Chapter 6

O nce his fury dissipated somewhat, Darcy began to play the words spoken between them through his mind again and again. Thanks to the anger he felt at Miss Elizabeth’s alluding to Wickham towards the end of their dance, it seemed she had fallen under the libertine’s spell. He had not been able to think clearly until now. How could one he had considered intelligent buy the whole cloth Wickham was selling?

Darcy had made for the library and made sure he locked the door. He was positive Miss Bingley had watched the disagreement with glee, If she had noted the direction he had walked, it was certain the harpy would attempt to follow him.

He had to admit he had behaved as less than a gentleman after leaving Miss Elizabeth on the dance floor, and storming off before escorting her back to her friends. Behaving like a gentleman was something for which he had always strived, had he not? It was at that moment the words Miss Elizabeth had first used finally stirred a memory from the deep recesses of his mind. His words at that first assembly Bingley had committed him to attend came flooding back to him. He had said what he had without really seeing the lady, to force Bingley to stop importuning him to dance. In that he had been successful; his friend had returned to Miss Bennet’s smiles and let Darcy be.

But had he needed to slight a lady to achieve his aim? Suddenly his gentlemanlike behaviour did not seem so gentlemanly. He pushed that out of his consciousness and asked himself again how one who was supposedly intelligent could be hoodwinked by Wickham? Surely that was a fatal flaw in her character, one which would allow him to forget her as soon as he left on the morrow?

As he tried to comfort himself with those thoughts, the image of a devastated Giana’s face came into his head. How could he condemn Miss Elizabeth for being beguiled by Wickham when his sister had fallen under the spell of his silver tongue and practiced deception? He could not castigate Miss Elizabeth for believing Wickham when his own sister, a young lady with noble relations, an excellent education, and good principals, had fallen under his sway. Had he not arrived three days earlier than planned, Giana would have been lost to him.

He had excused Giana, blaming himself for employing Mrs Younge without verifying all of her characters, thus absolving his sister because Wickham was a silver tongued devil, and using her youth as an excuse. Darcy also knew that Richard had the right of it when he had said that keeping their ward ignorant of Wickham’s true nature to protect her sensibilities had not helped her.

It was then Darcy realised if he censured Miss Elizabeth for believing Wickham while he excused his sister, it would make him the worst kind of hypocrite.

The next thing he had to consider was whether he should warn Colonel Forster and some of the principal landowners about the snake which was slithering in their midst. He would make sure the merchants were made whole after Wickham left the area, as he had done more times than he cared to remember. More than that he could not allow himself without endangering Giana’s reputation. His conscience screamed that he needed to do something to protect the innocent maidens Wickham would ruin and leave behind him without a second thought. Darcy pushed the thoughts down as he repeated he could not without harming his sister. He toyed with writing to Richard and telling him Wickham was in the militia, but told himself he could not for the same reason he would take no direct action against Wickham.

Thankfully it seemed the shrew had not seen where he had gone, because no one had tried to gain entry to the library while Darcy had been there ruminating.

Before he left, he turned and looked at the two chairs—the one he had sat in, the other had been Miss Elizabeth’s. In hindsight now he saw sitting there for more than a half hour without saying a word was just rude. At the time he told himself he was trying not to raise expectations, but it was not how one who claimed to be a gentleman behaved. He stopped pacing and headed for the doorway; it was time to return to the ball.

Just in case she was lying in wait in the hallway, once he had unlocked the door, Darcy opened it very slowly and surveyed the area outside of the library. Thankfully, other than one footman near the master’s study, there was no one else.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

William Collins had imagined this night would unfold very differently than it had so far. He had clung to the belief that his cousins would be rejected by other men, as soon as they were aware he refused to dance with them, and he would make them jealous by showering his attention on Miss Charlotte Lucas. As far as he could see, his cousins were engaged to dance every set. No one, regardless of how many he had told, seemed to care that he had withdrawn his request to dance with his cousins. How could it be that no one took into account that someone as high as a parson had repudiated the Bennet sisters?

He had been protecting Lady Catherine’s interests, and it had almost led him to forfeit his life. Could it be that his patroness was not always right? The vehement and public denouncement by Mr Darcy of the engagement between himself and Miss de Bourgh, the rose of Kent, could only mean no betrothal existed. If that was true, how was it her Ladyship insisted it did? His attempt at speaking to Mr Darcy had led to his abject humiliation and fear of being called out by the man.

