Longbourn · Chapter 3 · the dance
The Only Handsome Man in the Room
Wickham was not there. That was the first fact that did not match the evening she had dressed for. The second was Darcy, who was, and who asked her to dance as if asking were a duty he had decided to perform correctly.
They stood up together. For a full minute they were two people who could dance and could not speak. Elizabeth, who did not enjoy being managed by silence, broke it.
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.
His glove was warm through hers. He opened his mouth.
Next official chapter drops Friday, 4 September. The serial stays free.