To answer a few questions 🙂 $7.99 Direct preorder is until 2/28. After that it will be $9.99 and the book will be on preorder on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Kobo, and Nook 2/26 to 3/14 when it releases. Yes, readers who buy direct get it FIRST and cheapest. 🙂 Final chapters will post on or about 3/14. Oh, let’s get back to the ball!
XOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 7 - If Mr. Darcy Dared
No sooner had the brazen display of impropriety ended than a tittering of voices filled the room. Even the musicians, who had stopped playing when they noticed none of the couples were dancing, had risen from their chairs to try to see over the throng of people as to what had caused such an interruption to the evening’s festivities.
Jane mumbled her apologies away from her partner for the second set, John Lucas, and needled her lithe form through other guests who were beginning to coalesce into rings of gossip sharing. Innately she had kept track of Mr. Bingley who had been so kind to offer his hand for the second set to her sister Mary.
Poor Mr. Bingley nervously laughed as he tried to console Mary Bennet who had burst into tears. Upon spying Jane, the host of the evening smiled though an expression of great worry marred his usually affable charm.
“Miss Bennet, you are unharmed, that is good! I was just explaining to Miss Mary here that I’m sure my friend has done no harm to your sister and that any moment your father and they will return with the happiest of news.” Mr. Bingley finished as Jane whipped around to stare at the ballroom door just in time to see it close with a shuddering thud.
“You mean Papa has taken them?” Jane asked, nervously.
Mr. Bingley appeared confused with Miss Mary on one arm and unable to turn to offer his arm to Jane without risking further upset to the poor girl. “Yes, as you came to us, I watched them leave.”
Outside, Mr. Bennet held his daughter by the hand, urgently pulling her down the long hall away from the west wing.
“Mr. Bennet, please, I can explain!” Mr. Darcy called as he kept up with the pair, offering a conspiratorial smile when Elizabeth chanced a look at him over her shoulder.
“There will be no explanations or discussions tonight,” Mr. Bennet barked, nearly out of breath when he reached the end of the hall and instructed a footman to call his carriage.
Elizabeth began to cry, but her father stood stoically next to her, refusing to look at either of them.
“My intentions to your daughter are just and true. I confessed to her this very afternoon the deep regard I possess for her and planned to make her an offer of my hand this very evening!” Mr. Darcy, unaccustomed to the rejection of a man who by his estimation should be grateful for his interest in a dowryless daughter, ignored the instruction to make no explanation.
Mr. Bennet said nothing in return. The seconds ticked by as the grand foyer remained quiet, save for Elizabeth’s sniffles. Not even sounds from the ball echoed in the hall.
Standing next to her father, Elizabeth felt a gentle brush of her free hand, and she involuntarily looked in Mr. Darcy’s direction, revealing her cheeks stained with tears. Her movement caught her father’s attention, and he glowered at the simpering look of Mr. Darcy, looking just in time to see the gentleman’s hand pull away.
“You dare to touch my daughter again?” Mr. Bennet asked, genuinely bemused by the novelesque scandal developing around him, though still fatherly enough to guide Elizabeth behind him as he now stood between his daughter and her beau.
“If you would just listen for a moment”
“No!” Mr. Bennet scoffed, adding a laugh making Mr. Darcy very confused. “The beauty of this situation, Mr. Darcy, is great man that you are, I am still Elizabeth’s father. Until you come to me, formally, and request my permission—”
“That is what I am trying to do, sir, if you allow me—”
“My, you are a fool in love!” Mr. Bennet established his dominance over the young whelp, for even though Mr. Darcy had him in height, Mr. Bennet had him in years. Blinking furiously, Mr. Darcy held his breath as Mr. Bennet laid out his terms.
“You have acted irrationally, young man, and impulsively. Come tomorrow to Longbourn after you have had a good night to think about your actions and all those you have harmed.” At this, Elizabeth let out a small cry behind her father as his words could just as easily be applied to her. Hearing his daughter’s distress behind him, Mr. Bennet relented in scolding the proud and stuffy Mr. Darcy, remembering he could torment this suitor for so long as it humored him.
“You mean to deny me your daughter’s hand?” Mr. Darcy asked, in a tone that did not sound appeasing but dripping with disgust.
Feeling the warmth of his hastily chugged brandy running through his veins, Mr. Bennet held back an ill-timed burp so that it came out as a squeaky hiccough. He was further spared answering Mr. Darcy when a footman arrived to say their carriage was called.
“Tell Mr. Darcy goodnight, Elizabeth. We shall see if his courage lasts until the dawn.”
Large tears blurred Elizabeth’s vision as she took one last look at Mr. Darcy before leaving Netherfield Park in humiliation.
“I shall come! Tomorrow, as your father asks!” Mr. Darcy called as he gallantly followed Mr. Bennet and his daughter to the portico and remained until the carriage door was shut and the vehicle rolled down the drive.
