Chapter 41
The morning light touched Elizabeth’s face, and she opened her eyes in momentary confusion. Then she remembered her husband was home and immediately rang for her maid — it was probably close to breakfast time.
She hurried poor Janey, taking over half the dressing and pinning her own hair with impatient fingers. A knock on the door made her startle, and a smile appeared on her lips. He entered as she was setting the last pin in place.
“Good morning, Elizabeth,” he said, and the maid excused herself.
“Good morning. You look much better. I mean — rested,” she replied.
“You look rested, too, though you look delightful even when you are tired.”
“What a flatterer you are, sir! But you are right — I really slept very well since I had no more reason to fret.”
“I know you did,” he said with a smile. “Last night, I came to see you…just to say good night…but you were already soundly asleep, and I did not want to disturb you.”
She stared at him, incredulous. “You did? I waited for a while but then, I…perhaps… But I came to see you, too, and you were deeply asleep!”
His eyes widened in surprise. “What bad timing! I would have rather spent a little more time with you in my arms than slept.”
She blushed and laughed nervously. “There will be plenty of opportunities to spend time together when we are not so tired. Would you tell me how you settled the business in Newport?”
“As you know now, that was Wickham’s primary abode — almost everything he owned was stored there.
The place was run by this Mrs Longley She was a complete stranger to me.
She had not heard Wickham was dead so had quite a shock when we told her.
She admitted they planned to leave the country together, and she was trying to sell the inn.
Regardless, Mr Ross and his men collected everything that belonged to Wickham.
There were several papers that could have been damaging to our family.
My dear father was utterly fooled by that scoundrel.
I trust Mr Gardiner will help me rectify what damage remains.
Besides the money lost in ill-judged investments, he pawned several family jewels, which are long sold and the money wasted, as expected. ”
“How sad to witness the weakness of a strong and otherwise excellent man… And Georgiana?”
“I shall give her the letters to do with them as she pleases. I am still upset with her — or rather I have discovered another reason to be upset as Mrs Longley asserted that Wickham was carrying on a correspondence with my sister for at least a month before the elopement. But since I have now removed the danger, I shall allow her to be reprimanded by her own conscience.”
“It would do no good now to damage the newly repaired relationship and trust you have built with her. I believe you could not blame her more than she already blames herself. I, for one, am glad everything is settled now. What about Mrs Longley and Mrs Younge?”
“We cannot accuse Mrs Longley of anything. She certainly knew of Wickham’s plans, but she never met or approached anyone in our family.
She is of no interest to us. As for Mrs Younge, she will remain in prison for a few more weeks.
Mr Ross suggested that she might find a new life in the warmth of New South Wales preferable to the prison’s cold walls during an English winter. ”
“I am sure Mr Ross is right, and that woman will see the wisdom in such a choice.”
“And that, I hope, will be the last time we hear or speak about any of those people again. May I ask how you fared with your family while I was away?” he enquired.
“I would say it was equally trying. I did not leave the house, and I had the support of the entire household, but I was as tired as if I had been on the road with you,” she tried to joke, but a frown appeared on his face.
“Your stepmother would probably exhaust anyone.”
“In the end, she crossed every boundary and exhausted the very last of my patience, so I told her everything I had wished to say these last fifteen years but had kept to myself for the sake of my father and Jane. I may safely conclude that she will never visit again unexpectedly. My father might, though.”
He smiled and gently cupped her face. “Your father is easily contented, as long as we provide him with books and a quiet place to enjoy them. I just wish you to be happy, Elizabeth.”
“I trust I shall be, Fitzwilliam,” she answered, then rose onto her toes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. “Now let us go to breakfast — I am sure we are expected.”
“Are you ready for the party tonight?” he asked a few moments later, as they descended the stairs.
“Ready and nervous,” she admitted. “I anticipate arriving there but more so departing and returning home.”
“As do I.” He paused. “In all honesty, I am more eager to be home with you again, once it is finished.”
Quivers ran down her spine at his words but mostly at his hoarse voice and intense gaze. Did he mean what she thought he did?
