This chapter was written amidst the craziness of the holiday season. I have not even done my usual multi-review proofreading (or even a single proofreading), so I apologize!

Missed one of the parts? Here’s Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and Chapter 4!

 

Chapter 5

When the day of the Christmas assembly dawned, Elizabeth seriously considered whether to spend most of the day in bed, feigning a headache and avoiding the effusions of the exhausting parson who was the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed upon to marry.

Her better judgment soon convinced her to rise, however, for even if she might potentially be forced to dance twice with the detestable Collins, he could not claim all of her sets, and she might as well make merry at Christmas whenever she had the opportunity to do so. She hated the notion that Mr. Collins would expect any of her sets, but she knew she could not refuse him. She only hoped that she might be able to avoid his theft of her first dance.

When Elizabeth entered the drawing-room, she was unsurprised to find Mr. Collins and her mother awaiting her appearance. Thankfully, however, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were also to be found within.

“Miss Elizabeth,” began the simpering voice of the parson, only to be cut off by Mrs. Gardiner.

“Mr. Collins,” said Elizabeth’s dear aunt, “I heard you speaking of the number of chimneys at Rosings Park the other day, but I dare say that I missed some of the details.”

Elizabeth nearly snorted at that—for Mrs. Gardiner to have any interest at all in such a subject was nearly incomprehensible—but she smothered her sudden amusement and gave her aunt a thankful look. Obviously, Mrs. Gardiner meant to divert Mr. Collins’s attention from her favorite niece when she could.

“Surely there are other subjects that we might discuss,” said Mrs. Bennet, her brow furrowed in irritation at this foiling of her plans to facilitate conversation between Mr. Collins and Elizabeth.

“I do not mind at all, madam,” said Mr. Collins with a decidedly greasy smile. “I am in fact rather fond of the topic.”

They spent some time in this manner—with Mrs. Gardiner attempting to forestall the parson’s efforts to address Elizabeth while Mrs. Bennet countered the interference with increasing displeasure.

At last, the arrival of guests from Netherfield brought a welcome relief to those gathered in the drawing-room at Longbourn. A touch of warmth colored Jane’s cheeks at the sight of Mr. Bingley, Kitty and Lydia giggled with each other over the sight of Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Elizabeth found herself strangely pleased at the sight of the third guest: Mr. Darcy.

Save for the absence of Miss Darcy, who was resting in anticipation of the evening’s festivities, the only cloud to darken the brightness of their arrival came in the form of one Caroline Bingley. The woman’s grumpy expression reminded Elizabeth of a wet cat, and she wondered why Miss Bingley even bothered to come at all. Surely she could have concocted some believable excuse about needing to prepare herself for the evening’s assembly.

Yet come she had, and the rest of the party no doubt would be forced to withstand her dour looks the entirety of her time at Longbourn.

“The appearance of neighbors can always bring naught but good cheer,” declaimed Mr. Collins. “Of course, I am rather fortunate in that I may lay claim to the best of neighbors, the most honorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I most vehemently thank our lord and savior for the opportunity to experience her ladyship’s most generous condescension, for it is not often that one is bequeathed with the chance to dine with the most esteemed daughter of an earl.”

“You are quite right, Mr. Collins,” said Mrs. Bennet absently. She then gestured with her hands and a jerk of her head for Mr. Collins to join her across the room for what she no doubt meant to be a private conversation. “Please come here, Mr. Collins, for there is something that I must show you.”

The man hurried to join her, and a hushed discussion them commenced between them.

Seated near Elizabeth, Miss Bingley sneered as she looked at the parson. “I rather think the doings of an earl’s daughter bear scarcely any mentioning when in the actual presence of an illustrious man such as Mr. Darcy.”

She then turned her eyes on Elizabeth. “Of course, a woman unfortunate enough to be in possession of country manners must only be enthralled by tales of dining with an earl’s daughter.”

“I am afraid I do not know what you mean,” said Elizabeth coolly. “Personally, I believe that the personality of a lady or gentleman should hold far more interest to me than the strength of any claimed connections. Rather, I think that there are others among us who value appearance over substance—and who would prefer rising above their circumstances instead of acknowledging their own limitations.”

