Page 25 of Most Truly the Gentleman

Mr Darcy stopped before them then, bowing and greeting them both. “Miss Elizabeth, I hope I have not approached too late to secure a set with you?”

This application she could not but find utterly charming, for half those invited had not yet arrived. “Only my third has been claimed, sir. You may have any other.”

“The second, then, if it suits you.” She agreed readily, and he turned to Charlotte. “Dare I hope you might have a set available for me as well, Miss Lucas?”

“I do, sir. You may take your pick.”

They settled on the third set, and after a few moments’ discussion of the decorations enlivening the already handsome room, he went away.

“Two dances claimed already, Eliza! Well done,” Charlotte teased.

“Do not be hasty with your congratulations. The third has been secured by my cousin, and I do not have great hopes of finding him adept at the art. He reserved Mary’s first,” she added significantly, “and then the rest of us in order of precedence, though now he shall have to find a new partner for the fifth, if he means to dance it.”

Charlotte frowned and glanced about the room. “I had not noticed that Lydia was not with you. And where is your mother?”

She drew Charlotte off then into a far corner where they would not be overheard, and related to her the events of the past few days as they concerned her youngest sister and a certain scoundrel. Her friend shook her head and tutted over the girl’s heedless disregard for her father’s edicts and her own reputation, and praised Mr Bennet for putting his foot down. Elizabeth agreed, though to Charlotte alone would she confess that she feared his resolve might not last as long as the militia’s residence in the area.

They left their corner to be sociable and were speaking with Miss Long, Miss Harrington, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, positively resplendent in his full uniform, when the dancing commenced. At the head of the line, Jane and Mr Bingley were utterly radiant as they moved into the first figure, while next to them, Miss Bingley seemed rather less pleased to be opening the evening with Charlotte’s brother.

Halfway through the first dance of the set, there was a commotion farther down the line when Mr Collins turned the wrong way, and only the quick reflexes of several other dancers prevented a great collision. The confusion was made worse when he stopped to apologise profusely. Mary, cheeks red, persuaded him to rejoin the figure and delay his amends until the pause between dances.

“Viewed in a certain light, it is brave of him to take to the floor at all,” Charlotte remarked.

Elizabeth was torn between amusement and sympathy as she watched her sister attempt to direct Mr Collins through the dance. He often stepped forwards when he should have stepped back, or made to turn left when he ought to go right, only to reverse course at a word from his partner. She looked away from the floor when the first dance ended, not wishing for a further glimpse into what awaited her, though judging by the expressions of repressed hilarity upon the faces of Charlotte and the colonel, who watched the second dance of the set, he did not improve much if at all.

When the second set began to form, Mr Darcy arrived to collect her. She ignored the looks of amazement from her neighbours and was privately grateful that her mother was not present. What she might have said, and at what volume, was best not imagined. They spoke of commonplaces as they moved through the steps—the quality of the musicians, the number of couples engaged in the dance—until Elizabeth thought to introduce a more serious topic.

“Mr Bingley, when he visited us last week, mentioned that you and your cousin were to visit Colonel Forster with proof of a certain person’s debts. We have been confined by the rain since and have heard nothing more; I hope you do not mind if I ask how your meeting went?”

He appeared briefly uncomfortable, but answered readily enough, “Forster gave no hint that he disbelieved what he was told about Wickham previously, but proof must always be welcome, and he was glad to have it. He has been watching his newest officer closely, and vowed to continue to do so. However, Wickham will not much longer be resident in the area, I am happy to say.”

“I am pleased to hear it, but you must know that I will not be satisfied with such a vague statement,” she replied with a teasing imitation of sternness.

He smiled, and she was forcefully reminded that Mr Darcy was a very handsome man. “I never expected that you would be, though I did think to provoke you by ending my declaration there. But I shall leave you in suspense no longer. Mr Wickham has concluded that his best chance of a fresh start in life lies outside England’s shores. He wishes to join a regiment of Regulars who are bound for India early in the new year, and it may surprise you to know that there are still those among his acquaintance willing to assist him to a commission.”

The dance separated them for a few seconds, and when they were face to face again, she said thoughtfully, “No, I find I am not at all surprised. I can very well imagine that someone who knows him well might be eager to see him settled in a post half the world away. Two people, perhaps, a man of means to provide the funds, and one with military contacts to see him placed where he may be properly supervised?” She saw from his astonishment, quickly masked, that she had hit squarely upon the truth.

“It would be preferable,” he replied carefully, “if little were generally known save that he has accepted a commission in the Regulars.”

“I know nothing for certain,” she smilingly replied. “I have merely indulged in a bit of speculation, and I am perfectly willing to keep my notions to myself on this particular subject henceforth.”

“Thank you. Now that he is to leave England, we both feel it best that his connexion to our family be allowed to fade from the public memory. Did you know that Bingley leaves for town tomorrow, to attend to some business?”

“My sister mentioned something of it.”

“We will go with him and make the arrangements. I hope Wickham will be away from here and training with his new regiment in a fortnight.”

“That would be a great relief,” Elizabeth replied, thinking not only of her silly youngest sister, but of all the others who might in time let their guard down with the scoundrel, if he remained in the area and exercised his charm. She could not forget how plausible he had seemed even when she had been forewarned. Some, she knew, would conclude that he had reformed purely on the basis of pretty manners and easy speech.

“But enough of that odious man,” she declared. “Will you see your sister while you are in town, or is she at your estate?”

“She is in town with Fitzwilliam’s family, and though we intend to be there only a few days, I do hope to see her often.”

They spoke of the joys and trials of having younger sisters and then of a subject dear to both their hearts: books. Elizabeth was aware of the looks they were attracting, as the reserved gentleman smiled and even laughed, though she paid them little mind. Her neighbours might be as astonished as they liked, and Miss Bingley as angry. She felt that she might have never before enjoyed a dance so much as this one, and she would not spoil it for herself by caring what others thought.

At the conclusion of the set, Mr Darcy escorted her to her father, who was standing with Jane and Mr Collins and Charlotte Lucas. “Well, Lizzy, are you having a good time?” Mr Bennet asked.

She replied that she was, and with a nod, his fatherly duty done, he turned to Mr Darcy to ask if he had seen a particular column in Friday’s Times. Mr Collins was eager to be told that Lady Catherine’s nephew was an excellent dancer and tried Elizabeth on the subject for some time. Though she had nothing but praise for the gentleman’s ability to navigate the steps, he seemed dissatisfied with her response.