Lady Grantham smiled softly. “Many of the things you have heard are untrue.”
“But that is the problem,” said Elizabeth. “I have heard nothing of substance, and I cannot help but wonder what is the cause.” Her cheeks were bright red, and she hoped Lady Grantham did not think badly of her.
“Oh, Mrs. Darcy, I can see you have many questions to ask, but I cannot answer them. I know few facts, but I do know Miss Dearborn has had a sad life and suffered for the actions of others.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something, but her ladyship quickly forestalled her.
“Ask Mr. Darcy. He knows her story better than anyone. He can tell you all you need to know.”
Elizabeth gave a small smile. Lady Grantham could not know how stubborn her husband was. He had made it clear he would not discuss Miss Dearborn. She looked across the room where the lady herself was about to join the next dance. She was laughing with her partner. Elizabeth wondered what the sadness was that her ladyship spoke of.
Lady Grantham followed her gaze, and gently squeezed her arm. “Come, I want to introduce you to Mrs. Wyatt and her daughter. I believe they reside in Hertfordshire.”
Elizabeth reluctantly followed her and allowed her ladyship to introduce her to the mother and daughter, who were feeling rather nervous. The daughter had been ill for some weeks and it was their first ball. Elizabeth listened, smiled, but said little. Although she tried, she could not shake off the presence of Adeline Dearborn.
IT WAS NEARLY midnight when the guests all sat down to dinner. Elizabeth found herself sitting next to Lord Grantham’s son. Mr. Darcy was seated on the opposite side of the table between Mrs. Wyatt and Georgiana. Adeline Dearborn, she noticed, was seated a little further down from Mr. Darcy next to a man she did not recognise. Even at a distance her beauty shone out.
Elizabeth turned away and tried to listen to Lord Grantham’s son. She felt a little sorry for him, as he talked about the pleasure he felt ‘when dancing with Miss Darcy.’ She suspected he had feelings for Georgiana, but as yet Georgiana had given no sign that any young man had caught her heart and had been adamant that she would not dance with anyone on more than one occasion. There was little she could say to comfort him, and she was relieved when he turned to talk to Miss Wyatt on his left.
Elizabeth was enjoying some fish when a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
“How dare you!”
There was a shocked silence and heads turned to see what the matter was.
Elizabeth looked to her right. Miss Dearborn was no longer seated, but standing, slapping at the man who was trying to pull at her dress.
“Oh, come on, Addy. You know you have always been free with your ways,” whined the man.
Miss Dearborn glared at him contemptuously and the next moment she had picked up her wine glass and poured the contents over the man’s head. There was a collective gasp of horror and the man yelled in fury. Getting to his feet, he swayed as he tried to hit out at her.
No one moved except Mr. Darcy, who was quickly by the man’s side. “Villiers, I think you should leave.”
The man picked up his glass and went to hit Mr. Darcy, but Mr. Darcy caught his arm and held it so tightly, the glass dropped to the table.
“Who do you think you are, Darcy? It’s nothing to do with you…”
“It’s everyone’s business when you attack a lady,” said Mr. Darcy quietly.
The man sneered and pushed his face up towards Mr. Darcy’s. “Lady? She’s no lady. Oh, I’m forgetting, she was one of your whores, wasn’t she?”
Elizabeth was inwardly shaking. There was no sound in the room apart from the heavy breathing of the man. It was almost as if the entire room were holding their breaths to see what would happen next. Elizabeth knew her husband was not a violent man, but she did not know what he would do in the face of such an insult.
She did not have to wait long. Mr. Darcy glared at him in disgust and he suddenly yanked the man by the collar of his jacket and dragged him towards a hovering footman. The man tried to fight back, but he’d imbibed far too much wine and was unsteady on his feet. Another footman appeared, and they quickly removed the man from the room as he shouted and threatened. “I will get you for this, Darcy… I will get you… do you hear?”
Mr. Darcy did not respond, but returned to his seat.
“I apologise,” he said looking at the Duke, who was at the head of the table.
“Nothing to apologise for, Darcy.”
Miss Dearborn had not moved. Her cheeks were bright red, and it was the first time that Elizabeth had seen her look anything but confident. She gestured to the footman for some wine and he uncertainly filled up her glass again. She put the glass to her lips and in a defiant gesture drank the liquid down in one go. She then put the glass back on the table and smiled vaguely towards their host.
“What a lovely evening, sir. I think perhaps it is time I left.”
“There is no need, Miss Dearborn,” said the Duke.
Miss Dearborn looked up and down the table. Her smile was sad. “Oh, yes, there is. Good night.”
The room was still silent as she left and no one tried to stop her. Moments later Mr. Darcy suddenly stood up and followed her.
Elizabeth stayed where she was. All eyes now seemed to be upon her. Should she follow? She looked across to Georgiana, who was looking mortified. Elizabeth smiled at her encouragingly and then not know what else to do she carefully picked up her fork and started to eat. Lady Grantham smiled at her approvingly and she also started to eat and very soon, others followed and it was not long before everyone were eating and talking again.
