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E lizabeth watched him from a distance as she waited for the next to begin.

“So how well did you really know him in the country?” Her father’s voice was abrupt.

She put her hand on his arm. “You must remember I didn’t know about your anger towards the family last year, Father, or I would have written and told you he was there.” She huffed a laugh. “However, everyone believed who I was then, so I could not have told him to pay me no attention.”

“He paid you attention?” His anger was rising, and she attempted to calm him.

“Not at all, then, although I could see he was watching me. I believe it was to find fault. Nothing and nobody pleased him while he was there.”

“Did he?” He seemed ready to be angered at that, and Elizabeth shook her head.

“We have talked about this before, Father. Please let me go a little today. Mr. Darcy will be perfectly proper and return me to you at the conclusion of the dance. But I would like you to seem a little less fearsome so other gentlemen may be brave enough to request a dance.”

Father scowled. “You will be importuned by fortune-hunters.”

She bowed her head. “I think that is inevitable. But I have you to guide me — and for the next dance at least, you need have no concerns. I understand Pemberley is a very great estate.”

“You are right, of course,” the grudging tone in his voice made her smile again. “But here he comes.” He stepped away a pace, so he would not have to acknowledge Mr. Darcy again.

Elizabeth tried to control the fluttering of her heart as Mr. Darcy bowed before her and extended his hand.

“We are spared having to wait out a waltz, my lady.” His voice was as she remembered, and a warm feeling spread through her. She placed her hand on his, and he led her to join the line, his arm extended to keep her at a suitably formal distance.

She felt slightly disappointed; would he not make conversation? Perhaps he might think she would repeat what was said to her father. But, finally, he spoke.

“I am honoured you accepted this dance, Lady Elizabeth.” He hesitated. “I wished for the opportunity to apologise to you.”

“What for, Mr. Darcy?”

“I was dismayed when I discovered you had left the country before the Netherfield ball.” He smiled faintly. “I now think it must have been my request of the supper dance that caused you to have to leave your home. I am truly sorry.”

“You need not adopt all the blame, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Collins’ offer of marriage the following morning sealed the decision that my time at Longbourn was at an end.

” Elizabeth sighed. “And to tell the truth, I knew the time was close when I had to say goodbye to the family where I had spent my childhood.”

“You are generous, madam.”

He looked stern and distant, and she wondered if the opportunity to apologise was the only reason he had asked for the dance.

But this might be the only opportunity she had to dance. No one seemed to wish to approach her when she stood beside Father, and her cousin Robert had not appeared with his family, and she didn’t know why. She spoke impulsively.

“You know I dearly like to dance, Mr. Darcy. I am grateful to you for daring to make the request. Might we declare a truce and pretend we are at Netherfield and be able to talk freely as acquaintances?”

A smile crossed his features. “I am at your service, my lady, although I hope it will not cause your father further offence at the Darcy name.”

She smiled brightly. “He tells me he wants me to be happy, and I have a question. Jane wrote to me and said you were groomsman for Mr. Bingley. Tell me, how did the occasion go? Jane seems to be so happy, she could not clearly recall all that happened.”

Mr. Darcy smiled more openly. “It was a memorable occasion,” he said.

“Bingley was so determined that everything would be perfect, he was very nervous before the ceremony. It was hard work to encourage him there in a fit state to remember the occasion. Your sister was very lovely, and wore a white gown trimmed with blue.”

The steps of the dance separated them for a few moments, and Elizabeth thought about what he’d said. But as they joined hands again, and warmth from his touch spread up her arm, she could not ask the next question. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

He looked at her sympathetically. “Shall we talk of other matters, Lady Elizabeth? I think I can tell you the rest at another time.”

She nodded wordlessly, and he turned with her, his touch strangely comforting. “Mr. Bennet told me you were travelling in the north when you had left Longbourn. Perhaps you visited your mother’s family?”

She smiled at him. “I did. It was the first time I had met them, and I was worried because I look so like her. But they have been very welcoming.”

His gaze was understanding. “But you still miss Longbourn and your Bennet family.”

“I do. However, it does not do to be maudlin, and I hope I have proved I can dance so other gentlemen might perhaps venture to request a dance. For that opportunity, I thank you.”

Mr. Darcy smiled thinly. “I am at your service, my lady.” But he seemed less than pleased when she mentioned other gentlemen.

As the dance drew to a close, he found a few more words. “Your father seems displeased with the gentleman speaking to him.”

Elizabeth glanced over. “Oh! It is my cousin Robert, Lord Hadfield. He was supposed to take the first dance with me, but was not here. I did not think he would venture to attend late if he was prevented from being on time.”

“Perhaps he will take a later dance with you, my lady.”

“Perhaps.” Elizabeth didn’t like the bleakness in his voice, and she didn’t like the sense of finality it gave her. “I might be being forward, Mr. Darcy, but I hope we have the opportunity to dance again at other balls during the season. It has been good not to have to hide my past.”

He bowed as the dance finished. “I am at your service,” he said again, and took her hand upon his to escort her to her father.

As they reached Father, Elizabeth dropped Mr. Darcy’s hand. It would not do to inflame her father’s temper, but she missed the warmth of the younger man’s touch.

Mr. Darcy bowed at Father. “I thank you for the honour of permitting the dance, Your Grace.” Then he turned to her.

“It was a great pleasure, my lady.” Then he was gone, and she gazed after him, feeling bereft.

“You see? It doesn’t matter that I was late, Elizabeth, you found someone to dance with.” Robert was his usual casual self, and Elizabeth could see that Father was irate.

“So what kept you from arriving earlier, Robert?” she teased him. He was a cheerful soul and as uninterested in her as she was in him. It made their friendship light and cheerful, although her uncle frowned when he saw it.

“It matters not, little cousin. But have you space on your dance card for me?”

She laughed. “You may have the next. When I stand by Father, he frightens all the gentlemen away.”

“But not that stuck-up prig Darcy, I see.”

“He is not like that, Robert, except when he does not know you well.” Elizabeth saw her father’s expression darken, and wondered if she ought to defend him so fiercely. She extended her hand to her cousin.

“Come, Robert, the next is about to begin.” She was glad to escape to the dance floor.

As she danced with her cousin, she saw Mr. Darcy standing by a tall vase, watching her silently, and felt breathless. This meeting would not help her in her efforts to forget him.