Pirates and Prejudice by Louise Kara

Author:Louise, Kara [Louise, Kara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heartworks Publications
Published: 2013-05-25T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Darcy determinedly took the steps down and walked towards Elizabeth. He felt the same rush of excitement and silly boyhood anticipation he had felt when he first asked her to dance at the Netherfield Ball. This was quite different, however. That time, he had felt that Elizabeth knowing who he was had been in his favour. This time he had in his favour that she did not.

He came up to her and gave a quick bow.

“May I have… ’ave the pleasure of the next dance, Miss Bennet?”

Elizabeth turned to him with a look of surprise. He half expected a lively retort, but she was silent for a moment.

“Thank you. I… I should like that very much,” she said.

Darcy bowed and claimed her hand. His fingers enclosed about hers, giving them a gentle squeeze as they took their places in the set. Jenkins began to play a slow, rhythmic tune, allowing the couples to walk and turn with each other, providing ample time for conversation. Darcy, however, could not conjure up one thing to say. It was enough to enjoy her sparkling eyes, ready smile, and radiant face.

“Do you not talk as a rule while dancing, Captain?”

Darcy started, observing her expression as she spoke these words. He searched her face, wondering whether she had any recollection of him asking her a very similar question when they danced at Netherfield. He wondered whether she knew that the man dancing with her now was the one who had danced with her then.

“’Tis the purpose of the dance, I suppose, to git a little more acquainted wi’ yer partner.”

“I am quite glad you feel that way, as I must admit I have found you a most perplexing character to sketch.”

Darcy raised a single brow as they parted for a few movements. When they came back together, he continued, “So ye are a studier of character, are ye? An’ why is mine so perplexin’?”

“For one, you are a very peculiar pirate! I am hard pressed to know what to make of you!” A smile touched the corners of her mouth.

“Well, ye know I’m not a pirate,” he said softly.

Elizabeth laughed. “So you say, but you chose to impersonate one. I find that peculiar, indeed!”

“I ’ad not planned to do it; it jest ’appened. As there was an apparent similarity in our looks, I agreed to it.”

“Oh, yes, I noticed the similarity,” Elizabeth said as they parted again. She walked around the couple beside them, and she came back to stand across from Darcy while that couple walked around them. When they stepped closer, she said, “In your appearance, I will concur, but that was the extent of it.”

“An’ what do ye mean by that?”

Elizabeth looked up into his face, as if searching for something. “Your manner of speaking, while at times is in the way of the commonest man, at other times hints of refinement and education. You occasionally exhibit mannerisms of a well-bred gentleman, as well. It puzzles me exceedingly!”

He took her hand as they promenaded down the line.

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