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Elizabeth grinned. “And what sort of friend encourages her fellow woman to follow a first rate performer with mediocrity? If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable, but surely he whom already disapproves of me must be used to only the very best performers.”

Miss Bingley proved incredibly talented as she played and sang a complicated aria, and Elizabeth did her best to listen attentively, for she really wished to make amends for any offense she had given the lady.

If Miss Bingley could be an ally to Jane’s future happiness, Elizabeth was ready to reign in her impertinence and make every effort toward friendship.

Mary claimed the instrument next, and Miss Bingley sought Elizabeth out again; this time, they spoke with the colonel of the regiment.

His notion of giving a ball was met with encouragement from both of the ladies, and there was no further tension on Miss Bingley’s part at the allusion to dancing.

Mr. Darcy observed them from some distance, and seemed to be moving closer at intervals, though he did not appear inclined to join the conversation like a normal person.

Miss Bingley was determined to ignore him, but Elizabeth could not. A glass of wine fortified her curiosity, and when she and Miss Bingley were left alone, she questioned her new friend directly. “What can Mr. Darcy mean by listening to our conversation? Does he carry on like this at Netherfield?”

“He is easier amongst intimate friends than in large parties of persons not well known to him,” Miss Bingley said in a low voice.

Elizabeth smiled playfully at Miss Bingley. “I wonder that he has any intimate friends, for surely they must have once been unknown to him, as well.”

“I am reminded of your observations about your sister,” Miss Bingley replied.

Elizabeth gave an appreciative chuckle. “Then there is hope for Jane, for Mr. Bingley is accustomed to persevering in the face of reticence.”

“No little difference from your own disposition, I am sure,” Miss Bingley replied.

Again there was a trace of something pensive in Miss Bingley’s voice; Elizabeth was certain that Miss Bingley harbored some regard for Mr. Darcy.

Perhaps with such an effusive brother, the lady preferred a silent suitor.

“Whatever the merits of a taciturn beau, I must nettle him a little. If I am not impertinent, I may soon grow afraid of your Mr. Darcy.”

Miss Bingley looked surprised, but the upturning of her lips was far enough from a protest that Elizabeth did not hesitate on her new friend’s behalf.

She turned to meet Mr. Darcy’s eye, and he was near enough by now for her to address him directly.

“Did we not express ourselves well, sir, in teasing Colonel Forster about giving a ball?”

He inclined his head. “With great energy; but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic.”

Elizabeth stood with her shoulder brushing Miss Bingley’s and leaned in to pretend to whisper, “He is severe upon us, is he not?”

Miss Bingley tipped her head to one side and studied Mr. Darcy for a moment. “Indeed he is - but a ball must be suitable punishment for his severity. Why, I begin to think I may suggest my brother give a ball at Netherfield.”

“Ah! She is not afraid of you, Mr. Darcy, and so I will follow her lead and declare there is no enjoyment like dancing.”

Sir William Lucas sauntered up to them and clapped his hands. “Indeed, there is no better amusement for young people!” He gestured to where Kitty and Lydia had entreated the officers to form a reel with them. “I consider it one of the first refinements of polished societies.”

“Certainly,” Mr. Darcy replied. He took a step closer and regarded Elizabeth with a sportive look. “But it has the advantage of also being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance.”

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow at him, her intent to promote Miss Bingley forgotten in the face of his challenge. “Even if one’s partner is barely tolerable.”

Miss Bingley gave a little gasp and Mr. Darcy blinked before parting his lips, only to abruptly close them again.

His color heightened; Miss Bingley blanched.

Across the room, Jane and Mr. Bingley had joined in the dancing, and Sir William called out his encouragement to them.

To Mr. Darcy, he said, “Your friend is a delightful dancer. Will you not honor us, as you did at the assembly?”

Sir William gestured to the ladies, and Elizabeth looked pointedly at Miss Bingley, who swiftly demurred.

“Mr. Darcy is indeed an excellent dancer, but I beg you would not imagine, Sir William, that I spoke to Miss Elizabeth of dancing because I wished to do so myself.” Miss Bingley bobbed into a curtsey and abruptly moved away from them.

Sir William was stymied only for a moment before taking Elizabeth’s hand and offering it to Mr. Darcy with a great deal of reverence, as if gifting the man a rare jewel.

“Allow me to present Miss Elizabeth to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, as Miss Bingley has done, when there is so much beauty before you.”

Elizabeth watched Miss Bingley stalk away.

She did not wish to vex the lady, whose sighs over Mr. Darcy had made a strong impression on Elizabeth’s sensibilities.

