When Miss de Bourgh had recovered and returned home, Mr. Bingley spent a great deal of time visiting Longbourn. He had begun to praise Mr. Darcy and his standing in the neighborhood as well.
One afternoon, in the library, he regaled Elizabeth with the news that Mr. Darcy dined often with the officers of the militia and told her his study held more books than Netherfield’s library.
“That is not a difficult thing, Charles,” Elizabeth said as she glanced at the bare shelves around them. She did not wish to hear more of Mr. Darcy’s best qualities and instead tried again to make Bingley see that Mr. Darcy’s sister did not return his feelings.
Bingley did not take her warning kindly. “You know Eliza, I have always held you in the greatest esteem, but I do wonder why you are set against Miss Darcy. I do love her. Does that knowledge cause jealousy to grow as thorns in your heart?”
Elizabeth was astonished. “It does not! I have always cared for you as though you were my brother, Charles. I saw her smile and laugh with the colonel as much as she did with you, but I will not speak of my reservations again since they offend you. I shall be off to London the day after your ball.”
Caroline had joined come in while they were arguing and promptly gave her opinion. “I shall go with Eliza for I cannot abide this country society a moment longer. Charles, if you truly wish to marry Miss Darcy, I would not interfere for I am dependent upon your good will in all things. I do see what Eliza sees and as a woman, if I were in love with a man, he would have no doubt as to my feelings.”
Bingley looked from one lady to the other and shook his head. “I wish you both would stay but if you leave, I will go too. Do you truly think she cares so little for me Eliza?”
Elizabeth stood and went to her friend’s side. “I wish the young lady did return your devotion for I believe you do love her. How terrible it would be for you to propose and find her heart belonged to the colonel instead.”
Bingley shook his head in defeat. “I had hoped I might win her heart, but it is true that since the colonel came she seems more delighted in his presence than mine.”
Caroline stood and looked at Elizabeth. Her friend’s countenance held no mirth. Taking Elizabeth’s arm, she led her to the library door.
She glanced back at her brother. “It is not charitable to trifle with these poor, country folk. I am certain there will be a young lady in London who would be greatly pleased to become mistress of Netherfield Park should you choose to keep it after all this heartbreak and disappointment.”
Bingley kept up the appearance of his usual amiability as he danced with his female guests the night of the Netherfield Ball. Elizabeth thought he truly did like his country neighbors.
Ever since she had told him she would leave the day after the ball, Bingley had seen less of Miss Darcy but visited the Lucases and several other families in the area.
Caroline had arranged a most lovely event with the limited resources of a small, county hamlet but Elizabeth was in no mood to entertain the officers who asked her to dance time and time again.
She had danced with Bingley twice. Mr. Darcy, who she would have danced with, danced with his sister and Miss de Bourgh and several other young ladies of his acquaintance.
Elizabeth did not care for the feelings that squeezed her heart each time he smiled at one of the young ladies who passed in front of him hoping for an offer to dance. If she were honest, she would call those feelings what they were — jealousy.
When she was sitting with Caroline while the musicians were on a break, Mr. Darcy approached them. “Miss Bennet, may I have the honor of dancing the next set?”
Elizabeth smiled at him and looked at her dance card, pretending there were names there. She did not want to seem eager. “You have come at a most opportune moment, sir. I will dance with you, but only if the colonel will dance with my friend.”
Mr. Darcy bowed to the ladies and hurried away in search of his cousin while Elizabeth laughed. Caroline elbowed her. “Eliza! How could you do such a thing? I do not wish to dance with a soldier. Thank heavens I did not invite our friends from London. I would never recover from the shame!”
“Oh Caro, do try to enjoy the ball tonight! You worked so very hard to make it a beautiful event. The colonel is handsome and not so silly as the junior officers you see dancing with Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh.”
Caroline sniffed and stuck out her chin. “The colonel is handsome, that is a point in his favor. But only one set and no more. Do not drag me into your infatuation with Mr. Darcy. You may pursue him without my aid.”
