Page 41 of Elizabeth in Scotland (Elizabeth and Darcy Abroad #2)
“Oh, there is someone I must go see. Please excuse me, Mr Collins,” Elizabeth said and hurried away before he could ask her for one of her dances on her card.
She stopped and looked around to find a person to whom she might speak and make her excuse the truth only once she had achieved a safe distance away.
To Elizabeth’s relief, Mr Darcy soon caught her eye and bowed, as though asking her if she might join him.
Elizabeth hurried across the room, relieved that her stratagem for preventing Mr Collins from embarrassing them both had worked out so very well.
Mr Darcy was watching her eagerly, as though the meeting was as welcome to him as it was to herself.
When she stepped up beside him, he offered her his arm, and she took it gratefully. “Your timing is impeccable, sir.”
“Oh?” he asked. “I am glad, although I do not know what I’ve done to be of service.”
“Suffice to say, you saved me from a very unpleasant companion.” Elizabeth smiled and waved him off as if the rest of the story was not worth repeating.
She would only have to avoid Mr Collins for the rest of the evening to save herself the embarrassment of dancing with her pompous, ridiculous cousin — and more importantly, the risk of encouraging him in making a declaration that could only be humiliating for them both.
Mr Darcy led her out onto the dance floor, and as the music began, she wished the few moments spent with him could last forever.
The first dance set was a Scotch reel. Mr Darcy smiled at the look of pleasure spreading across her face.
“Mr Bingley wanted to feature some Scottish dances in honour of our recent trip,” he explained.
They began weaving in a dance set of four partners, moving in a figure-eight pattern.
“How thoughtful. I must confess I have been missing Scotland more with every passing day.” Elizabeth moved toward him, and they took each other’s hands as he spun her in a circle.
Then they fanned out again and took the hands of the other two partners before beginning the figure-eight movement again.
When they came close again, she said, “I hope you were not too disappointed with the results of the trip to Strathalt House?” The question and the worry had been assailing her mind since they left Scotland.
From what she had learned of his character, Elizabeth did not think he would hold on to resentment that her father had been the one to inherit.
But she would not be easy until she knew for sure.
“Not in the slightest. I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, I consider the friendship that was built between our two families to be of more consequence than any house or estate could ever be. And what you did for Georgiana — I would not trade it for anything.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I will always treasure our time together. Georgiana is a dear, dear friend.”
They came to a part in the dance where they faced each other, wrapping their right arms around the other’s waist and turning several times with the other arm held out to the side.
His touch and nearness sent butterflies swirling through her, and her heart fluttered with emotion.
He did not resent them! Far from it, he called their friendship worth more than any inheritance. Could it be true?
“I am very much enjoying this dance, Miss Elizabeth. I think this is probably the best time I’ve spent on the dance floor in all my years,” Mr Darcy said. He looked down at the Scottish thistle pinned to her gown. “It looks well on you.”
“Thank you, sir.” She took a moment to catch her breath before she went on, for it was a lively dance. “I thought you rarely enjoyed dancing.”
“I thought so as well, but I suppose it depends on one’s partner. Your beautiful eyes were much too tempting for me to resist.”
Elizabeth fell silent, caught off guard by the romance of it all.
She had not thought of Mr Darcy as a romantic, but this night was proving that there was still so much for her to learn about him.
To learn to know Mr Darcy truly, deeply, to entirely understand his character…
Elizabeth could not think of a more enticing prospect.
Far too soon, the dance soon came to a close, and he led her off the dance floor.
Elizabeth hated for their time together to end.
For the first time in all her years, it occurred to her that it was really rather inconvenient that a man must always ask a woman to dance.
Had it not been entirely impossible, she could not have resisted the temptation to ask Mr Darcy to dance again!
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I am sure I will see you again over the course of the evening, but I really should speak to Mr Bingley to be sure he does not need my assistance with anything. It is a pity Georgiana has not yet arrived,” Mr Darcy added, smiling down at her.
