Affections and Wishes Chapter III

Chapter III: The Odinsons and Company

&%&%&%

“They’re all giants,” Natasha whispered to Darcy as the Odinsons entered the ball.

“Mr. Odinson, yes, but the others are just very tall,” Darcy said, “Not that we have the best view of the subject.”

“Oh, ha ha,” Jane said, “We are not that short.”

“Well, I can barely see them and I am the tallest,” Maria said.

“We will all have our turn. I am sure Mother will have already taken care of that,” Peggy sighed.

&%&%&%

Thor Odinson was a good-looking gentleman who looked much like a Norse god. (Though he was quick to assure people that he was in no way related to that scoundrel of myth.) He had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners.

Lady Sif and the Warriors Three (Fandral, Volgstaff, and Hogun) were all warriors that were aligned with Thor. Fandral and Hogun had both grown up with Thor and enjoyed adventuring with him. Fandral was quite friendly with the ladies. Hogun was quieter, but made sure that he danced every dance that he could. Volgstaff was married with six children. His family was back in Asgard as the children were in school. Lady Sif was an oddity, even among the Asgardians, for being a warrior. She was full of grace, smiles, and good manners. All were confused at why last names were necessary as they had not visited Midgard in several centuries.

Thor’s brother looked almost nothing like him. The same noble features of an Asgardian, yes, but his hair was dark and his eyes changed from blue to green depending on the light. He was soon found to be proud and spoke little.

Mr. Thor Odinson had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room. He was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Maybe he was somewhat too loud at times, but it was not from drink but from merriment.

What a contrast between him and his brother! Mr. Loki Odinson danced only once with Lady Sif, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Coulson, whose dislike of his general behavior was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters.

Darcy Coulson had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances. During part of that time, Mr. Loki Odinson had been standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and his brother, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his brother to join it.

"Come, Loki," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you sulking in corners."

"I certainly shall not dance, brother. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable."

"I would not be as fastidious as you are. I never have met with so many wonderful girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see are quite beautiful."

"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Loki has he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."

"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at Darcy, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

Thor looked at his brother a moment and then laughed heartily. “Make sure no real harm comes to anyone.”

After giving a slap on the back, Thor went to dance with Jane again. Mr. Loki Odinson sulked off. Darcy remained with no very cordial feelings towards Loki. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

One such ridiculous thing happened to Fandral. He stood amongst a group of ladies, regaling them with tales of his less bloody adventures. When he moved towards the table with punch, his shoes did not move but the rest of him did. He fell forward, crashing into the table, sending the refreshments flying, soaking several ladies and Fandral.

Thor came over and tried not to laugh. “What ever happened Fandral?”

“My shoes are stuck,” Fandral said, trying to remain calm.

Loki casually helped Fandral to his feet and helped him walk about. “I see no problems with your shoes. You must have tripped.”

Darcy Coulson smiled as she had caught the sight of Loki using a small bit of magic when he helped Fandral up. She decided that Loki’s pride was such that he would rather embarrass others rather than risk himself.

The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Coulson had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Odinson had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Darcy felt Jane's pleasure. Peggy had heard herself mentioned to Lady Sif as the most accomplished girl in the neighborhood; and Maria and Natasha had been fortunate enough never to be without partners, which was all that they had yet learned to care for at a ball.

They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Coulson still up. With a book, he was regardless of time. On the present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the events of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his wife's views on the stranger would be disappointed. He soon found out that he had a different story to hear.

"Oh! My dear Mr. Coulson," Mrs. Coulson said as she entered the room, "we have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Odinson thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice! He even seemed intrigued by her science babble. Only think of that, my dear; he actually danced with her twice! She was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next. Then the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with Darcy, and the Boulanger—"

"If he had had any compassion for me," said Mr. Coulson with a huff, "he would not have danced half so much! Say nothing more of his partners. If only he had sprained his ankle in the first dance!"

"My dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! And his friends are so charming! Lady Sif’s gown was made of…"

“I truly care not for what they were wearing, even if they came into the ball nude,” Mr. Coulson said. He paused for a moment. “I would be curious if they did that, but I have no need to hear a detailed reenactment of their dress.”

Mrs. Coulson was obliged to seek another branch of the subject. She related, with much bitterness of spirit and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Loki Odinson.

"But I can assure you that Darcy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy. He is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man."

“My dear, I only have a set-down with someone I am about to get rid of for the rest of their mortal life,” Mr. Coulson said.