To make matters worse, just because he had attempted to assist his patroness, he had missed the first set with Miss Lucas, so he had not been able to rub his cousins’ noses in their failure to secure him. He was determined he would be ready to show off his excellent dancing skills when he escorted Miss Lucas to the floor for the supper set.

In the end he would have his revenge when his cousin went to his final reward, and then as the new master of Longbourn, he would see the widow and daughters turned out as soon as may be.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“About what did Lizzy and Mr Darcy fight?” Fanny asked when her husband joined her after handing Mary to Johnny Lucas for the second set.

“From what I was able to hear, it was about that Lieutenant Wickham. There is bad blood there, and Lizzy has bought the Lieutenant’s tale hook, line, and sinker. I am very keen to hear from the Gardiners so we can begin to understand more of that man’s character,” Bennet responded. He saw the confused look on his wife’s face. He told her about Gardiner asking Maddie to canvass her friends in Lambton about both Mr Darcy and Lieutenant Wickham.

“Do you think Lizzy will accept the truth if the reports about Mr Wickham are not stellar? She has become his champion, and I know how stubborn she can be,” Fanny mused.

“Until we hear from the Gardiners, we will not know. There is no profit in making assumptions. As far as Lizzy goes, it will not be easy, but she will accept what her aunt writes as Maddie is objective and knows neither man,” Bennet replied. “Now Mrs Bennet, I would like to solicit your hand for the supper and final sets.”

Fanny glowed with pleasure. She could not remember the last time her beloved Thomas had stood up with her for a single dance, never mind two sets.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Her aim had been to needle Mr Darcy, but Elizabeth was not proud of the fact that she had pushed him to lose his temper with her and to disappear from the ballroom. Added to that, the look of disapproval her father had shot her caused her further confusion. In the past he would have laughed with her at Mr Darcy’s folly. She still could not fathom what had changed.

She knew better, so why did she behave so badly where Mr Darcy was concerned? Yes, he had insulted her at the assembly, but he was not the first man who had slighted her in some way. For the most part, like water rolls off a duck’s back, she shed those insults and forgot about them.

If she were completely honest with herself, she had had a visceral and instant attraction to Mr Darcy when he entered the assembly room. It must be the reason why the words spoken by him had affected her the way they had.

The way Mr Darcy had treated Mr Wickham did not sit well with her, but for the first time she allowed herself to hear her conscience, which was telling her she had only heard one side of the story. She was sure that Mr Wickham would be proved to have told the truth, but meanwhile she should not have behaved the way that she did. She conveniently forgot that Mr Wickham’s words about Mr Darcy’s engagement to his cousin had been proved patently false.

Hence for the subsequent sets, she was much quieter and introspective than was her wont when she danced.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Caroline Bingley was enraged. She had been more than pleased with what she had determined was an argument between her Mr Darcy and Miss Eliza. She had seen him storm off the dance floor, leaving the hoyden standing where she had been when the dance ended, and had kept her eyes on the country nobody to see her humiliation as others noted what had occurred.

To her chagrin, Eliza Bennet had walked off the dance floor as if nothing untoward had occurred and rejoined some of her sisters and friends. At least Mr Darcy must be put off by her fine eyes now, thanks to the uncouth woman disagreeing with him in public.

She had been sure Mr Darcy would be somewhere on the perimeter of the ballroom as was his wont at most balls and assemblies, but look as she may, Miss Bingley had not discovered his whereabouts. Two sets had passed and still no Mr Darcy. She had walked around the outside of the dance floor twice, going as far as to enter the male domain of the card room, but the man she was seeking was nowhere to be seen. Even worse was he had yet to ask her to dance. The fact no one other than Charles and Hurst had requested sets from her—her brother the set prior to the supper set and her brother-in-law the one immediately after supper—was beside the point. As long as Mr Darcy asked her to dance some sets, important ones of course, she cared not if she danced with any of the country bumpkins present.

What had angered Miss Bingley so greatly was, first that Miss Eliza and the rest of her sisters, even the one Mrs Bennet called plain, danced each set, and then when Charles came to collect her for their set, there was still no trace of Mr Darcy. How would he be able to request a set when she was dancing with her brother?

