The Houseguest A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (11 page)

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The dancing master arrived promptly at one o’clock. Elizabeth had spent the morning
in the library, only giving half her attention to her book, the other half
contemplating Mr. Darcy’s ever-changing behavior. When Georgiana fetched her
for the lesson, she was only too glad to leave her thoughts in the library,
where she was sure they would be safe until she could entertain them further.
The dancing master was a small, thin man, with gray hair slicked back firmly on
his head and a beak-like nose protruding over his thin lips and weak chin. He
looked to be about fifty, and Elizabeth thought how funny it was that a maid
was required to remain in the ballroom as chaperone, as if this man would
present a temptation for either of them.
He walked Georgiana through the steps, doing a remarkably good job at the
lady’s part, and then attempted to lead her through it. Georgiana had been at
finishing school the year before, so she knew the basics, but the girls had
always danced with each other and this was the first time she had danced with
an actual man, old or young.
It was obvious that she was nervous and she mis-stepped a few times, once on
the instructor’s foot, causing him to give a small yelp. Georgiana blushed red
with mortification while Elizabeth tried to stifle a laugh. The instructor
suggested a brief break, which Georgiana agreed to readily.
“Oh, Elizabeth! This is horrible! What am I going to do? If I cannot dance with
the master, how am I supposed to be able to dance in a crowded ballroom?”
“Now, do not fret! It is not that bad, truly. No one is perfect when they are
first learning. You must be patient with yourself. How did you do when you
danced with the girls at school?”
“I did fine with the girls. But it is so much easier to be close to another
female. I’m afraid being so near a man makes me a little uncomfortable.”
“I see. Well, I have an idea. How about you practice with me? Then you can get
a feeling for the steps and refresh your memory before dancing with a
gentleman. And remember, at the ball you will only be dancing with family, so
they will not be unfamiliar to you.”
“That is a wonderful idea! Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. My sisters and I often practice together. Now let’s get started.”
They walked into the middle of the room and Elizabeth began counting out the
numbers of the steps for a quadrille.
“You were right, Elizabeth! It is much easier with you!”
They continued through the steps, laughing intermittently, until the dancing
master returned and cleared his throat. Georgiana was able to get through the
rest of the lesson without stepping on his foot again, though not without the
occasional look of terror sent in Elizabeth’s direction.
With a few hours remaining before they needed to prepare for dinner and both
too animated to rest, they decided to bundle up and head into the garden. It
had snowed the night before, and there was a thick blanket of white across the
courtyard and beyond it on the lawn. As they stepped out, more snow began to
fall. They quickly went to work rolling large balls of snow to make a snowman.
“Do you think I will still be able to make snowmen when I am out?” Georgiana
asked as she placed a carrot where the snowman’s nose would be.
“Of course, should you wish it. I have been out since I was sixteen, and I am
building a snowman right now.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to imply that you were doing anything improper, Elizabeth.
Forgive me. I didn’t think before I spoke.”
Elizabeth laughed and said, “Do not worry Georgiana. I know you meant no
offense. I think some women stop doing things such as playing in the snow
because they are too busy with their duties as wives and mistresses. It does
not mean they do not wish to be more free in their play. And of course, some
are altogether too decorous to play in the snow at all.” A picture of Miss
Bingley building a snowman briefly flashed through Elizabeth’s mind, eliciting
a mischievous smile. “Let us enjoy our freedom while we have it!” Elizabeth
laughed and twirled in a circle, her arms out to her sides. Georgiana quickly
joined her, laughing and spinning until they fell into a heap on the ground,
dizzy and smiling.
“Miss Bennet certainly is a spirited one.” 
“Fitzwilliam! What are you doing here?” Darcy looked over at the Colonel, who
was now standing next to him at the window, watching the girls play in the
snow. “I didn’t expect you until dinner.”
“I thought I'd come over early and help you work through that brandy of yours.”
He looked longingly out the window. “Almost makes you want to join them,
doesn't it?"
"Yes, the snow is very inviting."
"The snow is not the only inviting thing. Look at them!" He nodded as
he looked out the window appreciatively. "Come Darcy! Let's get our coats
and head to the garden. The ladies have been on their own for far too
long."
