His expression shuttered, “Madam, what kind of a man do you take me for?” His remark was loudly proclaimed garnering the attention of the couple across the room for a moment.
“I do not know, Mr Darcy, but your words are proof of a less than gentlemanly one.” Her volume was tempered to reassure her sister, who continued to look in their direction.
He stared at her through a mask of hauteur. “Madam, I…” He stopped speaking.
Elizabeth’s expression was one of anger, but her eyes betrayed hurt and confusion. He desperately thought back over his speech and words from the last few minutes.Lord above. His face felt like a furnace, and he groaned.What had he done? His abominable mouth. “Forgive me, Madam. I shall take up no more of your time.”
Seeing how very distraught Darcy became, Elizabeth calmed somewhat and stayed him from rising. “Mr Darcy, I fear you hit on a sensitive subject, and I reacted impetuously. Perhaps you might explain yourself?”
“I am mortified, madam. My words were deplorable and do not reflect my true intentions in any way.” He could not meet her eyes.
“Sir, let us speak plainly, so we rightly understand each other. I will admit your words confuse me. Pray, what exactly were you asking, if not for…” here she whispered, “an arrangement?”
His eyes closed, but he forced them open.I shall behave the gentlemanand face this with whatever pride I can muster. “I wish to call on you, to court you. I confess, my regard for you is most ardent, and my hope… my dearest wish is to persuade you to one day accept my hand in marriage.”
Elizabeth blinked, her lips shaped in a round ‘Oh’. Then she smiled and bit her lip. “I admire you a great deal Mr Darcy. Indeed, you are the best man I have ever known. However, seeing as communication is so challenging for us, I hope you will not be disappointed if I agree to your calling at this time, rather than a courtship? I would be amenable to getting to know you better.”
She waved her hand in Jane and Bingley’s direction. “They are taking things slowly and I believe the scheme a good one.” One eyebrow twitched upward, “What say you, Mr Darcy?”
How was he ever so fortunate as to receive this woman’s approbation despite all his many blunders. “I heartily agree, Mrs Carrington. Fair warning, madam, I intend to make you fall in love with me.” He gingerly took hold of her hand again, this time raising it to his lips for a warm kiss to her knuckles.
~ / ~
Undisclosed location
“My patience is wearing thin. If you want your money you will finish the job I hired you for.”
Cold eyes watched the man pace his steps erratic. “Icompletedthe job you hired me for; the earl and viscount are dead.”
“But another still lives.” Spittle flew from his lips. “I will not rest until every single drop of Carrington blood is eradicated from this earth. They have to pay for what they did.”
The cold, still man tightened his lips. The man was becoming unhinged, but there was too much at stake for him to walk away now. He needed that money to leave these shores and start a new life somewhere else.
With slow steps he approached the erratic man. “Calm yourself, you clodpole, or both our necks will stretch. There is to be a grandball at Matlock house, which means a late night for the ladies of Carrington house and half their guards. It will be easy to pull off my plan. Have my money ready.” He grabbed at the man’s arm, his grip like a vice. “Do not try to delay payment, or it will not go well for you.” He released the man and melted back into the shadows.
~ / ~
Elizabeth sat facing the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her new ball gown was a work of art, and her coiffure had been masterfully arranged. Tiny sparkling tipped hairpins had been added, making her hair glint any time she moved her head.
She sighed. Her outside may have town bronze, but her insides were quivering. Elizabeth dared not take a sip of anything as her hands were shaking too much. It would be a crime for anything to spill on this glorious gown. She was not looking forward to the evening as a whole, but her first dance was worth all the anxiety.
Rising to her feet, she gently smoothed down the skirts, admiring the fine work done on its creation. The gown was a rich royal blue colour, with contrast embroidery in gold. The outer layer was a sheer gold overlay, also with gold embroidery. The impact was a regal yet refined gown and the finest she had ever worn.
Earlier in the week she and Jane had examined the contents of the safe. They were eager to see if there were any jewels left behind by the viscountess, and of course, not yet sold by the earl.
One large sapphire solitaire necklace caught Elizabeth’s eye. The colour was light enough to be some contrast to her dress.
Jane was happy with a set of a pearl necklace and matching bracelet. The sheen of the pearls would go very well with the soft pick of Jane’s gown. Her overlay was a floral-patterned lace, muting the pink even more. Yet, overall, the final product was a gown of refined elegance.
Elizabeth figured the items were too insignificant to have even been worth the effort of selling.
A cry from Alex in the adjacent room caught her attention. Dorothy was readying him for bed. He had eaten his fill from her, and they had recently introduced pap to his bedtime feed. He wasstill learning how to work the food off the spoon, but he seemed to like it. Dorothy mentioned he slept longer through the nights now, too.
His cry also recollected to her the small ceremony held in St. George’s at Lord and Lady Matlock’s request. Lord Matlock was now Alex’s godfather. Such a minor detail, yet so significant for her son as he grows older. Elizabeth prayed it was the right decision.
Standing still in the middle of her bedroom, Elizabeth shook out her hands in an attempt to cease their slight tremor. Why was she so nervous? It was just a party. She huffed a laugh at herself. Just a party, like St. George’s was just a church. The elite of theTonwould be there tonight, too ready to judge her ill-favourably. “But for the accident of birth,” she murmured.
Enough. She walked back to her toilette table to retrieve the necklace from the drawer where she had stored it. Her hands were stiff, and the tremor remained, causing her to pull on the drawer too forcefully. It came loose in her hands causing her to stumble a few steps back in an attempt to keep her feet.
