“Your unfailing manners prevented you from coming to open warfare with Lady Catherine. Miss Honeyfield would have stirred up discord upon the very first day, and any courtship between us would have reached its conclusion immediately.”
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed. “Courtship, sir? Were you courting this paragon of beauty, connections, and accomplishment?”
“No indeed, darling. I shall admit that she initially caught my eye, but she proved so calculating that any attraction vanished before it could become anything of consequence. I scarcely exchanged two sentences with her during the only two occasions upon which we found ourselves in company together, and I have never even danced with her.”
“You have not danced with me either, sir, and still we find ourselves betrothed.”
Lady Helen laughed. “Elizabeth, I believe you shall do exceedingly well both in society and in your marriage. No one shall walk over you, my girl.”
Elizabeth’s eyes remained fixed upon her intended. “Sir, I find myself unsettled.”
His eyes moved first toward his aunt, whose expression held wry amusement, and then toward Georgiana, who looked deeply concerned for the two people she loved most in the world.
“Elizabeth, darling, I never loved Miss Honeyfield. Indeed, from the first occasion upon which I met her to the second and only other time we found ourselves in company together, scarcely a fortnight passed. Our acquaintance was exceedingly brief and entirely insignificant. You have no cause for concern.”
She raised a questioning brow.
“Will this paragon have anything she may use against me, sir? A public pursuit or a stolen kiss? Any promise, sir?”
His expression relaxed. “No, nothing. I was merely one among many gentlemen who moved within her circle. The only circumstance that may have distinguished me from the others was that she treated me with marked rudeness and disdain upon both occasions. Indeed, she went quite out of her way to embarrass me in public.”
Elizabeth relaxed in turn.
“I am sorry she behaved so abominably toward you, sir. Yet I have often observed that a shrewish character seeks the exact opposite in a spouse. It is the only manner in which such a marriage might survive the years. Were she to marry another of her own disposition, they would finish at sword point.”
He reached for her hand. “So, all is well, darling?”
“Yes, sir, so long as I know the full extent of what passed between you. I shall not permit her to hold anything over me.”
“I behaved with the utmost propriety toward both her and her father, Elizabeth. There is nothing further to know.”
“Her father, sir? Her father entertained you?”
He rolled his eyes. “No, he did not. I met him at a ball where he escorted her. He and her brother attended her that evening. I approached her and requested a set. She lost her temper, refused me outright, and marched from the ballroom.”
Lady Helen’s laughter sounded dangerously close to a snort.
“I witnessed it myself, Elizabeth. She is a shockingly ill-bred woman, and I place the blame squarely at her father’s feet. His wife died when Beatrice was very young, and he neverremarried. The child grew up surrounded only by men, so it scarcely surprises me that her manners more closely resemble those of a privileged young gentleman than those of a properly raised lady of quality.”
Lady Helen adjusted her gloves before continuing.
“Which is precisely why I believe she may create a scene, Elizabeth, should she remain in society. Her behavior proved so disgraceful that we all believed her father ought to withdraw with her to the country. However, he has four sons, and his intention is that the eldest two shall marry. He dares not leave them to their own devices in London, for they are all exceedingly green young men ranging from five and twenty downward. Thus, his hands remain tied.”
She sniffed in disapproval.
“Had he possessed a wife or even a sensible sister, one of them would certainly have insisted upon sending Beatrice back to their country estate. Still, he may have enough sense to prevent her from attending public functions while she remains in town.”
Lady Helen’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“Nevertheless, you shall be prepared should the two of you encounter one another while paying morning calls or, God forbid, in a more public setting such as Sophia’s ball.”
When they arrived at the Fitzwilliam townhouse, Darcy asked, “Aunt Helen, since Elizabeth is to remain with you this evening, may Georgiana and I join you for dinner?”
“No, sir. We shall not sit down to a formal dinner. Your uncle returned to Hadden Hall this morning, so I need not trouble myself with one. We shall dine from trays in the red salon while planning Elizabeth’s entrance into society.”
She glanced at her niece.
“Georgiana may remain the night. It shall do her good to observe how a lady’s hair ought to be cared for, and I believe learning the politics and expectations of London society shall prove useful to her.”
