Fanny, who appeared about to choke on her own bile at the sight of Kitty being accorded the honor of opening the ball.
'Yes. He seems very much to desire not only Kitty’s approval of himself and his estate, but ours, as well. I never would have thought of Kitty as a settling influence, but I am glad for it.'
'You do approve of him, then? We have spoken of my thinking of him as a brother, but would you also welcome him as such?' He offered Elizabeth his hand, and they joined the couples forming a line on the floor.
'I would. But it is premature for either of us to speak openly of Mr. Dashwood that way when the gentleman himself has not yet declared that intention.' The opening strains of the music sounded. She bent in a curtsy.
'Not yet declared it to whom?'
She jerked to a stand, rapidly assessing him in the few moments the dance’s first figure would allow her to face him. His face was completely impassive, but his eyes held amusement.
'Darcy! Has Mr. Dashwood — '
The steps of the dance forced them apart. She stumbled through the figure, distracted by his cryptic question. Had Mr. Dashwood sought Darcy’s permission to marry Kitty? Had he already proposed to Kitty herself?
Elizabeth nearly bumped into one of her fellow dancers as her gaze ricocheted from Darcy to Harry to Kitty. The dance had brought the latter two back together, but as they faced each other, Elizabeth could detect in their manner no secret understanding.
Darcy at last stood opposite her once more. 'Will you now explain yourself?' she asked.
'Explain what?'
'Are you in Mr. Dashwood’s confidence?'
'I believe so. Why, today he entrusted to me a review of Norland’s accounts.'
'Darcy! You are being deliberately obtuse. Are you in his confidence on more personal subjects?'
The dance parted them again, and Elizabeth was forced to endure shuttered expressions from Darcy as his only response. With growing impatience, she walked through the succeeding figures until they were reunited.
'Do not keep me any longer in suspense,' she said.
Before he could speak, the figure brought Regina Ferrars and her partner directly next to them. 'Mrs. Darcy! Are you enjoying the dance?' Regina puffed with exertion. 'I think there are twenty couple! We’ll be half an hour in this set, at least. Isn’t it splendid?'
Elizabeth met Darcy’s gaze. He crooked his lips in a maddening smile and said not a word.
'Yes — splendid,' she replied.
This was going to be the longest half hour of her life.
When the set at last ended, Harry immediately led Kitty off the floor, through the throng, and out of the ballroom. Elizabeth caught Darcy’s arm and drew him to a quiet corner. 'Tell me,' she demanded.
'I have nothing to tell.'
'Your expression suggests otherwise.'
'Does it? I shall have to work on that.'
'Has Mr. Dashwood spoken to you? Has he proposed?'
'Why would he propose to me? I am a married man.'
'With a more patient wife than you deserve.' She released an exasperated breath. 'Has he proposed to Kitty?'
'I do not know.' He smiled — a real smile this time, not the taunting one he’d borne until now. 'The night is still young.'
She seized upon the intimation. 'He plans to offer tonight?'
'He asked me this afternoon whether I thought your father would approve a match between them. I told him that I believed so, and that he could rely upon my endorsement should Mr. Bennet solicit my opinion. Beyond that, I am not privy to Mr. Dashwood’s intentions.' Something past Elizabeth’s shoulder caught his attention. 'But I suspect your sister is. Here she comes.'
Kitty didn’t walk across the room — she floated, oblivious to the sea of people as she made her way straight for Elizabeth. Mr. Dashwood followed in her wake but became sidetracked by William Middleton. Kitty did not wait for him but pressed on until she reached her sister’s side.
'Lizzy! I have the most wonderful news!' She lowered her voice so that no one but Elizabeth could hear, but she needn’t have spoken at all — her face revealed everything. 'Mr. Dashwood just proposed, and I have accepted him.'
Elizabeth hugged her with genuine joy. 'You will be very happy together, I am certain.'
'He means to go to Longbourn directly he leaves here to ask Papa’s permission in person. I would like to go with him. Will you and Mr. Darcy take me?'
'Of course.'
The evening slipped by in a blur from that moment until supper. The sisters could not talk openly of wedding plans or trousseaus, but they did determine that the distance between Norland and Pemberley was not so very great if one traveled with four horses and fair weather. Mr. Dashwood joined them long enough to receive quiet congratulations from Elizabeth and Darcy, but his duties as a host prevented him from spending as much time in Kitty’s company as he obviously wished.
About an hour before supper, Elizabeth and Darcy left the noisy ballroom in search of a spot where they could indulge in a few minutes’ quiet conversation without fear of being overheard. They wandered into the dining room, where servants were coming in and out as they prepared to serve the meal. The small alcove stood empty except for a large arrangement of spring flowers that emitted a fragrance too lovely to leave.
Elizabeth inhaled deeply. 'Mmm. Do let us linger here a moment.'
They slipped into the alcove and around one side of the table. The nook was unlit, but the dining room’s many candles provided sufficient indirect illumination that they could talk without standing in the dark.
'You are happy,' Darcy said. It was a statement, not a question, for her delight in the betrothal was so evident that she feared her expression would announce the engagement before Mr. Dashwood and Kitty could.
She nodded, grateful for the opportunity to speak freely of her joy for at least a few minutes before returning to the party. 'This is a good match for Kitty.'
'I would not in general consider you a woman prone to matchmaking.'
'Neither would I,' she said. 'I certainly do not share my mother’s belief that any husband is better than no husband. But I truly cannot imagine a superior partner for my sister than Mr. Dashwood.'
'Nor can I.'
'Now you admire your own handiwork. You have helped him become a steadier man, one worthy of my sister.'
'I did no more than offer direction,' he said. 'Mr. Dashwood is his own man. He himself made the transformation, and he could not have done so if he did not wish to. The change would not last.'
'Nevertheless, I thank you for extending him your friendship.'
'You need not. Though you encouraged my initial overtures toward him, it was not long before genuine amity motivated me. Why, I think I now like him quite as well as I do Bingley.'
'We are fortunate in having two such gentlemen as my sisters’ husbands.' Of her third brother-in-law, Mr. Wickham, she omitted mention altogether. Darcy could scarcely tolerate the utterance of his name, and she did not want to allow Lydia’s scapegrace spouse to spoil such a perfect evening.
'Does Kitty’s betrothal mean we can leave London without finishing the season? Or do you wish to stay until the bitter end?'
Elizabeth recalled her conversation with Georgiana at the pianoforte. One engagement was enough for their family this season. 'I believe once Kitty’s wedding clothes are ordered, our business in town is finished. I imagine, however, that Kitty might wish to remain in London longer so as to see Mr. Dash-wood regularly.'
'I thought you might say that. Very well. Though I had hoped to take you back to Pemberley soon.'
'Pemberley?' she asked in a light tone. 'Why ever would I want to return to Pemberley now that you have immersed me in the glittering society of the
Darcy lowered his voice. 'I am a selfish man, remember? I do not want to share you with the
She glanced quickly toward the arched entrance to the alcove, suddenly quite conscious that no one could
