Page 4 of A Different Impression

She shot him a look, but when his expression remained genuinely curious rather than mocking, she sighed and confessed, “Papa’s estate is entailed. None of us daughters can inherit, so it will pass to a distant cousin instead.”

A wry smile tugged at her lips. “Mama never stops lamenting the injustice of it all and insists that once Papa—who, I might add, is in perfectly good health—passes on, this cousin will leave us to starve.”

The admission surprised him. “Have you no other family?”

“Yes, an uncle here in Meryton, who is a solicitor, and my uncle Gardiner is in trade in London,” she said, continuing to watch him closely to see how he responded to this news. “Both have assured Mama they will take care of her and us when the time comes, but Mama does not hear it. I think she prefers to view herself as ill-used.”

“But you said your father is well?” he asked.

“Yes, he is hale, but Mama is… she prefers to… oh, I do not know how to explain this,” she said in obvious frustration. “She fancies herself nervous and does not deal well with things she does not understand. I am sorry… I should not be saying any of this to you.” Her face turned scarlet, and Darcy suspected she had only just realised how much she had revealed, and to someone who was clearly far above her in society.

The dance was ending. He took her hand and placed it on his arm as he escorted her back to her sister and his friend. “I am glad you confided in me,” he said quietly. “I enjoyed speaking as openly as we have. By chance…” he hesitated briefly, “by chance, might I claim another dance with you tonight?”

“That will incite speculation and gossip from my neighbours,” she pointed out, that one brow raised yet again. “My mother will be the worst of all, and she will crow about the forthcoming ‘engagement’ that a second dance must surely indicate.”

“I find myself not caring about the gossip it may raise,” he replied, watching for her reaction.

“You will not have to live with it, sir,” she said pointedly, then agreed. “If you do not care, then I can bear it, but I will have you know the only dance I still have open is the last.”

“That would be perfect,” he said, genuinely smiling at her, revealing his dimples.

Elizabeth coloured and looked away so quickly that Darcy found himself wondering what thought had occasioned such a blush.

When they returned to Jane and Bingley, the four conversed pleasantly for a time before Jane was claimed for her next dance. Bingley then turned to Elizabeth with a smile and led her to the floor, leaving Darcy to watch them go with reluctant resignation, knowing he would have to wait until the final set to partner Miss Elizabeth again.

CHAPTER 2

Mr Hurst Takes Notice

Mr Hurst had seldom seen his wife’s sister wear such an expression as she did that evening.

Ordinarily, he paid little attention to the happenings of a ballroom. Once the formalities had been observed, he generally retired to the card room, where he could converse with other gentlemen, drink, and play cards well away from the ladies—most particularly from Caroline, the unmarried sister of his brother by marriage, Charles Bingley.

The events of this particular evening, however, proved impossible to ignore. There was no card room in the rustic assembly hall, and therefore he had little choice but to watch the proceedings.

Hurst had known Fitzwilliam Darcy through Charles for several years, and during all that time Caroline had pursued the man with a perseverance he could only describe as exhausting. She seemed to interpret every act of common civility as encouragement and dismissed every polite refusal as though she had never heard it. Hurst, on the other hand, had never once doubted the outcome.

Darcy would no more marry Charles’s sister than he would fly to the moon. Hurst had often thought that, had Caroline devoted half as much determination to finding a gentleman who actually admired her, she would probably have been settled years ago.

As Darcy led one of the young ladies from the neighbourhood—a Miss Elizabeth Bennet, if Hurst remembered the introductions correctly—onto the dance floor, Caroline’s fan snapped shut with an audible crack that made him wince. That particular sound had rarely preceded anything sensible.

Meanwhile, Darcy had spent the entire evening watching Miss Elizabeth Bennet with a concentration that would have alarmed Hurst had Caroline not been the greater danger.

He caught Louisa’s eye across the room. His wife had noticed it too. After several years of marriage, no words were necessary between them, particularly when Caroline was concerned. A slight inclination of Louisa’s head towards her sister was enough, and they both began to move towards one another.

When they met, Louisa said quietly, “You may wish to speak to Mr Darcy and warn him. He has told Charles often enough that he would not offer for Caroline even if she were compromised, but he should be careful all the same. Perhaps advising him that having his valet sleep in the same room would not go amiss whilst he is with us at Netherfield.”

“Darcy should not have to go to such lengths to avoid her,” Hurst replied. “Charles needs to send her away or take her firmly in hand.”

Louisa lowered her voice. “I am afraid he will not do that until after she has done something to ruin herself.”

They both looked towards Caroline who had not moved in several minutes.

Her fan remained closed in one hand, forgotten, whilst her gaze followed Darcy and his dance partner through every figure of the dance.

Hurst had seen hunting dogs fix upon their quarry with less determination.

Sighing, Louisa continued. “Nothing we have said has kept her from throwing herself at him, despite his obvious lack of interest. I only hope that, when she does ruin herself, she does not ruin the rest of us along with her.”