“Sir William is introducing him to his wife and a lady I presume is his daughter.” He smiled. “Your father is there with Miss Bennet. You have missed your chance to be introduced.”
She chuckled. “No matter. I am sure Mr. Bingley will be enamoured of Jane. All the men are.”
He made no response, but Elizabeth did not notice.
Not all the men, Darcy thought.
It almost made him wish he was not assuming the mantle of a great estate, though of course that was nonsense. He would not be at Longbourn at all if he were not. There was just so much to be done. He could not very well marry and then all but ignore his wife for the first few years of their marriage. By the time he had spent the season in London and took part in the planting and harvest at Pemberley, Miss Elizabeth would either have forgotten all about him or married someone else. Alas, such things could not be forced. Darcy resolved to enjoy this brief sojourn in Hertfordshire for what it was: a pleasant interlude at the beginning of his new life.
“Mr. Darcy,” Miss Elizabeth asked, motioning to the slowly clearing crowd nearest the entrance. “Is Jane speaking with Mr. Bingley?”
She was, if the slender, fashionably attired young man was Mr. Bingley. “I presume so.”
Miss Elizabeth tipped her head to one side and lifted herself up on her toes. She placed one hand lightly on his arm to maintain her balance. “He is the blond one?”
Darcy almost inquired whether she would like him to lift her up so that she would have a better view. His lips curled up as he considered her probable response.
“You would know as well as I,” he replied instead. “The older man by the punch bowl is more likely to be the married one. The man your sister is engaging in conversation could not be much older than she is herself.” He chuckled. “Mr. Bingley is not one to mask his admiration.”
“Dear Jane,” Miss Elizabeth said with what Darcy heard as genuine affection. “The men do flock to her. They always have.” She lowered her heels to the floor and removed her hand from his arm. Darcy nearly placed his hand over Miss Elizabeth’s to keep hers there.
“I am surprised, then,” Darcy offered, clasping both hands behind his back, “that she is not yet wed.”
“The men may all like Jane, but that does not mean she cares for them,” was Miss Elizabeth’s immediate reply. “And it is not as though there are so very many to choose from here.”
The musicians, distracted by the Netherfield party’s entrance, warmed up for the next dance, and Miss Elizabeth smiled.
“He is leading Charlotte out,” she murmured happily.
Darcy approved. Mr. Bingley was acting the gentleman. Now so must he. He gazed at his feet and willed them to do as they had practiced. When he looked up, Miss Elizabeth was smiling at him. It was a soft smile. Very becoming.
“Are you issuing orders, sir?” she asked quietly.
He decided to play along. “Yes, although it remains to be seen whether they shall follow. Unruly fellows.”
Her laugh was clear, but only loud enough for him to hear.
“Come, you,” she said as the music began. She held out her hand, and he took it.
Chapter Five
“No,”Charlottesaidresolutely.“I withdraw my request. I saw how you had to mince steps and glide out of his way.” She glanced about and bent her head. “His feet are enormous. I do not wish to be injured.”
“You are a brilliant dancer, Charlotte, so light on your feet,” Elizabeth wheedled. “Why not benefit from Mr. Bingley’s attention? You know other men will ask you to dance if your hand has been requested bytwowealthy gentlemen.”
Charlotte smiled and shook her head. “You know very well Mr. Bingley was only being polite. I was asked for half the second set. He asked Jane for the entirety of the third.”
“That does not negate the opportunity,” Elizabeth replied. She detested this need of women without an independent fortune to find a husband or face dependence and destitution, but she had seen enough of the world to understand it. At least Charlotte would enjoy the assembly, if nothing else, and Mr. Darcy would have danced with at least one woman who was not a Bennet. Certainly that would release him from further obligations this evening and also allow Elizabeth to sit out the remaining dances.
As she waited for Charlotte to change her mind, Elizabeth observed the dancers. This dance was slower than the previous one had been, and Mary had agreed to partner Mr. Darcy for it. Her younger sister was more concerned with her own steps than with Mr. Darcy’s, and he was being endearingly careful with her.
“I am interested,” Charlotte continued, “to know how he managed to convince you to dance, Eliza, when you have never danced at an assembly with a young man.”
“Other than your brother.”
“That was not at an assembly.”
“This was not a dance, Charlotte,” Elizabeth replied stoutly. “Mr. Darcy required a rescue.”