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“My dear Elliot! Why are not you dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young man to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much attractiveness is before you.”
And, taking Elliot’s hand, Sir William would have given it to Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not at all unwilling to receive it given that strange excitement, but Elliot instantly drew back, a dark flush now staining his cheeks.
“Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing,” he said quickly. “I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to scout out a partner.”
“You are more likely to have come this way to supervise one of your brothers!” Sir William said and he did not realise how correct he was for Elliot was indeed on his way to break up an alarming flirtation between Louis and a young man he did not recognise. “And yet you excel so much in the dance, Elliot, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you. And though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour.”
“Indeed, I would be willing,” Darcy said and for the first time that evening Elliot looked directly at him.
Darcy clenched his fists tighter because he had been absolutely correct. Elliot’s dark eyes were uncommonly beautiful. And yet, Darcy could not decipher the expression in them.
“Mr. Darcy is all politeness.”
“I endeavour to be,” Darcy said. “Especially when I have been less so in the past.”
Elliot’s eyes widened at those words and his lips parted slightly. Abruptly, Darcy imagined bending down and kissing those plump lips. The fantasy was so very unexpected and so very intriguing that he took a hasty step back.
“Steady there!”
The words came from Charles who was steering Miss Bingley towards them. She was almost as flushed as Elliot had been and smiled archly up at Darcy.
“Charles has promised you to me for a dance,” she said.
Darcy looked back at Elliot. The omega did not meet his gaze. Instead, he bowed to them all, indicating his imminent departure. Darcy struggled to find something to say that might stop him but did not manage it. Elliot strode away, straight across to where one of the younger Bennets was clearly in the midst of absconding into the gardens with an unknown guest.
“Mr. Darcy?”
Darcy did not desire it, but he had no choice to comply given it was Charles’ sister, and indeed Mrs. and Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had been the only people he had danced with at Meryton.
“I can guess the subject of your reverie,” Miss Bingley said once they were dancing. Darcy reflected that her tone was becoming more and more like her older sister’s every day.
“I should imagine not.”
“You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner, in such society and, indeed, I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed,” she said. “The insipidity, and yet the noise. The nothingness, and yet the self-importance, of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!”
She stroked his arm slightly as she spoke, and Darcy had to smother a growl of displeasure. Miss Bingley would mate with him tomorrow were he so inclined, which he was not, and she had recently started to take some liberties with their relationship. A flash of inspiration hit as Darcy replied.
“Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a handsome man can bestow.”
Miss Bingley immediately ceased her strokes, and desired he would tell her what person had inspired such reflections.
“Mr. Elliot Bennet.”
“Mr. Elliot Bennet!” repeated Miss Bingley, narrowing her eyes. “I am all astonishment. How long has he been such a favourite? And pray when am I to wish you joy?”
“That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask,” Darcy said. “A lady’s imagination is very rapid. It jumps from admiration to love, from love to wedding ceremonies, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.”
“Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled.” Their movements now put them in view of the Bennets who were clustered together around Louis. Jack and Elliot looked concerned. Mrs. Bennet was red faced and very obviously cross. “You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed,” Miss Bingley said, her tone scornful. “And of course, she will be always at Pemberley with you.”
If she had hoped those words might put paid to Darcy’s growing admiration for Elliot Bennet, she was wrong. It did not occur to Darcy then exactly why that might be the case.
An Alpha and an Omega
Eleven
There was much discussion to be had the next morning on the subject of the Lucases’ ball and it was sufficient even to carry through to dinner, where Mrs. Bennet continued her recital of how many times Jack had danced with Mr. Bingley and exactly what he had said at any given moment within her earshot. By the end of dinner, the evening was described as a sparkling success and Mrs. Bennet was of the view that Jack was well on his way to an advantageous mating!
She did not forget her other children, however. She complimented Elliot on his behaviour in ensuring Jack was free to amuse himself, and even Marc and Christian were given affectionate pats on their cheeks. Of Louis’ behaviour in wandering the Lucases’ gardens with what they now knew was an officer, little was said, as Mrs. Bennet had given him a thorough dressing down on the carriage drive home—her concern not being related so much to Louis’ honour but the impact his actions might have on Jack’s burgeoning relationship with Mr. Bingley.
