Chapter Twenty-Five

I t had been ten weeks since the ball at Lady Ashford's. It felt both as quick as a wink and an eternity. So much had changed. Elizabeth walked into Lady Morgan's ballroom with Jane and Amelia by her side, Lord and Lady Carlisle ahead of them, and though the room was dazzling, surpassing even the grandeur of Lady Ashford's celebrated fête, this time neither she nor Jane gasped at the splendour.

The chandeliers, filled with hundreds of lit candles, cast a warm, almost ethereal glow over the polished floor. Just as at Lady Ashford's, the dance floor was adorned with an intricate chalk drawing, this one of Haines Park and the land surrounding. The artist must have worked from a portrait, for the detail was exceptional.

"You all look especially lovely this evening, ladies," Colonel Fitzwilliam said as he approached.

"Thank you, Colonel." As the eldest, Jane accepted the compliment on their behalf.

Elizabeth peered cautiously about, and the colonel smiled.

"If you are searching for Darcy, Miss Elizabeth, he has been detained on the other side of the room." He offered his arm. "May I take you to him? "

Elizabeth unconsciously touched her hair where her maid had pinned a few of Mr. Darcy's roses to the braided twist at the back of her head. She glanced at her sister and friend, who smiled and nodded at her. "I thank you, yes."

"Before I go," the colonel said as they departed, "I meant to ask whether Miss Bennet would reserve the first set for me, Miss Hamilton, the third, and Miss Elizabeth the sixth?"

Jane and Amelia murmured their assent, and the colonel smiled and led Elizabeth away. As they made their way through the crowd, she saw Diana and Cordelia engaging in pleasant conversation with Simon, the Carlisle's son, Lord Milton, and Mrs. Caruthers. She smiled at them, but the colonel seemed intent on reaching Mr. Darcy and so they did not stop.

A moment later, she understood why. He was standing with Mr. Bingley, but Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were also there, their voices overly charming, clearly hoping to be asked to dance. Mr. Darcy was clearly uncomfortable but unwilling to extract himself lest he appear rude.

It was her fault in a way, Elizabeth thought, amused. Mr. Darcy had insulted her so grievously that now he apparently felt an increased duty to be polite even to the worst hangers-on, particularly as they were his friend's sisters. There must be some medium that they could find together.

When he bowed for her and then straightened, she could see that his waistcoat was green, a darker, more masculine green than the silk she was wearing, but one that complemented her gown most becomingly. Georgiana's insistence on viewing their gowns suddenly made sense, and her heart pounded erratically. He had chosen his clothing to match her own.

Miss Bingley, dressed in an orange gown with yellow undertones that made her appear sallow, smiled coyly at Mr. Darcy in a way that made Elizabeth's stomach turn.

No one ought to look that way at Mr. Darcy. He was hers .

In the manner of old friends, Miss Bingley said, "Mr. Darcy, I do hope you have saved a dance for me this evening. We have always danced so well together."

"Caroline." Mr. Bingley's warning was unusually firm, and Elizabeth's eyes were drawn to him.

"Yes, Charles?"

"A lady does not ask a gentleman for a dance," he hissed.

"Do not be ridiculous," Miss Bingley said, waving a hand dismissively, "Mr. Darcy and I are old friends. Stop complaining, Charles. You have been ludicrous enough this day to last a year." Mrs. Hurst nodded in support.

Mr. Darcy's eyes bored into Elizabeth's. He was silently begging her for an escape, and she took pity on him with a slight nod. The tug of his lips upward disappeared so quickly she doubted anyone else had seen it.

"You cannot have a partner for the first, sir," Miss Bingley said. "Do allow me to assist you in this regard."

"I apologise, Miss Bingley, but I must decline your generous offer. I do indeed have a previous commitment for the first set."

Miss Bingley's smile faltered, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. Her question, however, was smoothly delivered. "How is that possible, sir, when you have only just arrived? No, you must be teasing me."

"Caroline," Mr. Bingley said quietly, "you are making a scene. Please recall what I said before we arrived this evening."

This angered Miss Bingley, but she did not speak further.

Had the woman actually been watching for Mr. Darcy's entrance and then attached herself to him so that he could not ask another lady for her hand? Elizabeth did not at all understand how Mr. Bingley could have come from the same family as his sisters. Mr. Darcy shifted uncomfortably, but before he could respond, Elizabeth spoke .

