Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 3 by Jennifer Lang

Author:Jennifer Lang [Lang, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2016-01-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Elizabeth made an effort to enjoy herself in Buxton. It had been very good of her aunt and uncle to invite her on their tour and she did not want to spoil it for them by being downcast. So she made a point of going everywhere, even if she did not want to, and she found that by doing so she gradually made herself happier.

The shops in Buxton were excellent and she bought presents for all her family. She bought a shawl for Jane, a book of music for Mary and fans for Lydia and Kitty. She admired the splendid crescent of houses, which had been modelled on the Royal Crescent in Bath, or so the guide book informed her. She drank the waters, which were so awful she screwed her face up in disgust, much to the amusement of her aunt and uncle. She went for long, invigorating walks on the moors and she attended concerts and balls.

It was at one such ball, held at the assembly rooms, that she found herself introduced to a handsome young man by the name of George Wickham. The Master of Ceremonies performed the introduction and then Mr Wickham asked her to dance. He was polite and charming, with a good figure and a handsome face and Elizabeth accepted his hand. They went out on to the floor and they were followed by many eyes, for they made an attractive couple. Mr Wickham bowed with a casual elegance that was very becoming, and Elizabeth curtseyed.

For the first time since her disastrous visit to Pemberley, she did not have to pretend to be enjoying herself, because she was actually doing so. Her grace and charm won admiring glances as she performed the dance, for there was an energy about her steps that the other dancers lacked. Mr Wickham was a good partner. He did not step on her toes, as some of the other gentlemen had done, nor did he bore her with dry conversation, nor yet irritate her with fatuous remarks. He proved himself to be intelligent and well informed and the dance passed very quickly.

After the dance was over, he led her to the side of the floor and made agreeable conversation with her aunt and uncle. At last he left her, but not without arranging to dance with her again later in the evening.

‘I must say, he was an agreeable fellow,’ said Mr Gardiner.

‘Yes, he was,’ said Mrs Gardiner, with a thoughtful glance at Elizabeth. ‘He seemed to find you very charming.’

‘I beg you will not refine too much upon it,’ said Elizabeth. ‘He asked me to dance, that is all, and he is now dancing with an equally charming young lady.’

Mrs Gardiner smiled.

‘It is good to hear you teasing us again, Lizzy,’ she said. ‘I have been sorry to see you so spiritless since leaving Pemberley, but I believe you have at last recovered.’

‘Yes, aunt,’ said Elizabeth dutifully.

But the truth of the matter was that she had still not recovered from her time there.

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