Page 10

Lucas Lodge, Meryton

Darcy, Madison, and the Bingley party had been among the first to arrive at Lucas Lodge.

This had been the result of two things: Madison was eager to spend time with Charlotte Lucas, and Bingley was keen to speak to Jane Bennet.

Though he would not admit to it, Darcy felt the same about Elizabeth.

He was still uncertain about how to proceed, though he admitted to himself that he was, at the least, infatuated with her.

He knew it was unlike him to be so indecisive.

He could not help himself, though, and he was aware that all rational thought flew out of his head when in her presence, even if they never spoke.

If they were in the same room, he was befuddled.

That was all there was to it. As a result, he was both nervous about seeing her and looking forward to it.

He shifted to his other foot as he watched the doorway.

Bingley nudged him. “Will you please stand still? All this fidgeting about is unsettling.”

Darcy spun his head toward his friend. “I apologize. I did not realize I was doing it. I will endeavor to stop.” He glanced around. “What happened to Madison?”

Bingley nodded toward the side of the room. “He has found Miss Lucas and has abandoned us for her.”

Darcy looked in the direction indicated, soon locating his friend and the lady in question. “Is he serious about her, do you think?”

“Oh, I would say so.” Bingley looked at Darcy with a cocked brow.

“Have you ever seen him so taken with a woman before? You know as well as I do that he is too upright to trifle with one.” He gestured toward the man in question.

“Do you see how he blushes? She does, as well. I would not be at all surprised if there is an engagement announced very soon.”

Darcy tilted his head as he watched Madison smile at Charlotte. “I confess I have not seen him so enamored of a lady before. I hope that if a match is made, they are very happy together. He deserves it, and from what I understand, so does Miss Lucas.”

Bingley’s reply was drowned out by the sound of new voices. Darcy looked toward the room’s doorway and saw Mr. and Mrs. Bennet enter. He nudged his friend. When Elizabeth followed behind them, his heart suddenly thumped hard in his chest and he let out a breath he had not realized he was holding.

“Excuse me, Darcy. I am certain I will see you in a few minutes.” Bingley did not wait for a reply, walking instantly away and in Jane’s direction.

Darcy would have liked to follow. Elizabeth was at her sister’s side, after all. He looked down and chewed his lip for a second, willing his heart to stop racing. Instead of giving in to his urge to speak to her, he forced himself to remain stationary.

Soon, the meal was announced. Darcy, as the highest ranking male in attendance, escorted his hostess into the dining room. Sir William followed with Mrs. Hurst, and the others trailed behind according to precedence.

When Darcy had seated Lady Lucas and taken his own place, his attention was caught by the constant chatter of a gentleman he had never met before who sat across the table and down a bit.

His brow creased when he thought he heard his aunt’s name, but though he was close enough to hear the man’s voice, he could not make out everything that was said .

He shrugged to himself and looked for Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, she was on the same side of the table as he was, so he could not see her.

With a quiet sigh, he turned his attention to the food on his plate and his dinner companions.

Once the meal was completed and the ladies had retired to the drawing room, Darcy began to feel more comfortable.

He accepted a glass of port from his host and chatted with the gentlemen nearest to him.

He was deep into a discussion about the revolts in manufacturing in the north when he was suddenly addressed by the man who had been so talkative earlier.

“Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy looked away from his conversational partner with his brow creased, to give his attention to the other man, who bowed deeply.

“I know it is not the normal course of things, but I fancy that, given my exalted and respected position as a clergyman, it will not be looked at askance for me to introduce myself to you. I am William Collins. I have recently been granted the rectory at Hunsford by your liberal and honored aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who, when I saw her last just three days ago, was in perfect health, as was her daughter, Miss de Bourgh.”

Darcy flicked his eyes up and down the strange man’s person before he replied. “I thank you for the information. I received a letter from her this past Tuesday assuring me of her condition and that of her household. I am happy to know that she did not suddenly fall ill after sending it.”

