Darcy's Passions by Regina Jeffers

Of course, he hoped the person might be he, but it was not to be. She briefly acknowledged his polite inquiries but quickly moved on to find her friend Charlotte Lucas.
    As the dance began, the pudgy clergyman came forward to claim Elizabeth’s hand. Darcy watched with initial amusement as Mr. Collins, who obviously thought himself to be adept on the dance floor, spent most of his time apologizing instead of attending and often moving wrong without being aware of it. Such a disagreeable dance partner should not be wished upon anyone. Collins’s ineptitude would amplify Darcy’s prowess later; however, Elizabeth’s distress and mortification became so severe, it was all Darcy could do to not interfere and replace Collins in the set somehow.
    Elizabeth next danced with an officer, and then she returned to Charlotte Lucas’s company. Darcy decided it was now or never, and
his approach took her by surprise.“Miss Elizabeth, may I apply for the pleasure of the next dance?” he said as he bowed to both ladies.
    â€œMr. Darcy, I . . . I . . . I would be pleased.”
    Not wishing to allow her the opportunity to change her mind, Darcy took his leave, but when the dancing recommenced, he returned to claim her hand. As they took their place in the set at the top of the line of dancers, a place of prestige, Darcy could not help but hope the uniqueness of the situation impressed Elizabeth; her neighbors recognized the honor he bestowed on her; he only danced with Bingley’s sisters up until this point. Singling her out made a statement to the amazement of all who observed it.
    As the dance began, Darcy planned to make amends for his earlier cut, but within her presence, he found himself to be embarrassed by those actions and was tongue-tied. She broke the silence first, commenting on the dance as they waited their turn. He replied and again fell silent. “It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.”
    He smiled. “Tell me what you most desire to hear, and I will happily comply.”
    â€œVery well.That reply will do for the present. Perhaps by and by I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones. But now we may be silent.”
    He nearly laughed out loud. She obviously demanded the long overdue apology, but he would make her wait a few more moments to take her by surprise when he did offer his amends. Instead, he said,“Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?”
    â€œSometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet, for the advantage of some , conversation ought to be so arranged, as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible.”
    So, she noticed his bias for silence.Was Elizabeth suggesting he did not enjoy their conversations? “Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”

    Taking a jab at Darcy’s haughty humor, she responded, “Both, for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room and be handed down to posterity with all the eclat of a proverb.”
    The verbal warfare was back. God, he missed this foreplay during the ten days since they last spoke! He would not let her win this skirmish, though.“This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure. How near it may be to mine I cannot pretend to say.You think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly.”
    They were again silent until they went down the dance. He did not like the coolness the turn of the conversation took.Wanting to lighten the tension their need for dominance created, Darcy tried to steer the interplay in a