Page 7 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)

E lizabeth had thought she had a sense of the world—that which was inherent in knowing of the potency of attraction between a man and a woman.

For that perfect moment in time, she had an overwhelming feeling she had gazed into the eyes of the handsome stranger and beheld her future.

An incredible prospect the glimpse foretold; she stared into the eyes of her soul mate.

She looked right past the stern countenance he seemed to wear so well and saw a kind and gentle spirit. He was the most beautiful man her eyes had ever beheld.

Oh my, I am staring! She quickly averted her eyes. He is staring back at me!

He continued to make his way through the crowd, drawing the attention of the room by his fine, tall person and noble mien.

He looks just as impressive going as he does coming, she thought with a giggle.

She knew without being told that he was not Mr. Bingley.

No, all those who had made his introduction had described Mr. Bingley as quite amiable and as one who was determined to please and be pleased. He must be the mysterious guest.

As soon as the Netherfield party completed their procession through the crowd, the musicians began playing a lively tune. All those with partners converged upon the dance floor, and the merriment picked up where it had left off before the arrival of the distinguished guests.

Mrs. Bennet made a point of corralling her youngest daughters. She eagerly approached her husband. “Mr. Bennet, come quickly! We must introduce Mr. Bingley and his friend to our girls!”

“Please have a bit of patience. Allow the gentlemen to catch their breath.”

Mrs. Bennet noticed the Netherfield party was breaking up. The tall, handsome gentleman spoke a few words to his friends before walking off.

“We must hurry, Mr. Bennet! One of them is getting away!”

“Very well, my dear,” said he. He looked about the room for his eldest daughter. Upon spotting her, he signalled Jane to join him at his side.

“What are you doing?” Mrs. Bennet looked at her husband as if he had taken leave of his senses.

“I shall only introduce my family once. The agreeable Mr. Bingley is just as likely to be taken with Jane as any of the other girls.”

Within minutes, all the Bennet daughters eagerly stood in a row in front of the newcomers.

“Mr. Bingley, allow me to introduce my family. This is my eldest daughter, Miss Bennet.” Jane curtsied gracefully. Mr. Bennet continued, “My wife, Mrs. Bennet, my daughters Miss Mary Bennet, Miss Catherine Bennet, and Miss Lydia Bennet.”

The expression on Elizabeth’s face spoke volumes. That, in combination with Mr. Bingley’s clear expectation of an introduction, caused the eldest gentleman to feel the shame for his lapse.

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Bingley; this is another of my daughters, Mrs. Carlton.”

Bingley’s happy smile diminished any cause for lingering awkwardness. “It is my pleasure to meet all of you. Allow me to introduce my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley. ”

Caroline Bingley’s countenance bore none of the kindness of her brother. She barely nodded her head without uttering a single word.

“Where is your gentleman friend? What is his name?” Mrs. Bennet asked. “We should all be most delighted to meet him.”

“He is Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley and Derbyshire. I shall be delighted to make your introductions during the course of the evening.”

After a few moments of conversation, the Bennets were obliged to move along. Several other families seemed to have queued up to meet Mr. Bingley. Not that he noticed. His eyes were decidedly fixed upon the face of an angel.

As it turned out, Elizabeth did not have to work very hard on her sister Jane’s behalf. Mr. Bingley requested Jane’s hand to dance the first chance he got, and he kept his eyes on her throughout the set.

Lydia and Kitty made quite a spectacle of themselves with that turn of events. They had all stood together when Mr. Bingley had approached their group. The girls had jostled to determine who might be in the best position to garner his attention, even to the point of being embarrassing.

Bingley might not have noticed their antics, but Darcy surely had.

From the moment he had noticed the eager mama gather her daughters, all the time with an eye trained on their party; he had known exactly what was afoot.

The last thing he had wanted was to be introduced to a scheming mama and her desperate wives-in-waiting , so he had made his way to another part of the room.

From that safe place, he considered there was only one woman in the room he wished to meet.

The prospect that she might be a part of that gathering entourage was unfathomable.

