“I do hope that my cousins will favor me with a dance.” He smiled at Elizabeth, next to whom he had positioned himself in the rearranging that Mrs. Bennet had insisted upon.
Darcy stood and extended his hand to Elizabeth. “It seems awkward that I am seated between you and your sister. You should sit near Miss Bennet.” She obliged him and allowed him to move her from where she was to where he had been sitting.
Then, he took the seat she had vacated, putting himself between her and Mr. Collins. As if any gentleman was going to sit next to his Elizabeth and smile at her when he was here to prevent such a thing! She mouthed a thank you to him when he looked her direction.
Just beyond her, he could see his friend looking excessively amused. But he did not care, for he knew that Bingley would have done the same thing to keep Miss Bennet free from Mr. Collins’s advances – even if that advance was only a smile.
“I think it would be best to find your partners from the other guests,” Mrs. Bennet said. “At least to start. I am certain all who are in attendance would think you the most agreeable person if you began with those who are not of your immediate acquaintance. Do you not think so, Mr. Bingley?”
“Absolutely! What say you, Darcy?”
“I think it is an excellent suggestion. I did not do so when I first arrived and attended an assembly in Meryton, and it did nothing to endear me to the area. In fact, I am fortunate to have been granted a second chance to change the opinions of some.” Here, he favoured Elizabeth with a small smile.
“Is that so?” Mr. Collins’s furry eyebrows were raised high.
“I do suppose it sounds like a wise bit of advice, but my patroness, your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has given me advice as well, and I am not certain I can follow both her advice and yours at the same time. Though, I do suppose, as is often the case, which one realizes well after the moment has passed, that I might not be thinking as clearly about it as I should be.” He waggled his head from side to side as if trying to decide something.
“I suppose I shall take it to the Good Lord in the morning and allow him to sort it out in my mind.” His brow furrowed.
“However, it does seem to me that peacemaking should come before merriment and promotion of self, so perhaps I already know that answer, and I shall dance the first with one of my cousins and then, I can see to the neighbours.” Again, he smiled in the direction of Elizabeth.
“Miss Elizabeth already has a partner for the first set, as does Miss Bennet,” Darcy said to him as he took Elizabeth’s hand in his own. “And I would imagine that Bingley and I will switch partners for the second set and then, there is my cousin who will want to dance with Miss Elizabeth.”
The man’s mouth was agape.
“I have been informed that dinner is ready,” Mr. Bennet said as he entered the room.
“I apologize for not being able to offer port before we dine as is my custom, but I had to see to a matter.” He directed this to Darcy and Bingley.
“However, I assure you that there will be port both during and after our meal.” He motioned toward the door.
“My wife’s brother has connections to some very fine vintners, so we are seldom without an excellent bottle of some sort of wine to enjoy.
” He had taken his wife’s hand. “My dear, are there instructions for how we are to go in?”
Mrs. Bennet brightened as if arranging a processional into dinner was a most exciting task.
Yes, thought Darcy, Elizabeth was correct in telling him that her mother excelled at hosting parties of any sort.
“It seems only natural,” she said to her husband, “that Mr. Collins should follow you and me, and then, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley with Elizbeth and Jane and the other girls can follow behind.”
“But I am of low standing…” Mr. Collins began.
“You are my husband’s heir,” Mrs. Bennet inserted firmly, “and therefore, I insist that you follow him and me, unless Mr. Darcy is offended by the arrangement?”
“Not at all,” Darcy assured her. “It is your home, and I find your reasoning to be all that is good.”
Mrs. Bennet smiled. “Please keep Elizabeth at your side so that you can converse easily.” She nodded to Bingley as if to say the same to him about Miss Bennet.
“Shall we then?” Mr. Bennet asked.
“It seems improper…” Mr. Collins pressed his lips together when Mr. Bennet gave him a withering glare.
“I will not have you say such things about my wife or Mr. Darcy.”
“But I said nothing…”
“You implied that their decision was unsuitable, which casts their characters into question.”
“I did not mean to imply a want in character,” Mr. Collins protested. “I was merely pointing out a possible error, and even those of impeccable character do make mistakes.”
Mr. Bennet sighed. “No mistake has been made. Now, if you wish to eat with us, you will follow behind myself and before Mr. Darcy.” And with that, he quit the room.
Mr. Collins shook his head and shrugged before following as if he was resigning himself to doing something he did not wish to do.
“He is dreadful,” Miss Lydia whispered.
Miss Kitty nodded her agreement vigorously.
“And I am actually delighted to be part of Mama’s matchmaking scheme just so that I am not thrust in his direction,” Mary said as they all left the drawing room to go to dinner.
So, it was true. Mrs. Bennet was planning to present Miss Mary to his cousin.
He had thought that was what was afoot earlier today, and after having met Mr. Collins, Darcy was determined to make sure that Richard pretended to be amiable to the scheme just to keep Miss Mary from being forced to entertain him.