“No; only your sister,” Mr. Darcy said, before he could stop himself.
“Ah. Caroline, of course.”
“Yes; I am sorry, Bingley, I should not have spoken so. My worry for my sister must be my excuse.”
“Caroline is difficult, I am well aware, and you must tell me if she becomes too troublesome.”
Mr. Darcy said, “As long as she behaves herself with Georgiana, I have no complaints to make.”
“Very well. Say, did you see Miss Bennet?”
“The eldest? Yes.”
“She is the loveliest creature I have ever beheld!”
“I believe she is as kind as she is pretty.”
“She is!! But hold; who told you that? Did you dance with her?” Mr. Bingley’s voice was suddenly alarmed.
“No, I danced with her younger sister, Miss Elizabeth, who spoke most glowingly of Miss Bennet.”
“That is all right, then.” Mr. Bingley relaxed.
“Were you worried that I might have danced with her, Bingley?” Mr. Darcy was amused.
“Well, you are a good deal more eligible than I am, you know.”
“I am not certain that is still true. Even your sister is no longer interested in me.”
“Ha! Well, they say every cloud has a silver lining, Darcy, so you must count that as yours. You need no longer fear a compromise in the dead of night.”
“Believe me, Bingley, I do appreciate knowing that.”
The two gentlemen returned to the hall, where Mr. Darcy danced with Mrs. Hurst and Mr. Bingley danced a second time with Miss Bennet.
Following his dance with Mrs. Hurst, Mr. Darcy saw that Miss Elizabeth was in conversation with Miss Bingley at the refreshment table. Thinking that Miss Elizabeth might be in need of rescuing, he quickly made his way to her, and he was in time to hear Miss Bingley say, haughtily, “I admit I am unaccustomed to gatherings such as these.”
“Oh,” Miss Elizabeth replied. “There are no assemblies held near your estate?”
Miss Bingley looked affronted. “I live in Town, Miss Elizabeth; I go to balls, not country assemblies.”
“I apologise, Miss Bingley; I did not understand. But surely at your parents’ estate in the country…?” She trailed off.
Miss Bingley could not admit that her family did not have an estate; instead, she said, “I have no taste for country living. It is all so very crude.”
After Miss Bingley’s rudeness during their dance, Mr. Darcy felt no compunction in divulging Miss Bingley’s social status. “The Bingleys do not yet have a family estate, Miss Elizabeth. They hope to improve their social situation by entering the landed gentry; thus, Mr. Bingley is leasing Netherfield to see if he might wish to make a purchase.”
“Oh, I see,” Elizabeth said, understanding at once. “I suppose if one is not brought up to country life, it might be a difficult adaptation. Mr. Darcy, I know nothing of you; do you live in Town as well?”
“Mr. Darcy has an extensive estate in Derbyshire,” Miss Bingley said, archly.
“Ah, so you are quite accustomed to rural gatherings such as these, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said.
“I certainly am, and I enjoy them every bit as much as the elegant gatherings in Town,” he said firmly.
Miss Bingley turned up her nose at this and stalked away.
It was definite; Miss Bingley had lost interest in him. Mr. Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. A young man came to claim Miss Elizabeth for the next dance, and he stood and watched, enjoying the sight of her slim, supple figure on the dance floor.