***
Darcy cast a look at his image in the mirror; he was properly attired for the evening, the crisp white of his shirt and intricately tied cravat contrasting with the black of his trousers and coat and the waistcoat his man had insisted on to match his wife’s gown. He was ready.
He was eager to see his wife and, for the first time in his life, eager to dance — with her.
They had not spoken of it openly, but he assumed, he hoped, that their time had come, that it might be their night.
He had no intention of insisting unless she showed the same desire.
She had been in his room the previous night — how could he not have heard, not have felt her presence?
He had entered her room with uncertain expectations but had allowed her to rest, correctly guessing that the last few days had been trying for her.
Apparently, she had done the same. Had she gone to his room with the same hopes as his?
Regardless, that moment, as well as the past weeks, was over. He now had the present and the future to enjoy by her side.
“Fitzwilliam? Are you ready? May I come in?” her gentle voice asked.
There she was, in the doorway, a vision in red and gold that made his heart race.
He knew not what the details of the gown were or what the cut was called, but he could appreciate how well it fitted her pleasing figure; her creamy shoulders and the gentle swell of her breasts, upon which the large solitary ruby rested, all attracted his regard.
He swallowed. The set, complete with delicate earrings and a few jewelled pins that Janey had arranged in her dark hair, complemented the milky skin of her nape.
It was perfect for the occasion but paled in comparison to her own ethereal looks.
“You are beautiful, Mrs Darcy. Exquisite. Bewitching. I am sorry to say we shall not be going anywhere after all. I do not think I want any other man to look upon you tonight.”
“I am glad to have your approval, Mr Darcy. You look very handsome yourself. On the contrary, I must insist we go if only to show myself on the arm of my fine-looking and elegant husband.”
Beneath their playful banter he could feel the depth of his own emotions — and read the same in her eyes.
He offered her his arm, and they descended to find her sister and Bingley were already waiting.
Bingley looked completely besotted, and with good reason — Miss Jane Bennet was beautiful, in a cerulean blue that complemented her complexion and fair hair, her serene expression giving her an angelic quality heightened by her flush as she smiled at Bingley shyly.
“Shall we?” Darcy said.
The drive to Matlock House was very short; the party being quite a private and intimate occasion, there was no receiving line, and they were announced as soon as they arrived. Several other guests were already there, and Colonel Fitzwilliam was the first to reach them and greet them warmly.
“Mrs Darcy, Miss Bennet, you both look beautiful. I must take this opportunity to ask for at least a set from each of you.”
“It would be my pleasure, Colonel,” Jane whispered. “Mr Bingley has already asked for the first set.”
“Then I shall secure the second,” the colonel said. “And you, Mrs Darcy?”
“Mrs Darcy will dance the first and the last with me,” Darcy said. “As for the rest, that is entirely her decision.”
“Then may I have the supper set?” the colonel insisted.
“Of course you may, Colonel,” Elizabeth answered.
“Darcy, you intend to dance two sets? Really?” his cousin teased him.
“The other guests will be shocked, I am sure. I wonder if anybody has ever seen such a performance from you at a ball. I am not sure whether he told you, Mrs Darcy, but my cousin used to loathe balls, and he rarely danced, except perhaps with family members.”
“I still loathe balls and dancing with strangers, but I shall rejoice in the pleasure of dancing with my wife,” he answered so seriously that Elizabeth and the colonel laughed.
“What is so amusing?” Lady Matlock approached.
“I must have my share of the conversation! By the way, Elizabeth, Miss Bennet, you both look exquisite. But the gown you have chosen, my dear niece, enhanced by the rubies, is exactly the impression you needed to make tonight. I am exceedingly pleased to see you.”
“Darcy was just saying he will dance two sets with his wife,” the colonel explained, after both Elizabeth and Jane thanked Lady Matlock and complimented her in return. The lady’s eyebrow arched.
“It is not fashionable for one to dance with one’s wife,” she said.
“It might not be, dear aunt, but I shall certainly do it. Especially since this is my first opportunity to dance with Elizabeth,” he replied, and the lady narrowed her eyes.
