“Antony, if it is on the Continent, with battles being fought everywhere, how could you possibly know that?” Georgiana asked.
“Because I have a friend in London who is an émigré from Vienna. She got tired of war, war, and more war, and snuck out of the country.”
“I am familiar with the music as there are waltzes in Mozart’s Don Giovanni,” Georgiana said. “But even if I have something in my music chest, no one here will know the steps.”
“Except me, my dear. You see, my friend has been giving me private lessons,” and for the first time that evening, Darcy adopted that stare which could bore a hole right through a man. Ignoring his cousin, Lord Fitzwilliam continued, “The dance calls for the gentleman to take the lady’s right hand and hold it thusly,” and he raised his arm to slightly below shoulder height, “and he then places his hand on the lady’s waist, while she puts her hand upon his shoulder. The dance begins with sliding steps followed by a bit of a hop. It is actually quite easy.”
Mr. Gardiner stared aghast at His Lordship. “Milord, I am not sure if you are to be taken seriously. Surely, no father or husband would approve of his daughter or wife performing such a dance in a public venue?”
“Oh, I would. Lady Eleanor may dance with whomever she chooses in any venue she chooses. But, Mrs. Gardiner, if you would permit me, I will provide you with a demonstration. It is not nearly as scandalous as you think.”
Georgiana jumped out of her seat and said to her cousin, “Antony, I am quite interested in new dances. Would you please show me the steps?” When she took Antony’s hand, she whispered, “I am begging you. Please behave. Do you not have lady friends in London with whom you could practice the waltz?”
“Of course, my dear. But you have identified the problem. They are in London, and I am here.”
Rather than risk being asked to dance again, Mrs. Gardiner quickly offered to play the tune to the best of her ability. All watched as Lord Fitzwilliam made elegant turns with his young cousin. Elizabeth viewed the performance with admiration as the couple executed the simple steps quite nicely.
“It is actually quite lovely,” Lizzy remarked. “I do not know if I would approve of it in a setting less intimate than this one, but it is elegant.”
Upon hearing that Elizabeth liked the display, Darcy stood up and offered his hand to her. “Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?” In short order, they were moving about the room as if they had been dancing together forever, and she wished it would go on forever. But when the music stopped, Richard bolted out of his seat and asked Mrs. Gardiner for a reprise of the waltz, so he might dance with her. As much as Lizzy liked the colonel, she wished he would go away.
Everyone was having such a good time “waltzing” that Lord Antony finally convinced Mrs. Gardiner to dance, and her husband was pleased to see his bride of more than a dozen years looking so beautiful on the dance floor. The evening ended with Lizzy and Darcy dancing the last waltz, and instead of holding her hand out as he had previously done, he wrapped his hand around hers and brought it to his chest and laid it against his heart.
While Darcy had been dancing the waltz with Elizabeth, his need for her to become a part of his life had moved into every fiber of his being. As a result, he was experiencing the acute frustration of someone who was being denied the one thing he wanted more than anything else. With Elizabeth returning to Longbourn in the morning, it was critical that he speak with her tonight because he needed her reassurances that she would not give Mr. Peterson any encouragement.
After the Gardiners announced that they were retiring, Darcy was hopeful the others would do likewise, but the brothers Fitzwilliam were enjoying their port while talking military strategy and the war on the Peninsula, in which the British were suffering large casualties as a result of dysentery, the bane of any army. However, as soon as Georgiana heard the word “dysentery,” she popped up and said she was ready to go to her bed, and Lizzy felt that she must leave as well.
Darcy followed the ladies into the foyer, and after kissing Georgiana good night, he asked Elizabeth if he could have a word with her. Because there was no time left for any misunderstandings, Lizzy took one step up on the stairs, so she could see his eyes. But, apparently, the particular word he had been searching for eluded him, and he remained silent and just stared at her. And so she would begin.
