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Mr Darcy recalled Elizabeth’s attention back to the dance, as they went down the set further from the door and the newly arrived guests.

She could feel Mr Collins’ eyes searching for her, Mr Darcy seemed likewise uneasy.

The lady standing next to him she assumed was Lady Catherine, of whom she had heard so much.

The joy Elizabeth had felt moments ago while dancing with Mr Darcy had completely vanished, replaced by a cold dread that seemed to seep into her very bones at the sight of Mr Collins .

“You were not expecting Mr Collins to join you this evening?” Mr Darcy said, his eyes on her face.

“Not all. He was to join us in Hertfordshire in a few weeks.” She blushed, she had not thought that she would have to see him again until much later.

When they turned she saw her mother moving towards the door.

She had clearly seen Mr Collins and was going to greet him.

Elizabeth dreaded the dance ending. She knew that this would be the last time tonight she would be without Mr Collins at her side.

She felt that it was most unfortunate that she was dancing with Mr Darcy at the moment of his arrival.

She could not understand why he had come.

As Mr Collins drew nearer, Elizabeth was acutely reminded of the promise she had made - to her family, to herself. The weight of that commitment seemed to press down on her, making it hard to breathe.

As the music ended she readied herself to speak to Mr Collins and was about to bid Mr Darcy adieu and half turned away when she realised he had not released her hand.

“You agreed to dance two dances with me, Miss Elizabeth. Not one.”

She saw that Mr Collins had seen them and was walking towards them.

Mr Darcy nodded his head and led her back to the floor.

She was surprised, but pleased. He was not going to give her up easily.

He bowed slightly to Mr Collins before taking his place.

Lady Catherine did not look at all pleased.

Lady Rowena however had headed her off and turned her way from her cousin and Elizabeth towards Miss Darcy.

“Poor Georgiana,” Mr Darcy said as they started the dance. “I am afraid Miss Elizabeth you might be about to witness something unpleasant and on behalf of my aunt I do apologise. ”

She smiled at him then, “She does not scare me Mr Darcy, although I think your sister is more than a little uncomfortable.”

He turned his head to look over at her, “She will be alright, I see Lady Rowena is there with her.”

When the dance was over, Mr Darcy led her off the floor to where Lady Catherine stood with Lady Rowena and Miss Darcy. Mr Collins and Mrs Bennet stood not far behind.

Elizabeth was suddenly, painfully aware of Mr Darcy beside her, of the curious glances from other guests.

Her cheeks burned with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration as Mr Collins approached.

Elizabeth’s mind raced, torn between the desire to flee and the obligation to face Mr Collins.

She felt a surge of resentment - towards him, towards the situation, towards herself for agreeing to this engagement.

“Good evening.” Mr Darcy said to his aunt who merely nodded and he then turned to Elizabeth whom he had still not released. “Thank you for the dance, Miss Elizabeth, may I introduce my aunt to you?”

“Certainly Mr Darcy, I would be very pleased to meet her.”

“Lady Catherine, may I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” he said to his aunt, then turning to Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth, this is my mother’s sister, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

Elizabeth smiled, “Lady Catherine, I am very pleased to meet you. I have heard so much of you, from Mr Collins and your nieces.”

Lady Catherine looked at her for a moment, her eyes narrowing as they swept over Elizabeth from head to toe. Her lips pursed as if she had tasted something unpleasant, and when she spoke, her voice was cold and clipped. “Good evening Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth felt herself bristle under Lady Catherine’s disdainful gaze, but she maintained her polite smile, determined not to show how much the older woman’s obvious disapproval affected her. She could feel Mr Darcy tense beside her, clearly aware of his aunt’s rudeness.

“Darcy, if you would, I need some fresh air.” Lady Catherine took a step towards Mr Darcy. However, Lady Rowena interjected.

“Oh Aunt, I was about to step outside to get some fresh air myself. Please let me.” She took her aunt firmly by the arm.

“Rowena, I wish to speak to Fitzwilliam.” Lady Catherine said, looking at him directly.

“Surely it can wait Lady Catherine? We are at a ball are we not?” Mr Darcy said.

“No, it cannot wait. I really must insist.”

“Very well.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Thank you again Miss Elizabeth.” He squeezed her hand very gently before releasing her.

Mr Collins came forward as Lady Catherine and Mr Darcy disappeared through the door. Lady Catherine firmly gripping Mr Darcy’s arm.

“Ah, my dear Elizabeth.” He said smiling as he took her hand in his.

He led her away from the others. She looked back at Miss Darcy and Lady Rowena.

Miss Darcy looked terrified, Lady Rowena however looked thoughtful for a second and then very angry.

She took Miss Darcy by the hand and pulled her behind her and she moved across the room.

“Mr Collins,” she greeted him politely. “I am rather surprised that you are here. I thought we would be seeing you in Hertfordshire?”

“Yes, Lady Catherine thought it was very important that I come with her.” Mr Collins began, his voice a mixture of pride and nervousness, “Lady Catherine, in her infinite wisdom, felt it necessary to ensure that our engagement was progressing satisfactorily. She was most concerned about certain… rumours she had heard.”

He drew himself up a little. “And I am very pleased to see you, your letters seemed a little out of spirits.”

She blushed slightly but did not reply .

“I was astonished to see you dancing with Mr Darcy,” he said suddenly, glancing around to see if the gentleman, his sister or cousin were in earshot.

“And why would you be sir?” Elizabeth returned, “he is a gentleman. Surely you did not think that I would not ever dance with another man?”

“No, but while we are engaged surely-”

Elizabeth did not let him finish his sentence.

