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Jane laughed. “Of course, you would not. If the handsomest duke in the land appeared at the assembly, you would refuse to dance with him because you believed him to be a pompous bore.”
Elizabeth burst into unexpected laughter. Jane so rarely made jokes. “Aye, very likely true,” she admitted.
“Of course, it is true,” Jane said. “I can never forget how you reacted to Mr. Darcy.”
The mention of the man’s name caused a quite puzzling jolt of uneasiness. They had heard nothing from the man for two years; no doubt he was numbered among their acquaintances who would prefer not to acknowledge any association with the Bennets. Yet she often found herself recalling something he had said or a particular turn of his countenance. It was quite perplexing. He had been proud and disagreeable. She should be eager to forget him altogether. “Indeed, Mr. Darcy was very pompous, but he was the last man in the world who would think to offer for my hand.” She gave a little laugh.
Nevertheless, her memory conjured the image of his face when she could barely recall the countenances of those who had accompanied him to Netherfield. I am being overly fanciful. Mr. Darcy was a handsome man despite his faults. Possibly the handsomest man of my acquaintance. Apparently, I am just as susceptible as another woman to the charms of an attractive face.
Jane’s eyes were sad. “I do not suppose we shall ever see them again.”
Elizabeth knew Jane was not talking about Mr. Darcy or Bingley’s sisters. “Someday we might visit London—”
“I would not dare to call upon them,” Jane said in a low voice. “They might give us the cut direct. Surely they know about Lydia. There could be no other reason his sisters stopped responding to my letters.”
Privately Elizabeth believed Mr. Bingley’s sisters had never intended to maintain a friendship with Jane; Lydia’s behavior had merely provided a convenient excuse. But Jane was determined to think well of everyone and would not be convinced.
Jane’s fingers teased one of the curls near her neck. “No, it is better this way—if I never see him again. I will always remember Mr. Bingley as the most amiable man of my acquaintance. That is enough.” Only Elizabeth understood how much his sudden departure still troubled her gentle older sister.
“Perhaps a dashing young officer will attend,” Elizabeth said. A new militia regiment had been stationed at Meryton for several months, providing income to the town and distraction to the young women.
“Perhaps. I am certain Mr. Shaw will be there.” Jane’s smile was a little tremulous.
Jane was already resigned to her fate. Elizabeth wanted to utter some unladylike oaths. “Perhaps you can avoid him.”
Jane fiddled with some lace on her sleeve. “Our cousin would be angered if I did not dance with him.”
This was true, and Jane would not defy Collins in this. She might defy him for the sake of others, but she would never do so for her own.
“Perhaps you will be so much in demand as a partner tonight that the admiral will not have the opportunity. With these clever rosebuds in your hair, all eyes will be upon you.” Jane giggled a bit at this declaration.
The door swung open, and Kitty marched in. “Oh good, you are ready,” she said to Jane. “I need you to come and dress my hair. Mary is hopeless!”
***
Darcy’s appearance at the assembly dance had caused quite a stir. People who did not know him marveled at such a tall, well-dressed man appearing in company at Meryton. Those who did recognize him were quick to reassert their acquaintance, which Darcy found rather irritating.
After a long and pointless conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Long, he was accosted by Sir William Lucas, who pumped his hand and recommended several of his daughters as dance partners. Darcy thanked the man but declared a disinclination to dance at the moment. When Elizabeth joined the festivities, Darcy would need to find a reason behind his sudden urge to dance.
As he spoke with the attendees, he positioned himself to discreetly scrutinize the room’s entrance. When would the Bennets arrive? With four unwed daughters, surely Mrs. Bennet would not miss such an occasion. After half an hour passed and he saw no sign of the family, Darcy was compelled to put the question to Sir William.
“The Bennet family?” The older man surveyed the room as if he had somehow missed them. “They will be here presently, I would imagine. Mr. and Mrs. Collins would never miss such an event,” he added somewhat inscrutably.
A few minutes later, Darcy understood Sir William’s meaning. Mr. Collins promenaded through the entrance to the assembly room with his arm held high and his wife’s hand in his. His suit was too formal in both cut and fabric for a country dance; indeed, it would be ostentatious at Almack’s. With his haughty stare, Collins seemed to believe they were the medieval lord and lady arriving at the great hall for the feast. He paused in the entrance long enough to allow everyone to admire his attire and conferred smiles upon the room like favors granted by an ancient king.
By contrast, Mrs. Collins’s smile was rather fixed in place, and she would not meet anyone’s eyes. Her gown was a modest brown velvet, quite comparable to what the other ladies of quality were wearing.
But the question of how Collins styled himself was only of passing interest to Darcy. He longed to see the remainder of the Longbourn party. Once the first couple had passed through the doors, Mrs. Bennet, wearing black, hurried into the arms of other women her age. Pulling out a handkerchief, she immediately commenced to exclaim vociferously while also dabbing her eyes. Of course, the woman would make a performance of her widowho
od; why would Darcy expect anything else?
Miss Jane Bennet, as beautiful as he remembered her, glided into the room, accompanied by one of the younger daughters. He struggled to recall the different sisters. He believed Mary was the egregious piano player, and Lydia had run away, so this one must be…Catherine, called Kitty. She was pretty enough and possessed a sweet smile. Two years ago, she had been running after officers, but now she bore herself with far more dignity and grace. As he watched, she greeted one of the militia officers with civility and struck up a conversation. Jane Bennet slid more deeply into the room, passing several groups of young ladies her age without greeting them; apparently Timson had been correct about the family’s ostracization.
Unexpectedly, the doors closed behind Miss Jane and Miss Kitty; nobody followed them. Darcy watched the entrance for several minutes, certain that Elizabeth and the other sister must have lingered outside. But the hour grew late, and they did not appear. Was Elizabeth sick? Had she left town suddenly? Was she recently betrothed? Darcy’s stomach knotted with anxiety.
Finally, he abandoned his vigil and wended his way through the crowd in search of Miss Jane Bennet.
Unfortunately, she was dancing with a tall, striking man with a military bearing, and Darcy was unable to move quickly enough to escape a conversation with Collins. “Mr. Darcy!” Collins exclaimed in evident delight. “I was unaware you had returned from the New World. Have you informed your aunt? I did not hear the news.”
