Pride and Proposals by Victoria Kincaid

Author:Victoria Kincaid [Kincaid, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: austen whatif, jane austen variation, darcy and elizabeth, Jane Austen, pride and prejudice variation, austensque, austen variation, mr darcy, jaff, jane austen fan fiction
ISBN: 9780991668113
Published: 2015-05-12T04:00:00+00:00

***

He was pathetic. Darcy had dozens of details to address and many guests he was obligated to greet. He must placate his aunt and uncle while ensuring that Georgiana was reasonably happy and not overwhelmed. He was performing most of these tasks at least adequately.

And yet some part of his mind still managed to follow Elizabeth’s whereabouts in the enormous ballroom and catalogue in painful detail the names and attractiveness of her every dance partner. No matter where she was in the vast, crowded room, he somehow knew her location every minute.

Unfortunately, after dancing with him and Lord Kirkwood, Elizabeth had become quite popular as a partner. And naturally, all her partners would be enchanted by her wit and vivacity. They would be thoroughly charmed and would form plans to court her. Who would not want to marry her? If Darcy had foreseen this eventuality, he might not have postponed the pleasure of a set with her until later in the evening. Or perhaps he could have locked her in a sitting room.

Damnation! If only propriety allowed him to dance more than two sets with her! He would dance his feet raw just to keep those vultures away. Not that dancing with Elizabeth was ever a chore.

Surely these predators would know that she was still grieving, despite her clothing. Did they not recognize she would never love another man? Did they have no respect for his cousin?

Darcy pulled on his stiffly starched cravat; the damn thing was choking him. Thank God the night was nearly at an end. The whole event had been exhausting, and he was heartily sick of smiling at people he barely recognized.

The current set was drawing to completion. Darcy could now claim Elizabeth as his partner. His entire body tingled with anticipation, longing for the moment when he could again touch her.

Elizabeth had barely departed the dance floor with her current partner, a second or third son of a duke who had been friendly with Richard, when Darcy intercepted them.

A little startled at his sudden appearance, Elizabeth nonetheless performed introductions perfectly. Darcy gave the other man a stiff nod and a perfunctory glance. Elizabeth was his for only a brief time; he would not waste it speaking with a total stranger. Taking her hand, he hastily led her away from her previous dance partner and onto the dance floor.

Once they arrived at the edge of the dance floor, however, Darcy realized his mistake. The musicians were playing the opening bars of a waltz!

How could he have forgotten? His aunt had insisted on a waltz as the next-to-last dance. This new style of dance was becoming fashionable and was considered somewhat daring. Of course, it was incumbent on the earl and countess to demonstrate they were at the forefront of every style.

However, the waltz—with its placement of hands on other’s bodies— was considered too intimate for unmarried couples to perform. Georgiana would sit it out, and naturally, Darcy had planned to avoid it as well, but he would then lose his opportunity to dance with Elizabeth.

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