Page 30 of First Impressions
“Why? What did he do?” Beth asked determined to get to the bottom of this. When it was clear Anne couldn’t, or wouldn’t answer her, she continued, “Why should I trust you if you can’t tell me what he has done?”
“It’s not my place to say,” Anne stuttered meekly, unprepared for a confrontation as her face turned red.
“I see. Well, I have no reason not to trust George, who has been open about himself from the moment I met him. Your date, on the other hand, from whom I assume this warning is coming, I do not know because he refuses to open up to anyone. What I do know is that George was promised a job by his dying father, a promise your date refused to honor. So, until I’m presented with alternative information please inform Mr. Intolerable that I’m perfectly capable of handling myself and that the only person this discussion leaves me not trusting is him.” Trying to ignore the shocked and stricken expression on Anne’s face, Beth turned and left the bathroom. She felt bad for persecuting the messenger but Darcy wasn’t the only one whose emotions were barely contained and bolstered by her five glasses of wine.
Chapter Twenty
How darehe send his girlfriend to warn her about George? She was pissed and at least if she stayed angry, she wasn’t tempted to cry. With her back straight, she headed toward her table, making sure to smile at George as she passed by him and Lydia, hoping that Darcy was watching.
She approached the table from behind Darcy, so she wouldn’t have to see him. While she had thought it would be a good idea to sit between her mother and Mrs. DeBourgh, so that she could filter her mother’s words, she now realized it meant that she was placed directly across from Mr. Darcy and would be looking at him the entire night. She took her seat as the Caesar salads were being served, greeting Mrs. DeBourgh and her mother again.He was watching her.She felt his gaze on her as her body tingled all over. Glancing up, she was right; he was completely unaware of the food in front of him, he was just staring at her with a mix of frustration, confusion, and concern; she, on the other hand, hoped he could see the anger and irritation in her eyes.
Beth saw Mrs. DeBourgh stop eating and begin to look back and forth between Darcy and her, consternation growing on her face. A moment before she began to speak, Anne arrived back at the table, her face still flushed from Beth’s confrontation; her presence broke Darcy’s trace. He pulled out her chair for her and gave her a comforting smile. It was the only time Beth had seen him smile and it hurt.Focus on the anger.At least his show of warmth to Anne had distracted Mrs. DeBourgh enough from being curious about her and Darcy; she watched him and Anne with a knowing smile on her face as if everything was going according to her plan. Beth looked down at her food, struggling to tolerate half the people at this table.
When she looked back up, she saw Jane looking at her with concern, trying her best to still pay attention to Charles as he talked to her. Beth gave her a small smile and began to chat with their mother, determined to ignore the three guests to herleft. Mrs. Bennet had no end of topics to chat about, something that Beth never thought she would count among her blessings.
By the time dinner was served, Mrs. DeBourgh, apparently pleased with the direction the conversation between Anne and Darcy was going, decided to leave them to themselves and join in chatting with Beth and her mom.
“Mrs. Bennet, this is quite a lovely party. I appreciate your thinking to invite us.”She must be really pleased.
“Oh my, yes of course. Thank you. It’s just a little something we like to do every year.” Her mother became very flustered and flattered at the compliment from such a famous person. “Beth, here, actually does most of the planning for it.”Thanks, mom.
“Ahh, I didn’t know that. Well, very well done. Perhaps I should hire you to plan the events for me as well as publicize them.”Yeah, plan them and make sure to invite Mr. Darcy.
“Yes, she’s very good. Hopefully, we can put her talents to good use planning a wedding soon!” Mrs. Bennet let out gleefully, as she glanced suggestively to Jane and Charles. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut about that.
“You don’t say? I hadn’t heard that Charles was seeing your daughter,” Mrs. DeBourgh remarked, clearly waiting for her to divulge more details.
“Oh yes, for some time now.”Less than a month.“But you can just see how head over heels he is about her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he proposed tonight!” Mrs. Bennet said with a laugh. For all her enthusiasm, she wasn’t wrong. Charles was definitely in love with Jane and he didn’t seem like the type of person to let go of something that he really wanted.
“Well, they do make a lovely couple. Almost as lovely as my Anne and Mr. Darcy, but that’s a mother’s bias speaking.”
Beth choked on her water, drawing stares from most of the table. Putting her hand up to indicate that she was fine, she mouthed “wrong pipe” and quickly shoved some mashed potatoes in her mouth. Darcy continued to stare at her with concern; she didn’t know if he had heard what Anne’s motherhad said about him or not. Mrs. DeBourgh stared at her curiously and then looked over at Darcy.
Thankfully, Beth’s mom wasn’t ready to let go of the subject and continued, “Yes well a mother’s love. I’m just so happy that my Jane found somebody. And as soon as that is settled, it will be Beth’s turn.” She beamed at her daughter. It was definitely one of the low points of the night for Beth. She managed a quick smile and nod as a response, not trusting herself to say anything as she finished eating.
As dinner died down, the jazz band came on and started playing some lively songs to get everyone out on the dance floor. Charles and Jane headed out immediately. Beth saw Lydia and Wickham out there as well before the floor started to get really full. As she watched, she caught sight of Char and Bill Collins together -what the hell?!She was definitely going to have to ask her about that tomorrow; they even seemed to be having a good time. Beth finished her sixth glass of wine; now that she had eaten, she concluded she would definitely need more alcohol to make it to the end of the night.
“Mr. Darcy, why don’t you and Anne go out and dance? Anne would really enjoy it,” Mrs. DeBourgh suggested, even though it came out more like a command. He stared at her for a moment and then held out his hand to Anne with a smile.
He doesn’t like to dance. Anne must be worth his time then; she must be a little more than barely tolerable.
Beth needed a stronger drink; she stood up abruptly from the table and turned to walk towards the bar, not wanting to see them dance together. Determined not to look at the dance floor, Beth chatted with the bartender as he made her a Jameson and ginger ale, and then struck up a conversation with Mr. Lucas who had come to refill his and his wife’s wine glasses. The alcohol was starting to numb her again; she didn’t feel anything and didn’t realize that Darcy had watched her the entire time he was dancing with Anne.
When the music transitioned to a slower song, Beth decided it was time to head to the ladies’ room to avoid being propositioned. As she finished the last sip of her drink, she felt a hand on the small of her back and realized that it was toolate. She motioned to the bartender for another drink, knowing she would need it.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough to drink?” His deep voice was like whiskey - deliciously smooth, but burning with reproach.
Her lips thinned in frustration as she turned to face him. “I will be the judge of that, thank you very much. Why don’t you go back to dancing now that you’ve found a date who is ‘worth your time’?” She knew it was the alcohol talking, but she didn’t care anymore.
His eyes narrowed at her barb, his jaw muscles clenching; relaxing his face, he looked at her with what she could have sworn was sadness in his eyes.
“Dance with me.”
She laughed. Of course, it was a command, not a request. Before she could even think about how to refuse him, she was spared from the attempt.
“Miss Beth,” George walked up from behind Darcy with a gorgeous smile on his face and his hand outstretched, “I believe you promised to save me a dance and I’ve come to collect.”
She smiled back at him and then looking directly at Darcy she responded, “Well I would certainly never break a promise to you.”
