A Turn in Their Dance Read online

  A Turn in Their Dance

  First Edition

  Copyright © 2019 Linda C. Thompson

  All Rights Reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  For information, please contact:

  Linda C. Thompson Books

  1700 Lynhurst Lane

  Denton, TX 76205

  Cover Design: Lori Whitlock (www.loriwhitlock.com)

  Cover Photo & Graphic Flourish: Depositphotos.com

  Photo By: @nejron

  Flourish By: @PinkPueblo

  ISBN-13: 978-1-7332420-1-1

  ISBN-10: 1-7332420-1-5

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Elizabeth Ann West. Thank you for the guidance, encouragement, and support you gave me as I started down this path to becoming an author. Your friendship has been an added blessing.

  This is also dedicated to the many phenomenal writers I have met along the way. I am in awe of your talents and amazed by your creativity. I also appreciate the other friendships that have developed. I could not have continued down this road without your inspiration and succor. There are too many of you to name, but I hope you know who you are and how much you are admired and appreciated.

  Table of Contents

  Harsh Words Before Understanding

  Miss Bingley’s Anger and Antagonism

  Mr. Darcy’s Offer

  A Visit to Longbourn

  Secrets Shared on Oakham Mount

  A Letter for Miss Darcy

  Shopping in Meryton

  Much to Consider

  A Short Stay at Netherfield

  Care for the Caregiver

  Things are Looking Up

  Two Courtships Begin

  Priming the Parson

  Lizzy in Disguise

  The Truth Comes Out

  Mr. Collins Makes a Fuss

  Thwarting Mr. Collins

  Consequences for the Parson

  Return to Kent

  Meeting Georgiana

  The Netherfield Ball Begins

  Miss Bingley’s Scheme Goes Awry

  Sharing Christmas

  Finding Happily Ever After

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Author Biography

  Other Books by Linda C. Thompson

  Harsh Words Before Understanding

  With the exception of the family patriarch, every member of the Bennet family anxiously anticipated that night’s assembly. As usual, gossip spread that the new resident of Netherfield Park would be in attendance with a large party of friends. The excitement was not limited to the Bennet household but, rather, felt by every eligible young lady in the neighborhood. Many a mother schemed for the best way to present her daughters to the wealthy young man who had recently taken up residence in their quiet country neighborhood.

  The assembly room filled earlier than usual, as no one wished to miss the entrance of the new arrivals. As the clock struck eight o’clock in the evening, the dancing began despite the fact that the Bingley party had yet to make an appearance. The second dance of the set was underway when the turning dancers stopped in their tracks at the sight of the elegantly attired party standing in the doorway. As the music also stuttered to a stop, Sir William Lucas made his way to the entrance to greet the new arrivals. As the only titled gentleman in this part of Hertfordshire, he considered himself the official greeter of all newcomers. He waved to his family members as he passed, gathering them to him for an introduction.

  “Mr. Bingley! Welcome, sir. We are delighted that you and your party could join us tonight.” Sir William’s words were directed toward a handsome young man of above average height whose face exhibited a large smile. He had reddish-blond hair that curled naturally, and his blue eyes shone like the summer sky.

  “Good evening, Sir William. Please allow me to present the others of my party.” Indicating a tall, slender young woman in a garish burnt orange gown with matching feathers in her hair, the man said, “This is my younger sister and hostess, Miss Caroline Bingley. Beside her is my elder sister, Mrs. Louisa Hurst, and her husband, Oliver Hurst.” This time, Mr. Bingley indicated a short, plump woman in a blue gown. Though more pleasing in color, the gown – and its small owner – nearly drowned in frills and furbelows. Her husband appeared to be of a height with the younger woman and exhibited an obvious fondness for his food, as evidenced by the strain on the buttons of his waistcoat.

  Behind the others stood perhaps the tallest and most attractive man Elizabeth Bennet had ever seen. His dark hair curled against his collar and on his brow. He wore black evening attire with a crisp white shirt and cravat. His white vest, shot through with green and silver threads, set off his elegantly-tied cravat in whose folds sat a large emerald stick pin that matched the color of his eyes. To Elizabeth’s disappointment, those eyes stared above the heads of all those present and contained a look of disapproval. “Lastly, allow me to present my dearest friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.”

  The newcomers smiled politely as they were introduced to Sir William’s family. As soon as the introductions were over, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst moved to the side of the room, where they put their heads together and whispered behind their fans. Mr. Hurst made a beeline for the refreshment table. He filled a glass of punch and downed it before filling it a second time. Seeing an empty chair nearby, Mr. Hurst settled in for the evening. Mr. Darcy quietly followed Bingley for several minutes, listening to the introductions but saying almost nothing. They came to a party of six women, two of whom Darcy thought did not look old enough to be out. As he looked over the ladies, he was stunned when he encountered a pair of sparkling brown eyes in a face surrounded by delicate curls. He could not prevent himself from staring at the petite beauty, whose face held a question as she met his eyes.

  Unfortunately, a shrill voice interrupted the moment, expressing the desire to know if Bingley had come intending to dance for the evening.