Before Miss Bingley could unleash a retort, Mr. Darcy, who had maneuvered himself so that he would be close to Elizabeth, spoke. “Miss Elizabeth, I wished to request your first two dances at the assembly if you are not otherwise engaged.”

A shocked stillness ensued in the drawing-room as everyone—save Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet, who remained in private conversation—stared at the gentleman. The man himself seemed stiff and even grim-faced despite his words, but as he shifted in place, a revelation came over the briefly stunned Elizabeth, who finally began to recognize that what some had assumed to be pride might actually be reticence. Perhaps Mr. Darcy did not despise his company so much as the thought of being forced to speak with others when the eyes of so many strangers and brief acquaintances would always be upon him.

What then could it mean that he had taken the opportunity to ask for her first set when an entire roomful of people would be watching him? Could it be that he felt a genuine interest in—nay, attraction toward—Elizabeth?

She might once have scoffed at the idea—and perhaps even shuddered at it—but she had recently begun undergoing a revision of her opinion of Mr. Darcy, and she now found, to her amused surprise, she was not opposed to the notion that the gentleman might be interested in courting her.

With a warm smile meant to soothe any anxiety Mr. Darcy may have felt due to being the center of attention, Elizabeth said: “I would gladly give you my first two dances.”

A giggle and frantic whispers followed this statement, courtesy of Kitty and Lydia, and Miss Bingley, who had turned white with surprise at Mr. Darcy’s question, now turned red with anger.

Mr. Darcy favored Elizabeth with a smile, and she returned her own. The day suddenly seemed a lot brighter.

 

***

 

Longbourn’s guests left shortly after Mr. Bingley entreated Jane to give him the honor of her first set, and before long, the household was enveloped in the flurry that always ensued on the day of an assembly as the level of excitement began to rise and the preparations for attendance began.

Jane encouraged Elizabeth to wear her nicest ballgown, immensely pleased by Mr. Darcy’s desire to dance with her. Elizabeth shrugged off the attention with impertinent comments, but she agreed to don the light blue dress and to allow Jane to fuss over her once her hair had been appropriately styled by the servant.

When the Longbourn party arrived at the assembly, they spent a little time in conversation with other guests. Once it would soon be time for the first set of dances to begin, Elizabeth heard her mother whispering none-too-softly to Mr. Collins: “Mr. Collins, you must go to Lizzy! You must remember to ask for her first set!”

He bowed toward Mrs. Bennet, advising her he would attend to the issue at once, and then he strode the few steps necessary to reach Elizabeth’s side. As for Elizabeth, she was fighting the urge to jump into conversation with the others of their party in an attempt to avoid the parson.

“I would be most honored, Miss Elizabeth,” said the parson, bowing and holding out his hand in an out-of-place and oddly formal gesture, “if you would allow me to serve as your partner for your first two dances.”

Elizabeth, who had not previously realized that her mother and Mr. Collins had truly failed to hear Mr. Darcy make a similar request, took a moment to respond. “I am afraid that is impossible, Mr. Collins, as I am already engaged for my first set.”

“Already engaged?” cried Mrs. Bennet, striding forward. “I do not see how that could be, but regardless, I must demand that you withdraw your acceptance at once.”

“You must know that I cannot,” said Elizabeth firmly, fighting against a flare of anger.

“I believe it would behoove you listen to your most wise mother,” said Mr. Collins, “for she understands much better than you do what is best for your future. You should be dancing the first with your fiancé, not with some other young man who will one day be wholly unconnected with you. After all, once we have wed, we will be living in Hunsford, and you will have no need of any previous connections. Indeed, considering the honor you will feel while under the watch of my most distinguished patroness—”

“Mr. Collins!” said Elizabeth sharply, cutting him off. “At the moment, I do not give two pins for any discussion of your patroness! What you must know is this: I refused your proposal once, and I will do so again. Should I need to refuse your proposal a thousand times before you understand me, I will do it. I shall never marry you, not even if you should suddenly ascend to the position of a duke!”