Just her luck, Mr Darcy appeared in the ballroom about halfway through the first dance of the set she was sharing with her brother. There was nothing for it now, all she could hope for was that the man would take her supper dances as soon as the current set was over. She would make sure Charles escorted her to where Mr Darcy stood. She watched as the former tradesman who had been knighted approached Mr Darcy.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy stood and observed the goings on from the one side of the dance floor when Sir William Lucas stopped and decided to converse with him.

“I have been most highly gratified indeed, my dear sir. Such very superior dancing is not often seen. Even though you have not joined the dancing since, and only danced the first set, it is evident from the quality of your movement that you belong to the first circles. Allow me to say, however, that your fair partner then did not disgrace you. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you dance often, especially when a certain desirable event shall take place.” With raised eyebrows, Sir William pointedly looked at Miss Bennet, who was dancing with one of his sons, and next at Mr Bingley who was partnering Miss Bingley. “What congratulations will then flow! Mr Darcy, I am sure you will be as joy filled as the rest of us when the happy announcement is made, but let me not disturb your reverie further, Sir. You will not, I am sure, thank me for detaining you from seeking a partner for one of the later sets.”

The latter part of this address by the garrulous knight was scarcely heard by Darcy; but Sir William’s allusion to his friend offering for Miss Bennet seemed to strike him forcibly, and his eyes were directed, with a very serious expression towards Bingley and his younger sister, who were dancing together.

He knew from Bingley that he was to dance the supper and final sets with his latest angel. If the neighbourhood’s expectations had been raised, he would have to observe Miss Bennet, and the way she was with Bingley, with great care.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

As she had planned, Miss Bingley manoeuvred her brother so that they stopped next to Mr Darcy. “Dancing is such a pleasurable activity when one dances with those they truly esteem,” Miss Bingley hinted as she batted her eyelids at Mr Darcy.

“Quite,” was all Darcy replied.

Miss Bingley was not satisfied with the answer, but it did not stop her from trying again. “Your hostess is not engaged for the supper set, and I do not believe you have asked her for a set yet,” Miss Bingley said. She was sure Mr Darcy would refuse to embarrass her and request the set from her.

“Other than dancing with Mrs Hurst after supper, I do not intend to dance again,” Darcy stated. He bowed to his friend and the shrew and walked away.

“Well! I never! How is it Mr Darcy was so very impolite?” Miss Bingley demanded as she stamped a slippered foot. “How could you stand by while he slighted me in that fashion? You said nothing!” she hissed.

“What should I have said? I am sorry my sister is so forward, or would you have had me say something else? Excuse me while I go and collect Miss Bennet.” Bingley left his sister, her mouth hanging open, as he made his way to where the three eldest Bennet sisters and Miss Lucas were standing.

Just as Mr Bingley arrived to collect Miss Bennet, William Collins joined the party. He stood before Miss Lucas and bowed low. “Miss Lucas, this is our set I believe.” Collins proffered her his hand.

He had hoped he would engender jealousy in the Bennet sisters, but he was ignored as each of their partners collected them for the dance. If he had known they felt nothing but disgust for him after he abandoned Charlotte for the first dances with not so much as an apology, he would not have been very sanguine about it.

Thanks to her partner’s inept dancing, after he had stepped on her own feet twice, and turned the wrong way multiple times, Miss Lucas claimed an injury to her foot that necessitated her no longer dancing that evening.

A sullen Collins escorted her from the floor. No one was jealous of him, and he did not miss the snickers directed at him. He left Miss Lucas and stalked off.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Just after the start of the supper set, Bennet heard his youngest two cackling loudly. Lydia was running ahead with an officer’s sabre in her hands, held above her head, and Kitty was merrily skipping behind her. Two officers were giving chase through the middle of the dancers who were trying to enjoy the dance.

While they danced, Bennet looked at his wife who, as she was seeing another example of the truth of her youngest two, and their dangerous behaviour simply said, “Do what you think is right.”

After nodding to her appreciatively, Bennet led his wife from the dance floor so she could sit next to Lady Lucas and some matrons, and went after his daughters.

The two girls led the pursuing officers out onto one of the balconies. Bennet arrived seconds after his daughters and the men who had been after them. Lydia was puckering her lips ready to be kissed.

“Are you two men, or are you boys still in the schoolroom?” Bennet barked. Both officers jumped back as they lost their colour—the Colonel had issued specific orders regarding behaviour in public. Kitty did not know where to look while Lydia looked outraged that her fun was being curtailed. Bennet did not wait for the men to answer. “How old are you? Do you know these two are but sixteen and fourteen years old?”