His mind raced with intriguing thoughts of her.

She is extraordinary! As pleased as he was to have escaped the introductions to the Meryton determined-to-find-a-husband welcoming committee, he wanted to curse himself for missing his chance to meet the enchanting beauty who had captured his fancy and who, for some strange reason unbeknownst to him, was amongst that first group who had approached Bingley.

An hour or so later, as Darcy continued to observe the swarm of young ladies surrounding his young friend Bingley, he could only do so with disgust. He was not surprised to see his friend had singled out the lovely young woman with the angelic countenance.

It was just as he would have expected of his friend.

Darcy thought he had better caution Bingley against spending too much time and attentions in that quarter, lest someone got the wrong idea.

Soon enough, he began scanning the room once again for his own angel.

He spotted her on the dance floor. She possessed a measure of grace and poise which set her apart from all of the other young ladies in the room.

Darcy wondered at her even being there. Clearly, she is not of Meryton.

He surmised she must be from one of the prominent families of Hertfordshire.

Her manner of walk, her style of dress, and a certain air of accomplishment demanded it.

He decided to move closer to her to command a better view.

Elizabeth would have had to be blind not to discern she was the object of his admiration.

Whenever she occasioned to look in his direction, she found he always looked back at her.

He did not attempt to hide it. The sensations she experienced in being an object of his esteem where pleasantly titillating.

Never before had she felt such dizzying emotions under a man’s gaze.

Yet, the more he stared, the more Elizabeth’s courage rose.

She had suffered some disappointment in not having been properly introduced to him earlier in the evening.

She saw that as no reason not to endeavour to know him better.

Freed from the strictures of maidenly airs, she determined to put herself directly in his path.

If he is bold enough to break with decorum and engage me in conversation, I certainly shall not stand on ceremony.

Elizabeth approached the refreshment table and stood in the spot right beside him.

He had just requested a beverage when he breathed in a hint of the sweetest fragrance of lavender and chamomile.

He turned in her direction and was momentarily stunned to find himself face to face with his mind’s embodiment of perfection .

“I beg your pardon, my lady.” He bestowed a dazzling smile.

“Please, accept mine, if you will.” He handed her the beverage that had just been given to him by the server.

He allowed his fingers to caress hers during what became a teasingly intimate exchange.

A thousand words were unspoken between them as they held fast in each other’s gaze.

Passion fuelled every fibre of her being.

He felt the swell of desire. The balmy resonance of his voice was matched by the enchanting allure of her eyes.

Elizabeth’s daring fled in the face of such overwhelming magnetism. She demurred. She managed a smile which confirmed his every thought that she was the most amazing creature he had ever beheld. She curtsied and then slowly walked away whilst taking a deep breath to reclaim her composure.

Darcy could only turn and watch her as she made her way back across the room to her group.

He could not fathom why she spent as much time as she did with the young woman who had apparently set her sights upon his friend Bingley.

He reflected upon his own friendship, and how it put him in close acquaintance with Bingley’s particularly annoying sister Caroline, and surmised his goddess obviously must share a close friendship with the young woman attached to the objectionable family.

One can choose his or her friends, but one can hardly choose that friend’s family.

Later that evening, Mr. Bingley, who had danced every set, came from the crowded dance floor for a few minutes to press his friend to join him.

“Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”

“Bingley, I shall do no such thing. To dance at such an assembly as this would be unpardonable.”

“I would not be so fastidious as you are for a kingdom,” cried Bingley.

“Perhaps you ought. I would caution you to think better of your behaviour this evening than you have been doing. You no doubt have cast your eye on another angel . ”

“Indeed, I have. That angel has a name. She is Miss Jane Bennet. I have had the privilege of meeting her entire family this evening. Mrs. Bennet has expressed an interest in making your acquaintance.”

“I have no doubt. She is likely trying to foist one of her silly daughters on me, as if such a thing would be conceivable. Your newest angel aside, they are quite nearly the most absurd and uncouth creatures I have ever seen.”