Georgiana Darcy stopped, and a cryptic smile turned her lips. “You do me too little credit, Miss Elizabeth. I would never do that to him.”
I laughed and took her arm, with Jane on my opposite side. “Then do tell me how it all comes about, will you?”
“I assure you, you will be the first to know,” she promised.
14
24 December
HenryVanderMeer’sChristmas Eve party was a swell of laughter and chatter, sweeping us all into the current of gaiety and joy. I squeezed Charlotte’s hand. Tonight, surely, would see her wish granted. We paused at the receiving line, and curtsied before our host and his aunt, who acted as his hostess. I believe she was only there for appearance’s sake, for Mr. Van der Meer did all the conversing. He greeted my aunt with a kiss to the back of her hand, then solicited each of us for a dance later in the evening.
We immersed ourselves in the room, sighing over the lovely arrangements, the lavish gowns, and the swirling music. But my eyes were not on the party itself. I had a task to accomplish, and I wanted to make my odds of success as high as possible. Amongst the glittering chandeliers and finery, I spied several prospects for Charlotte. My confidence swelled; surely I could orchestrate a meeting beneath the mistletoe before the night was through.
There was a man in a clergyman’s coat near the corner. Young, not overly handsome, and probably not overburdened with feminine companionship. And with his awkward posture and wandering eyes, it seemed unlikely that he was already attached. Perhaps…
Then there was Mr. Graham. We had met him at Mr. Van der Meer’s first party, and I had liked him very much—a navy officer with rosy cheeks and a hearty laugh, who had returned from his sea duties with a modest fortune and a desire to make himself amenable to the opposite sex. And in the far corner, Sir Edward Huntley, a somewhat shy baronet who inherited a vast estate in the north and somehow escaped the notice of most of the unmarried female population of London. Any of these gentlemen would do.
But my train of thought was disrupted when I felt the unmistakable sensation of being watched. My gaze shifted and landed on Mr. Darcy. Standing tall, his posture impeccable as always, he was observing me from across the room. A shiver ran down my spine. Was it the cold draft from the open windows, or his penetrating stare? Our eyes locked, and for a moment, the world faded. His lips quirked slightly, and he dipped his head in greeting. I felt a blush creep upon my cheeks. Why was he watching me so intently?
Snapping back to my task, I returned my attention to Charlotte, but not before stealing another glance at Mr. Darcy. If he was here, then Mr. Bingley probably was, also. That meant Jane would need little help from me, which was well. Because having Mr. Darcy underfoot made the rest of my designs downright ticklish.
I moved away, wandering along the edges of the dance floor and inspecting all the male guests—for Charlotte, of course—but a voice at my back made me stop. “Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the honor?”
I stopped and turned. “Which honor is that, Mr. Darcy?”
He nodded toward the dancers. “Another set is about to begin. As you do not appear to be engaged at present…”
“I have already promised a set to our host.”
“And unless I am mistaken, that is Miss Lucas he is presently leading to the floor.” Mr. Darcy held out a hand.
I drew a long sigh. I could not very well avoid him all night, could I? “The pleasure is mine, Mr. Darcy.”
“Is it, indeed? You do notlookat all pleased.”
“I am smiling, am I not?” I peeled my lips back from my teeth and beamed at him.
“If that is a smile, I should hate to see what you look like when you are in pain. If it is so odious for you to stand up with me, then I will release you from the obligation. It is no punishment for me to stand by the fireplace instead. But I should not wish to give you cause for offense by failing to do my duty when a lady has no partner.”
I worked my lips back over my teeth and tried to apply a better expression to my face. “And your effort is appreciated, Mr. Darcy. Forgive me for looking less than eager.”
He tugged my hand and pulled me to the dance floor. “You are preoccupied again this evening, I see. What is it? A sour stomach? Headache?”
I gave him an arch look. “Cheeky, sir. Perhaps I merely wished to speak with someone, and I had not yet found them.”
“I doubt they will have wandered away before the set is finished. I only ask for half an hour of your time.” He stepped back and bowed with the line of gentlemen, and I barely remembered to curtsey in return.
I shall never forget his eyes on me—the heat of them, the way they seemed to glow from their black depths as he stepped around me in the dance. The way his hands held mine, and the dizzying way he was looking at me. Still staring, yes, but… somehow, it did not feel the same as before. Far from feeling like he only looked at me to find fault, it almost seemed like he…wantedme.
But that was impossible. Silly notion! As if Fitzwilliam Darcy, the man who owned half of Derbyshire, could need anything at all, least of allme. With a bow in my hair and waiting for him on the fireplace mantel for Christmas morning, no doubt. I snickered as the unbidden vision danced in my thoughts.
“Something amusing, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked.
“Nothing, sir,” I lied. “I trust Miss Darcy was satisfied with her shopping excursion?”
“She was. Although I wonder about the quality of the advice she received from her companions.”
“Truly? What did you find amiss?”
