Chances Come, Ney Mitch [snow like ashes series TXT] 📗

His eyes stayed warm when he beheld us, he bowed and greeted us gently.

“Three sisters, and each as lovely as the next one. I am honored that you came to my home.”

“The honor is all ours,” I responded. “Unless we prove to be the most taciturn guests that there are, and lead to us not only being not an honor to come, but also being a dishonor to you.”

Sir Aleck chuckled.

“You found wit in that moment,” he remarked.

“Hopefully, it shall find me in the next.”

“Ah.” He stole a glance at Darcy. Between the two of them, I saw how there was a hidden communication between them. “Ah.”

Next, he turned to Jane, but she said nothing, for she had been looking around.

“Miss Bennet, are you looking for someone?”

“Yes—yes.” Jane’s voice faltered. “Forgive me. It is just that we feel a little unequal in party for my tastes. I was told that Mr. Darcy’s cousin was coming, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and we had not seen him yet. I suppose, in a wish for us to see him, I have forgotten my manners.”

Sir Aleck gave her a knowing grin.

“Ah.”

Since we had been holding up the line of guests, we decided to move along. However, we had not taken more than two steps when Kitty accidentally tripped on the hem of her gown and stumbled. With incredible reflexes, Sir Aleck caught her arm and held her. All around her turned and faced her, then I felt a significant subtle snickering around us. Instinctively, I closed my eyes briefly, embarrassed for what Kitty was feeling. Yet, despite my better nature, I felt ashamed for I worried how this would make Mr. Darcy appear. It was shaming enough that he had three women with him who were not among the London ton to begin with. Now, we were a mockery. Yet, this self-loathing of our situation was not to last, and neither was I to remain ashamed of my own foolish sentiments. For within the rise and fall of those past seconds, there was a rise and fall of actions and reactions.

“Took a tumble, I see,” Sir Aleck replied smoothly.

Kitty blushed, embarrassed. “Yes, I suppose it is my own fault.”

“You can blame the dressmaker.”

“Oh, but she is a genius!” Kitty professed. “No, it is my own fault, because when I entered, I despised myself for the fear I had of falling down. Because I told myself that I would fall, now I have. What a terrible way to begin the evening. And I have held up the line already. Forgive me.”

“Well, did you tell yourself that you would be terrible at dancing this evening?” he asked her, holding up the line himself.

“No, I would never,” Kitty said. “Dancing is the only accomplishment that I go to with all my courage for there, my courage rises with every attempt to make me fall, and I do not fall.”

“Then prove it. Accept my offer to request your hand for the first set, and I shall believe it.”

“You wish to dance with me?”

“Indeed.”

“I shall accept. And I shall not fall.”

“I am counting on your courage. Darcy, look after my first dance partner for the evening. I do not wish to be companionless.”

Darcy took Kitty’s arm and led her away. As he did so, Kitty’s cheeks were red, and she waited till we were on the other side of the room.

“Did you see that?” she whispered to us, excited. “He requested my hand. He saved me from mortification! Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy, your friend is a kind one. He saved me.”

“Yes, he is,” Darcy responded, his eyes twinkling. “I knew that he would like you all.”

“Oh, that is more than mere kindness,” Kitty stressed, “that is chivalry. Nothing is worse than shame nowadays. My father told me that there was once a time where a bit of humiliation led to uniqueness to a person’s character, but nowadays, it leads to the death of reputation. Another man would have let me sink into shame. He saved me.”

“Kitty, you are overstimulated,” Jane said. “You must calm yourself.”

“Sorry, I am just… I am overwhelmed, I suppose.”

“It is well,” Georgiana responded. “Your feelings of gratitude actually make sense. Sir Aleck is a noble man. It takes time to not become excited by such candor.”

“I hope that I never get used to his candor,” Kitty extoled. “I want to always be surprised by his goodness.”

“Kitty,” I whispered, taking her hand. “You really must try to be calm. I do not want you to make a spectacle of yourself at this time.”

“I promise, I will not. Just, for a moment, I wanted to speak the truth. Why can I not speak the truth when I am around you all? After all, are we not family?”

I suddenly realized we all appeared to look upon her very coldly.

“As long as you promise not to display these feelings to anyone but us,” I said, “and meet Sir Aleck with gentle happiness, then yes, you can speak about this with us. I will not censure your eagerness now.”

“Thank you! Yes, yes. I do believe I have my courage now.”

“Darcy!” We heard a familiar voice call to us. We turned and Colonel Fitzwilliam was coming towards us, dressed in his regimentals.

“Richard,” Georgiana said, her voice warm with recognition.

When he reached us, he bowed.

“You all look positively beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Jane responded. “Is this the first time that we see you in regimentals?”

“Yes, I believe that it is.”

“You wear the uniform with great honor.”

“And figure,” Kitty responded. “For when the militia were stationed in Meryton at home, I met many a soldier, and they did not do the uniform as much justice.”

He gave them a lopsided smile. “I feel handsome myself now.”

“Ladies and their love for the uniform,” Darcy whispered to me. “You may offer your compliments to him as well.”

“I have never needed a uniform to find a man handsome,” I informed him. He smiled at this, and I took that as a good sign.

“And I was wondering,” Colonel Fitzwilliam requested,