Chapter 12 #5
"Darcy, you are looking particularly handsome this evening," Lady Samantha declared. "And you, Richard, look exceedingly dashing in your uniform. Though I confess it is another gentleman in uniform whom I am hoping to see. I trust you intend to assist me."
Richard laughed.
"I should like nothing better, Aunt, but I fear you have chosen a most difficult campaign. General Sinclair lives very nearly as a hermit."
Mr Darcy scarcely heard a word. From the moment he entered the ballroom, his eyes had been searching for only one person.
Elizabeth.
He knew he ought to avoid her. Every meeting only strengthened the feelings he had resolved to overcome.
Then he saw her.
She was smiling.
Her pale green gown made the colour of her eyes seem even more striking than before.
So completely absorbed was he in watching her that he failed to notice someone speaking beside him.
"Mr Darcy, how delightful to see you again," Caroline said in her most engaging voice.
"Darcy, my dear fellow," Bingley added cheerfully, "I am delighted you decided to come."
"Bingley. Miss Bingley." Mr Darcy inclined his head politely.
He was genuinely pleased to see his friend, though Miss Bingley's company was considerably less welcome. The last thing he wanted was to encourage her to ask for a dance. He had come for only one reason.
Elizabeth.
He had no wish to dance or to seek anyone's attention. He wished only to remain unnoticed, watching the woman who had occupied his thoughts—and even his dreams—for weeks.
Soon, he would leave for Pemberley. Afterwards, he would travel to Kent before returning once more to Derbyshire, where he hoped distance and time would finally free him from an attachment that reason condemned.
"Lady Samantha, Lord Matlock, Lady Matlock," Lady Westcliff said warmly, "what a pleasure it is to welcome you to our home."
"I must congratulate you, Lady Westcliff," Lady Samantha replied with an indulgent smile. "Everything has been arranged most tastefully. Although breeding cannot, of course, be acquired, one must acknowledge that experience occasionally proves an admirable substitute."
"That is exceedingly kind of you," Lady Westcliff answered with perfect composure, though there was not the slightest warmth behind her smile.
At that very moment, her eyes fell upon General Marcus Sinclair, who had just entered the ballroom in full dress uniform.
He looked every inch the distinguished soldier.
A smile crossed Lady Westcliff's face.
"Our hero has arrived. If you will excuse me, I believe I ought to welcome him. I should also like to introduce him to Lady Campbell. Somehow, I suspect they will suit each other remarkably well."
Lady Samantha stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"I doubt Lady Campbell has any inclination towards a second attachment. She was devoted to her husband, and such affections are not easily forgotten."
Lady Westcliff smiled pleasantly.
"Perhaps not. Nevertheless, Daniel has been gone for more than a year. Time has a way of surprising us all."
Without waiting for a reply, she crossed the ballroom in search of the General.
Marcus Sinclair had arrived somewhat later than he had intended.
Punctuality was one of his firmest habits, but unexpected matters concerning his regiment had delayed him, and several urgent letters had required his immediate attention.
The bustle of the ballroom made him instinctively uncomfortable, and his first thought was to find Claire.
Knowing his brother and his family had already arrived, he began looking for them among the guests.
Instead, his eyes fell upon Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
She was standing beside the young lady from the bookshop—the one who had reminded him so powerfully of Ella.
At that moment, every lingering doubt vanished.
She must be another of Ella's nieces.
Almost without thinking, he walked towards them.
"Miss Bennet, what a pleasure to see you again."
"General Sinclair!" Elizabeth exclaimed with a smile. "What an unexpected pleasure."
Turning towards her sister, she continued, "Mary, allow me to introduce General Sinclair, one of England's most distinguished soldiers. General, this is my sister, Mary."
Marcus bowed.
"It is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet."
"The pleasure is mine, General," Mary replied shyly. "Were you the gentleman I met in the bookshop the other day?"
Marcus smiled. "I was indeed..."
"General, how delighted I am to see you," Lady Westcliff exclaimed. "It is an honour to welcome you to our home."
"The honour is mine, my lady," Marcus replied politely.
His attention, however, remained fixed upon the Bennet sisters. He had only just begun speaking to them, and he had little desire to be drawn into yet another introduction.
"I must present you to someone," Lady Westcliff continued before he could excuse himself. "This evening is being held in her honour."
She turned and called across the room.
"Eleanor, my dear."
Lady Campbell was speaking with Lord Westcliff and another gentleman about Canada when she heard her name.
"If you will excuse me for a moment," she said with a smile before making her way towards her hostess.
"Yes, my dear?" she asked.
Marcus resigned himself.
For one brief moment, he lamented the interruption. He had hoped to continue his conversation with the Bennet sisters before the dancing began.
Then Lady Campbell lifted her eyes.
Time stopped.
Lady Westcliff smiled, entirely unaware of what she was about to unleash.
"Eleanor, my dear, allow me to introduce one of England's most distinguished soldiers. Lady Eleanor Campbell, this is General Marcus Sinclair. General, my sister-in-law, Lady Campbell."
Eleanor looked at the gentleman before her.
The colour drained from her face.
She stared at him as though she had seen a ghost.
Barely able to breathe, she whispered, "Marcus?"
He could not answer.
For twenty years, he had imagined this moment a thousand different ways.
None had prepared him for the reality.
He could only stand before her, unable to look away, as some tears filled his eyes.