Elizabeth gasped. “You think I hold a fascination for the man?”
Caroline nodded most enthusiastically and tapped her friend on the arm with her fan. “I have tried to ignore it and heaven knows I wish you did not prefer him, but it is plain to me, Eliza. I have known you for many years, and I can see how you look at him. Like a love-struck girl, you are.”
Elizabeth did not know what to think. Certainly she had admired Mr. Darcy’s handsome features and physique, but she had not thought it obvious to her best friend. Caroline had only ever teased her about the man. Tonight, something had changed all that.
“Rubbish, Caro! I see that he would be a wonderful match for any young lady besides myself. He is appealing in the way of all forbidden fruit. We do always want what we must not have.” Elizabeth thought her denial strong enough to fend off her friend’s accusations.
“Well, you may have him now. Here he comes with his cousin,” Caroline whispered angrily as she rose with a sweet smile to cover her irritation.
Regardless of whether she approved of the society of Hertfordshire, she meant to represent her brother and family name well.
Elizabeth stood and Mr. Darcy offered his arm. The musicians had returned to their places and the music began again. Someone had demanded a waltz and Elizabeth scowled as Bingley whirled in front of them with Miss Darcy in his arms. There was no remedy for the situation. She would have to dance the waltz with Mr. Darcy.
Taking a breath, she smiled up at him and was soon swept easily across the dance floor. His arms were warm and strong but he did not hold her too closely.
Elizabeth appreciated his gentlemanly manner and gave herself to the music. The waltz was her favorite to dance with many young men in the past, but they all faded into distant memory as she danced with Mr. Darcy of Longbourn.
He was strong, yet his strength was tempered by respect. He was handsome, yet his countenance was tempered by responsibility. He had not the face of a young man just free of his mother’s apron strings. His was a face that would have stubble that could scratch a woman’s tender skin.
Elizabeth blushed and lowered her lashes as she thought of how he would look before he rose from his bed each morning. Lifting her gaze, she saw he was watching her with the same scrutiny.
“Mr. Darcy,” she said, finding herself breathless as she spoke, “why do you stare?”
He smiled then, a quirk of his lips that caused the dimple in his left cheek to deepen. Elizabeth wanted to kiss that spot, to always see it when he smiled at her.
The thought unsettled her and she wished Caroline were near to tease her and drive out her foolish and dangerous thoughts.
“I see the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance and I wonder if she knows how difficult it is to recall the steps of the waltz with the terrible distraction she provides,” Mr. Darcy said, his voice husky with emotion.
Elizabeth had not thought he would be so bold but she had asked the question. Her heart jumped and she gazed into his eyes, lost to the music and the romantic nature of the moment.
She regretted that they could never be more than acquaintances. Her heart wanted more. “I think perhaps we both have trouble recalling the steps. Perhaps it is not meant for us to dance together?”
Mr. Darcy pulled her closer and Elizabeth gave a small squeal of surprise. It was scandalous to dance the waltz and be handled by a gentleman not her beaux nor husband, but her mother would welcome it if Mr. Darcy held a title.
Elizabeth did not mind being wrapped in his arms, in fact she found it thrilling and the smell of him, his own scent mixed with the spicy, citrus aroma of his cologne, left her intoxicated — drunk with longing for this gentleman.
The music ended and Mr. Darcy released her. Elizabeth struggled for a moment with her balance, but his hand was there to steady her, hold her up while she regained her footing.
When she left him to rejoin Caroline, Elizabeth knew she ought not to have danced with Mr. Darcy. It had opened her heart to the man.
Elizabeth was resigned to leaving Netherfield the next morning. Her own attraction to Mr. Darcy could only bring her trouble. Bingley’s love for Miss Darcy would likely end in the same way. She searched her heart again to find whether she was only envious of the young lady. All she honestly found was concern for her friend.
