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Darcy had been shocked to see Mrs. Allen in Sir William’s drawing room. The young widow was not particularly notable herself, but she was connected, through friendship and through her deceased husband, to some of the most powerful and wealthy socialites in London.

To have someone who was essentially of similar social standing to himself, and soon to be superior rank, correct him of all his misconceptions and poor behavior was humbling, indeed.

It took him some time, but he came to realize that she was in the right to correct him as she had.

His behavior toward the neighborhood in general and toward Miss Elizabeth Bennet in particular had been reprehensible.

It was also rather eye-opening to find that Miss Elizabeth could be considered quite a suitable match.

He had been increasingly attracted to her since the assembly, but he had attempted to ignore the feeling so as to not allow it to grow.

Admiration and attraction were one thing, but he could not allow the enticing young lady to ensnare his heart, because he had thought that a match between them was impossible.

Now, he found out that she was not nearly so unsuitable as he thought. She still had some rather low connections, but that was made up for by the fact that she was soon to become sister to the future Marquess of Glyndebourne.

After mulling all this over, Darcy decided he should apologize to Miss Elizabeth for his patently untrue insult. With that in mind, he made his way to her side. She was speaking with Colonel Forster, the colonel of a regiment of militia who were stationed in Meryton for the winter.

“I have been thinking it might be suitable to throw a ball using the assembly rooms in Meryton,” the Colonel was saying. “I thought it might help in establishing the good will of the neighborhood towards my officers. Do you think such a thing would be well received?”

“I should think there could be nothing better,” replied Miss Elizabeth.

“There is nothing quite so useful in establishing friendships as a ball. Those who are watching the dance have plenty of opportunity to mingle while those who are dancing have the opportunity to deepen existing friendships in much the same way as a tête à tête. It is the perfect combination of both impersonal and interpersonal.”

“That is certainly one way of looking at it,” replied the colonel, “but I would assume a simple soiree, like this evening’s gathering, might be just as effective.”

“My personal preferences must make themselves known,” said Miss Elizabeth. “I cannot condone the existence of a soiree when a ball must be given up in its place. One is hardly interchangeable for the other, after all. A soiree has no music and no dancing, and that deficiency must speak for itself.”

Darcy was surprised when, at the end of her little speech, Miss Elizabeth turned to him and said, “What is your opinion on the subject, Mr. Darcy? We all know you abhor a ball, but it is unclear whether you like a soiree any better.”

Colonel Forster glanced at him oddly at this accusation. Of course, he had not been in the area during the assembly a few weeks ago, so his confusion was understandable. “They each have their advantages and disadvantages. I am afraid I cannot state a firm preference one way or the other,” he said.

“A diplomatic, yet useless, reply,” cried Miss Elizabeth. “While it is patently true, it neither improves the conversation nor helps us settle the debate.”

At this point Colonel Forster excused himself from the conversation, and Mr. Darcy was left with Miss Elizabeth.

“If I may change the subject, Miss Elizabeth,” said Darcy, “I would like to tender my most sincere apologies for my insult to you at the assembly a few weeks ago. I was not aware that you had heard my comment until recently.”

She tilted her head in an entirely charming manner. “Are you apologizing for me overhearing the comment or for you uttering it in the first place?” she asked.

“I am apologizing for saying such a patently false statement,” said Mr. Darcy.

“And which statement, out of the several you uttered, was false?” she asked. “That I was sitting down instead of dancing? That I was somehow deserving of being slighted by the other men in the room? Or perhaps it was that I was tolerable to look at?”

Darcy felt his ears go red. Hearing her sling his insulting speech back in his face in such a manner was entirely demeaning, but a part of him felt he deserved such treatment, because it was no different to how he had treated her.

Another part of him, however, was angry.

He was here attempting to apologize to this young woman, and she was not taking what he was offering. It was ridiculous.

The angry light in her eyes halted his own growing anger, however. It gave her an expression of arresting beauty he had never seen anywhere else. “You are far more than merely tolerable,” he said. “In fact, at this moment you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met.”

