Page 29 of Ever After End
CHAPTER 28
T he party often paired off to dance a few reels each evening, but once a week, Mrs Darlington arranged a proper dance for her guests. There were no society rules attached to these dances. For example, a couple could dance as many times as they chose, more than three times even, and nothing would be said. A lady could decline to dance with a gentleman and still dance with others, and no one would judge her for it. Every other dance was the waltz.
Mrs Darlington certainly knew how to give her guests the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company without expectations being raised by society, Elizabeth observed to herself as she made her way downstairs with her sisters. She saw no harm in the departure from such rules with proper chaperones present.
There were two others present. Mrs Darlington liked to invite her parson and his daughter on such evenings. They did not concern themselves with the number of times her guests danced with each other, and it gave Miss Irving the opportunity to socialise outside of her own neighbourhood. Mrs Darlington always hoped the spinster would meet someone at one of her parties and make a match. Miss Irving was twenty-seven, and with a dowry of only five hundred, never had a suitor .
“Look at the flowers, Lizzy, Mrs Higglebottom told me that they are made of silk, so that Mrs Darlington need not empty her gardens on our dances each week. The ladies spent an entire winter creating them.” Mary pointed out the decorations to Elizabeth, who was duly impressed. The Bennet ladies all chorused a compliment to their hostess as they entered the room.
“Enjoy yourself tonight, Mary dear.” Elizabeth pressed her sister’s hand as they parted. “It has brought me great joy to see you appreciated as you deserve here.”
“Who would believe that I of all the ladies would have two suitors ?” Mary giggled.
“I would believe it, and I cannot wait to learn who will win your heart.” Elizabeth waved her sister off as the music started, and Colonel Gordon approached to claim Mary’s hand.
Elizabeth danced the first with Mr Cartwright, but thereafter she was popular enough that her hand was sought by most of the gentlemen over the course of the evening. She was one who they felt comfortable dancing with in between paying attention to the ladies they truly wished to court. Elizabeth had no objection to making conversation with most of them, even though she had no romantic hopes. It is better than attending an assembly in Meryton, she thought. In Meryton, all of the men take the opportunity of a dance to persuade me to invest in something, and the women act as if I behave like a trollop each time I take to the floor .
She accepted Mr Elwood’s arm into supper, understanding that while Colonel Gordon was courting her sister, Mr Elwood would use the opportunity to learn more about Mary from Elizabeth.
“Mr Elwood, I understand that you are very passionate about your charities. I have accompanied my aunt for her charitable outings in London many times. What endeavours do you favour with your time?”
“I enjoy my work with the wounded officers most, Miss Elizabeth.” The man looked surreptitiously over at Mary as he spoke. “Although, I also volunteer at several schools, to teach special skills, and I am on the board of two orphanages. ”
Elizabeth listened to the man speak of his interests throughout the meal, and answered his questions about her sister, noticing that Mary looked over to Mr Elwood nearly as often as he looked at her.
“May I have this dance, Miss Elizabeth?” Mr Darcy bowed in front of her as she re-entered the ballroom after supper.
“You may,” answered Elizabeth in surprise as she took his arm. Why should Mr Darcy wish to dance with her? A waltz started, and her cheeks flamed. Oh heavens, was her countenance to betray her admiration for the man against her will? She blushed wildly as she fought to keep her reaction to him under control.
He had so far only danced with his sister, Miss Bates, and the parson’s daughter, presumably as a kindness to his aunt. Elizabeth darted a glance at Mrs Darlington and saw her host watching them with interest, and blushed further as she noticed his sister and his friends doing the same.
If Elizabeth thought drawing the man out on a walk in the early morning was difficult, it was nothing to making him speak on a dance floor in front of a room full of people.
“This is a very pleasant waltz,” Elizabeth tried.
“Oh yes, most invigorating.” Mr Darcy avoided her eye.
After a moment, Elizabeth tried again. “It is your turn to say something, Mr Darcy. I spoke of the dance, now you ought to make a remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.”
“Whatever you wish to hear, Miss Elizabeth, consider it said.” Mr Darcy smiled at her cheek.
“Very well then. That will do for the present. Perhaps by and by, I might observe that these private dances are much pleasanter than public ones. But for now, we may remain silent.” She did her best not to think about the muscles of his arm moving under her fingers as they spun about the floor. She was beginning to feel dizzy. Traitorous was her countenance tonight!
