He chuckled. “Not in the same way, no. Although, I suppose it depends on the time of year. I have quite a few friends who come to London every winter to escape the dullness of winter in the country. We talk about politics, the news, business, and even occasionally about estate management. I am seldom bored with them.”
Elizabeth wanted to ask what it was about the company at Netherfield that was so different from the company in London, but she refrained. Already, she felt as though their discussion had become too personal for near strangers.
“I am glad to hear it,” she said. “I suppose it is time to return to the drawing room. I believe I have cooled off a bit, and we would not wish to be gone too long, or whispers will circulate.”
Mr. Darcy stood and turned to help her up. With just a moment of hesitation, she placed her hand in his.
As she stood, he said, “I would like to correct something you said earlier, if I may. You mentioned that I am well above your touch, but I believe that to be wholly incorrect. We are equals, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
She did not have a chance to respond to such a statement as he led her back into the drawing room.
As they entered the room, the first thing Elizabeth heard was Lydia’s voice calling across the room. “Mary, play some dancing music. I am sure everyone would be much happier with that than with another concerto.”
Elizabeth just barely stifled a groan as she said, “I apologize for my sister’s atrocious manners, Mr. Darcy.”
Atrocious, indeed,was the thought that drifted from his mind to hers. Aloud, however, he said, “There is no need for you to apologize. If there is to be dancing, I would very much like to secure your hand for one of them. I imagine you will be quite in demand for such an activity.”
“I had hoped to avoid joining in with dancing that began with such rudeness,” said Elizabeth. She glanced around the room and saw several gentlemen’s gazes turn toward her as Mary agreed to play for them all. She sighed. “I suppose it can’t be helped, however. If I must dance, I will accept your offer gratefully.”
Mr. Darcy’s chuckle drew her attention to him. Once she was fully staring, he looked at her with laughter still in his eyes. “I don’t believe I have ever experienced such a begrudging acceptance before. I will do my best to not be an embarrassment to you.”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm in a blush. “I apologize, Mr. Darcy. I did not mean it as an insult. In fact, what I was trying to say was that, if I must dance, it would be better to do so with you than with any other gentleman here.”
As the words came tumbling out, Elizabeth wished she could stuff them back in. It was an incredibly forward thing to say, no matter how true it might be. Her cheeks flamed even brighter as she began to feel swallowed up in embarrassment.
“The sentiment is very much reciprocated.” Mr. Darcy’s warm voice poured over her. It had a gentle quality to it that she had not heard before. “Shall we?” He held out his arm for her to take, so he could guide them both to where the dancers were lining up.
“Yes, thank you,” she said.
As they danced, Elizabeth was a confusing mess of emotions. She was ashamed by Lydia and Kitty’s forward behavior with their partners, one of whom was Captain Carter. She was pleased to finally be dancing with a pleasant partner. She was embarrassed by her lack of conversation. And she was warm all over due to Mr. Darcy’s clearly admiring gaze.
They didn’t speak much. Elizabeth was too overcome with emotion to be able to form a coherent thought, so she could not begin a conversation. He seemed unwilling to speak. She wished some of his thoughts would surface, so she could at least have some inkling as to what he was thinking, but nothing came.
She was beginning to think that Jeanie’s method of granting her wish wasn’t quite so useful after all.
When the dance was over, she barely had enough time to thank him before her next dance was claimed by John Lucas, who had been dancing right next to them. With a clearly reluctant sigh, she accepted his offer, and after giving her a sympathetic smile, Mr. Darcy drifted away.
Chapter 13
Mary sat at the piano in the music room at Longbourn. She took a deep breath and began playing the passage once again. It did not work. For the twelfth time in a row, she flubbed the same bit.
Anger and frustration swept through her, and she took it all out on the piano keys in front of her by banging a short series of random chords. The cacophony pulled her out of her tantrum, though it did little to truly soothe her.
The problem was not her music. The problem was Alan Goulding.
She stood up from the piano and went to fetch her pelisse and her cloak so she could take a walk, hoping that a bit of movement and some fresh air would aid in relieving some of her feelings.
The moment she stepped out into the sunshine, she felt a little better. The bright sun warmed her heart while the chilly, autumn air cooled her head. She began briskly walking in no direction in particular.
Once she was in motion, she let her thoughts roam free.
It had been more than two weeks since the assembly with its frank conversation with Alan…and their magical dance. For the first time in her life, Mary felt seen, wanted, and admired. Notonly that, but the gentleman who her made her feel so was the one man she saw, wanted, and admired above all.
He had promised to explain to her why he had treated her so poorly when they were children, and she had looked forward to the conversation with hope; hope that she would understand well enough to allow her to let go of the past and focus on the man he was now and how his attention made her feel.
He had promised.
But two weeks had passed, and she had not seen him once in that time. She had been to four parties, but though his parents attended two of them, he attended none. Three times his mother had called on Mrs. Bennet at Longbourn, but Alan did not accompany her.
