The music began, and they moved into the steps of The Duke of Kent’s Waltz. The officer was a competent dancer, if a bit stiff, and his conversation stayed firmly in the realm of polite trivialities. Elizabeth found herself responding automatically, her attention drifting elsewhere.
Across the room, she caught sight of Darcy, standing near one of the columns, his dark eyes fixed on her. She faltered for the briefest moment in her step, recovering quickly enough that her partner did not notice, though her heart gave a curious little flutter. Darcy’s gaze was steady, unreadable, and yet it seemed to hold an intensity that made her pulse quicken.
What was he thinking?The thought distracted her throughout the remainder of the dance, her replies to her partner growing increasingly absentminded. By the time the set ended, she was grateful for the opportunity to retreat to the side of the room for a moment of refreshment.
Elizabeth made her way to a small table near the far wall, where glasses of punch and plates of biscuits had been laid out. She took a glass and sipped, letting the cool, sweet liquid soothe her dry throat. She glanced around the room, scanning the lively crowd, and her gaze inevitably landed on Darcy once more. He had moved closer, though still at a respectable distance, and was now speaking with Mr. Bingley. Even as he nodded in response to whatever Bingley was saying, his attention flickered back to her.
Elizabeth felt a curious mix of irritation and warmth. Why was he watching her so intently? Did he not have more pressing matters to occupy his time?
“Miss Eliza!” came a familiar, saccharine voice. Elizabeth turned to find Caroline Bingley standing beside her, resplendent in a pale orange gown that shimmered in the light. Her smile was as sharp as the cut of her sleeves. “You seem quite occupied this evening. Might I intrude upon your thoughts for a moment?”
Elizabeth set her glass down and returned Caroline’s smile with one of her own, her tone cool but polite. “Of course, Miss Bingley. I am always delighted by your company.”
“How gracious of you,” Caroline said, her voice lilting with practiced charm. She moved closer, her eyes sweeping the roomwith calculated disinterest before settling back on Elizabeth. “I must say, you have had quite the evening. Mr. Darcy has been… attentive, has he not?”
Elizabeth tilted her head, feigning ignorance. “Attentive? Nothing out of the common way, I imagine.”
“Oh, come now, Miss Eliza,” Caroline said with a small, tinkling laugh. “Everyone has noticed. He danced with you, sat with you at supper—why, I daresay he has scarcely looked away from you all evening.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks warmed, though she kept her expression neutral. “I suppose Mr. Darcy is fulfilling his duty as a gentleman. Nothing more.”
“Is that what you think?” Caroline said, her voice dropping slightly. “How charmingly naive of you.”
Elizabeth stiffened slightly but kept her expression even. “I cannot imagine what you mean by that, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline’s gaze flicked briefly across the room, and Elizabeth followed it, her stomach sinking as she spotted Lydia and Kitty near the refreshment table. Lydia was laughing loudly at some joke made by a young officer, her voice carrying above the hum of conversation. Kitty, not to be outdone, swayed slightly as she giggled into her punch cup, clearly enjoying the attention of another officer who was leaning far too close.
Caroline sighed delicately. “Your sisters do seem to be enjoying themselves tonight. Though I wonder if perhaps their enthusiasm might be a touch… immoderate.”
Elizabeth’s jaw tightened, but she kept her tone light. “They are young, Miss Bingley. Youth is often exuberant.”
“Indeed,” Caroline said, her tone laden with false sympathy. “It is such a pity, though, when exuberance leads to… unfortunate misunderstandings. I only say so because I care, of course.”
Elizabeth turned to face her fully, her smile frozen in place. “How very thoughtful of you.”
Caroline tilted her head, her expression one of feigned concern. “I only wish to be helpful, Miss Eliza. After all, I would hate for anyone to misconstrue Mr. Darcy’s behavior tonight. He is a man of duty, as you said, and his honor is above reproach. Surely you understand.”
Elizabeth’s heart began to race, though she kept her voice steady. “I cannot imagine anyone would think otherwise.”
“Oh, I should hope not,” Caroline said with a sigh of relief. “It would be such a shame for you to misinterpret his attentions. You see…” She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as though sharing a secret. “His behavior this evening is no doubt tied to the wager he made with my brother.”
Elizabeth’s stomach dropped. “A… a wager?”
“Oh, yes, though I’m sure it was all in good fun. Darcy, Heaven bless him, has been trying for years to persuade my brother to sell that dreadful warehouse in London, but Charles has beensostubbornly attached to it. Darcy knew, of course, that he would not let it go without a little extra incentive. Of course, as part of the arrangement, Mr. Darcy promised to show… a certaincivilityto my brother’s guests and neighbors.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and turned them fully on Miss Bingley. “Civility?”
“Oh! You know Darcy. He can hardly swat the ladies away fast enough when he is in company, so naturally, he has taken the defense of disliking everyone at first brush. Charles is terribly naive about the thing, though, and he took it into his head that Darcymustmake himself amenable to… everyone. Although, I understand that later, the terms of the wager were restricted to merely indulgingyourfamily.”
Elizabeth gripped the edge of the table to steady herself. “How kind of him.”
“Oh, indeed,” Caroline said brightly. “Mr. Darcy is nothing if not honorable. But I thought you ought to know. It would be dreadful if you were to imagine his attentions were… personal.”
Elizabeth forced a tight smile, her heart pounding in her chest. “Your concern is noted, Miss Bingley. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
Caroline’s expression turned positively saccharine. “Of course. It is always a pleasure to be of service.”
With that, she swept away, leaving Elizabeth standing alone, her thoughts churning. A wager. That was why Darcy had been so attentive, so polite. It was not because he wished to be, but because he was bound by some ridiculous agreement with Bingley.
