Page 59 of Master of Himself

“I’m afraid they have returned to town to attend another event,” Darcy said, as they had earlier agreed.

“Ah yes, the holiday season is nearly upon us,” he said with a knowing glint.

Having conquered their first obstacle, they pressed on through the crowd, greeting neighbours as they passed. At long last, they reached the Bennet sisters, who were speaking with Miss Lucas and Mr Denny. After exchanging the usual greetings with the group, Jane exchanged quizzical glances with Elizabeth.

“How delightful to see you here tonight, Mr Bingley,” she said. “From Caroline’s letter this morning, I understood that the entire party had returned to town.”

Darcy’s eyes flared with indignation, but he quickly recovered. “No, indeed, Miss Bennet. My sisters were invited to another event in town and are most eager for the holiday party season to begin.”

Charles silently cursed his sister for writing that letter, and forcing Darcy to invent a feasible excuse for his sister’s misleading tale. Thank goodness Sir William had provided additional inspiration.

Caroline had probably written her missive assuming that she would have no trouble convincing him and Darcy to leave Netherfield. Unfortunately, there was no telling what other falsehoods she had included in that message. He and Darcy would have to be even more cautious this evening.

Charles nodded to Darcy, prompting him to speak.

“Miss Bennet, are you free for the first set?” Darcy inquired, much to Charles’s satisfaction.

As luck would have it, she was free and accepted Darcy’s request. While writing Charles’s name on her dance card, Darcy also asked after the fifth set and was again accepted.

Everything was proceeding according to their plan. Jane would have two dances with Charles’s doppelganger. While he might not have the privilege of dancing with her twice, she would know that he favoured her, which was more to the point.

As they had planned, Charles returned the favour to Darcy by claiming a set with Miss Elizabeth. Still, he refused to deny himself the pleasure of dancing with Jane and requested the honour of leading her in the second set. When she accepted, he reluctantly wrote F. DARCY on her dance card. After applying to Miss Lucas for the first set, he also scribbled Darcy’s name on her card.

Darcy also claimed a set with Miss Elizabeth, and the evening was off to a splendid start. As with the previous assembly, the hall was crowded and excitement was high. When the master of ceremonies announced the first dance, Charles claimed Miss Lucas’s hand and led her to the set that was forming.

When the music began, he led his partner through the steps. He enjoyed the dance with this lively lady, but even better was the sight of Miss Bennet enjoying his twin’s company.

Although Darcy had stood in for him, she believed she was dancing with Charles and was enjoying his company. Nothing else mattered.

At least that’s what he attempted to tell himself, but if he were being honest, he couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous of his friend. Darcy even managed to smile as he held her hand. He knew his friend hated to dance but, to his credit, he put on a good show. It was the least Darcy could do after putting them both in an untenable predicament. Thankfully, the dance was too lively and the crowd was too noisy to carry on a conversation, so he need not worry that Darcy would say something he ought not.

Nor could Charles converse with his own partner. Perhaps it was just as well.

When the second set was called, he claimed Jane as his partner. Once the music began, he finally took her hand. It had been a month since he’d had the pleasure of holding his angel’s hand. She smiled, as she usually did, but it was more of a polite smile, not the one she had offered his twin.

Although desolate, he maintained a pleasant façade. As he led her down the dance, he wondered why the gods had chosen that night to crush his spirit.

***

Darcy thanked the gods for the deafening roar of the rowdy crowd. He wouldn’t be required to converse with his partners that evening. He had managed the first two sets without embarrassing himself or Charles. Neither Miss Bennet nor Miss Lucas had shown any indication that something was amiss. Better still, other than Jane’s mama, no matchmaking mothers had the slightest interest in him. He could only assume that Mrs Bennet had claimed Bingley for her daughter, and all others had ceded to her. Darcy was free to talk to anyone he desired without invoking fluttering lashes and longing glances.

How refreshing.

To his dismay, Elizabeth’s set with Mr Collins had been nothing short of a disaster. The blundering fool had stomped through the entire set, frequently colliding with the other dancers and losing his place. He had no possible excuse for embarrassing his partner with such clumsiness.

Fortunately, Elizabeth need not fear that Darcy would disappoint her. Despite his distaste for the exercise, he was well versed in every modern dance. Knowing this would be his only opportunity to speak with her, he went in search of her and found her at the refreshment table, sipping punch with Miss Lucas.

“Well, Mr Bingley, how are you enjoying the evening?” Elizabeth inquired, her eyes twinkling merrily.

“I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed an assembly more than this one.”

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in surprise. “That’s high praise, indeed.”

“It seems that the entire neighbourhood is in attendance tonight,” he said, scanning the crowded hall.

“Yes, but you may have noticed the absence of one militia officer,” Elizabeth said with a glint in her eye.

Knowing to whom she referred, he glanced around at the abundance of red coats, but none were worn by Wickham. “What a shame. I daresay he is missing a grand event.”