“I cannot praise Pemberley enough or your sister, who was a most gracious hostess, and I am indebted to you for taking me to Shepherd’s Cave and for your hospitality last night and this evening. I can say without hesitation that I will remember my time here at Pemberley for all of my life.”
“But I hope you will soon return to Pemberley,” Darcy said, surprised that she thought she might not be coming back.
Lizzy looked at him with a puzzled expression. “I do not think that likely, Mr. Darcy.”
“Elizabeth, I know there has been a lot of confusion, but I want you to know that I am taking steps…” and he took her hand in his.
Lizzy waited for him to finish the sentence, but he said nothing. Why could he just not tell her what he was doing? Say what he was feeling? Why was it necessary to have all of this suspense?
“Mr. Darcy, you have me at a disadvantage as it appears you know things that I do not. So let me say this. Picture, if you will, a castle on a hill with a village below. Dividing them is a deep chasm. If the two are ever to come together, it must be bridged, but you cannot span a chasm in a series of small steps. You must do it in one great leap of faith. There is no guarantee of its success, but it is the only way.”
“I understand. I truly do. But I must ask for your continued patience. I leave for London in the morning, and the matter that awaits me there will be settled. I am looking forward to a time when I may speak freely—when nothing binds me to silence.”
Lizzy saw the struggle in his eyes and leaned forward and put her cheek against his and rested it there for a moment before wishing him Godspeed and a successful journey.
After the maid had helped her out of her dress, Lizzy went to the dressing table so that Ellie could take down her hair. This was the part of having a maid that Lizzy had come to enjoy the most—someone brushing her hair. At home, Jane and she took turns, but here, she had the pleasure of someone running a brush through her hair night after night and doing so until asked to stop. But after tomorrow, she was back to taking turns with Jane.
“I hope you don’t mind, miss, but me and Lucy, Mrs. Gardiner’s maid, snuck downstairs and had a peek at the dancing. I never seen anything like it before.”
“Were you shocked, Ellie? Because, at first, I know I was. But the movements are so elegant. It is as if you are floating on a cloud, and everything is spinning all around you. It is exhilarating.”
“I was there when Mrs. Gardiner was dancing with His Lordship, and because her dress is wider than yours or Miss Darcy’s, it made it look like she was a spinning top—but a beautiful one. And I saw you dance with the master, and you were a right handsome pair.”
Lizzy steered the conversation away from Mr. Darcy. She felt it inappropriate to discuss the master of Pemberley with one of his servants, but she could not help but be pleased with Ellie’s comment.
Just before leaving, her maid reminded her that the letter that had come for her that morning was on the writing desk.
“Thank you. I had forgotten. I am sure it is from my sister,” and she was equally sure that Jane was writing to tell her that Lydia was doing her best not to return home from Brighton.
But after retrieving the post, Lizzy decided that she wasn’t quite ready to read her sister’s letter. Instead, as she lay on the bed staring at the pleated rose canopy, she remembered her last dance with Mr. Darcy and the feel of his hand around her waist and how he had brought her closer to him with each turn until they were only inches apart. The only way Mr. Darcy could have been closer to her was if he had actually pulled her into an embrace. She then remembered the previous night’s drea
m when Mr. Darcy had come to her bed, and she went over the scene again and again. Turning on her side, she pulled the pillow to her and dozed off in Mr. Darcy’s arms, and Jane’s letter lay unread on the bed.
“Richard, Antony, let us have a brandy in the study,” Darcy offered. Hearing the word “brandy” was enough to get His Lordship on his feet. After taking a drink, he remarked, “It is excellent, Darcy. Do you have it smuggled in from France?”
“My man arranges it. Apparently, Mercer has contacts on the coast from his coaching days, and because of Napoleon’s wars, the importers of wines and spirits from France are the ones who are suffering. It is my way of showing my support for the merchant class.”
