“Whatever you deem best, Mama,” Elizabeth replied, for she had no designs on the gentleman. Mr. Bingley seemed affable. He was not unattractive. Yet, he stirred nothing in her. Not even the dislike Mr. Darcy evoked.
Thinking of him, Elizabeth turned from her mother to the lines of dancers forming up for their set. Mr. Bingley and Charlotte were near the front of the hall, and none other than Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley joined them there.
“Miss Lydia?”
“Miss Kitty?”
Charlotte’s brothers, John and Paul Lucas, had arrived to claim sets with Elizabeth’s younger sisters.
“And where do you think you are going?” Mrs. Bennet demanded of Lydia. “You must be here when Mr. Bingley returns with Jane.”
“Oh, Mama.” Lydia placed her hand in Paul Lucas’s outstretched one. “That is not for two sets. Mr. Lucas and I will be back by then.”
“See that you are,” Mrs. Bennet snapped, eyeing Paul Lucas narrowly.
He turned a questioning look on Lydia, who leaned to whisper to him as they walked away, joining the end of the line of dancers along with John Lucas and Kitty.
Mr. Goulding the younger arrived next, bowing. “Miss Bennet, may I—”
“You may not.” Mrs. Bennet caught Mary by the shoulder and shoved her forward. “Dance with Mary. Jane is waiting for Mr. Bingley.”
His expression as confused as Paul Lucas’s had been, Mr. Goulding shrugged and offered his hand to Mary. Lips pursed, she took it, leaving Elizabeth with Jane and their mother.
The set commenced, Mrs. Bennet tapping her foot out of rhythm, her attention fixed on Charlotte and Mr. Bingley. Beside them, Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley danced well, though Mr. Darcy with odd stiffness, as if his entire form were immune to any sort of joy. Miss Bingley seemed to have a great deal to say, though, and while Elizabeth could not catch her words, her frequent smiles and ready laughter revealed that Mr. Darcy’s replies entertained her.
Meanwhile, amongst those not dancing, rumors flew. Already, the populace had Mr. Bingley’s worth at four-thousand a year, and Mr. Darcy’s at anything from six on up to twelve. Elizabeth couldn’t credit such sums, but were they true, they would explain why Mr. Bingley put up with the man on his sister’s behalf. A husband with over six thousand a year would certainly remove a great number of worries from a woman’s life. Still, Elizabeth wrinkled her nose at the idea. From what she had seen thus far, worries removed could not be worth enduring Mr. Darcy.
Trying to ignore that gentleman’s stiff parody of enjoyment, Elizabeth watched the other dancers. Soon, a smile stole across her features, for Meryton provided a lively community, and enjoying a set from beside her mother was nearly as entertaining as joining in.
When the music stilled, Mr. Bingley scarcely rose from his bow before turning their way. His expression eager, he tucked Charlotte’s arm through his and crossed the room to them.
Charlotte, far from appearing offended by Mr. Bingley’s obvious desire to be rid of her in favor of Jane, hurried to Elizabeth’s side. “Come,” she murmured, laughter dancing along the word. She twined arms, attempting to draw Elizabeth away.
Mrs. Bennet cast them an unconcerned look, not in the habit of caring where Elizabeth went or with whom, then returned her attention to Jane and Mr. Bingley.
Elizabeth would have preferred to remain. Mr. Goulding approached with Mary and he might very well ask her to dance next. Though Elizabeth had no interest in Mr. Goulding, she did desire to dance. Charlotte tugged again, though, insistent. Turning to her with a look of inquiry, Elizabeth permitted her friend to pull her off to the side of the room.
“Have you met Mr. Darcy?” Charlotte asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. A darted look showed that gentleman once more walked the room with Miss Bingley on his arm. “I have not yet had the displeasure.”
Charlotte’s lips pressed tight over laughter. “Miss Bingley kept complimenting his dancing, and he would reply with variations of, ‘Certainly I am highly proficient. A Darcy is given every advantage.’” Charlotte chuckled. “Or, ‘A Darcy receives the benefit of the very best instructors, though not even they have my natural ability.’ You should have heard him. I have never met anyone so adept at aggrandizing himself.”
“Truly?” Amusement came to life in Elizabeth, removing a lingering trace of annoyance at not being permitted to dance with Mr. Goulding, who now partnered Kitty. “The man sounds insufferable.”
“He is too entertaining to be insufferable,” Charlotte responded with a laugh.
“Hush,” Elizabeth whispered, trying to school her features. “He is coming this way.”
Charlotte turned and, shoulder to shoulder, they watched as Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley swept down the side of the room. Even before they drew near enough for Elizabeth to hear them, she could read from the movement of their mouths that they employed words such as, ‘provincial,’ and, ‘backwater.’ In their wake, frowns blossomed like morning glories hit by the first rays of the sun.
As the two drew nearer still, Miss Bingley’s attention caught on Elizabeth and Charlotte. Turning to her companion, she said, “Had you not better dance than walk with me, Mr. Darcy? There are so many un-partnered ladies standing about.”
“At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable, and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, not troubling to hide her surprise, for he looked directly at her and Charlotte as he and Miss Bingley strode past. He could not suppose his words to go unheard.
“Oh, come now, Mr. Darcy, they are not all slighted.” Unlike her words, Miss Bingley’s voice held no chiding, only amusement, and the back of her head, now presented to Elizabeth and Charlotte as she and Mr. Darcy walked on, offered no insight into the seriousness of her rebuke. “Miss Bennet is striking, in a countrified sort of way, and has stood out only one set so far. She, at least, is worth dancing with.”
