“I hope so.”
Caroline grit her teeth. Heavens, he was difficult to talk to! The dance separated them for a time, too short a time, in Caroline’s opinion! When they returned to one another, she managed, “How long will you be in London?”
“A few weeks, perhaps.”
The next few minutes passed in painful silence. Finally, she snapped. “Do you know how to carry on a conversation?”
He snapped back, “With people I like, yes!”
“You do not like me, then?” Caroline bit out.
“No; I never have.”
Caroline stopped dead and stared at him for a long minute. Then she walked off, leaving the Colonel in the middle of the dance floor. He stared after her, aware that he was now an object of some interest to the onlookers. Doubtless they were wondering what he could have done to offend a lady so badly that she left him in the middle of a country dance! He walked off the floor with as much dignity as he could muster, teeth gritted in fury.
He should not have been surprised to find his mother at his side, glaring at him. “Is this how I brought you up, Richard? Good Lord, what did you say to the girl?”
“You know I do not like her, Mother.”
“Then why did you ask her to dance?”
He opened his mouth to say that Elizabeth had forced him to, but realised in time that he would sound like a child. Instead, he just shook his head.
“She is pretty enough, I think,” his mother continued.
The Colonel thought about it. “Well, I suppose she is tolerable, yes, if you like a sharp nose, a sharp chin and a sharp tongue.”
“Not as sharp as some. And did she speak with you?”
He sighed, knowing himself to be very much in the wrong. “She tried, but I did not help her along at all. And then I told her that I did not like her.”
“I have never liked her either,” his mother said, easily. “But she has surprised me of late, and I think there is more to her than I had suspected. And certainly a gentleman should not tell his dance partner that he does not like her! Heavens, Richard!”
“Haveyouspoken with her?” the Colonel asked, skeptically.
“I have not permitted her to be introduced to me, as her manners have always been appalling and her dress sense even worse, but she has changed all that. Moreover, she has a good deal of pluck. You should have seen her at Gunter’s, ready to do battle on behalf of a friend! I have decided to permit the introduction – which you will perform – and then you will apologise to her.” With that, the Countess sailed off through the crowd, dragging a reluctant son behind her.
“There she is,” the Countess said. Caroline was sitting with her group of friends again, whispering to them. Her occasional glances toward the Colonel left the Countess in no doubt of the subject of their conversation.
The young ladies all rose and curtsied as the Countess approached them. “Richard, please introduce me to Miss Bingley.”
Richard presented Caroline to the Countess, and Caroline’s eyes grew wide. She had long hoped that the Countess of Matlock would deign to notice her! If only someone other than Colonel Fitzwilliam had been the means of that introduction! But no matter.
“Miss Bingley, I was impressed with your behaviour at Gunter’s. You were right to stand up for Lady Alicia; her situation was unfortunate and she was lucky to have loyal friends.” The Countess smiled kindly at Lady Alicia as she spoke. “I am not, however, impressed with my son’s behaviour.” She turned and looked meaningfully at Richard.
The Colonel was well aware that his manners had been dreadful, worse than anything even Miss Bingley had ever exhibited, and he very much owed her an apology. “Miss Bingley, I regret my ill-tempered words. My only excuse, such as it is, is that I traveled for twelve hours without rest to get to the ball, and I am quite weary.”
Miss Bingley replied immediately. “You are forgiven, of course. But may I request that youneverask me to dance again?” Caroline had put a good face on it, as she knew she must, but her feelings had been badly hurt; worse, her self-confidence had taken a hard hit. She would never subject herself to that again!
“I am happy to comply with your request,” the Colonel answered quickly. Indeed, nothing could make him happier! He would never have to dance with Miss Bingley again, no matter how much Elizabeth begged him to.
***
Theodore Fane, the Earl of Westmoreland, knew his duty. As an eligible –veryeligible! – gentleman, he must dance every dance, and select a different lady each time. He had managed to secure Miss Darcy’s supper dance, and then did his duty with any number of young ladies. Each of them was pretty, well-dressed, and well-mannered, but he found himself simply counting down the hours until the supper dance.
He kept a close eye on Miss Darcy, noting who she danced with. Surely Mr. Dunfred was holding her too close! And Mr. Taylor certainly took his time in releasing Miss Darcy’s hand at the end of the dance! Hold; was Mr. Stanley actually staring at her bosom? He scowled fiercely at that gentleman, causing his current partner to ask him, in some alarm, if he was quite well. He apologised to her for his momentary distraction and did his best to pay more attention to her.
He and his sister had spoken candidly about his feelings for Miss Darcy. Frankly, though, he had no idea if Miss Darcy was interested in him at all, so all this worrying might very well be for naught. How he wished he could just ask her how she felt, instead of having to guess! She smiled at him a good deal, but she smiled at everyone. She was happy to play the piano for him, but she played for everyone. She always thanked him sweetly for the bouquets he sent her, but she thanked everyone sweetly. She had seemed delighted to ride in his carriage, but did she not speak with his sister as much as with him?
