“Mary, as regards his remarks about being your partner, we shall see that he is disappointed. Dinner seating will be informal, and you may sit wherever you choose.”
Mary placed a grateful hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Thank you, Lizzy. I will ask Georgiana to sit with me at dinner and afterward in the drawing room. It is best that I keep my distance from Mr. Lewis, so that we may preserve the peace.” With that, she left the room.
Ellis, who had been laying out gowns, spoke up. “Mrs. Darcy, I will dress Miss Mary’s hair tonight. I have a mind to make that man rue the day he insulted her. I mean to make her as lovely as possible.”
Elizabeth laughed. “And how is that to be done?”
“I have a pot of carmine,” Ellis said, smiling, “and I mean to use a little to brighten her lips. I shall also dress her hair with a few well-placed tendrils. I have never used the hot irons on her before, but I will tonight.”
Elizabeth giggled, amused. “This should be fun to watch.”
“Mrs. Darcy,” Ellis said with a twinkle, “I shall use the hot irons on you as well. They should be ready by now. Sit very still, ma’am, so I do not accidentally burn your skin.”
When at last she was dressed, Elizabeth left her room only to find Mr. Darcy standing just outside the door. He handed her a small box.
“I brought this for you.”
She took it and opened the lid. Inside lay a sapphire and diamond necklace with matching earbobs. Her hand flew to herthroat. “Oh, Fitzwilliam, it is beautiful. Come in, sir, and fasten it for me.”
He entered, removed the necklace from its case, and clasped it around her neck as she stood before her dressing table. The deep blue stones matched her gown perfectly.
She looked up at him through the mirror. “Sir, how did you know?”
“I asked Ellis what color gown you meant to wear, and she showed it to me. I brought three necklaces, and we agreed that this one suited best.”
A soft sound, like a low moan, escaped her lips. “Oh, Fitzwilliam, you are so thoughtful. Truly, you grow more and more like my favorite hero, the one from King Arthur’s Legends.” Inwardly, however, she thought him more and more like a Greek god, with the unruly lock that fell across his left brow and the beautifully shaped curve of his lips.
The compliment pleased him. For a fleeting moment, he nearly bent to kiss her, but he checked himself. She was so sweet, and she belonged to him; he could wait, he must.
He stepped aside while Ellis fastened the earbobs. “Mrs. Darcy,” he said, “I will wait in the hall to escort you down.”
“I am ready, sir. Wait only until my other earbob is attached, and we shall go together.”
When they descended the stairs, he held her firmly, close to his side. He was gratified to see that she did not pull away nor seem aware of the intimacy. His eyes were smiling as they met Richard’s in the foyer below.
“Mrs. Darcy,” the colonel said, “you look as beautiful as ever.”
“Thank you, Colonel. Do you wait for Miss Lewis?”
He flushed slightly. “I do. We have not yet been introduced formally, and I thought it might go easier here in the foyer, out of the public eye.”
Elizabeth turned to her husband. “Sir, would it be a great impertinence if we waited here with the colonel, that I might ask Mr. Lewis a question when he arrives? There is something I am most curious to know.”
Darcy’s brows lifted. “Mrs. Darcy, might I know what it is you wish to ask after?”
She grinned, the devil in her eye. “I do not yet know, sir, but surely the Colonel will think of something.”
Richard laughed. “Ask him about the dripping well on his estate. It is larger and more mysterious than the one here. The mineral content is so strong that, when we were boys, we petrified some of our favorite toys. Darcy here turned his wooden horse to stone.”
Darcy smiled. “And you, Richard, petrified your stuffed bear.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Very well, Colonel, I shall ask him about his famous dripping well.”
They continued to converse pleasantly in the foyer, exchanging laughter and light raillery, until the others began to descend.
Mary and Georgiana came down arm in arm. At the end of the procession were Mr. and Miss Lewis.
Elizabeth looked at her guest. “Isabella, you look quite recovered from your journey. We are gathering in the drawing room until dinner is served.”
