Every Possible Amends by Jann Rowland

Author:Jann Rowland [Rowland, Jann]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: One Good Sonnet Publishing
Published: 2022-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

By the time Mr. Darcy applied for her hand, Elizabeth had assumed he did not mean to dance with her that evening. It was thus with great surprise and pleasure she accepted and stood across from him in the line on the floor, waiting for the music to begin. The gentleman, she noted, regarded her with his typical seriousness, a gaze that both disconcerted and thrilled her.

As the strains for the opening lines of the dance soared through the air, Elizabeth stepped forward, accepting Mr. Darcy’s hand and moving about him, her gaze captivated by his. The gentleman appeared to be equally intent upon her, for he did not look away, nor did he seem to blink through the frankness of his regard. They moved and twirled and pivoted, making their way down the line with the other dancers, caught in their private world in which those about them and even the world itself faded away into insignificance. For Elizabeth, other than Mr. Darcy’s deep blue eyes, nothing else existed.

“I apologize, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth after perhaps ten minutes of dancing without a word passing between them.

The gentleman seemed to catch something of her understated humor, for he quirked an eyebrow. “For what have you need to apologize?”

“It appears I have provoked you to do something you detest, both with my sister and now with me.” Elizabeth shared an impish smile with him. “I should never have presumed to push you to engage in that which you do not find agreeable.”

“Do you suppose you can force me to do anything I do not wish to do?”

“Have I not? You are dancing with me when you have avowed you detest the activity.”

Mr. Darcy released a bark of laughter and regarded her through eyes diverted and tender. “There is an important piece of the puzzle you are still missing, Miss Elizabeth.”

This time it was Elizabeth’s turn to regard him with an arch look. “Oh? Will you not enlighten me, sir?”

“I have not the slightest objection. You see, it is true I have never liked to dance. Yet, when I dance with a partner with whom I am well acquainted, who can speak intelligently and without obsequious nothings, I find it a pleasing exercise.”

“Ah,” said Elizabeth, as if he had just made the most profound statement she had ever heard. “Then that is why you found dancing with Miss Bingley to be an irresistible lure! By that account, you must find Mrs. Hurst equally pleasing, though I would caution you to remember the woman is already married.”

It was a bit of daring, a statement that might have drawn eyes to her had she said it loud enough to be overheard. Mr. Darcy stifled his laughter, though she could see the merriment dancing in his eyes.

“No, Miss Elizabeth. My dances with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley were nothing more than an obligation—I am staying here at their brother’s invitation.”

“Miss Bingley would be most disappointed to hear it, Mr. Darcy.”

This time the gentleman laughed openly, though quietly.

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