She laughed softly. “You are very romantic, sir.”
He wrote his name into an empty space and then escorted her to the refreshment table, where he procured a glass of punch.
Elizabeth had scarcely taken a sip when a tall, striking woman, near his own age, approached. With an ease that signified long familiarity, she took the glass from his hand and set it aside, then slipped her arm through his. “Come,” she said lightly, “I must present you to my husband. You cannot have met him, for he has spent these last twenty years in India.”
Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth, his brows lifting in silent apology, before allowing himself to be led away.
Elizabeth remained where she was, her glass in hand.
“Why, Mrs. Darcy, you are more beautiful than when last we met. Can it be you improve with time?”
She looked up to find Mr. Allen before her and could not help but laugh.
“You are flirting with me, sir.”
“Yes, Mrs. Darcy, I am,” he replied with easy warmth. “I find, when I am in your company, I cannot help myself.”
“Have you been long in Town, sir?”
“No. I arrived only today, expressly to attend this ball and to see you.”
“You are quite the rogue this evening, sir.”
He laughed. “And I have brought a blush to your cheeks, which renders you still more beautiful. Pray tell me you have an open dance, ma’am.”
She opened her card, and they bent over it together. “The allemande is unclaimed, sir.”
“With your leave.” He took her pencil with easy confidence and wrote his name upon the vacant line. She could not help but laugh with him.
Her next partner soon approached to claim her hand. She dropped a curtsy to Mr. Allen. “I look forward to our dance, sir.” And she was gone.
Darcy stepped forward at once. “You are exceedingly practiced at paying court to my wife, Allen.”
Allen turned and frowned. “I observed that you were otherwise engaged with that courtesan, Mrs. Adams. You can scarcely object to a little innocent gallantry, when you yourself are...”
Darcy’s expression darkened. “I shall overlook the remark, for the sake of your connection to my wife, and because I understand you may feel some concern for her. But be assured, I have no acquaintance with that woman, nor any notion why she singled me out this evening.” He paused, then added with quiet emphasis, “I need look no further than my wife.”
He stopped abruptly, color rising. “Pray forget I said that. It was quite improper.”
Allen inclined his head. “Say no more, Darcy. If that wanton merely cast her line, I shall not hold it against you.” He glanced toward the lady and her husband. “Now that I see the gentleman she is married to, I suspect you were no more than bait to provoke his notice. Yet he appears a cold sort. I doubt even you could rouse his jealousy.”
Darcy turned to observe Mrs. Adams and her husband. “If she has married him for his fortune, she ought to be contented with his money, and leave the rest of us in peace.”
“Darcy, should your wife learn who this woman is, you will be in difficulty for allowing her to lead you away upon her arm. And you do realize that everyone will suppose she is your mistress.”
Darcy groaned. “Elizabeth knows I do not approve of such a mode of life, and those who know me well understand it also. Nevertheless, I ought not to have permitted myself to be led away from my bride by a courtesan. This will very likely occasion our first quarrel.”
Then, with a sudden laugh, he added, “She has noticed you now, Allen. I shall make my escape and leave you to disentangle yourself.”
“Wait, I shall come with you.”
Elizabeth danced with Mr. Allen and then with each of Darcy’s cousins. At supper, she sat surrounded by her new relations and began, for the first time, to feel herself truly received into her husband’s circle.
Later, she withdrew to the retiring room to refresh herself. Concealed behind a screen, she could not avoid overhearing two ladies who entered, wholly absorbed in their conversation.
“That shameless courtesan made directly for Mr. Darcy, and his hapless wife had not the slightest notion who she was, nor why she hovered so determinedly about her very desirable husband.”
Elizabeth then heard a soft laugh. “Dianna, Samantha Adams is very likely one of his former mistresses. Mother says she entertains only the wealthiest gentlemen.”
