Alias Thomas Bennet (10 page)

“My reason for asking is my curiosity about my observations of Jane and Mr. Bingley when he comes to call. His preference for Jane is quite evident since his countenance is demonstrative of his affections. Jane has always been quiet and reserved, thus it takes a keen observer to know her affection for him.”

Lydia paused and looked to Elizabeth for encouragement. Although Elizabeth appeared slightly perplexed, Lydia took it as a sign of concentration on her reasoned argument and continued. “It led me to consider that it is not at all improbable for an individual in love to respond with some reflection of one’s nature, a resemblance to their natural liveliness. I ponder my own efforts in struggling to curtail my forthright tendencies and temper my exuberance in company. Surely, were I as silly in love as described in novels, my predilection would be towards displaying myself as ridiculously boisterous and uncontrollably giddy. My conjecture is that, if romantic affection invaded my heart, I might be unintentionally flirtatious and expose myself as ill bred. I worry such behaviour would be detrimental to my reputation as a lady, thus provoking any proper gentleman to reconsider his suit.”

“You may have over-dramatized your interpretation, Lydia. No one can predict how any young woman would respond if she were ‘silly in love’ as you say. However, dear sister, I have had the pleasure of watching you grow and mature, and you have all but conquered the less desirable outbursts and impulsiveness due to your youth. For the most part, you are learning to display the good breeding of a lady with an endearing amount of youthful exuberance.”

“I envy you, Jane, and Mary,” said the youngest Miss Bennet. “You have all the fun: going to Town, dressing up in your best gowns, dancing, and meeting interesting people beyond our nearest relations. But it seems so terribly far in the future before I can be in company that I feel I will die waiting!

“Staying home with Kitty can be terribly dull. She is intent with her drawings and happy trimming bonnets and gowns and helping my other sisters to look their best. She listens to my dramatic readings, but I know she is just being kind hearted. I wish I could be out in society and have the admiration of gentlemen. However, I do worry about my forthrightness and that I would embarrass myself were I required to appear a fine lady.”

“I do not doubt that, by the time you are out in society, you will have mastered the skills required to recognize when you are becoming excitable and will check yourself almost automatically. If circumstances overwhelm you such that you forget, I know you have the sense and honour to acknowledge the error and gently apologize. It is also likely your gentleman will admire you for your guilelessness,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Do not worry, Lydia. You have time to learn to be a gentlewoman and have four elder sisters to help you along.”

Chapter 7:
In which Mr. Bennet seeks to know Mr. Darcy’s intentions towards his daughter.

26 November 1811
Hertfordshire

Thomas Bennet stood alongside his unfortunate cousin in the front hall of Longbourn Manor, awaiting the four women he would escort for the evening. Mr. Collins had somewhat improved in manners, and was schooling himself intensely to mind Mr. Bennet’s strong advice to hold his tongue else be sent back to Hunsford early. Thus, he made some small talk about the ball and his hope to dance with Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary. He, of course, had petitioned each for the first set, but as they had already promised those dances to others, he had to be content with later sets.

The carriage had been readied some twenty minutes past, but extra care was being taken on the costumes of the three eldest Bennet daughters. Bennet could hear more compliments and comments of admiration than decisions and adjustments, suggesting the party was nearly ready to present themselves. Lydia and Kitty appeared at the top of the stairs and requested the men’s attention to the other four ladies.

Bennet held a breath and felt his eyes misting as he beheld the beauties descending the stairs. They looked truly lovely in their gowns, each as unique as the daughter wearing it. Mrs. Bennet’s and Kitty’s good taste and flair for fashion were evident in the simple yet elegant dresses and headwear, trimmed with tasteful amounts of lace, velvet, and tulle. Their hand-stitched details, insets, and gatherings rivalled gowns that the more affluent were able to procure from the finest London modistes. Mr. Collins met each with a polite compliment and bow, emulating his host.

Mary appeared first, concentrating on walking elegantly with her head held high. Kitty stage-whispered for Mary to smile, and the seemingly plainest daughter’s face lit up, causing her to look truly radiant. She was followed by Elizabeth, whose eyes sparkled playfully as she descended, and then Jane, whose carriage and smile showed her quiet confidence. Their father was awestruck when his bride appeared, looking every bit as beautiful as when he first fell in love with her. He took her hand and bowed over it with a brief kiss.

“Thomas, I am sorry you have been forced to wait,” said Mrs. Bennet. “However, we will not be so very late. Kitty took over my role in the final inspection of our attire, and while we discovered she has exceptional attention to detail, we were doomed to suffer her primping to perfection. I think she is still a little miffed that Lizzy refused to wear earbobs. Come, girls; capes and cloaks and we are away.”

“My dear, my memory of the delay has been washed away by the vision of you and my lovely daughters. My cousin and I are such fortunate men to be escorting four beautiful ladies this evening!

“Kitty, Lydia, to your chambers now. I do not want you catching a draft from the door. I ask that you both take to your beds; however, I am suspicious that you will try to remain awake in hopes of hearing about the ball when we return. As it will be quite late, we will be in need of rest, so I insist that all discussion about dancing and gowns be held until breakfast.”

***

The Bennets’ coach arrived at the Bingley residence at the same time as many of their neighbours’ carriages so was held up in the long queue. Mr. Collins escaped ahead of the others and rushed into the ball, past those in the receiving line. The Bennets were more relieved by his absence than dismayed at his ill manners.

