Darcy scoffed. “While I admit, some men do prefer a foolish wife, I am not one of them. I cannot imagine sitting across thedinner table night after night with a woman who has nothing to say or with whom I share nothing in common,” he stated.
“You want a partner,” she said simply.
He nodded, and their gazes held for several moments. Suddenly, the lights began to lower, and they forced their attention to the stage.
While watching the performance, Darcy also watched her. Her hands were in her lap, but he watched her twist her gloves as she observed the happenings on the stage. Slowly, he reached over and covered her hand with one of his. She glanced over at him, and once again, their eyes caught and locked as he again brought her hand to his lips and placed a lingering kiss upon it. He lowered it but did not release it, and their joined hands hung between them until the first intermission.
His actions flustered Elizabeth, and she had spent much of the performance with her cheeks hotly flushed. Despite this, she was pleased by the attention paid to her by the gentleman. She could scarcely pay attention to the performance as her mind raced.
“My aunt and uncle admire the man,” she pondered, “and they would not do so if he had a reputation as a rake, would they? They would not condone a flirtation, which means the attention he is payingmust begenuine, does it not?”She had been serious when she had told him of her mother’s observation she would never marry, as she was too ‘unladylike and plain’ ever to attract a man.
“Mr. Darcy is such a handsome man. Perhaps he is not particularly well off since he is a second son. Still, he is a member of a prominent family, and he appears to be doing well for himself, given his relationship with my uncle. We are therethis very night to celebrate the success of a mutual investment, and of course, a London barrister could easily support himself and perhaps a wife on his income.”
Elizabeth sighed audibly, scolding herself inwardly at the direction of her thoughts, causing Darcy to look over at her and offer a reassuring smile; all the while, his own mind was working equally as rapidly.
“She is young,” he thought, “but clearly well-read and intelligent. Her uncle praises her to the skies whenever he speaks of her. And she is beautiful; I cannot deny I am attracted to her. She is the daughter of a gentleman, and so am I. Would she consider marrying a barrister? A second son? She says she never considered marriage, as her mother declared her ‘unmarriageable’—what kind of mother would say something like that of such a lovely young woman? My investments have provided me with a good income, and I could support her well enough. I need to speak with her uncle—to see what he says about the family and if he feels her father would accept my suit. My suit? What am I thinking? I have only just been called to the bar and had not thought to consider marriage for at least several years. I will be five and twenty next month and had not thought to marry before thirty. But will she still be available then? And would I really want to ask her to wait that long? DoIwant to wait?”
Both were lost in these thoughts, paying little attention to the stage but relishing the physical link between them. When the lights began to come back up, they quickly released their hands, losing the connection, and looked at the other to smile shyly. A few words were exchanged, and the decision was made not to leave the box. A few acquaintances of Darcy and the Gardiners dropped in to visit and were introduced to the dark-hairedbeauty. One of these was a great friend of Darcy, along with his sister, who was annoyed at the ‘interloper’ in the Darcy box.
Darcy and Charles Bingley had become friends at Cambridge, and his younger sister, Caroline, did all she could to forward the friendship. While she would prefer to marry higher, she wanted to keep Mr. Darcy available to her just in case she had to settle and did not appreciate his keeping company with another woman.
To Darcy’s mind, Caroline Bingley was the worst sort of social climber and fortune hunter. She quite literally clung to him when they were in company, and he despised being clung to. This evening, she was hampered from doing so by Elizabeth’s presence by his side. When she entered his box, Darcy deliberately stood with the wall to one side and Elizabeth slightly in front of him to the other, effectively blocking Miss Bingley from taking his arm. Somehow, Elizabeth also seemed conscious of this and did not move despite the other lady’s apparent attempts to replace her.
After the introductions, Caroline Bingley attempted to insert herself between Mr. Darcy and the chit by calling attention to her superior breeding. “Miss Eliza, was it?” she sneered.
“As my elder sister is not present, I believe the correct form of address is Miss Bennet, Miss Bingley, or would you prefer I address you similarly and call you Miss Caro?” Elizabeth inquired pertly. “I was educated at home, Miss Bingley, as are many gentlemen’s daughters, particularly among the landed gentry. And you, where were you educated that you are unaware of this?”
Darcy and Bingley bit back the guffaws that were threatening to be released. Darcy tolerated her only because of his friendshipwith her brother. Bingley had been behind Darcy in school, but the two had become friends there, and that friendship had lasted. However, his younger sister had been a constant thorn in Darcy’s side as she had attempted to get her claws into him to raise her status or get a deeper connection to Pemberley. She wanted the heir but would settle for the second son.
Due to her frustration, her reply was no doubt sharper than it ought to have been. “No one of worth is educated at home, Miss Eliza.”
“I have rarely heard a more foolish statement,” came a male voice. “Neither of my sisters left home to attend school—my parents felt it was best to keep my sisters at home and hire a governess and masters as necessary.”
Miss Bingley sneered at the interloper. “And just who are your parents, sir?” she bit out.
“Travis,” Darcy greeted the newcomer. “How are you? I have not seen you in some time.”
“I am well, Darcy,” he said. “Will you introduce me to your guests?”
“Viscount Travis, allow me to introduce you to Edward Gardiner and his wife,” Darcy began. “Mr. Gardiner is the gentleman I told you about at the club last week. He is a useful connection, and I think you would do well to know him better. They are accompanied by their niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.” He indicated the dark-haired beauty beside him, and Travis noted how Darcy’s voice had changed slightly when he spoke of her. He bowed slightly in response to the lady’s curtseys. “You know Bingley, I believe, from Cambridge; this is his sister. Mr and Mrs Gardiner, MissBennet, I am pleased to introduce you to my good friend Viscount Travis.” All in the box took note of Miss Bingley’s exclusion.
Her exclusion mortified Miss Bingley, but fortunately, the bell rang, indicating the next act would start soon. “Travis, let me know when we can meet, and Bingley, send your card around when you are available to join me at the club,” Darcy said as their guests departed. The others made their farewells, but Miss Bingley spoke to no one. Only when she was in the corridor did she quietly request her brother cut their evening short and take her home.
The rest of the evening passed quietly enough. Elizabeth deliberately placed her hand where Darcy could retake it once the lights lowered, and to her supreme delight, he did so. The evening was over too soon, and Elizabeth was confident she had never enjoyed a performance more.
Although she enjoyed the performance, it was the end of the evening she dwelt on most. As Darcy helped Elizabeth from the carriage and escorted her inside the house, he briefly slowed their steps, keeping her behind her relatives so he could speak privately.
“Miss Bennet,” he began, “might I … might I call on you?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, I would welcome your call.”
“Good,” he replied. “Tomorrow?”
“It is past midnight, Mr. Darcy,” she retorted. “Do you mean later today, or must I wait an entire day until you come?”
“Today, then,” he said. “I do not want to wait long either, Miss Bennet.”
“Then, yes, I would be happy to receive your call later today, Mr. Darcy,” she replied.