Neither Miss Dearborn nor the man who had insulted her were mentioned and even when Mr. Darcy returned, he was able to slip back into his seat without any one saying anything. Shortly after his return the musicians started to play and the guests started to drift away from the table as they went to enjoy the dancing.
Elizabeth stayed in her seat until everyone had departed expect for Mr. Darcy. He came around the table and sat down next to her.
“Should we leave?” she asked quietly.
Mr. Darcy looked at her in surprise. “No, Mrs. Darcy. I have done nothing wrong.”
“That man, Villiers, he said…”
Mr. Darcy shook his head as footmen arrived to clear away.
Elizabeth pushed back her chair and stood up. “Perhaps we should join the others.”
Mr. Darcy nodded, and offered her his arm. She took it hoping he could not feel she was shaking. He’d said he had done nothing wrong. Well, nor had she. After what had happened, everyone was going to pity her, , but she was determined to hold her head high.
11
Elizabeth found the rest of the ball one of the most difficult nights of her life. She talked with people, she danced with those who asked her, and she smiled until her jaw ached. Not once did she give any indication of her inner turmoil. Mr. Darcy did not return to the library and when she was not dancing, he was close by her side. Whether his sudden devotion was out of guilt, she did not know and although she answered him when he addressed her, she refused to make eye contact with him. She knew people were whispering about her, but refused to be cowed by the gossips.
It was the early hours of the morning when they said their goodbyes and got into their carriage to return to Connaught Place. Georgiana was brimming over with happiness. “I don’t think I sat down once,” she said. “And I had many compliments about my dress.”
“That’s because you look beautiful,” said Elizabeth truthfully. “And I believe you are in danger of breaking the heart of more than one gentleman.”
“I am not,” denied Georgiana looking embarrassed. “Who could you mean?”
Elizabeth refused to say. She had no intention of giving away anything that had been said to her, but she knew there were at least three young men who were hoping that Georgiana would agree to a future with them. She only hoped that she would not keep them waiting too long.
“Well, it was a lovely evening except for that strange incident at dinner.”
Elizabeth stole a glance at her husband. She could not see Mr. Darcy’s expression, but she could see the tension in his jaw.
“There is nothing to say. The Earl’s behaviour was disgraceful.”
Georgiana’s voice was full of admiration. “But Miss Dearborn threw the wine. I would not have dared.”
“I should think not,” said Elizabeth. “It was not behaviour becoming of a lady.”
“But perhaps appropriate when someone is sorely tried,” said Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth was shocked. “So you would defend such behaviour, Mr. Darcy?”
“No, Mrs. Darcy, I would not,” he said patiently, speaking to her as if she was a child, “but I can see there might be occasions when a person feels there is no other course they might take. I believe this was one such occasion.”
Elizabeth sat back in her seat. She did not understand Mr. Darcy at all. She remembered before their marriage how he had criticised her sisters, mother and even her father for their behaviour in public. Perhaps it was a little different because Miss Dearborn had been insulted by the earl, but neither of them had been privy to exactly what had been said. Perhaps Miss Dearborn had said something or done something to invite the insult.
“You seem to have an interest in defending Miss Dearborn,” said Elizabeth. “I am sure people were surprised at it.”
“Fitzwilliam was the only gentleman to come to her assistance. I think it is to be admired,” said Georgiana stoutly. “Do you not think so?”
“If someone is worthy of it, yes.” Elizabeth knew she sounded bitter and was cross with herself for being so.
Georgiana looked between them. “And is Miss Dearborn not worthy of it?”
“Any person who is shamed in public when they have done nothing wrong deserves our sympathy,” said Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth heard the censure in his tone and she felt her cheeks glow with sudden heat.
“Sometimes it is hard to be sympathetic when people are so secretive, Mr. Darcy.”
Her husband did not flinch. “I will never indulge in idle gossip. Some matters are best left in the past.”
Georgiana stared at them both. “I wish I understood what you are talking about.”
Elizabeth wished she did too, but she had to accept that Mr. Darcy had no intention of explaining the mystery of Adeline Dearborn, which left her to believe Miss Dearborn meant more to her husband than he was prepared to say. Elizabeth felt as if her heart was breaking.
ELIZABETH SLEPT BADLY, though she was not surprised. Since they had met Miss Dearborn, she had found it difficult to sleep and when she did, she was plagued with vivid dreams which left her feeling tired and bad-tempered when she awoke.
Later that morning Georgiana came to Elizabeth’s room where she was writing letters, looking troubled.
“Elizabeth, what is wrong between you and Fitzwilliam?”
Elizabeth was immediately on her guard. “There is nothing wrong,” she said vaguely, her eyes firmly fixed on the half-written letter before her, hoping Georgiana would go away.
Georgiana was not so easily dismissed. Uninvited, she sat down on the window seat. “Is it something I have done?”
Elizabeth’s raised her head and put down her quill. “You have done nothing.”
Georgiana picked nervously at one of her nails. “Then what is it? I have not seen Fitzwilliam so cold. He is just as he was before you were married.”
Elizabeth immediately felt in a quandary. She would not criticise Fitzwilliam to his sister. Georgiana loved and respected her older brother and Elizabeth would say nothing to damage their relationship. “It is nothing, I promise you.” She smiled at Georgiana. “Have you remembered the Gardiners are coming to dine tonight?”
