Page 8 of Fortuitous Encounters

“Yes, four dances.”

“One full hour?”

“Yes, one hour of dancing, but of course we have been conversing for another hour or so.”

“Conversing?”

“Yes.”

“At an assembly?”

“As you see.”

Elizabeth frowned in puzzlement. What made Miss Darcy so confused? It was not as if she had invented dancing or conversing at an assembly, especially since those were the very reasons they assembled in the first place.

Georgiana shook her head, studied her carefully, and asked quietly, “Do you know how long my brother has been in society?”

“I would hazard around a decade.”

“Close enough. In that decade, can you guess how many ladies he has danced two sets in one evening with?”

The question was even odder. “He must have been to many balls in that time. I would imagine dozens? hundreds?”

Georgiana, relishing the full sweetness of revenge at the impertinence she had endured, smirked. “Exactly one!”

Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open.

Reduced to monosyllables, she squeaked, “One?”

“One!”

“Only one lady besides me?”

“Only one lady including you.”

“Oh dear.” Elizabeth sighed. Perhaps avoiding her mother’s next attack might require more than two dances.

“Would it be terribly inconvenient to keep that little tidbit to yourself for the nonce?”

“Perhaps, but I believe you are in my debt for a story,” Georgiana replied with a triumphant grin, apparently reverting to the growling bear mode of address.

Elizabeth wondered what kind of a mess she had made of the affair. The first dance of the current set ended, and the two pairs of dancers returned to the group, feigning fatigue or injury with varying levels of credibility. It would be clear to anyone with sense that they mostly suffered from curiosity, but appearances must be maintained.

Charlotte walked by and said quietly, “I will have the entire story on the morrow, Lizzy.”

Lizzy nodded, not wanting to say anything that might be overheard, and to be honest, she observed Mr Darcy for his reaction. That gentleman studied her carefully and nodded towards Jane. Elizabeth acknowledged her next victim with a slow nod, and the evening was decided.

Mr Darcy glared at his sister, but he did not seem likely to be as strict a disciplinarian as his initial countenance implied. He appeared far more the doting brother once one knew what to observe.

Elizabeth took the opportunity to lean over and say as softly as possible, “Pray, be easy. My more sensible sisters and I will look after her. All will be well.”

Darcy chuckled and leaned even closer. “Georgiana has actually arranged her own punishment, and I must say it is far worse than anything I would ever impose. She will be a guest at Netherfield with the Bingley sisters.”

The assertion's forwardness thoroughly shocked Elizabeth. That the Bingley sisters were not ideal living companions came as no surprise, as that could be readily determined within five minutes from a dozen paces; but having Mr Darcy say it so impertinently was unexpected.

She rallied herself. “Punishment indeed! She may walk to Longbourn before long; it is only three miles you know. I have walked it many times, and with five daughters; I daresay she could take up residence, and it would be a full month before either of my parents noticed one extra.”

Darcy smiled slyly. “Have a care what you wish for.”