Page 59 of Great Uncle Henry (Pride & Prejudice Vagary)
S eeing that the assembly had not begun until Messrs Bennet and Collins had been taken away, and the floor cleaned where the latter had not been able to control his bladder, the first set was only called around a quarter after eight.
Elizabeth had agreed to dance the first set with Mr Darcy after the unpleasantness had been settled.
Hence, the tall, very handsome man from Derbyshire came to claim her hand for what turned out to be the first set of the night.
As she stood opposite Mr Darcy waiting for the dance to begin, Elizabeth could not but smile.
As she looked up and down the line she saw Jane standing opposite Lord Hilldale, Elli was standing up with Mr Fitzwilliam, and Charlotte, dear, sweet Charlotte was opposite Mr de Bourgh.
It was no surprise that Mary and Roger were lined up across from one another, and a little further down Lola was standing up with Johnny Lucas.
Since their arrival with the footmen, including the two gentle giants, there had been no mistaking the attraction between the members of the two couples about to dance with one another.
Jane had only met Lord Hilldale earlier that very day, so other than the fact he was dancing the first with her, there was nothing to speculate on yet.
As she looked at the Adonis watching her intently, Elizabeth felt a shiver travel the length of her spine.
Like Jane and the Viscount, they had only met today, so there was no telling if they would ever become more than common and indifferent acquaintances.
The first bars of the music sounded, and the dance began. Elizabeth knew it was time to concentrate on the steps and not on the various couples she saw dancing.
Lord and Lady Matlock were seated with Henry Bennet, Felicity Taylor, and Fanny Bennet.
Except for Henry, the rest were watching the various couples dancing. Felicity was filling her brother in on what he was unable to see. The descriptions of Lizzy’s reactions to William Darcy amused Henry.
“I have never seen either Andrew or William dance the first with a lady who was not a relation before,” Lady Matlock remarked to Fanny and Felicity.
“They must be far more relaxed at a country ball rather than an event with all of the eyes of the Ton on them,” Felicity opined.
“Is it not true that those two boys were hunted like prize stags by marriage-minded mothers and daughters in London? I believe I heard one of them say something to that effect this afternoon.”
“You have the right of it, Mrs Taylor,” Lady Matlock agreed.
“It is one of the reasons none of the boys enjoy society in Town. It is good that Albert de Bourgh’s eye seems to have fallen on Miss Lucas.
My friends tell me that the huntresses are sharpening their talons now that he is the master of Rosings Park and de Bourgh House. ”
“Mr de Bourgh could not have found a better lady, that is, if he and Charlotte made a match of it,” Fanny stated. “Jane and Lizzy have only just met Lord Hilldale and Mr Darcy, so at this point, only He knows what will be there, if anything.”
“And your eldest granddaughter, Mrs Taylor, she and Richard seem to rub well together. I always knew Richard would need to find a lady who could match his desire for excitement,” Lady Matlock noted.
“First of all, with my daughter-in-law, Debby, close by, please call me Felicity.” She inclined her head to her son and his wife who were speaking to the Phillipses and Lucas parents.
“ When you use ‘Mrs Taylor’, the chances are two of us will respond to you. As to your observation about Elli, you are correct. She has an adventurous spirit and will never allow herself to be made subservient to anyone, man or woman.”
“On that subject, Lady Matlock, please call me Fanny,” she allowed.
“I will do so as long as you two call me Elaine. When we are in public, and you are not comfortable addressing me informally, then please use Lady Elaine,” Lady Matlock responded. The two ladies agreed.
Felicity thanked the Countess for the privilege, and leaned towards her younger brother. “Fanny and her daughters will be much better off without Thomas in their lives any longer.”
“A truer word you have never spoken, Fee,” Henry agreed.
“Henry, our Lizzy looks to be enjoying herself,” Felicity told her brother in her capacity as his eyes.
One thing Elizabeth was sure of was that Mr Darcy was the best dancer with whom she had ever had the pleasure to stand up.
