Page 43 of His Pride and His Prejudice

“Our aunt arranged the seating.”

“Yes, Elliot, but he moved the candles before we sat for dinner.”

“You do not like Mr. Wickham?” Elliot asked because it was rare that Jack did not like someone.

“It is not that I do not like him,” Jack replied. “There is just something…” He shook his head and finished with the cravat. “He is sure to be at tonight’s ball. I understand all the officers have been invited. Perhaps you may glean more on his motivations and honesty when we see him again in person.”

Elliot stayed still whilst Jack placed a small, emerald-like pin in the cravat. It would not be a chore to see Mr. Wickham again, Elliot reflected. The other man was so amiable that Elliot would be lying if he did not admit that his confession had engineered some tender feelings. To be removed from a promised living, and consequently to leave the area one had grown up in and loved…it was not to be considered! And if Darcy had indeed been responsible for that then Elliot’s view of him was…he frowned…he did not know what his view was, but he thought the word disconcerted might be apt.

That word stuck in Elliot’s mind as they waited for the rest for the family to finish their preparations and then as they made their way to Netherfield. So momentous an occasion was this, the first ball held on the estate for some time, that even Mr. Bennet had been convinced to put in an appearance. He wasn’t happy about it, but he had conceded to Mrs. Bennet’s wishes, and so they were a party of nine once Mr. Collins was included. Elliot had asked their cousin whether he would think it proper to join in the evening’s amusement and was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruples whatever.

“I am by no means of the opinion, I assure you, that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency,” he said. “I also have no objection to dancing myself and I hope to be honoured by your hand over the course of the evening for at least the first two dances if not more. I trust my cousin Jack will attribute my preference to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for him.”

Elliot was not unaware of Mrs. Bennet’s devices, and he had realised the very evening after he had last seen Darcy exactly what she was planning where Mr. Collins was concerned. She had no subtlety and her insistence on them sitting together at every mealtime would have been indication enough, but she had also taken to suggesting Mr. Collins accompany Elliot on his walks—ignoring entirely that Elliot walked for the peace and quiet, not to be surrounded by incessant chatter!

Mr. Collins took those as opportunities to supply Elliot with an increasingly odd list of compliments, starting with an appreciation of his wit and vivacity and continuing through to the length of his stride and speediness of foot when avoiding a badger’s hole.

Mr. Collins was not an unpleasant person, he was surprisingly quite thoughtful, and so Elliot tried to be as agreeable as possible whilst keeping as much distance as he could because he had absolutely no intention of being the master of Hunsford Parsonage!

Not now.

Not ever.

And he dearly hoped that Mr. Collins would realise that and turn his attentions elsewhere!

“Rarely do I dance,” Elliot said now as they pulled up in front of Netherfield Hall.

There were dozens of other carriages nearby. Some families would have started out this morning to make the journey in time, others even earlier and were likely staying with friends of distant relations later that night. Elliot was not surprised that there were so many attendees, this was the first ball here in many years, and it was being hosted by an alpha of Mr. Bingley’s standing, so of course it would be a crush.

He looked around at his family. Mrs. Bennet was dressed in an arresting golden concoction, all frills and lace, and she was wearing her paste necklace again. She looked quite lovely. Mr. Bennet wore his customary dark grey with a light grey cravat. He carried an ebony walking stick, but he did not need it. Jack looked as handsome as ever in his pale blue, Marc also handsome but sombre in black, and Christan was striking in a light grey. Louis had gone for a dark suit but had coupled it with a bright red waistcoat which was not at all appropriate for his age. Elliot, making more of an effort than usual, wore a deep green.

He dearly hoped his family would behave themselves tonight, especially with the entirety of Meryton society and beyond present. In fact, as he took in the crests on the carriages, Elliot realised there were London families here also. On that revelation, Elliot took Louis by the arm and pulled him close. “This ball is important for Jack,” he said. “Remember that as you go about your amusements.”

“We must always remember Jack,” Louis said.

“Louis…”

“I heard you, brother,” Louis replied as he pulled himself free and moved over to Mrs. Bennet, smoothing down his waistcoat as he did so, a smirk now playing around his mouth. “Elliot, you dance with us all the time,” he added loudly.

Mrs. Bennet nodded as she ushered them towards the entrance where Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were receiving the guests. Miss Bingley already looked bored.

“That is different,” Elliot said.

“A cousin should be considered the same as a brother,” Louis continued.

“Indeed,” Mrs. Bennet agreed with narrowed eyes. “Elliot will dance with Mr. Collins, and that is that.”

And thanks to Louis, Elliot did. No sooner had he been greeted with a barely concealed disdain by the Bingley sisters, took but a moment to enjoy the splendour of Netherfield all decked out for the ball with glowing candles and flowers to abundance, before he was steered onto the dancefloor and into the first dance.

To say it was a dance of mortification was an understatement. Mr. Collins was awkward and solemn and did not know the pattern of the dance and so stepped on Elliot’s toes more than once. He apologised profusely even as Elliot winced time and time again but smiled manfully to show his good humour.

Red coats with golden buttons flashed past as they moved, and Elliot kept an eye out for Mr. Wickham, but he did not see him. As the dance came to a close, and everyone slowed, Elliot noted many were present from Wickham’s regiment. And as Elliot and Mr. Collins made their way back to the family who were chattering with the Lucases, Elliot heard Louis greet a favoured officer called Denny by saying, “But where is Mr. Wickham?”

“He was called away on urgent business yesterday,” Denny said. “Though I imagine the urgency was promoted by his desire to avoid a certain gentleman here.”

Louis smirked. “A man is a fool if he tries to avoid an alpha.”

“And you are no fool?” Denny asked as they were joined by another red coat that Elliot did not recognise who continued their teasing.

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