Shrugging out of his coat, Nick started undoing buttons as quickly as his calloused fingers allowed.
Darcy grimaced at the sight of his hair but dutifully reached for a comb.
The valet’s hands deftly stripped and buttoned and smoothed.
They worked quietly, quickly, united in their effort to make Nick presentable in record time.
Elizabeth watchedthe double doors leading into the ballroom where the feast was spread over long tables. Jean-Christophe’s cake, a towering creation he had painstakingly made, sat in the middle. Beautifullyarranged flowers, the last of the summer blooms and the first of autumn, led a path out to the gazebo where the clergyman stood waiting.
Their guests stirred, eyeing the tables of food from the garden.
Mrs. Annesley conversed with Mary and Kitty by a stand of lilies. She would return to Longbourn with them for a few months. After hiding for so long at Pemberley, Mrs. Annesley was eager to live her life free of the fear of Mrs. Finchley (may her soul rot in the grave).
“He’s not here. Thunder n’ surf, is it too much for a woman to ask that her groom bother to make an appearance on his wedding day?” Alexandra seethed.
Georgiana looked near tears, distressed that anyone—even Nick’s intended—should say anything against her dear brother. “Nick would never abandon you. He is incapable of such deceit.”
Emily spoke calmly. “Calm yourself, Alexandra. There is time. The Matlocks only arrived a few minutes ago.” Her gaze sought them out, settling on Colonel Fitzwilliam. She smiled, looking as happy as she had the day she received a letter from the Hales thanking her for helping them find their long-lost child.
Elizabeth was not a betting woman, but given the warmth in her friend’s eyes, the blush in her cheeks, and the way Richard’s gaze had lingered on Emily from the moment he had set foot inside theballroom, she would bet her favorite book that they would be the next couple to exchange vows. Given the smile gracing Georgiana’s face, she was of a similar opinion.
There was something different in the colonel’s manners. The usual reserve in his expression had disappeared. Something had happened to bring on this welcome change, and while Elizabeth loved a good puzzle to solve, she had an impatient bride to calm.
Elizabeth caressed Alexandra’s arm. “He shall come. You shall see.”
Forcing her shoulders down, Alexandra said, “Yer right. Nick loves me. He wouldn’t leave me standin’ alone at the altar. I trust him.” She narrowed her eyes. “He better show his face soon.”
Emily and Elizabeth wrapped their arms around her, recognizing her struggle and insecurity. She had thought that Nick had left her once before; her fear was understandable, though Elizabeth did not doubt Fitzwilliam for one moment. There was a good reason for their delay, she was certain, for Fitzwilliam was as constant as the sunrise.
“Lizzy,” Mama snapped and clucked her tongue. “You will crush your gown.”
Biting her lips together, Elizabeth pulled away from Alexandra and smoothed her skirts, daring not to look at her mother lest she lose her composure and burst into laughter.
Mama kept one wary eye on the crowd assembled when she was not looking at Alexandra’s excessiveflounces and ruffles of lace. The wedding company was a motley crew, to say the least, with Alexandra’s men on shore leave from the recently repairedFancy. Jaffa, dressed in a beaded vest of bright colors and with gold necklaces covering his bare skin, was an especially appalling sight … and one Mama peeked at often from behind her fan.
Oh, if only Lady Catherine could see them now! Elizabeth would delight in introducing the great lady to her new relations. Maybe then she would not complain so much about Elizabeth’s family, she thought with evil humor.
Jane and Lydia slipped into the ballroom and out to the garden, followed by Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Jane met Elizabeth’s eye and gave a barely perceptible shake of her head. Elizabeth’s humor rushed out of her in a disappointed exhale. Still no sign of Wickham, then.
The evening before, Lydia had shown up at Gracechurch Street donning her newest gown and holding a valise. Wickham had not returned to the inn for two days, and she had grown tired of waiting for him. That she had not attempted to find him before then was telling, no matter how Mama attempted to explain his absence away with glorified imaginings of secret army missions and clandestine assignments.
Still, Wickham’s disappearance had been sudden and unwarranted, and Uncle had sent for Mr. Connell immediately. Elizabeth had not yet told Fitzwilliam, and she would wait to do so until afterthe wedding feast to spare Georgiana from so much as hearing his name.
"She is so beautiful,” Mama mumbled after Jane, chasing after her with her fan open to slap the hand of any sailor who attempted to speak with Jane or looked at her too long.
Jane radiated contentedness. Mr. Bingley had returned to Netherfield Park to court her openly. He was already among their guests, and Jane wasted no time finding him. They would wed at Longbourn parish the following week.
Mama waved her fan at Cotton and Bauer, looking like a mother hen with her feathers ruffled. To their credit, the two men cowered under the threat of her snapping fan.
Alexandra chuckled. “I see yer ma’s fan is as fearsome a weapon as me threats of keelhaulin’. I made me men swear they’d be on their best behavior.”
So that was why the champagne had not been opened and the men were simply eyeing the food longingly but did not partake.
Elizabeth rubbed the braided strands around her finger. She had not taken it off since Fitzwilliam had given it to her, and she was loath to do so that day. No amount of diamonds and jewels could replace the sentiment the ring he had made for her represented.
Papa strolled languidly over to them from the entrance hall. “It is time for me to take you to the parlor so you may make your grand entrance.” He heldhis arm out to Elizabeth. Jaffa joined them, holding his arm out to Alexandra.
“Nick’s here?” she asked.
