Page 20 of Winter of Passion (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
O n the morning before the ball, the weather turned milder, and it began raining, turning the snow into mud. Around breakfast time, the wind blew away the clouds, and the rain stopped.
Darcy was sitting opposite Elizabeth and Georgiana, but his eyes were only resting on his secret betrothed’s lovely face. He smiled to himself that the secret would only remain so for two more days.
In regard to the ball, he was rather irritated as he knew he would have to dance more than usual.
He owed as much to Bingley for his effort in organising the party; also, it was necessary since he intended to open the ball with Elizabeth.
He had not discussed it with her yet, but they would surely dance the first set together, and to avoid gossip, he would have to ask all the other ladies in the house to dance too.
“Miss Bennet, are the other young ladies in Meryton as pretty as you and Mrs Bingley?” Mr Morton enquired.
“Nobody is as pretty as Jane,” Bingley replied hastily. Then he realised his meaning and, while Jane became red-faced, he mumbled with mortification, “Oh, I did not mean to be disrespectful…Elizabeth, I apologise…”
“Do not worry, Charles,” Elizabeth replied. “I absolutely agree with you that Jane is the prettiest and kindest. But, Mr Morton, I dare say you will find some lovely company at the ball.”
“I hope so. I very much enjoy dancing. And I hope you will dance the first set with me if you are not otherwise engaged,” Mr Morton added.
Darcy was annoyed by the self-sufficiency of Morton’s request — which reminded him of his own past arrogance. Elizabeth seemed disconcerted and cast a brief glance at him, so Darcy interjected.
“Miss Bennet is already engaged for the first set. I have already requested and was granted that pleasure.”
His statement caused bewilderment around the room.
He noticed Elizabeth blushing slightly, then she turned her attention to Mr Morton, who seemed utterly confused.
“I should be happy to dance any other set with you, sir,” she said with apparent composure.
“Then I would like the second.”
“Of course, Mr Morton.”
“Mr Darcy, I must say I would never have guessed that you would ask Miss Bennet for the first set,” Miss Cecilia said with a shade of vexation.
“My dance partners are surely not so interesting as to induce you to guess, Miss Cecilia. I asked and Miss Bennet did me the favour of accepting, as happens at any ball, if I remember correctly,” Darcy responded calmly.
“I cannot remember another ball when I saw Darcy dancing the first set,” Lord Langley said.
“I cannot recall us attending many balls together, Lord Langley,” Darcy replied.
“I am glad to know Darcy will dance, and he may do so with whomever he wants,” Bingley interjected. “Upon his first evening in Meryton, we attended an assembly, and he refused to dance or to speak to anyone. Elizabeth — Miss Bennet — was served a taste of Darcy’s poor disposition.”
“Now that would be a more familiar image of Darcy!” Lord Langley laughed.
“I cannot dispute your statement, but it is an image you will not see tomorrow night at a ball hosted by my friend,” Darcy uttered. “However, I agree that my manners were rather rude at that particular assembly.”
“And at several others,” Lord Langley continued. “And yet, some ladies find your haughtiness strangely appealing.”
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth, whose pretty eyes were looking at him enquiringly, and an impulse induced him to speak further. After all, those people must be prepared for the shocking announcement that would follow the next day.
“I am not certain which ladies found my lack of politeness appealing, but Miss Bennet was certainly not one of them. She expressed her disapproval of my manners several times and even scolded my behaviour — politely but harshly.”
He saw the surprise on Elizabeth’s face, and he smiled. She looked disconcerted, though a little smile was pressed between her lips. The lips whose taste he knew too well and for which he was starving.
“Did she?” Miss Banfield asked incredulously. “I wonder whether it is a woman’s duty to scold a gentleman.”
“If that gentleman’s manners affect her, why would she remain silent?” Lady Laura asked. “Why should men be allowed to do whatever they wish and women be forbidden to even express their disapproval?”
“Because if they do, those particular gentlemen would never seek their company again,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “Sadly, most men are not inclined to marry confident women with strong opinions. Come, gentlemen, surely you cannot deny that!” he asked of the others.
“And yet, Mr Darcy does not avoid Miss Bennet’s company,” Lady Laura continued. “Quite the opposite — he asked her to open the ball with him.”
“Darcy is not like most men.” Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed, and Darcy smiled.
“Or perhaps Mr Darcy asked Miss Bennet because he was afraid that, as his friend’s wife’s sister, she might scold him again if he did not,” Miss Cecilia said, the offence clear in her joke.
Elizabeth smiled too, with a glance at Darcy. “I am sure that is the case,” she answered. “Mr Darcy must be scared of me. I admit having the unladylike tendency to be stubborn and express my opinions too decidedly.”
Darcy was only too pleased to continue the little game.
“As I had the pleasure of telling you a while ago when Colonel Fitzwilliam was present too, I am not afraid of you, Miss Bennet. However, I cannot disagree with your description.”
“I have always found Miss Bennet’s determination very charming,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. He turned to Elizabeth. “Which is why I shall ask for the favour of the supper set, if you are not engaged for that one too.”
“I am not,” Elizabeth answered.
While the conversation was focused on Elizabeth, Darcy could see the expressions of vexation and displeasure on the faces of the other women. And rightfully so, since none of them had been asked to dance.
“I believe this would be a good time for us to secure dances from the other ladies too, so as to avoid misunderstandings,” he suggested. “If you ladies would be so kind as to allow me, I would like to request a set from each of you.”
