Page 51 of The Wager
“True.” He dropped his forehead against hers and whispered. “I want you to know my thoughts will be centered solely on you the whole night.”
“Oh, that will not do.”
“What?”
“I am quite concerned for those poor women who will be your dance partners.”
“For what reason?”
“If your thoughts are centered solely on me when you attempt the second turn in theBoulangère, you may tread on your partner’s toes. You promised to treat those ladies, who are not always asked to dance, with care.”
She kept her gaze fixed on him, heat wafting beneath the surface of her skin as his eyes darkened with some emotion she did not understand. The light grip he’d kept on her fingers tightened marginally.
“Elizabeth, I wish to speak with Mr. Bennet and let him know I have plans to marry you.”
“He already gave his permission for a courtship, and after us partnering for three sets last night, the rest of Meryton is aware.”
“That may be so, but it is only right I have a proper discussion with him before I leave for Town and tell him my intentions are honorable.”
He leaned in and brushed her cheek with a soft kiss. The arrival of Lady Lucas and her daughters was the only reason Elizabeth abandoned her solitary post in the vestibule, following Darcy’s departure to speak with Papa, wishing she were in the room with the two most important men in her life.
Soon, Elizabeth and Charlotte were settled on a small couch, hot chocolate on the small table before them, and, as close friends are apt to, began conversing in a warm, familiar manner.
“Did you enjoy the ball last night, Charlotte?”
“I did. Almost as much as you,” her friend teased. “Dancing with handsome gentlemen has caused the tongues of Meryton’s gossips to nearly fall out of their mouths.”
“The day has only begun! How can you know this already?”
“Mother has already welcomed two sets of ladies at Lucas Lodge todiscusslast night’s event.” Charlotte set down her cup and leaned forward. “We came to help mitigate some of the more exaggerated claims.
“I knew allowing Mr. Darcy to dance with me three times would be like waving a red flag in front of a crazed bull,” Elizabeth conceded with a heartfelt sigh.
“You have it all wrong, Eliza. They are not only talking about you and Mr. Darcy. They are talking about Jane, Mr. Bingley, and the viscount.”
Elizabeth frowned at this revelation.
“Jane danced once with Mr. Bingley and twice with the viscount. I do not understand why this would have the gossiping grannies so excited.”
“It is not the number of sets she enjoyed, but about the gentlemen themselves.”
“You have lost me completely, Charlotte. You must tell me the details.”
Both ladies glanced up when Jane entered the room and joined them.
“Good afternoon, Jane,” Charlotte said in a pleasant voice. “Eliza and I were discussing the ball and the excitement that has swirled around your dance partners.”
“My dance partners? The only person I danced with more than once was Viscount Ashton. What else could elicit gossip?”
“You know I abhor idle talk as much as you, but you should know what is making the rounds in most of Meryton’s parlors today.” Charlotte glanced at their mothers and satisfied they would not hear what she was about to impart, continued. “Mr. Bingley was heard complaining you had not set aside the first set of the night for him. He felt that since the occasion was held in your honor, the least you could have done was open the ball with him.”
“The ball was not held in my honor!” Jane declared, her eyes flashing in anger. “Elizabeth and I know for a fact he hosted a ball while here in Hertfordshire because of a wager between Mr. Darcy and Viscount Ashton.”
At Charlotte’s raised brow, Elizabeth elaborated.
“Mr. Darcy must dance three sets at twenty balls before the end of the year. One must be the supper set.”
Charlotte chuckled and shook her head.
