Page 4 of Leave Her Wild
“I will return soon,” Darcy told Miss Bennet and followed his cousin, who spotted others he recognized. Darcy knew their attention to the young woman would assure her success on this evening, and he privately cursed himself for not asking for more than one set, but he wondered if he and the lady would have enough of which to discuss to fill one set, let alone two.
Before the musicians indicated their intentions to begin the music, he had followed his cousin about the room, where he had immediately forgotten more names than a gentlemanin society should. It was not because he thought himself superior, but, rather, on first taking the acquaintance, he learned something of a person. He could recall every detail he or she had shared, barring his or her name. Even so, he had asked for the company of six ladies this evening and had known gratification to be accepted for all.
Finally, he returned for Miss Bennet’s hand, removing her from the company of several adoring admirers and leading her onto the floor where the sets were forming. They began the country dance in silence, but when the set brought them together a second time, he asked, “How long do you expect to be in London, Miss Bennet?”
“Just for a few weeks, sir,” she said so softly, he could barely hear her.
“And do you enjoy London?” he inquired.
“I likely enjoy it more than my sister Elizabeth,” the young woman admitted. “I am generally content with wherever I reside.”
“And you are from Hertfordshire?” Darcy wanted to ask why her sister despised London, but it was important to learn as much as he could of the lady during their one dance together. Darcy had not spent much time in Hertfordshire itself, but he knew enough about Cambridge to know something of the area.
“Yes, the northern part, not near St Albans,” she explained as she danced away from him, while he was required to circle another young woman with whom he made himself acknowledge her with a “good evening” and a compliment on her “lightness of foot,” which appeared to please her.
At length, he and Miss Bennet came together again. “My family home, as your aunt likely informed you, is in Derbyshire.”
“Yes, Aunt Gardiner says it is quite grand,” she said so softly he had to bend his head to hear her properly.
Darcy did not comment on his estate. Few who ever viewed it could present Pemberley with criticism beyond a regret of not owning it themselves.
“And you have family in Hertfordshire?” he asked, still attempting to determine her background. He would not admit it to anyone, especially his Uncle Matlock, who would have him marry into the aristocracy, as did Darcy’s father, Darcy would prefer someone of the gentry.
“Yes. My father has an estate near a small market town known as Meryton,” she replied somewhat stiffly.
Darcy found himself a bit irritated with her lack of details. Did she not understand the conversation during a country dance set was a means to a courtship?
“Have you siblings?” he asked. “I have a younger sister for whom I serve as guardian, along with Colonel Fitzwilliam.” He executed several turns and circled another within their set.
“Sisters,” she replied simply. Did such mean her father’s estate was unentailed or entailed upon another? Whichever was so, it could prove to his advantage, for she would have some understanding of the need to preserve Pemberley with a speedy marriage.
He thought to add a compliment, something that did not come naturally to him. He often thought of such niceties, but did not know whether others might wish to hear them. “Are your sisters as lovely as you?” he managed.
“Naturally, I believe them each superior in more ways than I care to mention,” she said with a slight blush, which told him the girl had been sent to London to find a husband. Well, if such was true, she would know success. She was pretty enough to attract several suitors, and she was the daughter of a gentleman. The music, at last, came to an end, and Darcy returned her to her aunt’s side. He spoke briefly again to Mrs. Gardiner and made arrangements to call upon Miss Bennet on the morrow.
As he turned to walk away to claim his second dance partner, he thought, “Beautiful enough to satisfy a man’s desire. Could be a model of ladylike decorum to Georgiana. Obviously, a simple girl, who is more accustomed to the country than Town life. Not full of the flirtatious manners taught by the ‘managing’ society mamas. I could do worse.” Even so, Darcy would admit, if only to himself, he had always thought to love his own wife with the same intensity as had George Darcy, who had absolutely adored Lady Anne Darcy. So much so, his father essentially grieved himself to death. “Yet, first and foremost, you must save Pemberley.”
At the evening’s end, Darcy had seen Bingley back to his London terrace home—a very respectable newer dwelling, but it was not Mayfair.
Darcy ventured to say before Bingley stepped down, “You chose well in choosing Miss Bennet’s third dance. The minuet provided you more time to discuss a variety of topics.”
“She is quite delightful, you know, Darcy.”
Although he had only been mildly impressed with the young woman, Darcy said, “I found her so as well.” He added, “Did she speak to you about her sister Elizabeth?”
“Quite extensively,” Bingley said. “Miss Bennet also spoke well of her sisters Miss Mary and Miss Katherine, who they called ‘Kitty.’”
Before he could cover up that he knew Miss Bennet had not been so talkative with him, he asked, “No brothers?”
“Apparently not,” Bingley remarked, but with less enthusiastic tones than previously.
“What of the entailment?” Darcy prodded.
“The lady did not say, and, like you, I do possess a gentleman’s education; therefore, I did not ask. I do not see how such is important, though I know others consider it so. MissBennet did not portray herself as an heiress, just simply as a gentleman’s daughter.”
“Absolutely. You are correct. I was simply curious as Mrs. Gardiner is from Lambton. Her father was well liked in the neighborhood. The family lost one of the brothers, who also planned to be a surgeon, like his father,” Darcy explained.
Bingley confided, “The lady mentioned an estate some three miles removed from her father’s which became empty with the passing of its owner. It is available to let, with an option to purchase. I have been looking in Kent and Buckinghamshire, for I will require one with a close proximity to London, but Hertfordshire would not be too far from my business interests in London. Much better than Lincolnshire, where my father chose to live. Miss Bennet says it is a little less than three hours to London by coach. I was thinking I may have my man of business inquire of the property. Netherfield Park is its name. Do you know it?” his friend asked in hopeful tones.
