Page 28 of Miss Bennet's Dragon
There was a flicker of smile. “You declared me dismissive of draca.”
I realized this topic led toward our argument at Netherfield—an argument whose passes included draca and Mr. Wickham.
By our next pass, Mr. Darcy’s face was stern. Perhaps he remembered also.
We met, and he held my gloved hands. His grip was taut.
“I spoke improperly in our last conversation,” he said. “Obsession with draca may be selfish and evil. But for others, it may be… inevitable. Preordained.”
“Do you accuse me of obsession?” I asked, uneasy, as this brushed events I thought secret.
“I warn of those who pursue draca for self-importance. Or for darker purposes.”
“I am afraid I do not understand.”
“My sister—” he began, then missed a step and had to stretch to take my hand and correct the pattern. At once, his dancing became perfect again, and silent again, for several passes.
The cotillion is a refined dance, and it suited his posture, which was not stiff like a parading soldier, but exact and balanced. I thought of the stage fencing inHamlet, and of our drake when he struck the mad dog.
The music ended with each couple holding hands. The other couplesparted. Mr. Darcy did not release my fingers. This indicated he wished to continue our conversation.
“Your sister?” I prompted.
He dropped my hand. “I spoke out of turn. My apologies.” He bowed deeply and strode away.
Jane approached with a mischievous smile. “Was Charlotte correct? Did you find him agreeable?”
“No.”
“He danced well.”
“Dancing, in itself, is insufficient to make one agreeable.”
“Of course. But what is the cause of your dislike?”
“He is verytall,” I said, and Jane laughed. Warming to my subject, I began a list. “Overly clever. Too well-mannered to expose his true thoughts. He intimidates with his dark eyes and sharp cheekbones, is impeccably dressed, and is fabulously wealthy.”
“I begin to comprehend your intense dislike.”
“In truth, my dislike is unchanged from my first meeting. He is self-satisfied and haughty. But now, he is also mysterious, which I further dislike because the subject is draca, so it makes me curious.” Mr. Darcy’s tall shoulders were heading toward Miss Bingley. He cut a broad wake through the crowd. “When we are home, I should like to share a confidence from Mr. Wickham. But how is your evening? I saw you take the first dance with Mr. Bingley. Will that be all?”
“He has requested the final dance also.” Jane’s eyes were lowered, but she smiled.
“Well, do not tell Mamma, or she will say something quite untoward.” Dancing both the first and last dance was a serious statement.
“Oh, Lizzy, I fear she is already talking!” But before Jane could say more, Mr. Collins arrived.
“Cousin Elizabeth, may I commend you on your charming society. This room is a delightful, if inferior, likeness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s smallest dance room. And I have made a great discovery! While you danced, I overheard that your partner is nephew to my patroness.”
“Mr. Darcy is Lady Catherine’s nephew?” Mr. Collins’s endless praise had painted an amusing picture of her infamous ladyship, but I suppose it was possible. She had wealth enough.
“I shall introduce myself!” Mr. Collins announced. “I will justify mypresumption and set him at ease through praise of her ladyship’s extraordinary draca.”
“At ease!” I could not invent a less likely phrase to describe Mr. Darcy, particularly if the topic was draca. But Mr. Collins was already marching to Mr. Darcy, who was conversing with Miss Bingley.
Openmouthed, Jane and I watched Mr. Collins hem and haw until Mr. Darcy turned. There was a great bowing and fluttering, observed with astonishment by both Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley. Astonishment became shock as Mr. Collins began flapping his arms, apparently enacting the flight of a winged draca.
“We must intervene!” I said to Jane and began walking, desperately inventing a pretense to take Mr. Collins away.