His form was perfect, and for a tall man, she was sure he was over six feet tall—her head barely reached his shoulder—he moved remarkably gracefully.
For the first ten minutes, they danced in silence.
That was until she decided she had had enough quietude.
“Our assembly rooms are pleasant,” Elizabeth remarked, but her partner just gave an enigmatic smile, one without a dimple. “It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the hall, and you ought to make some sort of remark on the dance or the number of couples.”
“I am your servant, Madam, I will say whatever you desire me to say,” Darcy gave a half bow without missing a step.
“Very well. That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by, I may observe that I enjoy both private and public balls. However, for now if your preference is not speaking, we may be quiet.”
“Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?” Darcy asked with a wider smile, this one revealing one of his dimples.
Seeing the dimple almost made Elizabeth weak at the knees.
“Sometimes,” she managed as she fought to keep from blushing.
“One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together after we all dealt with Mr Bennet earlier. I know that for the advantage of some, conversation ought to be so arranged, as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible.”
She liked to tease. Darcy found he did not object to being ribbed by the slip of a woman dancing opposite him. “Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”
“I do not know you well enough to be sure,” replied Elizabeth archly; “Possibly when we are more familiar one with the other, we will discover we in fact do have a great similarity in the turn of our minds. For myself, I am not unsocial, and do not have a taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless I expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb.”
“I can be that way in London society where all they care about is the size of my bank balance and the variety of my connections. For some reason among your family I find I am able to relax like I do not around the Ton , or for that matter my friend’s sister.
I cannot remember attending a ball where my Darcy mask has not been needed to be employed.
” Just before they separated, Darcy saw the arched eyebrow questioning his statement.
When they came back together he continued.
“In London, I feel like a prime cut of beef in the butcher’s window.
It is not me they see, but as I mentioned before, my wealth and connection to the Matlock earldom.
They care not who the man is as long as the other items are present.
I developed a mask of disdain, one which scares away all except the most determined huntresses. ”
“The Darcy mask,” Elizabeth mused. “I hope I never see that fearsome visage. I can promise you that I will never pursue you for your wealth and, although nothing but distant family, I am connected to most of your connections already.” She smiled cryptically.
She would not be the one to tell him she was Uncle Henry’s heir and one day, in many years she prayed, she would be far wealthier than him.
When she saw his quizzical look regarding her assertion they were distantly related, she explained who her late grandmother was.
The first dance came to an end and Darcy led Miss Elizabeth to the refreshments where they each had a glass of lemonade before rejoining the line to dance the second dance of the set.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Seeing that Caroline and the Hursts were supervising their packing, well at least Louisa was, while Hurst was snoring on a chaise in their shared sitting room, Bingley decided he would make for the assembly.
Better late than never. The two-mile ride passed quickly, and Bingley alighted outside the hall. He entered and stopped in his tracks.
Darcy was dancing, and by the look on his face was enjoying himself.
Was up down and down up? Then his heart almost beat out of his chest. He saw not one but two candidates to be his latest angel.
They were each dancing with a Fitzwilliam brother—he had met Lord Hilldale once at Darcy House.
But wait, what was Lord Hilldale doing here, and where was he residing?
Bingley saw Sir William Lucas who he had met when the knight called on him the previous day. “Mr Bingley, welcome. Were your sisters and brother-in-law not to join you?” Sir William enquired.
“Yes, they were. However, they will be travelling to London in the morning and are packing now,” Bingley related. “Would you mind introducing me to those I have not met?”
While the dance was still continuing, Sir William made Bingley known to his wife, Mrs Phillips, the Taylors, Henry Bennet, and Mrs Bennet. Seeing a nod from Lord Matlock, Sir William introduced Bingley to the Earl and Countess.
No wonder Darcy seemed comfortable here.
It seems that his family had several connections in the area.
When the dance ended, he was introduced to the three Miss Bennets, two Miss Taylors, Mr Taylor, and Miss Lucas.
Although he only wanted to dance with Misses Bennet and Taylor, he asked all of the ladies who had been dancing for a set.
Miss Lucas was available for the forming set.