Later in the parlor at Netherfield Park, Elizabeth grew impatient with her friend’s incessant praise of Miss Darcy.
“She was the most beautiful girl in the room. An angel from heaven,” Bingley said as he mimed dancing about the room as though the young lady were in his arms.
His sister agreed. “She is a lovely young lady but one with unfortunate relations, Charles. I do not think she is the most beautiful girl you've ever claimed to care for, but I do like her rather more than either of her cousins.”
She peered at Elizabeth with a teasing grin. “Mr. Darcy held your interest, did he not Eliza?”
“Do be serious, Caro. None of his party are suitable matches for any one of us. Did you see how Miss de Bourgh's mother exclaimed over Charles? He was merely his five thousand in her eyes.”
“Oh Eliza! Do allow me a bit of fun! I shall send an invitation for Miss Darcy to come for tea in a few days. She is said to be the loveliest girl in all of Hertfordshire. And Mr. Darcy, he is handsome and carries himself with such assurance. 'Tis a pity he is not a wealthy gentleman. Such a waste of handsome features and form.”
Bingley ignored his sister's indelicate gossip. “Caroline, do not promise such a thing if you are only set on teasing me.”
His sister stood and stifled a yawn. “I would not tease you so, Charles. If you find a wife here in the country, I am relieved of playing mistress of Netherfield Park. I am off to bed now. Come Eliza and see me to my rooms.”
Elizabeth took her friend's arm. “If you tease me again about Mr. Darcy, I will remain here with Charles.”
Caroline laughed at her friend but promised to leave off with the subject of the man and his connections, or lack thereof. “Neither of you are a bit of fun.”
“Oh, that is not true! The country air makes everyone more agreeable — except you Caro.” Elizabeth laughed as her friend feigned an indignant manner.
Bingley turned away to hide his amusement at Elizabeth's tease. He did not wish to antagonize his sister if she truly would have Miss Darcy for tea, but Elizabeth was such a quick wit.
Mr. Darcy lit from his carriage to assist his aunt and the young ladies of his house as soon as they arrived home from the Assembly.
His aunt had not ceased her praise of Mr. Bingley and his party once during the ride home from Netherfield. Her words still echoed in his ears. “He is just what a young man ought to be; sensible, good humoured, lively. I never saw such happy manners!—so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!”
Mr. Darcy knew his aunt was eager to see her daughter wed, but Mr. Bingley had danced with his sister twice and only once with Anne.
Georgiana walked arm in arm with Anne into their home and questioned her cousin. “What did you think of him?”
Anne smiled shyly. “I think he is smitten with you, Georgiana. He is quite the gentleman and shall make a wonderful neighbor.”
Mr. Darcy shook his head at his cousin's answer. Though she was often persuaded by her mother to behave in a most prudent manner when in Meryton amongst the soldiers, Mr. Darcy knew this would not be the case where Mr. Bingley was concerned.
True to her nature, his aunt corrected her daughter. “Anne, we have yet to know whether Mr. Bingley prefers one young lady over another. You may still catch his eye. Perhaps if you smiled a bit more, but not as much as Georgie for she smiles too much. ”
Georgiana Darcy ignored her aunt’s judgment and turned to her brother as Hill, their housekeeper, came to attend them. “I wish you had danced with Miss Bennet.”
Mrs. de Bourgh overheard and agreed. “Mrs. Long said Miss Bennet has thirty-thousand pounds as her dowry. Your brother had best dance with her as often as he might while she is in the neighborhood. Can you imagine the improvements that could be made to this home for such a sum?”
Mr. Darcy had heard the same gossip, but he was not drawn to the young lady from Derbyshire for her money. Certainly she was the most beautiful lady he had ever seen, but the insult she had spoken against him made her less appealing. He might not be as wealthy as her father, but he was a man worthy of one dance.
And the mention of improvements to Longbourn were nothing new. His aunt had expensive tastes her own pitiful budget could never have afforded at her home in Kent.
She had changed the curtains upstairs and down since coming to Longbourn with the use of the household allowance he gave her and they had been exceedingly expensive in his opinion. He had not chastised her because the simple act had lifted her spirits while in mourning.
His aunt continued her pronouncements on the suitability of her daughter for Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy found he longed to be alone with his thoughts. The hour was late and so he left the women in the parlor to their gossip and retired for the evening.