“I could do nothing else. Her condescension to one of my humble but revered position is matchless in society, I daresay. She has given me much excellent advice and seen to the care of my abode as though it were her own. Why, just last week, she inspected my closets and ordered shelves installed in two of them. She has spoken to my housekeeper, as well, on the proper methods of cleaning. I am honored to be under her gracious care.”

Darcy could only stare as the other gentleman carried on in the same vein for several more minutes.

He seems to both believe he is above my aunt and below her, he thought.

And who in their right mind would enjoy Aunt Catherine ordering his life for him?

He was about to tell the man to leave off when Sir William rose and suggested they all join the ladies.

In the drawing room, Darcy immediately searched for Elizabeth, finding her near the pianoforte with Charlotte Lucas. He followed behind Bingley and Madison, who clearly had located their ladies and were headed in that direction.

“At last you are here.” Elizabeth smiled at the gentlemen. “I had feared Sir William would keep you all in the dining room until it was time to leave.” Her eyes sparkled in amusement when her friend and Jane, who was standing with them, giggled behind their fans.

“Tease them all you like, Eliza,” Charlotte said. “You know what comes next. We must have music and we have volunteered to play first.”

Elizabeth sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. “Indeed, I do. You will have me torture these lovely gentlemen with my poor playing. I am certain they have heard much better than me.”

“Ah, Miss Elizabeth,” Bingley replied. “Miss Bennet assures me that you are a fine player who charms her listeners.” He nudged Darcy. “We are eager to hear you.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips as though trying to hide a smile.

“Very well, then. You cannot say you were not warned.” She turned to her friend.

“Charlotte has agreed to turn the pages for me and I for her.” With that, she stepped behind the instrument, Charlotte right behind her, and sat down on the bench, lifting her fingers and placing them on the keys.

Darcy found that Elizabeth’s playing was everything lovely.

While not technically perfect, she played with feeling, and that elevated her performance to exactly what Jane had said it would be: charming.

He found himself entranced with the music and with watching her as she moved back and forth following the movement of her hands up and down the keyboard.

He was so involved with it that he jumped when Bingley nudged him and leaned closer.

“Miss Bennet was correct. Miss Elizabeth plays very well.”

Darcy nodded at his friend’s quiet words, unable to remove his eyes from Elizabeth, even to whisper a reply. “Indeed.”

All too soon for Darcy’s liking, the song was over.

He continued to stare as Elizabeth turned the pages for her friend.

Then, when Charlotte’s exhibition was completed, Mary Bennet took over the instrument.

Mary had none of her sister’s feeling, though she was technically proficient.

Her performance was not nearly as pleasing and though he had determined to remain in his seat and not seek Elizabeth out, he was unable to maintain the pleasant focus he had previously enjoyed.

He stood from his chair and approached the table where tea was being served, accepting a cup from the servant there and taking a sip as he took up a place near the door.

He proceeded to sip his tea and watch the rest of the party, doing his best to keep his eyes off the lady he most longed to speak to.

When his tea was finished, he took the empty cup back to the table and gave it to the maid, then wandered toward the other side of the room.

A rush of younger ladies, two of whom Darcy knew as Elizabeth’s youngest sisters, surrounded the pianoforte, and he heard them demand music for dancing.

“That is a wonderful idea!” Sir William, who had joined the girls gathered around the instrument, clapped his hands. “I know you do not favor such tunes, Miss Mary, but surely you cannot deny us the pleasure.”

Darcy heard the middle Bennet daughter agree to play and watched as Sir William beamed at her before urging the young men to clear the middle of the floor.

The first set of dances was complete in short order.

Darcy had found a spot near the fireplace to watch the proceedings.

As another young lady – Darcy was uncertain who she was, though he was positive they had been introduced – took over at the pianoforte, his ear was caught by the voice of Mrs. Bennet.

He heard her second daughter’s name and, though it was beneath him to eavesdrop, shamelessly listened in.

“Mr. Collins has a very good living, you know. He will marry Lizzy and the family will be saved from the hedgerows when Mr. Bennet dies.”

Darcy’s breath caught.

“Has he proposed already? Will she have him?”

His eyes closed as he waited the Bennet matriarch’s reply.