He laughed. “They were very good. Your mother knows how to set a fine table.”
“Thank you, sir. I will tell her so when I write.”
He smiled. “We should greet our guests. It is already half past eleven, and I hope to leave by three.”
“Yes, I agree.”
They began greeting their guests as they made their way through the various rooms. When they entered the blue saloon, Elizabeth stopped short. Nicholas Jones stood there with an elegantly dressed woman on his arm. Her eyes ran down the woman’s form from head to toe. She was tall, slender, but plain. Her nose looked too large for her face, and her hair was straight, mousy brown, and thin. She had no figure to speak of. The realization struck her at once; he had married her for her money.
Darcy bent his head. “Elizabeth, are you well?”
She hesitated, tempted to dissemble, but his next words dissuaded her. “Your eyes tell me you are distressed.”
She drew close and whispered, “A boy I loved when I was young is here with his wife. He left me to seek a profession and a woman with a dowry. Those were his parting words. “I was broken-hearted for two years, a pain I kept carefully hidden from society, yet his conduct and the manner of his departure left me exposed to the derision of my neighbors for disappointed hopes. I cannot believe he is here at my wedding. What could he have been thinking to intrude on me in this way?”
Darcy’s voice was low. “Darling, your eyes are telling. His actions, his abandonment, injured you. Let us go to him. Perhaps he only means to congratulate a woman he once held in esteem.”
Elizabeth approached her former beau, secure in her husband’s presence. When they reached the couple, Nicholas smiled. “Elizabeth, it has been years.”
“Yes,” she said evenly, “four years since you left for university.”
He turned to the woman beside him. “May I introduce my wife? Miranda, this is my good friend Elizabeth Bennet Darcy.”
Elizabeth curtsied. “Mrs. Jones.” Then she turned to her husband, “And this is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, my husband. Darling, this is my childhood beau, Mr. Nicholas Jones.”
The two men bowed to each other. “Mr. Jones, I am pleased to meet you. Thank you for attending our wedding breakfast. Do you live in the area?”
“No, sir, we live in London. I came home at my father’s request. He wished me to make amends with Mrs. Darcy before he passes.”
“I am sorry to hear that he is ill,” Elizabeth said gently. “Is he living with you now?”
“Yes, these past two years. I am a solicitor with Thomson Snell and Passmore. Miranda is a granddaughter of one of the Passmore brothers.”
“I am happy for you, Nicholas. You have done well for yourself.” She turned to the lady beside him. “Mrs. Jones, thank you for attending our Wedding Breakfast.”
Mrs. Jones inclined her head. “Mr. Darcy, are you related to the Darcys of Pemberley?”
He inclined his head. “Yes, ma’am. I am the Darcy of Pemberley.”
Her eyes widened. “I did not realize the Mr. Darcy my grandfather worked with was so young. I believe our firm assisted you with your real estate development in Mayfair.”
“Your grandfather worked with my father, who passed away quite young. And you are correct, most of my real estate holdings are managed through Thomson Snell and Passmore.”
Mrs. Jones suddenly gestured toward the doorway. “Excuse me, please. I have just seen a beloved friend. Nicholas, Edward Gardiner is here.” She released her husband’s arm and crossed the room. “Edward, I have not seen you in years. Where are you living now?”
Mr. Gardiner bowed over her hand. “Miranda, Nicholas, you both look well. I did not know you were acquainted with my niece, or are you here on behalf of Mr. Darcy?”
“Neither,” Miranda replied lightly. “Nicholas wished to see his childhood sweetheart. Tell me, which firm are you with now?”
“I established my own practice five years ago, immediately after leaving Thomson’s.”
“If you ever wish to return, let me know. Father still speaks of you with the greatest regard.”
“Thank you, that is most kind.” Gardiner turned to Elizabeth. “My dear, your father is asking for you.”
“We will go to him now, Uncle Edward.” She turned to her husband.
Darcy bowed to the couple. “It has been a pleasure to meet you both. Thank you for honoring us with your presence.”
