Page 49 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)
He was soon acquainted with all the notable people in the room.
He danced every dance and was angry when he heard that the ball was to close so early and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield.
However, although he danced with most of the young, unattached females, he had eyes only for one.
He had not been misled; all the Bennet girls were pretty, but Jane, the oldest, was a diamond of the first water.
He led her out for the first of the two dances he was permitted to have with any one partner, and found her company to be as enchanting as her appearance.
‘Miss Bennet, tell me, do you ride out around Longbourn?’
The young lady smiled as she dipped and curtsied in the dance. ‘Indeed I do, sir. I am the only one in my family, apart from my father, who likes to ride. My sisters prefer the carriage or their own two feet.’
As their hands met again he felt them tremble in his grip.
She was an angel, so sweet and kind, and the loveliest girl he had seen in his whole life.
He finished this dance and bowed low. ‘I believe our second dance, Miss Bennet, follows immediately. I wish it was possible to lead you out for every dance, but I know it would be frowned upon.’
‘I should not accept the offer of a third dance, Mr Bingley. But I look forward to dancing with you once more this evening as soon as the music starts again.’
She whisked away in a whirl of green taffeta and he glimpsed an enticing, well-turned ankle as she did so.
He noticed that Elizabeth Bennet, almost as handsome as Jane, had been obliged by the scarcity of gentlemen to sit down for two dances.
This would not do, when his friend was standing beside him.
‘Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You must dance.’
‘I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am well acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room with whom it would not be a punishment for me to stand up with.’
‘I would not be so fastidious as you are, for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; there are several here who are uncommonly pretty.’
Darcy half-smiled at him. ‘ You are about to dance again with the only handsome girl in the room.’ He nodded towards the eldest Miss Bennet.
‘Indeed! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, and she is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Let me ask my partner to introduce you.’
‘You mean her?’ Turning round he stared at Miss Bennet’s sister, then catching her eye withdrew his own and said rather coldly.
‘She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me ; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who have been slighted by other gentlemen. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles. You are wasting your time with me.’
Charles watched him walk off, disappointed by his attitude. He wished Darcy would be less exacting in his standards, would put himself out to be more agreeable. He turned and went to claim his partner for the second time, pushing the unpleasant incident to the back of his mind.
‘Miss Bennet, I have never had such a delightful evening in the country before this. And your sisters, so amiable and pleasing.’
‘It is kind of you to say so, Mr Bingley. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are charming; I believe that Miss Bingley is closer to you in age than Mrs Hurst?’
‘Yes, she is indeed. I am most grateful to her for agreeing to be my hostess. My sister knows exactly how things should be done.’ He saw her glance admiringly in Caroline’s direction.
‘Do you know, she has hired the extra servants that I require for my stay at Netherfield. She is so much better at dealing with the staff than I.’
They were separated by the dance but when they were rejoined Charles smiled at his partner. ‘It is fortuitous that Caroline is still unmarried, I do not know what I should do without her. I should not be able to entertain, nor have my friends around me.’
‘I am sure, sir, that she does everything with elegance. I do so marvel at her gown; it is the height of modernity. I have seen every lady present admiring it.’
‘That is kind of you to say so. I shall be sure to pass on your compliments.’ Charles dipped his head. ‘It is her suggestion that I purchase an estate of my own, but I decided it would be more beneficial to rent initially.’
The music paused whilst the set regrouped for the second part of the dance.
Charles kept her hand firmly through his arm.
He was not going to allow any other gentleman to steal her away.
‘Louisa has recently married Hurst and Caroline was her bridesmaid. Louisa is dependent on her judgement. She is very much attached to her sister; consequently, they are often with us.’
‘Lizzy, Elizabeth, is my dearest friend and closest to me in age. She is kind and clever, but not a bluestocking like Mary. Kitty and Lydia are different again. There’s no doubt you have noticed they are popular and high-spirited, but good girls and I love them dearly.’
He saw her glance to the group of military men who surrounded these younger Bennet girls. Lydia stretched up and whispered into a gentleman’s ear, causing a ripple of dismay to pass along the row of seated matrons.
‘Oh dear! She should not have done that.’
He laughed down at her rueful expression and she returned his smile.
He liked the way she loved her sisters in spite of their foibles.
Miss Bennet must be the most amiable girl in the room.
The violins began to play and he whirled her away down the line, admiring her grace; she danced quite as well as anyone he partnered at society balls.
He doubted there was anyone more elegant than his current partner.
‘Miss Bennet, I had thought of giving a ball at Netherfield. Do you think I shall have enough acquaintances to fill the room by then?’
‘More than enough, Mr Bingley. I suspect that everyone here would consider themselves most favoured if they were to receive an invitation to such an event.’
‘But would you? Would you come if I invited you?’
She blushed and in her confusion trod on the hem of her gown and he was obliged to lead her to one side for a moment. ‘I do beg your pardon, Mr Bingley, for being so clumsy. There, I have been lucky, I have not torn the silk.’
‘Shall we rejoin the set, Miss Bennet? I have no wish to miss a moment longer of the dance.’
The dance ended far too soon and he was obliged to relinquish his partner and seek the next.
He was satisfied with the evening, had enjoyed every moment he had spent with the delightful Miss Bennet. It was Darcy’s loss if he chose to remain aloof from the company.
When eventually the evening ended and they returned to their carriages, he was pleased with the outcome of his first venture into local society.
He was determined to further his acquaintance with Miss Bennet and was hopeful that an invitation to dine at Longbourn would arrive the following day.
Indeed, he would send his sisters to pay a morning call on the Bennets to ensure that this was forthcoming.