Page 2

“Come now, Darcy,” Bingley cried. “I must have you dance. It might take your mind off your bleak thoughts.”

“They are not bleak, Bingley, and you know my thoughts on dancing.”

“I know, but it is a task that invigorates the body and makes one feel better. There are so many pretty ladies waiting for a partner.”

“You have already danced with the handsomest,” he replied, gazing at the blond woman across the hall. She was a genuinely stunning beauty, which made him wonder why she was not already married.

Bingley laughed. “Truly I have, but there are many others. I think I might ask her for another dance before the night is done. Never have I seen one of her beauty.”

“So you have said many times before, at as many dances.”

He nodded. “I will admit that, but I have contemplated it since I first set my eyes upon her. Others might have come close. Yet the more I think, the more I believe none have compared.”

“Bingley. You have known her less than an hour. How much can you have thought about it?”

“The entire time since I saw her face,” he said with a grin. Darcy could not help but smile back at his light-hearted, amiable friend. It had been Bingley’s positive outlook on everything in life that had first drawn Darcy to him at university. The only drawback the friendship over the years had been his sister.

“Come on, Darcy,” he pleaded. “One dance may help you out of your morose feelings, if only briefly.” He tapped his shoulder. “Look, Miss Bennet’s sister is behind you. I dare say she is a beauty as well.”

Darcy took the time to glance back. Indeed, the dark haired sister was pretty with her big brown eyes, but he still felt no inclination to dance. She was talking with the daughter of the local knight who had greeted them when they had first arrived.

“She is admirable, I will admit,” he replied. “Yet, I still am not up to dancing. I should have stayed back so you would not spend your time concerned about my enjoyment.”

“You have mourned long enough for your relatives.”

“Bingley, please go and mingle. They are your new neighbors, not mine,” he replied bluntly.

Elizabeth looked at the black strip of cloth that adorned the taller man’s arm. She had unintentionally heard the conversation between the two men and felt sorry for him. The fact that he had ten thousand a year circulated quickly about the hall when he first arrived. It took more time to discover that he was the nephew of the earl, who had tragically died that summer. The latter information gained him some sympathy for not dancing even though there were ladies in need of a partner.

To Darcy’s exasperation, Miss Bingley soon took her brother’s place.

“Have you ever had such a tedious time in your life, Mr Darcy?”

“It is like any other country assembly I have attended,” he replied.

“The music is barely adequate.”

“It serves its purpose, does it not?”

She looked around the room at those she considered beneath her notice. She hoped to draw him into a conversation on the inadequacies of country life.

“Their fashion is from last year. The last century, by the looks of some,” she sneered.

“Hardly unusual in the country. Even this close to town.”

“Perhaps lack of money.”

“My aunt prefers the older style and can afford to update her wardrobe. When she does, it is the same style of her youth,” he replied dryly.

Darcy thought he heard a stifled giggle behind him but did not bother to look. Thankfully, Miss Bingley was silent for a time.

“I do not know why Charles did not consult me before taking this property. The location is wholly inadequate.”

Darcy gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew the woman would go on and on about everything she found displeasurable with the evening. The couples for the next dance were gathering on the floor. He glanced back to see the young lady Bingley had pointed out was still there.

“I have been to better, and I have been to worse. If you will excuse me.”

He turned, took a few steps to where Elizabeth stood, and boldly introduced himself with a bow. She looked shocked but recovered quickly, giving her name as she curtsied.

“May I have the honor of this dance, Miss Bennet?” He asked, holding out his hand.

Elizabeth, taken back by his forwardness, nonetheless replied yes and took his hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the lady he had been talking with looking at her with incredulous horror. He led her to the floor with many an eye on them.

“It is Miss Elizabeth. My sister Jane is the eldest,” she said as they took their places.

“Thank you for accepting, considering the lack of formal introduction.”

“This is the country, Mr Darcy. We are not always so formal, especially when there is a lack of gentleman and an overabundance of ladies seeking to dance.”

Darcy saw Bingley looking at him with a big smile further down the line. He nodded in acknowledgement.

Once the dance started, he said. “I take it that was you I heard stifling a laugh?”

“It was, but I did not intentionally listen. So far this evening, I have heard about two litters of kittens and one litter of puppies. The details of an argument between a husband and wife. Plus a few things that are too embarrassing to reveal to a gentleman,” she said, blushing ever so slightly.

“I am guardian to two young girls, so I believe I have a wider perspective than most gentlemen care to know about.”

