Page 45 of A Most Favourable Match

“Oh, I meant nothing ill by my remark, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Hurst returned at once, evidentially keen to match her opinion to his. “You are quite right. Of course, it is better for young girls to keep to their family circle. It is only when ladies are coming out into society that a dancing master might be useful, especially if their relatives do not dance as well as you do.”

“Louisa, I see Mrs Simons over there with her brother, Sir Henry,” Miss Bingley intervened with an unsubtle attempt at tactful extrication of her elder sister. “We should greet them, should we not?”

“Yes, we should, Caroline. Do excuse us.”

With his sisters gone, Mr Bingley continued the conversation with Mrs Gardiner on dancing, showing himself as attentive and personable as ever. Jane was right – it was a shame that Elizabeth could not marry Charles Bingley. However, she could never love him, and there was an end to it.

“Are you enjoying the ball, Miss Elizabeth?” Direct as ever, Mr Darcy’s voice interrupted Elizabeth’s thoughts. “I wonder that you are not yet dancing.”

She frowned slightly, wondering what he meant by such a remark. In another man, this might have been the first step towards an invitation to dance, but from Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, who did not even like her, that was impossible.

What could he be implying? Perhaps he wasexpressing surprise that Elizabeth was not setting her cap at Lord Keeble or some other eligible friend of Lord Grantchester’s. That would fit what she knew of him, at least.

“I dare say I am enjoying myself more than you, Mr Darcy,” she returned a little archly. “From your expression tonight, someone might think you rather at a funeral than a ball.”

He seemed so startled by this observation that Elizabeth feared she had gone too far, or said more than she intended. Though more than willing to cross swords with Mr Darcy, she had no wish to cause real offense.

“I did not…That is, I am not… I fear I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to others at large social events of this kind.”

It was a very curious admission, and Elizabeth did not know what to make of it any more than his previous remarks. Was he acknowledging the general rudeness of his demeanour and seeking tacit forgiveness? That did not seem likely.

“Have you tried?” Elizabeth asked him, pointedly but not unkindly. “I do not see how a grown man of intelligence and education could fail to recommend himself to others, as long as he is guided by good manners and consideration.”

“Well said, Miss Elizabeth!” guffawed Lord Keeble, reappearing beside them. “I am always telling Darcy that he must socialise more if he wants to enjoy these events. You cannot make friends simply by standingthere and glowering.”

“I have friends already,” Mr Darcy pointed out gruffly, but with an undeniable puzzlement in his eyes that touched Elizabeth even as she felt frustration at his almost determined missing of the point.

“Luckily, yes you do,” Lord Keeble laughed again, touching Darcy’s shoulder. “Now, Darcy, I beg your leave to steal Miss Elizabeth away. I require a partner for the next dance, and there are none here so lively and skilful as your present companion. May I have this dance, Miss Elizabeth?”

“Of course you may,” she answered, putting her hand into Lord Keeble’s.

“I would not deny you any pleasure that is in my power to provide,” said Mr Darcy with a bow of his head to Elizabeth. To her astonishment and confusion, she almost thought she saw disappointment in his deep blue eyes.

Had he really intended to ask her for a dance? Surely not.

“I never know quite what to make of Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said quietly to Lord Keeble as they strolled away together. “Sometimes I fear I offend him merely by speaking.”

“Oh, do not worry yourself, Miss Elizabeth,” he told her, as light-hearted as ever. “Darcy is a good sort really, if too earnest and solemn for his own good. One day, perhaps, he will learn to laugh, but it has not happened yet.”

Smiling at one another, they took their places in the dance.

∞∞∞

Elizabeth saw almost nothing of Jane for the rest of the evening, or rather, she saw a great deal of her sister from a distance too great for conversation. Lord Grantchester seemed constantly caught up in a whirl of friends and acquaintances, all of whom apparently must be introduced to his future wife.

When not presenting Jane to the higher echelons of the ton, Lord Grantchester rushed her back to the dance floor with seemingly boundless energy. His activity was almost frenetic tonight, and Elizabeth felt exhausted even watching. Not even Lord Grantchester’s close friends seemed able to hold his attention, and several times she saw Mr Darcy apparently rebuffed. Lord Keeble did not even try, and spent the entire night dancing.

“Jane is very much admired tonight,” Mrs Gardiner commented, following Elizabeth’s line of sight to where Jane was curtseying to yet another richly dressed lady on the arm of an equally elegant gentleman. “Your mother will be glad to hear how well Lord Grantchester is taking care of her, and how welcome his friends are making her.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed, but with a thoughtful smile. “And yet I fear this ball may be a little much for Jane. I believe she is weary, although Lord Grantchestermight not have noticed yet. Her mood has been a little subdued of late, and I do not suppose that making so much new acquaintance at once is easy for her.”

Mrs Gardiner nodded sympathetically. “All this interest will not last forever, Lizzy. I dare say Jane must endure it for now, but it will become easier in the future.”

“I hope so,” Elizabeth replied with a sigh, thinking again of Jane’s weeping in the night. The time might yet come when their aunt ought to be told of it, but it certainly would not be at a ball.

Mr Bingley soon walked over to join them, three ices in his hands and an affable smile on his face.

“You said that you were in need of some refreshment after the last measure, Mrs Gardiner. I brought an ice for you too, Miss Elizabeth.”