William’s anger increased with her challenge and he spat out, “You are only a hoyden who will never marry. What do you know about love and attraction and seeing someone as they are? Is not love blind? I want to marry her, Lizzy! What are you to me that you have to choose my wife for me?”
Lizzy’s eyes were moist with unshed tears at his harsh words. “I only wished to be a friend to you, Will. I thought... I...” She wiped her eyes quickly. “When I was playing hide-and-seek with Georgiana the day of your accident, I was in the drawing room the entire time Miss Bingley and Mr. Bingley were there. I heard them speak in private and although I believe Mr. Bingley is innocent, Miss Bingley faked her injury so she could gain sympathy from you. Her ankle was not injured at all and she told her brother about how she had heard of Pemberley and your father’s 10,000 a year, long before meeting you, and how she had wished to capture you for a husband. Of course, she will succeed with your undying love for her and I will only wish you the best of your eternal love. She will be perfect for you, Will. Grace, beauty, and wealth. That’s what you wanted, isn’t?” She ran off without another word.
William covered his face with his hands and rubbed them as he thought of Lizzy’s words for several moments. He was ashamed of his cruel words to the charming girl who had been always truthful with him. He had enjoyed spending time with Lizzy more than any other friends, even his own family, because of her innocence and sweetness, mixed with archness and wit in her manner. He looked at his hand and saw the small scar on his palm where he had made his blood-oath with Lizzy under their tree on Oakham Mount.
He was now mortified with his behaviour and gulped down the rest of his drink and placed the glass back on the table. He groaned and began to walk towards Lizzy’s rooms to apologise, when he heard his mother call out.
“William, we will be the last ones to arrive if we do not depart now. Let us go.” Lady Anne commanded. “By the time the ball ends, it will be morning and you might sleep the entire day!”
William turned and walked his mother to the foyer where his father was already waiting. They donned their coats and entered the carriage to attend one of the most prominent parties of the season.
~*~
Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne greeted the hosts with broad smiles as Mr. Grantley shook Mr. Darcy’s hand. “It is a pleasure to have you here. We have been listening to all the gossips of how the ladies are eager to dance with young Mr. Darcy, and I hope you will all enjoy the evening.” Mr. Grantley declared. “The first set will be starting shortly.”
“My Eleanor has been so popular this evening, her dance card is completely full. It is going to be a wonderful ball, I can tell already!” Mrs. Grantley added. “Thank you so much for coming.”
William rolled his eyes as he saw the many eyes trained on him. He sighed, as he realised that Lizzy had been right once again with ladies ready to fawn over him and he was prepared to scowl at everyone tonight.
Having no intention to make conversation and be amiable tonight, he walked to the drink table and reached for the punch. It was always obvious which punch bowl had more liquor in them, as certain gentlemen stood near to one over the others, and he gulped a large amount down and walked the vicinity with another glass.
He saw Miss Bingley and Miss Grantley conversing with several young ladies. Miss Bingley was definitively over-dressed in comparison to the young lady for whom this ball was held, and he now questioned himself, if his perception of the pretty woman from the carriage accident had been valid. After the incident, Miss Bingley had barked at her brother several times but then had softened when speaking with himself. He noticed that Miss Bingley was fluttering her lashes and smiling coyly at every eligible bachelor who came near her and it suddenly dawned upon him that she had done the same to him.
William began to observe her from the shadows more attentively now, as she walked from one side of the room to the other where her sister had been standing. There was no limp nor any indication of a previous injury and there was no resting of her legs for the past quarter hour while she had been standing the entire time. As the strings of the first set began to play, he noticed Miss Bingley’s air in her manner was all wrong and that she appeared to look down on all of the other ladies as she danced with her father. Even to Miss Grantley, who was the belle of this ball, she appeared to sneer at her friend and laugh at her when Miss Grantley’s father made a small error on the dance step.
After watching her for the first three sets, William saw that Miss Bingley did not have a partner for the fourth set and she took a seat on the side of the ballroom. He walked towards her and bowed as she immediately stood up to greet him.
“Mr. Darcy! You have come to my rescue once again. I did not have a partner for this set and you have come to save me.” She prattled. “How kind of you, sir, to be my knight in shining armour.”
William could barely hold in a growl as he replied, “I apologise, Miss Bingley. I seem to have injured my ankle and will not
