It felt as though the first set of dances would never end. Darcy mechanically went through the steps, hardly paying any attention at all to Caroline. More than once, he had to hurriedly correct his steps to avoid crashing into another dancer. Each time, Caroline’s eyes flashed with unexpressed anger, as if she knew why he was so distracted.
Darcy hoped she did know. It was far past the time for Caroline to realise that they had no future together. Far past the time that she realised that his affections belonged to another. Far past the time she should have ceased her petty barbs and plots.
“You seem to be a thousand miles away,” Caroline observed through gritted teeth as they made their way off the dance floor. “Your clumsy attempts almost embarrassed us.”
“I do apologise for being such a disappointment to you,” Darcy said absently, not caring if he offended. His mind was far too occupied with finding Elizabeth. “Perhaps it is time you put your hopes upon someone else.”
Caroline stopped dead at his words, gaping at Darcy. After a second, he realised what he had said, and a distinct heat crept onto his cheeks. He swallowed hard, but looked Caroline in the eye. He would not take back the words, however harsh they may have been. It was time for her to accept the truth.
“How dare you speak to me in such a manner,” Caroline hissed. “May I remind you that you are a guest in this house? And that proper guests do not abuse the lady of the house in such ways?”
Darcy felt the burn of shame—he had not intended to hurt Caroline. He quickly decided to mend the situation as best he could. He still would not take back the truth of the situation, but he could apologise for the manner in which he delivered that truth.
“I apologise for my harsh and unthinking words,” Darcy said slowly. “But I cannot pretend to ignore your advances any longer. You cannot pretend to be ignorant of the fact that I have always seen you as a sister—a sister, but nothing more.”
Caroline looked as though Darcy had slapped her. Darcy was grieved to see that her chin had begun to quiver, and tears were filling her eyes. He wished he could make the situation better, take away the obvious hurt she was feeling, but he knew that anything he said or did in comfort would only make the situation worse.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Caroline took a deep breath, stood up straighter, and lifted her chin into the air.
“I have no notion to what you refer,” she said loftily. “You speak as if my affection was anything other than sisterly. I assure you, I have never considered you anything but a brother. It is quite proud of you to assume otherwise. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” She turned on her heel and left quickly, practically pushing people aside in her haste to get away from him.
Darcy shook his head ruefully—he should have known that Caroline would react in such a fashion. However much pride she accused him of, she had twice as much, if not more. Darcy hoped that her pride would save her from deeper hurt than she had already endured.
“What on earth did you do to my sister?” Bingley asked with a laugh as he joined Darcy with Miss Bennet. He stared after the path Caroline had taken. “It looked as if she were about to knock everyone to the ground!”
“I’m sure she will explain later,” Darcy said, feeling uncomfortable. Bingley had always been aware of Darcy’s discomfort with Caroline’s affections, but he felt no need to enlighten the man to his sister’s distress at this moment. Not in front of Miss Bennet.
“A mystery,” Bingley said with a laugh. “Well, perhaps this is one you can solve. Miss Bennet and I have made our way to you because you wore a look on your face like a lost puppy. What, or should I say whom, have you lost?”
Bingley’s eyes danced as if he knew the answer. Darcy glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, willing Bingley to cease his teasing. Darcy had not yet had the courage to tell Elizabeth of his affections, and he had no desire for her sister to find out first.
Darcy was about to answer when he saw Miss Bennet’s face. She looked as flustered as he felt.
“Miss Bennet?” He asked, concern in his voice. “You look quite worried, what is it?”
“Oh, it is nothing, Mr. Darcy,” Miss Bennet said quickly, smiling nervously.
“No, it isn’t,” Bingley quickly assured her. “In fact, Darcy, it is the main reason we began to seek you out in the first place. We cannot seem to locate Miss Elizabeth.”
“What?” Darcy asked suddenly, an irrational wave of worry washing over him. He tried to calm himself—there were many people about and Netherfield was quite large. She was undoubtedly tucked into a corner, watching everyone around her. So why was he suddenly concerned?
“I have not seen her since before the first set,” Miss Bennet explained. “It is most unlike her to not watch the dancing, even if she is not participating.”
“I suggested we find the younger Bennet girls,” Bingley said, glancing between Darcy and Miss Bennet. “But Miss Bennet seemed to think you might know where she is.”
Elizabeth’s sister flushed a deep red as Darcy turned back to her with a questioning look. Why would she think he knew of Elizabeth’s whereabouts?
