Chapter 7 The Countess Prevails
Darcy stood at his desk while his aunt reproved him, and his cousin looked on with undisguised amusement.
“Nephew, you shall not leave yet. I agreed to forgo a second dinner, but I did not agree to let you run off to Kent. Your eccentric aunt may wait. If the house is haunted, those spirits will keep for a month longer. Fortunately for you, there is little diversion at present, but Lady Sophia is to host a soirée at which several young ladies will perform at the pianoforte. You will have the opportunity to meet eligible women without fixing your attention upon any one of them. It would be best not to raise expectations where none are intended. Happily, neither Lady Isabella nor Lady Horatia departed with any illusions. You made yourself perfectly clear.”
“Aunt Helen, Lady Horatia is a sot.” He rolled his eyes, “The other is a termagant.”
“Do not imagine I shall release you so easily. You will remain and be seen, so that the ton may understand you are in want of a wife.”
Richard nudged him. “Come, Darcy, you shall not escape. Let us endure it and be done, and then we may attend Lady Catherine.”
“It would serve me better to remove Georgiana from the present danger. She is much distressed since that blackguard escaped.”
Lady Helen scowled impatiently.
“Then bring her here, to Matlock House. There is room enough for her. Have you hired a companion yet?”
“No, Aunt Helen. You would be shocked by the quality of the women who have applied.”
Darcy pressed his lips as he considered. “I shall do it. Perhaps she may recover her appetite under your roof. Though I am loath to admit it, few could fail to improve their spirits in Richard’s company, though the effect may not be wholly beneficial.”
Richard raised a brow. “You wound me, cousin. I have long been considered a restorative influence.”
“You are a fribble, Richard.”
His aunt inclined her head. “Very well. I shall have the rooms prepared for your visit and will also send our acceptance for the soirée.”
“And what of Philip? How is it he is permitted such liberty?”
“Philip departed this morning for a house party in Derbyshire. He has shown an interest in Lord Harrington’s eldest daughter. That alone secured his release. At least he understands how to pursue a lady, which is more than may be said for the two of you.”
Richard bowed. “We are humbled by the comparison, Mamma.”
“I will acquiesce to your wishes, Aunt. I shall write to Lady Catherine and inform her that Richard, Georgiana, and I will arrive in late August or early September.”
Darcy stood alone against the back wall of the large music room, deserted by Richard and vexed that his aunt had compelled him to attend the soirée.
He waited impatiently for the performances to begin, when his gaze fell upon her, the woman of his dreams. Though she was petite, no more than five feet five inches in height, she possessed such presence that he was drawn in, as if by an invisible thread.
She was circled by gentlemen who hung upon her every word.
Her bright countenance stood in marked contrast to the pride and hauteur he had come to expect in women of her social standing.
He did not address her, but remained somewhat apart and listened while her admirers pressed forward, each attempting to distinguish himself by a display of wit or self-regard.
From her conversation, he gathered she preferred the country, kept house for her father and brothers, visited the tenants, and took pleasure in the pianoforte.
All very commendable pursuits, he reflected, and precisely the sort of woman he wished to marry.
She raised her eyes to meet his. “Mr. Darcy, I trust you approve?”
He flushed. He had not been attending; instead, his mind was more pleasantly engaged in a fiction concerning Miss Honeyfield as mistress of Pemberley.
Her eyes narrowed as she measured him, and his color deepened, embarrassed that he had been caught not attending, leaving him without a ready answer.
He bowed. “Forgive me, Miss Honeyfield, my mind was engaged elsewhere.”
She inclined her head, a hint of amusement upon her lips. “As I had supposed, sir. If I am of so little interest to you, why do you remain? Surely one of the eligible young women present must inspire you to hear her and to offer an engaging response.”
Darcy’s complexion heightened. When he lifted his eyes, he encountered Richard, who regarded him with raised brows and undisguised satisfaction.
Her reproof had not gone unnoticed by those standing beyond her immediate circle.
By tomorrow, he would be featured in the society papers as a dolt who had finally met his match.
Darcy bowed again. “Yes, ma’am. I shall make my way about the room and endeavor to discover such a lady.”
