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“Oh! Mrs. Bennet, Jane is admired by all young men for certain. Perhaps Mr. Darcy is too late; we are aware of the partiality she has for Mr. Bingley.”

“What nonsense? There is nothing of that sort. She was being courteous to Mr. Bingley, as he was new to our society. My dear Jane has such a kind heart but is not partial to anyone. As a mother, I know where her heart lies now after Mr. Darcy’s arrival,” Mrs. Bennet said confidently.

Mr. Bingley quickly moved away, and everything made sense to him.

She did not leave my side that day when she first met Darcy. She was not aware of his wealth and status then. She must have heard about it before she came to Netherfield last time.

He felt angry with himself for not seeing her character, as her beauty had blinded him.

This is what Darcy has been warning me about every time. I never took him seriously. He could not believe how easily she switched her attention from me to Darcy.

It was time for the first dance, and Mary stood nervously.

Mr. Bingley assisted her to the dance floor, but he sensed her nervousness.

“Do not worry, Miss Mary, I will not embarrass you. I am a decent dancer.”

Mary laughed.

“I do not doubt it, sir. I have seen you dance,” she said, smiling.

Mr. Bingley looked at her keenly. She was the same person he had met a month ago. He had liked her then, and he liked her now. He realized what he felt for Jane was mere attraction, the feeling he had felt towards many pretty women in town.

And he understood that he genuinely cared for Mary. That is why he felt so pained when Jane insulted her the other day.

“Is everything all right, sir?” Mary asked, looking at his worried face.

“Oh! Yes. I just noticed my friend is still standing there without dancing.”

Mary looked at Darcy and found him standing alone. She could not but stop imagining Elizabeth right next to him.

They deserve to be happy, but what can I even do? she thought with pain.

Once the dance ended, Mr. Bingley reached his friend.

“Are you still standing here alone?” Mr. Bingley asked.

“Yes, I am. I hope you enjoyed your dance.”

“I did,” Mr. Bingley replied, looking in Mary’s direction.

Jane had danced with Mr. Fenton, having no other choice. She had waited till the last moment for Darcy to ask her, and the same thing happened with Miss Bingley. She had danced with another gentleman, not wanting to sit out without a partner.

Mary was surprised by Darcy before the next set when he requested her to dance. He had not planned it thus, but he stood next to Mary and Kitty as he saw one of the gentlemen lead Kitty for the next set. Mary stood alone.

Darcy never thought he would ask anyone for a dance as he wanted to keep the memory of dancing with Elizabeth forever.

But he did not know why; he approached Mary and asked if she would dance with him.

Mary was shocked and did not know what to say, and the music had already started.

She agreed and accompanied him onto the dance floor. Jane and Miss Bingley looked at them and fumed, and Mrs. Bennet could not believe her eyes.

Mary found it difficult to dance with Darcy, as she had to contain too many emotions inside her. She was afraid that she would blurt out the secret to him.

Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth is my sister. She loves you deeply as well.

She wanted to say, but she was wise enough to know that it was not that simple.

Darcy found Mary to be shy, and she tried hard to keep up with the pace of the dance.

“Miss Mary, I hope I am not going fast. Are you comfortable with the pace?” he asked out of concern.

“I am all right, sir. I am not used to dancing that much,” she said.

“Oh! I see. If you are not comfortable, I understand. I could lead you back to your friends.”

“Oh, no! I did not mean it that way. I rarely get asked for a dance. So, I never really mastered the steps.”

Darcy looked at her earnestly. There was something in her eyes he could not read. Her eyes expressed distress, and he could not make sense of it.

“I suggest you get used to it. I did enjoy your dance with my friend.”

Mary blushed.

“Thank you, sir,” she said.

“Are you liking Hertfordshire?” she asked again, not knowing what else to say to him.

“I am.”

Mary was silent.

“I will be leaving soon, though,” he added.

“You will head to Derbyshire?”

“I will eventually,” Darcy said.

“I have never left Longbourn much except to visit our uncle in town. I do not know the feeling of being away from home for a long time.”

“It is not easy, Miss Mary. I miss my sister and Eli…” Darcy bit his lip.

He had no idea how he said that to Mary.

“I mean, I miss my sister. I would be happy to be in her company.”

He noticed the shock on Mary’s face.

“I am glad you will head back soon, for your sister’s sake. I know the feeling very well, sir. Sometimes you never realize how much you love them until they leave you,” she said with pain.

Darcy could not understand what she meant. He knew her sisters were not married, and all stayed in Longbourn, so he could not understand whom she referred to.

Jane saw them both and fumed inside.

How could he dance with her? I wonder what enticed him, her preachings? How could she agree to dance with him when she knows I am set on marrying him?

Miss Bingley’s thoughts were no different.

Mr. Darcy must be out of his mind to ask her to dance. Why did he do that?

Once the dance ended, Darcy led Mary back to her party. He needed some fresh air and ventured out to the balcony.

Darcy did not know why but felt something was amiss with Mary. It was the same feeling he had felt when he met Elizabeth.

He did not know how he almost said Elizabeth’s name to her. He had no idea how he could have slipped up so easily to a stranger.

The balcony was dimly lit and had a terrace leading to the lower level. Darcy saw a few men standing on the terrace. They were oblivious to his presence.

Darcy overheard the conversation amongst them.

“I cannot believe the Bennet family. They act as if nothing happened.”

“Well, according to them, nothing did. She just left to stay with her uncle in town.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Well, half the village doesn’t believe it as well.”

“The servants in Longbourn say something happened after that relative visited them.”

“Oh! I forgot his name. Who was that?”

“The parson, Mr. Collins. He was a clown.”

“Maybe this will stay a mystery forever. Only if she returns, we may know the truth.”

The topic drifted elsewhere, and Darcy could not believe his ears.

He was well acquainted with Mr. Collins from his yearly visits to Rosings.

What he overheard made no sense to him.

Who are they referring to? How is Mr. Collins associated with the Bennet family?

He was intrigued by the matter.

The evening ended with different emotions for everyone.

Mr. Bingley was ashamed to have fallen so blindly for someone like Jane.

Miss Bingley and Jane were enraged that their hopes with Darcy did not materialize, and Mrs. Bennet was vexed that Darcy had not spent time with her favorite daughter.

Mary was still sad about Darcy’s situation with Elizabeth.

But Darcy had only one thought.

What is the mystery with the Bennet family?