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Oh. A pleasant warmth tingled in her stomach. “You hoped to encounter me?”
He angled his head down, peering directly into her eyes. “I attended for no other reason.”
Jane felt a little faint.
They took their places in the line of dancers, and the music commenced. As they were positioned near one end, they waited for their turn to dance. Jane resisted the urge to fiddle with the bows on her dress and tried to focus her attention on her companion.
Mr. Bingley was behaving a little oddly, stealing glances at her and then hastily averting his eyes. His color was high and beads of perspiration rolled down his cheek, although it was not unusually warm. Was it possible he was ill? Full of concern, she scrutinized him more closely as she asked, “Is your aunt in better health?”
“Yes, her health is greatly improved.”
“I am happy to hear it.”
He nodded and then frowned. “Actually, Miss Bennet, may I own the truth to you?” She nodded, a bit mystified at his confidential tone. “It was a most unpleasant visit. I find that lately I grow weary of always being agreeable just to ensure the comfort of others, particularly when they seem to have no regard for my comfort.” His eyes darted in his sister’s direction.
Jane’s heart beat faster; she was intimately familiar with that dilemma. How was it possible that another person could so perfectly vocalize her innermost thoughts? “Of late, I have experienced the same sentiment.”
“We are kindred spirits,” he said, rega
rding her solemnly. “My father instilled in me the importance of caring for my sisters, but I may have taken that responsibility too much to heart. Caring for them does not require surrendering to their every whim.”
“No.”
“Particularly not when selecting a wife.”
Jane did not know how to respond to such a statement, so she said nothing.
He took one of her hands and squeezed gently. “Oh, Jane, my sister has been spreading the worst kind of rumors about you.”
Jane let the words sink in. She had no reason to disbelieve Mr. Bingley, but Jane herself would never do such a thing so it was hard to comprehend why another person would. When she glanced uneasily about the room, she saw many people studying them. In fact, she had unexpectedly drawn much attention all evening. Now she noticed that many women were sneering and talking behind their hands as they regarded her.
Heavens! What had Miss Bingley said about her? Jane could imagine all kinds of terrible rumors that would affect not only her reputation but also her family’s. Her hands shook. She would hate to be the source of injury to her family. Perhaps it would be best return to Longbourn immediately. She disentangled her fingers from Mr. Bingley’s.
“What has she said?” Jane’s voice sounded thin and wispy.
Mr. Bingley’s fists clenched. Jane did not believe she had ever seen him quite so angry. Or angry at all. “She has suggested,” he said slowly as if the words were being forced out of him, “that you are attempting to entrap me into marriage. I cannot apologize enough.”
“You need not apologize. It is not your doing.”
“You are goodness itself. But I wish I could somehow stanch the flow of rumors.”
Jane bit her lip, trying to prevent tears from falling. “In such situations, there is little remedy.” She had seen it time and again in Meryton; rumor flew about the town while truth followed slowly—if at all.
Before Mr. Bingley could reply, they were swept into the whirl of the dance. Dancing lifted Jane’s spirits. Mr. Bingley smiled and made little jokes to provoke her laughter. He always knows precisely how to make me smile. Aside from Lizzy, nobody else understands me so well. Such understanding seemed effortless; they were so alike that she often had no need to explain herself.
By the end of the set, Jane’s equanimity had been restored, although anxiety over Miss Bingley’s rumors persisted. She stood opposite Mr. Bingley, panting from the exertion, and wished that they could remain in this moment forever—together and happy, without concerns about interference from outsiders.
Other couples joined hands and drifted back into the crush, but Mr. Bingley did not seem inclined to join them, nor was Jane eager to face the slings and arrows of the ton. Soon only they remained on the dance floor, as the next set had not yet begun to form.
Jane glanced up at Mr. Bingley shyly, unsure of his intentions. Did he notice how visible they were? Did he mean to dance the next set with her? It would be customary to leave the dance floor and then return. They were attracting attention, something Jane was loath to do now that she knew of Miss Bingley’s machinations. Surrounding attendees were pointing and talking; she heard their names mentioned.
“Mr. Bingley?” she asked hesitantly.
His expression was bemused, as if she held the answer to every question he had ever asked in his life. A small smile curved his lips as he took possession of her hand once more. “Jane…”
She returned the smile tentatively.
And then he got down on one knee.