  “Indeed, I have, Mrs. Bennet. In fact, Miss Bennet, if you are not engaged for the set that is forming, might I have this dance?”

  “Thank you, Mr. Bingley. I should be pleased to dance with you.” The voice that replied to Bingley’s question was soft and silvery. Darcy turned to take in the speaker. What he saw was an extraordinarily beautiful young woman. Her features were delicate and she had the golden blond hair and blue eyes that society currently considered fashionable. She possessed an appearance of serenity that Darcy found lacking as compared to her more vibrant sister. Darcy watched as Bingley led the young woman–Miss Bennet was her name–to the dance floor.

  Darcy was still observing his friend when that annoying voice again spoke. “I hope you have come to dance, Mr. Darcy, as has your friend. Any of my daughters would make you an excellent partner.”

  His natural shyness coming to the fore at the thought of addressing this matchmaking country matriarch, Darcy slipped his protective mask into place. “No thank you, madam, I do not care for dancing.” So saying, Darcy turned on his heel and marched to the nearest corner, where he folded his arms across his chest and stared unseeing at the crowd around him.

  With a feeling of disappointment, Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of the five Bennet daughters, watched him leave. Mr. Darcy was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and his voice when he spoke was deep and well-modulated. However, she found his haughty manners disturbing.

  The evening passed as evenings usually did for the Bennet sisters. With
the exception of Mary, the middle sister, they were all desirable as partners. Unfortunately, fewer gentlemen than usual were in attendance since it was harvest time. The evening was more than half over when Elizabeth found herself seated beside her sister, Mary, without a partner for the current set. Knowing it would do no good to interrupt Mary while she read, Elizabeth watched the dancers as her foot tapped along with the music. During the brief pause between the dances of one set, Mr. Bingley approached his friend.

  “Come, Darcy. I must have you dance. Why do you insist on standing about in this silly fashion?”

  “You know I do not care to dance unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner.”

  “Let me ask Miss Bennet to introduce you to one of her sisters. There is one sitting down just behind us.”

  Unaware that Elizabeth had taken a seat beside her younger sister, Mary, he did not turn to look. “She is not handsome enough to tempt me to dance, Bingley, nor am I in the mood to give consequence to young women who are slighted by other men. Return to your partner and enjoy her smiles.”

  “Is she not the most beautiful angel?” cried Bingley.

  Darcy rolled his eyes.

  “I would not be as fastidious as you for a kingdom. I shall return to my lovely partner and enjoy her company for as long as I may this evening. I do hope you will try harder in the future to make a better impression on my new neighbors than you are doing so far.” With a chuckle, Bingley hurried away to rejoin Jane.

  Though Darcy had not spoken loudly, Elizabeth had heard his harsh words. After Bingley’s departure, Darcy took a step farther from the dance floor, bringing him closer to Elizabeth. Turning to Mary, Elizabeth raised her voice slightly. “I find it surprising that some people think themselves above their company. I always thought the sign of a true gentleman was that he treated everyone he met with respect or at least common courtesy. It is sad that Mr. Bingley’s friend and family do not possess his good manners.”

  The softly spoken words reached Darcy’s ears, causing him to blush deeply. He had not wished to attend the assembly that evening, as his worry for his dear sister, Georgiana, was all-consuming. Darcy recognized that he was not fit for company, but Miss Bingley’s offer to remain at Netherfield with him was to be avoided at all costs. Darcy knew he should apologize, but he would need a moment or two to compose himself and order his thoughts. With that in mind, he skirted the room and made his way through the doors leading to the small balcony at the back of the building.

  Having observed the gentleman’s changing color, Elizabeth felt vindicated for his hurtful remarks. Her spirits improved, she went in search of her friend, Charlotte Lucas, to share her cleverness with the person who, after her sister Jane, was dearest to her.

  While making her way around the room, Elizabeth reached the door to the balcony only to hear a hushed but anguished cry. As she paused to inquire if she could be of assistance, soft words from the darkness barely reached her ears. “Oh, dear sister, my sweet Georgie. How can you ever forgive me? I failed you. It never occurred to me that I would need to protect you from such a thing. To complicate matters, in all my worry, I have made a poor impression on Bingley’s neighbors and insulted a lovely young woman.”

  Elizabeth gasped at the whispered words. The soft sound caused the anguished gentleman to whip around. Turning away would be rude, so Darcy looked down and brought his hand to the bridge of his nose, swiping at his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Then, taking a deep breath, he looked up to meet the gaze of the young woman standing in the open doorway.

  “Miss Elizabeth, please allow me to apologize for my earlier words. I am afraid my mood was not appropriate for an evening out, but I did not wish to disappoint Mr. Bingley. I arrived just this afternoon and am dealing with a family matter that makes me unsuitable for company. Wishing only to stop my friend’s attempts at persuasion, I spoke without thought, not even glancing around to see of whom he spoke.” Knowing he was rambling, Darcy clamped his jaws shut.