“I am Lieutenant Pratt, and I am five and twenty, Miller is six and twenty. We did not know how young your daughters…” Pratt closed his mouth when Mr Bennet glared at him, obviously not in the mood to hear excuses.

“Why are you shpoiling my fun? Beshides, I will be frifteen shoon,” Lydia slurred.

As if things were not bad enough, it seemed his youngest was in her cups. “Lydia, if you want to be allowed out of the house before you are one and twenty, I would be as silent as the grave. You too Kitty!” Bennet barked and then relieved his youngest of the sabre, as he glared at the two shamefaced officers. Through her drunken state Lydia was staring at her father with wide eyes. At the same time Kitty had begun to cough, as she did when she was nervous.

“You two, I will not call you gentlemen, let it be known, and I will make sure I communicate this to Colonel Forster, that no militia officer may set his foot on Longbourn’s land ever again. I will also be asking him if the behaviour you two exhibited is acceptable to him. Begone with you!” Bennet commanded after he handed the sabre back to the one who had said his name was Lieutenant Pratt. Both men, looking suitably embarrassed, took their leave.

“Did I not warn you two there would be consequences if you did not behave like ladies?” Bennet growled.

“You meant th-thash?” Lydia hiccupped.

“Indeed, I did. Now you two will walk with me, and you will not say a word, or it will go even worse for you when we get home,” Bennet commanded.

“But the balls ish not e’en halfs over…” Lydia began to wail when Bennet pulled his hand back.

“Say another word until we are home, and I will put you over my knee right here and now!” Bennet barked. Lydia must have not liked the determination she saw in her pater’s eyes because she closed her mouth without another word and nodded. “You two will follow me.”

Bennet led his two youngest along the side of the ballroom and out of it without drawing attention—any more than their atrocious behaviour had already drawn to them. The butler and his footmen retrieved their outerwear and called for the Bennet carriage.

Darcy had watched Mr Bennet go after his daughters and lead a much-subdued pair out of the room. Until then he thought he would never see Mr Bennet check his daughters. It seemed he was wrong about that as well.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

After supper and the exhibiting of some ladies, Bennet arrived back at Netherfield Park during the second set since the ball had resumed. “They are in the nursery. Hill has a footman on duty outside the locked door. We will speak to them on the morrow when our youngest is sober once again,” Bennet told his wife quietly.

At the end of the set, the three eldest Bennet sisters congregated around their parents all with questioning looks.

“Enjoy the rest of the ball, we will speak on the morrow,” Bennet stated firmly.

Jane and Mary nodded and waited for their next partners while, more than anything else, Elizabeth wanted to ask questions, but from the tone of her father’s voice, she understood he would brook no opposition.

When Bennet saw Mr Bingley approach Jane for the third set of the night to collect her for the final dances, he asked the man to join him on the side of the room away from those who could hear them speak. “Mr Bingley, you are not engaged to my eldest daughter, in fact you are not even in an official courtship, are you?”

“No, Sir, I am not,” Bingley responded.

“Perhaps, as you did not grow up in the gentry, you are not aware that one does not dance three sets with the same lady unless, at the very least, they are in an official courtship, or already betrothed. My Jane was too sweet to refuse a third set when there is nothing between you. I, however, do not care to spare your feelings. Hence, you will not dance the final set with Jane. If or when things change between you, then it will not be an issue,” Bennet said so only Bingley could hear.

Bingley’s ears burned red. He had only thought of his own pleasure at dancing with Miss Bennet and not the message his actions would convey. “I-I apologise for n-not thinking. Will you inform Miss Bennet why I have withdrawn from the dance?” Bingley requested.

“I will,” Bennet responded succinctly.

When Bennet explained why he had done what he had done, all four Bennet ladies present understood what had been done and the reason for it. He then led his wife out for the final two dances of the night.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy had observed Mr Bennet speak to Bingley, and Bingley left looking like a puppy who had been kicked. Once all the guests had departed—the Bennets were one of the first to leave—Darcy found a contemplative friend in the study, swirling a snifter of brandy, staring into the amber liquor.

“Bingley, what happened between you and Mr Bennet?” Darcy enquired.

The more Bingley spoke the more surprised Darcy became. There had been no demand for Bingley to act, just an embargo on dancing a third set with Miss Bennet. Could it be that many of his assumptions about the Bennets were wrong?