Authors: Wendi Sotis

All Hallow's Eve (75 page)

Taking note of the time, Darcy wondered how long it would be before he heard Bingley exclaim that this blonde beauty was “the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!” as he had with countless other ladies to date.

Mrs. Bennet went on to introduce her daughters to the gentlemen. Bingley’s newest obsession was the eldest, Miss Jane Bennet.

Miss Mary, the third-born, was sitting nearby reading a book. It was a strange occupation for an assembly room, but one in which Darcy would rather be engaged. A bit envious, Darcy was disappointed that he was too distant to be able to make out the title.

The two youngest, Miss Catherine and Miss
Lydia
, were dancing with enthusiasm—a great deal more than was proper—attracting quite a bit of attention to their antics. Darcy was amazed at the matron’s decision to allow these two out in society at so young an age since they apparently did
not
know how to comport themselves. Perhaps their behaviour would be acceptable for children playing in a field, but, even in the country, at public affairs ladies were expected to behave as
ladies
and should not be giggling loudly and running about.

Mrs. Bennet mentioned her second eldest, but she could not locate her daughter among the crowd. “Well, it matters not; you will see Lizzy at some other time, I suppose!
She
is of no import when my Jane is before you!” She was smiling at Bingley as if these statements were the most natural thing to say in polite society, shocking Darcy with her coarse manners. At least Miss Bennet had the decency to blush.

As Bingley applied for her favourite daughter’s hand for the next dance, followed immediately by Miss Bennet’s acceptance, the matron turned to Darcy to ask if he enjoyed dancing as well. Darcy was so involved with his fear of having to stand with a blatantly crass mama who had five unmarried daughters whilst Bingley enjoyed himself that he failed even to notice that Mrs. Bennet had spoken! He bowed to Mrs. Bennet and turned to join Caroline and Louisa.
Better the devil you know than the devil you do not!
Darcy thought to himself.

Unfortunately, the distance he had retreated from her was not far enough to avoid hearing Mrs. Bennet telling anyone who would listen about his rudeness in walking away without answering her question.

I did not hear her ask me a question! Blast! If I attempt to apologize, it would bring attention to the fact that I can hear her from such a distance, which might insult her further.

Upon joining the ladies of his own party, Darcy became the object to whom Caroline Bingley addressed her opinions of her new neighbours. As was usual, Louisa readily agreed to every word her younger sister uttered.

Seeking a distraction was usually the way that Darcy coped with Caroline Bingley’s diatribes, and so the young man briefly pondered how it could have come about that the younger of Bingley’s sisters dominated the elder. He speculated
that Caroline had such a demanding nature that anybody with a less forceful manner could easily be intimidated by the lady. Louisa did seem to lack the self-confidence necessary to resist her overbearing sister. In all of their acquaintance, he did not remember ever hearing Louisa voice an opinion not first belonging to her husband or sister—more often the latter.

Caroline Bingley’s complaints about boorish country manners were incessant enough to outlast his contemplations: the inferiority of society in Hertfordshire compared to Town, the highest ranking person in the neighbourhood was
only
newly knighted, the decided lack of fashion, and the failure in the
attempt
to be fashionable were among the subjects of her critique. After taking a sip from her glass, she continued, noting the lack of excellence of the refreshments, the low quality of the musicians, the insufficient size of the rooms, and her imagined shabbiness of the furniture—for, though of an older design, he saw nothing lacking in its quality. These and other ceaseless grievances were grating on him excessively.

The gentleman wondered if Caroline Bingley had anything
favour
able to say about, or a kind word to say to, anyone whom she thought “beneath” herself. He could not recall one occasion on which she had.

She continued to prattle on, even though Darcy did not give any indication of listening. When she began to deprecate the quality of wax used for the candles, for they did not burn evenly enough for her taste, he ground his teeth to keep himself from interrupting. When she finally paused to take a breath, he excused himself immediately.

Darcy began to wander around the outskirts of the dance, looking intently at Bingley’s neighbours.
NOT with the hope of seeing
her
, of course; only out of curiosity.
She
exists only in my imagination,
he told himself. And yet, his eyes continued to search the crowd.

About Wendi Sotis

Wendi
Sotis
is a graduate of Nassau Community College and Adelphi University, and holds a degree in Psychology. Following
the birth of her triplets in 2000
, she decid
ed
to stay at home
to raise them
.

Having always been an avid reader and adoring fan of Jane Austen, when
her
triplets were
independent
enough
that she could
find a little time to herself, Wendi searched the internet
where she
discovered a treasure trove of “fan fiction” written by fellow
Janeites
. At first, experiencing Austen’s stories from several different characters’ points of view caught her interest, but then she branched off into reading sequels, “what if” stories, and modernized versions of Austen’s tales.

Though she had always aspired to become a writer, Wendi
did not make a serious attempt until one day, after
awaken
ing
from a dream
,
her imagination began churning up a
tale
to surround it
. In the midst of penning a number of short stories, in 2010, she
began
post
ing
the
first draft
of
Dreams & Expectations
to several online forums
, later published in 2012
. Wendi then went on to write another novel-length story,
Promises
, published in 2011.