Moreover, Mrs. Bennet had been so offended by Mr. Darcy’s snobbery at the assembly that Elizabeth had promised her mother she would never dance with the gentleman.

But Mr. Darcy inclined his head and gave a slight bow. “I should be happy to oblige, sir.”

He reached for Elizabeth’s hand, but she hesitated. “Mr. Darcy is all politeness.”

“Indeed he is - a most agreeable partner,” Sir William cried, placing her hand in Mr. Darcy’s.

Elizabeth could protest no further; Mr. Darcy led her across the room to join the set beside Jane and Mr. Bingley, who both looked at them with happy surprise.

Mr. Darcy was a fine dancer; Elizabeth was chagrined, and a little annoyed to discover it. “You acquit yourself well, sir; shall I next discover you cavorting around a fire, or painting your face with woad?”

He barked out a laugh before schooling his countenance into a mirror of her own arch expression. “I shall limit my oddities to eavesdropping for the time being.”

“A very gracious repayment for my condescension, in standing up with a gentleman who was slighted by other ladies.”

Elizabeth had just enough time to relish his look of understanding before the music came to an end.

The other dancers all applauded one another, but Elizabeth merely dipped into a curtsey before stalking toward the instrument.

Mary had delighted them for long enough, and Elizabeth had no wish to speak to anybody of her brief dance with Mr. Darcy.

***

Darcy watched Elizabeth stride away, marveling at her confident steps. He was an ass. It was mortifying to have his own indefensible insult flung back at him, all the more so because she clearly had no interest in hearing his apology. And he was sorry indeed.

Though his approval of his friend’s growing regard for the eldest Miss Bennet had faltered at times, due to the behavior of her relations, Darcy had come to esteem the second Miss Bennet above anybody else he had met in Meryton.

He now found her quite fetching. Her figure was light and pleasing, her manners were beguiling in their playfulness, and her dark eyes were rendered uncommonly intelligent when she spoke.

It struck him as strange that she and Miss Bingley had been so often in conversation this evening, and at the dinners Miss Bingley had attended since recovering from her indisposition.

Since the abatement of her megrims, Miss Bingley had been aloof toward Darcy, and he could not fault her for it.

He appreciated that it must have been difficult to hear him speak as he had done when she was eavesdropping, but it was done for the best.

But then, Miss Bingley had been cordial to the eldest Miss Bennet; even now, she was smiling in conversation with Bingley and his lady.

Darcy had made a point of voicing his approbation of Bingley’s interest in Miss Bennet in the hope that Miss Bingley would likewise accept it, for he had seen her interfere in previous attachments she had thought beneath her brother.

He was gratified that Miss Bingley had taken his words to heart, though this could not explain her interest in Miss Elizabeth.

Darcy wondered if perhaps Miss Bingley believed that Miss Elizabeth’s manners, which were open and artless, were more suited to her gregarious brother. The thought nettled at him. No indeed, Bingley would do better with the placid beauty than the satirical minx.

When Miss Bingley turned away from her brother, Mr. Darcy moved that way and stood beside her at the periphery of the room; the spot afforded them a view of Miss Elizabeth at the pianoforte. “I believe I can guess your thoughts,” he said to her.

Her eyes widened a little. “I should imagine not.”

“Surely you are thinking that it may not be as bad as you feared, to pass so many evenings in such a fashion, now that you have come to know Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth a little better. You quite despaired of the society when first we came, but since Miss Elizabeth’s kindness when you were unwell, I have witnessed you taking pains to nurture the acquaintance.

Your efforts must mean a great deal to your brother. ”

Miss Bingley smiled, but her eyes betrayed her surprise; Darcy had never praised her so directly, for fear of giving her false hope.

Her eyes narrowed a little, a wicked smile playing at her lips.

“And I suppose now you are the one thinking it insupportable to be amongst such company, for I have been sociable, but you have spoken very little.”

It was another first for her to speak so archly to him, and infinitely better than her previous fawning.

He began to hope that they might continue as friends, now that the possibility of his marrying her had been forever closed.

“No indeed. I have danced a little; my mind is more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”

She made a droll face at him. “Can you mean Elizabeth Bennet? Has my itinerant physician made such an impression on you? Pray, when am I to wish you joy?”

Darcy felt his face burn as Miss Bingley’s smile grew genuine. “You do your new friend mischief with such a rapid imagination - from admiration to love, and love to matrimony. But I expected you to be wishing me joy.”

“And so I shall, when the matter is settled. You and Charles shall be brothers, and all your children shall hear the tale of how you once said that she was not handsome enough to tempt you.”

Darcy’s mirth ebbed away as once again a lady cut him to ribbons and then left him alone with his recriminations.