Charlotte nodded sagely. “I see. And now you would have me rescue him at the risk of my toes?”
Elizabeth considered how she might persuade her friend. It was for Charlotte’s own good, truly, as well as Mr. Darcy’s. “If you dance a set with him,” she said suddenly, “I will lend you my yellow bonnet.”
“The new one?”
She had caught Charlotte’s attention. Elizabeth nodded.
“No,” Charlotte said slowly, “I know you too well. You would only allow me to wear it in your room for a quarter of an hour.”
“That is not true,” Elizabeth replied with a little laugh. She had done that to Lydia once, but it had been in jest! “One day.”
“All day. This Sunday, to church.”
“Very well. I agree.” Elizabeth smiled and nodded at one of the Miss Longs as she strolled past. “Just be careful you do not step onhistoes.”
Charlotte made a sound something between an incredulous laugh and a grunt. “Just for that piece of impertinence, you must also dance another with Mr. Darcy.”
“I cannot do that,” Elizabeth said with surprise. “It would excite gossip.”
“I will tell my mother that your father insisted you dance with his guest. It will be around town in the twinkling of an eye that there is nothing between you.”
“What if he does not understand or does not wish it?”
“Then I will consider your obligation fulfilled. I trust your sense of honour will not allow you to prevaricate.”
There was little danger that Mr. Darcy would accept her invitation. His scowls tonight had made that plain. Should he actually accept, it would satisfy Jane’s insistence that she dance more. And, in the end, Charlotte would dance again, which Elizabeth was sure would result in additional requests for her friend. “Very well.”
Charlotte frowned. Evidently, she had not thought Elizabeth would accept her conditions. “You are fortunate I adore that bonnet,” she said.
Elizabeth just smiled.
Darcy shook his head. “Miss Mary and I got on well enough together,” he said in a whisper that was more like a hiss, “but what were you thinking with Miss Lucas?”
Miss Elizabeth’s cheeks pinked, which made for a very pretty picture.
No. He would not be deterred. “She stepped on my feet repeatedly. I thought perhaps I was setting my feet wrong, but I was not. I believe she did it on purpose!”
Fitzwilliam appeared at his side with Miss Bennet on his arm. “She did,” he said, “but to her credit, she was enacting a sort of preventive self-defence.”
“She was not,” Darcy declared. He gazed around the room and observed Miss Lucas looking at Miss Elizabeth and placing one finger lightly on the side of her head. “What is she saying to you?” he asked suspiciously, turning back to the woman who had arranged his partner.
“Nothing,” Miss Elizabeth replied weakly.
If they were not in a crowded ballroom, he would get to the heart of the matter in an instant. Miss Elizabeth was a terrible liar, her expression all guilt and unease. Alas, theywerein a crowded ballroom, and he could not press her for answers.
“Come, Darcy,” Fitzwilliam said with a grin, “I do not believe for one moment that she injured you.”
“Do be serious,” Darcy shot back. “I could barely feel her. But twice, the dance required that Imovethe foot she was standing on. I did not wish to launch the young lady across the room!”
Fitzwilliam laughed, Miss Bennet smiled, and then they were gone. Miss Elizabeth would not look at him, so Darcy watched his cousin escort Miss Bennet to her next partner, and then approach Miss Lucas and make a deep bow. She smiled. Darcy cocked his head.
The smile transformed Miss Lucas’s face, making her appear rather pretty. Judging by the startled look on Fitzwilliam’s face, his cousin must agree, for his answering smile was not the bright, winsome thing he used with every woman he met. It was a genuine smile, one that even Darcy did not often see.
When he looked back, Miss Elizabeth was the very picture of smug satisfaction. She must have noted the difference, too.
Darcy sniffed. “I have danced three dances, Miss Elizabeth. Having fulfilled my duty, I shall now retire to the card room.”
He was halfway through his bow when she held out a hand to stop him. “Mr. Darcy, I would hate to have you depart in such a mood. I should have warned you that Charlotte can be rather playful.”