Chapter Sixteen #3
“I do not know what you are talking about,” Wickham claimed, still smiling. “What are you doing this evening?”
“I have been invited to Mrs. Phillips’ house for dinner and an evening of friendly games,” Denny replied. “She promised us that her two young nieces will be there as well.”
“Us?”
“Chamberlayne is coming, too,” Denny told him.
“Remind him that he is affianced, will you?” Wickham silently cursing the younger officer for being betrothed to a minor heiress.
I wish I had a minor heiress. I almost had one two summers ago—except that Georgiana’s dowry would have set us up with an annual income of around ￡1500—more than a minor heiress would supply.
“Chamberlayne is besotted with his fiancé,” Denny reminded him, turning to take his white gloves from their batman. “He will not step out on her for anything, even if the two Bennet sisters are jolly company.”
“I wish you joy in your evening entertainment,” Wickham said in a drawling voice. Being almost ten years older than Denny made him feel ancient.
“And you also,” Denny said, grinning.
Oh, I will have some fun, if nothing else.
*
Darcy left his bedchamber and wandered down the main staircase to the entrance hall, a smile of anticipation playing over his lips.
He had enjoyed his time with Miss Elizabeth exceedingly today, and he looked forward to seeing her again this evening.
He could not remember a time when any woman had captivated him so much.
In the entrance hall, he found that Miss Bingley and his friend had come down before him. Douglas and Georgiana stood speaking with them as they waited. Brewster stood against the wall by the entrance door, waiting to open it for his master and party as soon as they needed him.
Darcy spied Basile crouched beside Miss Bingley’s skirts, his tail swishing back and forth as he eyed Douglas’ boots. The cat gathered himself and pounced. However, his cousin leapt out of the way just in time to avoid any molestation of their pristine shine.
“Oh, ho!” Douglas cried, hurrying behind Miss Bingley. “He is at it again.”
Darcy laughed, coming down the last few steps into the entrance hall.
“Well may you laugh, Cousin, but Basile is determined to destroy my boots. We purchased a harness and lead for him today in order to take him safely in the gig. Perhaps we should use it in the house, as well.”
“Oh, no,” Miss Bingley said, shaking her head violently. “He must have his freedom in the house.”
“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?”
“They are in my reticule,” Mary explained. “I want to be able to see the comet through the lens of Lord Wulfrun’s telescope. Vanity is a foolish concern.”
“That is a sensible attitude.” Lizzy guided her sister out the main door and down to where their carriage stood waiting. A groom stood next to the open door, ready to assist them inside.
“I hope we will be able to see the comet’s nucleus. I fear it may be obscured by its coma,” Mary said.
Jane, about to enter the carriage, turned and asked, “Oh? What is a coma?”
“Come along, my dear, I will explain once we are seated,” Papa said, waving toward the inside of the carriage.
“I beg your pardon, Papa,” Jane murmured, climbing the steps.
The carriage swayed as she took her seat facing forward. Lizzy followed after, facing to the rear. Mary joined her, and finally their father climbed in and sat beside Jane. The carriage door shut and they were on their way.
“Coma, father?” Jane reminded him.
“Yes, of course. The coma is the gases that surround the nucleus,” he explained.
“It forms the majority of what we can see with our naked eyes. The nucleus is the solid center of the comet.” He held up his gloved hand.
“Do not ask me to explain any further. No doubt our host will give a small lecture on the subject during our viewing. Possibly even over our meal.” He fixed his gaze on Mary.
“Will Miss Darcy and her brother be coming tonight?”
“Mr. Darcy will be there, but not Georgiana, who does not enjoy being amongst strangers,” Mary explained.
“Mr. Bingley and Miss Bingley will be there, as well,” Jane told them.
“Will there be many at the viewing, Papa?” Lizzy asked.
Their father shrugged. “I cannot say. I hope not, else we will have very little time viewing the comet through the telescope.”