Chapter 64
Chapter Sixty-Four
Ten days later, Elizabeth took Darcy’s breath away when she walked into the Matlock’s ballroom on the arm of the Duke of Malmesbury.
She had been announced as Lady Elizabeth Rowe, which had left Darcy unsettled briefly after having lived with her for more than a week calling her Mrs. Darcy, but he knew it was all part of his aunt’s and the duke’s plan to be sure all of London society knew where this beautiful woman stood among their ranks.
Darcy had been awaiting her entrance from inside the ballroom along with a crush of other people.
Although it was still a week before the end of February, Lady Matlock’s invitation had brought friends back to London early.
Parliament had been in session since just after Twelfth Night, but not all the wives and families had come so soon.
Now it seemed London was full again for this one event.
Elizabeth’s friends Mrs. Edith Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Priscilla Hopper and their husbands should be here somewhere, although they had not been apprised of Elizabeth’s identity yet and were likely confused by their good fortune in having been invited to such a ball.
His friend Bingley had brought his wife and sisters.
Those sisters still did not know who the duke’s granddaughter was or that she had married Darcy.
Gazing at his wife now, Darcy longed to be back in the Cotswolds with her.
They had chosen the relatively near destination not only for the Malmesbury connection but because they had been granted little time in their family’s social scheming and it had been too cold to travel to the ocean.
He would take Elizabeth to the seaside later this year.
It was one of many promises he looked forward to fulfilling.
Elizabeth spotted him and gave him a nervous smile as her grandfather led her to the dance floor for the first set.
Darcy moved to maintain a clear view of her and was annoyed by the gossip he heard around him.
Everyone was speculating on her wealth, on where she had been hiding all these years, on whom could catch her eye, and on how long she would remain single.
He needed to locate his aunt and ask how long this charade must last. He knew he did not get to dance with his wife until the supper set, but could he not inform people that she was his? Her wedding ring was hidden beneath her glove, but her beauty was on display for all.
“Well, Darcy, your pride must be soaring about now.” Lord Blakely suddenly stood beside him.
Darcy was struggling more with misery than pride as he watched a young earl lead Elizabeth out for her second set. “What do you mean?”
“I might have had a chance with Lady Elizabeth if you had not caught her first. I realize she might have done better than a viscount such as myself, but really, I should have had an opportunity to try.”
Darcy glared at his cousin. “That is my wife you are speaking of, Blakely.”
“My point exactly. Are you not proud of her? She is taking to her new role as if she had been raised to it.”
“Er, yes, I see. Forgive me.” Darcy sighed and then smiled serenely.
“I must say I am proud of her, but then I have been proud of her for many years. For far more years than I had any right to be. In a sense, she was raised to this role, even if she had no notion of it. Her uncle knew it when he helped her attain her many accomplishments and her expansive education.”
Blakely looked at him with understanding. “Shall I give her any message when I claim her next set? I understand you are not allowed to approach her until the fifth.”
Darcy could not encapsulate in a few words what he was feeling right now.
“Do not worry, Darce. I will take good care of her. And she will be all yours in just over an hour.”
Darcy groaned at the wait. He stalked off to the refreshment table.
Elizabeth would not say she was less agitated at this ball than any other, but it was a delightful change to be praised instead of ridiculed. The whispers made her uncomfortable, but the sentiments were easier to bear than she had been used to in years past.
While dancing with her grandfather, he had begged her to come for a long stay at Rowe Manor. She said she would discuss it with her husband, and the duke suggested after the autumn harvest might be a good time for Pemberley to be without its master.
Her second set, with a man who had inherited an earldom a year before, had been less comfortable.
While he had not made any requests for her to deny, he had made it clear he would like nothing more than to make her his countess.
She could not wait until the supper set, when she could be free from this charade.
Dancing with her new cousin Blakely was far more satisfactory than the previous set had been. She had gotten to know him only a little in the past few weeks, but she liked him already.
“Darcy is miserable right now, you know.”
“Oh dear. What is the matter?” She looked around but could no longer see him standing by the wall where he had been earlier.
“Only jealousy, cousin. He will soon be happy again.”
Elizabeth blushed. Fitzwilliam avoided dancing with women who hoped for more from him, but perhaps he could find some value in this evening once their relationship was made known.
As the first dance of this set drew to a close, Elizabeth spotted her old friends Edith and Priscilla watching her with broad smiles on their faces.
“Lord Blakely, would you mind terribly escorting me to my friends just there? I have not seen them in an age.”
“Very well, Lady Elizabeth, but you owe me another dance at your earliest convenience. And you must help me find a wife worth talking to, if it is not too much trouble.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Oh, is that all? I regret to inform you that these two ladies are already married, but I will watch out for someone suitable.”
“I thank you.” He bowed and walked away, leaving her to take the last few steps to her friends, who curtsied as she approached.
Elizabeth laughed and embraced each of the women in turn.
“It is wonderful to see you here! I was afraid you would not come.”