“Then I am counting on you to dance with unmarried young ladies too. It is a courtesy that you owe me, as your hostess, and I shall not hear otherwise.”
He abandoned the attempt to argue with her; she was right — he did owe her more than a little courtesy, considering the support she had shown Elizabeth.
But he hoped she would be too busy introducing his wife to the other guests to pay attention to his dance partners; he may still have some respite.
Gradually, the other guests arrived, including the Gardiners and Thomas Crawford. The gentlemen also asked for a set from both Elizabeth and Jane as soon as greetings were made; before the music even began, neither sister had a set free all evening.
Lady Matlock took Elizabeth with her to mingle with and introduce her to the guests.
Small talk was made, pleasantries exchanged, polite smiles shared.
Darcy noticed several young women, with whom he was well acquainted, who had entertained certain hopes in his direction and probably despised him for marrying outside their circle, gazing at him.
Were these the potential dance partners his aunt had suggested?
He thought not. Other than a polite but curt nod, he paid them no heed.
However, he could not disregard the way several gentlemen’s eyes repeatedly returned to Elizabeth, and something seized in his chest. He had never been jealous before — he had always considered it a shallow and undignified sentiment — but suddenly, he felt overwhelmed by it.
Elizabeth seemed comfortable enough in the midst of those strangers and under their scrutiny. Nevertheless, she glanced at him often, and each time he was tempted to hurry to her side, but he knew Lady Matlock would strongly disapprove of such action.
Eventually, the music began and the couples formed lines. Holding his wife’s hand, Darcy escorted her to their position with such joyful anticipation that he surprised even himself.
During the first set, they spoke little but kept their eyes locked most of the time.
“You are an accomplished dancer, Mr Darcy! May I ask where you acquired such skills since you despise balls so much?” she teased him.
His eyes were fixed on her lips, his own twisted into a mischievous smile.
“I have acquired some skills and knowledge in my eight-and-twenty years, but I did not take pleasure in any of them until I met you. Dancing is only one.”
The sudden blush that coloured her face enchanted him even more.
“I am quite eager to discover the others,” she replied in a low voice, her chin raised and the hint of a smug smile on her lips.
The music ended, and he had no time to answer properly — firstly, because of the sudden lump in his throat and the growing heat inside him, and secondly, because Lord and Lady Matlock, the colonel, the viscount, and several other guests approached and engaged them in conversation.
For the rest of the party, Darcy rarely had the pleasure of his wife’s close company.
He danced with Miss Bennet, then with three other young ladies, and spent the remainder of the evening admiring his wife as he walked about the room.
Elizabeth danced every set. They met again only at supper, when he insisted on sitting near her and the colonel.
They did not have much privacy for talking, but at least he could feel her nearness.
“You are an excellent dancer, Mrs Darcy,” he teased her.
“Thank you. As I said, your performance is even more impressive since you insist you have not practised much.”
“However, I must admit I did not enjoy watching you,” he whispered.
“You did not?”
“Not at all. I found little pleasure in seeing you dance with other men.”
“Are you jealous, Mr Darcy?”
“I confess I am.”
“Then I shall confess I am jealous too. I found it unsettling to see you in close proximity to other ladies. I am quite relieved you are not fond of this sort of entertainment.”
Despite the teasing tone and their light conversation, he knew there was a trace of truth in his words — and, he thought, in hers. While he was slightly embarrassed by his jealousy, he found hers particularly alluring.
Hours passed, and the party progressed pleasantly until it was time for Darcy to take his wife’s hand for the final set.
He was well aware that the end of the party meant their return to the privacy of their home and, later, their chambers.
If nothing more, at least he would have her close to him, alone, perhaps in his arms, perhaps his lips savouring hers, perhaps…
He became lost in her silent stare, and her fingers lingering against his for a moment longer than was proper in public. He was aware of many eyes upon them, but he cared little about them and their possible disapproval as long as his wife’s intent regard and promising smile warmed him.
The end of the music and soon afterwards the party brought Darcy a profound sense of relief but also restlessness for the moment when, after many excruciating minutes of thanks, farewells, and promises to call, they could finally take their leave.