  Elizabeth stared for a moment, unsure what to make of the gentleman before her. Mr. Darcy had originally appeared haughty and proud, but the man before her was both humble and seemingly broken. “Though I did not mean to eavesdrop, Mr. Darcy, your resonant voice carried some of what you said to my ears. I can easily understand that your concerns might make you wish for solitude rather than being forced to socialize. I am happy to accept your apology. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance to you or your sister, I hope you will not hesitate to contact me. A burden shared is a burden halved. I can assure you, I will keep your confidence if you need a listening ear.”

  “After my dreadful behavior, I do not deserve your forgiveness or assistance.”

  “Well, you have both. I will leave you to your thoughts, sir. I hope you can resolve the difficulties you are facing.”

  Elizabeth turned to go, but was brought up short by Darcy’s call of, “Please, wait.” She stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. “Might I ask how old your younger sisters are?”

  Elizabeth was surprised by the question but answered without hesitation. “Lydia is five and ten, and Kitty is just seven and ten. May I ask how old your sister is?”

  “Georgiana just turned six and ten. She is more than ten years my junior. I am her guardian, along with my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”

  “Is your cousin also unmarried?”

  Darcy stiffened at her words but nodded.

  “I imagine that raising a young lady presents its challenges for two bachelors.”

  The tension left him as she finished speaking. “That is an understatement. My mother passed away when Georgiana was only two. Though I love my sister dearly and am happy to provide anything that will give her comfort or enjoyment, I am afraid that the experiences and challenges faced by a young woman are completely foreign to me.”

  Elizabeth noticed the music ending and realized they had been alone together for some time. “Mr. Darcy, my offer of support is sincere, but perhaps it is best if we find an equally quiet but more public place in which to speak. In such a small town, it does not take much to stir up gossip. I believe you carry enough to concern you at present and do not need to have the additional burden of being the source of gossip placed on you. I shall enter and make my way to my sister. If you wish to continue our discussion, you might ask Mr. Bingley to introduce us. I am engaged for the next two sets but am then available to dance or to continue our discussion.”

  “That is an excellent suggestion, Miss Elizabeth. I will join you shortly.”

  Miss Bingley’s Anger and Antagonism

  Caroline Bingley’s annoyance with the evening continued to mount. The inhabitants of this backwater village, nothing more than rustics, did not compose the kind of society to which she was accustomed. Even those members of the landed gentry in attendance left much to be desired. Adding to her disgust were the mediocre music and the ladies’ fashions, which were at least two years out of style. To make matters worse, Mr. Darcy had not yet asked her for a dance. Her style and grace would stand out in such a setting, showing the gentleman from Derbyshire that she was an excellent choice for his wife and the mistress of his many homes. Caroline imagined herself filling Darcy House with dinners, musicales, and balls on a weekly basis. Of course, she would have to redecorate it from top to bottom. Though Lady Anne’s lovely taste made for an elegant home, the house did not possess the style Caroline desired. Miss Bingley wanted there to be no doubt about her wealth. Since her years at the exclusive ladies seminary, she had been forced to deal with the snobbery of the ladies whose fathers held titles and land. The Bingley family had made their fortune in trade and Charles, though planning to purchase an estate, did not yet have a country house to call his own. Until he did, the worst of the denigration would continue.

  As a result of the treatment she received from others, Caroline Bingley had developed a superior attitude toward those she considered beneath her. Unfortunately, she failed to
remember that, despite her family’s wealth, many of those upon whom she currently looked down were actually above her in society’s eyes. At that moment, she noted Elizabeth Bennet returning to the room from the balcony. Caroline waited to learn whom the young woman had been meeting. What kind of swain would wish for such an unfashionable young lady for a wife?

  Miss Bingley was in for a shock when, not five minutes later, Mr. Darcy entered the ballroom. Miss Bingley attempted to make her way through the crowd to the French doors where Mr. Darcy stood, but several of the matrons wished to make her acquaintance and learn more about the fashions in town as well as any other news they might garner. With frustration, Caroline observed her prey making his way across the room to the very young lady whose company he had enjoyed while on the balcony. Caroline Bingley watched in horror as the gentleman bowed over Elizabeth Bennet’s hand as her brother introduced them. They continued to converse until a gentleman approached Miss Elizabeth and escorted her to the dance floor. Darcy, recalling Elizabeth’s words on gentlemanly behavior, proceeded to ask Miss Mary Bennet and then Miss Charlotte Lucas to dance. Her eyes nearly popping from her head, she saw Darcy two confirmed wallflowers to dance. Miss Bingley’s horror grew a she watched Mr. Darcy offer his arm and lead Miss Elizabeth to the set that was forming. Both wore smiles as they looked at each other. Mr. Darcy never smiled at her while they danced, nor did he make eye contact, always staring somewhere over her shoulder. Miss Bingley struggled to understand the look that Mr. Darcy bestowed on the young woman before him. It showed both interest and something more that she could not quite decipher.

  Just then, her attention was demanded by Mrs. Bennet, who paused beside Miss Bingley to watch the dancers. “They make a lovely couple, do they not?”