Page 26 of Most Truly the Gentleman

“I cannot imagine that you have ever had a more skilled dance partner than Mr Darcy. No relation of Lady Catherine de Bourgh could be less than exceptional at the art,” he hinted with all the subtlety of a pig escaped from its sty.

Though Mr Darcy was yet speaking with her father, she saw him flush at this excess of praise, and hurried to say, “I am no judge of such things, sir. I know what is considered excellence here in Hertfordshire, but that might be deemed commonplace in London or Bath.” The musicians sounded some notes to signal the formation of the next set, and she added, “And now it is your turn to display your skill, Mr Collins, unless you mean to mortify me by failing to claim the set you secured?”

He was quick to reassure her that he would never be so ungentlemanly, and most particularly not to one of his beloved cousins. As he bowed low to punctuate this declaration, Jane murmured in her ear, “Mind your toes, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth would soon be grateful for that warning, though Mr Darcy and Charlotte took their places next to her and Mr Collins in the dance and assisted in keeping him generally pointed in the right direction. Even so, the moment of her release from him was ecstasy.

She was claimed for the fourth by Captain Carter, who knew his steps and could keep to them while maintaining a pleasant if less than stimulating conversation. Near the head of the line, she saw Mr Darcy dancing with Mrs Hurst, and next to them were Miss Bingley and young Mr Goulding.

During the pause between sets, Miss Bingley came towards her, and with an expression of civil disdain attempted to lower her spirits by saying, “Well, Miss Eliza, I am sure you are very proud of yourself for inducing Mr Darcy to escort you to the floor before any other lady, but you must not deceive yourself that such stratagems will win you his notice. If you expect to capture him, you will be sadly disappointed.”

Elizabeth, feeling no need to defend herself against such a ludicrous charge, but a great desire to confound the woman who levied it, smiled and replied, “I expected nothing but a pleasant half an hour when I accepted his request for a set, and that is what I received. With regard to Mr Darcy I am perfectly satisfied, I assure you. Which set of yours has he claimed, pray?”

“I believe he intends to ask for the supper set,” she said and sniffed haughtily, setting the feathers in her turban to quivering.

“He had best get to it, then, before some other gentleman steals a march on him. Time grows short—is not supper after the sixth?”

“The seventh,” Miss Bingley replied shortly.

Elizabeth begged her pardon for the mistake, assured her that she expected the meal would be as elegant as all the other arrangements, and excused herself to secure a cup of punch before the next. Minutes later, she was hard-pressed not to laugh when she witnessed Mr Darcy escorting Miss Bingley to the floor. Perhaps she should have felt some sympathy for the lady, as her hopes were dashed; Miss Bingley would not now be able to regale her friends with the tale of dancing the supper set and sharing the meal with the object of her affections, or at least of her ambitions. Her manners did not invite sympathy, however, and Elizabeth did not try very hard to conjure it forth. Mr Sloan, an officer of the militia, approached her then to ask her to dance, and her hostess’s disappointment was forgot in favour of her own enjoyment.

17

BETROTHAL

Spotting Miss Lucas standing with the matrons as the supper set commenced, Colonel Fitzwilliam made his way there and bowed before her, enquiring whether she would favour him with a turn about the room. She smiled and accepted, while the older ladies beamed at him. Though the addition of the officers left far fewer ladies without a partner than had been the case at the assembly the previous month, he had still been able to entertain several young ladies thus far.

They were in perfect accord on the subject of the ball—Miss Bingley’s arrangements were very fine and the musicians quite talented indeed. That topic having been sufficiently canvassed in a matter of moments, he nodded towards the line of dancers and commented, “I see that Mr Collins has been granted Miss Mary’s hand in the dance yet again.”

Miss Lucas smiled knowingly. “It is likely, I think, that he will soon be granted her hand for much more.”

“As I understand he is the heir to Longbourn, that must be a fine thing for the family, but with your greater knowledge of the Bennets, do you believe it is also a fine thing for Miss Mary?”

Without hesitation, she nodded. “I do. They seem to truly enjoy each other’s company. Mary will have more patience with his eccentricities than any of her sisters would, and I think she will enjoy being a clergyman’s wife, respected and useful. Everyone who loves Mr Bennet must hope that she will occupy that position for many years, after all.”

“Indeed. And it seems increasingly likely that Miss Bennet will also be married soon, which—assuming I am correct—must further relieve the family’s anxiety for the future.”

“An even happier match,” she agreed easily, “if it comes to pass. I hope for Jane’s sake that it shall. I will tell you in confidence, sir, that I have never known her to be so pleased by any gentleman’s attentions before, though many have attempted to win her regard.”

“Bingley is, I think, quite capable of securing any woman’s affection, and more capable than most of retaining it. He is young yet, but his character is good. When he decides to wed, I expect he shall be a devoted husband, particularly if his wife is likewise affectionate.”

“Jane will make him happy, then. She is reserved in public, but in the exclusive company of those she loves, none can doubt her devotion.”

“She is like my cousin Darcy, then.” Miss Bennet and Bingley would deal well together, he thought with satisfaction. He had known Bingley for years, but not very well until his weeks living in his cousin’s house, where Bingley had been a frequent visitor, and now at Netherfield.

“Mr Darcy has been paying some attention to my friend Eliza,” Miss Lucas commented. “He seems to enjoy her company.”

Fitzwilliam appreciated that she said this without any particular emphasis, or insinuation that a courtship had begun or was imminent. “I believe he does. It is an excellent thing that they should get along, if the match we anticipate between his friend and her sister takes place, of course, but I hope Miss Elizabeth does not wish for more. My cousin was raised in the belief that a match with a lady of similar wealth and station to his own is expected of him, and I have not often known him to defy expectations.”

Miss Lucas inclined her head thoughtfully. “I do not sense that she has any hopes in that direction, and I fancy I know her almost as well as Jane does. She may have forgiven what he said when they first met, but I doubt much less than a plain declaration would induce her to believe that he finds her at all tempting, in that way. It is a pity, though—it does seem that he has come to find her handsome, and she has come to find him amiable. They might suit very well, if only they could see it.”

“I agree with you,” he replied, smiling. “But if anyone should feel inclined to match-make, I fear they would discover that my cousin is not easily moved from what he believes to be right and proper, even at cost to himself.”

Miss Lucas laughed. “That is as deft and civil a warning as I have ever heard, sir, but quite unnecessary. Though I think it a waste that such ephemeral things as fortune and social standing should prevent a match so eligible in terms of character and compatibility, it is not my way to interfere in the business of others.” She shook her head and offered a new subject: “Tell me, Colonel, have you ever been to Spain? I have been reading a traveller’s account of his time in Aragon and Catalonia about sixty years ago, you see.”

He had indeed spent some time in Aragon while on the Continent, though little of it was suitable to share with a lady. Still, he recalled enough of the landscape and architecture there to offer some impressions.

When the set ended and the dining room was opened, he began to lead Miss Lucas there, only for her to modestly assure him that he need not keep her company for the meal.