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

have been astounding. I felt for her in that instant. Bingley, on the other hand, was overjoyed and displayed it without reservation or awkwardness.

“Miss Bennet,” Mr. Bingley began, his face all aglow, “Miss Elizabeth, Miss Kitty, and Miss Georgiana, I cannot tell you how delightful it is to see you all once more. The surprise that I feel in this instant is overwhelming, for Darcy has just informed me that you have been staying at his townhouse for quite some time.”

“We have been there for a fortnight, sir,” I answered, “and it is a pleasure to see you all once more.”

“It has truly been too long since I have had the pleasure of seeing you. Yet, I can see that you are well.”

“We are very well, sir,” Kitty added.

“Mr. Darcy also was manifold in his surprises,” Jane added, finding her voice, “for he had not informed us that you and your company were attending as well.”

“I confess that I wished for it to be a surprise on both sides,” Mr. Darcy admitted. “Very seldom do I have the pleasure of offering surprises. Therefore, I wished to savor the moment.”

“You are full of surprises yourself today, sir,” Caroline Bingley voiced. “No matter! Jane, it is so lovely to see you again. You are in the very best of looks.”

“Thank you, Miss Bingley. Your gown is most exquisite. And Mrs. Hurst, you are two of the loveliest sisters here.”

“Oh, our looks do not compare to the ones that are set by yours and Miss Darcy here,” Mrs. Hurst continued, looking at us. “Miss Elizabeth and Miss Kitty, this is the loveliest that you have ever looked. It is a surprise to see you all, indeed.”

“I echo such sentiments,” Mr. Bingley replied, looking at Jane, overwhelmed. “Darcy, you never mentioned a word of this at all.”

“For some reason, I was curious to see what your reactions would be,” Mr. Darcy explained, “and it had been most amusing now.”

Mr. Bingley was clearly amused. “This sort of behavior is something I never would have taken you for. I am quite diverted, and I could not be more overjoyed by it. Now that there are such friends to be met, I feel as if this ball shall be the greatest one of the season.”

“Of course, it shall be,” Sir Aleck responded, passing by us as he overheard what we said, “for it is Christmastime, and I am the one who gave it. Now, Darcy, acquaint your lovely ladies with my one rule, and then I shall return to collect what is my due.”

Sir Aleck continued to walk past us to speak with some gentlemen who were sitting down.

“You must excuse Sir Aleck’s ways,” Colonel Fitzwilliam explained. “He is not an overbearing man or a tyrant. He is actually quite the best conversationalist in the place, and you will admire him. He just prefers to start relationships with people from the middle rather than starting from the very beginning.”

“What is the one rule?” I asked. “What could he mean?”

“His rule of dancing with women that he just made the acquaintance of,” Mr. Darcy answered my question. “He shall expect you to hold one particular set aside for him to dance with you.”

“Well,” Kitty said, “that is a rule that I do not feel oppressed under. I do so wonder if he would be willing to hold me for the second set, or am I presumptuous in thinking he has not already secured a woman’s hand for that?”

“With Sir Aleck,” Mr. Bingley answered, “never presume anything. What dances are you already set down for?”

“I am to dance with Sir Aleck for the first set, and the Colonel for the fourth set.”

“Then might I require your hand for the fifth?”

“You may,” Kitty giggled.

“Then simply inform Sir Aleck that you are engaged for those sets and he shall manage himself around them. He is quite flexible in that way.”

“Good.”

“And Miss Kitty, you have helped me to determine how I wish to spend the evening myself, for I am also in want of partners.” Now he turned to Jane. “Miss Bennet, if I am not being presumptuous, might I request your hand for the first two dances?”

“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” Jane responded, a little breathy, “yet, my hand has already had the good fortune to be secured by the Colonel.”

Mr. Bingley immediately turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam, who bowed his head to Bingley, diplomatically.

“Sir,” Colonel Fitzwilliam began, “our minds rested in the same place, I see, for when it comes to a choice of partner. I could not resist the pleasure of dancing a couple of sets with the lovely Miss Bennet, for it seemed like too great of a pleasure to miss.”

Both men looked at each other, and of course I already knew that the Colonel was aware of Bingley’s feelings for Jane. Yet, within Mr. Bingley’s eyes, I could discern keenness, an ability to discern the situation. He eyed Colonel Fitzwilliam with a suspicion that was too marked to be mistaken.

Mr. Bingley knew that the Colonel loved Jane! I wished that I was seeing things incorrectly; however, I did not believe myself to be mistaken in this. Out of a desire to know all, I had a great anticipation for my first dance with Mr. Darcy. I wished to speak with him on it, and I knew that he would tell me the truth. He always preferred to get to the heart of the matter.

“Well,” Mr. Bingley replied, smoothly, “then, might I be so bold to request your hand, Miss Bennet, for the third and fourth set?”

I raised my brows. For Mr. Bingley to secure Jane’s hand for the next two dances was like that of a chess player showing his next move. There was a serious game afoot now, and Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam may have had no choice but to play it.

“You may,” Jane replied simply. Colonel Fitzwilliam was unable to fully conceal the aggravation at Bingley’s request, nor could Bingley fully conceal the agitation that was