“Though we were surprised to receive the invitation, it worked well with our travel plans. Now that I see the ball is in your honor, I am even more excited to have been included,” Priscilla said.
“Yes, but why did you never tell us, Eliz—Lady Elizabeth?”
“I am sorry, Edith. I did not know myself until recently. In truth, everything has happened so quickly—”
“Lady Elizabeth. It is a pleasure to see you again.” Before she had even seen him approach, Mr. Cage had brought her hand to his lips in a bow. “Would you do me the great honor of dancing the remainder of this set with me?”
Elizabeth blew out an exasperated breath. She would have returned to her dance with Lord Blakely, but he was nowhere in sight now. She saw Edith alternately glaring at her own cousin and giving Elizabeth an apologetic glance, so she gave Mr. Cage a half-hearted smile.
“Of course, Mr. Cage. I can spare you a few minutes.”
“You know I have always admired you, Lady Elizabeth. I was most upset by our brief separation, but I hope you will allow me to call on you again. Where are you and His Grace staying?”
“I am not staying with my grandfather. In fact, he will return to Yorkshire before long.”
“Oh, I see. Surely you are not staying at Gracechurch Street now?”
Elizabeth was glad to have the dance separate them as she considered what she could say to him.
Why had Lady Matlock thought it a good idea to have her thought of as single for the first half of the ball?
No wonder her husband was miserable. She was growing increasingly so herself.
Before turning back to Mr. Cage, she spotted Fitzwilliam, his soft gaze on her, and she smiled. Soon they would be together again.
“How have you been occupying yourself since we saw each other last, Mr. Cage? Have you been to your estate in Somersetshire or to visit Edith and her husband?”
She was able to ignore his attempts to learn anything about her, and the dance soon ended. Then she stood up with a marquess who must be five-and-thirty and was finally reunited with Fitzwilliam.
Anyone close enough to see their expressions while they danced could not doubt they were enchanted, but Elizabeth knew everyone would be surprised, nonetheless, when their marriage was announced at supper.
“I have missed you, my love.” Fitzwilliam clasped her waist and pulled her even closer than the waltz required. Perhaps people would not be so surprised by the announcement after all.
“I have longed for this set with you after the past two tedious hours.”
Fitzwilliam chuckled. “I will not tell your grandfather you said that, but I may let Blakely know he did not pass muster.”
Elizabeth grinned. “Blakely was actually quite jovial, and my grandfather was a perfect gentleman. But I find I am uninterested in making conversation with most people of late. It is a good thing we need not remain in London long.”
“A good thing indeed. From what I am hearing, every lady here wishes to be your new best friend, and every man wishes to court you.”
They laughed, but as they gazed into each other’s eyes, their expressions sobered.
“Must we remain for the whole ball?” Her husband’s earnestness would have swayed her had this been any common ball, but his aunt would be hurt if they departed early.
Elizabeth gazed up at him. “We cannot miss the big announcement at supper. And then I am to dance with your uncle and the colonel, and I know not who else. Will you not choose someone to dance with after supper?”
“I prefer to watch you.” Fitzwilliam’s hand slid up her back as he pulled her closer yet again. Any nearer, and she would not be able to move her feet.
“Why not dance with Mrs. Kirkpatrick or Mrs. Hopper? You met Edith once, about two years ago. They both married about that time, but they were good to me for a short time when I needed friends.”
Fitzwilliam kissed the top of her head. “Very well. If they are not engaged, I will ask them.” He looked around the room for a moment before returning his gaze to her. “Has anyone else here been a particular friend to you?”
“Not really. Except Jane, of course. I have not seen her or her party tonight, but she assured me they would all be here.”
“They were in the adjoining parlor when I saw them. Bingley planned to tell his sisters of our marriage right before they go in to supper to prevent too much embarrassment on their part. You are generous for not wishing to publicly shame Miss Bingley.”
Elizabeth shook her head lightly. “Do you suppose this is all going as your aunt had hoped?”
“Absolutely. You are the most fascinating woman in the room, everyone wants a part of Lady Elizabeth, and they will soon learn they can have very little of you. When we return to London next Season, nobody will doubt your status, and you will be highly sought after.”
“Fabulous.” Elizabeth sighed.
“It is not so bad, Elizabeth. You will have all the friends you want and the freedom to choose with whom to associate. And we may retreat to our own home or even back to Pemberley at any time. We are in control of our own lives, and we are not responsible for how anyone else feels about us.”
Elizabeth smiled at her husband contentedly. “Is that something you learned when you were deciphering what love means?”
His face turned pink, and her smile grew.
“Yes, my dear. I had to discover that my love for you was deeper than the opinions of others. In the end, whether people like us or not is up to them. If we live with the integrity and compassion I have always seen in you, then we need not concern ourselves with their views.”
“I suspect we are going to be far happier than any two people could ever deserve.”
In response, Fitzwilliam whisked her to the edge of the dance floor to a darkened alcove and kissed her until the music ended. No, people would not be terribly surprised by the announcement of their recent wedding.