“Oh, I am sorry to hear that,” she replied, looking at him in a different light. “Perhaps I should clarify. I’m not sorry they have you as their guardian or that you must suffer topics that most gentlemen do not have to endure. I meant, if you are their guardian, there must have been a loss.”

“Yes. One is my sister, the other my cousin. Fortunately my cousin is a temporary guardianship until her brother arrives.”

“Where is he?”

“Somewhere in Spain.”

“Are they staying at Netherfield as well?”

“No. They are in town at the moment.”

“If you do not mind me asking, how old are they?”

“Fifteen and fourteen. My sister is the eldest.”

“Oh dear, those are difficult years for a girl. My youngest sister is fifteen. She is the tall one four couples down.”

“Out at such an age?”

“This is the country after all. Although, if I had my way, she would not be allowed out of our home, let alone the schoolroom. However, my mother enjoys her company and spoils her, and my father enjoys his peace and quiet when we are all out of the house.”

Darcy was astonished that she was so forthcoming with family matters. “You are rather blunt.”

“So I have been told many times. Taken to task for it a time or two by my mother. I know I am not as worldly as you, but I have always considered the truth to be blunt.”

“An interesting observation.”

“If one thinks about it. Lies are sharp. They find chinks in the armor of truth to make the fatal wound of deception.”

He thought about her words for a few moments. “Interesting metaphor.”

“I have been wondering why you decided to ask me to dance after informing your friend that you were not in the mood and do not like to dance. I apologize for overhearing that conversation as well, but the lull in the music and your deep voice carried it right to my ears.”

“As dainty as they appear, they take in much,” he said, causing her to blush slightly. “What did you make of my conversation with Miss Bingley.”

She looked up at him and gave him a bright smile. “I should thank you for defending our simple country life even if we are a little behind the times. I do prefer it to life in London.”

“Does your family have a house in town?”

She shook her head. “My uncle. He has a business there. I occasionally stay to help with their little ones. I have some knowledge about life in London, but not in the circle of society you inhabit.”

They discussed plays they had both attended and other locations of interest until the set ended. After escorting her from the floor, he gave her a bow and found the card room to avoid Miss Bingley.

Darcy looked up into the heavens, wondering why life was so hard. With all his money, his sister’s and now his cousin’s responsibility weighed heavily on him. Unlike his peers, he had to take on the responsibility for running the estate when his father became ill and eventually succumbed to the disease.

Darcy turned his head as he heard the soft padding of slippered feet come out onto the balcony. With the light coming from the room, he could not see who it was but knew it was a woman. Fortunately, the lady was too small to be Miss Bingley. As he was in the far corner, she did not notice his presence. From the perfume and size, he guessed it to be his former dance partner. She went to the railing and leaned over. Darcy cleared his throat to let her know he was there.

“I am sorry to have startled you,” he said when he jumped in surprise. “I shall leave you to your solitude.”

“Oh, Mr Darcy, you gave me such a fright,” she declared, putting her hand to her chest. “It is a good thing I did not topple over. My mother would have been very upset if I ruined the assembly with a fall from the balcony,” she laughed.

“I do not think there was any danger in that, Miss Elizabeth. If, for some reason, it had happened, I would have prevented your fall as I was in easy distance.”

“How? By grabbing my ankle? If that would have been the case, I think I might have perished with mortification as surely hanging upside down would have exposed my modesty.”

Darcy cleared his throat. “As that was not the case, I think it best not to consider things that did not happen,” he said, thinking it a strange comment to make. “Besides, it is too dark to see anything.” As he finished, the clouds moved past the full moon, illuminating them in its cool light.

“See, the moon would have conspired to expose me,” she laughed. He did not see the humor in her comment and remained quiet. “Don’t they find situations amusing in the bon ton Mr Darcy?”

“They do, but rarely make jokes at their own expense.”

“Another fault my mother finds in me. I like to laugh and find humor in life, even in my own foolishness. Not everything, of course, but what is life without laughter?”

“I see,” he replied.

“For example, if I had actually fallen and you had not managed to catch me. I do not think I would be making jokes.”

“I imagine not,” he replied dryly.

“This has been an interesting conversation, but I must be going. I was looking for a wayward sister.”

Darcy leaned back against the railing as she entered the room and disappeared into the crowd. He had to admit that was the strangest interaction he had ever had with a member of the fairer sex. Strange, but oddly enjoyable. In fact, he had found her highly intriguing.