The words had slipped out on their own, almost without his permission. Yet, they were true, and he could not regret them.

Instead of soothing her, however, his statement seemed to make her anger grow.

“You are making fun of me, Mr. Darcy, and that is far more cruel than your impersonal slight at the assembly,” she said quietly but with a fierce undercurrent of anger and pain.

“I beg you to leave me in peace before we both regret this conversation.”

Before he could respond to her nonsensical statement, Miss Elizabeth turned on her heels and stalked away from him. He could only stare after her, wondering what had just happened.

Ten days passed, during which Darcy could not manage to utter more than a few words to the lovely Miss Elizabeth, despite being in company with her three times.

Every time he saw her, he attempted to strike up a conversation, but she would never respond with anything other than, “If you would excuse me.” Then she walked away.

If she would not hear him, if she would not engage with him in conversation, he could not apologize. If he could not apologize, he could never truly get to know her.

It was his frustration and disappointment at this that helped him realize how very much he liked Miss Elizabeth.

There had been plenty of ladies that Darcy had been content to admire, but very few that he actually wished to know more of.

Miss Elizabeth was now one of that select group, but the desire to know her did not automatically make it possible.

He could never understand why his sincere admiration had made her withdraw from him even more, and without knowing that, there was no hope whatsoever of mending the breach.

Her behavior, as unpleasant as it was, in no way diminished his admiration, however.

The more he watched her, the more he listened to her, the more he heard about her, the greater his admiration grew.

Since Darcy was unable to repair the damage he had done to Miss Elizabeth, he instead set about repairing his relationship with her neighbors, who were now temporarily his neighbors.

He talked with them more often and did his best to appear more cheerful so as not to push people away.

He didn’t know how successful he was. Getting to know strangers had never been a particular strength of his, but he nevertheless made the attempt.

About a week into November, an unexpected guest was shown into the library at Netherfield. “Mr. Worsley is here to see you, Mr. Darcy,” said Bingley’s butler, as he moved aside to reveal Lord Pendleton.

Darcy stood up to greet the young man. “Pendleton,” he said, “I am surprised to see you. I had heard you were stuck in Eastbourne dealing with a property dispute.”

“You may call me Worsley,” he said as they both sat down in the comfortable chairs by the fire.

“I was stuck there, to my great disappointment. I managed to get the issue resolved enough so that they could carry on without me a couple of days ago. I arrived back in Meryton yesterday, for I could not bear to be apart from my Mary any longer.”

Darcy shook his head and said without thinking, “That is a match I would never have guessed at in a million years. Mrs. Allen doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who would attract a man like yourself.”

“A man like myself?” asked Worsley. “And what kind of man would that be?”

Darcy could not mistake the warning tone in the other man’s voice. He practically dared Darcy to insult Mrs. Allen simply so he could have the pleasure of ripping Darcy to shreds. “I must have been mistaken,” said Darcy diplomatically.

“Indeed,” said Worsley, relaxing a bit. “Mrs. Allen is perfect for me, knowledgeable, teachable, and wise with her resources.

She manages her money, her time, and her attention with consummate ease, and everyone whose lives she touches are better for it.

Let me tell you something my father once told me.

‘Marry a wise woman,’ he said. ‘A wise woman will help you, but a foolish woman, especially one who does not love you, will be nothing more than a millstone around your neck, hindering your every effort.”

“My father said something similar,” said Darcy. “I only wish the sentiment were more widely shared among our peers. If it were, parents might make more of an effort to teach their daughters more than just how to host parties and look beautiful.”

“Just so,” said Worsley. After a pause, he said, “I hear tell you have gotten yourself into a bit of a romantic tangle.” This was said with a bit of a twinkle in the younger man’s eyes.

“I am not certain I would call it that,” said Darcy. “I assume you are speaking of the way I insulted the best lady in the neighborhood before even being introduced to her.”

“Indeed, I am, though I might argue with your assertion that Miss Elizabeth is the best lady in these parts. I did hear you made it even worse when you attempted to apologize,” said Worsley.