His request caused even more surprise and incredulous frowns.
“It is quite unexpected that you wish to dance so many sets, Mr Darcy!” Miss Parsons said.
“Since we are among friends, I am sure I shall enjoy it more than usual. Of course, I would not mind if any of you ladies wished to refuse me to the benefit of a more pleasant companion. After all, the lack of practice may have affected my dancing skills.”
“That sounds like you are seeking flattery, Mr Darcy,” Lady Laura interjected. “I am sure no woman would refuse you.”
“I thank you for your trust, but I assure you it has happened quite a few times over this past year. It was not a request for flattery, I only wished to be fair,” Darcy concluded. He glanced towards Elizabeth and met her look for an instant.
The conversation continued on the subject of dancing, each gentleman securing a set from each lady.
The only man who refused to dance was Mr Hurst. Mrs Hurst looked vexed, but she was invited by other gentlemen, including Darcy.
Whilst at more formal events, it was not fashionable for married couples to dance together, a private ball in the countryside allowed more liberty. Therefore, Bingley secured two sets with his wife and split the rest between his guests.
The conversation about the dance ended at the same time as the meal.
A game of cards was proposed, and half the gentlemen joined in while the others preferred to play billiards.
Georgiana expressed her wish to visit Kitty and Mary at Longbourn, and Darcy decided to go with her, with the secret hope that Elizabeth might join them. There was nothing for him to do at Netherfield that could help Bingley.
“I shall come with you if you do not mind,” Colonel Fitzwilliam unexpectedly said.
“No, of course not,” Darcy replied. “Miss Bennet, would you like to come and visit your family?” he asked. Elizabeth was talking to her sister and gave him a look of obvious regret.
“Unfortunately, I cannot. There are still many things to do to prepare for the ball, and I must help Jane. Please send them our best regards — we shall see them tomorrow.”
Disappointment ruined Darcy’s disposition, but the plan remained unchanged. Instead of remaining at Netherfield for more tedious discussions, the peace of Mr Bennet’s library was preferable.
They remained at Longbourn for almost two hours; Georgiana spent most of it with Kitty and Mary, Mrs Annesley with Mrs Bennet and Mrs Gardiner in the drawing room, while the four gentlemen amused themselves with a drink and conversation. The rain began again, then stopped, then the wind picked up.
As they returned to Netherfield, the weather suddenly turned colder, and a few snowflakes were falling.
The carriage stopped at the front of the house, and they stepped out.
Something drew Darcy’s attention, and he noticed the silhouette of a woman in the garden who seemed to be struggling to walk.
He recognised Elizabeth more with his heart than his eyes and hastened his pace; with every step closer he observed her dishevelled state — her shoulders were down, her hands gathered together at her chest, her gown was dirty and wet, and her bonnet was missing.
Despair enveloped him, and he ran towards her, calling her name.
“Elizabeth, what happened? Are you hurt?”
He reached her in a moment, and his worry increased when he saw her lips were purple with cold.
“Oh…you are here…” she whispered, her voice small, her cheeks red from the wind. It was still snowing, the white droplets falling on her hair and face.
He grabbed her arms with both hands, and she gave a small whine, as though from pain.
“My love, are you hurt?” he repeated.
“No…forgive me. I am such a fool. I fell into a small pond…the water was only to my ankles, but my foot slipped, and I lost my balance. Look, I found this little soul in the icy water,” she said, opening her arms to reveal a puppy — wet, dirty, and shivering.
“I looked around, I searched, but there was no sign of the mother or other puppies,” she explained.
“You are frozen,” he said, taking off his coat and wrapping it around Elizabeth.
“There is no need. It will get dirty for nothing. I shall be in the house in a moment,” she argued, but he held the coat tightly around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.
He led her to a door at the side of the house, and as they walked, he heard the colonel’s voice.
“Darcy, what happened? Is Miss Bennet hurt?”
Behind him were Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, looking deeply worried.
“No,” Darcy responded. “She just had a little accident. Let us go into the house before all of us freeze here,” he said.
Once they were safely in the hall, Elizabeth explained the situation to Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, then hurried to her chamber, whispering a brief, “Thank you,” to Darcy.
The three ladies walked away, and Darcy stood watching them with his dirty coat on his arm. The house was silent, with everyone likely resting.
It was a few moments before he noticed the colonel staring at him with a quizzical expression.
“Well?” his cousin said eventually.
“Well, what?”
“Really? Will you try to feign ignorance? You must know I shall not be satisfied without proper clarification, Darcy.”
“I am sure Miss Bennet will provide Georgiana with all the details, and she will share them with you later on.”
“Do not mock me, Darcy,” the colonel replied in a serious voice. “And do not take me for a fool. I hope you have enough consideration for me to explain why you were calling Miss Bennet by her given name and why you were embracing her with a familiarity that she did not seem opposed to.”
“I trust I have never treated you with lack of consideration, Cousin.”
“You have not, and I hope you will not begin now. I shall be deeply offended if you claim there is nothing between you two.”
Darcy looked around to ensure they were alone. He hesitated for a moment, facing his cousin’s challenging countenance. He struggled to find an explanation, but lying to the man who had been his closest relative and his best friend for a lifetime was a daunting task, destined to fail.
“We shall go to your chamber or mine. We need more drinks to continue this conversation,” Darcy eventually said.
“Should I be worried?” the colonel enquired as they walked quickly up the stairs.
“No…I hope not,” Darcy answered.