Her mother turned hopeful eyes toward her daughter and breathed out, “Oh, I do so like to dance, but I cannot. What would Mr. Hamilton say?”
Miss Elizabeth gave her sister Miss Bennet a strange look.
“Mary will take you to Mr. Bennet. If you are lucky, he might prove willing to discuss all the lovely gowns the ladies are wearing.”
“But someone must dance with Mr. Darcy. We cannot leave him without a partner.” Mrs. Bennet looked at him and smiled wide. “My Lizzy will dance with you, Mr. Darcy. She is very good at dancing.”
Both Miss Elizabeth and Darcy sucked in a shocked breath, with Darcy recovering first.
“The honor would be mine, Mrs. Bennet,” he said with a low bow. “That is if your daughter wishes to grant me her company.”
“Mr. Darcy is all politeness,” Elizabeth said, displaying a tight smile. “How can one refuse such a request?”
“Of course, you shall dance with Mr. Darcy. Especially as he has asked you so nicely. It does my heart good to see such amiability and good manners in one so young.”
“Your daughter inspires me to behave in a more gentlemanlike behavior.”
He dared not look at Miss Elizabeth but felt the heat from her glare. Time, it seemed, had not softened her anger at his idiotic insult. There was not much he could do about that now, so he gave her and Mrs. Bennet a polite nod of the head and approached Miss Bingley to request her company for the third set and Mrs. Hurst for the fifth. Only then did he relax and retreat to the back of the hall to avoid the crush, a megrim throbbing behind his eyes. After tonight, only two more balls and his debt of honor would finally be paid.
Chapter Four
Anothergentlemanenteredtheassembly and took his time to survey the crowd, smiling wide when he saw his target. Ever the diligent host, Sir William spotted the stranger in their midst and approached him.
“Welcome, sir. You are new to our little assembly. I am the host of this event, Sir William Lucas.”
“I am Edmund Fitzwilliam, kind sir.”
“Are you new to Meryton, Mr. Fitzwilliam? Do you have any friends or family who reside here?”
“My cousin is a guest of Mr. Bingley and I have come to join him.”
“Is your cousin Mr. Hurst, or Mr. Darcy?”
“Mr. Darcy.” Ash gave a nod to his cousin on the dance floor. “He is the tall dour fellow dancing with Lady Elizabeth.”
“Who is Lady Elizabeth?”
“Pardon myfaux pas,” Ash replied smoothly. “For a moment, I thought the lovely young lady was someone I knew from Town. I must have been mistaken.”
“No offense given, sir. It is said everyone has a twin somewhere in the world.”
“I shudder to think there might be another one of me out there,” Ash teased. “I would like to know, is this the first set my cousin danced?”
“Imustbegforgivenesson the part of my mother,” Miss Elizabeth began but stopped when Darcy waved his hand.
“Your mother did nothing which requires forgiveness.”
“She forced you to dance with me, and I know that is the last thing you wish to do.”
They both stepped forward and twirled around each other before moving back into line.
“Please do not think you know my mind, Miss Elizabeth. I am delighted we are dancing and shall enjoy each other’s company during the refreshment break.”
They stepped forward again and facing one another, slightly lifted onto their toes in time with the music.
“You plan to remain at my side?” she teased before stepping back in line.
“I do.”