Raking his hands through his hair, Fitzwilliam cursed himself for how he managed to bungle every moment with his fair Elizabeth far worse than if he set out in those aims to start! Guarded looks exchanged between the two footmen and a slightly audible snort made Darcy turn, his face wild with rage. About to lose his temper upon a servant, a behavior he never allowed himself at home, Mr. Darcy inhaled sharply through his nose and pressed his lips thin in disgust. The younger footman, braver than his colleague, spoke.
“May I get you anything, sir?”
Scowling as he turned around to see the tail end of the carriage carrying away his love before it made the bend, Mr. Darcy clenched the stone railing before him.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Feeling the pain of scraping his fingertips along the coarse grain, Darcy sighed and found his composure. As he turned and began to walk away, he gave one last order to the servants.
“If your master asks, tell him I have retired for the evening.”
Chapter 7 - If Mr. Darcy Dared (cont'd)
Back in the ballroom, chaos reigned. Jane Bennet sucked in a deep breath and blew it out, gently settling her palm to her stomach as a means of calming herself.
Her mother stood in one corner telling all who would listen that Mr. Darcy possessed the strongest impulses under that cold demeanor. Loudly, for too many to hear, Mrs. Bennet further worsened the reputations of her daughter and Mr. Darcy. She related how Lizzy had returned from an afternoon walk flushed with excitement announcing she had accepted Mr. Darcy’s request for the first set. Jane grimaced as a few feet from her mother, old Mrs. Long appeared faint with her two nieces fanning her. The ball had officially become a standing room only hall to trade slanderous and salacious stories.
Jane adjusted her gaze in the opposite direction to listen for more reactions and disappointments. She had just spotted Charlotte Lucas approaching Mr. Collins to offer that fool her comfort when Caroline Bingley boldly stepped too close to her person and blocked her view.
“Your family is the most poorly behaved spectacle I have ever seen. How dare your sister throw herself at Mr. Darcy! We all witnessed it,” Caroline looked around her for confirmation from the few nodding heads not even pretending a disinterest in the new confrontation. “You and your family should leave!” Miss Bingley demanded.
Mary, released a new howl of pain as she was suddenly flanked by Kitty and Lydia who were also sniffling with worry about the black mark on the Bennet name.
“I can appreciate that Mr. Darcy’s affections for my sister have shocked us all, Miss Bingley, but I believe it is up to Mr. Bingley if he would like certain guests of his to leave.” Jane walked around Caroline, forcing the irate young woman to seethe as she refused to give Miss Bennet the satisfaction of following her movements. After negotiating around Miss Bingley, Jane planted herself firmly at the side of Mr. Bingley.
“Charles?” she whispered, just barely so that only he might hear.
Use of his Christian name broke Mr. Bingley from his stupor and he smiled broadly at Miss Bennet. “You called me…” He began as Jane gave him a severe shake of her head, “Oh, no, Caroline, no one must leave aside from those who have already left or have business to attend to . . .” Mr. Bingley ended vaguely as he spun around on his heel looking this way and that way.
Naturally, he slipped an arm into Jane’s and leaned near to her ear.
“What am I to do?” he whispered.
Plastering her face with a serene smile, Jane spoke through clenched teeth.
“The music.”
“Come again?” Charles spoke louder this time as the relative volume had increased as more people spoke freely and mocked Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in their absence.
“Please begin another piece!” Jane directly addressed the conductor of the small band hired for the night’s party. Wand in hand, he took pity on the young woman and quickly complied. Mr. Bingley caught on to Jane’s plan as soon as he heard the first note. He began to dance with the lady who had just proven to him he would be a daft codger to consider another for his future life.
Kitty and Lydia, catching Jane’s glance, took each other as partners. Soon it comically appeared poor Mr. Bingley now had three female partners with the trading of dance steps. Both younger girls soon forgot their melancholy and began to giggle as they did nearly every dance set.
To Jane’s surprise, the line expanded in number with Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte nodded to Jane to signal the action was very clearly her doing, while her dance partner sulked. Yet, his spirits would not be down for long.
When their minute line parted to allow Jane and Bingley to join the truncated end, Mr. Bingley complimented Mr. Collins’ dancing. Immediately puffing out his chest, the parson perked up from his vanity stroked with accolades.
“Well done,” Jane said. “With any luck, more will join us.” She and Mr. Bingley turned to face the room and urged with their free arms for more couples to join them.
Before long, John Lucas had asked one of the Long sisters to dance, and Sir Lucas even asked Mrs. Bennet to join the fray.
As Jane and Mr. Bingley again reached the top of the line and began their promenade down, this time nearly as far as when the ball had begun, Jane allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. She tried to push concern for her favorite sister out of her mind until Mr. Bingley leaned over and told her all would be well.
“My friend has honorable intentions toward your sister. I am confident of that,” Mr. Bingley offered, clapping with Jane before beginning the sequence again.
“It is not Mr. Darcy that I doubt, sir. It is my sister. She can be quite stubborn,” Jane confessed, flinching that such an unflattering truth passed her lips.
But Mr. Bingley laughed, a deep, belly-shaking laugh that almost sounded like a grunt as he was still forced to dance while doing so.
