Page 5 of Such Persuasions as These (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

CHAPTER FOUR

“ A nd who is the fortunate man?” Darcy enquired, attempting to walk without leaning quite so heavily upon his cane, having refused her offer to sit. He did not much care to whom the presumptuous miss was attached, but he would do his duty by her, as troublesome as she was.

“He is a naval captain by the name of Wentworth. He is at sea at the moment, but I have his assurance he will soon be ashore again. And how wonderful that will be, for we all miss him so. He is open and friendly, always ready to dance, and he makes everyone he meets feel like they are worthy of his time and attention. He is much like your friend, I think.”

“Yes, Bingley has always made friends easily. He is universally liked, quick to approve of everyone and everything he sees. His manner is far removed from my own, I must say,” Darcy said, immediately irritated at his own boorishness.

Perhaps if he was not, indeed, in so much pain, he could force himself to be more agreeable.

“Being reserved and of a more serious disposition is no sin. In fact, Captain Wentworth is much like you as well—tall, handsome, and dignified—I think you two would get on. And while he is generally open and amiable, he is a thinking man, a man of discerning taste who does not feel the need to be great friends with everyone who comes before him.”

Darcy was struck by her picture of himself—that she could compliment him without simpering or cooing or expecting the same in return was more than a little surprising.

And refreshing. Perhaps her company will not be so bad after all.

“I understand there is a great name to be made by industrious men in the Royal Navy. And a great fortune, as well.”

“I believe you are correct, sir. Why, he has just been given command of his first vessel. It was recorded in the Navy List only this month—he has been made captain and given command of a ship called the Asp . How proud we all were to read of it.”

“Indeed. I hope for your sake he continues to make progress in his profession. And remains safe—it is not unusual for these sea captains to meet with danger and adventure whilst performing their duties to King and Country.”

“Yes, which is one reason our understanding has not come to fruition. My father insisted we could not marry until he had adequately advanced in his career. So here we are.”

Darcy nodded, his mind wandering to another engagement, one that had been kept quiet to his injury. A silence ensued, which Miss Elizabeth finally broke by expressing her regret that he was in such discomfort and enquiring as to what occasioned his pain.

“I was shot,” he answered before thinking better of it. His companion’s eyes widened. Perhaps he should have prevaricated, fabricated a fall or a fencing accident.

A moment passed before Miss Elizabeth’s shock abated, and she laughed out loud—a light melodious laugh that put him into a daze and drew the attention of several bystanders.

Darcy’s face coloured under the weight of so many curious looks, but his impulsive anger at such impertinence melted as her mirth hypnotised him—so much so that he soon found himself smiling along with her, still in the dark as to what exactly was so funny.

She took a moment to catch her breath, then complimented him on so expertly hiding such a sharp sense of humour.

“Oh, yes, it is obvious to all that you are an adventurer, a scoundrel of the lowest order. Called out by a duke over debts of honour in gaming dens full of opium, I am sure.” Her eyes twinkled as she spoke.

He considered the picture she had painted of him—a prim and proper gentleman stumbling out of a gaming hell, losing so much money at cards that he would be challenged to duel over his obligations. It did seem rather implausible.

Her glee was catching and, before he knew it, he found himself playing along.

“Well, after hearing of the manifold allurements of your noble Captain Wentworth, I did not imagine that being the victim of Bingley’s ill-shod horse during yesterday’s ride would be very impressive.”

“Oh no, Mr Darcy. Just think what would have happened had that shoe flown into the face of your mount. Or worse, kicked up in just such a way as to injure your friend. Your heroism in offering your knee to the errant horseshoe and therefore sacrificing your ability to dance even one set during the first assembly among your friend’s new neighbours—whilst allowing him to dance all of them—what kindness to dear Mr Bingley.

Only a truly valiant man would throw himself before such danger and suffer such grievous consequences in the service of a friend. ”

“What can I say?” Darcy was laughing along with her as she teased.

Laughing.

Out loud.

In a room full of strangers.

The ice between them now broken, after having refused another offer to find a seat, Miss Elizabeth led him about the perimeter of the little ballroom.

It seemed her aim was to introduce Darcy to the principal personages of the neighbourhood.

Some, of course, he had met at Bingley’s morning-in.

Many, however, were new faces, and he let Miss Elizabeth take the lead with each.

To the dowager ladies, whose opinion on a single man refusing to dance he already knew, she noted how Darcy had graciously injured himself so as to allow his friend to appear to best advantage.

One after another, they nodded in sympathy for the poor, poor man .

“To be denied the opportunity to dance with the prettiest girls in England… Tsk tsk… You poor thing… Well, let us hope you recover soon.” And one after another sent him away with their well-wishes.

To the farmers, she introduced Darcy as one of the same. “I understand you own some land in Derbyshire,” she began for him.

“ Some land, yes. And yes, I am very involved in its working. I wonder how differently things are done here compared to the Midlands, as our climate is far cooler. I cannot but wonder whether you have much trouble with flooding, as the landscape is so flat.” This query led to many diverse and interesting answers, along with some solutions he could only describe as ingenious.

He was so captivated by the discussion that he practically forgot how vexed he was to have been dragged to this unsavoury assembly—or how little interest he had intended to have in its attendees.

After several minutes of being ignored, Miss Elizabeth bent towards Darcy, who had unconsciously taken a seat with the others in eagerness to hear their stories, and told him sweetly, “My work here is done. I leave you in good hands. Good night, Mr Darcy.”

He remembered himself long enough to stand—rather laboriously—and make her a bow of thanks. He even managed a small smile before sitting to resume his conversation.

A young lady Darcy assumed to be a relation approached her then, pressing her to see some bauble or other she admired on one of the dancers, urging her, “Come, Lizzy.”

“ Lizzy ?” Darcy cried, at once realising that this beguiling woman before him was the very female he had vowed to avoid at all costs. Taking another look at her, he could now see the family resemblance between the lady and her impertinent father.

“Oy, mister, not so familiar if you please. That’s Miss Lizzy to ye,” cried one of the local boys, eager to defend the honour of the pretty daughter of Meryton’s principal family.

“Oh, Henry, do not worry on my account.” She alighted a quelling hand on the boy’s shoulder and turned to face Darcy with laughing eyes. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn. I thought we had established that. ”

“Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy again bowed solemnly, answering her repeated curtsey.

After she left, it took him several moments to fully attend the subjects being canvassed about him.

He could not believe he had not connected the ladies he had been introduced to earlier with the Mr Bennet who must have been their father.

Soon, however, he was speaking with animation about the methods he had used to improve drainage or increase germination.

And sheep—someone mentioned lambing, and Darcy was fully engaged for the rest of the evening.

Any thoughts of the enchanting Miss Elizabeth being the very ‘Lizzy’ he had forsworn would have to wait.