Georgiana’s normally pretty features were still pulled into a frown. “I do not think I want to be here if you and Fitzwilliam are warring with each other.”
“Georgiana, we are not.” Elizabeth was genuinely shocked that she could say such a thing.
Georgiana refused to be comforted. Her chin took on the same determined angle of her brother’s. “Elizabeth, do not treat me as if I was a child. Something is wrong, I know it. And it’s very upsetting. Even before last night I felt it, but I did not know why.”
Elizabeth felt badly. She had been so angry with Mr. Darcy and her own hurt feelings, she had forgotten how it might affect Georgiana. They had not been warring in front of her, but there had been little laughter. She felt ashamed. She had promised herself that Georgiana would enjoy her season and now she and Fitzwilliam were spoiling it for her. Before the unexpected arrival of Adeline Dearborn, she and Fitzwilliam had been happy, truly happy. Somehow, she had to find a way for them to be happy again.
She pushed her letter writing aside and joined Georgiana on the window seat, taking Georgiana’s hand in hers. “I am sorry, Georgiana. I can see I have been quite selfish. I love your brother very much. We have been annoyed with each other, but it is over now, I promise you.”
Georgiana’s blue eyes were filled with tears. “Are you certain? Because it makes me feel quite ill to have you cross with each other.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I am.”
A tear ran down Georgiana’s cheek and she brushed it impatiently away. “I cannot bear to think you and Fitzwilliam are no longer happy. Since you were married, Pemberley has been a joyful home… but now…”
“And it will be again,” said Elizabeth firmly. “And here too. Your season will be a great success. That’s what Fitzwilliam and I both want.”
“But what about you and Fitzwilliam? I could never contemplate giving my heart to anyone unless you are both happy. It is your marriage by which I will judge my own in the future.”
Elizabeth felt tears pricking her own eyes though she was determined not to let them fall. She dropped a kiss on Georgiana’s forehead and inwardly sighed. “I promise you, Fitzwilliam and I are not warring with each other and I am sorry that we have worried you.”
“And things will return to normal?”
“Yes, they will.”
Georgiana hugged her and as Elizabeth returned the embrace, she inwardly sighed. She knew she was going to have to put aside her own feelings and use every ounce of inner strength to uphold the promise she had just made. It would not be easy.
WHEN THEY WENT down to breakfast, she made every effort to act naturally with Mr. Darcy. If he was surprised by the sudden change in her manner, he did not betray it and their meal was a more comfortable affair than the ones in recent days.
As they ate their meal Mrs. Winter brought in letters and the early morning paper. Georgiana was delighted to have a letter from Kitty Bennet, Elizabeth’s sister, whom she had become very friendly with. Elizabeth was equally pleased to have two letters of her own, one from her dear sister Jane and the other from Charlotte Collins, her best friend.
Mr. Darcy too had letters, but he did not open them or share with them who they were from and Elizabeth did not enquire. He skimmed the newspaper before folding it up and putting it aside to finish his meal.
“Mrs. Darcy, I have business in the city this afternoon. I shall not be back until late.”
Elizabeth was concerned. “You have remembered the Gardiners are coming to dine this evening? They would be sad if they did not see you.”
Mr. Darcy smiled at his wife. “I shall be back. I have some business I wish to discuss with Mr. Gardiner.”
Elizabeth was pleased. She knew her uncle thought highly of Mr. Darcy and was always grateful to be consulted on any matters.
“Well, do not be late, we will be dining early.”
Mr. Darcy gathered up his letters and got to his feet. “I will see you later. Georgiana, I hope you will play for us all this evening.”
Georgiana blushed. “I have yet to decide which piece to play.”
“Whatever it is, I know we will all enjoy it,” said Mr. Darcy with a smile.
The second letter from her elder sister Jane also contained a great deal of talk about children. Jane was expecting a second child in the springtime and she was currently feeling rather unwell. Elizabeth felt worried. It was not like her sister to even mention feeling indisposed. She knew Jane had people to take care of her, but she wished she could be with her. She would write to her at once.
“How is Kitty?” asked Elizabeth as she put her own letters aside.
“I think she is rather bored. The weather, it seems, has been very tiresome and she caught a chill and spent three days in bed,” said Georgiana, looking at the letter. “I was wondering, do you think she might come and stay here? I think she is lonely without you and Mrs. Bingley.”
“She is, but I think she might be a little envious if you are always going to balls,” said Elizabeth as she finished her coffee.
“Kitty can come with me,” said Georgiana. “It would be fun to have someone to discuss the gentlemen and the dresses.”
Elizabeth was perplexed. “But it would not be possible. Kitty will not have been invited.”
“She soon will be when it is known that she is in town,” said Georgiana confidently.
“I will talk to Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth cautiously. She was not sure Fitzwilliam would welcome a visit from Kitty. Although much improved, her sister’s silly nature was one that got on her husband’s nerves. She was sure her mother would be delighted to have Kitty off her hands. Mrs. Bennet had sent her several hints saying it was her duty to find her sister a husband.
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