He would invite Mr. Bingley and his sister, and Miss Bennet, to dine with them at the earliest opportunity.
He was less than thrilled with the idea of the proud young lady at his table. He recalled her insult and chuckled at her display of pride. I could easily forgive hers had she not mortified mine, he thought as he climbed the stairs.
A fortnight after the Assembly, Elizabeth stood with Caroline Bingley surveying a room filled with country society yet again. Bingley had accepted an invitation for a party at Lucas Lodge in the hopes of seeing Miss Darcy again.
Caroline nudged her friend and pointed toward a terrace door. “Let us make our escape, Eliza. I can only imagine your torture is equal to mine.”
Elizabeth was not tortured, not in the way her friend meant. “Your conjecture is entirely wrong. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of strong shoulders on a handsome man can bestow.”
Caroline snorted laughter in a very unladylike manner. She demanded her friend tell her which gentleman had inspired such reflection. “Oh dear, I do hope it is not one of the officers with Colonel Forster.”
“Caro, surely you do not think so little of my character. It is Mr. Darcy of course,” Elizabeth said, not bothering to look at her friend.
“Eliza! I am all astonishment! Just the other evening you said he was not a suitable match for any of our party. When am I to wish you joy?” Her friend whispered in her ear.
“Admiring a man's physique does not require an engagement, Caro.” Elizabeth quipped and left her friend, whose mouth hung open at the change in her opinion of Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth promptly collided with Sir William. He was gathering the young ladies and soldiers to dance. Miss de Bourgh sat at the pianoforte and chose a lively tune for the group.
"Miss Bennet, do you like to dance?" Sir William asked as he gently steadied her to keep her from tripping on the rich, green carpet of his large parlor.
Elizabeth nodded. “I do upon occasion, sir, but only when I cannot escape such a fate.”
Sir William did not know whether the lady was serious but as he was about to form a reply, Mr. Darcy appeared.
Unable to politely excuse herself, Elizabeth was soon face to face with the man whose shoulders she had secretly admired only moments earlier.
She made an attempt to hide her anticipation as Sir William fancied himself a matchmaker. “Mr. Darcy, you must dance with Miss Bennet. See her friend Mr. Bingley there with your sister? It would make the perfect picture for you to join them.”
Mr. Darcy agreed and offered an arm. “I would be most honored if you would dance with me, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth, alarmed by this development, looked at his arm and then at his face. “I did not come this way to seek a dance partner, I assure you.”
Mr. Darcy merely smiled and moved closer. “Nor did I, but it is only a dance.”
Elizabeth glanced at the dancers enjoying the music. She did not wish to appear unreasonable, and he was so very handsome with his broad shoulders and so she took Mr. Darcy's arm. "I suppose if I must, then let it be with a gentleman and not a soldier."
Mr. Darcy was caught off guard by yet another of her barbs. It stung but he remained amiable and civil. Odious woman! He smiled though he wished to shame her. “I am certainly glad I am not a soldier, then.”
To his surprise, she agreed. “That makes two of us.”
Mr. Darcy could not decide if he liked or hated this impertinent woman! But when his cousin began to play another tune, he bowed and took his place in the line across from Miss Bennet.
Elizabeth watched Mr. Darcy as they moved through the dance steps. He smiled at her whenever their eyes met. Her heart skipped a beat. She felt her face grow hot. Elizabeth did not know why she had become so infatuated with a man her mother would never accept.
He was taller than Bingley, but where his sister was fair, Mr. Darcy was not. His dark hair curled at the edges of his cravat and the cut of his suit revealed he was no man of leisure.
None of the gentlemen who sought her hand in Town were as striking as the gentleman farmer who made her heart leap into her throat with just a look.
She knew Caroline would never miss the chance to tease about her earlier commentary regarding Mr. Darcy's shoulders, but she did not care. She would only be in Hertfordshire a short time and there was no harm in admiring the man or dancing with him.
When the music ended, Elizabeth felt regret. Mr. Darcy gave a small bow and thanked her for the dance. Before she might reply, he left to speak with their host.
“Take care, Eliza. A man like Mr. Darcy could never make your mother happy.” Caroline had appeared at her side with surprising speed.
Elizabeth ignored her friend’s words but in her heart she thought Mr. Darcy could make her quite happy, though it was foolish to consider more than a few dances with the man.