Page 4 of Knowing Mr. Darcy
“Definitely not,” said Mr. Bingley. “What about you?”
“No,” she said, giggling, enjoying herself with him, “I suppose it doesn’t sound the least bit comfortable, does it?”
“DARCY, WE MUSThave you dance,” boomed his friendBingley’s voice.
Mr. Darcy was seated next to Miss Jane Bennet, a half-empty cup of lemonade in one hand. He tilted his head back up to look at Bingley. “Oh, we must, is that it? Who is this ‘we’ you speak of?”
“The general assembly,” said Mr. Bingley, gesturing around. “Everyone is saying it, you see. I have spoken to my lovely companion here, Miss Elizabeth—” He thrust her forward.
Mr. Darcy blinked at the woman in front of him, a jerk going through him at the sight of her. She was—not pretty—no, that wasn’t the right word, he didn’t think. There was something about her face that one wouldn’t term pretty. But there were other words he might use to describe her. Striking, maybe? Dazzling? Eye-catching? Stunning?
She was the sort of woman who you looked at once, looked away from immediately, and then felt yourself turning back to by some force that compelled you to stare at her.
He choked, looking down into his cup. Of course Bingley had snagged that one, while he’d been over here with this one.
Bingley had said he thought the Bennet girls were the prettiest, sidelong, as they were in the midst of all of the introductions, giving Darcy that sly look that he liked to give him sometimes, and Darcy’d had to agree. Those girlswerethe prettiest.
This one, the eldest, with the sprained ankle, she was very pretty. But it was a sort of boring kind of prettiness, nothing like the other one, who he was not going to look at, because he and Bingley were not going to get into some sort of competition over these country girls.
It’s not as if either of us is going to marry one of them,he told himself.
“Miss Elizabeth says that you must dance,” said Mr. Bingley.
“Don’t put words in my mouth, Mr. Bingley,” said Elizabeth, though Mr. Darcy wasn’t looking at her, so hecould only hear her voice and it was delighted and free and amused. “I said nothing about how Mr. Darcy must alter his behavior. I only pointed out that gentlemen were scarce and that many a young lady was in want of a partner.”
“Ah,” said Mr. Darcy, raising his gaze to hers, “but I have been somewhat bewitched by your sister, madam, who is certainly in need of some companionship, being that she cannot dance.”
“Did I not say that he would claim chivalry as a shield?” said Mr. Bingley, delighted.
“You did,” said Elizabeth. “I am quite capable of sitting here and keeping my sister company, you know, Mr. Darcy. You could find a partner—”
“No, no,” cried Mr. Bingley. “That won’t do. Haven’t I claimed the next dance on your card, Miss Elizabeth? I felt certain that I had.”
Elizabeth looked at him, clearly stunned, her lips parting. She had not expected that, two dances in a row. Flustered, her cheeks flushed. The vulnerability writ on those stunning features of hers only made her more beautiful in some strange way. Mr. Darcy looked away again.Stop looking at her, for heaven’s sake.
“Do say yes, Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Bingley.
“Oh, of course,” said Elizabeth. “Yes, I shall be pleased to dance with you again.”
Jane Bennet spoke up. “I don’t wish to keep Mr. Darcy from dancing. It is true what Lizzy says. Gentleman are scarce, and you must do your duty—”
“It is my only duty to make sure you are well entertained, I think, Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy interrupted, turning to Jane. Until the other sister had appeared, he’d been quite enjoying her company, thinking her the prettiest and sweetest creature in the entire place. He was not convinced this wasn’t the case, in all truth, for Miss Elizabeth seemed to have some level of the mischievous in her, and there was no guile in Miss Jane Bennet, not even a modicum of such a thing.
Miss Elizabeth might be more intriguing and morecompelling, but surely, if one were looking for a wife, her elder sister would be the better choice.
Not that I am looking for a wife,he thought furiously.
If he were, he would not seek one here, in the middle of nowhere, at this dreadful country ball, among these sorts of people. They were respectable, he supposed, if it came to that, but they were quite in want of connections, especially meaningful connections. The Bennet family was not the sort of family he could be united with. It simply wouldn’t be proper.
But Bingley, he was situated differently in the social hierarchy, and a Bennet sister might do quite well for him, Mr. Darcy supposed.
Bingley was speaking. “After this dance, Darcy, I shall have to relinquish my rights on Miss Elizabeth. She will be quite available.” He waggled his eyebrows at Darcy.
“Ah, yes,” said Mr. Darcy, raising his gaze to Elizabeth. “I suppose I could ask for a space on your dance card.”
“Don’t put yourself out, sir,” said Elizabeth, pressing her lips together.
“I have already committed myself to the entertainment of your sister,” he said. “It would be rude to withdraw my service at this point.”
