Page 13 of One Good Sonnet

“Am I so forgettable then?” Miss Bennet’s tone was challenging.

“No one with any sense would attribute that word to you. I told myself you would still be there when I returned, that you would understand and forgive me. I was wrong. Not only had you departed with your aunt and uncle, but I made no effort to find you. By then, more than three months had passed. It was foolish, I know, to believe you would stay there for that long.”

“I am sorry about your father.” Miss Bennet laid a hand on his arm. “I wondered for many years what was wrong with me. You were not the last man to behave in such a manner.”

“There is nothing the matter with you,” Darcy protested. “It is the men—we are all fools, in truth, and need the women in our life to bring sense to the chaos.”

“I am thankful to know. Is your father still…”

Darcy hung his head. “He died two years after that. I began running the estate soon after his first apoplexy. My life has been one of duty ever since.”

“Then you would not have been ready for a wife, regardless. Can you imagine me, a fifteen-year-old girl, acting as mistress to such a vast estate?” Miss Bennet chuckled.

“I have no doubt you would have risen to the challenge.”

“You are mistaking me for Lizzy. In truth, I would have withered away from the uncertainty and responsibility. May we agree to be friends? It is not lying on my part to admit that whatever we might have felt in the past exists no longer.”

Darcy nodded. “At risk of offending you, I believe what I felt then was mere infatuation for a beautiful young lady.”

“I came to the same conclusion long ago. Knowing what love truly is has helped bring that into perspective.”

She loves Bingley. His friend was fortunate…and if Darcy was the same, perhaps he might inspire such feelings in the second Bennet sister. Perhaps his fascination with her might blossom into something more.

“May I escort you to the ballroom?” he asked, offering Miss Bennet his arm.

“Yes. Lizzy will be looking for me. She is very protective.” Miss Bennet shook her head lightly. “She has taken on the role of my champion over the years.”

“Am I in some danger, then?” Darcy had likely hurt Miss Bennet more than she had revealed.

“I should hope not. She has drawn her own conclusions, for I have not revealed the exact nature of our past to her.”

“I should have attempted to locate you. I fear that would have been fruitless, for I thought you were from Herefordshire, not Hertfordshire.”

“You would have searched in vain then.”

They entered the ballroom, which was now about half filled with guests. Darcy saw Miss Elizabeth standing next to her mother and father. When the lady saw Miss Bennet on his arm, her brow furrowed, and she frowned.

“Forgive me for my absence,” Miss Bennet said as they approached her family. “That shoe rose took more fixing than I thought.”

Miss Elizabeth’s skepticism informed Darcy that she did not believe a word of her sister’s excuse.

Darcy took the opportunity to secure a set from each of the sisters—he had already asked Miss Elizabeth for one, but they settled on the supper set.

“I had best seek out my hostess and her sister,” he said regretfully. He did not like being obliged to offer either Bingley sister one of his sets, but out of respect for his friend, he would.

“Perhaps my Lizzy can introduce you to a few other ladies,” Mrs. Bennet said. “There are far too few gentlemen, and there are so many required to sit out.”

“That sounds delightful, Mrs. Bennet.” It sounded absolutely terrible, and Miss Elizabeth looked at him askance—she must have recalled his words about disliking the activity. That cheered Darcy, for it showed she had been truly invested in their discourse.

Darcy did not stand up for the first set, instead asking Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst for the second and third, respectively. Instead, he watched Bingley and Miss Bennet.

It was obvious that they cared for each other. Miss Bennet’s glances were warm, and her eyes shone as she watched Bingley. His friend, likewise, could not take his eyes off the handsome woman.

Gradually, Darcy began watching Miss Elizabeth. She stood up with a local man whom he had not been introduced to. She was lively and conversive, and her partner equally so.

He had no cause to be jealous, but he was. Darcy wished to converse with her himself. Their acquaintance was fleeting, and he longed to further it.

Bingley introduced Darcy to his neighbors between sets. Darcy found them to be a pleasant lot, despite their country manners. In truth, he liked such people better than those in town. There was less duplicitousness, less posturing…everyone’s behavior was genuine.