Page 7 of The Cheapside Runners
It appeared his conscience lacked sufficient alacrity for his host, becauseMr Bingley came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it.
“Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”
“Yes, Bingley, I see the necessity,” he sighed. “I admit I have avoided dancing with people I am not well-acquainted with, but I suppose I cannot claim that nobody can be introduced in a ballroom.”
“Certainly not!” Bingley announced with a laugh.
“I have been working my way up to it,” Darcy admitted. “I notice you have been dancing with the handsomest woman in the room, as usual.”
“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”
Still procrastinating, and not at all certain he wanted to expose himself more to Mrs Bennet, Darcy asked,“Which do you mean?” and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye.
He returned his focus to Bingley. “Is she the absent Bennet sister? I recall there were five in total. She is certainly handsome enough to tempt any man.”
“Yes, she was missing, but I am certain Miss Bennet can make an introd…” he said, then looked slightly confused as his eyes wandered over in Elizabeth’s direction.
Darcy saw his confusion and turned to join him.
Bingley said, “Well, I suppose the tides wait for no man. She seems to have scarpered. Mayhap she had urgent businesselsewhere. I wonder if she heard us discussing her.”
Darcy thought a bit before replying. “I do not think we said anything objectionable.”
“When has that ever concerned you?” Bingley asked insouciantly.
Darcy laughed a bit. “I am trying to turn over a new leaf. There is no point wasting the evening. I suppose I must fend for myself.You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.Despite all evidence to the contrary, Iamcapable of soliciting a dance, so I shall proceed directly.”
~~~~~
Miss Janet Goulding turned out to be a good dancer and an engaging conversationist, which once again proved Mr Gardiner’s wisdom. She told him several useful things about the neighbourhood, offered to perform any necessary introductions, did not show unseemly interest in his income or status, and he found himself glad to know her.
She pointed out the missing Bennet daughter on the side of the room and offered to introduce her, to which Darcy replied he would be happy for it when it was convenient.
They tried a few forays into some less tedious topics such as literature and music, which again gave his partner a chance to recommend Miss Elizabeth, who was by far the best educated woman in the county. Miss Goulding was not particularly interested in such things, and made no bones about it, nor did she seem put out by his tepid interest in their acquaintance.
Darcy found occasional references to Miss Elizabeth from other ladies slightly disconcerting. He was accustomed to ladies who went to great lengths to recommend themselves over anyone else, and many, like Miss Bingley, were willing to go to great lengths to tear down a rival, but a few of his partners seemed genuinely interested in fostering any and allrelationships in the community. She recommended Miss Long as the most enthusiastic about equestrian affairs, and Miss Mary Bennet as the most accomplished on the pianoforte.
At the end of the dance, he had to admit Miss Elizabeth Bennet sounded the most intriguing, and wished to meet her, though not with any great urgency. He saw her several times over the course of the evening and noticed she had a bright and joyful countenance, a light and pleasing figure, an enchanting laugh, and a ready way in conversation. Chance, however, never placed her any closer than a couple dozen yards, so he never even heard her speak.
Having broken out of his usual reserve by dancing with Miss Goulding, he found it easy enough to fill the remaining dances with good partners. It was not the best night of his life, but it was far from the worst, and a far pleasanter way to spend an evening than expected.
4.A Brandy a Day
“Well, Bingley, it seems unfortunate your angel cannot fly. That would have been a considerable improvement over visiting on horseback in the rain,” Darcy said over brandy in Bingley’s study at Netherfield, a bastion of peace in a noisy house.
To some, the statement may have sounded mean-spirited or petulant, and before he met Mr Gardiner, he might well have said worse and meant it. In this case, though, Bingley could readily detect that it was more wistful than censorious.
“Aye, there’s the rub. I wonder if this was a matchmaking scheme.”
“It probably was, but it does not change much. Keep in mind that Longbourn is unlikely to have dedicated carriage horses. Those they keep are almost certainly shared with the home farm, and even occasionally with the tenants. At this time of year, they are often needed in the fields. Miss Bennet may not have realised it was likely to rain. She does seem like the optimistic sort.”
Bingley gave that some thought. “In that case, I would call it a modestly bad judgement call. I should hate to be called to account for my own stupidity, so perhaps the benefit of the doubt is in order.”
Darcy chuckled. “She is presently being called to account by a fever, so I believe she may consider her debt paid. That said, it is equally likely the ride wasa scheme to throw her into your company more. It would not stretch credulity to believe she expected the rain to keep her overnight but not stuck in bed with a cold.”
Bingley frowned, but it did make a certain amount of sense. “If that be the case, I suppose we will never know who the instigator was. I can well imagine Mrs Bennet demanding it, and Miss Bennet acting as an obedient daughter, regardless of her opinion. Either way, ‘tis hardly a capital crime.”
“I suppose time will tell. How do you get on with the rest of the family. With the amount of attention you pay to the eldest—which I recommend you moderate slightly—you should be taking their measure just in case things progress to a closer alliance.”
