The Falmouth Connection: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Joana Starnes

Author:Joana Starnes [Starnes, Joana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-10-20T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Reluctant as they both were to further distress the women they loved with their unwanted presence, Darcy and Bingley eventually determined that they could not skulk on the terrace for the remainder of the evening so, having donned their masks again, they made their way back into the ballroom.

Unlike all other similar assemblies that they had attended in the past, this time they remained at each other’s side for, unsurprisingly, Bingley was no longer drawn to cavort amongst the dancing couples. To anyone inclined to observe them, they made a strange pair, standing together without speaking, either to each other or to those around them, but it appeared that few, if any, were glancing their way.

It was they who were keenly searching the glittering crowds for a glimpse of the two eldest Bennet sisters. Not for the purpose of approaching them again – that would have been a severe misjudgement – but for the simple reason that neither could do otherwise. Yet they could not be found. Not in the line of dancers. Not with the wallflowers. Not in any of the public rooms on the ground floor, where Lord Trevellyan’s guests were gathered in several small groups to sit, chat, flirt or gossip.

The two remorse-filled gentlemen could only assume that the sisters had found a more secluded spot to speak in private and draw strength from each other’s sympathy and presence – or simply to avoid another encounter. The notion that they would dread their society to such an extent as to hide from sight weighed like molten lead on Darcy’s spirits – and burned likewise – and presumably Bingley was of the same mind, judging by his oppressive silence, so wholly out of character for him.

By the time the supper dance was announced, Darcy felt he could not bear another second of her absence. He would have to endure the torment of seeing Trevellyan escorting her to supper, that he knew full well – and even if his lordship would choose or would be compelled by the rules of precedence to favour another, she would not allow him to escort her in any case. But at least she would have to emerge from wherever she had secluded herself with her eldest sister. Again, his thoughts must have been in tune with Bingley’s, for his friend greeted the announcement with a sigh of relief and a heartfelt “At last!”

Darcy wondered if it had crossed Bingley’s mind that, come supper, when masks would be discarded, they would have to seek the other members of the Bennet party and pay their respects, a prospect which ought to terrify Bingley a great deal more than it used to unsettle him.

For his part, the notion of an encounter with Mrs. Bennet was no longer greeted with mortification. Indeed, what did it matter what the mother chose to say or do? His deep concern extended only to the reception he expected – dreaded – from the daughter.

Finally, the last strains of music rang in the vast room and the dancing couples bowed and curtsied to their partners.

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