“Surely what sir? I would not dance with another man?” She was angry now.

How could he come all the way to town to ruin one of the few good evenings she had left?

Very soon all that she found pleasurable would be ripped from her, her father was going to die and she was locked into marrying a man she could not stand.

He was surprised by her anger, nor did he know how to deal with it, he stood looking at her for a moment unsure what to say.

She, however, turned away from him and walked quickly from the room.

* * *

Middleton House Ballroom - Darcy

Darcy couldn’t fathom why his aunt had chosen this moment to descend upon London. Was it merely coincidence, or had she somehow learned of his growing attachment to Elizabeth? The thought filled him with dread.

As Elizabeth disappeared into the crowd, Darcy found himself being steered away from the ballroom into an antechamber and then outdoors into the cold night air, by his aunt’s firm grip on his arm.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation he knew was coming.

He shook her off and straightened his coat.

Darcy was annoyed, very annoyed. He had been dancing happily with Elizabeth when his aunt and Mr Collins had appeared from nowhere. He was in no mood to put up with his aunt.

“I am sure you can be in no doubt of the reason for my visit here?” She said, her eyes, usually cold and imperious, now blazed with fury, boring into Darcy with an intensity that would have made a lesser man flinch.

“I have an idea,” he said with a faint humourless smile. “But my dear Aunt, I will remind you that I am not a naughty school boy, I will not be cowered by you.”

Lady Catherine’s hands, adorned with expensive rings, clenched and unclenched at her sides, as if she were physically restraining herself from shaking sense into her nephew.

“Don’t smile at me like that, Fitzwilliam. Do you have any idea how serious this is? To be behaving like this with that woman, who is not only beneath our notice but who is engaged to be married to your aunt’s clergyman?”

Darcy felt a surge of indignation. Beneath their notice? Elizabeth was worth ten of his aunt’s so-called “proper” acquaintances.

“I have not been carrying on with Miss Elizabeth. I have merely been spending some time in her company. Which as she is a gentleman’s daughter cannot be considered by anyone as inappropriate.”

“I have heard things, Fitzwilliam.” Lady Catherine’s nostrils flared with each breath, reminding Darcy of an enraged bull about to charge.

Darcy’s patience wore thin with each word. The urge to defend Elizabeth, to proclaim his feelings for her, was almost overwhelming.

“There is nothing you can say that will scare me, Lady Catherine. I have done nothing wrong in my conduct to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and if she does not decide to continue her engagement with Mr Collins, that is her business not mine.”

The feathers on her elaborate headdress quivered with each emphatic shake of her head, mirroring her agitation.

“Break off their engagement! I have never heard of anything more ridiculous. What of your own engagement?” A vein pulsed visibly at her temple, throbbing in time with her increasing agitation. “Have you forgotten that you are engaged to Anne?”

Darcy suppressed a groan. This tired argument again. How many times would he have to refute this imaginary engagement?

“There is no engagement between the two of us. And neither of us have any intention of becoming engaged to one another. My mother meant well, but she would never have wished me to enter into an engagement so against my will. We were still children when you talked about it. She would have liked me to marry Anne, but she would not have forced me into it if she knew my reasons. Just as you should not be trying to force Anne into a marriage she does not want.”

“What of your honour? Your duty to your family?”

Her voice, usually so controlled, rose in both pitch and volume, taking on a shrill quality that set Darcy’s teeth on edge.

The irony of her words wasn’t lost on Darcy. His duty to family? What about his duty to his own happiness, or to Georgiana’s? A marriage to Anne or anyone other than Elizabeth Bennet would turn him into a miserable beast fit for neither family or friends.

“Has my behaviour in any way indicated that I have forgotten either of those things?”

“You met her in the street for long unaccompanied walks in the dark. You were seen, you were holding her hand! Georgiana practically begged Rowena and Henrietta to help her find a way to dissolve her engagement to Mr Collins. What can you say to that?”

With each accusation, Lady Catherine jabbed a bejewelled finger in Darcy’s direction, the gesture becoming more forceful as her tirade continued. Darcy’s heart raced at the memory of that walk. How dare his aunt taint those precious moments with her accusations?

“I will not deny that I met her alone in the street. However there was nothing improper about the meeting.”

Her lips pressed into a thin, white line, disappearing almost entirely as she struggled to contain her fury.

“When I got Henrietta’s letter I knew I had to come at once to see for myself.

And I discover that you are dancing with her.

Duty and honour demand that you give up the acquaintance entirely. ”

Darcy’s patience wore thin with each word. The urge to defend Elizabeth, to proclaim his feelings for her, was almost overwhelming.

“Do you not see that if you continue with this course you will ruin not only your own reputation, but the reputation of the entire family! What would your father think? If he knew that you were planning on throwing away everything that his forefathers had worked so hard to create? What would your mother think if she knew what you were going to do to dear Georgiana?”

A pang of grief hit Darcy at the mention of his parents. Would they truly be disappointed in him for following his heart?

“Do you think anyone will ever go near her?” Lady Catherine continued.

Darcy could no longer stand it and he re-entered the house. Lady Catherine’s voice followed as he went.

“Think what your mother would say, think of your sister.”

He paused in the antechamber before entering the ballroom again.

He could feel his control slipping. If he stayed a moment longer, he might say something he’d regret, no matter how satisfying it would be.

Darcy paced the small room, his mind racing.

He needed a plan. First, he would find Elizabeth and apologise for his aunt’s behaviour.

Then, he would speak to Bingley about cutting the evening short.

Finally, he would deal with the fallout from Lady Catherine’s interference.

With a grim smile, he straightened his jacket and prepared to face the music.