As Mr. Bennet handed out his wife and daughters, Elizabeth noticed Mr. Darcy looking out on the courtyard from a balcony. She caught her breath as her unease with his attention and her own warring feelings made her flush, but she smiled slightly when she caught his gaze, and he returned it with a small smile of his own. She was aflutter with anticipation at seeing him, anxious about their dance, and happy to have an opportunity to continue to challenge her mind in mutually pleasing discourse on any number of interesting topics. She licked her lips nervously.

Darcy had sucked in a quick breath at the sight of Elizabeth through the window, even though she was still wrapped in a warm cloak, and he could not see her ball gown. The minute their eyes met, he knew that, had they been alone together at that moment, no one would have been able to stop him from offering for her in spite of the multiple reasons that plainly advised against their union. He retreated back into the room and took his place near the last of the receiving line to ensure he would greet her as soon as she joined the party. It would have been amusing to note the normally reserved and dignified man shuffling from one foot to the other with impatience, but the excitement everyone felt made them oblivious to Darcy’s agitation.

Once inside, the Bennets waited in a queue for coats to be taken and then joined the receiving line. Mr. Bingley was effusive in his greeting and made a special effort to pay compliments to Jane, who blushed and lowered her lashes. Miss Bingley was unexpectedly welcoming and bore the compliments on her decorations with only a slight air of superiority.

When Darcy finally saw Elizabeth fully as she moved through the throng, he was frozen with awe at her lovely hair and gown. She looked more beautiful than he ever could have imagined. When the Bennet family passed through the receiving line, he paid his compliments in a rather perfunctory fashion, making brief and polite regards while frequently throwing glances at Elizabeth. When Darcy saw Bennet observing him with a querulous expression, he blushed and averted his gaze, suddenly aware he had been staring at her in an impolite manner.

Recovering himself in a rather formal and stilted way, Darcy offered his arms to escort Elizabeth and Mary into the ballroom, following Jane and Mrs. Bennet on Mr. Bennet’s arms. The gentlemen then offered to fetch glasses of wine, which was appreciatively accepted. On returning to the group, Darcy took his place beside Elizabeth.

Regaining enough of his wits to speak sensibly once more, he leaned down to whisper, “You look very lovely tonight, Miss Elizabeth.”

She looked up to him, smiled and said, “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. You look quite well, also.” The corners of his mouth lifted only slightly, but his eyes shone as he looked into hers. She felt her face flush and shyly looked away. The significance of being asked for the first set was not lost on her. Mr. Darcy had not danced with anyone from Hertfordshire at the assembly ball, only standing up once with each lady of his own party, and not the first, supper or last set.

Both remained silent for some time thereafter as they attended to the conversations about them, each still carefully tuned to the presence of the other so close by. Elizabeth admired his strong and manly figure standing proudly, dressed in the finest eveningwear. She had never seen him so handsome.

Across the room, she noticed Mr. Collins talking to the Lucas family. Charlotte appeared attentive and interested in what Mr. Collins was saying, and he had apparently heeded her father’s suggestions, as the others in his group seemed able to participate in the conversation. Henry Lucas smiled when he saw Elizabeth watching them, and took leave of his group to come to Mary’s side. She noticed his dark green waistcoat and doubted it was coincidence that Henry’s attire so complemented Mary’s new gown.

“Your family appears to be enjoying the company of my cousin,” Mr. Bennet said to Henry.

“He seems to have improved, sir. He is asking questions and showing an interest in what others have to say. I believe my father is sharing tips on how to tell an entertaining anecdote, and Mr. Collins is playing the part of avid scholar.”

As Henry Lucas continued talking with Bennet and Mary, Elizabeth noticed for the first time that Mr. Wickham was in attendance and had approached the Lucas group and joined in their conversation.

The orchestra started the strains of the first dance, and Darcy stepped up and offered Elizabeth his hand. As the dance began, it was not long before the physical touch and matching flow of movements made the energy between them magnetic, so that every small contact felt like it left a permanent imprint, and each time they passed near one another caused breathlessness. Elizabeth was unnerved by the unexpected effect his presence had on her composure and did not know how she would survive the dance with such tightness in her chest and disquiet in her stomach.

Darcy had forgotten his resolve to avoid an attachment. He was awestruck. For a few seconds, they were caught in each other’s gaze.

Bennet stood near his wife observing the dance and saw confirmation of what he had suspected, and perhaps dreaded, for some time. There could be no doubt of the strong attraction between Darcy and his second eldest daughter. They were dancing as if they were the only people in the world. He was fairly sure Elizabeth would not yet admit it to herself; she still maintained her determination to disapprove of Darcy despite her growing partiality to him.

Bennet suspected Darcy was also struggling with his feelings regarding his duty and the dictates of society. As a gentleman of the first circles, he would be expected to marry well and add to the fortune of his estate. Bennet decided to keep an eye on them since it appeared likely he must soon make some critical decisions regarding his daughter and confidences that might be due to Mr. Darcy.

Realising she had best break the trance she seemed to have fallen under, Elizabeth made an effort to engage her partner in conversation.

“Mr. Darcy, you dance very well for one who dislikes the activity,” Elizabeth said archly. He smiled at her reference to Sir William’s entreaties to have him dance with her at Lucas Lodge.

“I am fortunate to have you agree to it this time.”

Several more turns in the dance occurred before Elizabeth resolved to continue the conversation in an effort to distract herself from her partner’s brooding gaze. To summon her courage, she reflected on his insult at the assembly ball and the accusations of Mr. Wickham, and began the conversation with a challenge.

“Come, Mr. Darcy, we must have some conversation. A little will suffice.”

“Do you talk as a rule then, while you dance?”

“Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together, and yet for the advantage of
some
, conversation ought to be so arranged that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible.”

“Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”

“Both,” replied Elizabeth archly, “for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb.”