"Mr. Darcy has already offered me the first set, Miss Bingley, and I am disinclined to relinquish it. I do hope you will forgive me for monopolizing his attention." She gazed up at the colonel, who had been uncharacteristically silent. Perhaps he did not wish to draw Miss Bingley's attention. Wise man. "Mr. Darcy, as your cousin will be partnering with my sister, perhaps we ought to make our way back to her?"

The colonel nodded and relinquished her arm to Mr. Darcy as they left a suddenly crestfallen Mr. Bingley and his outraged sisters behind them.

"Do you intend to allow this, Charles?" Miss Bingley hissed as they turned away. "Lady Penelope says that the Bennet women set fire to their school. What if that woman does the same to Pemberley?"

Fitz made to turn about, but they heard Bingley scoff. "Do not be ridiculous, Caroline. I never heard such foolish gossip in all my life. Repeat it again, and you shall find yourself without access to any of my funds."

Elizabeth lifted a brow in approval as she looked up at Mr. Darcy.

He nodded, then said, "Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. Your timing was impeccable."

"You have your cousin to thank for that. He led me directly to you." Her words turned mischievous. "Once there, I could see you were in need of a rescue, and as rescuing Darcys seems to be a specialty of mine, I could not very well leave you to fend for yourself against Miss Bingley's questionable attentions."

"Indeed. I might rather take my chances with the coach and six."

Elizabeth looked up, surprised by the vehemence in his statement. She could not help but laugh.

Mr. Darcy chuckled in return and patted her hand where it rested on his arm. "Bingley moved out of his brother's house today and told his sisters that he will not have Miss Bingley with him. They are both in dangerously petulant moods. I fear I shall have to dance with them both this evening to placate them, but I refuse to give Miss Bingley a set of any significance."

"I do not blame you," Elizabeth replied, casting a quick look over her shoulder back at them. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were standing together, watching her and Mr. Darcy with glares sharp enough to cut glass.

When she turned back, Mr. Darcy's voice was impossibly tender. "You are wearing the roses."

"Oh," Elizabeth said, her hand wandering again to the back of her coiffure. "They are so beautiful I could not leave them all in the vase."

"You liked them, then?"

"Of course. I am sorry I did not say before, but Miss Bingley put them entirely out of my head. I wonder that she has not heard that we are courting." She was determined not to mention the gossip. Lady Penelope was no match for Lady Carlisle, but she might not know that yet.

His smile was enigmatic. "Is that what we are doing, Miss Elizabeth?"

She walked a few steps in silence, but then nodded. "We have not used the word, but I trust I have not spoken out of turn?"

"You have not." His eyes seemed to sparkle in the candlelight. "But if we are courting, it would be entirely reasonable for me to dance both the first and the supper set with you. Unless, of course, you wish to decline the second."

"And leave you to the tender mercies of a woman like Miss Bingley?" she asked lightly. "I think not. The first set may be for you, but the supper set is for me—I have been greatly anticipating our conversation. Do not disappoint me."

"I would not dare."

They met Lord and Lady Carlisle where they now stood with Jane and Amelia. The colonel offered his hand to Jane and Amelia was escorted to the floor by a Mr. Grey, to whom they had all just been introduced .

Elizabeth nearly trembled with anticipation as Mr. Darcy led her to the floor. She had not intended to dance twice with him, let alone speak the word courtship. Yet to say it aloud and have it so readily confirmed by him—it was as though she was standing at the edge of a cliff without any fear that she would fall.

It was exhilarating.

"The Lady of the Lake!" cried the master of ceremonies, and many lines of around five couples formed about the floor.

"You still have my copy of that book," Mr. Darcy muttered to Colonel Fitzwilliam who was standing to his side.

"I have no idea what you mean," the colonel said with a grin. "Quick now, Darcy, the dance is starting."

She and Mr. Darcy were at the top of the line in their small group, and so they began by approaching the second lady on their line, which was Jane. They circled once around and then retreated to their original positions before doing the same with Colonel Fitzwilliam. As they joined hands and Elizabeth tamped down the gasp that Mr. Darcy's touch induced, they danced down the centre of the line. "Where did Mr. Bingley move?"

"His new direction is just off Harley Street."

Elizabeth glanced at her sister. "May I ask why he left Mr. Hurst's house?"

They reached the top of the line and then were separated as they each skipped behind the other dancers, meeting again at the bottom and taking hands to move up through the centre again. They performed their allemandes, then danced to the far corners to meet in the middle for another set of allemandes, and then rested again in the second position.

