Elizabeth sat next to Darcy at dinner, teasing him regularly, but she had real friendliness in her manner for the first time.Hefelt more friendliness as well. Even if the plan to make Georgiana the center of a ball held by Bingley before Christmas did not succeed, he had never seen Georgiana like this, chattering with new social acquaintances.
The men did not remain gathered in the dining room for long, and Mr. Bennet led them back to the drawing room after less than half of an hour.
Soon as he entered the drawing room, Mr. Lucas looked about and clapped. “A dance, a dance! We must have a dance! You do not mind, Mr. Darcy? There is no entertainment which crowns civilized society better than a dance.”
“Icanenjoy a private dance,” Mr. Darcy smirked, “though the art also is practiced widely amongst the uncivilized.”
Mr. Lucas laughed good heartedly. “I conceived you to be no great friend of the art when you resisted the temptation presented by all our local beauties,eventhe elderly ones, at the assembly.”
“Mr. Lucas learnt his philosophy about dance from his father.” Elizabeth tapped both Darcy and Mr. Lucas on the shoulders. “I forsee a problem — we did not hire musicians. Who must sit out so they can play?”
“Lord!” Mrs. Bennet said, “I wish I had learned, so I could indulge you. I am far too oldnowto dance. Lizzy, you did learn. You ought to display.”
“Mama! You are yet young enough. And me play?” Elizabeth laughed, her lips entrancingly wide. “Not with any skill. But I sit if demanded.”
“Lizzycanplay well,” Jane said to Georgiana and Darcy.
“I doubt it not,” Darcy replied. Rather than looking at Elizabeth, Darcy looked at Georgiana. She had ceased to play after Wickham seduced her. He missed his sister’s playing, but he had never begged her to resume, because the first time he suggested her playing, she had become unhappy and made her disinterest clear.
“Mrs. Goulding will happily play the first reels.” Mr. Goulding said, “There is only room for a pattern of four couples, I shall turn the pages; we will happily watch you all turn about.”
“Then I shall need to dance.” Georgiana tugged at the sleeve of Darcy’s dinner coat and half whispered. “I do not know… I do not wish the Gouldings to need to lose the pleasure. Perhaps, I should…”
“Pray, is something amiss?” Elizabeth looked at his sister. “Georgie, do you wish something other than dancing? The party is for you, and if you would rather cards or conversation—”
“Oh! No! I wish to see you all dance.”
“Thatwould hardly make me a good host, if I permitted you to sacrifice yourownpleasure. Besides Frances must sit out to play the piano.”
Georgiana stared at the pattern of twined flowers and leaves in the rug.
Elizabeth added, “We need you for the pattern. It shall be cards otherwise.”
“I cannot dance in such a group! I never have.”
Mrs. Goulding smiled kindly at her. “You must, for it shall be a great disappointment to us all if you do not.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy. He somehow understood what she wished him to do, and he felt an odd annoyance. He’d hoped to askElizabethfor a dance. But if they continued for a few sets, he would get his opportunity.
“Miss Darcy” — He formally bowed to his sister — “Pray, I beg you, it would be my deep delight if I might have this first dance tonight from you.”
She giggled. “It would be an honor, fair gentleman.” She smiled a little more confidently. “Though Ihavedanced with you before so it shall not be such an adventure.”
“Never in company.”
Georgiana rose, and took Darcy’s hand.
The other couples arranged themselves into matched pairs, while Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet sat benignantly on the chairs that had been cleared to the side, and Mrs. Goulding seated herself with a graceful gesture upon the piano’s dark black varnished bench, with her husband next to her, smiling, and arranging the white sheets of music. With a flex of her wrists she started a pretty rollicking Irish air.
Despite his concern for Georgiana, Darcy could not stop looking at Elizabeth. Her rich, healthy brown hair bounced in time to her athletic steps. There was such gracefulness in her movements.
When the set was done Georgiana laughed and smiled. “That was a delight.”
She immediately sat down, losing the opportunity for any of the other gentlemen to ask to switch with her.
Seeing that this only left three couples which was not enough for the pattern, Mr. Bennet pulled Mrs. Bennet to her feet from where they had sat and watched the first set. “You shall not escape the dance, my dear.”
“Oh, Mr. Bennet! At my age!”