“As a Tory and one who rarely supports any Whig policies, I must say I agree with this one,” and Antony raised his glass to allow the light to pass through the liquor. “If I had any ready cash, I would go and talk to Mercer myself.” Because Darcy made no cutting remarks about his profligate ways and seeing that he was in an agreeable mood, Antony decided to tease him. “Darcy, I feel I must point out that you are now twice in my debt.”
“Twice? How so?”
“The first, Sir John Montford, you already know. As for the second, if I had not suggested dancing the waltz, you would not have had that lovely creature in your arms.”
Darcy looked at Richard. How much had he told his brother about his feelings for Elizabeth?
“Oh, do not look at Richard. You never could hide your emotions. That is why you do not win at cards.”
“I see you are enjoying yourself at my expense.”
“I have to admit that I am. I do not think I have ever seen you more vulnerable. It almost makes you human and, therefore, much more like me.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Your being human or much more like me?” and the three men laughed. It was a rare event, but Darcy had to admit he owed the earl a debt of gratitude.
“May I take you up on your offer to stay at Pemberley for a few days? I am rarely in the country these days because Briarwood is falling apart, and it is damn depressing to hear my steward drone on and on about all that needs to be done on the outside and then to have to listen to the same thing from my butler and housekeeper. I have stopped reading their letters.”
“Yes, Georgiana will be here for another two weeks or so. Now that she has the responsibilities of the mistress of the manor, she wants to learn the ropes and will spend her time with Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Bradshaw.”
“But, hopefully, she will not have those responsibilities for much longer as you will be bringing your bride to Pemberley.”
“Before you announce my engagement to the world, Antony, may I remind you that there are things to be done in London first?”
“I agree there are loose ends that need to be tied up, but surely the matter is settled in favor of Elizabeth?”
“Yes, the matter is settled in my mind, and I am eager to be in London to settle it in fact. But until I have spoken to Miss Montford or her father, I do not want anything regarding the matter spread abroad.”
“I look forward to wishing you joy, and I might add that I envy you. My parents determined who my bride would be, and look how well that turned out! And poor Richard over there must marry a woman of wealth. You, however, will marry for love.”
“Before we break out the champagne, Antony, tell Will what is going on in London,” Richard said. “It may affect his plans, and you know he will say nothing.”
“Yes, I can see how that might happen,” and Antony revealed the continuing tragedy of George III. “Apparently, the death of Princess Amelia has pushed our king over the edge. He is no longer capable of ruling, and there will be no coming back this time. The wheels have begun to turn to make the Prince of Wales his regent, and it will happen early in the new year.”
“I am very sorry to hear it, but how does this news affect me personally?”
“The king’s list will remain unchanged, and Sir John Montford will be given his barony. However, his ties are to the king, and he has said some imprudent things about the Prince of Wales. Once the prince is made regent, he will cut everyone who ever criticized him.”
“That is no hardship on my part. I do not run with that crowd.”
“Will, don’t you see what could happen?” Richard asked. “Once Sir John learns that his friendship with the king will not work in his favor, he might be willing to overlook your politics in order to access your connections, and he may insist on your marrying his daughter.”
“But you just said no announcement is to be made regarding His Majesty until after the new year, so Miss Montford and I will have parted company long before then.”
“Darcy, Darcy, Darcy! Sometimes your naïveté amazes me,” Antony said. “London leaks like a sieve. The news is already starting to come out, and Sir John is likely to hear of it. So be sure that ending your courtship with Miss Montford is your first order of business, or it may end up being your last.”
Lizzy was still clinging to her pillow when she heard Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother come up the stairs. She did not mind the disruption because her waking thoughts were even more pleasant than her dreams, and flashes of the evening passed through her mind: the dance, the touch, looking into his eyes and seeing hope there, and resting her cheek against his. If only he had kissed her, the evening would have been perfect.
When Lizzy turned on her back, she felt the crush of Jane’s letter beneath her, and since the candle by her bed still burned, she began to read it.