Now the colonel and Jane took their turns, circling around with Elizabeth and then Mr. Darcy. While they went through the rest of their steps, Elizabeth waited until they were as far away as possible before arching an eyebrow at Mr. Darcy and awaiting his answer.

"He hopes to impress upon your sister that he means to place his wife first in all things. To do that, he needed to separate himself from his sisters."

Elizabeth leaned back and straightened. "Well done, Mr. Bingley. Will he approach her here, do you think?"

"Would that be prudent?"

"Perhaps, if he does not attempt to catch her alone. If he speaks with her in Lady Carlisle's presence, she will be more receptive." She paused as the colonel and Jane passed by on their way up the line, then they separated to skip behind the other dancers. Jane was smiling, enjoying herself, and yet the smile she offered the colonel was not the same as the one she had for Mr. Bingley.

"I cannot promise anything, you understand," she said to Mr. Darcy. "But I do believe that is the best approach if he wishes to speak with her this evening."

Mr. Darcy nodded. "Thank you. I will relay the information to my friend."

Jane and Colonel Fitzwilliam returned to their place, again below Elizabeth and Darcy while Mr. Grey and Amelia began their turn.

Elizabeth glanced at her sister, but Jane was watching Amelia dance. She hoped Mr. Bingley could hold to his principles and be his own man. It was the only way he would have any chance at all with Jane.

"I have been rather remiss this evening," she said to Mr. Darcy now that she suspected Jane would be listening.

"I cannot see how," he responded.

"Ah, but I have not yet inquired about Georgiana," she said with a smile. "How is she? "

"Very well, and very insistent that I memorize every detail of the ball to relate to her tomorrow. I am sure to disappoint."

"Well, she shall have all her friends to fill in any of the important news that you neglect to recall."

"You were right."

"Right?"

"Saving Darcys is your specialty. I hate to think what Georgiana would do to me if I cannot recall what sort of lace Miss Loughty wore on her gown or whether Miss Torrington danced every dance."

It was only as the fifth and final couple began their allemandes that Elizabeth noted the whispers circulating and the eyes of others upon her and Mr. Darcy. The rumours of his attentions to her were sure to be revived after this evening—they were dancing the first and would dance the supper set. But she found that this time, she did not care.

Then she caught the look in the eyes of some of the gawkers—and it was not romance they were gossiping about. Lady Penelope was having some luck with her vicious lies.

After the set was over, Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam led the Bennet ladies to their friends.

"Colonel, you know Miss Torrington, but I do not believe you have met my friend Miss Loughty," Elizabeth said.

The colonel made a handsome bow and secured dances from each of the ladies before walking off to locate his partner for the next set.

Mr. Darcy leaned down to say softly, "Shall I find Bingley?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Lady Carlisle is just by the punch bowl with Lady Morgan."

He bowed to all of them and set off in search of his friend, leaving Jane, Elizabeth, Diana, and Cordelia together. A moment later, Mr. Grey escorted Amelia to them, was introduced, bowed, and left them .

"None of the young men can bear to remain with us," Cordelia said, opening her fan with a practiced flip of her wrist.

"At least Colonel Fitzwilliam has asked for a dance." Diana pulled out her own fan. "It is already becoming quite warm in here."

"Oh, yes, the colonel will dance with me as well," Amelia added. "But I think he is just trying to remain in my uncle and aunt's good graces. Because Lord Matlock needs my uncle's vote on something or other."

"Is he a good dancer, Jane?" Cordelia inquired as she watched him cross the floor.

That was interesting.

Jane smiled faintly. "He is a very good dancer, and an amiable partner."

The music grew livelier for the second set, but Elizabeth was happy to sit this one out. She was hoping there would be good news in the offing, and she should hate to miss it.

"Lizzy," Amelia crowed, drawing Elizabeth's attention back from her musing, "how was your dance with Mr. Darcy?"

"It was lovely," Elizabeth said. "Mr. Darcy is an excellent dancer, and our conversation was engaging."

"Engaging," repeated Cordelia. "Mm-hmm."

Amelia giggled. "From where I was standing with Mr. Grey, it appeared you two were quite lost in one another's eyes."

"And do not think we did not notice that his waistcoat matches your gown," Diana teased.

Jane leaned forward. "Do you see the roses in her hair? Mr. Darcy sent them to Carlisle House this morning."

"Jane!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "He sent flowers to you too—and Amelia and Lady Carlisle!"

