Page 71 of The Governess of My Heart
He looked at her keenly before he spoke.
“Miss Smith, if you are not otherwise engaged, would you do the honor of dancing with me?” he asked.
Elizabeth was stunned beyond measure as she was in no mood to dance, especially with Darcy.
“I am …I was not… I thank you, yes!” she replied unable to think of a plausible excuse, and Georgiana smiled at them both. For an instant, Darcy thought she would refuse him and was delighted with her acceptance and led Elizabeth to the center of the room.
Elizabeth noticed a few raised eyebrows amongst the crowd as she walked along with him. She caught Lady Martha’s eye and saw no surprise in her countenance.
Why did he ask me to dance with him? What could this mean? He must have done it for his sister’s sake.
When the music started, they joined the rest of the dancers. If at all she was uncomfortable, Elizabeth did not show it. She also caught the surprise look of many young women and noticed that Darcy did not care to look anywhere else and kept his eyes on her face.
On the other hand, Darcy, relished every moment of gazing into her beautiful eyes. He loved her deeply, and he did not hesitate to seek her out. The dance started, and Elizabeth moved along with Darcy, replaying all that had happened between them in the past in her mind.
Something in his eyes unsettled her, and his gaze did something to her. She did not want to accept that he had the power to intimidate her.
“We must have some conversation, Mr. Darcy.”
“What do you suggest we converse about?”
“Well, you could say something about the size of the room, and I could talk about the weather. Then we may stay silent for the rest of the dance.”
“Do you talk by rule while dancing?”
“I do not. But now, circumstances demand it, and we must, for your sister’s sake.”
“I do not have the pleasure of understanding you.”
“Mr. Darcy, if I may speak plainly. I do know the reason you asked me to dance.”
Darcy’s heart skipped a beat.
Does she know?
“And what might that be?” he asked, with a raised eyebrow.
“You thought you were doing me a favor by asking me to dance with you, and that intention comes from your concern for your sister’s happiness.”
Darcy did not understand the meaning of her words, but he could see anger in her beautiful eyes, though her face looked composed.
“You mistake me. I asked you for a dance because I wished to. Why would it even concern Georgiana?”
“Because you thought no one might ask me to dance, and maybe that would upset me. I can understand you did it to please Miss Darcy. I did not intend to dance with you or anyone else. I would not have cared if I was the only woman standing alone this evening without a partner. But you made it impossible for me to refuse you because you asked in the presence of your sister.”
Darcy was not angry with her. His heart was full of love and admiration for her, and he could not understand why she misunderstood him all the time.
However, Elizabeth was fuming inside.
Why would he want to dance with me? Out of all the women in the room?
She had thought this from the moment he had asked her.
“Miss Smith, I do not understand why you think the worst of anything I do.”
“Because I have no reason to believe otherwise. We argued the day we met, later at the bookstore, and I think we both are aware of the fact that only because of your sister do we tolerate each other.”
“Speak only for yourself, madam. You seem to willfully misunderstand my intentions. I do not deny the unfortunate encounter at the cliff and bookstore. I have nothing but regret for my behavior at the bookstore. I should have apologized for it long ago, but you may term it insincere if I do so now. Tobe honest, I did not know you still held it against me. It never occurred to me in the past two months of being acquainted with you,” he cried, fighting hard not to pull her into his arms and pour his feelings.
