One Thread Pulled: The Dance With Mr. Darcy

One Thread Pulled

The Dance with Mr. Darcy

Diana J. Oaks

Copyright
2012 Diana J. Oaks

All rights reserved.

Kindle Edition

I dedicate this book to my angel of a mother,

who always told me that I should be a writer.

I wish I had listened sooner.

CONTENTS

1
.)
The Assembly Ball

2
.)
Reflections on the Ball

3
.)
Oh Little Town of Meryton

4
.)
A Conversation in Private

5
.)
You Must Take a Horse

6
.)
Summoned to Netherfield

7
.)
Managing Mr. Bingley

8
.)
Ruminations

9
.)
A Book from the Library

10
.)
An Accomplished Woman

11
.)
A Room with a View

12
.)
The Stuff of Dreams

13
.)
The Personification of Perfection

14
.)
Farewell to Netherfield

15
.)
The Road to Longbourn

16
.)
Behind the Parlor Door

17
.)
Unraveled

18
.)
Meeting Mr. Wickham

19
.)
Declarations of Love

20
.)
Hidden Agendas

21
.)
Mr. Darcy’s Dilemma

22
.)
Ribbons, Lace and Notions

23
.)
An Inadvertent Design

24
.)
Stars & Constellations

25
.)
Of Woodland Sprites & Mermaids

26
.)
Waiting for Tea Time

27
.)
You, Me and a Cup of Tea

28
.)
Where Reputations Collide

29
.)
The Hostage Handkerchief

30
.)
The Winds Begin to Blow

31
.)
I Have Found You at Last

32
.)
The Day the Blue Vase Broke

33
.)
The Netherfield Ball Part One

34
.)
The Netherfield Ball Part Two

35
.)
The Netherfield Ball Part Three

36
.)
The End of the Ball

37
.)
The Effects of Interference

38
.)
Mr. Wickham’s Revenge

39
.)
You Said You Love Me

40
.)
Away to London

41
.)
Intrigues, Lies & Deceptions

42
.)
The Proposal of Mr. Collins

43
.)
What Comes with the Tide

44
.)
A Beginning, a Middle and an End

45
.)
Real or Imagined Dreams

46
.)
Schemes Put into Play

47
.)
Is This Not Love?

48
.)
Pratt & Smythe in London

49
.)
Letters Three

50
.)
Return of the Darcys

51
.)
Family Ties

52
.)
Say Yes

53
.)
Terms of Engagement

54
.)
Dreams Come True

55
.)
The Final Chapter, A New Beginning

      
About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I begin with a deep curtsy in the general direction and in honor of that great lady, Jane Austen. Her work is the foundation upon which I built this story.
 
These are her brilliant characters—I just took them from off the shelf and borrowed them for a bit.

I acknowledge, too, the support of my husband, who has agreed to dance the first set with me (though he rarely dances), and was the source of more than one line for Colonel Fitzwilliam in this tale.

Deepest gratitude goes also to the fine writers and gentle Janeites at DarcyandLizzy.com, who have encouraged, advised, and helped me navigate the waters of my first publication. Brenda, Katie, Stephanie,
et al
.—I am in your debt.

Chapter One

The Assembly Ball

T
en thousand a year. The words hung in the air of the assembly room like ripe fruit on a low branch. Every eligible young lady at the ball appeared to share the notion that Mr. Bingley's tall, reserved friend was the most desirable man she had ever beheld—every young lady, that is, except Elizabeth Bennet.

Elizabeth had astutely observed a decidedly bored expression on the man's face when her family was introduced to Mr. Darcy. It seemed to Elizabeth that his look was an overt rejection of the friendly smiles bestowed upon him by all the women of her family. His pride was evident to Elizabeth from that moment, although it took the other occupants of the room half the night to realize that Mr. Darcy would not deign to dance with any of the local ladies, only with those from his own party, and even then with some reluctance.

Elizabeth found some amusement in observing the other young ladies discreetly pinching their cheeks and biting lips to bring color to their faces whenever they approached proximity to either Mr. Darcy or Mr. Bingley. The color in her own face came merely from dancing, as she was a popular partner. Elizabeth was, after several merry dances, obliged to sit down for two dances, due to the scarcity of gentlemen at the ball, although she politely claimed that it was to catch her breath.

It was during this time that she overheard a conversation between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley, who had been dancing nonstop, left the floor to persuade his friend to join him.

“Darcy,” said Mr. Bingley, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”

“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”

“I would not be so fastidious as you are,” cried Bingley, “for a kingdom! Upon my honor, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life, as I have this evening; and there are several of them, you see, uncommonly pretty. My partner, Miss Jane Bennet is an angel, and I am most insistent that you select a partner for the next dance.”