for the evening to finish, that he saw Miss Bennet move from one group of young ladies to another.
She was working hard, he thought, attempting to be friendly and accommodating, regardless of the poison Lady Bedford was peddling.
But then she paused briefly by an open window, where the cool breeze was helping to ease the heat of the room.
As he saw her profile, for just a moment, he could see a loneliness within her, and his breath caught.
She knew she was not among friends here, and the sociable behaviour required by society masked her true feelings, just as his reserve did.
He felt a pull of empathy towards her; for the first time he considered her as an individual, not just her beauty, her intelligence, her sense of self worth, and her determination to control her own life — but her; Miss Elizabeth Bennet, an admirable person in her own right.
Tomorrow morning, she and Lady Palmer would drive away from here, expecting that they would not be continuing any acquaintances made during their stay.
He also would drive away, not having remotely considered that a young lady would turn his very life upside down.
But Darcy knew Gardiner’s Emporium. She often stayed with her aunt and uncle. He knew Longbourn. He could find Miss Bennet again. At Longbourn, she would be in company with her elder sister. He could use her name. Miss Elizabeth.
Elizabeth.