Colonel Fitzwilliam headed out of the room, leaving Darcy no choice but to
follow him. They quickly got their hats, scarves, coats and gloves on and
headed out through the courtyard. When they came upon the ladies, they were
still lying on the ground, opening and closing their arms and legs to make snow
angels.
They didn't hear the gentleman approaching until they were only a few feet away
from them and Elizabeth saw a flash of black boots in the corner of her eye.
Quickly reaching out to grab Georgiana's hand, the two girls scrambled up,
beating the snow off their cloaks.
"Richard!" Georgiana ran to her cousin and embraced him. "I
didn't know you were coming today. Did you see our snowman?"
"Yes, Georgie, I did. And a fine figure of a man he is. I see you ladies
have been amusing yourself with the recently fallen snow."
"Yes, we have. I don't remember when I’ve had so much fun." Georgiana
was smiling from ear to ear, her cheeks red from the cold, her eyes bright with
merriment.
Elizabeth was looking away, slightly embarrassed to have been caught lying down
in the snow flopping her limbs in such an unladylike fashion. She was also
worried that Mr. Darcy would think it improper for his sister to behave in such
a way, and would look on Elizabeth as a bad influence. 
What do I care for his bad opinion? He certainly never
thought well of me before.
Feeling her courage rise, Elizabeth looked up, straight into the eyes of Mr.
Darcy.
"Are you enjoying the snow, Miss Bennet?"
"Yes, Mr. Darcy. It doesn't snow very often in Hertfordshire, so I like to
enjoy it when I can." She had a slightly defiant look about her eyes,
daring him to disapprove of her behavior.
Unfortunately, it had quite the opposite effect on Mr. Darcy. Seeing her with
cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling, and hair disheveled from her recent tumble in
the snow, his opinion of her was far from disapproving.
"And so you should. I fear I do not feel the same about snow, as it
happens quite regularly in Derbyshire and I have grown used to it. It can be
rather deep and close in Pemberley for weeks at a time."
"It sounds lovely." If Mr. Darcy was not going to disapprove of her
or provoke an argument, she was happy to go back to her jolly mood. "How
much fun you must have had playing in the snow every winter."
"Yes, we did. I'm sure the Colonel here can tell you some rather interesting
stories," he said with a knowing look.
"Perhaps you will tell me a story, Mr. Darcy. I'm sure you remember it all
quite clearly," she said with an impish smile.
Before he could answer Colonel Fitzwilliam interrupted them. "What do you
say, Darce? Shall we show the ladies how we used to play in the snow?" He
had a wide grin on his face and a mischievous glint in his eye.
"I'm sure our snow games are not fit for the ladies, Fitzwilliam."
"What sort of games do boys play in the snow, Colonel?" Elizabeth
looked directly at the colonel, ignoring Darcy's protest, curious to see what
he would suggest.
"We did nothing so ladylike as make snow angels, Miss Bennet!"
"I am glad to hear it, Colonel. Growing up in a house full of sisters, I
am afraid I have never had the benefit of a brother to teach me what was common
to boys. I must confess I am rather curious now."
"Well, Miss Bennet, it would-be ungentlemanly of me not to grant your
request. Darcy, shall we show the ladies how the boys play in the snow?"
He looked to his cousin with a twinkle in his eye.
Before Darcy could answer, Georgiana interrupted, "Oh yes, Richard! Please
show us!"
Seeing how Darcy was not going to intercede, Colonel Fitzwilliam began to show
the girls how to make a small wall out of snow. "Now the idea here is to
have a barrier between you and the opposition."
"The opposition?" Georgiana's eyebrows shot up.
He went on to explain how they were to roll up snow into small balls and create
a pile of them, rather like miniature cannons which they would throw at the
other team. Darcy assisted them silently, still not saying a word.
"Miss Bennet, you seem to be rather adept at making snowballs."
"I confess, Colonel, that I have made many snowballs in the past and
thrown them at my sisters. I have never done it behind a barricade, however,
nor with such military precision," she said teasingly.
"One of the many things they teach us in the army, Miss Bennet," he
said with mock gravity.
After building two small walls on opposite sides of the garden and filling each
with a mound of cannonballs, they decided it was time to open fire.
"Who will be on each team?" Georgiana asked.
"I don't know about you Georgiana, but I would certainly like to get a hit
on your brother there," said Colonel Fitzwilliam as Darcy scowled at him.
