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“Is she a close acquaintance?”

Darcy gave her a look, and once again they were parted. Elizabeth really needed this reprieve. What must he think of my impertinence?

“You amaze me, Miss Elizabeth,” he said when they were united once more.

“Sir?”

“I have long appreciated the liveliness of your mind; however, I am surprised by this particular side of you. Do you talk by rule while you are dancing?”

“Sometimes. I believe one must speak a little, for it would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together. However, if you would prefer silence then I shall do my best to hold my tongue.”

“By all means, feel free to speak to your heart’s content. I would by no means wish to suspend any pleasure of yours.”

Elizabeth made no answer, and they were again silent till they had gone down the dance. It being her turn to say something, she remarked on her enjoyment of balls and assemblies, and she asked him which of the two he preferred.

“I hope you will not be disappointed to learn that I would rather avoid both. Dancing is one particular pastime I am wont to eschew whenever I can help it.”

“But you dance so well,” she exclaimed with energy. “That is to say you are a very accomplished dancer.”

“Accomplished, you say? I do not know that I have ever been described as such—at least not on the dance floor.”

Tiny chill bumps spread over her body at the way he looked at her when speaking those words. Their time at the temple immediately sprang to mind, for it was then that she had seen that same look in his eyes. If she were to live to be a hundred years old, she would never forget that look. Nor would she forget the way her body stirred in its wake.

They were separated once more, and Elizabeth reminded herself to breathe. By the time they reunited, Mr. Darcy’s expression had undergone a decided change.

“Are you happy to be here, Mr. Darcy?”

“I am. Why do you ask such a thing?”

“Your countenance is quite stern.” Indeed, he seemed very much the aloof, taciturn gentleman she had first believed him to be.

“I can only imagine what your thoughts portend. You are probably asking yourself how it is that you find yourself at such an assembly as this,” she said.

“You mistake me, Miss Elizabeth. I assure you that my mind is very agreeably engaged, despite my stern—as you so described it—countenance.” Subtly biting his lip, he added, “How might it be otherwise when I am dancing with you?”

Elizabeth arched her brow a little at this. Her spirits rising to playfulness, she said, “Oh! But you told me you do not like dancing.”

“I trust you will forgive me for saying that, for I believe I spoke too hastily. I am now given to understand that I simply never had the right dance partner; that is to say until now.”

Elizabeth had seen such varying aspects in Mr. Darcy’s character since first laying eyes on him in Kent. At times, she was wont to admit that the gentleman puzzled her exceedingly. One thing was certain, she liked him very much and especially when he flattered her ego so well as he did that evening. Their teasing banter did not abate for the rest of the dance and Elizabeth could hardly wait for their next set.

No sooner was the dance was over than Miss Bingley raced across the room and laced her arm through Mr. Darcy’s. Not wishing for an introduction to Elizabeth, the overly zealous young lady said, “Come, Mr. Darcy, I am desperately in need of refreshment, and I require your assistance to navigate through this throng of merrymakers.”

He gave Elizabeth an apologetic look. “Until our next dance, Miss Elizabeth.”

When Miss Bingley felt she and the gentleman were safe, she said, “Mr. Darcy, if I did not know you so well as I do, I would suppose you were quite taken with your dance partner. I have never known you to be so at ease with a perfect stranger.”

“I posit you do not know me so well as you think, Miss Bingley.”

“Not know you, sir? Surely you mean to tease me. You are my brother’s best friend. I have long considered the two of us as very good—dare I say intimate—friends as well.” Here she paused and batted her eyelashes at him. “I cannot tell you how pleased I was when my brother informed me that you had the ideal country estate in mind for him, and how you would spend time helping him navigate the ins and outs of its management. What an excellent time we shall have, even if Charles is determined to associate with the likes of these people. No doubt, he will extend an invitation to each and every one of them to dine at Netherfield in their turn, and, if I know him at all, he will want to have a ball.”

Darcy said nothing in response to these conjectures.

“I can guess the subject of your reverie, sir. You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in such society. Indeed, you and I are of the same mind, as we often are. The insipidity, the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of these people! What I wouldn’t give to hear your strictures on them!”

Amid Darcy’s continued silence, Miss Bingley cried, “Mr. Darcy?”

“Pardon,” he said, tearing his eyes away from his former dance partner who by now was sitting with her sisters.