“As you say, Miss Elizabeth.” He smiled at her jest in a way that should make her swoon.
It should. As he took her hand in his hand as the next set formed, she was struck by her discovery.But it does not.
* * *
The candles casta warm glow throughout the assembly hall and Miss Elizabeth’s light laughter wafted across the room toward Darcy. He took another drink and tried to listen to Mrs. Hurst’s prattle while he studied Miss Elizabeth. He had already ignored the advances of a number of desperate mothers and their daughters.There is one benefit to being betrothed. With the sound of Miss Elizabeth’s voice in the air, he realized there were also dangers.Now, if only Miss Bingley had not volunteered to stay with Georgiana, I would have already safely retired for the evening with a good book.
He had had an industrious evening avoiding scheming mothers, observing Elizabeth Bennet, and keeping an eye on the one person who had darkened his life these past five years. He made his way slowly toward Bingley to inquire when they would depart.
“Oh, la. What a disaster!” Lydia Bennet squeaked as her punch spilled from her cup and down the front of Darcy’s coat.
“Do not trouble yourself, Miss Lydia. The loss of one dinner coat will not affect Darcy.”
“Wickham,” Darcy said through clenched teeth as he took the outstretched napkin from Mrs. Hurst and quickly began wiping at the red stain. “I see you have once again ingratiated yourself into local society.” He pointedly looked at Miss Lydia who had escaped, unconcerned with the damage she had wrought.
Wickham bowed slightly. “I see you are as you ever were.” His words settled in the air before continuing. “And what does Meryton owe the pleasure of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s arrival? Purchasing a smaller estate closer to Rosings for the eventual union with Miss de Bourgh? Attempting to see how the lower society lives? Or—” he whispered, leaning in so only Darcy could hear him “—following me to ruin my chances of happiness as you always do?”
Darcy stiffened and met Wickham’s unwavering look before slowly spitting out his words. “You do well enough on your own. You obviously need no help from me.” He rose to his full height and looked down upon the man before turning on his heel and walking toward the balcony.
Unbeknownst to Mr. Darcy, Lizzy had seen Lydia’s reckless behavior and had excused herself from Mr. Hamilton’s attentions to apologize to Mr. Bingley’s guest. She had stopped, shocked at the exchange between the young officer and Mr. Darcy, and waited a few moments after the latter had made his way onto the balcony before making the decision to follow him outside.
It was a brisk, autumn night and the moon shown full in the heavens. He was at the far end of the balcony leaning against the railing, looking out across the moonlit field and did not hear her approach.
“Pardon me, Mr. Darcy?”
He started at her voice and turned abruptly. The anger in his eyes quickly dissipated as he corrected his posture and politely bowed. “Miss Elizabeth. May I be of some assistance?” His voice was guarded and his furrowed brow seemed to be weighted with worry.
“No, it is I who hope to be of assistance to you. If not assistance, at least to remedy a wrong.” He looked at her quizzically as she continued. “I sought you out to beg your forgiveness for the indignity you suffered at the impropriety of my youngest sister. Please accept my sincerest apologies.”
Darcy attempted to repress his frustration.Will I never cease to be rid of Wickham and his interference in my life?He shook his head. “Miss Elizabeth, please do not trouble yourself. The act was unfortunate but not malicious, and as you might have heard from that man, the loss of one jacket is nothing.” Though he attempted to soften his words with a smile, the last was spoken with thinly concealed venom. “Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth. It is but a small matter which has been unexpectedly resurrected, much to my distaste.”
“Then I shall leave you, sir, and not trespass on your privacy.”
“Not at all.” He reached out to stop her, then pulled his hand back before she saw his gesture. “I would enjoy finishing our conversation so as to remove the unseemly event from my mind.”
“Of course. I would be delighted.” Instead of putting his troubled mind at ease, her smile forced his thoughts in another direction.
“Miss Elizabeth, if I may be allowed to thank you for your attentions to my own sister this morning. Georgiana is extremely reticent amongst strangers. I confess that is a trait she and I both possess.” He paused in thought. “However, I have not seen her so animated in many months as I did this morning when she returned to Netherfield from her excursion.”
“I thank you for the compliment, sir, but must admit it was by no design of mine. Your sister is a most pleasant girl.”
They allowed another lull in their conversation as the notes of a reel reached them and she instinctively began to tap her toes to the music.
“And how do you like Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy? Do you find the manners refined enough for your taste? I can only imagine our country displays are much less polished than in London.”
“Miss Elizabeth, you forget that I myself am from the country. I find Hertfordshire charming as far as I have discovered, a little limited in worldly pursuits, but nothing to dismiss it as a pleasant location. I think Charles would do well to settle here.”
She seemed to almost bristle at his comment but must have realized the scope of his knowledge and experience. He was not slighting her little village, only pointing out the obvious differences. Yet, he could not ignore the archness of her tone.
“And what of your home county? Is it also limited in its worldly pursuits?”
“Derbyshire?” He tried not to smile at her pique. “Of course, Derbyshire has the grandeur of the Peaks, the beauty of Dovedale, as well as incomparable hunting. But nothing gives me greater pleasure than retiring to Pemberley.”
“And have you recently leased your estate?”
“Oh, no.” Darcy chuckled at her allusion. “Pemberley has been in my family for generations. I inherited both the responsibility for it and everyone who resides there five years ago upon the death of my excellent father.”
He did not intend to say as much but it was obvious she felt the mortification of her words, and she hastily began to apologize. “Mr. Darcy, it seems as if all the Bennets have designs to make your evening unpleasant. I shall leave you to your own thoughts before I offend you once again.”
