“As it happens, there is a card party scheduled for tomorrow night. There will be dancing, and all the young ladies in the neighbourhood will attend.”
“I do not dance, Darcy, as you know. But I will attend if she will be there. Will she? The one with whom you are not in love?” Mr. Fitzwilliam asked, eyes narrowed.
“I am not in love – hang it! Yes, including her, yes.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
The news that a Viscount was in residence at Netherfield spread around Meryton with unprecedented speed. Indeed, not an hour had passed since the gentleman’s arrival before everyone knew of his visit to his cousin, Mr. Darcy. At Longbourn, it was Mrs. Hill who informed the Bennets of the new arrival.
The Viscount’s timing was considered most fortuitous, as the card party at Lucas Lodge would be held the day after his arrival. These parties were held every other month, and were greatly anticipated by all attendees. The rugs would be rolled up, Charlotte and Mary would play, and everyone would dance.
Lady Lucas could only pray that the Viscount would attend. Would that not be something to brag about at her next visit to Longbourn?!
Luck was certainly with her, for the Bingleys, the Hursts, Mr. Darcy and the Viscount were among the first to arrive. The Viscount asked very specifically to be introduced as Mr. Fitzwilliam, as he preferred not to be referred to by his title. Lady Lucas thought this odd indeed, as she herself would never have preferred Mrs. Lucas over Lady Lucas, but the aristocracy was known to have oddities. Of course, she agreed at once,though she was well aware that everyone would know who he was no matter how he was introduced.
The Bennets were among the last to arrive, simply because the matter of Lydia and Kitty’s attendance had not been canvassed ahead of time. So when the two younger girls presented themselves at the front door, ready to go, Elizabeth protested at once. “They are not to come; surely not!”
“Do you girls understand what is it stake here?” Mrs. Bennet asked. “If Lizzy does not marry Mr. Bingley, then it will be far worse than just tallow candles, no meat and no new gowns. If the servants are let go, you girls will have to learn to do their work.”
“We will be good, oh! So very good!” Lydia pleaded, clasping her hands together in prayer. “And we have been deprived of nearly all society for – well, weeks and weeks! Please!!”
Kitty added. “And if Lizzy has not managed to snare Mr. Bingley by now, there is no hope for it, that is what I say!”
“No one has asked for your opinion, Kitty,” Elizabeth spoke through clenched teeth. “But if you both promise to stay away from the punch, and act like well-behaved young ladies, then I suppose you may come. But – BUT! Let there be one moment of poor behaviour, and Mama will take you home at once. Will you not, Mama?”
“I will, indeed,” Mrs. Bennet replied. “No, there is no use in you widening your eyes at me, Lydia. We must do everything we possibly can to help Lizzy.”
When they arrived at Lucas Lodge, Kitty and Lydia took themselves off with all possible speed. Elizabeth, Jane and Mary were greeted immediately by Mr. Bingley. “I began to fear you would not attend,” he told them both.
“We have never yet missed one of Lady Lucas’ card parties,” Elizabeth said. “And we were certainly not about to miss it tonight!”
Mr. Darcy stepped forward with an unknown gentleman at his side. The unknown man was tall and quite thin, pale and bespectacled, with a good deal of thick dark hair that had a tendency to fall into his eyes. “Ladies, allow me to present my cousin,” Mr. Darcy said. “Mr. Fitzwilliam.”
The two ladies curtsied. Ah, Elizabeth thought. So this is the Viscount everyone is talking about!
“Reggie, this is Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Mary.”
Mr. Fitzwilliam bowed, but as he rose, his face was wrinkled in thought. Which of these ladies was the one Darcy was interested in? They were both quite pretty, he thought, if one cared about such things. He turned his head to look at Darcy, and saw the man staring at the smaller, dark-haired lady. Ah, so it must be that Miss Elizabeth.
Mr. Bingley solicited Miss Elizabeth for the first dance and Miss Bennet for the second. After a moment of hesitation, Mr. Darcy asked Miss Bennet for the first and Miss Elizabeth for the second.
Seeing feminine eyes now turned to him, Mr. Fitzwilliam put his hands in the air and stepped back. “I must ask to be forgiven,” he said. “I am no dancer.”
Mr. Darcy agreed. “Indeed, you take your life in your hands if you stand up with my cousin.”
“We shall excuse you, then, Mr. Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said, laughing up at both gentlemen. “We value our lives, and even our toes, for that matter.”
Charlotte began playing a country dance, and the two couples – Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy and Jane – went to the floor.
How Elizabeth longed to ask Mr. Bingley if he might not now prefer her sister, Jane? And to assure him that it would be absolutely fine were that to be the case! But she dared not. Instead, she danced lightly, perfectly, and kept her conversation as light as possible as well.
“I recall you saying that you do not ride, Miss Elizabeth; is that correct?”
“No, for I fell from a horse as a child and have never been in a saddle since! But my sister, Jane, rides. She would do better if we had a decent mount for her, but alas, our horses are generally used for the farm, so she has little opportunity to extend her skills.”
“She would be quite welcome to use one of our animals, I assure you!” He spoke with enthusiasm.
“I hope you will make her that offer when you dance with her, Mr. Bingley. I am certain she would be everything grateful.”