Realizing that she would have to hit her cousin, her brother, or her friend and
guest, Georgiana decided that Miss Bennet would probably be most comfortable on
a team with Mr. Darcy, since she knew him significantly better than Colonel
Fitzwilliam, whom she had only met once before, and she knew they wouldn’t
stand a chance if the men were on a team together. 
Proud of her quick, hostess-minded thinking, Georgiana announced, "I think
that sounds like a fine idea, Richard. You and I shall be a team. Now how do we
play?” Georgiana’s excitement was palpable, which quieted Elizabeth’s nerves
about hiding behind a snow barricade with Mr. Darcy. She didn’t know why, but
she suddenly had a nervous feeling in her stomach. 
Colonel Fitzwilliam explained the rules; they would each retreat behind their
barricade, and on his count, they would begin firing. “How do we know who
wins?” she asked.
“When we were children, it was according to who cried first, but I suppose that
would be an inappropriate gauge now.” He grinned. “How about whoever has the
most direct hits, wins.” 
They retreated behind their barricades, Elizabeth wondering if Mr. Darcy was
ever going to say anything at all, or merely brood behind the snow-wall.
Looking up at him, she saw the ghost of a grin. 
“Miss Bennet, shall we decide on our plan of attack?” Elizabeth looked at him
questioningly, wondering who this man was who had suddenly decided to become
engaged in the game. Could he be more mercurial?
“I suppose we should, Mr. Darcy, though I have never devised a plan of attack
outside a game of chess. Perhaps I should leave it to you.”
He looked at her quizzically for a moment, then appearing to briefly come to a
decision, he laid out what he thought would be a good way to breach their
defenses. Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile at how seriously he was taking a
simple snowball fight. 
“Am I amusing you, Miss Bennet?” 
“A little, yes sir. I am unused to the games of boys and find it all extremely
diverting.” 
And I have never seen you
like this.
“Horrid Thomas and Michael never played in the snow with you?”
Smiling, she answered, “They usually only visited in summer, so it was never an
option, although I am sure they would have immensely enjoyed pelting us with
snowballs!”
They laid out the rest of their plan just before Richard stood up to announce
it was time to begin. They started out simply, Darcy popping over the top to
lobby a snowball toward Richard, while Elizabeth rolled more to restock their
pile. After a few shots, Elizabeth announced that she wished to throw one.
Peering around the corner of the barricade to watch the opposition, Darcy
signaled her when Colonel Fitzwilliam had just thrown a large snowball over
their heads.
“Now, Miss Bennet!”
Elizabeth leapt up and threw the ball as hard as she could, landing a few feet
in front of the barricade. Quickly ducking back down, she asked, “I didn’t get
close enough, did I?”
“Not quite. Perhaps we built them too far apart.”
“You are too gracious, Mr. Darcy. I will try again. I’m sure I can do better.”
He looked at her approvingly as she readied herself. Once again, he told her
when it was clear and she jumped up to throw her ball, hitting the top ledge of
their snow-wall. 
“Was I closer that time?” she asked breathlessly.
“Yes, you hit the wall.” He smiled at her and quickly looked away.
He shot a few more, one hitting Richard’s hat and gaining them a point, when
Elizabeth said she was ready to try again. “I think I can see the Colonel’s
hat,” she said.
“If you aim just to the left of center, you’ll be right above him.” 
Waiting for just the right moment, she once again jumped up and threw the
snowball with all her might. As she fell back to the ground, she heard a loud
squeal. 
“Hit!” came Georgiana’s voice.
“Oops! I was aiming for the Colonel.” Elizabeth unsuccessfully tried to hide
her smile.
“Well done, Miss Bennet. That’s two points for us, and they have yet to make a
single hit.” He looked at her proudly, liking the way it sounded when he said
‘us’.
Before they could wipe the smiles off their faces, three enormous snowballs
came flying over them, one landing firmly on the side of Mr. Darcy’s head.
Closing his eyes, whether in pain or mortified pride, Elizabeth didn’t know, he
called loudly, “Hit!” 
Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam could be heard laughing and congratulating
themselves on the other side of the garden. As Mr. Darcy brushed the snow off
his hat and hair, Elizabeth put her hand over her mouth to cover her smile. It
wouldn’t do to laugh at your own teammate, but he did look funny with snow
dripping down the side of his face.