Page 15 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
For a moment, she hesitated. Ought she approach him? She had no real reason to approach, but something about his manner intrigued her. He did not seem wholly at ease, yet there was nothing in his bearing that suggested he wished to leave. Was he, perhaps, merely biding his time?
As if sensing her gaze, Mr Darcy suddenly glanced up, his eyes meeting hers across the room.
Elizabeth’s breath caught.
For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his expression—something unreadable, something that made her pulse quicken against her will. Then, just as swiftly, his composed mask returned, and he gave her the smallest of nods.
Elizabeth inclined her head in return before turning away, her heart unaccountably unsettled.
Chapter Eight
Darcy
Darcy stood in the corner and watched the proceedings. As at the Meryton Assembly, he felt utterly uncomfortable. The Lucas family’s home was small but well-appointed, and Sir William and Lady Lucas seemed to be people of consequence—individuals he would not mind spending an evening with at a London gathering or some such event. However, the rest of the gathering consisted of individuals he would generally not acknowledge in passing and would not give any further thought to. Some were landed gentry, but they appeared to be of the same ilk as the Bennets—people seeking to rise in the world by any means necessary.
To his dismay, he appeared to be the only one who felt this way. His sister had taken to the younger Bennet sisters and was standing in the corner, sipping on Negus, and chatting with them. He found this alarming, they were not the kind of company he wished for her to keep. While he was not particularly fond of Caroline due to her sometimes arrogant attitude—which he considered beneath the station she attempted to occupy—he would have preferred his sister to spend time with her or Mrs Hurst instead. Even the Lucas daughters would have been preferable, for at least they were connected to a knighted gentleman.
Bingley, of course, was preoccupied with Jane Bennet. The two sat together near the dance floor, seemingly waiting for the music to start, utterly engrossed in one another. Bingley wasbesotted, it was evident by the way his body was turned towards the lady, giving her his full attention. He looked at her, smiling with both his lips and his eyes. Jane Bennet, meanwhile, sat poised upon her chair, hands folded in her lap and shoulders back as if presenting herself in the most favourable light. She smiled and giggled occasionally when he did, but Darcy could not determine if this was genuine affection or some ulterior motive.
On more than one occasion, he spotted her glancing across the room at her mother, who was watching the exchange with keen eyes.
“Mr Darcy,” Sir William said, pulling him out of his thoughts. “The music is about to start. I dare say it will be a delight for all the young people, do you not think so?”
“Indeed, I do,” Darcy replied. “You have gathered quite an assortment.”
Sir William chuckled. “That was all my wife, Lady Lucas. She knows everyone in Meryton and the surrounding areas. We also invited a few gentlemen from the militia, they’re not here yet. That would delight the ladies, eh wot?”
Darcy had to control his expression to avoid grimacing, for while he held every respect for the armed forces, he did not like the idea of his sister being in the company of officers. He already suspected that the Bennet sisters were the types who would eagerly throw themselves at any officers if there was a chance for a match.
“It is fortunate that every savage can dance,” Darcy said, though he had one particular savage in mind.
“Indeed, indeed. Ah well, the minuet is starting now. See? They are about to begin. Oh, but you are as yet without a partner,” Sir William said. Darcy’s eyes widened.
“I assure you, it is quite…”
Sir William appeared undeterred as he craned his neck to search for a partner. To Darcy’s dismay, he found one posthaste.
“Ah, Miss Eliza! Surely you could be compelled to dance this night?” he asked.
The young woman smiled, and from this angle, Darcy had to admit she was rather appealing, with her high cheekbones and round lips. He shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts, for it was only then he understood she had not yet seen him.
“Certainly, Sir William. Just as soon as I find a suitable partner who is adept at it.”
“Ah well, I have just the fellow for you,” Sir William replied with a broad smile, placing his hand on the small of her back and turning her lightly towards him. At once, her smile froze as she saw him.
“Mr Darcy.” She spoke his name without intonation, and thus he did not know if she was dismayed to see him—as he was—or if she was somewhat gratified to have caught him like this. For surely she remembered how he had dismissed her at the assembly days ago. Now, thanks to their host, he was trapped. He’d have to dance with her.
“Surely you must feel inclined to dance with a partner as pretty as Miss Eliza,” Sir William said, and Darcy sucked in air, filling his lungs so that he would be occupied for a moment to think of how best to extricate himself from this situation.
“Indeed, Sir William, I am inclined to dance, but not the minuet. I do not care for it. And I did not come in this direction in search of a partner.”
Sir William shook his head, a grey lock falling into his ruddy face.
“But the minuet is a delightful dance,” he insisted. “And Mr Darcy is a keen dancer. Please, you must,” he said, and it was clear that “No” was not an acceptable answer. At this, Darcy exhaled and bowed, proffering his arm, which Miss Elizabeth took after a moment’s hesitation.
“There, what a delight,” Sir William enthused, stepping aside so they could make their way to the dance floor. She glanced up at him in such a way as to make it quite clear she did not enjoy being paired with him either, but she was too polite to say anything. In fact, she said nothing at all as they made their way onto the dance floor.
It was Bingley who broke the silence as he and Miss Bennet danced past them. “Darcy, what a riot to see you on the dance floor. A rare treat,” he said before disappearing into the crowd of dancers while Darcy and his partner fell into step.