At length the dance ended, and Elizabeth escaped onto the terrace. “ Lizzy, are you all right?” Jane followed her outside swiftly. “You looked almost unwell while you were dancing with Mr Darcy.”
“I am so mortified, Jane!” Elizabeth cried. “Mrs Darlington told us not to chase her godson, and I cannot help it. I admire him, and tonight, I could not hide it.”
“Is that what is wrong?” said Jane. “Lizzy, I could not fathom what was amiss with you, but you did not appear to be in love with the man. You looked quite ill.”
“How wonderful, instead of betraying my feelings, I only managed to look sick and deranged,” Elizabeth giggled strangely.
“Lizzy, this is not like you.” Jane put her hand over Elizabeth’s on the railing. “What have I missed?”
“He is very nearly perfect, Jane.” Elizabeth averted her gaze. “He is the man who, in intellect and temperament, would most suit me.”
“Nearly perfect?” Jane’s eyebrows raised. “Lizzy, It is unlike you to be so interested in someone so distinctly unpleasant. I hope you do not believe that his wealth would make you happy, when he is such a disagreeable person. He has scarcely spoken to anyone since he arrived.”
“It is him being unpleasant and unkind that I refuse to believe,” Elizabeth objected. “And his wealth is likely the cause of his behaviour rather than the cause of my feelings. Consider how rich he is, Jane. Can you truly believe that his standoffish behaviour does not stem from a desire to protect himself from those like Aurelia Winslow? Think of all Mr Bingley told you of him. His parents died when he was young. He has had the burden of an enormous estate since he was a young man. Looking after the servants, and the well being of so many tenants, not to mention he has raised his sister alone since she was a tender age, and look at what a delightful girl she is. How could he not be serious? Life is a serious business for a man like him. Look at how Miss Winslow throws herself at him. I bet a man like him, everyone wants something from him; marriage, money, connections. I am certain nearly every person he has met since he left university has tried to manipulate or use him in some way. How could he not be guarded and reserved? Look at what you and I have endured since our fortunes changed, and tell me that if they were multiplied ten times over, that it would not make you a very guarded person.”
“It is not often a lady wishes a gentleman was not wealthy. Lizzy, you are not making sense,” Jane tried to reason with her.
“He is too eligible , Jane! Too far above me,” Elizabeth said. “That is why our host warned us away from him. Ten thousand a year and very likely more! I might as well fall in love with one of the crown princes, for all the good it might do me. Two or three thousand a year would be perfection indeed. Oh I am kidding myself, for a man such as he, I would learn to cook and scrub floors; instead, I must remind myself not to fall in love each time I see him, because the matter is hopeless.”
“Without his wealth, he would hardly be the same person,” Jane pointed out sensibly.
“Perhaps it is true that he may have found fewer opportunities for education and knowledge, perhaps his experience of the world might be less extensive, but I believe we all possess particular qualities that remain the same no matter our background. Perhaps he would be more open, protecting himself less from society. But his inquisitive nature, his character, which I sense to be honourable and good, would be the same. Do you believe that if we had great wealth, that you or I would be drastically altered? Our education might have given us more refinement, but I believe we would be the same in essentials.”
“Lizzy, I have never seen you like this before. It is so out of character for you to create such an imprudent attachment.”
“It is certainly not an attachment, Jane, nor will it ever resemble one. It is only admiration. And it is no matter,” Elizabeth insisted, “He is not for me, and I am not formed for melancholy. I will mope for a time, but I'm sure I shall rally. But I will always remember him as the most intelligent – no – the most interesting man of my acquaintance. I will pray for him. I will pray that the detestable Miss Winslows of the world never catch him. That when he does choose a wife, that she is someone happy and kind. Someone who can help him with his burdens, and make him smile.”
On the other side of the door, Darcy leaned his head against the faded wallpaper. He had intended to follow Miss Elizabeth outside, for Miss Bennet was correct, she had looked ill, but then her sister had reached her first. Rather than suffering from illness, Elizabeth was instead struggling with her feelings. Feelings for him .
He turned and saw his godmother behind him, clearly having overheard the same conversation. “I have heard of many wishes that ladies have entertained in your quarter, Godson, but never have I heard of one wishing you less wealthy so that you might be more attainable as a person .”
Not knowing how to respond, Darcy turned away and made to leave his godmother when she spoke again, causing him to pause. “I believe, Fitzwilliam, that you have met the lady who, in intellect and temperament, would most suit you. Your mother would be overjoyed.”