Caroline chattered on for miles about how fortunate her brother had been to avoid an imprudent marriage. “It is better for Miss Darcy, as well, for if Charles had proposed, Mrs. de Bourgh may have caused a scene over her own hopes for her daughter and embarrassed us all. No, I think it most wise to have avoided any connection to that particular family.”
Bingley kept his head down and Elizabeth felt a great sadness fill her heart for the man. Caroline would worry them all the way to Town with the matter if she did not intervene.
“Caro, do let us forget the Darcys and the de Bourghs. I wish to know what you may do for the winter. There were so many invitations for us both before we left London. I thought perhaps we might go to Pemberley for Christmas. Mother wrote she hopes to leave town no later than the middle of November. She has some grand plans for a huge ball, you know.”
Caroline left off with the discussion of Miss Darcy as soon as mention of a winter ball escaped her friend’s lips. “Do you think we might lure Lord Aisling and Lord Spencer to Pemberley?”
Elizabeth laughed. “I do not think there is a need for subterfuge where those two are concerned. I am certain Lydia and Kitty have already invited half of London. The innkeepers in Lambton and Kympton will be busy indeed.”
At Longbourn, Georgiana held the note that had arrived from Netherfield Park after breakfast. Hill said it had been brought by a footman and Georgiana hoped it was another invitation from Miss Bingley.
She sat in the parlor with her cousin and aunt holding the missive gently and praying she might be asked again to their home.
Mr. Bingley was everything she might hope for in a husband; so kind and gentle. His temperament complimented her own and he always made her smile. Their conversations had revealed what a good match they would make. Georgiana knew she was in love though she had never loved a man before.
“I say, how long must we wait to find whether Miss Bingley has invited you for tea once more? You make Anne jealous with your silly smile and fawning over a note,” Mrs. de Bourgh said, her patience at an end.
Anne looked to her mother. “I am not jealous of my Georgiana. Quite the contrary. I am pleased it seems Mr. Bingley may propose marriage any day.”
Catherine de Bourgh gave her daughter a fierce look of censure. “It is only because you were ill all that time at Netherfield and Georgie was able to dine with him and play cards in the salon after dinner.”
Georgiana ignored her aunt but opened the missive and began to read silently. Her face fell as the words were not the ones she had hoped to read.
Dear Miss Darcy,
We have left Netherfield this morning for London but I wished to write to you and say it was my great pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Miss Bennet is impatient to see her sisters, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet them again.
I really do not think any of the Bennet sisters has an equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments. I once dreamt my brother would marry one of them.
I do hope this letter finds your cousin well and that we may see you again in the summer if we do return for a time.
Caroline Bingley
Georgiana’s eyes filled with tears and she stood quickly. Mr. Bingley had left and made his sister give notice. Not a word from him had come from Netherfield.
She turned the paper over several times to see whether he had included his own note or written in the margins, but it was only Miss Bingley’s handwriting there.
Her aunt’s hand on her arm brought her back to the parlor. Its walls seemed to close around her and she gasped for air. Clutching the terrible letter, she ran from the room for the gardens where she might release her tears alone.
“Georgiana, come back this instant! I demand to know what is in that letter!” Mrs. de Bourgh called as she chased after her niece.
Mr. Darcy and the colonel had entered the parlor from the hallway by his study and he blocked his aunt from leaving the room. “Let her go, Aunt Catherine. If she wishes to share what news has come, it will be at her own discretion.”
Anne moved around her family members as silently as a cat and slipped into the back hallway and through the dining room to the kitchen. She chose an apple from the bowl on the table and shoved it in her skirt pocket.
Before she might make good on her escape, Hill caught her and wrapped a woolen shawl about her shoulders. “’Tis cold out, Miss. This should keep the two of you warm.”
The housekeeper nodded at the clump of trees on the far side of the garden. Anne smiled at Hill and hurried across the grass that had grown brown after a hard frost.
It crunched beneath her boots and her breath left small white clouds in her wake. She meant to comfort her cousin and learn what the letter had said that upset her so.