Page 104 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“I suppose you are right,” Douglas said, scooting around her once more.

“I mentioned your affliction to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and she suggested that your boots may stink.”

“Stink?” Douglas demanded in mock outrage. “I swear to you, they do not stink.”

“The noses of predators are more powerful than those of humans,” Darcy pointed out. “You mentioned that other cats also wish to scratch your boots.”

“But dogs do not.”

“But dogs roll in manure and all sorts of other noxious things found on the ground,” Georgiana observed, grinning widely. “And it serves you right for wearing your boots in the house.”

Douglas continued to make his way around Miss Bingley’s person, keeping her between himself and her cat. “I was going to change into my pumps after we said our farewells.”

“Brewster,” Bingley said, chuckling, “kindly take Basile away until the colonel can change his boots.”

“Certainly, sir,” the butler said. He came forward, swiftly lifted the cat from the floor before Basile could evade him, and held him firmly under his arm. Basile succumbed to being manhandled. Brewster glanced down the nearest corridor and gestured for a footman to come and wait on their master’s pleasure.

When Georgiana lifted her face, Darcy kissed her cheek.

“Have a wonderful time,” she told him. “We are going to have a cosey meal in front of the window overlooking the grounds. Afterward, Cousin Douglas is going to permit me to trounce him in backgammon.”

“Am I?” Douglas asked, chuckling. “We will see, my girl.”

“By Jove,” Bingley said, accepting his gloves, hat, and scarf from his valet, Griffin, “that sounds like a capital way to spend an evening.”

“We are going,” Miss Bingley said in a firm tone.

Her brother blinked. “I did not mean to imply anything else, dear Sister.”

“Humph,” Miss Bingley said. To their guests, she said, smiling, “Have a pleasant evening, Colonel, Georgiana.”

“We will,” Douglas replied, returning her smile. “And you, also. The evening sky looks to be clear and fine. A perfect night for viewing the spectacular comet.”

Darcy found his bruiser of a valet at his elbow. He took his gloves, hat, and scarf from Elliot. In a quiet voice he said, “Mind things while we are gone.”

“Sir,” Elliot murmured.

“Good man.”

*

Lizzy clasped the pink spinel and pearl choker necklace around her neck. The piece, with its matching earrings, had been given to her by her father’s mother. “Second daughters should have something pretty, too,” grandmama had said. Lizzy heartily agreed. It was not her practice to wear her prized bits of jewelry to a mere dinner and scientific evening, but Lizzy wanted to shine tonight. Her hair had been dressed with a spray of tiny pink silk flowers.

Rising from the chair in front of the dressing table, Lizzy shook out and smoothed the skirts of her blushing-pink dress. A lavishly embroidered sash adorned the margin between her skirts and her bodice. White lace points graced her neckline, capped sleeves, and hem.

Jane, already dressed in a pale-blue evening gown, presented Lizzy with a light-weight shawl of a delicate green paisley silk. Jane assisted her in arranging the shawl artfully about her shoulders.

After standing back to look Lizzy over, Jane said, smiling, “You look like a rose.”

“Thank you.” Lizzy laughed, a little self-conscious. “Well, Jane, dearest, you look like a bluebell.”

“I love bluebells,” Jane claimed, grinning. She turned toward the door. “You are the last to be ready, so we had best go down before Papa sends Mary after us.”

Lizzy snatched her pink reticule from the bed and hurried after Jane. As they rushed down the main staircase, she spied her father talking amicably with Mary, who wore her usual drab green evening gown, though she had placed a lavender grosgrain bow in her hair.

“There you are,” Papa said. He smiled and offered his arm to Jane. He carried a walking stick in his other hand. “Let us proceed. Childwickbury is a half hour drive. You know, I am the luckiest father in all of Hertfordshire to have three such pretty girls as my daughters.”

His words made Lizzy and Jane smile. Mary, however, winced. Lizzy linked her arm with her sister’s. “You look very nice tonight, Mary. Did you bring your spectacles?”