Page 7 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
“Surely the heir to an estate, even a modest one like Longbourn, would know a thing or two about how busy it is. I know my father drilled the intricacies of managing an estate into me when I was but a boy,” Mr Darcy said, and Elizabeth realised that somehow information had not been passed along properly. Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley obviously thought that Thomas was their brother and heir. Although the way Mr Darcy spoke, she assumed he had an idea this was not so. Did he intend to humiliate Thomas?
“Ah, Mr Darcy, you misunderstand. Thomas is not our son, he is our ward. We share a family name and are related, but he is not the heir to Longbourn,” Mrs Bennet said and waveda hand. “It is confusing, given the name, do not feel bad about having assumed.”
Mr Darcy’s shoulders pulled back and he blinked once as he turned to Thomas.
“I do not believe I made an assumption. For you did not mention your relation to the family once when you spoke of your sisters yesterday,” he said and Elizabeth frowned. Thomas did not usually refer to them as his sisters outside of the family home.
“I do not believe I…” he started but then Mr Bingley stepped in.
“Enough of these technicalities. This night is for dancing not debating. Miss Bennet, would you do me the honour?” He looked at Jane, proffering his hand and Elizabeth heard her mother suppress a small sound of delight. Then, the two left for the dancefloor, leaving an obviously uncomfortable Mr Darcy behind.
“Well, Mr Darcy, surely you do not intend to sit out this dance, do you? Not when there are such lovely dance partners to be had. My Elizabeth is as graceful a dancer as any at Court,” her mother said and gently pushed Elizabeth forward. Mortified, she took a step back because it was clear from Mr Darcy’s countenance that he had no desire to dance, least of all with her.
“I do not wish to dance, Mrs Bennet. Please excuse me,” he said and walked past Elizabeth before disappearing into the crowd.
“How rude! My word, I have never met a gentleman as ill-mannered as Mr Darcy,” Mrs Bennet grumbled while Elizabeth looked after him, herself mortified by his obvious slight.
What a horrid, high-in-the-instep man this Mr Darcy was. She could only hope for her sake and the sake of all of Meryton that his visit would be mercifully short.
Chapter Four
Darcy
Darcy did his best to tolerate his situation and consented to dance once with Mrs Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, but when he found himself confronted with an assortment of Meryton’s inhabitants seeking to make introductions, he thought it best to remove himself from the situation as much as possible.
Thus, he retreated to the far corner of the assembly hall, dodging further attempts to engage him in conversation, none of which he had any interest in entertaining. These people, he had already decided, were beneath his notice—just as he had thought.
“Are you seeking refuge, my dear Mr Darcy?” A familiar voice reached him, and he looked up to see Caroline Bingley approaching. He was not generally fond of either of Bingley’s sisters, but in the present circumstances, he was almost glad for the familiar company.
“I am most certainly not hiding, but I am rather fatigued by…” He waved his hand, indicating the general vicinity.
“Ah yes, it is all rather common, is it not?”
The irony of her comment did not escape him, for it had to be said that Caroline—like the rest of her family—was a commoner. Their father had made wise investments in mining and horse trading, and Bingley had expanded into a lucrative import and export business, which had catapultedthem far beyond their humble beginnings. Indeed, once Bingley purchased Netherfield—or any other property—they would be part of the landed gentry. But as of now, they were not above the people populating this ball.
However, Darcy knew Miss Bingley already considered herself elevated in station, even if reality somewhat lagged behind her imagination.
“The company is rather lacking,” he said. “Excluding present company, of course.”
She placed a hand in front of her mouth and giggled rather childishly. “You are charming, Mr Darcy. Pray, are we not to expect you on the dancefloor again this evening?”
“I think not. I detest it at the best of times unless I am well acquainted with my partner. And I have already danced with the only two ladies I am familiar enough with.”
“I would not oppose another dance,” she said, but Darcy ignored the comment. He knew well that Caroline had set her cap at him long ago, and he did not wish to encourage her by dancing more than once with her at any given occasion. Even a second dance would be interpreted by her as meaning far more than he intended.
“Your brother evidently enjoys his dance partner. They are on their second set already,” he remarked, glancing at the dancefloor, where Charles was beaming at Miss Jane Bennet.
“Indeed,” Caroline replied, her tone betraying her feelings on the matter. “He declared her the most beautiful lady he had ever danced with. He is utterly besotted with her, and he hardly knows her at all.”
“That is Charles,” Darcy said with a sigh.
“Indeed. But I am afraid he is becoming rather too infatuated with her too quickly.”
“I agree, especially as we have just discovered her so-called brother misrepresented himself.”
Caroline nodded. “Indeed he did. I have made some enquiries since, and I can confirm he is indeed only the Bennets’ ward—nothing more.”
“You have already made enquiries?” Darcy asked, a little impressed.
