“You speak about the house almost as if it were a person!” She was laughing now.
“In this situation I believe the comparison is apt. It is, after all, a very personal decision.” Darcy felt lighter than he had in a long time. She was teasing him again!
“Yes, very personal.” Her eyes were shining and he basked in her approval.
As they danced, Elizabeth felt the warmth of Mr. Darcy’s gaze on her. She had forgotten how intense his stares could be. Before the proposal she had believed he watched her with disapproval; now that she knew his gaze was filled with desire, she was uncomfortable for a different reason. Naturally she was flattered, but the warmth of his desire alone was not enough to recommend him.
With relief she noted that he appeared as willing as she to pretend the proposal had never taken place. Still, she recalled his saying that his good opinion, once lost, was lost forever. Was it possible that his good opinion of her had survived the accusations she had hurled at him? She found it hard to credit that idea; it was far more likely that he was simply showing how he had overcome his previous regard for her. Recalling his confession of a resentful temperament, she had often envisioned him nursing his resentment.
Their conversation soon turned to their travels and the sights each had seen or hoped to see. Elizabeth allowed herself to relax slightly and began to enjoy herself. All too soon, the dance was over. As he led her from the dance floor, Darcy asked, “Colonel Fitzwilliam is here. Would you like to see him?”
“Yes! Very much.”
Darcy tried to quell an uprising of jealousy in his breast at her enthusiastic response. He reminded himself that Richard could not afford to marry a woman with no fortune – nor would he pursue someo
ne for whom Darcy had expressed an attachment; however, if she harbored tender feelings for his cousin, all would be lost.
They collected the Gardiners and made their way slowly through the crush of people. Darcy’s superior height allowed him to spy his cousin; when they came upon him he was still immersed in political discussions with his friends. His back was to them and he was making some point with an energetic wave of his arm when Darcy drew up beside him. “I encountered someone of your acquaintance, Cousin.”
“Indeed?” Richard turned and his jaw dropped open at the sight of Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet!”
“Colonel, it is a pleasure to see you again. May I introduce my uncle and aunt: Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner?”
After the introductions had been effected, Darcy and Fitzwilliam offered to collect drinks for the thirsty revelers. Darcy had been relieved to see that Elizabeth had shown no more than polite pleasure at Fitzwilliam’s presence. As they moved toward the refreshments, Richard shook his head at Darcy. “You are a very lucky man. You have another chance.”
Darcy grasped his cousin’s meaning, but said: “I am not certain it is another chance.”
“You had better seize it or I will personally throttle you.” Richard said with a growl in his voice.
“That hardly seems a throttling offence,” Darcy countered, smiling.
“I am serious,” Richard turned on his cousin with a sober expression on his face. “Do not squander this opportunity or I will never endure your drunken self-pity again.”
“If I squander this opportunity, I will never forgive myself.” Darcy looked back to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth through the milling throngs of people. “But I do not know if she will grant me another chance. Back in London if I had truly believed she would forgive me, I would have traveled to Hertfordshire immediately. Her presence in Paris does not mean she is willing to excuse my transgressions.”
“But you do plan to pursue her again?” Richard followed Darcy’s gaze.
“Yes. I must. I have no choice.” Darcy ran his fingers through his hair and tried to quell the edge of bitterness in his tone. “But I have no idea how to go about it. I believed she liked me before when she despised me. How am I supposed to gauge how she responds to me now?”
“Perhaps you should give it up. It seems a hopeless case.” Richard watched closely as his cousin responded to this sally.
“No!” Darcy’s answer was immediate and vehement.
“’Twould be the rational thing to do,” Richard suggested with the air of someone playing devil’s advocate.
“Rationality has never played much of a role in my feelings for Eliz – Miss Bennett.” He shook his head. “No, I must attempt it. I knew that the moment I saw her here.” He paused, searching for words. “She already haunts my dreams…invades my every thought…I cannot be in the same city and not attempt to change her opinion of me.”
Richard was silent for a moment, shaking his head. “I do not believe I have ever seen you like this…so agitated and unsure of yourself. You are totally lost.”
Darcy’s voice was a harsh whisper. “Yes, I know.” As he turned to go, Richard caught his arm.
“May I make a suggestion?” Richard asked. “You need to court her.”
“Court her? How?”
Richard shook his head in exasperation. “You are too accustomed to women throwing themselves at you.”
“Miss Bennet does not—”