“Charles?” Jane questioned him, becoming more comfortable using his Christian name when only the two of them might hear. He had requested such a favor when she had fallen ill and recovered in his home.
“There can be no two others more suited for each other,” Mr. Bingley stated as he and Jane were close to each other for but a moment, and then separated by the dance moves. When they finished the required circuit around another couple, Mr. Bingley leaned in closer to Jane’s ear. “Except perhaps us. Remember that you promised me a private audience.”
Chapter 7 - If Mr. Darcy Dared (cont'd)
Jane blushed as she parted again from Mr. Bingley and took a turn with Sir William Lucas. She ignored the inappropriate gestures of her mother as she reunited with Charles, her cheeks still flush with embarrassment.
“You have not changed your mind?” he asked earnestly. Jane shook her head.
“No, Mr. Bingley. And I am certain whatever matter you have to speak to me about my answer will be to your liking. I only wonder if tonight has not held too much excitement already.” She finished, just as the music came to an end and she and Mr. Bingley bowed their heads to one another.
Mr. Bingley escorted Jane to the refreshment tables, accepting the well-wishes of his neighbors who seemed relieved that the ball was back on track. Once they both held a glass of punch, Mr. Bingley wistfully looked at the doors that had remained closed since Mr. Bennet had taken flight with Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in tow.
“I’m of the opinion that life is much too brief for there to be too much excitement. We should enjoy the merriment while we may, for it could be worse,” he said, leaving his statement to linger in the air.
“Oh, how so?” Jane asked, sipping more from her punch glass. Dancing three sets, or at least two and a half, had made her throat parched.
Mr. Bingley began to fill a plate with his favorite cheese, offering Miss Bennet an opportunity to taste a morsel before he began. Being ever polite, Jane accepted his offer, but raised her eyebrows in a perfect imitation of her sister now missing in action to signal that she wished Mr. Bingley to explain himself.
Hardly holding back a laugh, Mr. Bingley revealed his jest.
“I am absolutely certain it could have been much worse if your father had not taken them away so quickly from the altercation. My sister might have attacked yours!” Charles shared, matching Jane’s earlier unflattering confession about her sister.
While Jane gently laughed to give Mr. Bingley comfort in his skills of wit, her heart broke slightly as she spied the young woman in question standing in the far corner. Miss Bingley was not alone, thankfully, as she stood with her sister, Louisa, and her husband, Mr. Hurst. Though it was clear even from across the room that Miss Bingley spoke with a sharp tongue as her sister nodded along, Jane clucked in sympathy. She could not imagine watching Mr. Bingley leave the ballroom with another woman, let alone kiss the lady in question in front of her.
“Another set?” Mr. Bingley asked as he had finished his noshing and hastily wiped his hands. But Jane demurred.
“I believe my sister has caused enough scandal to our names. Let’s save our time for the last set,” she suggested, gently.
Bingley huffed in defeat. “Only if after supper you will take a walk with me out along the back balcony of the dining room.”
“Mr. Bingley.”
“Please, Jane?” he asked, bringing her hand to his lips for a chaste kiss as he spied no less than three gentlemen closing in to ask for a set from the fair Miss Bennet.
She sweetly smiled as she heard her named called from behind.
“After supper, then,” she promised, before turning and handling the trio of requests that bombarded her. Forcing herself to play her part in the ball for the rest of the evening, Jane Bennet could hardly worry about her sister Elizabeth when she so anxiously awaited her own conversation with Mr. Bingley.
You’ve been reading . . . If Mr. Darcy Dared, a work in progress by Elizabeth Ann West.
Available for Preorder now!
If Mr. Darcy Dared
a Pride and Prejudice variation novel
Direct Preorder Release Date: March 23, 2018
Wide preorder: March 30, 2018
As Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy prepare for the Netherfield Ball, a gentlemen’s challenge develops between them to secure their future happiness . . . with the two eldest Bennet sisters! But when things do not go as expected for Mr. Darcy, Hertfordshire society is in an uproar over the pursuit of one of their favorite daughters by such a wealthy gentleman.Â
Despite being claimed by Mr. Darcy as his future bride, Elizabeth Bennet has no plans to wed the proud and disdainful Mr. Darcy, no matter what her father says! At her sister’s urging, she agrees to give him a chance, if only for Jane’s sake. But there are others with an interest in breaking a match between Fitzwilliam Darcy and some country miss. . .
The stakes are high and romance strong as two of Jane Austen’s most beloved characters dare to declare their feelings, dare to defy family, and dare to trust each other!
If Mr. Darcy Dared is a steamy romance for fans of Elizabeth Ann West’s other works, especially those readers who love their drama cranked to a ten!Â
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A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 8 novels and 11 novellas, 18 of which are story variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.
Looks like Mr Bennet is afraid of losing Elizabeth Hope that Bingley and Jane will get engaged and he will be kind to Darcy Caroline must be seething with jealousy and will
probably have nightmares of Darcy kissing Elizabeth for at least a month
Mr. Bennet dragging Elizabeth from the Ball?! At least Jane took charge.