Free Mr. Darcy's Promise by Jeanna Ellsworth Page A

Pemberley, “All the servants are so devoted because he is so fair and generous. We almost never have servants leave because they know they could not have a more caring master.” Yes, she could see Darcy being generous and devoted. He seemed to be, if nothing else, a deeply devoted brother. With Georgiana, he seemed to have an intensity about him that made him complex. Perhaps, Elizabeth conceded, even passionate. She thought about the passion he expressed in their conversations about books they had at Netherfield. Yes, she decided, perhaps Mr. Darcy wasn’t as proud as she once thought. At the very least, it seemed he was more complex than haughty and spiteful. And it was only natural, wasn’t it, that he should be more comfortable in front of some more than others? His disdain was evident for Mr. Wickham, though! She laughed out loud in the carriage at the memory of the verbal duel a few days ago. Her attentions were brought back to her family when she caught her father’s watchful gaze.
    Mr. Bennet noted the laugh curiously, but remained silent. The carriage had pulled to a stop and the groomsman opened the door to hand out the ladies. Lydia, of course, scrambled to get out first, and nearly knocked Kitty down in the process. Before Elizabeth left the carriage, Mr. Bennet reached for her arm to slow her progress. Unlike her sisters, he thought, she seemed to demonstrate a strange uneasiness about the ball. When all the others had exited, he turned to Elizabeth and said, “Now dear, do not fret over the evening. There will be many gentleman and officers ready to take a twirl with you.”
    Elizabeth sighed inwardly. She could take her father’s teasing but not this strange sensitivity. In an attempt to lighten not only her own mood, but her father’s as well, she teasingly said, “Now, Papa, I plan on having the night of my life. In fact, I would venture to say it will surely be life-changing!”
    He smiled. “Is that so? Well, do not let me detain you from your fateful evening, my dear. I would hardly want to make you miss your dance with Mr. Darcy!” Mr. Bennet watched Elizabeth’s reaction and sure enough, she blushed. There was surely some attraction towards the man.
    Elizabeth looked shocked and confused. How did her father know about the first dance? “How . . .”
    “Fathers have good eyes and ears, my dear Lizzy. It may seem— and granted it is sometimes true— that I never listen to those around me, but I notice a lot more than I let on. This has served me well in dealing with your mother’s nerves. Now go, enjoy the evening.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.
    She exited the carriage and then turned back to her father. “In that case, Papa, I anticipate a highly entertaining evening for you, as Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy will both be in the same room again, and we know how the last meeting went!” She laughed brightly at him then.
    *****
    Darcy had been watching for the Bennet’s carriage and he was not disappointed, as it was one of the first to arrive. He motioned to Bingley, who was greeting his guests, that the carriage was here. Bingley had asked him to keep an eye out for Miss Bennet. As it served Darcy’s own purpose as well, he didn’t object to performing such a task. It had been four days since he saw Elizabeth, and he was anxious to be in her presence again. He watched as all the Bennets besides Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet filed out of the carriage. He feared she was ill and not coming, but continued to watch with hopeful anticipation that she would indeed step out into the night. Bingley joined him now as the other Bennets made their way to the door. Where was she? He took a step forward, hoping to get a closer look, when she finally made her way to the door. He first saw her pale silvery purple gown when she stepped out of the carriage. Her neckline was rounded but modest, and had a fringe of darker lace at the center that matched the lace around the bodice. She wore