“You must allow me to thank you again for all the advice and friendship you have given my sister. When she has occasion to attend her first ball, she will be prepared and confident because of you.”
“I know she will have to get used to the whirlwind of public events, but I believe she will do well. Your sister is everything charming. She only needed a little encouragement,” Elizabeth said.
“Thank you,” he said and stepped away, disappearing through the crowd.
Elizabeth stepped aside and went over to the wall, where she might take some time to catch her breath.
She felt she had never been so happy as she was in that moment.
Nothing could be more desirable than a little quiet reflection to soak it all in.
The ball went on pleasantly, with more lively dances and diverting conversations. Better still, Elizabeth succeeded in avoiding Mr Collins, which only added to her relief and enjoyment of the evening.
After some hours had passed and many guests were taking a respite from the dancing to chat around the tables set with food and drink, Elizabeth found herself standing not far from Jane.
Her sister looked absolutely radiant, smiling brightly among the other guests.
Elizabeth took a steadying breath. Perhaps it was time to reach out to her again and make things right.
Elizabeth wove through the crowd and approached her sister with a smile. “You look well this evening, Jane. And I do not believe I have ever attended such an elegant ball. Did you have a pleasant dance with Mr Bingley?”
Jane’s face fell, and the smile altogether disappeared. “Of course. Mr Bingley has very good manners.”
It was not exactly the response she would have expected from a woman who was in love, but she decided not to mention her surprise. “Yes, he does,” she agreed. “He has been very kind to our family, I understand.”
“Yes, he has paid us quite a compliment by coming to call nearly every day,” Jane said. Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise at the haughtiness in her sister’s tone.
Worse was yet to come. Jane turned her nose up at Elizabeth, her expression twisting into a disdainful sneer.
“What can you possibly mean by such a garish display?” Jane asked, gesturing to the silver pin at Elizabeth’s breast. “It shows poor taste to wear such savage jewellery to such an elegant affair. You ought to act more carefully, sister, for you will shame our family with your poor taste and worse judgement.”
Shocked, Elizabeth looked down at her silver pin, wondering what Jane could see in it to offend her.
“I think you must be mistaken, Jane. Surely no one could call a small pin of silver and amethysts garish. I think it very much in keeping with the ornaments worn by many other ladies here. All the same, if I have embarrassed you, I do apologise, for that certainly was not my intention.”
“What shame our parents must feel at the sight of you,” Jane snapped.
Half overcome with shock and horror, Elizabeth thought with relief that at least Jane had lowered her voice so it would not carry too far.
“You go to the Highlands for a few months and come back thinking you can parade around in their tartan, flaunting the symbols of a foreign country. Do you think that is a compliment to them?”
Elizabeth could not understand her venom.
“I mean no disrespect to the Scottish people by wearing their tartan or this silver pin. It was a gift, and I treasure it. What is wrong with that?” Elizabeth asked, endeavouring to keep her voice calm, even though Jane’s attack made her angry and sad all at once.
“I was met with great kindness when I was in Scotland.”
Jane sneered at her, looking down her nose at the pin. “No doubt you have turned quite savage yourself while you have been away.”
Elizabeth was at a loss, but desperate to save whatever was left of their relationship.
“Jane, what has happened to us? I cannot think that you have become so angry with me just because I was invited to go to Scotland and you were not. Papa did not think you would want to go. Are you not happy you remained here? After all, it has given you the chance to become acquainted with the Bingleys —” She stopped, suddenly realising the connection between Miss Bingley’s treatment of her and Jane’s.
“It is Mr Bingley’s sister, isn’t it? She has poisoned you against me. ”
“Do not say a word against Caroline Bingley. She has been the best of friends to me, and she will be my sister-in-law, if I have anything to say about it. She has been more of a sister to me than you ever dreamt of being. You have only had your own welfare in mind since that letter came from Mr Campbell. I cannot stand the sight of you! It is a wonder that anyone wanted to dance with you, let alone Mr Darcy. I feel sorry for him, having to suffer your company.” She turned to storm away.