He withdrew with an air of indifference, though inwardly he was not pleased. She might be the most engaging woman present, but he was not so eager for marriage as to be drawn toward a termagant with a sharp tongue. He could not think he had done anything to merit her displeasure.
Darcy secured a glass and seated himself to await the musical performances. Richard dropped into the chair beside him.
“Well, the beautiful brunette sprite has a sharp tongue, has she not?”
“She does. Richard, what did I do to deserve her censure? There were four other men hanging on her every word. Why must she single me out?”
Richard nudged him with his shoulder. “Your ignorance of women is astonishing, Darcy. You did not condescend to speak to her. You stood apart, looking down your nose as if the entire assembly had disappointed you. I know you better than that, but I assure you, your staid demeanor does not present well.”
Darcy frowned. “I cannot believe it. I stood there as any other gentleman might, observing and admiring her wit, and found myself attacked for it.”
“With your dress, your manners, your fortune, and your height, you have only to assume that expression of lofty reserve, and it is enough to make any person feel diminished.” One corner of his lips curved up slightly.
“I must own even I am not always proof against it. You must find some way to appear less formidable, or you will continue to give offense without intending it.”
Looking defeated, Darcy asked, “But how?”
“You might attempt a smile, cousin. Even a faint smile would suffice.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the hostess, who rose and stood before the assembled guests to introduce the first performer.
Richard leaned toward his cousin. “Miss Grey is a beauty. I heard she has a respectable thirty thousand pounds, and I say, Darcy, her figure is very pleasing. What more could a man require?”
Darcy gave her his full attention. The flicker of candlelight enhanced the delicate planes of her face. Her playing was tolerable, but when she sang, the effect was spoiled. Her voice was thin and shrill, and she did not sing in tune.
Richard muttered to his cousin. “She ought to have confined herself to the pianoforte and spared us the song. My illusion of Venus is quite destroyed.”
Darcy inclined his head. “It is unfortunate. I shall not soon forget this performance. If she lacks the judgment to refrain from singing in public, what other errors of judgment may she commit?”
As the evening progressed, the two cousins discovered between them some fault in each young lady who presented herself. At last, Miss Honeyfield, the shrew, took her turn. Her performance was agreeable, and Darcy found his attention drawn to her once more.
Richard observed him. “She pleases you, Darcy. You might make another attempt, and this time with a smile. A compliment upon her choice of music and its execution would not be amiss.”
Darcy considered. “Perhaps you are right, Richard.” He twisted his ring. “I shall make another attempt, but I will wait until the crowd lessens.”
When each of the ladies had performed, Darcy did as he had resolved.
He approached the circle of gentlemen gathered about Miss Honeyfield and stood aside while others, more eager, pressed forward with their compliments.
Presently, she raised her eyes and met his.
He bowed. “Your performance was most pleasing, Miss Honeyfield. I have seldom heard such talent. I offer you my congratulations.”
She smiled, and this time there was no trace of her former irritation. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I am gratified you found it so.”
He opened his mouth to say more when an overzealous young gentleman stepped forward and displaced him. Darcy withdrew and made his way toward the door.
Richard joined him. “She is interested, Darcy. Why did you retreat so quickly? You did not secure your ground. Such faint attentions will not serve with a lady of her character.”
“She is interested? What leads you to that conclusion? She showed me no greater favor than the rest who crowd about her.”
“She did. Her countenance altered when you left her, and her eyes followed you until that young fool seized her hands and diverted her attention.”
“She is the most engaging woman I have met, either at your mother’s dinner or this evening. Still, I did not feel inclined to contend for her. Perhaps that is answer enough.”
Darcy and Richard passed the remainder of the month in much the same manner, attending balls, card parties, soirées, and routs. He encountered many of the same eligible ladies again and again, and by the end of it, he found himself weary of society and most ready to seek out the ghost in Kent.
But his aunt had other plans. “Nephew, you will not escape me so easily. It is but a month since you began to participate in the Season, and that is not sufficient for any man, not even one so well favored as yourself, to discover a woman he might consider marrying.”
“Aunt Helen, I value all you have done for me, but I have had enough of the Season. I have met no one I cannot live without.”
Richard gave a short laugh. “What of Miss Honeyfield? You were quite taken with her, Darcy.”