Mrs. Bennet stared at Elizabeth in shock, and Mr. Collins blinked stupidly at her before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Lizzy, perhaps we should retreat to the other side of the room,” said Mrs. Gardiner, starting to tug at her niece’s arm.

“Lizzy, you must not speak in such a manner to the man who will one day be your husband!” said Mrs. Bennet suddenly as she tried to gain control of the situation.

Mr. Collins, having gathered what little of his wits he had about him, began to speak himself: “I rather think—”

“Miss Elizabeth,” said a deep voice, causing all to turn to look at the approach of a newcomer.

It was Mr. Darcy, and judging by the sternness of his countenance, he had heard at least part of the exchange. “I believe there may be some others making your evening much less pleasant than it should be. The set you promised me shall soon commence—might I steal you away to speak with you for a few minutes before it does?”

Elizabeth could only nod, feeling a little overwhelmed by her circumstances.

Mr. Darcy turned a brittle smile on Mrs. Bennet. “I promise I shall allow no harm to come to your most beloved daughter.”

To Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy gave only a cold look. Then he swept Elizabeth away to a different part of the room, where Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins could only gape at them.

“I must own that I am surprised to be rescued by a charging knight. The two dragons that assailed me seem quite stunned themselves by this turn of events.”

“It has . . . displeased me to witness Mr. Collins’s interest in you,” said the gentleman, his eyes briefly meeting hers before darting away.

“Is that so?” asked Elizabeth, feeling a glimmer of curiosity mixed with amusement.

“Indeed,” said he, clearing his throat. “I suppose now there is no need for me to seek confirmation that you are not—and have no intentions to ever be—engaged to Mr. Collins.”

“Yes, I suppose you might reach such a conclusion from the conversation that you just overheard. Of course, a young lady in my position might wonder why such a thing would be of any interest to a man in your position.”

Any vestiges of shyness or awkwardness disappeared as the man steeled himself and gazed steadily at her. “I find myself thinking of you quite often, Miss Bennet, and the more I see of you, the more convinced I become that such a fool as your cousin could never deserve a woman of your caliber.”

Elizabeth suppressed a smile. “And who might be more deserving?”

“I have come to hope that you might consider me to be deserving of your hand,” said Mr. Darcy. Then he flushed, perhaps realizing how straightforward he was being. “That is, might I lead you to the dance floor?” He held out his hand and gestured with his head toward where the couples were beginning to assemble. “The first set is about to begin.”

Uncertain why her heart was pounding, she agreed, and she let him lead her out to the dance floor.

Elizabeth truly enjoyed herself during their two dances. She refrained from venturing into the more serious territory of courting and instead teased him about his dislike of dancing.

“It is not the dancing that I dislike,” said he, “but rather, the relative lack of control that I have over my partners. There are certain expectations that must be abided by, but that does not mean that those expectations are always enjoyable.”

“I suspect Jane and Mr. Bingley would be in agreement with you,” said Elizabeth, smiling and looking toward the couple in question. “They would no doubt much prefer to remain partnered together the whole evening.”

“Yes, my feelings are similar to those indeed,” said Mr. Darcy, giving Elizabeth a warm smile that caused her heart to flutter most pleasantly.

They continued to enjoy their time together, and when at last Mr. Darcy led Elizabeth from the floor to join her with her sister, she found herself wishing that the evening could end right then, on a pleasant note that filled her heart with song.

Elizabeth fully expected Mr. Collins to sour what had been a sweet evening, but to her grateful surprise, Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Gardiner, and even Colonel Fitzwilliam all seemed to have decided to make it their mission to keep Mr. Collins entertained—and as far away from Elizabeth as they could manage. Mrs. Bennet naturally tried to foil their attempts, but they were more successful than Elizabeth could have imagined. She could not help but wonder why they were trying so assiduously to aid her in this manner—and whether they were working in tandem—but she decided to allow the matter to rest, gratified to escape the parson and instead spend time in the most agreeable contemplation of her rising opinion of Mr. Darcy.