"But not roses. And we are not wearing them, are we? "

Diana clasped Elizabeth's hand. "Please do not mind our teasing. It is just so romantic!"

Amelia nudged Elizabeth playfully with her elbow. "All the men who have been attempting to gain your attention this season must be confused that the only one who insulted you is the one you chose."

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. "None of them were serious."

Jane laughed. "I told you, Amelia. She did not even notice. Behold, Lizzy." She turned and held out her hand, indicating the entire ballroom. "Bees." She turned back and touched the petal of a rose in Elizabeth's hair. "Flower."

Amelia's smile was smug. "And as for your dance, I am sure the conversation was charming, but I daresay the way Mr. Darcy was gazing at you spoke quite eloquently without any words at all."

"I am so happy to see you enjoying yourself, Lizzy. There is no one I know who deserves it more." Jane reached out to squeeze Elizabeth's hand.

"Very well," Elizabeth said, humbled by the good wishes of her sister and friends. "I confess my feelings for Mr. Darcy have grown stronger."

"Stronger," Cordelia said, shaking her head. "What we just witnessed was something more than that."

Just then, Lady Carlisle approached the group. "Jane, Elizabeth, might I steal you away for a moment?"

Jane glanced curiously at Elizabeth before following Lady Carlisle across the room, Elizabeth in her wake. As they approached a relatively quiet corner, Elizabeth heard a sharp intake of breath from Jane.

Behind several different groups of people, none of whom were paying them any mind, Mr. Bingley stood in the corner with Mr. Darcy, tugging nervously at his cuffs. Mr. Darcy gave his friend an encouraging nod as they approached .

"Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth," Mr. Bingley said, bowing politely. "I hope you will forgive the intrusion on your notice, but I wished to speak with you. Particularly Miss Bennet."

Jane pulled herself up to her full height. "Certainly, Mr. Bingley. What is it you wish to say?"

"Miss Bennet," he said, his words sincere and regretful, "I must offer you my profound apology. When we were at the museum, I allowed my sisters to say offensive things about you without so much as insisting that they stop. It was cowardly of me."

Jane closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, she said, simply, "Your inaction was disappointing."

"I have long learned to simply tune my sisters out when they begin to worry on a bone. But when I considered it from your perspective, Miss Bennet, I understood immediately why you felt you needed to withdraw from our courtship. But I do not desire that."

"I am sorry for your pain, sir—" Jane began, but was interrupted.

"I also wished to share some news with you. I have taken the step of establishing my own residence here in London. My sister Caroline will not be living with me, nor will the Hursts—ever. Further, I have informed them both that they will respect my decisions about the way in which I intend to conduct my life. If they do not, they shall not be welcome even to visit."

Jane's eyes widened. Elizabeth could tell that she was impressed. "That is wonderful, Mr. Bingley," she said. "I am happy to hear that you are taking the necessary steps to ensure your own happiness."

Mr. Bingley's confidence seemed bolstered by her approval. "Thank you. Your approval means a great deal to me." He hesitated as he gathered his courage. "I know I still have much to prove, but I was hoping you might grant me the honour of a dance this evening. "

Her sister considered Mr. Bingley for a moment, then glanced at Elizabeth who offered a little smile. Jane turned back to Bingley and nodded, a soft smile of her own gracing her countenance. "I believe in the goodness of your heart, Mr. Bingley. It takes courage to admit one's faults and more still to act to change. So yes, I would be happy to dance a set with you."

"Are you free for the next?"

Jane smiled. "I am."

Mr. Bingley offered his arm, and Jane took it. Lady Carlisle nodded in satisfaction as she watched them make their way back to the centre of the ballroom. Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy and was about to speak when Amelia anticipated her.

"A reconciliation at a ball! How romantic!"

Elizabeth jumped a bit. She had not seen Amelia just behind her. The girl moved like a cat.

Mr. Darcy shook his head as Lady Carlisle scolded her niece for eavesdropping, but Amelia was not in the least contrite. She took the lecture in stride and made her way back to their friends, nearly bursting with the news. It could hardly be a surprise to Cordelia or Diana now, Elizabeth thought with a shake of her head. Everyone could see Jane walking to the dance floor on Mr. Bingley's arm.

"Someday you shall have to tell me how Mr. Bingley decided to make these changes," Elizabeth said once they had been left temporarily alone.

Mr. Darcy shook his head. "No, I do not think I ever shall."