“Netherfield is much larger than Longbourn, providing you with more corners in which you can hide from your fellow residents, and there are far fewer people with whom you must share the house. Not accounting for servants, you are three, and we are eight!” She let out a gust of breath as if demonstrating the effort it took to survive such an ordeal.
They spoke about the books they had read, and she told him of the new music she and Miss Mary were practising, while he mentioned writing to his family. They continued along these lines as the set began.
“I can hardly believe November is almost over! In just a few days, it will be December. I do adore Christmas. What will you do to celebrate?” Miss Elizabeth said near the end of their dance.
“I shall join my family in Worcestershire, and afterwards, my sister and I will return to Pemberley. And you?”
“The Gardiners always come to us for a week or ten days. I do not know how William’s situation will change our usual plans, but we shall make merry, eat too many sweets, drink too much punch, and relish the company of our neighbours before the winter settles in. If it is cold enough for the Gouldings’ lake to freeze, they will have skating parties, which are always a great deal of fun. Perhaps Mr and Miss Bingley’s sister and her husband will come to Netherfield soon. I would like to meet them.”
“I imagine it will not be long now. They are staying with Mr Hurst’s family, but she must be anxious to see her brother’s estate. You know their father’s greatest ambition was for his children to establish themselves amongst the gentry. To add to it, she will want to meet Bingley’s neighbours, certain people in particular.” He could not directly name Miss Bennet, but since it seemed more and more likely that Bingley would marry her, naturally Mrs Hurst would visit to be introduced to her new sister.
Miss Elizabeth’s smile grew wider. “I assure you,certain peoplewould be very glad to know Mr Bingley’s family much better. But enough about them. You have told me how much your sister enjoys music. Did her last letter tell you what pianoforte pieces she is practising? Will your cousin the colonel be able to join you for Christmas? You see, Mr Darcy, I have an excellent memory and recall what you told me about your family. I am curious about them, and I wish to paint a picture in my mind of what your festive season will be like. Is there a Twelfth Night masquerade in your near future?”
He let out a bark of laughter. “Not if I can avoid it. I shall discover an urgent matter at Pemberley and take Georgiana and myself home if my aunt proposes such a thing. What do the people of Meryton do for Twelfth Night?”
She waggled a finger at him. “You have not answered my other questions. Once you do, I shall be happy to tell you whatever you wish to know.”
Darcy savoured each of Miss Elizabeth’s smiles and teases. They spent the next interval together, their tête-à-tête stretching through the proceeding set. She assured him she had not promised it to anyone and claimed a need for fresh air, so they stepped onto the terrace together. Darcy could have asked about Mr Collins then, but he was a coward and instead chose to bask in her good cheer. Tomorrow, without fail, he would go to Longbourn and seek out Mr Bennet as early as possible. Then, he would not leave without a firm response regarding which Miss Bennet would marry her cousin. He had every reason to expect to hear that Miss Elizabeth wasnotthe lady in question. Once he was assured of that, he would tell her and her father that he wished to pursue a closer connexion to her, one that would end with matrimony.
With reluctance, Darcy gave Miss Elizabeth over to John Lucas afterwards and went to do his duty and ask Miss Bingley whether she would dance with him.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
After leaving Jane at the conclusion of supper, Elizabeth felt free to relax and enjoy her time with her friends and especially with Mr Darcy when he, at last, sought her out. She had begun to think he was avoiding her. Mr Darcy had appeared morose when they greeted each other at the start of the ball, which had worried her. He was not obligated to dance with her, of course, but she had expected he would at least talk to her. No matter, she told herself, because she was able to spend above an hour with him. Despite his earlier sullenness, during their time together, he was the pleasant, amiable gentleman she had come to admire.
Once her set with John Lucas ended, she sought out Jane, who was smiling and giving every appearance of delight with the ball. However, as they spoke with several young people, Elizabeth could see it was false. As soon as she was able, she took Jane by the hand and led her to where they could speak privately. There, Jane admitted Mr Bingley had not yet spoken to her.
“Something dreadful has happened, I know it has, and not in the way we discussed earlier. He has changed his mind about me, and no longer wishes to be my friend.” Jane’s voice broke as she continued. “Oh, how I long for the ball to end so that I can go home and be alone! Surely everyone has noticed how he is avoiding me!”
There was nothing for Elizabeth to do but comfort her sister. Silently, she thought,Mr Bingley had better be at Longbourn as early as possible tomorrow with a very, very sincere apology and an excellent excuse. Even then, it will take more formeto forgive him for causing Jane even a second of pain.
* * *
The Bennets were amongst the first to depart. Caroline said no more than was strictly necessary when Mrs Bennet and her two oldest daughters found her to offer their gratitude and good nights.
“Is Mr Bingley nearby? I…wewould wish to thank him as well,” Miss Bennet said.
Caroline was not unaffected by the way her voice trembled or the bright pink spots on her cheeks. While she despised Miss Elizabeth for distracting Mr Darcy, there was nothing objectionable about Miss Bennet. She would make some man—nother brother—a good wife, and Caroline wished her the best.
“I am afraid I do not. I shall be happy to tell him for you.”
As it happened, she knew exactly where Bingley was. She had seen him over Mrs Bennet’s shoulder, and when he noticed to whom she spoke, he changed direction and left the room.
Mr Darcy retired soon after the Bennets left. Bingley told her Mr Darcy had informed him he was going to his chamber. If he cared at all for her, he ought to have toldherdirectly. But it mattered not, she reassured herself. On the morrow, all three of them would be away from Netherfield,neverto return, and she would ensure Mr Darcy hated the very name of Bennet. All it would take was assuring him his darling Miss Eliza would be a married woman in a few weeks. After that nasty piece of business was done, she was confident that she would soon redirect his attention to her.
As soon as their last guests were gone, Caroline and her brother returned to his study. Caroline paced as she spoke. Bingley remained standing, several times scrubbing at his face and running his hands through his hair.
“I warned you that you were paying Miss Bennet too much attention, but you said it was just a flirtation, that no one could expect you to mean anything by it, and especially that she understood!”
“I treated her no differently than I have countless other young ladies.”
“You failed to account for the fact that we are not in town, and you cannot behave in the country as you do there.”
“I know! Is that what you want to hear? You were correct, and I was a fool. We have to get away from here before this nasty gossip propels me to the altar against my will.”
“And we must get Mr Darcy away fromherbefore he forgets himself entirely! No doubt, she would do whatever necessary to catch such a man. I cannot blame her, not with everything I have done. ButIlike him and would try my best to be a good wife. The only reason she is interested in him is because their union would elevate her family’s standing so greatly.”
Bingley tore at his neckcloth, eventually managing to untie it. “Please, let us sit down. I am exhausted.”