My Dear Sister,
I hope you are enjoying your stay in Derbyshire and that it continues to be the ideal holiday for you. Although I regret writing anything that might take away from the pleasure of your visit, I must write of my concerns about Lydia. In her last two letters, she mentioned that a particular lieutenant was paying her a good deal of attention, someone she already knew from Meryton. She then wrote to Kitty to say that the officer’s first name began with a “G,” and when she next wrote, she indicated that his last initial was “W.” When I asked if the initials, G.W., belonged to Mr. Wickham, Kitty said that they did.
Lizzy, what possible reason can George Wickham have for paying so much attention to Lydia? We know her to be a silly girl, ill educated, and more importantly for Mr. Wickham, lacking a fortune.
I know Mr. Darcy gave you no specifics when he told you to be wary of anything Wickham had to say, but the implication was that he was not to be trusted. I spoke of my concerns to Papa, but he insists Lydia’s lack of fortune will protect her, especially since she is under the protection of the colonel. And I asked if such protection would protect her from a determined seducer, and, Lizzy, he actually laughed. He still sees Lydia as a child, and intellectually I agree with him. But physically, she is a woman. Papa did agree to write to the colonel to tell him he is sending Adam Hill to Brighton to escort Lydia home. But what if it is too late? If our father will not act, what can be done? Please write as soon as possible as I am greatly troubled by this news.
Love, Jane
As soon as she had read the last word, Lizzy was on her feet searching for her dressing gown. She needed to know from Mr. Darcy what injury Wickham had caused his family because she was convinced that it had something to do with Georgiana. When she went into the hallway, she ran straight into Mercer.
“Mr. Mercer, has Mr. Darcy retired for the night?” she asked in a quaking voice.
“Not yet, miss, but he was about to. Is something wrong?”
“Possibly. Would you please ask Mr. Darcy if I may speak with him?”
When Mercer went into the study, he found his master had removed his jacket and taken off his neckcloth and was staring into a snifter of brandy, watching as the amber liquid lapped the sides of the glass. This was something he often did when he needed to think.
“Are we ready, Mercer?”
“Sir, Miss Elizabeth is in the foyer asking to speak to you. She is quite disturbed.”
Darcy j
umped to his feet, and with no regard to his appearance, he went into the foyer and found Elizabeth in a considerable state of anxiety.
“Good grief, Elizabeth, what is wrong?” and he directed her to a sofa in the study. “Mercer, stay close.”
“Mr. Darcy, I have had a letter from Jane concerning my youngest sister, Lydia, who has been visiting with Colonel Forster and his family in Brighton. Apparently, she has met Mr. Wickham there, and it appears that for the last couple of weeks he has been paying her quite a bit of attention. I remembered your warning to me about him, and after being in his company on a number of occasions, I had the impression that he is not to be believed or trusted. But I am hoping he is not a bad man, merely an exaggerator and a flirt. May I ask you to read Jane’s letter, so that you might reassure me that he has no designs on my sister?”
Darcy took the letter, and it was as expected. To him, Wickham’s intent was clear: the seduction of Elizabeth’s youngest sister.
“But why?” Lizzy asked, unable to hide the anguish in her voice.
Darcy placed his hand on her cheek and, looking into her tear-filled eyes, explained the ugly truth. “It is because you believed me and not his lies, and this is his way of punishing you.” When Lizzy began to cry, he pulled her into his arms and rested his head upon hers. She fit perfectly, as he knew she would. He ran his fingers through her long dark curls and kissed the top of her head, trying to give her some comfort, but there was little else he could do at that moment.
Taking her by the hand, he led her to the chair closest to the fireplace, and he thought how beautiful she was, and despite her sadness, the pleasure he felt when holding her in his arms. But there was business to be done, and after handing her a glass of wine to calm her, he went into the foyer where Mercer waited.
A Wife for Mr. Darcy Page 17