“I have not seen her,” Darcy said to Bingley. “But you are wise to consult the youngest. Let us see if we can find them.”
“They will be dancing, most likely with one officer or another,” Miss Bennet said slowly, as if worried that her two companions would judge her sisters.
Both men nodded at her, and they went off to search for the sisters.
It soon turned out that Miss Bennet had proved to be quite right: they had barely crossed back into the ballroom before all three of them spotted Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty, surrounded by officers, both their faces red from the exertion of dancing. Miss Bennet hurried over to them.
“Kitty, Lydia,” she said, smiling politely at their companions. “We cannot seem to locate Elizabeth. Do you know where she has gone off to?”
Darcy and Bingley stood directly behind Jane, and Darcy was startled to see looks of dislike being cast toward him from both younger girls.
“Does he want to know?” Miss Lydia asked, looking at Darcy in a pointed manner. “Because if he is looking for her, perhaps Elizabeth is better off staying hidden.”
Darcy was startled by the unbridled malice in the girl’s voice. What had he ever done to her? Miss Bennet looked back at Darcy, humiliation clear upon her face.
“Mr. Darcy,” she said. “Please excuse my sister. She does not realise what she is saying.”
“I do, too!” The younger girl said hotly. “I know all about you, Mr. Darcy. I know all about how you treated poor Mr. Wickham!”
At Wickham’s name, Darcy’s jaw clenched in anger, but he understood Miss Lydia’s attitude. It seemed that Wickham’s slander had spread.
“What is this now?” Bingley asked, clearly confused at the growing tension. “Wickham? That rogue we attended university with? What has he got to do with anything?”
“You know Mr. Wickham?” Miss Bennet asked, sounding surprised.
“Unfortunately,” Bingley confirmed.
“He is an officer in His Majesty’s militia,” Miss Kitty said, sounding affronted that anyone could speak negatively about a member of the militia.
“Here? In Meryton?” Bingley asked, surprised. “You mean to say that by extending the invitation to the ball to all officers, I’ve inadvertently invited him into my home?”
“I am sorry, Bingley,” Darcy said. “I probably should have warned you, but I did not think Wickham would have the courage to show his face here. Not after learning that I was staying. Indeed, I am surprised he managed to muster up the courage, knowing you were the host!”
“I suppose he depended upon disappearing into the sea of red,” Bingley mused darkly. “I do not blame you, Darcy. You know how much I disliked him. Undoubtedly, you thought you were saving me from anger and discomfort.”
“Excuse me,” Lydia interrupted in a harsh tone. “But what are you talking about? What grudge could you possibly have against someone as wonderful as Mr. Wickham?”
“Wonderful?” Bingley asked, incredulous. “I can scarcely say the word in the same sentence as Wickham. He is a dishonour; a man who keeps neither his promises, nor pays his debts! Perhaps he thinks I have forgotten, but he owes me a great deal of money!”
The Bennet girls looked confused, so Bingley elaborated. “We played cards together in university. At least we did until we got caught cheating! I had no idea, and blessedly I was believed, but the stain haunts me still. As does the fine I was obliged to pay to the establishment, as well as our opponents.”
“How dreadful!” Miss Bennet exclaimed, looking truly grieved over the event. Even Lydia and Kitty looked disturbed upon learning this about the man they had so admired. Darcy decided to press the advantage.
“Would you consent to help us find Miss Elizabeth?”
The youngest Bennet girls exchanged an alarmed look.
“What is it?” Miss Bennet asked at once, apparently recognizing the look upon her sisters’ faces.
“Well, we do know where Lizzy went,” Miss Kitty said slowly. “But I’m afraid you aren’t going to like what we tell you…”
“Where is she?” Darcy pressed, concern rising within him once more.
“She went out towards the garden,” Miss Lydia said, waving a hand in the direction of the door.
“With Mr. Wickham,” Miss Kitty added, looking more worried than her sister. Darcy heard Jane Bennet gasp.
Immediately, Darcy felt his stomach drop. Why had Wickham taken Elizabeth out into the dark night? It could not be for an innocent reason, Darcy felt horribly sure of this fact. More horrible still was the realization that Elizabeth had gone off with Wickham on her own accord. Darcy dreaded to think what lies he had told her to convince her to accompany him. He knew well how convincing Wickham could be when he wanted to. Darcy knew he had to find them before it was too late—for what, he was not certain.