Page 8 of His Pride and His Prejudice

“That need not always be the case.”

“It is always the case with five sons to think on,” Mrs. Bennet said and suddenly Elliot was given a glimpse into his papa’s life and understood why he so assiduously avoided these assemblies.

“Even so,” Elliot said as calmly as he could. “And single or not, he likely has dozens of prospects. Dozens of betas probably, many of whom will also have their own sums to tempt him. I do not need to remind you that as well as a lack of resources, I am also an omega.”

“Elliot—”

“Furthermore, mama,” Elliot added. “There was quite a bit of talk of fated mates when you were younger. I’ve read dozens of novels from that time. The whole concept was exceedingly popular for your generation and remains so. You know as well as I do that many alphas in proper society refuse to mate unless they believe the one they are mating with is the only one meant for them.”

“Then they are fools,” Mrs. Bennet said.

“And it could well be,” Elliot continued, ignoring her words. “That the reason Mr. Darcy has yet to mate is because he is hoping for that fated mate. That is unlikely to be me! For that reason alone, your efforts should be focused on Jack, for if he and Mr. Bingley get along well enough they could well convince themselves they are made for one another! Look at them, it is hard to decide who is more handsome, and likely they are both thinking on that and what it must mean that they have now met one another.”

Mrs. Bennet nodded. “Jack is evidently more handsome of course,” she said. “And he is in perfect form. He is much admired here tonight and not just by Mr. Bingley.” She shifted to see the dancefloor where couples were lining up for the next dance. Jack was not immediately visible. “Though Mr. Bingley is enamoured if I am not mistaken. And no wonder! They look so well together. If anyone could be convinced of a relationship writ in the stars, it would be those two given they are so very handsome together.”

“That is just what I have said, mama.”

“And I am agreeing with you.”

“You did an excellent job setting that up,” Elliot said, seeing no reason not to compliment his mama when it was clearly deserved.

She smiled in satisfaction. “I am well pleased with it. But please me further, Elliot. We have an opportunity here we had not bargained on, let us all benefit from it.”

“Mama, there is no opportunity,” Elliot said softly, and there was nothing but honesty in his words. “An alpha is not for me, certainly not one on ten thousand a year! That would be a stretch for Jack even. We will need to look some degrees lower for me!”

“Jack is…” She frowned. “Now where is he?”

Elliot shifted too. He couldn’t see his brother. He shot Mrs. Bennet a glance and without further discussion they moved, circling the dancefloor. Marc and Christian were now dancing with the Hardy boys. Louis was dancing with one of the Bingley sisters. Elliot half-hoped Mrs. Bennet might have spotted that so she could turn her attentions in that direction, but her gaze barely skipped over her youngest son. It was only when they found Jack talking to Charlie Lucas that she let out a shaky sigh of relief. Jack’s reputation must be impeccable.

“But where is Mr. Bingley?” Mrs. Bennet began but needed to say no more as they soon heard his voice just off to the left of them, slightly out of view but Mr. Bingley no doubt.

“Come, Darcy,” he was saying. “I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner! Pick a partner and dance!”

“I certainly shall not,” Mr. Darcy snapped. “You know how I detest it unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another person in the room whom it would not be a punishment for me to stand up with.”

“Unjust indeed!” Mr. Bingley said. “Look around you, Darcy, they are almost all betas and omegas here and I have never met with so many pleasant ones in my life as I have this evening, and there are several of them uncommonly handsome!”

Mrs. Bennet’s eyes widened at those words, and she grabbed Elliot’s arm again. Before she had a chance to decide their direction, Elliot took matters into his own hands and steered them away from the alphas and into a corner which afforded them a view of the two men but concealed their presence.

“Elliot—” she began but Elliot shushed her quickly with a wave of his hand.

“Unlike you, Charles,” Mr. Darcy replied. “I am not intending to spend my time in pursuit of a mate and so will not stand up with anyone lest rumours begin to circulate.” He paused. “Besides, you are dancing with the only handsome one in the room.” He finished with a pointed look in Jack’s direction.

“Oh, he is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!”

Mrs. Bennet practically swooned at Mr. Bingley’s words. Her gaze moved rapidly from her son to her son’s admirer and back again. Elliot wondered if she was still repining on not introducing Jack to Mr. Darcy first or was now happily settling back into her original scheme.

“Most beautiful!”

Elliot was also pleased to hear Mr. Bingley’s thoughts on his brother not least because they were nothing but truth. At the same time, and oddly, Elliot found himself not looking at Bingley—exactly where his attention should be held—but instead at Mr. Darcy, who was scowling.

He looked…uncomfortable? Elliot wondered why. Was it because he knew the rumours were circulating thick and fast about him? That dozens of young women and men were considering him as a prospect not to be ignored. How did he feel about that? Did it happen at every ball he attended? And how did the likes of Mr. Lucas and Mrs. Long ferret their information out?

“But the brother next to him in age is also very handsome,” Mr. Bingley was saying now. “And I dare say very agreeable.”

Elliot realised with a start that Mr. Bingley was talking about him.

“Have you been introduced?”

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